CHAPTER SIX
Hradi reined in the horse before a modest wooden house.
He swung down then reached for Katrin. She went into his arms, shivering when he held her close, slowing her downward slide and prolonging the heated contact of their bodies.
Her breath caught when she came eye level with him and she didn’t protest when he brushed his lips briefly across hers.
When her feet touched the ground, he didn’t release her, his hand moving lower to cup her bottom through her dress.
He gave a gentle squeeze and chuckled before abruptly releasing her.
Her trembling knees threatened to collapse beneath her, but she managed to maintain a somewhat steady stance.
He pointed to the house. "Go ahead. I need to secure the horses."
Her throat remained thick and dry, preventing words, so she nodded and turned to the house.
Heat blazed along her spine and she knew without a doubt he watched her while she walked away.
How she resisted the urge to turn back to look at him, she might never know.
Her hand trembled when she reached for the latch and pushed the door open.
The large main room featured a pit with a ceiling hole directly above to release smoke.
With the fire cold, the room held a chill.
Katrin looked around for kindling or perhaps some touchwood to restart the fire.
While not as grand as the great hall in the village, this house was well-appointed, with a sturdy, well-made table and even two chairs along with the usual benches.
She set her satchel on the table and continued her search, heading toward the room on the other side of the wall.
She stopped short, staring at the massive bed piled high with furs and an ornate headboard made of antlers.
The knowledge that Hradi slept there, that she would be expected to sleep there as well, spurred another slash of heat in her belly.
She backed away and returned to the main room, intent on resuming her search for something with which to start a fire.
The door swung open and she spun about. Hradi stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the sun behind him. Though she couldn’t see his face, she suspected he smiled. Stepping inside, he pushed the door. It shut with an ominous thud.
Now she saw him clearly. The hunger in his eyes roused a mix of eagerness and apprehension.
Though no visions assailed her this time, she felt fairly certain she knew his thoughts.
Besides, her empathic skills honed in on his feelings, with no one else around to interfere.
Or maybe it was because she shared similar sentiments.
"It’s cold in here."
His words were so soft, she almost didn’t hear them. Somehow, she found her voice this time. "I was looking for firewood."
"It’s outside. I’ll get some."
She took up a position near one of the chairs, putting the table between them in the peculiar hope it might shield her from his intense stare. He grinned, as though he knew exactly what she was doing.
He casually strode around the table. She refused to move, not wanting to reveal her fear, which he would surely notice if she fled his approach. Her fingers tightened on the back of the chair, until her knuckles whitened. When he stopped in front of her, she met his gaze evenly.
His hand came up and caught her chin in his fingers.
She resisted the urge to flinch, staring into his eyes.
A flash of her earlier visions arose but was quickly chased by the feel of his mouth landing on hers, his lips warm and gentle for the briefest moment before the kiss grew hungry.
The thought that the reality far surpassed anything her dreams had stirred sparked in the chaos engulfing her.
Hradi wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her tight against him, his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth.
A small whimper, of delight or submission she wasn't sure, escaped when she obliged him and parted her lips.
The heat of his tongue sent a rush of longing throughout her, settling in her sex with a fiery throbbing that left her panting.
Still, he devoured her, and she let him sweep her along with the passion he stoked.
She clung to his shoulders, afraid that if she let go, she might tumble away from him, and she wished this kiss might go on forever.
A moment later, he released her and she stumbled back, her heart racing, the blood pounding in her ears with a thunderous rumble.
Desire maintained its velvet grip along her entire body, making her nipples tight and tingling, her knees wobble and her core explode.
This overpowering sensations threatened to consume her soul.
She pressed trembling fingers against her lip, her attempts to regain control finally succeeding when she took another deep breath.
He pointed to a crate beside the firepit. "I will bring some firewood and get us something to eat. You will fetch the water so we can cook those vegetables. I will show you the well."
He turned and walked across the room, bending to pick up a bucket. "Come."
Katrin silently followed him back outside.
Her thoughts raced with the recollection of his kiss and the anticipation of what might come next.
How could something that felt so good be so bad?
What reason would the gods have to remove her gift, simply for laying with Hradi?
Hadn't they given her foreknowledge of him? Wasn’t she meant to pass on her ability?
Nothing made sense anymore. Now more than ever, she needed to seek answers directly from the gods.
Not at this moment, but soon. There was not enough time before Maní began his rise into the sky.
Hints of another idea arose. If it worked, it might be her only chance, at least until she learned if her sudden suspicion of Gunilla's claims was valid. And if so, why had her mistress lied?
At the same time, Katrin hoped to finally experience at least some of the pleasure she'd only heard about in partial whispers, especially now that she had felt some of it for herself. She bit her lip to contain an eager smile.
***
Hradi strode across the yard toward the well, his thoughts on the coming night.
He couldn’t wait to get Katrin in his bed, naked and ready for him.
He raised his eyes to the sky, giving a silent thanks to Freyja for sending this young witch to him.
If she and her mistress intended harm to Grindafell, he would know the truth soon, and have the added reward of enjoying the delights of Katrin’s body.
Though Hradi had his suspicions about Gunilla, he still felt certain Katrin was innocent of such treachery. There were times when he found her watching the older woman with questioning eyes. She had doubts as well. How he knew, he couldn’t be sure, but the instinct continued to strengthen.
He stopped at the well and pulled on the rope, bringing up a large bucket. "Use this for the pots. I will bring the wood."
He left her to fill the bucket and went to the stack of firewood stored beside the barn.
Gathering sticks along with a few small logs, he returned to the house to find Katrin, as instructed, filling a pot with the water.
The sight of her in his home like this stirred strange emotions, ones he hadn’t ever known before.
Though it had only been a short while since their arrival, he realized he liked having her here.
Silently, he made a vow to do whatever he must to keep her, tending his house and waiting for him.
Even if that meant taking her as his captive, should his gut be proven wrong.
He refused to consider how wrong he’d been once before.
He placed the logs and sticks into the pit and gathered the leather pouch containing touchwood.
Scattering a few of the soft wood chips over the logs, he picked up the flint and quickly sparked a fire.
Within minutes, the flames grew. Katrin lifted the heavy pot and hung it from the iron bar across the fire.
When she straightened, she met his stare, a triumphant smile on her face. "I don’t usually do the cooking for our family."
"Why not?"
"The younger girls are responsible for that. That is how they pay Gunilla for their lessons."
"I see. And how do you pay for your lessons?"
Her smile faltered before she forced it back into place. "I am more like Gunilla’s daughter. She has raised me since I was a small child and has expected nothing from me but…"
"But what?" That she hid this from him somehow annoyed him, again rousing the worry that his instincts had been wrong. The very idea left a bitter taste in the back of his mouth.
Several moments passed before she answered. "I usually share visions of the coming days with her each night before we go to sleep."
"What sort of visions?"
She shrugged, her gaze darting away from his before returning again. "Mostly if we will find a town to help, or a city where we may find ways to offer aid to those in need. Sometimes, I can tell if danger is ahead and we can plan to avoid it."
Hradi nodded but remained silent while contemplating her words.
He wanted to believe she was sincere, and the way she now held his stare assured him she spoke the truth.
Or was she a very adept liar and he chose to see what he wanted?
When had he ever doubted himself so much?
Never, at least not since… He shook away the path his thoughts began to wander.
"I will bring back something from the smokehouse. We will continue this. I have many questions for you."
"I am sure you do."
He grinned at the sass in her voice. With another nod, he turned and headed for the smokehouse.