The amount of receipts was astounding, and the numbers for the day boggled her mind, restoring her vigor when she reached a grand total. She ran into the kitchen waving handfuls of cash and grinning maniacally, stopping dead to see the kitchen was sparkling. All the spoons and batter bowls were scrubbed and drying on the rack, the mixer taken apart and gleaming, its pieces propped up on a towel to dry. He was assiduously scrubbing the counter and stopped when he heard her screech to a halt at the sight. He smiled as proudly as a boy who’d caught a frog and her shameless heart melted a little.
You stop that, she told it. No melting. Of course her heart didn’t take orders like the Viking did, and she stood there warring with herself.
“It’s all done,” she said.
“I haven’t done the floor yet,” he said. “I’m just about to get to it, though.”
She threw her arms around him, then jumped back waving the cash. “Today was crazy. If we can keep this up, I might just be able to put off the loan sharks a little longer. I mean, if they see how well we’re doing, they have to give me more time, right?”
“I’ll make sure of it,” he said, then nodded at the cash. “What are you going to do with all that?”
She smirked, embarrassed at her childish display. “Nothing,” she admitted. “I just wanted to wave it around.”
He plucked the bills from her hand. “Turn around,” he instructed. “No, keep turning.”
She was in such a good mood, she didn’t argue with him and turned in circles like a ballerina, laughing delightedly when he showered the money down on her from his great height.
“Oh my gosh, you made it rain,” she said. “You don’t even know what that means, but you made it happen.”
“You made it happen,” he said, bending down to restack the money he’d strewn everywhere. “Your hard work and talent.”
She dropped down to help him, blushing furiously at the compliment. Their heads bumped together and she tumbled back onto her behind, holding her forehead. He took her hand away and rubbed the spot for her, looking amused. He ran his knuckles down the side of her face, his expression turned oddly tender.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his hand resting gently against her throat, not strictly stroking.
God, she wanted to give him back stroking. She wanted to give it all back to him, but she needed to keep her wits about her, at least until she had a solid chance to repay her uncle’s debt, not have her business taken from her, or worse, her thumbs.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Better than fine. Help me up so I can order the pizza, then we can run to the store for tomorrow’s ingredients.”
She made a mental list of what she wanted to make. The mocha wasn’t as popular as she thought it would be, taking the longest to sell out, and no one seemed to miss it when she didn’t make more. She’d try the banana strawberry, wishing anyone besides the mobsters had come for her free sample day to give her feedback. They’d seemed to like them well enough, and she had the strawberries Erik mangled that morning that needed to get used.
“You’re letting me go out with you?” he asked.
“Yes. Give me a minute to think of all the possible trouble you can cause so I can come up with restrictions for you.”
He scowled. “I’ll be as docile as a lamb.”
She snorted at that, but found her purse and shopping bags, still mentally putting together her list so they could get it done quickly. “I think tomorrow we’ll have red velvet, the vanilla hazelnut again—”
“That one’s my favorite so far,” he interrupted, and she glowed.
“I thought you didn’t like sweets,” she said. “I’m sorry for accidentally making you eat all those cupcakes yesterday, by the way. I didn’t know at the time that you had to do what I say.”
“I didn’t care for sweets until you made me eat all those cupcakes,” he said. “Now I can’t seem to stop thinking about them.”
“The power of sugar.”
Since she had Erik, she opted not to take the car. He could carry the bags the few blocks from the store, and she didn’t want to risk either him freaking out, or learning to drive just by observing her. He’d been so quick with the cash machine, it seemed a feasible worry. She couldn’t have him escaping in the night.
In the store, he followed along beside her, helpfully putting things in the cart, and she felt guilty for thinking so poorly of him. Did she think he’d pillage the supermarket?
“Did you, um, do raids and whatnot, back in your old life?” she asked shyly, as he hoisted a big bag of flour for her.
He stood with the bag on his shoulder and closed his eyes, finally huffing a disturbed laugh. “Yes, and whatnot, Audrey.” He frowned down at her. “I’d like to read your history books to see what it is you think of my people.”
“Well, I’ve always been fascinated by it all,” she hurried to say, so he wouldn’t think she was only in it for the gory details. She looked over the contents of the cart. They had enough to get through the next day, any more and even Erik would have trouble carrying it all. “I think we’re done here. Let’s hurry and get back. I’m starving.”
The pizza delivery boy pulled in just as they arrived, and Erik stood loaded down with the grocery bags, staring menacingly at him while she paid, as if the gangly teen might be a threat to her. Even while it embarrassed her, and scared the poor kid, she had to admit she liked it. No one had ever been so protective of her before, or if they’d tried, she hadn’t noticed, because the men she dated in the past hadn’t been nearly as wild and dangerous as him.
He is bound to you by an ancient curse, she reminded herself. You are not dating him.
She had to stop feeling like she was some special princess to him, because the second she released him, he’d be gone without a backward glance.
