Page 5 of Lord of Fire and Ice

He worked the knot at his ankles as soon as his hands were free. Then he stood to pull the rough tunic over his head.

Upright, Brandr was even bigger than he appeared when lying on the floor. She took a step back from him. The tunic was snug across his broad chest and struck him mid-thigh, leaving his well-muscled legs exposed. At least his disturbing maleness was covered.

“Now what, princess?” He managed to make the title he gifted her with sound like a curse.

She had to show this man his place and quickly. “I saved you from the gelding knife this night. You will show your appreciation by kissing my foot.”

She lifted her night shift to ankle height and presented one to him, toes pointed.

That should wipe the smug expression from his face.

He shrugged, bent over, and grabbed her ankle. Then he yanked her upside down. Her bottom took a glancing blow on the floor before she found herself hanging precariously, her foot level with his mouth when he stood back upright.

It happened so quickly, surprise forced all the air from Katla’s lungs. Her night shift billowed down to bunch at her armpits, exposing her to him. When she tried to kick free, he grasped her other ankle as well. Her fingertips splayed on the slate floor to steady herself.

She clamped her lips shut to keep from crying out. There were a dozen strong men snoring on the other side of the door. They’d all rush to her aid, but she’d die before she let anyone catch her in this undignified position.

He planted a wet kiss on her instep then lowered her to the floor. She managed not to land on her head, but her right shoulder took most of her weight before she rolled to lie flat on her back on the cold slate.

He glared down at her and bared his teeth in a wolf’s smile. “Want me to kiss anything else, princess?”

Chapter 2

Brandr extended a hand to help her off the floor, but she pushed herself up and scrambled to her feet, keeping well out of his long reach. She gave him a scathing look. “That was not what I meant, and you know it.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “Perhaps you’ll be more specific in your instructions next time, princess.”

Irritation fizzed up her spine. “Stop calling me that.”

“You don’t like ‘princess’? Not high enough rank, I suppose. Perhaps you’d rather I call you ‘empress.’” He gave her a mocking bow. “Thor be my witness, you don’t lack the self-importance of one.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I can have you whipped, you know.”

He matched her glare for glare. “I’d like to see you try. If you wanted to do me harm, you should have done it when I was bound and helpless.”

Katla snatched up the leather straps that had restrained him. “Then stand still while I tie your hands again.”

“No.”

“I gave you an order,” she hissed. “And you swore to obey. Are you an oath breaker?”

Brandr shook his head. “I am not. I swore to obey so long as your commands don’t conflict with my honor. I wouldn’t suffer you to whip a dog. I won’t allow you, or your gaggle of brothers, to beat me without a fight.”

“So you’re my thrall, but only when it suits you?” Katla wished for the thousandth time she’d been born a man. If she had a man’s strength to match her will, she’d knock this Brandr Ulfson into his place so fast his teeth would rattle.

He yawned hugely. “If it’s all the same to you, princess, could we continue this argument tomorrow? I need to sleep.”

He started toward her bed.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said. “You will not sleep in my bed.”

Brandr turned to her wearily. “Then where do you want me, O Great One?”

“Not there.” She opened another trunk and pulled out a wolf skin and woolen blanket for him. “I want you on a pallet by the door.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “I knew you’d admit it sooner or later.”

“Admit what?”