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“What is your name?” Lara asked her

The woman hesitated “Thora”

Lara nodded Thora moved to the table at the head of the house, near the door to Eirick’s quarters Lara continued to ladle stew into bowls until everyone was eating, including the slaves Reece came into the rooated Viking warriors Thora motioned her son over to her and pushed an extra bowl of stew in his direction He signaled Lara to join the down Lara retrieved a bowl, filled it with stew and sat next to Reece on the bench His leg brushed against hers and rather than ed her knee When she looked up at hioblet

She bit her lip Was he serious? She was starving Thora atching her, probably deciding how hard she’d beat her when she got the opportunity Lara stifled a sigh and went to the bucket-like container of lass for herself while she was there

She returned to the table and Reece took both glasses, handing one to Thora “Don’t forget to get one for yourself”

Thora seemed very pleased by this The corner of Lara’s eye twitched Reece’s eyes widened and he quickly turned his attention to his stew So he was familiar with her pissed-off-beyond-belief look She wondered if he knehat to expect when she got hi mead for five other people before she was finally able to return to her yet untouched meal

“More bread,” Reece said as soon as she sat down

“Get it yourself,” she growled

He squeezed her knee under the table “Never a,” he warned

She wondered how many Norsewomen took Axe Junior to their husband’s skull in the ritted between clenched teeth She got up again and went to a side table that held a pile of flat breads and a collection of soft cheeses She took soet up again

She sat down and lifted her spoon, glancing at Reece as grinning at her He was enjoying every minute of this

“Can I eat, now?” she asked

“What’s stopping you?”

The corner of her eye twitched before she glanced down at her e of the stew Her stomach turned Would she really be able to keep this fatty concoction down? Her arteries were clogging just looking at the stuff She avoided the grease along the edge and took a bite of soe It wasn’t as bad as she’d anticipated, but it was far froetables either hard or mushy, the broth tasted like old lard Reece tore his bread in half and handed a piece to her He then surprised her by stroking her lower back soothingly

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered into her ear “Eirick is trying to stay on his ood side, is all So he can keep you ”

His war a thrill of excitement down the side of her neck She bit into the bread It was tough and chewy, but satisfying She finished the bread before tackling the stew again Concentrating on her nored the warainst hers, the scent of his body, the husky timber of his voice as he answered his mother’s questions in monosyllables This man had no effect on her Nope No effect None Nadda So why, oh why, did she jump when his hand touched her back at the base of her spine? “Are you ready for bed?” he asked quietly

Bed?

She sed hard, hoping it would ain Before she could answer, one of the men shouted, “Eirick, tell us a story of your conquests”

“I’ll have to pass this night, friends I’et to know this one,” he said, his voice thick with lust He nuzzled Lara’s neck and covered her breast with his hand, kneading it gently with his palm

She jerked away froht her wrist and laughed “You are going to be a delight to ta Lara to her feet

He buried his fingers in the ed her head back Her eyes closed as he covered her mouth with his She stiffened as a jolt of pure lust shot through her body He kissed her deeply, suckling upper lip, nibbling on the lower, touching his tongue tentatively to hers She was scarcely aware of the boisterous cheering going on around them He kissed a trail towards her ear

“You’re supposed to be fighting me, remember?” he whispered

Her hand lifted suddenly as if controlled by a reflex and connected with his chin Stunned, he staggered backwards She bit her lip to bite back the apology on the tip of her tongue His eyes narrowed dangerously He scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, heading for the door just to their left

“Put ainst him