The Viking's Witch (25 page)

A tingling heat spread across his chest, and a hot quickening filled his loins. Odaria’s touch was stirring his blood. What was happening to him? He felt dizzy, and it seemed as if a great deal of time had passed. Had he fallen asleep?

“Feel good?” Odaria whispered in his ear.

“
Ja
, but what—?”

“I want you to like this, Rothgar,” she said, trailing her tongue along the side of his neck.

The feel of Odaria’s hot, wet tongue on his skin hardened him in an instant. A deep moan escaped his throat, and he fought the overwhelming urge to grab Odaria and kiss her.

She kept stroking and teasing him. Each time she touched his chest, his penis throbbed. He opened his eyes and glanced at his breeches. He was fully erect. How could that be? Just a few moments ago, he felt exhausted. Now he was as stiff as a sword. What in the name of Thor had happened to him?

“What have you done to me, witch?”

She flashed him a little smile. “Nothing bad, Rothgar. I merely made you … interested.”

All of a sudden, he understood the meaning of her words. He glanced at the shelf behind him and saw that the bottle of love potion had been moved. The
cairn
was filled with the thick, heavy scent of Odaria’s potion. The longer he smelled it, the more aroused he became. His heart pounded faster, and his lust flared higher. “By Odin, you have bewitched me.”

“I only used a little.” She kissed him, entwining her tongue with his. “I want you, Rothgar. Today. Now. Here. I shan’t allow us to be interrupted again.”

He moaned and managed a feeble protest. “But to use witchery on me—”

“The potion shan’t harm you. It merely makes a man … ready,” she said as she reached down and stroked the front of his breeches.

His penis jutted forward with a life of its own. Odaria was right. Her potion
did
make a man ready. He’d never felt so lust-crazed in his life. If Odaria wanted to make love now, by the gods they would. Thor himself couldn’t stop him from sating his cravings.

“You should not have used your potion on me. Now my flesh is as doubly hard as it was last night.”

“Then you shall enjoy yourself doubly.” She kissed him again. “Pray don’t be angry with me. Make love to me,” she begged.

He pulled Odaria into his arms and kissed her. Although a part of him wanted to go slow, the surging need to feel release commanded him to take action. He broke the kiss. “You do not know what man-lust you have stirred. Strip, witch, lest I tear that dress to rags,” he said, his voice coming out deep and husky.

Odaria giggled and removed her dress. Seconds later, she knelt before him, naked.

Chapter Twelve

Rothgar licked his lips as he stared at Odaria’s nude body. He studied the swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips, and the dark patch of hair between her legs. Seeing her naked brought his passion to a new level. All he wanted was to sink himself deep inside her.

“Your spell is too powerful for me, witch. I will not be able to contain myself.” He felt obligated to warn her about the lust-craving she had awakened. It had been three long years since he’d lain with a woman, and his body’s urges could not be controlled. Odaria’s love potion allowed him no time to be gentle or tender.

Without uttering another word, he clutched her to him and suckled her breasts. Her nipples hardened beneath his lips as he devoured her. Although her pale skin tasted sweet, he wanted more. He slid his right hand between her thighs and was surprised to find that she was slick with arousal. Perhaps inhaling the love potion had had an effect on her as well.

He fondled her for a moment, enjoying her gasps and moans of pleasure as he stirred her female juices. Touching her only increased his need to have her. His penis surged again, and this time the aching in his groin was too great to ignore.

“Lie down,” he said. He fought to restrain himself as Odaria lay before him on the blanket and parted her thighs. He caught a glimpse of her pink womanhood and swallowed hard. “I fear I will be too hard … too rough on you for your first time,” he croaked out.

In his lust-maddened state, he was worried that he would accidentally hurt her. He had wanted to make Odaria’s first time special, to go slow and be tender with her, but would he be able to now? It would have been difficult enough to control his lust before, but now he felt as if he could split a tree with his rock-hard shaft.

“I shall be fine. Show me what I must do to please you.”

He unfastened his breeches and slid them down past his buttocks. He didn’t care that he was still dressed. All that mattered right now was freeing his swollen, throbbing cock.

Odaria gasped at the sight of it, and he chuckled. Had she ever seen one up close before? “I told you the potion made me grow.” He knelt over her. “Touch it. I wish you to know what your magic created.”

