Across the Music (Across the Ocean Book 2) (14 page)

"You're sweet, Gunnar. I know you don't have any bad intentions. Truthfully, I think I'm just scared you might be right – that talking about it would help to move on. Part of me is scared that if I move on, their memories will somehow fade, or I won't be able to hold them as tight in my heart as before. I feel locked in a terrible position inside of myself, and I'm scared." She takes in a deep shaky breath and looks up towards the sky. "I've held on tight to them for so long, and I feel I owe it to them. They deserve to be ever present in someone's mind for as long as possible." There's a quaver in a her voice, and a single tear slips out of the corner of her left eye, quickly sliding down her cheek to fall upon my hand on her shoulder. The glittering tear track on her face only makes her more beautiful to me. She's more fragile and needing of me to help protect her from herself. Her hand reaches up to wipe the trail away, and she sniffles delicately.

"I hear that some things take longer to get over than other things, and since I'm now the proclaimed expert on all things tragic, you must listen to me. Don't be so hard on yourself. I don't know what I'm talking about in any of this, and you shouldn't let my ignorance make you feel bad about how you've been dealing with your personal issues. We hardly know each other, and I'm just an idiot over here trying to impress a girl, hopefully to get her to open up and share pieces of herself with me that she doesn't share with anybody else." She glances over at me again, her eyes glittering from emotion and tears. A sweet smile spreads across her lips, and my eyes are drawn to her smile. I need to kiss her, and I hope to God that this isn't an inappropriate time to do that.

Gunnar leans in towards me, his right hand sliding from my left shoulder around to the other side of my head gently yet firmly, pulling me forward in order for our lips to touch. He pauses for a second before they do, his eyes locked on mine and our breaths mingling while we share a moment between us that helps to remove any of the unpleasantness from our conversation before. His closeness is comforting, and it makes my heart flutter wildly with excitement and a deeper feeling. I don't think I've ever met a more genuine and honest person. I know I've never met a bloke who could admit to not knowing about something, or who could say they were wrong.

His face comes closer to mine and his lips brush against mine so sweetly, apologetically. Gunnar lifts his other hand to cup the right side of my face where my cheek meets my chin. I feel safe, cherished even, as he holds me like something special. I slant my face to the side so our lips can move easier against each other, and I deepen the kiss by sliding my tongue along the seam of his mouth. The emotions inside of me have been in chaos, and now he is bringing back to the peaceful side. His lips open against mine, and I slide my tongue inside to tentatively brush against his.

There's a low rumble from his throat in approval, and a dart of lust shoots down my body straight to the junction between my legs. His teeth nip at my lower lip, and it turns me into a quivering puddle of lust. Our tongues begin to slide against each other's, mimicking what I know we both want. My clit is throbbing, and I'm having a hard time focusing on much else other than my desire for Gunnar.

His hand on my face lets go in order to slide down the front of my neck, getting closer to my breast covered by my dress and swim suit. I wish I had magic powers that allowed for me to get naked with just a single thought, but I sure am happy when the palm of his hand and fingertips graze lightly over my breast and nipple, causing it to pucker tightly, and a delicious warmth to spread through me.

A large and freezing cold gust of wind hits us, blowing my stray hairs into our faces and mouths, and chilling me to the bone in a single moment. Pulling away while removing all the hair from my mouth, I look to see dark clouds quickly coming over us, and know that the wind is just beginning. Gunnar takes a glance around as well before he looks at me again with a rueful grin on his face.

"I hope that was enough to help you feel a little better and perhaps to even forgive me for my non-thought-through words. I think we should head back though, you're not wearing much, and I'm sure you've learned that the wind here is what makes it so cold." He quickly stands up and extends his hand to help me up. Grabbing it firmly, I hoist myself up, but Gunnar doesn't let go of my hand. Instead, he takes a firmer grip and begins to guide me back to the summerhouse. The wind blows over us again, causing goose bumps to rise all over my body, dousing the flames that were just burning so brightly. Damn you, Icelandic wind!

