Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
D riving rain hit the windshield as Roman navigated the bus up the steep hill to Thorsteinn Castle. Other than the screech of the wipers, battling to maintain visibility, the bus was fairly quiet. It was as if all the passengers had collectively decided Roman needed his undivided attention on the treacherous road.
The trip that usually took twenty or so minutes took forty, and I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we finally stopped at the castle’s central courtyard.
Nina and Katrin met us as usual, wearing bright yellow wet-weather jackets, and I slipped away, aiming for my hot tub as quickly as possible.
But first, not wanting a repeat of my crazy scramble to get ready last time, I went to the costume room and selected the same beautiful period dress I’d worn last month.
Returning to my room, I laid it out on the bed and put out my shoes and the accessories I’d wear with it. I put my bikini on, wrapped my towel around me, and opened my door.
Within twenty minutes of arriving at the castle, I was slipping into the hot tub with a contented sigh. This was the life.
Closing my eyes produced delightful images all containing men. Luca and his glistening abs. Roman’s dance moves that had all the women around us drooling. I really must make more of an effort to talk to him about ? —
A shuffling sound had my eyes snapping open. I sat up so fast a wave splashed out of the tub. “Who’s there?” But I needn’t have asked. I knew exactly who it was even before he stepped forward. Count Frederik Thorsteinn, part-owner of this castle. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Hello again.” He looked uncomfortable as if stricken with indecision.
“Hello, Frederik.”
A tiny smile formed on his lips; apparently, he was pleased that I’d remembered his name.
“Frederik, please,” I pleaded with an Oscar-worthy smile, “would you mind leaving me to bathe alone? Like you did last time?”
“Not this time.” He took another step closer and began undoing his shirt buttons.
“Excuse me.” My eyes bulged. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m hopping into my bath.” He pulled off his sand-colored Stingy Brim hat and scooped his long hair up into a messy knot on his head.
“It’s not your bath; it’s mine.’
“And there’s plenty of room for both of us.” He threw his towel aside and without any hesitation, climbed the steps. I didn’t know where to focus. My gaze bounced from his tight red speedos to his muscular torso to his hairy chest. Before I’d had time to swallow, Frederik was in the water with me.
My jaw dropped, and I was completely lost for words.
“See . . . we fit just fine.” He nodded at me defiantly .
His fantastic body threw me off guard, stunning me beyond speaking. Frederik was younger than I’d originally thought, and fitter. I was torn between storming out of the bath, intentionally wetting him in the process, and standing my ground by sinking deeper into the steaming water.
I did neither, and it was a long, awkward few seconds during which we simply stared at each other across the pond before I cleared my throat. “Why did you come now?”
“Pardon?” His eyebrows bounced up.
“Why now? The bath is here all the time, yet suddenly you need a bath right now. Why?”
He cupped handfuls of water over his shoulders, and as I waited out his silence, I had a feeling he was debating what to say. Finally, he shrugged. “Because you have the special bath.”
“Special?”
“Yes, it smells nice.”
I scrunched up my nose. “You can make your own bath smell nice.”
“Not like this.” He glided his hand over the water. “You work for that tour company, Vacation Dreamz. Yes?”
He changed the subject so quickly it was like he’d rehearsed this moment. “Yes, I’m the tour guide.”
“Hmmm, I suppose you think you know everything about this castle.”
Squinting at him through the steam, I tried to preempt his line of questioning. “Everything significant, yes.”
He lowered his shoulders beneath the water. “Okay then. Hit me with it.”
I did a double-take. “I beg your pardon?”
“I want to know what it is you’re telling people about Thorsteinn Castle.”
He seemed angry and determined to prove I was worthy of my profession, I intended to wow him with my knowledge. I relayed almost word for word the same spiel I told the tourists every time we drove up to Thorsteinn Castle.
He glided his hand over the top of the water, remaining silent.
Had he even heard my speech? When he stopped moving and his green eyes met mine, I was captured by their intensity. Frederik seemed in turmoil. He inhaled and let the air out slowly. “So, your knowledge is limited to what’s on Wikipedia.”
“No.” Although his comment was probably true, I was more upset by his implications.
“All right then. Give me something you can’t find on Wikipedia.”
A trivia challenge. Ha! He had no idea who he was dealing with. “The Ottomans destroyed the castle in 1529 and again in 1683.”
“Wikipedia.”
My jaw dropped. “This castle is considered unique, as unlike most Austrian castles, this one was owned by more powerful women than men. The baroness who acquired it in the 17th century increased its rooms to one hundred and three and built the moat surrounding it.”
“Impressive, but still Wiki.”
“Really?” I said it with the sarcasm it deserved. “Why don’t you amuse me with your knowledge then?”
A small smile curled at his lips. “Thought you’d never ask. Did you know it’s said to be haunted?”
“Yes, I found that on Wikipedia.”
“Did you know hundreds of beheadings of so-called witches were performed here and their bodies are said to line the bottom of the moat?”
“Wikipedia,” I said, deadpan.
