Viking Conspiracy

by S. T. Bende

  Just . . . one . . . minute . . .

  “Saga, min kjære.” Erik’s breath was warm against my ear.

  “Mmm.” I opened my eyes, blinking against the faint moonlight. “Where are we?”

  “The academy staircase,” Erik said softly. “The healers just discharged me, and you were sleeping so heavily I didn’t want them to bother you.”

  “So you carried me out?” I pressed my hands to his chest and glanced down. Sure enough, I was cradled in the arms of the Viking who, last I’d known, had been unable to walk. And now he was taking care of me? “You’re hurt! You need to be resting, not taking me to . . . wait, where are we going?”

  Erik shifted me in his arms. “It took medicine and magic, but the healers managed to fix my leg and reverse what, apparently, was a mild case of frostbite.”

  “Oh, Erik.” I buried my face in his neck. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “I’m so glad you came looking for me.” He pressed his lips to my ear. “I’m sorry, Saga. I may not always agree with you, but I’ll never dismiss you again. You have my word.”

  I nodded. “Just promise me you won’t take off like that again.”

  “I promise,” he murmured. “But I have a question for you.”

  “Mmm?” I inhaled again—pine and sweat and safety. Erik’s neck was a veritable cocktail of yumminess.

  “We’re nearly to your room. And I can leave you at your door and come check on you tomorrow, or . . .?”

  “Or?” My skin tingled.

  “Or I can stay. I really don’t want to be away from you right now, but we both need to rest, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, so I can sleep on the sofa, or—”

  “I want you to stay with me,” I whispered. “I don’t want to be away from you either.”

  Heat flashed in Erik’s eyes. He nodded once before climbing the final stair and turning toward my room. A thick cloak of silence blanketed the hallway, with only the flickering wall sconces illuminating the corridor. Erik stopped outside my door, shifting me to one arm and turning the knob. He paused at the threshold, those clear blue eyes studying me intently.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.” I reached up to stroke his beard. He leaned into the touch, relief spreading across his solemn face.

  “Thank Odin. Because after everything we’ve just been through, I’m not sure I could walk away. I’d probably sleep on your doorstep.”

  “I don’t want you on my doorstep.” I stroked his cheek with my thumb. My throat caught as he turned his face to kiss my palm.

  “And where do you want me?” he murmured.

  I drew a shaky breath before whispering, “In my bed.”

  Erik’s eyes darkened to midnight blue. “We’re not wed, Saga.”

  I ran my thumb along his jawline. “It’s just sleep.”

  Erik held my gaze for what felt like forever. Tension crackled between us, the air becoming so charged I half expected to see actual sparks. By the time he finally carried me across the threshold, my heart pounded as if I’d just run a marathon. And when he set me down on my bed and crossed to stand in front of the window, my nerves were wound so tight my hands trembled.

  Get it together, Saga. You said it yourself; it’s just sleep.

  But I’d never shared my bed with a guy. And I’d certainly never shared my bed with an insanely gorgeous Viking heir. One who was currently bathed in moonlight, his long blond hair trailing down his back as he pulled his shirt over his head to reveal a sea of muscles that stretched from his broad shoulders all the way down to his—

  “Saga?” Erik glanced over his shoulder. “Your breathing is . . . strange. Are you all right?”

  “Never better,” I squeaked. “You?”

  He folded his shirt and placed it beside my armoire with a frown. “Are you sure you want me to stay here? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  “Trust me, I want you here.” I probably should have said it to his face instead of his abs. “This is just . . . it’s new for me.”

  Erik stepped out of his boots and set them next to his shirt. “If you recall, you and I have shared a room before.”

  “I remember,” I said softly. As if I could ever forget the night Erik rescued me from Lars. I’d been scared out of my mind, wondering what my future would look like. But not for one minute had I feared Erik. He’d been gentle, and respectful, and above all else, kind. It was what had struck me most about the allegedly brutal Valkyris heir. He’d turned out to be absolutely nothing like I’d expected.

