“Oh, great.” I turned to Jerry then burst out laughing. “Now we’re swingers.”
“As if I’d share my wife with that Viking throwback.” Jerry stomped into the room after me, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter Three
Jerry wasn’t a happy camper when he finally came out of the bathroom and threw himself on the bed.
“He’s in the bathtub. I showed him how to use the shampoo and now he’s knee deep in bubbles. Idiot.” My husband beckoned and I crawled onto the bed to cuddle next to him.
“How’d you get wet?” I plucked at the front of Jerry’s damp shirt.
“The hot running water freaked him out. I didn’t dare show him the shower with all the jets. He needs scissors and a razor too but those will have to wait.” Jerry pulled me close. “Clothes first. I won’t have the bastard showing himself to you every chance he gets.”
“Now, Jerry. You know I could care less about that.” I had looked my fill though. Not comparing the men. Jerry was all I wanted or needed. And size doesn’t matter to me. Really.
“None of my things will fit, of course. The man is a damned giant and still asking for a weapon.”
“Oh, I’m sure you aren’t about to give him one.” It was scary how little we really knew about the man we’d pulled out of the ice. Giant versus Jerry? Much as I loved and respected my man, I was afraid Gunnar could take him in hand to hand combat. “Maybe you could call your cousin. The one who arranged for the blood to be in our room?” I knew it was a woman and I was dying to meet her. The fact that Jerry had cousins in this area had certainly been news to me. “She must have connections around here and might know some local history.”
“Gretchen. Yes, I’ll have to make the call. The Viking is making serious inroads on our blood supply. She’ll have to bring us more and then go to the hotel boutique to see if she can find anything to fit Gunnar. Will she know anything about a man buried in ice centuries ago? I can’t imagine it.” Jerry stared at the ceiling. “This pisses me off, Gloriana.”
“Now, Jerry.” I crawled on top of him. “We won’t let this ruin our honeymoon.” Somehow I was feeling guilty, like this was all my fault. If I hadn’t gone exploring in the cave… “You know we couldn’t have just left him in the ice. And it was lucky that vampires found him. If a mortal had run across Gunnar and he’d broken through the ice, well, blood lust would have made it a slaughter.”
Jerry absently ran his hands over my back as I snuggled closer. “I don’t believe in luck or coincidence, Gloriana. You must have sensed vampire in the cave and that drew you to him.” Jerry frowned. “Bad timing for us but good for the Viking. He might have stayed there for another century unless global warming freed him.”
“God, Jerry.” I laid my head on his chest. “Can you imagine waking up and finding out a thousand years have passed? Everyone you loved dead for centuries.”
“It would be maddening. Which is why we need to be careful around him.” Jerry kissed my hair.
“I will be.” I sat up and smoothed the worry line between his dark brows. “Why don’t I run down to the boutique now? You know shopping is my thing. I’ll pick out something for Gunnar to wear while you call Gretchen and get her to bring in some more blood. Ask her about the Brodin family. What they are up to today or if any of them survived.” I ran my hands through Jerry’s soft hair, trying to coax him into a better mood. “You can probably figure out a way to foist Gunnar onto her, if you put your mind to it. Is she pretty? In a relationship?”
“You aren’t seriously suggesting I fix up my cousin with that Neanderthal Viking, Gloriana.” Jerry sat up, gently moving me off of him. “We have no idea what he did to deserve being put on ice for centuries. He could have been a rogue vampire, on a killing spree for all we know.”
“I am not a rogue.” Gunnar spoke from the bathroom doorway. He wore a towel around his narrow hips, his wet hair and beard stringing around his face and head. He looked marginally more civilized but still loomed large. He gave off a menacing vibe and not just because of his size.
“Are we supposed to take your word for that?” Jerry jumped to his feet, effectively putting himself between me and Gunnar. He did that a lot, protected me. I didn’t mind it this time because he’d brought up a valid point.
