But there were blessings, and this was one of them.
Once they were at their destination, she wanted them both naked. This time she wanted to climb into a bed with him and make love without rushing, without worrying someone would find them.
Reality wasn’t going away. They had decisions to make, plans to craft. But she needed the connection with her husband, needed to fully understand what he’d become. Then she could fight to whatever end awaited.
It was a small thing to ask for in the scheme of things. A couple of hours in exchange for centuries of service and hardship.
The world flew by outside the vehicle. The woods thickened. She wanted to smell the air, to feel it brushing over her skin.
“Does the window open?”
He pressed a button and it slowly lowered. The wind rushed in to embrace her. It was warm, like a kiss from the sun. She reached her hand outside the vehicle, letting the air play through her fingers.
“Anja?”
She pulled her hand back in and gave him her full attention. His jaw was tight and a muscle jerked beneath one eye.
“Once we’re at the cabin, I want to show you my wolf.”
It was both something she longed for and yet feared. “Yes.” The fear would always be there until she’d seen for herself what he’d become.
“If you still want me then, I’m taking you to bed. The rest of the world can wait.”
She nodded, briefly unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Finally, she swallowed. “I’d like that.” Then she remembered she hadn’t told him about Morrigan’s vision. “I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” He reached out a hand to her. She took it without hesitation, breathing more freely once the connection was made.
“Something happened while you and Maccus traveled to the Christian underworld.” It still seemed unbelievable to her that they’d been able to not only go there, but return, and they didn’t have to die to do it.
“Do you want to tell me now?”
She shook her head. “It can wait. We’re almost there, right?”
“Not much longer.”
“Then I’ll wait.” She’d rather be out of a moving vehicle with her feet on the ground when they had that conversation.
“Whatever you want.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. She couldn’t resist rubbing her fingers against his beard. A strangled moan turned into a growl. “I love your hands on me.”
“I love touching you.”
He slowed the truck and turned. The dirt side road was almost hidden from view. She hadn’t even noticed it until he’d made the move toward it.
This road was not nearly as smooth as the one they’d left. She bounced up and down, grateful for the safety harness holding her in place. Five minutes later, he pulled up in front of a small house constructed from large wooden logs. It was well made and sat in the center of a circle ringed with trees.
Silence greeted them when he turned off the engine. Then a songbird trilled and a crow cawed. This was what she’d needed, what she’d been missing since she’d arrived in this world.
She undid the mental clasp of the belt, opened the door, and stepped down. Heat shimmered like a wall. Stepping forward, she let it envelop her, shivering as her skin warmed. The earthy smell of the dirt beneath her feet, the sweet scent of grass, and the more pungent aroma from the pine trees soothed her. The leaves on the branches danced and whooshed in the breeze, making a song all their own.
Bjorn tucked his arm around her waist and drew her to his side. “What do you think?”
The home was sturdy yet inviting. The land was ripe with life and possibility. The air was clean and warm. But best of all, her husband was beside her and they were alone.
“It’s perfect.”
Chapter Thirteen
Bjorn released the breath he’d been holding. He thought she’d like it here but hadn’t been sure. The years they’d been apart, she spent them surrounded by people, serving in a great hall. Time to herself would have been limited.
There was much he didn’t know.
“Tell me about your life—”
She reached up and covered his lips with her fingers. “Later. I’ll answer all your questions later. Show me your home.”
He could no more resist her request then the sun could refuse to rise every morning. “Come.” With his hand squarely on the small of her back, he urged her toward the cabin.
The door was unlocked. He never locked it. He pushed the door open to reveal the living area, trying to see it through her eyes. It was rustic. He didn’t need much. Didn’t want it. But now he wished he had a mansion to set before her.
“It’s perfect.” Standing just inside the door, she took it all in. “The stone fireplace is gorgeous. Did you build it?”
“Yes.” He’d gathered all the stones himself from the woods and nearby river in the early nineteen hundreds. “The original structure was this room. I expanded and added the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom about fifty years ago. I’ve updated it now and then, since I use it often.”
“Show me the rest.” She trailed her fingers over the back of the ancient plaid sofa, which had often served him as a bed. All he could think about was having her stroke him.
“Ah, the kitchen is over there. Small but functional.” The countertops were butcherblock. The floors were all wide-planked oak. The cabinets he’d custom built and painted white to contrast with the rest of the wood.
“You have a stove and refrigerator.” She opened the fridge and peered inside. “How do you power it?”
“Solar energy. There are panels on the roof. It amazes me how much you know of this world.”
Her cheeks flushed a deep pink, whether from embarrassment or pleasure he wasn’t sure. “I stopped learning for a long time. Didn’t really care. But the stories drew me back. I listened a lot. The newcomers talk more than those from our time. People seem to need to share more, to talk more.” She paused and shut the door. “They seldom listen.”
