Page 83 of The Caged Viking

“I do understand your meaning,” he said. “Toste the Tall’s first wife was a love match. Her shrewish nature turned away many a potential suitor, but Toste actually deemed her voice melodious. And she was skinny as a lance with no fat spots at all for a man to grab onto in the bedsport. Toste did not care.”

She nodded. “Exactly.”

“To be honest, I do recognize a few of those symptoms. Go on.”

She wanted to think about what his ready acceptance meant, what emotions he was admitting to, but she would ponder all that later. For now, she asked, “You’re not just patronizing me, are you?”

“I would if I knew what it meant.”

She laughed. “Okay, stage two could be called Chaos. This is probably the point of falling in love, where you are now.”

“This should be good,” he murmured.

“A person falling in love begins to feel off balance, not totally in control. They’ll feel nauseated one moment and in the next be in such a good mood they can barely contain themselves. Someone who avoids commitment, or has some obstacles to a long-term relationship, will panic now. They’ll try to step back, but they can’t stop thinking about the other person, even at awkward moments. Like in the middle of battle exercises, for example, thoughts of the other person pop into their heads. My brother Hamr, an ex-football player, once told me that thoughts of his at that time babe-du-jour came to him in the middle of a critical game and he ended up being tackled with a possible concussion.”

Hauk put a hand to his forehead and groaned.

“What?”

“Do not take offense, Kirstin, but you do talk a great deal. Do all pro-fess-whores sound like you?” he asked.

Kirstin was a little miffed. “If you don’t want to hear anymore, I’ll shut up.” She raised her chin defiantly.

“Nay. Nay, go on. It’s just that I understand but half of what you say. Football, baby-do-sure, conk-us-on? Holy Thor!”

She smiled. “You’re right. I forget sometimes that you don’t know modern words. Suffice it to say, stage two can make a person both jubilant and anxious at the same time. That and all the other things I’ve mentioned are why I said that I think you’re falling in love. You aren’t at a stage of trust or commitment, which comes next. So, it was natural for you to be apprehensive about leaving, not knowing if I would leave, despite all these heavy emotions. Am I right?”

“Perchance,” he conceded. “Have you fallen in love so many times yourself?”

“No. Several times I’ve thought I might be falling. Most recently, with the Navy SEAL that I told you about, I was very close to committing, but it was not meant to be, clearly. We wouldn’t have been dating for three years, off and on, without taking the next step, if it was.” She shrugged.

“That is unfortunate,” Hauk said with a grin of insincerity. “You must admit, Kirstin, that love as you describe does not sound very appealing. What sane man would want to be in stomach pain with the urge to vomit, with insect wings and goose dumps afflicting his innards, and legs that go limp with weakness?”

“Huh?”

“In any case, I am still waiting to hear how sex fits into all these phases.” He winked at her.

“That’s the best part. Sex combined with love can make for the most spectacular love play in the world, or so I’ve been told. And it gets better and better through all the stages.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” With a whoop of joy, he stood and, in one fluid motion, lifted her in his arms. The blanket fell away and he tossed her onto the bed, climbing up and over her. Once he arranged himself over her, he smiled and said, “I concede to your better judgment. I am falling in love.” He arched his brows and waited for her response. When it didn’t come, he asked, “Are you in love with me?”

“Hell, no!” she exclaimed, not about to profess the real deal until he did, and watched as his face fell with disappointment. He started to raise himself off her, but she put her hands on both sides of his face and told him. “Sweetheart, I’m already falling in love, like you. Hook, line, and Viking sinker. But it will take a little more work on your part to reel me in.”

* * *

Like Kevin Costner in Bull Durham…

While they rested for a while with Kirstin nestled in his arms, they both mulled over what they had admitted to each other. Falling in love was a new concept to Hauk. In truth, he wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced love of any kind. Certainly not parental love, and while he’d indulged in a vast amount of lust, he couldn’t honestly say he’d ever experienced a softer, compelling emotion toward any woman.

But wait…there was Bjorn. Hauk did love the boy.

A sense of relief filled him then, knowing he was capable of love.

At the same time, he was hit with the realization that Kirstin was “falling in love,” not fully “in love” with him. Despite the fact that he’d admitted to the same thing, her halfway declaration rankled him. Gods above! I cannot believe I am making these distinctions. My Viking comrades would laugh their arses off if they knew. Hauk was not a man to shy away from challenges, and he determined that, by thunder, he would force Kirstin to love him. Nay, that was wrong. He would persuade her to love him. None of this “falling in love” nonsense! And then she would stay.

“Kirstin, are you awake?” he whispered against her ear.

“Barely,” she replied.