A Real Man Special Edition 2

by Jenika Snow

  I was thinner than him, maybe a little bit faster. He was bulky, with furs and weapons strapped to him. That was my advantage.

  I darted to the left, going down a slope, trying not to fall and hurt myself enough that he could catch me. I ran faster, stumbled slightly on a fallen log, but righted myself and kept going.

  The air sawed in and out of my lungs, burning, propelling me forward.

  I was foolish enough to look over my shoulder, not able to see much, but I did notice Egil gaining ground on me. I screamed out on instinct, knowing that no one would hear me. We were out in the middle of nowhere, the forest surrounding us, civilization too far away to help. I took a right, weaving my way through the trees, going faster, panting harder. I darted behind a thick tree, keeping my body flush with that, trying to catch my breath, to keep my fear down enough I could control myself.

  And then I held my breath as best I could. I could hear him gaining, but stood still, pushing my fear down even more. He growled low, so close to me now that the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

  He’d stopped running, but I heard his footsteps as he walked, searching for me, maybe listening to see if I was running, if he could hear me breathing.

  I still held my breath, and when I could no longer do that I slowly, quietly blew it out of my mouth before inhaling gently and holding it once more. My heart thundered behind my ribs and it sounded loud, so loud that I felt that he could surely hear it.

  And then he started running and I closed my eyes, thinking he’d caught me, but then hearing his footsteps grow farther away. I opened my eyes and could see his silhouette continuing forward, as he searched for me.

  For long moments I didn’t move, too afraid to, scared he’d hear me, circle back around, and find me. I was afraid of what he’d do to me, how he’d punish me. He hadn’t hurt me thus far, but with Egil, I didn’t know what he’d do, didn’t know how he’d react. I was pushing my luck with him, I knew this, but I didn’t care.

  I stayed still for long moments, and finally forced myself to push away from the tree. I turned, about to go in the opposite direction Egil went when a large hand clamped over my mouth. I was gently pulled back against the trunk, my eyes wide, tears streaming down my cheeks. I screamed, knowing Egil had found me, but it was muffled behind the heavy hand.

  “Shhh,” a deep voice whispered by my ear and everything in me froze.

  I knew that deep, baritone voice.

  Calder.

  I closed my eyes and cried harder. He kept his hand on my mouth, thank the gods, because surely, I’d be sobbing in relief. I finally got control of myself enough that he pulled his hand away and turned me to face him. It was too dark for me to fully see him, but a break in the trees allowed the moonlight to shine down and make a swatch of silvery, bluish light move over his face.

  He looked like a god right then, powerful, strong, immortal in the face of danger.

  “You stay here, Greta,” he said in his deep voice, one that had my toes curling and all fear leaving.

  I was okay now.

  I was safe.

  “I’ll make sure nothing ever harms you again.” He cupped my cheek and my breath left me suddenly from that touch. He stared into my eyes for long seconds, and I wanted desperately for him to kiss me. I wanted to feel his lips on mine, to have him pull me into the hardness of his body.

  In that moment, I wanted to forget that there was a madman out there looking for me, and that Calder would surely fight to the death with Egil to ensure my safety.

  And, in that moment, I felt myself falling even more for this big berserker.

  Chapter Eight

  Calder

  I didn’t want to leave her, but I had to end this, had to teach Egil a lesson, take his life for the offense he’d committed.

  As I stared into Greta’s eyes, I wanted to kiss her. But right now, I needed to stay in focus, needed to finish this.

  “Stay here. I’ll come back to you.” And without waiting for a response, I turned and left, tracking Egil.

  He was loud, not bothering to hide where he was. It made my job easier, made finding him simple.

  And then I saw him, stepping into a clearing, his attention on trying to find Greta and not the fact that he’d been hunted and tracked himself. He looked to the left, then to the right, and still I stood there, waited, watched him and his ministrations, studying him.

  The moonlight shone down on him and illuminated the ax at his side, the sword strapped to his back. But this wouldn’t be drawn out. This would be over before he even realized.

  I watched where I stepped, was silent and stealthy. Within a matter of seconds, I was right behind him, close enough I could’ve reached out and wrapped my hand around his neck, broken the bone and ended this here. But I didn’t kill a man without them knowing.

  They would see it coming, know their life was about to be extinguished.

  And I knew the moment he realized he wasn’t alone. It was in the tightening of his body, the way his spine straightened. In a matter of seconds, he had his ax drawn and had spun around, facing off with me.

  I grabbed hold of his arm just as he went to swing the ax down, used my knee to kick him in the gut. I pushed him back, lifted my hand and grabbed my sword, which was strapped to my back. His eyes widened and then instantly narrowed when he realized it was I who stood before him. The moonlight caught the middle of my sword, causing it to glint in the darkness.

  He charged forward and I brought my sword down, slicing his leg, hearing him howl. I felt the beast in me rise up at the fact I’d drawn the first blood.

  He had his sword in hand as he came forward once more. We clashed together, weapons clanking, grunts filling the air. Although Egil was a good fighter, he was no match for me. I was born to do this, a berserker in all senses of the word. I was strong and powerful, and could see my opponent’s weaknesses right away.