“Look in my eyes. Read my mind. ‘Tis no lie I tell you. The bastards who put me in the ice wanted my village, my wife, my fortune. They got me out of the way so they could have it all.” Gunnar looked away from us and ran his hand through his wet hair, droplets scattering everywhere. “What happened after I was gone..? I can only imagine it.” He said some words in another language. They were bitter and he shuddered before he met Jerry’s gaze straight on. “By Thor’s hammer, I swear that any who carry the Brodin name will suffer as I did. Nay, tenfold.” His fist pounded his massive chest.
Jerry stared at him, reading the truth. He finally stepped forward and offered his hand. “Bastards. I’m sorry. Yes. Some men can never have enough. The ones who did this are long gone though. Their family…”
“Will pay.” Gunnar wasn’t about to hear an argument against a rampage to wipe Brodin kin from the face of the earth. Not yet anyway.
I had jumped off the bed as soon as Gunnar strode into the room. Now I grabbed my purse.
“I’m going after some clothes. Jerry, call Gretchen then see if Gunnar will let you use some scissors on that mane and beard. There are some in my makeup kit.” I looked Gunnar up and down. I was good at judging sizes, did it all the time in my vintage clothing shop, Vintage Vamp’s Emporium. “I’ll charge everything to our room.”
“I have no money. Yet. But I will repay you somehow, I swear it.” Gunnar took the bottle of synthetic Jerry handed him. He was about to break it open against the door jamb when Jer snatched it back and twisted off the cap.
“We’ll figure it out.” Jerry gestured toward the fireplace. “Sit. I have to make a call.”
I left just as Gunnar settled on a bench in front of the fire. The look on his face when Jerry started talking into his phone was priceless. I couldn’t imagine the culture shock the Viking was going through and had ahead of him. As for me? I ran into Victor in the hall. I smiled, pretending that the last time I’d seen him hadn’t been when I’d been escorting a naked Viking into our room. The bellman rushed past, eyes downcast, cheeks pink. Swell.
Lucky for me the boutique catered to all sizes. There must be Viking descendants in the area. I picked out some jeans for a big and tall man, a comfy sweater in a blue that would match Gunnar’s eyes then boots that should fit. I added socks, an insulated coat and a sweatshirt, enough to get Gunnar ready to hit the road if we could persuade Gretchen to take him on. Ah, I was ever the optimist. With gloves and a knitted cap, I was done. Just the thought of centuries stuck frozen made me shiver.
I ran into Viktor again on my way back to the room but didn’t let him get away this time. I had to explain our visitor.
“Viktor!” I gestured and juggled my packages and of course he hurried to take them. “I guess you’re wondering about the man you saw with my husband and me earlier.”
“Oh, no. It’s not my place, Madame.” Viktor followed me down the hall, ears pink.
“You can imagine our surprise when we ran into one of Jerry’s cousins in the area. Jerry has relatives everywhere. He’s from Scotland and the Vikings raided there centuries ago.”
“Yes, Madame. Many Scots find they have Scandinavian relations here. I guess your husband’s cousin is a naturalist. There is a commune close by.” Viktor held up one of the bulging bags. “You have persuaded him to put on clothes? For his visit? Thank you. We don’t allow the naturalists in the dining room or disco without them.”
“Yes, yes! Exactly. So glad you understand.” I dug a big tip out of my purse as we got to our door. “Of course I don’t think he’ll be staying here. Another cousin is coming by and I hope she’ll picking him up. But we did want to take him around the hotel before he left. It is so beautifu
l. And, frankly,” I put my hand on Viktor’s arm. “I’m a little uncomfortable with all that nudity.”
“It is a lifestyle, so they say.” Viktor looked sympathetic. “I have relatives who do things that embarrass me. I try to understand. And avoid them.”
“And when you marry into a family, you never know what you’re getting into. Right?” I laughed and nodded. “Just put the bags down here. Thank you for carrying them.”
“Of course. Enjoy your visit.” Viktor pocketed the tip, smiling broadly as if he either accepted my explanation or decided he didn’t care as long as I was generous. Then he rushed back down the hallway.
I picked up the bags then kicked at the door. Jerry was being cautious and asked who was there before he opened it to let me in.
