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“You’re beautiful.”
“Oh,” she whispered, crossing her arms, her need to protect herself emanating from her. “Thank you. I changed the thermostat to sixty-seven. Figured I’d give you that extra degree.”
He almost chuckled at her snarky tone. He could tell she was desperately trying to push him away. What she didn’t understand was that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Are you coming in or what?”
He nodded. “In a minute.”
“Well, I’m freezing.” She rolled her eyes and moved to close the door.
He placed his hand on the flimsy wood and raised an eyebrow. She huffed and crossed her arms again. Smiling, he stepped inside, kicking the door closed behind him. As he studied her, she bit her lip, sliding her hands into her pockets and shifting from foot to foot. Kaspar reached out and pried her lip from her teeth, running his thumb along her mouth. She let out a small gasp, confirming she wasn’t as immune to him as she’d like him to think.
Because he couldn’t resist, he leaned down and covered her mouth with his.
Þú verður mín að eilífu. (You are my forever mate.)
The bond between them was strengthening, and as he thought the ancient words, he felt her shiver. She pushed against his chest, lowering her head to break the kiss. “What... what is going on with me?”
“We are destined, elskan.”
She looked up at him. “I don’t understand.”
“I know,” he said, and smiled. “I’m happy to explain everything to you, but you are a person who has to experience things. Words don’t really help.”
“Don’t act like you know me,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“But I do know you.”
“I just met you. You don’t know me.”
He chose not to point out that she was still in his arms and was now running her hand across his chest. “Which part of my statement is wrong?”
She shook her head. “Not the point, Kaspar. You’re probably doing something to my mind to make me believe you.”
He cupped her cheeks and frowned. “Listen to me. I can’t do that. Literally. Not just ‘won’t,’ but ‘can’t.’”
“How would I know the difference?”
Kaspar took a deep, steadying breath. “Why don’t I tell you about my brother and your sister and let you decide what you think?”
“Okay.” She stepped away from him. “But no touching. I can’t think straight when you’re touching me.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “As you wish.”
“I’m going to grab my hoodie,” she said. “Do you want some wine?”
“I’d love some. Thank you.”
She stared at him again for a few seconds before nodding. “I’ll be right back.”
Kaspar glanced around her front room. It was small, but it had a fireplace against the west wall, and a large window looking out on the street, and she could obviously decorate. Tasteful, if not smaller-scale furniture was artfully positioned to take advantage of the view and the warmth. After taking a few photos, he folded his large frame into one of the chairs by the window and checked his phone messages while he waited for her.
“I hope you like red,” she called. “It’s all I drink.”
“Red’s perfect,” he called back.
He managed to reply to a few texts before she returned with two glasses of wine. He stood and took one from her, smiling at the oversized sweatshirt she wore that had obviously seen better days.
