CHAPTER SIX
Thora stepped out of the stream and after drying off with a small cloth, reached for the undershift she'd laid out from her pack. Beside her, Kati stood guard, his senses attuned to the surrounding area. She smiled.
"Good boy. Thank you for watching over me."
The animal's tail wagged and he gave a responding yip.
She wrung out her wet hair, grateful for feeling clean and refreshed.
She looked up at the sky. Sol's chariot had nearly disappeared into the horizon.
She pulled her dress over her head and hooked the brooches into place.
She slung the clothes she'd attempted to wash over her arm.
The soft leather boots soon covered her feet, her belt fastened, the axe hanging within her reach.
She lifted her pack and slung it over her shoulder.
Ruffling Kati's head, she turned, her wolf at her side.
If felt strange without Kata on her other side.
"When we return to camp, you will tend to Kata."
Another soft sound, a clear assent. She continued to stroke his fur, trying not to think about the man waiting for her back at the camp. So much about him enthralled her, denying it was foolish. But she had to remain cautious. She knew little about him. That must change.
The remnants of daylight faded completely as she walked further into the woods.
The glow of the fire of their camp made it easy for her to find her way back.
Soon, she laid her sack beside Ari's belongings and took a position beside the fire, her gaze lingering on Kati taking up his protective stance beside Kata.
She smiled before turning away, still concerned, but satisfied her pets would be fine through the evening and night.
She still found it difficult to accept they'd slept most of the day away. The gods had surely protected them, for even though their camp was away from the main path and surrounded by trees, the danger of travelers, or worse, outlaws, remained a worry.
"What troubles you?" Ari didn't look up while he poked at the flames, stirring the kindling so the fire crackled and the flames flared. Juices from the cooking birds sizzled and spit, the smoky aroma making Thora's mouth water.
"I was just thinking how odd that we slept so late into the day."
He paused and met her stare steadily. A hint of a smile tugged at one corner of his mouth. "We may do so again tomorrow."
Thora gaped at him, his laughter echoing in the still forest. "Are you a fool? Do you know the danger we could have found ourselves in, caught asleep like that?"
"I don't know why you worry. This glen is secluded enough and difficult to simply stumble upon."
"Yes, but to be taken by surprise leaves us both most likely dead."
"Don't you think your wolves would have given us notice long before anyone neared?"
She didn't answer, disgusted at her pitiful arguments. Odin's teeth, of course the animals would have alerted them to any intruders.
"You know what I think, Thora? I think you are trying to avoid the coming night."
Heat flooded her cheeks when he winked. He read her well.
Too well. While part of her looked forward to more of the delight he'd bestowed upon her, part of her remained guarded against any dangerous intentions he may have.
When he kissed her, she lost all sensible thought, her only focus on their lovemaking.
She risked more than her life. Sometime in the last hours, she'd come to the realization she likely also risked her heart.
Perhaps that frightened her most of all.
She liked him too much. Only one day and one glorious night and she had already become ensnared by his wit and charm, and the intensity of his attentions.
He'd saved her, and truthfully, her gratitude for that was likely the foundation for her dreamy notions.
His taking of her innocence had been more than a means to thwart her father, it had been a sheer delight she had to admit she looked forward to repeating.
"Is that true, Thora? Are you trying to avoid laying with me again?"
The husk of his voice shivered along her spine and drew her from the troublesome thoughts.
"I will not resist, if that's what you're asking."
"Not exactly, but I'm glad to know that. But why do I have the feeling you would rather we didn't…"
She shrugged, searching for a witty retort. None came to mind.
"I know you liked it. And I know you want more."
"I shouldn't."
His eyes darkened to a strange shade of blue, the smile slowly fading. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." His lips quirked. "Well, maybe a little, but I promise you'll like it."
Once more fire scorched her face. "You were sent by Hel herself to torment me!"
"And you like that, too, ástin minn."
"Can you not understand the costs of what I've done? I have given up my innocence."