We make a rather quick walk back to the summerhouse, since I’m turning into an ice cube from the cold wind, and we see everybody on the patio having a great time, laughing and talking and drinking. There are good vibes all around, and I'm excited to mingle again. The tall fence around the side of the summerhouse with the hot tub protects everyone from a majority of the wind, allowing everyone to continue on as though there isn’t foul weather on the way.

Brooke is chatting away merrily with her friends Emilía and Sóley; Katla is simmering in the hot tub with a few other guys I’m not very familiar with yet. Loki is standing near the grill again, several kinds of meat cooking away while smoking one of his hand-rolled cigarettes while Ari talks about something I can’t hear, and I can feel his eyes on me. Another shiver runs through me, and not from the cold. Have I mentioned how hot it is that he’s the designated meat cooker? He can cook my meat any day. Is that weird to say? Nobody else seems to pay much attention to Gunnar and me though, as they’re caught up in their own antics.

Gunnar gives me a sweet smile and a nod when I look up at him, releasing my hand when I tell him that I need to put more clothes on. I head back to my room for a quick change out of my bathing suit and into blue jeans and a light-weight long-sleeved blue top, and after a quick glance at the clock on the microwave in the kitchen to see that it's now 20:00; I make my way out to the patio again, slipping a pair of tennis shoes on before stepping outside.

Baldvin is near the hot tub when I get outside, laughing very loudly at who knows what; he always seems to be good humored. He's a nice bloke, with his short reddish-gold hair, kind blue eyes, and neatly trimmed beard. He looks one hundred percent what I imagine a Viking would look like, if they had short hair. Strong cheekbones and a bold nose. He seems to be in really good shape, under his shirt. A large, dark raven tattoo adorns his upper arm, and it only adds to his Viking appearance. Gunnar is laughing and talking with him; probably the one who made Baldvin laugh in the first place and I am happy seeing him so relaxed, seemingly without a care in the world. It's as though there has never been a single weight on his shoulders, and he is always flying free. I feel like I'm flying free now, too. I also feel like a naughty girl.

“Sophie! There you are. I was wondering where you had gone off to. Are you alright?” Brooke appears at my elbow, wrapping her arm around the middle of my back while she steers me over to where Emilía and Sóley stand.

“I’m right as rain; I just took a little walk around the summerhouse.” The girls all smile at me, and Brooke nudges Emilía in the side.

“We saw you come back with Gunnar, holding hands even. What’s going on with that?” Brooke twitters with glee like a school girl, and I smile at her. She’s adorable.

“Ah, you saw that did you? Gunnar is quite an awesome bloke. That’s all I’m going to say about that!”

“Oooh,” Emilía chuckles at me “just
how
awesome is he?”

“No details for us?” Brooke looks so pathetically sad over this that I laugh loudly, drawing a glance from Gunnar who is sporting a large smile himself. I shake my head, giving her an apologetic lift of one side of my mouth.

“A lady never tells.” The gals give a few laughs mingled with sounds of mock disappointment, and I can’t help but laugh with them. While I don’t want to talk about Gunnar right here with Katla not far away in the hot tub, maybe I wouldn’t mind if we were all alone. I like them, they’re easy to talk to, and they make me feel welcome. I feel like they’re interested in me as a person, which isn’t such a unique thing in itself, but it just feels nice to find it here, in this place, right now.

Excusing myself from the women's conversation, I walk over to Gunnar and Baldvin, hearing them talk about working out and being super strong. Manly stuff. There is an Icelandic Pro-Wrestler that is a very big deal in their eyes, apparently. When Gunnar notices I'm standing next to him, he quickly changes the subject.

“So as you can see, Baldvin, I’m now a scientist.” I laugh loudly; I love his sense of humor.

“What, are you afraid to talk of your love for strong men in front of a lady? Don’t stop on my account.” His smile is so warm, inviting and full of laughter that I wish I could just lean up and kiss his lips, but I know we’re not at that point yet.

