A Viking's Lost Soul

by T. M. Grinsley

  “You are mine, Stephanie.” Finn bites my nipple and runs his tongue over the tip, making my inner vixen scream to be fucked here and now.

  “Say it, Stephanie.”

  “Mhmm.”

  Finn's teeth clamp down on my nipple, hard, causing me to cry out in pain. I look into his eyes and see the dominant man in control. When Finn is like this, my inner submissive bends her head down and reveals her neck to the alpha. The power that radiates off Finn would suffocate most people and would cause them to cower in fear. But for me, it is intoxicating. In life, I want a partner who I can be beside and be equals with. But in the bedroom, the man has complete control over my body and soul.

  “I am yours,” I whisper, not trusting my voice completely with the way he is looking at me right now.

  “Good.” A wicked grin appears on Finn's face as he kisses my belly and walks towards the bathroom. “Now get dressed. We have an hour before we need to leave.”

  “Are you going to tell me what we are doing today?” I ask, even though I know it is completely hopeless, since getting information out of this man is like pulling teeth out of a shark’s mouth. We have been here for three days, exploring the town. Finn’s brothers left after dinner the first night we were here but promised to catch up when we got to Skorraey. I found it kind of weird at first, because of Etienne’s weird promise, but Finn has been keeping my mind occupied on other things.

  Each day we did something new, but sometimes if you push the shark enough times, they may finally take the bite and spill their guts.

  “Nope. Just dress warm and pack light. It’s going to be a long day.”

  “Ass,” I mutter under my breath as I wrap the blanket over my body and go to get dressed. Granted, since we are in an ice hotel, you would think it would be cold as hell in here, but, it isn’t. I mean, yes it’s cold, but with all the fur blankets and rugs on the ground, it’s peaceful.

  “I heard that,” Finn calls out from somewhere in the room.

  Shaking my head, I pull on the new pants I bought yesterday, which are lined with fake fur. My skin loves the way the soft fur feels against my skin. On the outside, they look like normal jeans, but on the inside, it feels like you are laying on a soft cloud, making you never want to take these things off. Throwing on my favorite bra, I layer on three different shirts, until it is time to put my coat on. The past few days, the high has been one degree, but with the wind chill, and since we are close to the water, it feels like negative fifteen.

  Thirty minutes later, I’m bundled up with my favorite snow boots, black snow jacket, and white beanie.

  “Well, don’t you look toasty?” Strong arms wrap around my waist as I feel Finn place a light kiss just below my earlobe.

  “It’s colder than shit outside, so I need to make sure my fingers and toes don’t fall off.” I snap, trying to wiggle out of his embrace.

  Finn's laughter fills the room as he looks me up and down. “Ready to know what we are doing today?”

  “YES!” I yell as the anticipation kills me. Tromsø is a gorgeous place with ice caves, dog sledding… hold up. “Wait, you didn’t?”

  “Etienne told me about your obsession with huskies and the movie Snow Dogs. I figured it was time you experienced it for yourself.”

  Squealing on top of my lungs, I throw my arms around Finn's neck and hug him as hard as I can. This man, what the hell did I do to deserve him? “I can’t believe this. You are so freaking amazing.” I look around the room and run to get the rest of my things packed, and we are out the door in five minutes. I have dreamed of dog sledding and being out in nature with Huskies since I was a kid. It looks like an absolute blast.

  “That isn’t all, babe.” I am halfway out of the room when I notice Finn has not moved a step.

  “What do you mean, that isn’t all?” I lean against the wall with my bags in hand, curiosity at its highest peak.

  Finn packs the last of his things and throws his bag over his shoulder as he makes his way to me. “That, my dear Stephanie, will have to wait until we get there.” Kissing the top of my nose, he walks past me, laughing at my open mouth.

  Granted, I get a beautiful view of his ass as he walks down the hall to check out of the hotel, but come on. I am dying to know what he has up his sleeve.

  While Finn is checking out of the hotel, I try to come up with a plan to get back at him. I listen as Finn speaks their native tongue, and a plan starts to form in my head. It may be crazy and completely stupid since Finn is, well, Finn. But if all goes right, it’s going to be hilarious.

