Page 38 of The Caged Viking

Should I or should I not? he pondered. Have I not been telling the wench that consummation is a necessity for her survival here?

But I was just teasing.

Or was I?

Hah!

I deserve this.

Ha, ha!

I should get some rest.

How long would it take? I could do it, quick like, and still get some rest. Besides, mayhap my body humours would be more relaxed. All the kinks of inactivity from these long months of captivity would be untangled.

Ha, ha, ha! I should mention that theory when engaged in a drink fest at the next Thing. I can imagine the laughter I would rouse. The skalds might even create a saga called “Viking Kinks,” or some such thing.

No matter. Kirstin would no doubt argue with my reasoning, anyhow. She argues about everything.

Enough arguing with myself! Should I or should I not?

His gaze traveled around the tent. A fat candle that Egil had planted on a shield provided a dim light. Kirstin’s gown was draped over one end of the pile. Her slippers were arranged neatly, side by side, on the ground below the gown. Which meant that she was naked under the furs, he concluded.

That is my answer! Praise the gods! Must be she is too shy to initiate sex herself. Must be she is hot for the bedding but too stubborn to ask for it. Must be this is her way of inviting me to couple with her.

Quick as spit, he was undressed and about to join his wife. Lifting the edge of the robe, he stopped short. Kirstin, lying on her back, was not naked…not precisely. Instead, she wore a scrap of white lace on top, cupping her breasts with straps over the shoulders. Down below was another scrap of white lace which covered her mons but did not even reach her navel or the tops of her thighs, riding high on her hips. What was the purpose of either of those undergarments? Though, come to think on it, they were rather enticing, more alluring than the naked body itself. Well, almost more alluring.

Tossing the top fur aside, Hauk eased himself down and rolled Kirstin over on her side so that he was front to her back. “Sweetling?” he whispered against her ear.

She let out another little snore/moan.

Is she awake?

He listened to her breathing. No, she is still sleeping.

He nestled closer, placed his left arm above her head, and ran his right hand lightly over her right arm from shoulder to wrist, up her leg from knee to upper thigh. “So soft! Your skin is so soft.”

She didn’t wake, but the fine hairs rose on her skin. Her body was reacting, even if she wasn’t. Which was fine with Hauk. If she was awake, she would be talking, and that meant she would be telling him what he was doing wrong and how much better everything, even sex, was in the future.

So, he continued his soft, gentle exploration. His hands might be rough and calloused, but his movements were light as a butterfly’s wings.

It was at times like this that Hauk was thankful that Vikings were born masters at loveplay, and that was not an exaggeration. Everyone said so. Whether in battle or the bed furs, Viking men knew all about timing, when to be aggressive and when to use stealth.

Like now. He took the time to be fascinated and, yes, aroused by the contrast in textures of their skins, leather to velvet. Where his forearm rested on her abdomen alongside her forearm, he couldn’t help but notice his dark bristly hairs whilst hers were like strands of gold silk, almost invisible.

And the contours of their bodies! Blunt, bulky edges against smooth curves. Hard muscles against cushiony softness.

Masculine against feminine.

With a sigh, she dropped her hand to her side, thus giving him the opportunity to place a palm against her waist and moved it upward till he cupped one breast outside its lace covering. The breast was not large, but big enough to fill his hand. He lifted it and used a thumb to flick the center, which caused the nipple to rise against the lace and press against his palm. He did the same to the other breast.

She gasped and went stiff.

Now she was awake!

In one swift move, she rolled onto her back, rose to a sitting position, and gaped at him wide-eyed. “What are you doing here?” she shrieked.

He pushed her back down, pressing her shoulders to the furs. Leaning over her, he whispered in her ear, “Shhh! You’ll wake Egil and Bjorn.”