“Of course not, I just don’t want to bore you with talks of how incredibly strong we are.” His humorous expression of manly bravado and macho-ness makes me laugh some more, while Baldvin stands next to us giving me some of his best body builder poses, showing me how obviously strong he must be. His fake frown and flexed biceps are very impressive indeed.

“Oh, I imagine you must be some of the strongest men in all of the country. How many people live here? 200?”

“Oh, you wound me. A jab at how small our country is. And here I thought you were a decent person.” Baldvin places a hand over his heart in pretend pain.

“You’re right, that was cruel of me to remind you. I demand a display of how strong the two of you are!”

Katla walks passed us at that moment, having gotten out of the hot tub, and she heads inside, followed by one of the guys I haven’t met yet. Any remaining strange feelings I had leave when she walks into the summerhouse. I didn’t even realize how uncomfortable I was until she was gone, but now I know I can relax without fear of someone trying to knock me down, even if it’s just with their eyes. There are a few people out here who I’m not overly familiar with, but none of them have given me any negative vibes.

“Okay, I will lift you as my display of strength.” Gunnar looks down at me with his sparkling blue eyes, raising one eyebrow in question as to whether it’s okay to lift me.

“Should I be offended that there is an implication that I’m so heavy that it could be considered a display of strength to lift me?” Gunnar laughs loudly, and has the decency to at least look a little embarrassed.

“You should consider it a compliment, since I’m looking for any excuse to have you in my arms.” His words send a mini shock wave through me, since there are other ears nearby to hear what he is saying to me. He’s declaring that he has interest in me to his friends, and that means something.

“Don’t worry Sophie, we’ll both lift you. I don’t think there is a guy at this summerhouse who wouldn’t want an excuse to hold someone as hot as you.” Baldvin waggles his eyebrows at me in jest, and I know that this all has nothing to do with any actual display of strength.

“Okay, I will declare the winner after.” I give a stern nod of approval to Gunnar, who seems pleased that I am going along with the good fun.

Baldvin comes forward first, giving me a wink to rub in that he is getting to touch my woman. Yes, alright. She’s not mine
yet
, but she will be.

“Alright Sophie, me first. I will show you how a real man picks up a woman.” She giggles a little, while he contemplates how he wants to pick her up. I’m surprised when suddenly Loki comes from behind me, shoving Baldvin aside in what seems, to me, to be jealousy. Maybe he’s only okay with me touching Sophie.

“Sorry Baldvin, it’s not going to happen. This is how a man properly picks up his woman.” Sophie is just as surprised as I am that Loki has entered the conversation, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Loki leans down, puts his right shoulder in the area of her stomach, and lifts her up and onto his shoulder in one quick motion. She lets out a squeak, her legs wiggle helplessly down his chest, but she lays her torso obediently over his back; her head dangling down and her arms wrapping around his waist. I'm a bit jealous. What a good sport, and she’s sexy while draped over Loki’s shoulder. He gives me a strange look.

“And when your woman is bad, do you know what you do?” Loki’s voice seems tenser than I realized originally, and Baldvin takes a step back with his hands up in the air as though he’s in trouble.

“Loki…” Sophie sounds uncertain, and her face is turning red from the rush of blood, or she’s blushing. Her ass is in the air, and we all have an idea about what’s going to happen.

Loki lifts his free hand and smacks Sophie’s ass, rather hard it seems. The loud cracking sound reverberates around the porch, and while I know not many people care or are paying attention to us, I’m worried that he’s embarrassing Sophie. She lets out an “Ahh,” that I’m having a hard time interpreting as pain or something else, but I can’t deny that it’s really hot watching Loki spank her. I can feel a tingle in my balls.

Another loud crack fills the air, and Loki’s hand remains on her ass, rubbing in a slow, circular motion. Sophie has now begun to wiggle around, and is trying to lift herself off and away from his shoulder.