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Einar felt the muscles of his face fall. Why had he not thought of this himself?

“I know very well what it is. In Norway, we use turf from swamps. I must send men to look for it on the islands. Your advice, your help…have meant more than gold to me. I wish—” he cut himself off as her eyes burned and lit up with hope.

“You wish what?” Holly asked.

He wished she never had to leave.

“I wish I’d never stopped kissing you,” he said, pulling her close. The need for her, hot and greedy, sucked in his gut. He covered her mouth with his, and she met him with a heat and desire that mirrored his own.

Tomorrow, Solver would sail off. That was what he had told Einar today. Einar’s heart had sunk at the news because he only had days left with Holly, and he needed her more than a ship needed water now.

“I have been a fool to stay away from you,” he whispered against her lips. “I should have taken every opportunity to be with you.”

Holly frowned. Not now! He was so happy swimming in her delicious scent, drinking the sweet mead of desire from her lips.

“Why?” she asked.

Loki’s stinky armpits. He’d hoped to make love to her first, and then give her the news.

“Solver is leaving tomorrow,” he said, letting her slide gently onto the grass.

Her eyes widened a little, and she looked out over the sea. “Oh,” she said.

Still, she did not move. “Are you not in a hurry to gather your things and be ready to leave at the first opportunity?” he asked.

She shook her head as though to shake off a dream. “I don’t know how to say goodbye to Svanhild.”

Yes, his poor daughter would be devastated. Holly would have been a wonderful mother to her. Another stab at his heart.

“You’ll need to talk to her,” Holly said. “Support her. She doesn’t have anyone to talk to.”

It was true, and she pushed right into his pain points. “Woman,” he said as he pulled her closer. “I do not have talking in mind at all right now.”

He kissed her again, deeper this time. He needed her. He hungered for her. His tongue parted her lips, sinking into her, and was greeted by her playful tongue. She teased him and nipped at him and turned the kindling desire in his blood into a raging wildfire.

“I want you, Holly,” he growled. “Can you feel how much I want you?”

He lifted her up and sat her on his lap so that her sex was pressed against his. She circled her pelvis, sending a wave of hot pleasure through him as her movement caressed his cock. He gave out a long moan.

“Mmmmmmmm.” He heard the sound leave his throat.

“You like that, don’t you?” she said, then looked back at the village. They were a safe enough distance away that someone would need to deliberately come and look for them before they’d see them. But Einar refused to allow anyone to see his wife naked. Her body was for him alone.

“I must have you now,” he said.

“Naughty.” Holly smiled. “I like naughty.”

He grinned and lowered his head to her breasts. He cupped one in each of his hands and massaged them slightly, then took one nipple in his mouth and sucked through two layers of fabric, wetting her dress.

“Oh God, this is so hot…” she moaned, her head rolling back.

He continued his game, sucking and circling his tongue, biting her nipple slightly, then sucking harder. She moaned and groaned the most arousing sounds, and he repeated the process with the second breast. Then she put her hands in his hair, every touch spilling smooth pleasure through his veins.

With one hand, he slowly reached up her leg—her long, sculpted leg that he adored—and covered her sex with his palm. Gently, he spread her folds, making her gasp, and found the sweetest spot in her body. She gulped for air, her fingers digging into his back. He circled the hard button, and Holly ground her hips against him and wiggled from pleasure. With another finger, he dipped into her hot depths and noted with satisfaction that she was soaking wet.

He undid his trousers and removed his throbbing cock. “You are so ready for me,” he said.

“Oh yes,” Holly moaned.