He burst out laughing, and his delightful baritone caught me by surprise. Count Frederik was growing more interesting by the second.
With a slight incline of his head, he said, “Touché, Miss?—”
“Daisy.”
He held his hand forward, and I paused to assess the forthright stranger. It was a long moment before I raised my hand from the water and met my palm with his.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Daisy.”
I eased back on my seat and tried to study him without making it too obvious. If I had to guess his age now, I’d have said early forties. His gray hair indicated age on his side, but his body said otherwise. His physique was much more toned than William’s had ever been.
He clicked his fingers. “Did you know that in 1149, King Conrad the Third of Germany, stayed here after his second crusade?”
I blinked at him. “No, I didn’t.”
His foot tapped mine beneath the water. “Uh-huh.”
I frowned, unsure whether he’d touched me intentionally. The dazzle in his eyes suggested he had.
“Okay, did you know Richard the Lionheart also stayed here after the Third Crusade in 1192?”
I shook my head, debating over whether he was telling the truth.
“You don’t believe me.”
He said it as a statement and I was flustered. “Well, it’s . . . how do I know you’re telling the truth?”
He shrugged and let out a sigh. “I guess you don’t. But I have no need to lie. Did you know that over the centuries, the castle has also served as a hospital, hunting lodge, and prison?”
“Yes, I did.” It seemed that Frederik enjoyed history as much as I did.
“Did you know it was abandoned twice in its history? ”
“Yes.” I smiled. “Once during the Thirty Years’ War, from 1623 to 1644, to be exact. And again in 1679 when Black Death decimated the area. The castle was a hospital during that time, but once one person brought the plague inside these walls, everyone died.”
“Well done. The bodies were left to rot where they fell.”
“I know. Imagine arriving at the castle and seeing all those skeletons lying everywhere.” Awful images swam across my mind. The plague that’d roared through Europe had killed nearly as many people as World War One, yet it was rarely spoken of. I squinted at Frederik. Where was he going with this quiz? Maybe this was some kind of test to see if I was worthy of bringing tourists through his castle. He had no idea who he was messing with.
“I agree. It’s hard to envisage this stunning building housing such horror. But the isolation and containment made it a perfect incubator for the disease. That’s why the castle is said to be cursed.”
“It would have been confronting, that’s for sure.”
He touched my foot again. I was certain this time was on purpose, and the twinkle in his eyes confirmed it was so.
“Did you know that in 1712, lightning caused a fire that destroyed the right corner tower and part of the covered parapet walk?” Frederik continued on, informing me of one fact after another about the castle until I was no longer disbelieving. He spoke with his hands, creating ripples on the water and when he laughed, I giggled along with him.
With each passing minute, I became even more relaxed.
I got caught up admiring the flickering candles reflected in his green irises. Frederik’s apparently abundant knowledge was mesmerizing, but it was his cheeky expression that got my undivided attention.
I barely knew him, yet I was inexplicably attracted to him. Even my girly bits were tingling with anticipation that something delightful was about to happen.
My world really has tilted off its axis.
“Did you know the same family has owned the castle for two hundred and fifty-eight years?”
Hmmm, maybe he doesn’t realize I know he’s a Thorsteinn. Deciding to keep that juicy tidbit to myself, I said, “Uh-huh, yes I did. The Thorsteinn family.”
“Correct.” He eased forward on his seat, and his hand brushed against my thigh. It had to be on purpose.
My heart fluttered. Our eyes met.
An invisible current sizzled between us.
Is this really happening?
Do I want this to happen?
His gaze was like a flame, licking heat all over me, confirming that hell yes, I wanted this to happen.
He eased farther forward, placed his hands above my knees, and something about the confidence of that move had me swaying toward him. I was helpless against our attraction.
Maybe I was giving out those ‘old woman needs a root to feel young again’ vibes.
At least this time I was safe. I knew Frederik wasn’t married.
With our eyes locked and breathless desire whispering from my throat, Frederik glided his hands upward, settling his palms on my thighs. After a pause, in which I thought the anticipation would have me imploding, he closed the distance between us. My gaze flitted from his eyes to his mouth and back again. My heart did little flips in my chest.
I wanted to kiss him, needed to.
Leaning forward, I joined him in the middle.
His lips met mine, soft yet with certainty. His hand left my thigh and caressed my cheek. When his thumb glided gently over my skin, a groan released from my throat at his delicate touch.
The tiny remnant of my uncertainty faded into oblivion as I succumbed to his tenderness. His lips were warm, but his tongue was hot, as greedy to taste me as I was to taste him.
Our kiss took me to another world, a world where it was just Frederik and me. A world where I felt every beat pulsing through my body. A world where nothing mattered.
It was magical. And sweet. And made me so fucking horny.
I slid forward on my seat and placed my hands on his bare thighs, feeling the firm muscles beneath his flesh. He tilted his head to the side and I parted my lips, allowing his probing tongue access.
His hand found my right breast, and after an awkward struggle, he released it from the tight constraint of my bikini. The joyous freedom had me moaning.