  A few minutes later, we are all checked out and making our way down the stairs when I notice two snowmobiles, with Etienne sitting on one of them. “Your chariot awaits, my fair maiden.”

  “Morning!” Running down the stairs, doing everything possible not to slip on the ice, I throw myself into Etienne’s waiting arms.

  “Finn told me what he was up to and I offered to help.” Etienne points to Sam, who is perched on top of a snowmobile, waiting to get this show on the road.

  Sam swings her leg over the snowmobile and hugs me. “There is no way I could pass this up. Ready to race and beat their ass?”

  “Please, the last time you tried to pet a dog, he nearly bit your hand off. You and dogs are not on good terms.” Etienne wiggles his eyebrows and is grinning like an idiot.

  “You mean when I lathered my body in chocolate sauce and-” Etienne slaps his hand over Sam’s mouth and drags her back to her snowmobile.

  Sounds like whatever was going on between those two has been resolved. The sexual tension between them could be cut with a knife. “Sounds like Etienne only has his mind on one thing, Sam.”

  “Says the woman who is drunk off Finn's cock. You are walking a little funny this morning.”

  Flipping Etienne off, I drop my bags next to the nearest snowmobile and lean against it, trying my best to keep my noticeable penguin waddle to a minimum.

  “May Thor strike you dead.” I glare at Etienne and notice Finn is trying his best to keep a straight face. “Shut it, beefcake. Or no juices for you tonight.”

  And queue laughter. Etienne and Finn burst into laughter at my ridiculous comeback. Sam shakes her head, knowing my joke is terrible and pulls her goggles over her eyes. I was never good at firing back insults or being one who could make people laugh. All my jokes are mostly dumb as shit, or so bad, people take pity on me.

  “Stick to what you know, Sis. Ha! No juices for you tonight, fucking priceless.” Etienne’s laughter follows him as he walks towards Sam and whispers something into her ear. A few seconds later, she slaps him on the chest and kisses him softly on the lips.

  “Easy, tiger. Don’t go planning his demise just yet.” Finn grips my hips tightly and hoists me onto the snowmobile. I see the same smile that has captured my heart, tug at his lips. This is the man who is going to be my undoing.

  “How much farther?” I call out over the roar of the engine.

  Finn keeps his eyes on the road and ignores my question. It is probably the umpteenth time I’ve asked, but this girl’s curiosity is at its highest peak. Hell, even Etienne keeps throwing goofy looks my way, causing me to flip him off a few times.

  “It’s no use, Steph. Etienne won’t even tell me what’s going on.” Sam shouts. She keeps her arms tight around Etienne’s waist, but every so often, I see her massaging his pecks.

  Remember when I told you my curiosity is at its highest peak? Well, meet mouth who has no filter.

  “Hey, why do you keep feeling up Etienne’s pecks like he just spouted out a set of tits?”

  Sam’s laughter roars over the engine, causing both men to stop. “They are soft and squishy and need some love too. He told me he wished he had a set of tits so he could play with them anytime he wants. He feels left out when I play with mine in front of him. Figured I would return the favor.” Her shoulders shrug as she continues to grope Etienne.

  “He told me the same thing. Maybe we need to make his dream come tru
e?” I am so dead when we get to our destination. But what the hell, I have Finn to protect me.

  “Deal!”

  Etienne removes his goggles and gives both of us a weird look. You know, the look that says you are both psycho and have lost your minds. “What about boobs?”

  Sam and I look at each other, a mental image of Etienne with large tits pops into my head, so I put my hands in front of me, showing Sam what I was talking about. We both fall off our snowmobiles, clutching our stomachs.

  “What the hell?” Finn says, still sitting on the snowmobile.

  “Boobs… feeling up… job… would pay.” I say between each breath.

  “Boobs.” Sam keeps saying that word over and over again. You would think we’ve lost our minds and, in some ways, I think we have. After everything that has happened since this trip started, it feels good to let loose and be me.

  The guys just stand there as we continue our ridiculous moment. Not to mention, a certain memory of Etienne wearing his mother’s bra filled with water balloons pops into my head. One summer, my boobs decided to catch up with the rest of my body, and I was having a hard time keeping my hands off them. I mean, come on, you go from an A cup to a D cup in a few months, you would grope yourself too.

