Free The Viking Wants Forever by Koko Brown Page A

again. Since she couldn’t do anything about it, she asked about her welfare. Shifting to a sitting position, she asked, “Will you keep me locked in here?”
    “There are clothes on top of the chest for you to put on. You have free reign of the inner hall, but you may not go outside without my escort.”
    Appeased, Reese watched him dress. Provided a front row view, she openly admired his strong physique. From his powerful shoulders to his tight ass, he was flawlessly proportional, like DaVinci’s Perfect Man. Even his feet were beautiful.
    “You like what you see?”
    “No complaints here.” Not in the least bit ashamed, Reese lay back and stretched her arms over her head. Gaze dark with lust, he stalked over to the bed. His powerful frame radiated frustration and hunger, inciting her like an aphrodisiac.
    “Stop tempting me, woman. You know I cannot stay.”
    Feeling powerful and in control, Reese twirled a loose curl around her finger. “I’m not doing anything, Viking.”
    “Play your games. You will pay for it later.”
    Reese had the word promise on her lips, but it died a quick death when Eirik slid a linked chain over his head. The tourmaline mocked her from its silver setting.
    “What’s wrong?”
    Everything . “Ah...no.”
    “Are you sure? You look as if you’ve seen Odin himself.”
    “Nothing’s wrong,” Reese muttered shifting her gaze to the fur coverlet. 
    He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Admit it, my lovemaking has already turned your head to mush.”
    “Be gone, Viking.” Reese swatted at his hand away.
    Chuckling, he sat down beside her and placed one hand possessively on her hip. “Something is amiss. Tell me what ails you.”
    Reese searched his expression and saw nothing but a sincere concern for her well-being. Yet, despite his empathy, she knew she could not come clean. “Nothing is wrong...it’s just a woman thing.”
    He looked at her for several moments as if not believing her lame excuse, but then he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. “Well, whatever it is,” he murmured, kissing her on the mouth once more before standing up, “I hope it soon passes; preferably before I return this evening.”
    “You’ll be gone that long?” What was wrong with her? She was beginning to miss him already.
    “We can’t make the foal come out. He will arrive when he’s ready.”
    “Is...is the boy your son?” she asked as he headed toward the door. Even if she didn’t expect to be here for long, she was still curious about him as a person.
    “I have neither children nor wife,” he supplied as he yanked the chamber door open. “So, do not worry your pretty head about sharing my bed with anyone.”
    “What makes you think I would care about another woman?”
    He stopped inside of the frame of the door and looked back at her. “I would like to think I have the same effect on you as you’ve had on me.”
    And just like that, the Viking obliterated any kind of wall or barrier she would’ve erected to protect her heart.

Chapter Seven
    E ager to stretch her legs and appease her grumbling stomach, Reese washed up and dressed. None too happy about her choice of clothing, which consisted of a tunic dress and an irregularly long apron, she left the room in high spirits. 
    Reese ran into her first wall in the outer hall. As she entered, all activity came to a standstill.
    “Someone should check the needle on the record player,” she muttered, noting the open-mouthed stares and looks of distrust. Then, as if someone had turned the music back on, everyone went back to what they had been doing.
    Cautiously, she made her way over to the nearest trestle table. Upon her approach, she smiled at several men who were sharing a wooden trencher filled with assorted sweet breads, fresh cheeses, and meat. She pulled out the bench tucked underneath her side of the table and sat down. When she reached for a wooden plate she paused, because the men’s eyes had