  “You need to change,” Erik surmised.

  “My nightgown’s in the armoire,” I said.

  Erik opened its door and called over his shoulder. “Where?”

  “Top shelf on the right. The blue one’s my favorite.”

  Erik rifled through the appointed shelf. When he’d extracted my nightgown, he hurtled it across the room. I snatched it from the air, smiling as he turned his back to give me privacy.

  “You can’t possibly prefer it to the one you wore at the cabin,” Erik said. “You were a vision in . . .”

  “In a fluffy monstrosity?” I stood to change, dropped my clothes on the floor, and pulled the silky, blue gown over my head. “I’m pretty sure that thing belonged to your grandmother.”

  Erik chuckled. “It definitely wasn’t Valkyris-made.”

  “God, no.” I shuddered. “Magda would have died before she let anyone wear that thing.”

  Erik angled his chin up, staring at the stars. His moonlit profile was absolutely spectacular. “Are you decent now?”

  “Yes.” I smoothed the front of my nightgown and tried not to pant as a half-naked Erik strode across my bedroom. His bare torso was even more impressive by moonlight, with his endless abdominal muscles stretching down to form a deep V along his stomach. And his chest . . . good God. The broad planes gave way to those thick shoulders and biceps I wanted to stroke for hours. Or wrap myself in, and—

  Breathe, Saga. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

  Oh, who am I kidding? I may as well start drooling now.

  While I tried not to ogle, Erik crossed the step that led up to the sleeping area. When he reached the bed he removed his pants so he wore only his long underwear. He pulled the blankets back, arching a brow as he climbed into bed.

  Oh, God. Here we go. In through the nose, out through the . . .

  Screw it. Breathing normal is overrated, anyway.

  I mirrored his movements, tucking my feet beneath the comforter and trying really hard not to launch myself across the bed and pin him to the sheets. God, he was beautiful. And for reasons I’d never understand, he was mine.

  “Saga?” Erik propped himself up on one elbow. “Are you hurting?”

  “No.” I wiped the traitorous tear from my eye. “I just . . . I was so afraid I was going to lose you today. And now you’re here.” Also, shirtless.

  “Sweet girl.” Erik held out his arm, and I nestled into it. “You’ll never lose me.”

  I buried my face against his chest, inhaling his familiar scent. My lips brushed against his bare skin as I murmured, “I hope not.”

  “I am yours, Saga Skånstad.” He kissed the top of my head. “For as long as you wish to have me.”

  Forever?

  I placed my palm atop Erik’s stomach. His soft skin stretched across hard muscles, and my fingers settled into the valleys of his abs as I let loose a contented sigh. This was heaven. I’d died, and gone to Viking heaven. Valhalla? Wasn’t that what they called it? Whatever it was, I was definitely in the place where people went when they’d lived very good lives and earned the highest possible level of happiness. What other explanation could there be for a half-naked Erik Halvarsson cradling me in his arms, his heart beating beneath my cheek, while his fingers . . .

  A slight pressure made me lift my head. Erik’s forefinger gently pushed my chin upward while his thumb stroked my bottom lip. My breath hitched at the touch and our gazes locked,
a silent question passing between us.

  Is this really happening?

  My lips parted as I drew a shaky breath. Erik’s gaze shifted to my mouth, his eyes darkening a second before his hand snaked around my back. He slid his palm across my butt, hiked me against his hip, and lowered his mouth to mine with painstaking slowness. I couldn’t stifle the moan that ripped from my throat as his tongue moved against mine and his hand traced a pattern across my lower back. After all of that worrying, he was finally here—kissing me. Wanting me. Moving his hips against mine in a slow rotation that was absolutely, without a doubt, going to be the death of me.

  I hoped the castle’s magic included soundproof walls.

  Erik groaned as I moved my fingertips down the ridges of his abdominal muscles. There were so many, each one firmer than the last. When I reached his waistband, I slid my hand to his hip bone and ran my fingernails across the skin. Erik responded by sliding his hand up my spine, winding his fingers through my hair, and tugging my head back. His teeth raked my bottom lip as he drew me away, the pressure on the sensitive skin drawing another moan.