  To make matters worse, Etienne ran inside, put on his mother’s bra and filled the cups with water balloons. It was completely priceless. But to make matters even worse, I was jumping on the trampoline as the water balloons flew from his bra and tried to hit me.

  I will forever remember that day as the attack of the waterboobs, and vowed to never speak of it again because that would destroy Etienne’s man card.

  “Waterboobs!”

  “Waterboobs?” Finn and Sam ask at the same time.

  Etienne on the other hand... “Oh shit,” I say as I slap my hands over my mouth. “I’m dead.”

  “Run,” Etienne says as he bolts in my direction. Pushing myself off the ground, I kick my short stubby legs into gear and run. The foot of snow is proving to be an issue since I barely make it a few steps when I am tackled to the ground and eating snow.

  “et ff e ou at ss,” I say with snow caked in my mouth.

  “Fat ass? Is that the best you got?” Etienne mocks, as he rolls me onto my back.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Finn says, trying to keep his cool.

  “Ass, you couldn’t have saved your damsel in distress from the giant tub of lard, could you?”

  “Nah, figured you could handle it yourself.” He winks.

  Sam and Finn stand next to each other, both waiting for us to explain what just happened.

  I put my hands up in surrender and refuse to open my mouth. Since meeting Finn, all I seem to do is vomit what my brain is saying and forget to put my filter on. What in the hell is this man doing to me?

  “As much as I want to know what the hell is going on here, we need to get going, or we will be late.” Finn reaches his hand out for me and pulls me onto my feet.

  “Whatever floats your small tickle pickle. Etienne would love for y’all to know about his waterboobs.” I blurt out as I make my way to the snowmobile.

  I hear Etienne groan behind me. He mutters something under his breath that I’m not able to catch.

  “Who are you calling tickle pickle?”

  I turn around to see Finn with his eyebrow raised and arms crossed. Damn, his arms scream touch me. Even with several layers on him, he is sexy as hell.

  “Tickle pickle? No, that is too blah. I mean, it could work. But, hmm… Captain Turbo… well, last night he was turbo.” I tap my finger against my chin as I try to figure out what to call his penis. And get my foot out of my mouth. But what the hell, it’s already in, so why not make a bigger fool of myself.

  Most people would call me childish or completely idiotic for what all just went down, but that is a typical day for me. Why live life seriously? You only have one life to live, and it seems being with Finn has allowed me to loosen up and be free. I mean my foot goes in mouth on occasion, and I do whatever I can to get myself out of the hole I am in. And the look Finn is giving me right now is not helping matters.

  “What the hell are you talking about, woman?” Finn is in the middle of getting the snowmobile ready to get moving again when he pauses to look at me. It is five bone chilling degrees and fucking cold as balls, but the way this man looks at me, makes it feel like the sun is searing my skin.

  “But I always loved the Terminator… I’ll cum back. Ha!” Oh, that is terrible.

  “Stephanie, are you-”

  “Lord Farquad! Yes, that is classic!” I slap my knee, trying to keep a straight face as I look at Finn, ready to fuck with him. “Hey babe, I’m ready for Lord Farquad.”

  “Oh, hell no!” Finn pushes himself into a sitting position and gives me the look that says the predator is ready to attack his prey. I see a small shadow of a smile threatening to break free from the stone mask he likes to wear all the time, but when it comes to me, he doesn’t stand a chance.

  “Oh, come on, it’s classic.” I cross my arms over my chest and watch Finn take small calculating steps towards his prey.

  “You did not just name my cock, Lord Farquad.” I hear a small growl from Finn, and I run.

  “Get back here, woman!”

  “And that is our cue to leave. Meet you at the huts.” Etienne hops onto the snowmobile while Sam whistles and cheers me on.

  I erupt into giggles, knowing this is a feeble attempt, but this girl wants to have some fun in the snow. As Finn chases me down in the middle of nowhere, I hear his laughter echo all around me. Chills start to explode all over my skin as the joy of his laugh makes my heart sing. His laugh is rare and almost nonexistent.