“You’re not wrong. Computers and social media have changed everything. Look around while I grab the groceries.” He didn’t want to leave her, but the food would spoil in this heat.
After grabbing the perishables, he hurried back to the kitchen. She was looking in the cupboards, which were mostly bare except for the basic dishes and utensils.
He shoved the meat in the freezer and the rest in the fridge. “Let me show you around.” He motioned her toward the short hallway. “There’s a basic bathroom.” It was nothing fancy, but it did have a claw-foot tub. “Water is pumped in from the well.”
“It’s incredible what you’ve built here.”
“It’s not as fancy as Maccus’s place.” Shit, had he just said that aloud?
“No, it’s not as fancy. It’s better. I’m not afraid to touch things here. It’s more like home.”
He sucked in a deep breath, the band around his chest easing. “Bedroom over here.” His voice was low and rough with lust. Like the rest of the place, it was log walls, a wooden floor, and basic furniture. The bed dominated the space.
Before she could enter the room, he stepped in front of her. “Not yet. We need to go outside.” He needed to show her his wolf, and if they set foot in that room it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“Yes. Okay.” She backed away and headed toward the door, not stopping until she was out on the front porch. Like the rest of the place, it was small with room enough for two chairs, even though he had only one.
It struck him as sad. The chair was much like him—weathered and alone. There might not be time or a reason to buy another. He swallowed down the bile in his throat. “You know what Odin did to me.”
“Yes.” She wrapped her arms around the post at the top of the two stairs and stood in the shadows created by the porch ceiling. Fear practically
bled from her pores, clogging his nose. She ducked her head slightly and bit her bottom lip.
He caught her chin in his hand and tipped her face up. “Don’t be afraid. You are the one person in existence who has no cause to fear me. Everything I am I will use to protect you. I will kill for you. I will die for you.”
She wrapped her fingers around his thick wrist. “I don’t want you to die. I don’t want you to have to kill.”
He wanted to scoop her into his arms, take her inside, and forget all about the beast inside him. But that wouldn’t be honest.
He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “We rarely get what we wish for.” Or in his case, he got it, but it hadn’t brought any peace, had brought with it a whole new set of problems.
“Watch.” He forced himself to step away from her. His shirt was the first thing to go. Then his boots. Her fingernails dug into the wooden post as he shucked his pants. Naked, he walked to the center of the clearing.
His wolf paced inside him, impatient to be released. Hurt her and I’ll find a way to end you. The mental message made the wolf howl in fury, the creature angered by the suggestion. They were on the same page. Anja was to be protected at all costs.
Bjorn closed his eyes and embraced his wolf. The process was usually almost instantaneous, but he slowed it down, allowing her to see his body transform from man to massive animal. No wolf in the world came anywhere close to being as large as him.
Fur pushed out from beneath his skin. His face changed shape, his forehead flattening and his jaw elongating. He fell forward onto all fours, his hands and feet morphing into giant paws.
When the change was complete, he shook himself to let his fur settle. Excitement thrummed through him. He threw back his head and howled. The sound raced down the valley and echoed against the mountains.
Taking his courage in hand, he finally opened his eyes.
Mouth open, she stared at him, her face as pale as parchment. “Bjorn?”
He padded toward her.
“Your eyes are the same.” Releasing the death grip on the post, she reached out her hand. Even though she was standing two steps off the ground, he had to lower his head so she could touch his face.
She hesitated and then ran her fingers over his fur. “I thought you’d be all one color, but it’s a mixture of black and yellow and white. Some light brown, too. You’re gorgeous.”
He frowned, not sure he liked the description, but stayed steady, unwilling to move and break the spell she was weaving around him.
…
Breathe.
She repeated the mantra over and over in her head. There really was a huge wolf standing right in front of her. And she really had watched her husband change from man to beast.
As a warrior, he was impressive—tall and strong, his intellect as powerful as his muscles. As a wolf, he left her almost speechless. He was a mythical creature come to life. This was no ordinary wolf. His giant size and strength made him the stuff of legends.
As different as he appeared, the eyes were the same, and right now they silently pleaded for acceptance.
Her hands trembled as she ran them over his flanks before finally stroking his powerful jaw. His tongue came out and licked his lips, exposing giant fangs as long as her pinky finger. It startled her, and she jerked her hand back. He gave a low whine and lowered his head.
“I’m sorry. You took me by surprise.”
I can do this.
This was her husband, the man she loved. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves and her racing heart, she stroked his face again and then scratched between his ears. The longer she was around him, the more relaxed she became. This was no slathering beast, no matter what he might have been or still believed himself to be. He was majestic. Not only powerful but a power to be reckoned with.
“The change looked painful.” Watching fur push out from under his skin, hearing his bones pop and seeing them reform was something she’d never forget.
Natural. The reply echoed in her head. Caught off guard, she fell back a step.
“How did you do that?”
The wolf tilted his head to one side, obviously asking her what she meant.