  “Shh,” he murmured.

  Oops.

  I slid my hand up his stomach, relishing the feel of the taut muscles beneath my palm. When I reached his chest, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me on top of him. He used the other hand to press my hips against his, and the sudden pressure sent all of my blood on a bullet train straight south.

  Holy. Freaking. God. “Shh” was going to be straight-up impossible.

  I dropped my head, kissing Erik’s neck as he moved his hips against mine. The tension continued to build, and as my lips moved lower, he tightened his grip on my wrist. In one swift movement, he’d flipped me onto my back. He lowered himself on top of me, and this time I moaned so loud, Erik brought his hand to my mouth.

  “Shh.” His eyes twinkled.

  “You shh,” I muttered into his fingers.

  But all coherent thoughts flew straight from my head when Erik dropped his head to my neck and sucked gently. A searing burst of heat shot from my chest to my belly, and my back arched as I drew a sharp breath. Erik kissed lower, running his tongue along my collarbone before nipping at the delicate hollow of my neck. He raised his head, locking eyes with me as if asking permission to proceed.

  Good God, yes. A thousand, billion yesses.

  In that moment, I would have let him do absolutely anything he wanted to.

  I shimmied beneath him anticipating the next breathless burst of contact. But as he studied me through hooded eyes, he drew an unsteady breath and slowly rolled off me.

  No! Why? In the name of all things good and holy, why?

  Erik flopped onto his back, his chest rising heavily with the effort of breath. I turned my head, imploring him with my eyes. Please, please, pretty please come back. Also, do that thing with your tongue again.

  Erik rolled his head to the side and met my gaze. “If I don’t stop myself now, I’m not going to be able to.”

  “I’m totally fine with that,” I whispered.

  Erik reached up to stroke my lips with his thumb. “We’ll see if you feel the same way in the morning.”

  “I swear to you, I will.”

  “Sweet Saga.” Erik cupped my cheek in his hand. “We don’t need to rush into anything.”

  My hormones said otherwise.

  “Come here.” Erik rolled onto his side and tucked my back against his chest. He slid one leg between mine, and a thousand nerve endings pinged to attention.

  “Not helping,” I groaned.

  “Mmm.” His lips vibrated against my ear. “We have all the time in the world, min kjære. Let me just hold you tonight.”

  His palm spread across my stomach as he tugged me closer. With a sigh, I nestled my head against the pillow and allowed myself to be cradled by the Viking who owned my heart. I raised my hand to Erik’s arm, my fingers spreading wide as I cupped his thick bicep. If I could have, I’d have frozen the moment forever—Erik’s warm breath against my neck, his heart beating steadily at my back as we lay together, bathed in the gentle winter moonlight. In that instant, I was completely and totally at peace—lost in a perfect moment I wanted to remember for the rest of my days.

  I turned my head to plant a soft kiss on Erik’s cheek. His eyes fluttered open, shifting to a midnight shade as he ran his thumb along my stomach.

  “I love you,” he said. Warmth spread from my chest all the way to my toes.

  “I love you too,” I whispered back.

  Then I nestled my face against his neck, closed my eyes, and drifted off to a deep and blissful sleep.

  Chapter 15

  I AWOKE THE NEXT morning, pretty sure I was still in a dream. Warmth wrapped around my torso, and the scent of pine filled my head. Something simultaneously hard and soft rested beneath my cheek, and a light pressure rubbed circles at the small of my back.

  Either my subconscious-self thought it was in a spa, or I was having the morning of my life. Had Valkyris finally invented massage chairs? No, wait. I was lying down. Massage beds?

  Wait. Massage beds?

  My eyelids fluttered open, and I blinked against the too-bright sunbeams, ruing myself for forgetting to shut the curtains again. But what had made me forget this time? I hadn’t been up late studying, or reading, or hanging out with Helene. I’d been . . .