  Moments like this are rare and worth cherishing every second of them. As of late, he seems to laugh nonstop. Maybe it’s because he finally pulled his head out of his ass and is starting to see the world in a different lite. Huh, who knew? I wonder when that happened.

  “GAH!”

  Arms circle around my waist and I feel his massive chest on my back as he tackles me to the ground. Falling onto my side, I roll onto my back and see Finn for who he truly is. A man with a Cheshire grin, and pure bliss blossoming all over his face. His blue eyes have a spark that tells me he is having the time of his life.

  It is at that moment I know. Three weeks in Norway, and this man has my heart.

  “Take that name back right now. He is no Lord Fraud. More like-” Finn slips his hands under my coat and starts tickling my sides. “The Hulk, or-”

  “I love you.”

  Finn's fingers pause as my words finally sink in. Several moments pass before he blinks and starts to breathe again.

  “Finn?” Oh shit, did I say the wrong thing? Is this only a fling to him?

  “Say it again.” Finn pushes himself back, so he is sitting on his knees and staring at me like, in all honesty, I have no idea. I know his cold mask and how to drive him crazy, but when you reach the core of who he is, he is a complete and utter mystery.

  Finn's gloved hand grabs my hands as he pulls me into his lap and cups my cheek. His thumb traces circles on my cheek and his eyes bore into my soul. “Say it again.”

  As his thumb continues to trace circles on my cheek, I lean into his touch, savoring this moment. “Finn, I love you.”

  One second, Finn is boring into my soul, and the next, his lips are slamming onto mine. He kisses me with such passion and desire, pleasure spreads through my entire body, making it hard to breathe. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against him, so there is not a single ounce of space between us.

  My head starts to feel fuzzy with how fiercely he is kissing me, and I don’t want this to end. He is a man who needs control and right now, he can do whatever he wants to me, and I won’t care. As long as he is mine, that is all that matters. I trust him explicitly.

  My gloved hands travel up his chest, wishing to feel his skin against mine, but my hands will freeze the moment they are out of their
gloves. I continue my trail to his shoulders, showing him just how much I love him. This kiss is possessive and one that stakes claim. Pleasure and need pool between my legs, aching to be touched by him.

  All too soon, I feel him pull back, but only by an inch. “Stephanie Nils. You are a gift from the gods, and I am one lucky man.”

  Using my teeth to take off my gloves, I put my hand behind his neck, running my fingers through his hair under his beanie and I lean forward to kiss his nose.

  Finn's chest rumbles and his lips curve into a wicked grin. “Stephanie.”

  Wrapping both my arms around his neck, I move my legs, so I am straddling his lap, giving him full access to everything. White puffs of smoke erupt from our mouths as silence falls between us.

  Finn plants a small kiss on my lips and proceeds to pull me off his lap, but my legs, as small as they are, lock in place and refuse to budge.

  “Come on, meyla. As much as I want to fuck you right here and now…” I feel Finn’s hand against my vagina and moan against his touch.

  “But we need to get going.” Finn kisses the tip of my cold nose and carries me to the snowmobile, and soon we are off to our next stop.

  Chapter 26

  ~ Finn ~

  “Oh my God, what a rush!” Stephanie jumps onto the hotel bed and immediately starts to undress.

  When we arrived at Pyhämi, all bets were off. Steph’s excitement is infectious. On the way here, my mind kept wandering back to the three little words she told me. Everything inside me screamed to tell her the same thing. I saw the hurt in Steph’s eyes when I didn’t say them back, but right now isn’t the time. I have something up my sleeve for when I plan to tell her.

  “Are you talking about when your ass flew off the sled, or when you thought it was cool to slide down the mountain on your jacket and tumble into a tree?” Sam quips as she jumps on the bed and starts to strip out of her snow gear.

  Casting a sidelong glance at Etienne, we both leave the room to make final preparations for Skorraey.

  “You are just mad I won the race. Took a while to get the mushing and call signs down, but still. I mean haw, hee, line out, mush, and hike? I had a hard enough time staying on when the damn dogs didn’t listen and ran off. I swear, the Huskies were adorable, but how hard is it to stop when I tell you to stop?” Steph groans as she tries to take off her jacket. “I mean, why not… AH!”