Chapter Ten
Sanctuary
With everyone situated, Aaron signaled. If they hurried, they’d reach camp by nightfall.
Hours later, they stopped to eat near a creek.
Water skins were filled and they ate day-old loaves of bread.
Aaron sent a guard with Amelia into the woods.
But Kara wasn’t permitted to go with them.
He’d escort her personally if she needed to relieve herself.
“Why can’t I join them?”
“I’ll walk with you,” he said.
Her cheeks reddened.
“If you wish to find a place—”
“Please accept my apology for being uncooperative. I’m exhausted, Jarl McNally. Erling Solheim tortured me every day. Deprived me of food and water and forced me to fight until I . . .”
His smile disappeared. “Did he hurt you?” He saw red.
“What good will it do to discuss my misfortunes? I made a selfish choice when I left home without a proper escort. My unhappiness has nothing to do with you. Not really.”
“Why did you really leave?”
She looked away, staring at the trees. “To visit my cousin.”
Odin’s beard, would she continue to lie even now? “Tell me the truth.”
Her head snapped around. “Forget everything.”
He shook his head. “I can’t do that, lass.” Any more than he could forget to breathe. These were the kind of moments he craved with her—intimacy—building trust.
“Somewhere between our meeting, the cruel joke my family played on you, and hearing my father criticize me so unfairly, I guess I lost my mind. I’m accustomed to things being a certain way. I needed to get away.”
“Things change, lass. For the better if you let them.” His heart thundered. He’d comfort her if she asked. Too many questions were circulating in his head right now. “Tell me what Erling did to you. Why did he kidnap you? Is he an enemy of your family?” Visions filled his head of her being raped.
“I’m still a maiden.”
Relief coursed through him as he studied her face. She was telling the truth, thank the gods.
“From what I could gather, milord, the man observed many of my training sessions in the woods. He claimed he admired me and made it a point to kidnap me so he could break my spirit. There is no connection to my family.”
Aaron had never heard anything so laughable. Men sought women for two reasons, love or lust. “What else did he say?”
“He often told me in great detail what he’d do to me if I tried to escape. I searched day and night for a way out. I couldn’t remember north from south, so deep in the forest. And Amelia—” She shook her head. “My obedience guaranteed her safety. I had no choice but to stay.”
He rubbed his chin. What motivated Erling? Who was he and what did he want? “I admire your loyalty. From what I’ve seen, Amelia is more your friend than a servant.”
“Aye,” she agreed. “The sister I’ve never had.”
“Fortunate you found someone to love so much.”
“Do you have brothers and sisters?”
If he answered her first question, a dozen more would follow. “We can discuss my history later,” he said. “The woods?”
She nodded and started for the trees. He followed close, pleased the disagreement had ended.
His arms burned to hold her again. He wanted her to feel the extent of his pain and suffering over her.
Show her how much that kiss in Lagenheim meant to him.
Nothing under Valhalla rivaled it. If he were in the habit of confessing, he’d admit the object of his deepest desire walked only a few feet in front of him.
He admired everything about her. The way she gripped a weapon—ready to banish her pride and feelings when she faced an opponent—the savagery in those crystal blue eyes.
She reminded him of a wildfire devouring everything in its path.
He’d never met a woman so desperate to prove her worth to her family.
Where did that kind of courage come from?
Until now, he’d always thought a woman’s heart differed greatly from a man’s, as the gods surely intended.
But not with her. His own vakker kriger.
She froze, still facing forward. “What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie.” Her body trembled.
Goddamn it. A Berserker doesn’t get weak-kneed when a lass speaks.
He closed the distance between them, resting an unsteady hand on her shoulder.
After weeks of miserable nights in a tent alone, he needed her.
He’d do more than make her shiver, if given the chance.
He wanted to spread her legs wide and plunge deep inside.
“Look at me, Kara.”
When her gaze met his, his heart pounded. “What you overheard was private.”
“Then don’t speak it aloud, milord.”
She gasped as he clutched her tightly to his chest.
“I need to kiss you, Kara.” He brushed feather-light kisses down her cheek. He gently let his fingers follow the curve of her spine. Forget hiding his feelings. He couldn’t stay the hell away from her. Not alone in the woods. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” she whispered.
He grinned. The lass enjoyed his touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him.
Her lips clamped tightly over his. Her hard nipples rubbed against his chest, triggering another shockwave of desire.
At this moment, he cursed himself for not letting her wear breeches.
What he’d give to see her shapely arse in them one more time.
But gowns granted easy access to parts he’d long fantasized about.
He cupped her backside—lifting her roughly.
When she gripped his waist between her thighs, he thundered forward, wedging her between his body and the closest tree.
“Give yourself to me,” he growled between kisses, taking her mouth before she could answer. He stretched her arms above her head. “Feel what you do to me, Kara.” Aaron claimed her mouth again, grinding his hips against her. Their bodies aligned perfectly.
Burying his face in her long hair, he pumped against her, nearly losing himself.
But whatever sliver of consciousness remained, warned him not to claim her maidenhead.
He’d not condemn her to suffer humiliation if her father found out.
They were meant to be together. When remained the question.
His insufferable body wholly disagreed. Shock and disappointment registered on her face when he backed away and her feet slipped to the ground.
“Why?” she asked, gazing up at him with a hurt look.
No answer would satisfy her.
He fisted his hands to keep from grabbing her again. Goddamnit. He’d never meant to tease or hurt her. Take her now. “This isn’t the right time,” he said regrettably. “The most important thing is getting you away from here.”
Her face twisted with anger. “You mean away from you?” She turned, then disappeared between the trees.