  The circles at my back took a linear trajectory as the massage moved up my spine and settled at the nape of my neck. I pried my eyelids open again, this time registering the sky-blue eyes twinkling back at me. I took in the tousled mane, wild beard, and bare chest of the Viking cradling me in his arms.

  And I remembered exactly who had kept me up late.

  Erik.

  “Hey,” I murmured sleepily.

  “Hei.” He continued his massage. “You slept well.”

  “Mmm.” I reached up to run my fingers through his beard. How was he even more beautiful in the morning? “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Better than I have in a long time,” he murmured. “I like being with you.”

  “I like it too.” I nuzzled into the crook of his arm, curling my body into his and committing every detail of this moment to memory: the morning my life was absolutely perfect.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking.” Erik released his hold on my neck, shifting his hand so he could stroke my hair. “You said that in your time, eighteen is too young to make a lifelong commitment.”

  Had I said that? Perhaps I’d been too hasty.

  “But I love you, Saga, and I don’t want to spend my nights away from you. I want to be your partner in every sense of the word. What if—”

  “Saga? Saga, are you in there?” A pert rap on the door interrupted what I had no doubt was going to be a very important moment. “The whole castle’s saying you took off on a dragon in the middle of that storm, but I know you wouldn’t do something that stupid without telling me, and I just had to make sure that you’re—”

  My chest seized as the door opened, and Helene stepped through. Not knowing what else to do, I grabbed the sheet and tugged it over my head.

  What are you, five? If you can’t see her, she can’t see you?

  I peeked out so just my face was visible above the sheet.

  “O-kay.” A canary-eating grin stretched across Helene’s face. “Well, well, well. Morning, Saga. Cousin.”

  “Helene.” Erik nodded.

  “Hey.” I offered a tentative wave.

  “I see you two had a good night.” She waggled her eyebrows. “No need to stop on my account. I just wanted to check in, make sure you were all right. Though I see you’re doing quite well.”

  “It’s not what it looks like.” Heat shot up my neck.

  “No?” Helene covered her lips with her fingertips. Was she laughing at me?

  “It’s not. We didn’t—I mean, it looks like we—but actually, all we did—you see—”

  “Shh.” Erik placed a finger over my lips. “Helene doesn’t care. She’s go
ing to be extremely discreet about all of this. Isn’t she?”

  The last two words were definitely a threat.

  “Oh, I’ll be discreet all right.” Helene shot me a look that clearly said until we’re alone, girlfriend.

  Oh, God.

  “Good.” Erik removed his finger from my lips and slipped his arm around my waist. Mmm.

  “Your mom, however, might not be so thrilled.” Helene glanced at the door. “I just saw her in the dining hall, and she was looking for you guys.”

  “What?” I sat straight up.

  “Axel told her Erik had been discharged from the healing wing, and she freaked out. She and Uncle Halvar have been so wrapped up with strategy meetings, they didn’t even know their son had gone missing. Nobody did! Saga, you should have told me you’d gone out looking for him. I’d have joined in the search, or kept watch, and sent a team after you if you didn’t return in a certain timeframe, or—”

  “Can we get back to the part where Erik’s mom is looking for us?”

  “Huh? Oh. Right. She’s upset with herself for not knowing Erik took off . . . and not sensing he was in trouble, though why she’d blame herself for that is beyond me. She’s not a prophet. Anyway, now she needs to see for herself that you’re both okay.” Helene placed a hand on her hip. “Erik, were you really stranded for a whole day?”

  “Ja.” Erik grimaced.

  “And you’re not injured? No frostbite or hypothermia or—”

  “The healers took care of everything last night.” He sat up and pulled me back against his chest. “Part medicine, part magic, and I’m good as new. Now if you’ll excuse me, Saga and I were in the middle of a conversation.”

  “Conversation. So that’s what we’re calling it.” Helene snorted.

  “I mean it, Helene. Get out of here.” Erik waved his cousin away.