For a moment, she swore regret flashed in his stare. "You regret that?"
"It does make certain things… difficult for me."
His shoulders lifted, the harsh rasp of his inhalation echoing in dusky air. "I understand."
Behind him, the sizzle of the birds grew louder. With a shake of his head, he turned. Why did the loss of his gaze leave her with a chill that had nothing to do with the mild temperature?
"Our meal is ready. We'll discuss this later."
The idea of talking about the coming night left her with little appetite.
She hated how he forced her to admit her enjoyment of his wickedness.
Seemingly unaware of the turmoil twisting her insides, Ari used the dagger in his belt to carve one of the grouse.
She accepted the offered leg and focused on the meat.
The first bite restored her appetite and she savored the hearty taste of the fowl.
A few more bites and her head seemed to stop spinning with inane worries.
When she finished the leg, she paused to lick her fingers.
Her eye caught Ari's gaze and she froze at the feral gleam in his eyes.
"What?"
He said nothing, merely bit into his meal and chewed slowly, a contemplative expression lining his face. When he slowly licked the juices from his fingers, she suddenly understood the hunger still glowing in his eyes.
"You are a wicked man." Was that hoarse tremor her voice? The way this man affected her left her senses reeling. She didn't like it. Oh yes, you do. Why didn't the voice in her head stop?
"You have no idea just how wicked I can be."
Pressing her thighs together in an attempt to assuage the ache growing in her sex, she lifted her chin, holding his stare despite the ferocious need to look away.
"You take advantage of my worries. There is no skill in that!"
He threw his head back and laughed. When he stopped, yet still chuckling, he grabbed her arm and drew her near.
"Do you challenge me?"
Freyja, help me now. "Perhaps."
"I accept. You will be screaming my name soon, this I promise."
He leaned in for a brief, yet possessive, kiss, his tongue sliding along her lips in a tantalizing tease before he drew away. He stood, reached for another one of the grouse and cut a piece off. He chewed noisily, laughing again when she fixed a disgusted sneer on him.
Thankfully, he said nothing more while they ate.
Reaching for a handful of the berries, Thora kept watch over her wolves, but they seemed content.
Kata once more slept, still weak. Thora estimated at least another three or four days before the wolf could comfortably travel modest distances.
Three or four more days with Ari. Surely by then, he would be tired of her.
The thought was accompanied by another uncomfortable twinge she found difficult to understand or ignore.
He stood, drawing her from her reverie. Her entire body tensed, wondering if he planned to seduce her now.
"I go to the stream to bathe. When I come back, you had better be ready for me."
He turned and stalked into the forest, and the tightness in her muscles eased. Be ready? Ha! She would set her pallet near the wolves. Falling asleep before he returned posed a very different dilemma.
***
Ari reached the stream quickly, needing the cool water to calm his raging desire.
His plan for tonight depended on his ability to retain control.
In this state, it would be over before he even had a chance to begin digging to uncover the true depths of her passion.
Anger at his weakness roiled through him, making it easier to subdue the hunger.
Stripping off his tunic and hose, strode straight into the stream, diving when the water grew a little deeper. The coolness surrounded him and he floated for a few moments, savoring a return to sanity.
Which wouldn't remain once he returned to camp, and Thora.
What was it about this woman that had him so bewitched?
He sighed, turning and stroking his arms against the current.
The brief activity also served to expend some of the intense energy keeping him on edge.
When he rose out of the water, his thoughts ran clearer.
Now calm once more, he shook his head, shedding much of the water from his hair.
He reached for the cloth from his pack and quickly dried off.
The last of Sol's chariot had winked out on the horizon some time ago.
The fact they had lost so much of the day in slumber also troubled him, but he wouldn't let Thora know that.
While true her wolves would have alerted them to intruders, the heavy sated slumber could turn out deadly for a warrior.
He must find a way to contain this lust that overtook him every time he was near her.
Hel, he didn't even have to be near her.
Just the thought of her had his cock poised on full hardness.