“Seems like you had some luck.” He took my packages. “Gretchen will be here soon. She had to pick up some more supplies for us.” Jerry stepped back. “Look at Gunnar.”
I did look and then did a double take. Jerry had trimmed Gunnar’s hair and beard. The tangles had probably got the best of him because he’d cut off a lot of both. It wasn’t exactly a style, since Jerry had just hacked inches off the bottom but Gunnar’s natural curl had made it work. His hair had dried a dark blond and just grazed his shoulders. The real transformation was his beard, now short enough to show off a strong chin. The man looked less wild cave man and more like a modern movie star set to play a pirate. He even had that wicked gleam in his eyes, like he’d ravish you then make you want to say “Again, please.” I took a breath before I said something silly. Like, um, wow. Just wow.
“Shut your mouth, Gloriana.” Jerry took my arm and led me to a chair. “He turned out well, I think.”
“Yes. You did a good job. He looks very, um, civilized.” I stared down at my lap when Gunnar dropped his towel and stepped into the jeans. I guess he hadn’t noticed the underwear I’d purchased.
“Fit good but how you close these?” He walked up to me. The zipper was open and of course he hadn’t snapped them either. He tucked himself in, so there was just a nice path of hair roughened skin showing below his navel.
“I’ll show you.” Jerry shoved Gunnar back and proceeded to give the man a lesson in dressing in the new century. By the time the Viking had on his new sweater and boots, you’d think he belonged in this era. I had to remember to keep closing my mouth. Damn, but he looked hot.
“I will pay for these things. I don’t take charity. Now owe you for clothes as well as this fake blood.” Gunnar was learning and actually twisted off the cap of yet another bottle. “I may have way to get gold.”
“Really?” I couldn’t imagine how he thought he could find gold after all this time. Of course he hadn’t seen much of the modern world yet. Nothing beyond this hotel and this room. For now, we’d humor him. Jerry and I smiled at each other.
“Tell us, Gunnar. Where do you think you will get gold now?” Jerry sat in a chair, ready to listen.
“You don’t believe me. Listen to me.” Gunnar took a swallow, his cheeks showing good color now. “I was a cautious man and always hid my treasure. The ones who froze me wanted it of course.” Gunnar stared into the fire for a moment then shook his head. “’Tis possible they didn’t find it. We can go look. You will take a portion for saving me.”
“I don’t need your gold.” Jerry wasn’t having it. He obviously just wanted to get rid of Gunnar, the sooner the better. “But it’s true you will need money to survive in today’s world.”
“Wait a minute.” I couldn’t so easily dismiss a chance to pick up an extra fortune. After all, I was the one who’d actually found the Viking. Right? “You have a hidden stash somewhere?”
“Stash? What do you mean?” Gunnar sat on the bench in front of the fire.
“Stash is like a big pile of gold. Your fortune.” I moved closer, intrigued.
“Yes, stash. I always kept my gold away from my village. In a special place. No one knew where and I did not let them read my mind. They tried of course. The Brodins.” He stared down at the bottle in his hand. “They tortured me. But a warrior will not break if he is determined. Is it not so, Blade?” He turned to Jerry who nodded. The men shared an experience that I was glad I didn’t.
“You must have been important in your time.” Jerry looked at Gunnar with new respect.
“I served my king. It was an important position. I led many men.” Gunnar’s shoulders were back, chin up. “So it is a big stash. I saved for a long time. Not even my wife knew where I kept it.” He glared at me. “Move back, woman. Your man warned me not to touch you.” His fangs were down. “I can smell you this close and have been a thousand years without a woman. You hear me?”
“Uh, yeah.” I scooted away, next to Jerry who nodded and looped his arm around me, pulling me into his lap. Obviously more than hair cutting had gone on while I’d been shopping.
“Did this gold come from your raids? In England and Scotland?” Jerry’s hand tightened on my waist.
“What does it matter?” Gunnar obviously knew Jerry had issues with that. “It is hidden. The people I took it from are long dead. You help me get it and you can have half. What say you?”