  Egil was too arrogant, and that showed in his movements, in the way he brought his sword down, the way he charged forward. He was sloppy, too hasty, and it was easy to see his actions before he made them.

  I pushed him back with my forearm, brought my leg out and knocked him on his back. I brought my sword down but he rolled away, my blade digging into the ground. He charged forward, his head landing in my gut, the motion propelling us until a thick tree stopped us. I wrapped my hand around his neck and spun us around, now having him pressed against the trunk, looking directly in his eyes as I leaned forward.

  I snarled, having nothing to say because no words needed to be spoken. He knew what he’d done, the wrong he’d committed. And he knew, as I watched his eyes widen, that his life was payment. Even if he hadn’t hurt Greta, I still would’ve killed him.

  But I’d seen the mark on the side of her face, and that had everything in me getting even more vicious, more violent. And so I brought my hand back, shoved it forward quickly, and drove my blade right into the center of his stomach.

  I stared in his eyes the entire time as I brought that blade up. He never made a sound, never screamed out in pain.

  I twisted the blade and watched as he sputtered, blood pooling in the corner of his mouth.

  “May the gods deny you entry into Valhalla,” I said low, growling out the words. His eyes widened again, his nostrils flaring, and then I watched the life vanish from him.

  I pulled my sword from his body and stepped away, watching as he fell to the ground. For a moment, I just stood there and stared, feeling victorious that I’d avenged Greta and her family. I bent down and ran my blade along his pant leg, wiping the blood from the metal.

  I didn’t stay long, but instead went back to find my female. And she was mine. I’d take her far away from the death and memories of what Egil had done, show her that she could be happy with me.

  Because the alternative was not an option.

  Greta

  When Calder had returned, I’d seen the blood on his chest, but hadn’t asked any questions. I knew what had happened. And
I felt relief over it.

  We headed back to where Egil had left his supplies and horse, packed everything up, and rode away from it all. I knew we would be going back to the village, but with the long trek, and weariness settling in, we found ourselves at this tiny, isolated cabin, one I’d found out had been built by Calder years ago, a place for him to go when he was in these parts.

  It wasn’t anything grand, just one large room, a fire pit in the center, a wash basin off to the side, and a rather large pallet sitting in the corner. We’d been here for a little while, Calder had already created a fire, the heat filling the small interior.

  He grabbed some dried fish and berries, and as we sat in silence and ate, I couldn’t help but feel this pull toward him. It was strong, intense, and there was no denying it.

  I glanced up, trying not to be obvious as I stared at him. He sat across from me, the fire pit between us. His head was downcast as he ate, his short dark hair slightly messy. He had removed all items of clothing that had Egil’s blood on them, and the linen tunic he now wore was loose enough on his big body, but not hiding the fact he was all man.

  My heart raced.

  Did he know how frantic it beat? Could he hear it?

  I felt like the interior of the cabin was eerily silent aside from the crackling and popping of the fire between us. And then he lifted his head and looked right at me, and I was frozen, unable to look away, unable to pretend that I hadn’t been staring.

  His jaw worked slowly as he chewed, never once taking his focus off of me. I licked my lips, the sweet flavor of the dried berries moving along my tongue. Even now I wondered what it would feel like to kiss him, what it would’ve been like if he’d just pressed his lips to mine before he went after Egil.

  I did finally look away then, my mind a whirl, my body on fire. It was as if flames licked over my arms and legs.

  I set my food aside and reached for the leather pouch, taking a long drink of water, very aware that Calder watched me. I could feel his gaze on me, like a touch moving over every sensitive part of my body. I was wet between my thighs, my nipples hard underneath my shift.

  “What I wouldn’t give for a warm bath,” I found myself saying and was instantly embarrassed. A bath was the last thing I should be thinking about. But I was dirty, and a part of me wanted to be clean for Calder … for when he took me, claimed me.

  I felt my face heat and refused to look his way. The fall of my hair blocked my view of him, and thank the gods he wouldn’t be able to see how affected I was.

  The silence stretched on, but then I heard shuffling and glanced up at him. He stood now, his focus intense.

  “If you want to bathe, then so be it.” And then he left me alone in the cabin for long moments. It was so long I started to worry about him, even though I knew there was no need to. The door opened and he walked in, carrying two large buckets of water. He set them up over the fire with metal hooks, heating the water for my bath.

  I felt my heart jerk in my chest.

  Here was this big strong man, feral and intense, people afraid of him for very good reason, setting me up a bath.

  He left and came back three more times, taking the newly heated water and pouring it in the bathing basin until it was filled. Then he pulled out some herbs and flowers from a small pouch that had sat beside it, one I hadn’t noticed until now, and dumped them into the water. Instantly the scent of sweet floral aromas filled the cabin.

  “I don’t have an extra shift or gown for you to wear, but there is a cotton blanket you can use to dry off.” He pointed to where the pallet was, and I saw the folded-up material. “I’ll leave you to it.” And then he left me alone, dumbstruck by everything that had transpired.