She watched him take a bite of the pizza, smiling contentedly as his eyes rolled back at the deliciousness of all the salty and spicy meats. She got a little shiver at his blatant enjoyment, wishing she could cause a reaction like that. She wanted to spend actual time with him, not just working, and wished she had a proper living room with a couch they could sit on, but the entire downstairs of the little house was dedicated to the shop, and upstairs she only had the two bedrooms. As tired as she was, she knew her mind wouldn’t let her sleep. She could watch a movie in her room, but she didn’t want to leave Erik’s company, and she didn’t dare invite him into her bedroom. That would surely be game over.
He put down the last bit of crust and sighed. “I do like pizza,” he said agreeably. “You’ll have to think of some new food I might not know about for tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said, happy with the game. “Maybe tacos? We’re going to get fat if we keep eating like this, though.” She nodded down at the decimated pizza, only a few pieces of crust and a dried up pepperoni remaining.
He cracked his neck. “Never happen. One just needs to move one’s body.”
He waggled his brows at her, then ducked under the table. Her mind raced at what he thought he was going to be allowed to do down there, and waited with bated breath, ready to throw out a new command if need be. He was too damn clever and through her nerves she had to admit she was hopeful he’d come up with something good. He wrestled off her shoes, pulling her feet into his lap as he leaned back in his chair. Never taking his eyes off her, he began to massage her toes.
“You said I could do this whenever I wanted,” he reminded her and she nodded, already half gone at the ecstacy of his strong fingers prodding at her aching feet.
His thumbs rolled down her arches and she groaned. She was done, cooked. Completely unglued. Especially as he kept gazing at her so intently while he worked his magic on her bare feet.
Keep it together, she warned herself. She knew she should yank her feet out of his firm, relaxing grip and finish cleaning up. He blinked slowly at her and the corner of his mouth turned up in a lazy, inviting smile.
“You can have kissing back,” she said.
/> Chapter 6
In a flash, he dropped her feet and leaned across the table. Looking frustrated at his lack of being able to do much with his hands due to her restraints, he put his elbows on the table, and pulled her closer by her shirt. She leaned in and he placed his mouth against hers, gently at first, his tongue barely tracing her lips.
Wanting more, she half rose out of her chair, pushing him backwards until he was standing, never breaking the kiss. He came around the table, resting his hands against her hips, and pushed her mouth open with his tongue.
Sizzling with longing, she slid her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. It wasn’t enough, even as he plundered her mouth, and she moaned in frustration, raking her fingers back down and getting them under his shirt. His hard, hot stomach contracted as she ran her hands over the muscular expanse, and she yanked him closer by his waistband. Having him pressed against her sent a shockwave through her that she was sure he could feel. With a low growl, he snaked a hand into her hair, wrapping it around his hand and tugging her head back, kissing hungrily down her neck while his other hand still rested placidly at her waist.
About to cry from wanting so badly to feel his hands on her, she actually reached down and put her hand over his, moving it up toward her breast.
“Why aren’t you touching me?” she begged.
“I can’t do anything else,” he said, looking pleadingly into her eyes.
She laughed desperately, recalling all the restraints she’d placed on him. “You can have it all back,” she said, grabbing him around the neck again. “Do whatever you want.”
The moment the words were out, she froze, thinking he’d drop her and take off out the door, but instead, he pulled her up against him, sliding his hands up her sides, then quickly down again as if he couldn’t get enough. He cupped her backside and lifted her, backing her against the nearest wall. Her head hit the faded wallpaper and he quickly placed his palm behind it, nudging a knee between her legs.
The feel of his hands and body finally taking control of her sent the last shred of dutiful thoughts out of her mind. She didn’t give a damn about anything other than feeling his skin against hers. The mobsters could break in and start videotaping and she still wouldn’t stop until Erik was inside her.
“I don’t want my shirt on anymore,” she said between kisses.
He grinned and pulled her top up by the hem. “God, your body’s beautiful, Audrey. What’s this thing, though? I hate it.”
He ran a finger under the lacy band of her bra and pulled. She struggled to get her hand behind her to snap it open.
“I hate it too,” she said, finally undoing it and shaking it off her shoulders. Goodness, the way he looked at her as if she was a hard earned and valuable prize was going to kill her. She liked it way too much.
He covered her breasts with his palms, gently sliding his fingers down over her nipples and smiling at the reaction.
“Do you want me to kiss them?” he asked, rather evilly, she thought. “Tell me what you want me to do. I have to do it.”
Oh God, he was evil, but she shivered with anticipation. “Yes, kiss them, kiss me everywhere.”
“Nice,” he said, before starting. His lips moved sinuously across her nipple, ever so gently nipping at her with the edges of his teeth. “How about biting?” he asked.
“Not too hard,” she said, running her fingers through his hair and shaking with the effort to stay upright. “Holy cow, yes, just like that.”
He kept kissing his way down her stomach, finally kneeling in front of her, staring at the button of her jeans in disgruntlement before glancing up at her with the same heathen glint in his deep blue eyes. He was having a whole lot of fun teasing her it seemed, but she was so lost in the pleasurable agony she only nodded.
“Off, get them off.”
He popped the button easily, easing the zipper down and she wiggled to help him get them off. He gripped the sides of her hips, licking along the edge of her panties. She glanced down, relieved to see that she had on a cute pair, though they were as good as ruined after all he was putting her through. His fingertips trailed down her thighs as he eased the jeans down further and she finally stepped out of them and kicked them away.