“I heard your reply in my head. Did you say, ‘Natural?’ Of course you didn’t say anything. What I meant was did you think it?” She was babbling now, but she’d heard a voice in her head.
He nodded and took a step back. The air around him shimmered. She blinked and once again he was a man standing before her. It was much quicker this time. He must have slowed down the transformation the first time to allow her to witness the changes.
Naked, he was as imposing as his wolf had been. His blond hair hung around his broad shoulders, which were squared. “You heard my thoughts?”
“I heard some voice in my head. Isn’t that normal?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried to talk with someone while in my wolf form. When I first was changed, the creature took me over. It took centuries to be able to maintain a presence while shifted.”
“That must have been difficult.” She couldn’t imagine losing her sense of self like that. “Only a strong man could have made it back.”
“A stronger man wouldn’t have allowed himself to be lost in the first place.” Disgust and guilt were thick in his voice.
“No.” She walked down the stairs. “You were cursed by a god, Bjorn. A god.” If she had to remind him of that fact a thousand times, she would. “The fact you’re not a slathering beast is a miracle.” She touched his face as she had the wolf’s. “You’re my miracle.”
He turned his head and kissed her palm. “And you’re mine.” He tilted his head to one side. “Can you hear what my thoughts are now?”
She shook her head. “No. It seems I can hear only your wolf’s thoughts. I like your wolf. He’s so large I could ride him.”
The tension emanating from him lessened. The tight muscles in his shoulders eased. The hands by his sides were no longer clenched. One part of him definitely wasn’t relaxed. He was still very aroused. She was trying not to notice, but it wasn’t easy.
“Would you like to?”
“Would I like to what?” She’d lost her train of thought, caught ogling her husband.
“Take a ride.”
She immediately pictured them naked on his bed with her riding him, but that wasn’t what he meant. “You mean ride on your wolf? Through the woods?”
His slow smile made her toes curl in her shoes. “What other kind of ride did you think I meant?”
“Nothing.” She waved her hand in front of her, wishing she could erase her thoughts. “Nothing at all. I’d love to ride your wolf.”
His low laugh was filled with sexual promise and had her nipples puckering. The devil knew what he was doing, too. He dropped his gaze to her chest and licked his lips. Her arousal was evident through the thin fabric of the tunic.
“You can ride me later.”
“Maybe.” She turned her nose up and tried to look stern, but failed miserably. There was no way to resist the twinkle in his blue eyes and the pure joy of his smile. “But first I’d like to share your wolf with you.”
Without asking, she knew this was a first for him. He would have allowed no other this privilege.
“I want to try again.”
“Try what?” She was eager to see his wolf once again, to get even closer this time.
“Talking to you while I’m shifted. I’ll send you occasional thoughts. You can tell me if you hear me.”
It was uncomfortable to have someone else’s thoughts in her head. If it were anyone but Bjorn she would have done everything in her power to stop it. “Should I see if I can send you thoughts as well or if it’s one way?”
“Good idea. Better to know what we’re dealing with. This is new to me, too.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I wa
nt to take you to bed, but this could be important.”
“You’re right.” If it came down to a fight, it could be vital to their survival for her to be able to ride his wolf and communicate while he was shifted. “Do it.”
Almost before the words were spoken, the wolf was standing in front of her again.
“You shift so fast. It’s truly amazing.” She studied the huge creature in front of her. “So how do we do this?”
He lay down on the ground in front of her. Even then she had to throw her leg over his back and pull herself on. She moved around a bit to get comfortable and then grabbed onto the scruff of his neck.
As if that was the sign he’d been waiting for, he pushed to his feet. Powerful muscles flexed beneath her. She tilted to one side but managed to pull herself upright. It was similar to being on the back of a horse, only this time she had no control over the animal beneath her.
Okay? The word echoed in her brain. It sounded like Bjorn, but not quite. It was deeper and lower.
She started to speak, but then remembered they were supposed to be testing what they could do. I’m fine.
He stayed where he was.
“Did you hear me?”
The wolf shook his head. No.
“Guess that answers that question. I can hear you, but you can’t hear me unless I speak aloud.” It was disappointing. “Are we going to stand around all day or are we going somewhere?” She lightened her tone and touched her heels to his sides as if he were a horse.
He glanced over his shoulder and snarled, exposing his large teeth.
She laughed, and then was awed by her reaction. She wasn’t the least bit afraid. This was Bjorn, her husband, her man, no matter what skin he wore.
He gave her a sly wolf grin that promised retribution. Hang on.
That was all the warning she got before he took off running. He loped toward the woods, his huge paws completely silent on the ground. The world grew darker as they entered the shade, the tall trees blocking most of the sun.
Fingers fisted in his fur, she clung to him at first, terrified of falling off. But like riding a horse, she eventually found his rhythm. She moved with him, becoming one with the wolf beneath her.
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