I could tell Jerry wanted to blow him off. Of course. Jerry had his own fortune. He had been a rich man for so long that money meant nothing to him. Hell, he’d even been born rich, son of the Laird of Clan Campbell. Me? I’d been found wandering in London in 1600 with amnesia, digging in the trash for food and coming up empty.
You ever hear the phrase more money than God? Well, that was my family. I’d finally discovered who they were recently. Yeah, Mom and Pop are Gods in Olympus and rolling in it. But they had so many strings attached to their gifts I would never consider taking a dime from either of them. Seems they weren’t happy that I’d turned vampire. And when I married Jerry, the vampire who’d sired me? Well, enough said.
So here I was, on Earth, where I’d scrounged for every dollar for so long I could never relax about the subject of money. My business was in the black now, but barely, and I didn’t cut myself a decent paycheck very often because of that. I refused to let Jerry just take care of me, much as he claimed he wanted to. Call it pride but I valued my independence. I guess the truth was I thought if I relaxed and did rely totally on someone else, the rug might get pulled out from under me.
Hey, I’ve had an exciting life. Shit happens around me. A lot. Jerry loves me now but could I really count on him being around forever? Yes, I’m insecure. My history made me that way. So a pile of gold of my own would certainly go a long way toward making my dream of permanent independence and security become a reality.
“Gloriana, I know what you’re thinking.” Jerry turned me around so I faced him, his hands on my shoulders. “But I don’t want to spend our honeymoon on a damned treasure hunt.”
“It could be fun, Jer.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. Fun? I’d hated the sleigh ride. How were we going to find Gunnar’s treasure? It had surely been lost or stolen centuries before. At least I doubted it could be far from where he’d been stuck in the ice with the way transportation had been in ancient times.
Of course a Viking didn’t tuck his gold into a vault in a nice warm bank either. I had hit the Internet while I’d waited for the clerk in the boutique to hunt up some of the extra-long pants in Gunnar’s size. Vikings had been active around here in the eight hundreds.
Not only had that made me realize what a fluke it was that we’d found Gunnar and that he’d survived, but now it made the likelihood that his treasure was where he’d left it highly unlikely. I didn’t tell the Viking that. Soon enough he’d realize just how much the world had changed since he’d left it.
“We’ll have plenty of time to play honeymoon games.” I ran a finger across Jerry’s firm lips. “I promise.”
“What is a honeymoon?” Gunnar picked up a poker from beside the fireplace, obviously deciding it would do for lack of a better weapon.
“We were married just a few days ago. We ar
e on our wedding trip.” Jerry glared at Gunnar and stepped in front of me, a knife suddenly in his hand. “Use that rod at your own risk. I know you were a warrior in your time, but you need to understand how things are now before you start carrying a weapon.”
“How are things? You have a knife.” Gunnar slapped his palm with the black iron poker. “Tell me. Do people in the hotel know what you are? Does a vampire feed in the open? Show his fangs to mortals. Or do we hide in this room? Pretend to be like others.”
“We are still a secret. We work hard to keep it that way.” I’d heard disdain in Gunnar’s voice and saw it in his hard gaze. “We stay,” I started to say below the radar and realized that would confuse him, “invisible to mortals so that we can survive. You know they are afraid of us, so they would try to destroy us.”
“’Tis so.” Gunnar nodded. “I slept in dirt, burying myself in a different place each day. I saw fear in the eyes of even my own children who once loved me.” At least the disdain was gone. “Nothing has changed?”
“No. Jerry only pulls a knife when he feels threatened. Or when he’s protecting me. He won’t hesitate to kill if he thinks you mean to harm me. I hope you get that.” I held onto Jerry’s knife throwing arm, waiting for another nod. I finally got it. What a shame if Gunnar woke up after centuries on ice only to be killed his first day back. “We drink the fake blood because taking blood from mortals is complicated and a risk we don’t have to take anymore.”
“Fake blood.” Gunnar spit on the hardwood floor.
I cringed. At least he’d missed the white Flokati rug. Gunnar was too busy working up steam to notice.
“Ha! Vampires now seem weak. Who make these rules? Why do you follow them?” He addressed this to Jerry. “Are you a man?”
Real Vampires and the Viking Page 5
