Northman’s Pleasure
by Kate Hill
(M/F Erotic Viking Romance)
From Ellora’s Cave / All Romance Ebooks / Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble
The following excerpt from Northman’s Pleasure is for readers 18 and over.
“Tell me, Grim, if I’m so untrustworthy, if you dislike me so much, why did you marry me? Did my father make a bargain? You take his defiled daughter and you can have Stein’s land?”
“Is that what you think?”
“What other reason is there? Clearly you detest me.”
“I detest you?” He snorted with mock laughter. “After last night you can stand here and say I detest you?”
“Rutting means nothing to men. You’d probably get the same pleasure from a knothole as from a woman’s body.”
His anger stirred and his jaw worked. “Perhaps you’re right. And a knothole wouldn’t spout nonsense.”
“If I don’t have those keys, I’m not your wife. I’m your slave.”
His gut tightened.
His slave. His mother had been a slave. She’d been a cruel, lying, self-centered—
“Asgerd, I know this must be difficult for you, but—”
“But nothing! I can end this marriage, Grim.”
“You’re being childish.”
“And you’re as much a beast as Stein.”
“If you want to end the marriage, it’s your decision.”
She lifted her chin and stared at him hard. “And the land?”
“The land wasn’t your dowry. It doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to me.”
She swallowed and looked a bit taken aback. “You’re lying.”
“It’s the truth. There was no dowry and no bride price. Your father told me I could have you or send you back to him.”
“Then why keep me if you don’t trust me and you get nothing in return for marrying me?”
His gaze swept her and he drew a deep breath. The woman had suffered enough. He hadn’t intended to cause her further distress, but she was pushing him to it.
“Why then?” she demanded.
“Because I didn’t want to see you mistreated. It wasn’t your fault Stein abducted you, but others might not see it that way.”
She stared at him in silence for a moment. Pain then disgust then utter hatred glistened in her eyes.
Without another word she left the bed closet.
“Asgerd!” he shouted, but she ignored him.
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