CHAPTER THREE
Ari watched Thora walk away, well aware of the conflict brewing within her.
Rising, he turned to tend Gyllir, his thoughts filled with the intriguing woman he'd found himself with.
Her passionate response to his kiss told him he would have little trouble seducing her, though the idea of binding her, rendering her helpless to his whims, remained strong.
He'd indulged in such dark sexual games many times, relished the thrill of dominating his lovers, bending them to his will while also giving exquisite delight, mixed with varying amounts of pain.
He wanted to torment Thora that way, watch her eyes cloud with desire, make her body writhe with pleasure.
He would, he vowed silently. And she would learn to crave his touch.
Once assured Gyllir had what he needed for the night, Ari dragged his saddle and remaining packs back toward the fire. He resumed his former position against the log and studied Thora.
She knelt beside her pets, her long chestnut hair obscuring her face.
He found himself jealous of the wolves, wanted her to touch him with such tenderness.
The notion of her hands on him set his cock to full hardness.
He would have her tonight. He would have her begging for his touch, pleading with him to take her.
His growing desire to indulge and delight in her body barely surpassed his need to know why she ran.
No doubt remained that her journey was a flight.
From what, or whom, did she flee? The fear in her eyes accompanying her refusal to travel to The Thing troubled him.
He needed to know what threatened her, so he could protect her.
Wait. What? Where had that startling notion come from?
He sighed, staring into the flames. Since he'd first seen her struggling with the ruffian, the need to defend and safeguard her had taken over, growing stronger with each passing moment.
Bah! He'd been too long alone. Surely the gods only toyed with him, by placing such an intriguing and beautiful woman in his path.
Or maybe she was Freyja herself, come to torment him, transforming her two felines into wolves who walked beside her.
He shook his head, smiling at the fanciful thought.
Freyja would never let a mere mortal man survive the initial attack made on Thora.
Ari was merely lonely and filled with lust. That explained the silliness making him forget the purpose of his journey these last three years.
What would Thora think if she knew he was an outlaw himself, no longer a feared yet respected and valued warrior?
Granted, the crimes he'd been accused of were false, and he had proof now to clear his reputation.
Others would speak for him; to protect those until the time came to face the council at The Thing and absolve him of the accusations leveled against him, those others traveled separately.
For now, in the eyes of society, he remained an outlaw.
True, he could wait the additional months for his sentence to end, but if he didn't remove the stain on his reputation, he would forever be looked upon with suspicion.
Soon, he would be a free and honorable man once again.
And those who'd tried to destroy him would see justice.
Thora neared, drawing him from his thoughts.
Her lower lip, caught between her teeth, sent his lust surging once more.
Something in her eyes warned him to be wary, as if she planned some nefarious act.
Maybe she did. The earlier thought of binding her rose again, the idea meriting further consideration.
"May we discuss my debt?" she asked, so quietly, he almost didn't hear.
"Yes." He motioned to the ground beside him, against a log that offered a meager comfort. She knelt, a few feet away, facing him.
"If I… agree to your requirement, will you force me to go to The Thing?"
"It is where I am going. I am determined you will accompany me."
She nodded, lowering her head. "I know. But…"
He waited for her to say more, but she remained silent.
"Thora, who do you run from?"
Her head snapped up, her dark eyes blazing with anger.
"Why do you think I am running?"
He shrugged, studying the flush taking over her face. "You are alone, no family or other traveling party. You are traveling away from Tingwalla, and carry little with you, as if your flight happened quickly."
She blinked and stared at him, her face ashen, even in the glow of firelight.
"I…" She lowered her head once more, and he almost didn't hear her next hoarsely whispered words. "I am fleeing my family. My father plans to wed me to an jarl's heir. I don’t want to marry any man not of my choosing."
"Surely you can refuse the match?"
Daughters doing so was not uncommon, Ari had known several who had done exactly that, though he'd often wondered whether the women who gave their consent to a marriage felt they had no choice.