His groan confirmed his pleasure was equal to mine. He squeezed my mound, massaging it like working a stress ball. It didn’t hurt—quite the opposite. His fingers were miracle workers, teasing my nipple to attention.
The bath was warm, but our kiss was hot. Our tongues danced, our breaths mingled, and little mewling noises escaped my throat at the delightful feelings shuddering through me.
I glided my hands up and down his legs, each time drawing higher on his thighs. My exploring fingers touched the fabric of his speedos and Frederik pinched my nipple so hard I yelped.
“Sorry.” The word barely escaped his lips before he scooped my breast in his hand, rose it above the water, latched his mouth onto my nipple and sucked.
Holy hot mystery man.
I was at his mercy .
As his right hand held my breast to his mouth, his other hand cruised up my thigh. I parted my legs, practically begging him to touch me.
I had no idea what’d come over me but damn, it felt good.
No, that was an understatement. It felt right.
Frederick touched my pussy, and although I’d wanted him to do that, I still gasped at the unexpected shock of it. But I didn’t have time to think before he sucked my nipple, long and hard, drawing my breast above the water until it snapped from his lips and tumbled back with a splash.
His fingers found my pussy again, and this time, I rolled my hips forward, letting him know I wanted him to touch me there, needed him to. My body would implode if he didn’t.
He granted my silent wish and moved his finger up the fabric between my legs. But it wasn’t enough. The damned bikini bottoms had me strapped in like a chastity belt.
It was no match for Frederik though. Letting go of my breast, he curled his fingers into the taut elastic and tugged it aside. He thumbed my clit, and that tiny oversensitive nub shot delicious tingles through me. His lips left my mouth, and a moan tumbled from my throat as he planted tiny kisses up and down my neck.
I tilted my head, giving him access, and glided my hand up his muscular thigh, inching closer to his speedos once more.
Without warning, he pushed his finger into me. His movement was so sudden, my high-pitched gasp echoed off the stone walls.
But I didn’t ease away. I didn’t stop. I didn’t want him to stop.
I wanted this mysterious man to keep plunging my depths. To keep generating the exquisite pulses that bubbled through me like expensive champagne. I clenched my insides, curling them around his finger and the orgasm building inside me swelled like a balloon.
It was huge. Extraordinary.
Frederik inched forward, tugging my thighs over his legs, raising my ass higher, and I placed my hands on the seat for support. My boobs were fleshy mounds that wobbled on the surface of the water, matching his thrusts.
He leaned closer and as his finger fucked me senseless, his lips latched onto my nipple and sucked hard. I cried out again.
My climax was close, oh so close.
Sweet sensations, hot and sensitive, licked every nerve in my body.
I’m alive, oh so alive.
My body stiffened. I clenched my jaw and I tried to snap my knees shut, but Frederik was in the way. I was nearly ready. My whole body shuddered with the impending release, but I held back, resisting, teasing, waiting for the perfect moment.
Frederik read the signs perfectly, and after a pause, he let out a primal groan and drove his finger into me, hard and fast. Over and over and over.
My juices pulsed from my body and Frederik continued his pumping, drawing out one orgasm, then another. Every last ounce of my passion spilled from my body. My flesh tingled to life. When I couldn’t come anymore, I opened my eyes and enjoyed the most heavenly sight . . . Frederik’s glorious smile. His look of rapture was beautiful. He was beautiful.
His gaze met mine and something truly incredible crossed between us. I have no idea what it was, but it was special. What we’d just done was special. And I’d just had another first. An orgasm in a hot tub. Make that a multiple orgasm with a truly fascinating man .
Wow. Just wow.
“Wow.” Frederik read my mind. He eased back in the water, returning to the seat opposite me.
I discreetly fetched the elastic of my bikini from my crack and slipped backward again. “Yeah. Wow.”
I didn’t know what else to say. But as we sat in silence, I didn’t feel the need to speak either. It was strangely comfortable sitting in this hot tub with this relative stranger who’d just performed a miracle on my body.
The shrill pitch of a bell rang through the halls and I jumped. Wow. We’d been in the tub for two hours.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Frederik stood and once again, I was treated to a close-up view of his amazing body. He stepped from the tub, wrapped a towel low on his hips, and turned to me. “See you next month.” Water glistened on his chiseled abs and it was impossible to drag my eyes away.
“Oh, ummm . . .”
He vanished into the darkness, and seconds later the door thumped closed.
My mind whirled with disbelief.
My body, however, sang a spectacular post-climax melody.
I began to giggle. Soon my giggle was a full-blown laugh with my boobs making waves across the water.
It felt so good. I felt good. I felt fucking amazing.
Reluctantly, I dragged myself from the water. Floating on an air of wonderful, I wrapped the towel around me and forced my legs to take me back to my room.
Once inside, I stripped out of my wet bathers and was just about to hop into the shower when the phone rang. I raced to grab it from my bag, thinking it was Roman checking up on me, a smile blazed across my lips.
My smile obliterated when I saw the number. Mother.
Shit!