Free Her Viking Valentine (All Fired Up) by Kristen Painter Page A

taboo list. He’d been through that already with his first wife.
     
    Fortunately, that marriage was well behind him. Eleven hundred years behind him. She spritzed a little perfume on her wrists, rubbed them together and smiled. What other woman could say she was spending Valentine’s Day with a former Viking chieftain turned male model?
     
    “By Odin’s good eye, you’re a winsome lass.”
     
    She jumped, unaware that he’d been standing in the doorway. “You scared me. You shouldn’t…” Words left her at the sight of him. The charcoal suit and cranberry tie her fashion photographer uncle Seamus had helped Alrik pick out set off his glacier blue eyes perfectly. His dark blond hair grazed his shirt’s crisp white collar. “You look very, very nice.” But then, Alrik looked good in just about everything. And nothing.
     
    He plucked at the suit’s lapel. “Your uncle said this was by a famous tailor. Armano? I don’t know who the man is but he makes a nice suit. Not that I like wearing such binding things.” His gaze swept her from head to toe and back up again. “I’m not sure I like you wearing such binding things either.” A sinful light sparkled in his eyes. “Perhaps we should take these garments off and celebrate this day in bed.”
     
    “His name is Armani and we have a reservation.” She walked toward him, enjoying the delicious shiver of being ogled like a sex object.
     
    He met her halfway and pulled her into his arms. “I have no reservations about the wicked things I wish to do to you, wife.”
     
    She planted her hands on his firm chest, unable to stop smiling. “You’re a bad man, Alrik Gunn.” Going up on her toes, she kissed him. Hard to believe this man was hers for the kissing whenever she wanted. Which was a lot.
     
    Arms wrapped around her, he pulled away just enough to feather kisses across her jaw and down her neck. “I know we have to go, but I would be content to stay here with you.”
     
    She sighed and answered without opening her eyes. “That is starting to seem like a really good idea.”
     
    The doorbell rang.
     
    She broke the embrace. “I’m sure that’s the limo.” For their first Valentine’s Day, she’d gone all out. She wanted the experience to be really special for Alrik, especially after everything he’d been through in his life.
     
    He crooked his arm toward her. “I cannot wait to ride in one of those long vehicles.”
     
    His fascination with cars had taken off once he’d gotten over his initial fear of them. She hooked her hand over his arm and let him escort her downstairs. “Seamus uses this company all the time. He says they’re great.”
     
    Alrik answered the door while she got their coats. For a February in Brooklyn, the weather wasn’t too bad, but it was still chilly, plus some of the city streets were like wind tunnels. Alrik told the driver they’d be right out, then came back to help Calleigh with her coat.
     
    She slipped one arm through as Snickers came tearing into the living room. “You behave while we’re out, you hear me young man?”
     
    Snickers skidded to a stop right before the beautiful black satin pumps she’d bought for this night. He got a funny look on his little cat face, bent over and barfed up a hair ball with a loud, “Gwack.”
     
    Calleigh backed up just in time to avoid ruining her shoes. “Snickers! That’s gross.” She groaned. “Great. I was hoping I could clean up some cat vomit before we left.”
     
    Alrik shrugged into his coat. “Why would you hope that? Wait, was that sarcasm?”
     
    She laughed. “Yep.”
     
    “Good,” he said. “I am getting much better at modern language.” He stepped over the barf. “I’ll get some plastic towels.”
     
    “Paper,” she called after him, smiling to herself. Yep, much better at the modern language.
     
    Vomit removed, they made their way to the sleek black limo. The driver opened the door and Calleigh slid in first. Alrik joined her