The cool air hit her nearly naked body and he stood up to envelop her in his warmth, his hands roaming all over her bare skin as he kissed her some more.
“Hang on,” she said, using all her remaining strength to push him away. “This isn’t fair.”
She pulled his own shirt up and he ducked down to help her get it over his head. Standing before her in all his rippling, bronzed glory, all she could do was clamp her slack jaw shut and wipe the drool from her chin before running her palms down his muscular torso.
“Oh my God, this really isn’t fair,” she whined. He was too much, altogether too much for her. Getting his pants open and pulling them down to find he wasn’t wearing the undies she’d bought him, she squirmed with a deep craving, and wrapped her hand around his thick length. “You’re going to break me,” she said, looking up at him with wide eyes.
He had the typical smug look of a well-endowed man and she squeezed, making him flinch and crowd her back against the wall.
“I’ll be gentle,” he said against her ear. With one firm grip, he tore her panties down both sides and tossed them away, pressing himself against her wet heat.
She was close to climaxing just at the touch of him against her, and wrapped her legs around him, clinging to his shoulders. He stopped kissing her ear and pulled away and she thought she would scream. A smile curled his lips and his eyes were lit from within with his own longing. Bending his head to claim her mouth once again with his, he hoisted her closer.
“Do you want me to take you here, or upstairs in the bed?”
“Both,” she said breathlessly, pulling his head back down to her.
Before the word was fully spoken, he pushed into her, supporting her with his powerful arms as she hung on. The heavy need spread through her core as he filled her and she squeezed her eyes shut to better concentrate on each perfect, delectable thrust.
Never wanting it to end, she still ground against him, savoring the feel of each hard impact against her. He lifted her closer and slid his fingers between them, stroking her blissfully aching nub. She bit his shoulder to keep from screaming as he forced himself hard and deep, finally giving her the relief she craved. She got him in a stranglehold, riding out the brilliant pulses, trying to prolong it as long as she could. It wasn’t as if she got this every day. Or ever. No one had ever driven her to such ecstasy before.
“I want more,” she sighed, resting her head against his shoulder and going limp. She still felt him, hard inside her, and purred as she squeezed herself closer to him. “Just one more.”
“There’s lots more,” he promised, carrying her upstairs to his room.
He dropped her on her back on the tiny bed and miraculously fit himself on it, pulling her legs around him and resting his cheek against her chest for a moment.
“I like making your heart pound,” he said, placing small, soft kisses along her collarbone.
She arched against him and tried to catch her breath. She’d never felt anything quite the same as what he did to her. It was true her heart pounded, her stomach fluttered, her skin tingled. She couldn’t think of a single thing that compared to his caresses. In fact, he made her mind go wonderfully blank, all her focus turned to how amazing he made her feel.
“This is the most fun I’ve ever had,” she admitted, letting her head loll back on the pillow as he continued exploring her body with his lips.
“Me too,” he said.
She whapped him lightly upside his head. “You’re not allowed to lie to me,” she said with a laugh, but thinking it was a good rule for him to have to follow in general.
He got up on his elbows and looked at her seriously, his eyes dark in the shadowy room.
“I’m really having a lot of fun,” he said, the smi
rk that took over his face making her wriggle underneath him.
He was way too big to budge so she clamped her hands on his shoulders, announcing imperiously, “Roll over, you big rock.”
“Rock climbing, are you?” he asked, cracking himself up at his own silly joke.
His laugh made her laugh, and for that moment she didn’t see him as her cursed Viking, but just a guy she really liked. She felt her cheeks heating up at that thought as she hoisted herself on top of him. It wouldn’t be prudent to like him too much, things were messy enough as it was. She felt even more embarrassed to be on full display, though the room was dark. To her horror, he reached over and snapped on the bedside lamp, a gratified smile curling his lips. He reached up and fondled her breasts, gazing at them dreamily.
“You’re the first woman I’ve been with in over five hundred years,” he said. “You’re the most beautiful of any I’ve seen.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes, knowing with a heady glow that he couldn’t lie to her. “You just don’t remember,” she said self-consciously.
He brushed his thumbs across her nipples. “I remember,” he said.
A warm feeling parachuted from her heart to her knees, then was caught on a gust and swooped back up again, filling her chest with something she didn’t dare try to decipher.
Endorphins, she thought. It was just endorphins. She leaned down to kiss his hard chest, and he slid his hands around and down, making her squeak as he slipped his fingers into her.
“You have to give me a chance, too,” she said, wanting to do some discovery of her own now that she had him splayed out underneath her.
But it felt so good, she ended up melted against him, gasping for breath as he sent her over the edge again. Moments later, he had her beneath him again, sliding languidly against her. She’d get him back tomorrow, she decided. For now, she’d let him do what he wanted. She realized with a jolt that she’d told him earlier he could do whatever he wanted, and had been afraid for a moment that he would leave. But he was still here, and oh God, inside her again.
Valhalla Cupcakes Page 6