He'd seen fear on too many of their faces when they were presented to their husbands on their wedding day to believe most agreed with their families' choice.
She shook her head. "My father insists. He travels to Tingwalla with my family and his men. The only way to prevent my marriage is to stay away from The Thing."
"Thora, do you not worry the failure of the alliance could be a problem for your clan?"
She gave a heavy sigh, her eyes closing. Regret lined her brow. "I do worry. But I cannot wed this Hersir. He is cruel and heartless."
Ari sat up straight. Had he heard correctly?
Hersir? Could it possibly be? He managed to maintain an aloof expression, though he itched to learn more of the man Thora had been promised to.
Maybe her appearance on his journey had been to make his vengeance so much sweeter.
Surely the gods had intervened, bestowing their blessings on his quest.
"If you've never met him, how would you know?"
She gave another sigh, opening her eyes to gaze steadily at him. "I walk with my wolves a lot." She paused and turned to look over at the sleeping animals. When she faced Ari again, she drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them.
"Something tells me you are quite the eavesdropper."
The glow of the fire now revealed the flush in her cheeks.
He chuckled. This woman was enjoyable to be near, unlike many he'd known over the years.
She piqued his interest in so many ways.
Most likely, she was quite the troublemaker.
He found he rather liked it, and wished to see her antics for himself.
"I do hear things. And what I've heard mentioned of this man is bothersome."
Ari somehow managed to maintain an air of casual interest, but his excitement built at the thought of snatching away his brother's bride grew near as strong as his need to clear his name.
"What have you heard?"
She hesitated, her hands once again twisting in her lap. "That he once killed a boy who stumbled in front of him. And that he uses his power to take whatever he chooses from those not as strong as he."
That sounded like his brother. Hersir always took what he felt should be his, whether it was right or not.
Having the ear of the jarl made it unlikely most would protest. Ari remembered one time when Hersir had helped himself to a family's harvest, claiming it for the jarl.
The man had dared to refuse and ended up dead, leaving a widow and four orphaned children, without their crops to feed themselves.
Hersir then availed himself of the widow's body for months afterward, until she finally gathered her children and fled the village, seeking refuge with family from another town.
"So you are to wed him, then?"
She nodded. "My father has made the agreement. After The Thing, he was to bring Hersir back to Grindafell for the wedding."
"You fled before they could return."
She nodded. "I won't go back. And I can't go to Tingwalla."
"An impossible dilemma." Ari leaned back against the log once more, his thoughts racing with ideas. "But I must be compensated. Don't you agree?"
Again, she nodded. "I've given your demand some thought. If I were to… offer myself to you, then afterward you can continue to Tingwalla, and I will go my way. But I will no longer be valuable as a bride. I would ask that you take a message to my father and perhaps he will stop searching for me."
Ari sucked in a breath. The wench was cunning and his admiration for her grew even more, as did his yearning. He shifted, his cock now hard and uncomfortable. He cleared his throat.
"Aren't you worried your father's honor will be ruined? You place him in a difficult position by refusing a marriage he's agreed to."
Thora shrugged. "I know. But I have no choice. My father married my mother for love, and when she died, he found another, and their love is strong. I only want the same for myself."
Ari nodded in understanding. Thora was like most other women, wanting a love match, rather than an alliance to ensure the strengthening of both families and clans.
He also knew full well that she would never have that while wed to Hersir.
But Ari had no intention of letting Thora leave his side.
She'd likely be furious when she realized his lies, and again the idea of binding her so she couldn't flee poked at him.
Hel, once she learned the truth, he'd have no choice.
He held back the eager grin and thought carefully on his next words.
"Very well, Thora. I will accept your offer of payment, however, there are conditions on this agreement."
Her lips pressed together, her eyes flashing with suspicion. "What are your conditions?"
"I decide when it is time for us to part ways."
She nodded. "What else?"
"You will obey my every order. Please me and you shall be rewarded."
"And if I don't?"
He shrugged. "You'll be punished."