  Maybe I should have been frightened, in shock over Egil taking me, that Calder had killed him, but all I felt was gratitude, relief, and this arousal that was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

  And tonight I would act on it.

  Tonight I would tell—show—Calder how much I wanted him.

  Chapter Nine

  Calder

  I should have knocked first, but my mind had been occupied with all the things I wanted to say to Greta tonight, all the things I wanted to do to her.

  And as I stood there staring at her, watching as the droplets of water cascaded down her body, I knew that practicing any self-control would be the hardest task I’d ever done.

  The cotton cloth she wore barely covered her, and she brought it tighter around her. All that accomplished was having the fabric mold to her even more, showing me all of her curves. The material was almost transparent from being wet, and it showed every part of her, the pinkness of her tight nipples, the roundness of her breasts.

  And then the dark blonde curls at the junction of her thighs.

  My mouth watered. My heart raced.

  “I should have knocked,” I said, my voice so gruff it almost sounded as if it belonged to someone else.

  She was close enough to the fire that I didn’t worry if she was too cold. I found myself wanting to care for her, make sure she was content, happy. I wanted her fed and happy, warm and pleased.

  I. Just. Wanted. Her.

  “I’m finished,” she said softly and smiled. “This is your home. You can come and go as you please.”

  I swallowed at hearing those words.

  I stepped closer to her, feeling every wild part of my body come alive at the mere presence of her. And as we stared at each other, neither of us speaking, both of us breathing harder the more time that passed, I knew one thing for certain.

  I couldn’t let her go.

  I wouldn’t.

  “You look at me as if you want me.”

  My mouth dried, my muscles contracting as the blood rushed to every part of me … especially the thick length between my thighs.

  “You watch me as if you’re hungry.” She said that last part on a breath.

  “I am hungry for you, Greta.” Those words spilled from me before I could stop them. But the truth was I wouldn’t have. She needed to know what she was getting involved with, what type of male I was.

  Brutal.

  Raw.

  Dangerous.

  “You’re hungry for me?” She sounded so innocent.

  “So damn much,” I said on this harsh whisper, knowing she could see the effect she had on me, the fact I was no doubt tenting my leathers, the fierce look I knew was covering my face.

  And then she dropped the cloth, exposing her naked body to me in all its glory.

  The breath left me, this growl spilled forth, and I found myself taking a step closer. My balls were drawn up tight. I wanted to be buried deep in her pussy, wanted to fill her up with my seed. “You want me to be out of control?” My voice was pitched low, my shaft harder than iron as it pressed against my leathers. I pulled back, seeing her eyes growing heavy-lidded. She licked her lips and nodded, and I didn’t hold in my moan then. “My female wants me out of control? You want me to let the beast free, to claim you in the way I see fit?”

  She breathed harder, her full breasts rising and falling. I stepped back and didn’t even stop myself from looking my fill of her, at the tight points of her nipples, the way they were rosy pink, begging for my mouth.

  I took in the creaminess of her skin, the hardness of her nipples. Her waist was tucked in, tiny. She was so small compared to me, almost fragile. I lowered my gaze to the junction between her thighs.

  Fuck.

  I ran a hand over my face, trying to control myself.

  “Maybe you being out of control is what we both need.”

  I groaned, my focus still between her legs. Dark blonde hair covered her pussy, and when she took a step forward, I could see her nipples pucker even more as if she were chilled.

  “I want you, Calder. I need you.” She took another step closer. “Surely you feel it too?” She lowered her gaze to my erection, her eyes widening at the sight. “I know you want me.”

  Greta lifted her gaze again, licked
her lips, and I couldn’t help but watch the act, wondering what it would feel like with that pretty mouth wrapped around my dick.

  And then that rope bound tightly inside me snapped, two frayed edges never to be connected again.

  I couldn’t stop myself.

  I couldn’t deny either of us.

  Without thinking about it anymore, without trying to talk myself out of it, I tore my clothes away impatiently. And then I let her look her fill of me. She looked at my chest, moved lower yet. My dick was hard, so hard it ached, my balls drawn up tightly to my body. I wanted to touch myself, to ease some of the ache I felt. But I felt my control take root once more.

  I held my hand out. “Come to me, Greta.” I’d tell her she was mine, that I couldn’t let her go. And I’d pray to the gods she would accept me, because the thought of not having her was not something I wanted to even entertain.

  She came to me right away and I growled low in pleasure, in possessiveness. I slipped my hand around her tucked-in waist, pulling her nude body flush with mine.

  “I’m going to claim every damn part of you, Greta.” I watched as she swallowed, the slender line of her throat working from the act. “You want that, don’t you.” I didn’t phrase it like a question.

  She didn’t speak for long seconds, but she didn’t have to say a word for me to read her body language. Greta had her hands on the center of my chest, her fingers pressing into my flesh, her nails causing a spark of pain and pleasure within me.

  She was ready for me, primed in all the right places, in all the right ways. “Tell me you want that.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I want all of that.” She breathed out softly and it moved along my skin, the scent of berries making me groan. “Claim me, Viking warrior.”

  And I would do just that and more.

  Tonight, Greta would be mine.