She reached down between them and took his penis in her hand. A shock zapped up his spine, and he groaned. How much longer could he hold back before he exploded? He grunted as Odaria’s soft hand traveled the length of him. Her eyes widened as she tested his thickness.

“Blessed be. ’Tis grown larger overnight.”

“
Ja
, and it is more eager for you now than ever before.” He kissed her long and slow, and she wrapped her arms around his ribs. His breathing deepened, and every beat of his heart sent more blood surging to his groin. He wanted to wait a little longer, to make Odaria more aroused and ready, but a long-unfulfilled need took control.

He trailed the head of his penis along her slick opening and guided himself into position. “I will be as gentle as I can,” he said as he pushed into her.

Odaria cried out and tensed beneath him as he deflowered her. Her fingertips dug into his back. “Ye do not fit,” she whispered.

“I do now.” He closed his eyes and lay still. By the gods, he’d never felt anything so blissful in his life. His penis pulsed and tingled inside her. The love potion had made him overly sensitive to heat and touch, and Odaria’s tight, hot opening set every nerve in his penis afire.

His body commanded him to sate his needs quickly, but he held back and waited for Odaria to take a breath. As he felt her relax, he thrust forward again, shattering what remained of her innocence. She whimpered and arched against him.

“All of me has slipped inside,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Breathe out and tell me when you are ready for more.”

He waited for Odaria’s body to stretch around his. He knew that a woman’s first time was painful and they never experienced pleasure, but he wanted Odaria to like it. Rushing her would serve no purpose other than to frighten her and make her unwilling to lie with him again.

After a minute, she opened her eyes and smiled up at him. “I’m ready for it, Rothgar. Make love to me.”

He obliged, slowly withdrawing partway, then letting his body sink back into hers. He bent Odaria’s legs up around his hips, and she groaned with delight. “Better?” he asked as he thrust into her again.

“Aye. It doesna hurt like before. Oh!” she cried out as his hips rocked hard against hers.

“Sorry, but you feel so good I want to go deeper. That potion has made me lose control of myself.”

He closed his eyes and tried to slow the pace. Despite his best efforts, his body’s needs took over. The room seemed to spin as he worked up a steady rhythm. Right now, nothing mattered except the feel of Odaria’s tight muscles clenching around him. He felt no pain from his wounds, only the sweet dizzying bliss of his passion building.

He pumped into her faster, letting his body take what it craved. Odaria squealed and clasped his shoulders. The next thing he knew, his world exploded. He shuddered and grunted as he spilled his hot seed into her.

As his climax faded, he opened his eyes and looked down at Odaria.

She gazed up at him. “Was it good?”

He nodded, too short of breath to answer. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead and ran into his eyes. After a moment, the tingling in his hips and groin faded, and he felt himself go limp. He withdrew from Odaria’s wet body and flopped onto the blanket next to her, utterly spent.

Odaria rolled to her side and snuggled up against his chest. She draped her arm around his ribs and kissed his cheek. “I told you my love potion worked.”

“
Ja
, I believe you,” he croaked out in between breaths. His entire body prickled, and his penis felt numb. “No more potions, witch, lest you be the death of me.”

She giggled and kissed him on the mouth. “Nay, you’ll need no more encouragement to lie with me again.” She drew a blanket over her naked body, then cuddled closer, pressing her breasts against his chest.

He glanced at her. She was grinning from ear to ear and seemed to be in good spirits for a woman who’d just been ravished. “Did I hurt you? I tried to be tender.”

“It hurt a bit at first. It felt like a hard pinch and burned inside, but then it was fine.” She brushed one of his braids away from his sweaty face. “What happens now?”

“Now we rest,” he said, curling his arm around her waist. “Men always need to rest after lovemaking. We must renew our strength after being drained.” He adjusted the blanket across his shoulders and closed his eyes. “Especially men who have been bewitched into lovemaking after being beaten nearly to death the night before.” He sighed. “I’m as weak as a mouse now, but I certainly feel good.”

“You worked hard inside me. And I’m glad you liked it. I wasn’t sure what I should do to make you satisfied.”

He kissed her cheek. “Go to sleep now, love.” He didn’t want to talk. He needed some rest. Even an hour’s worth would restore his energy.

Odaria was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “Rothgar, will you still bring me home with you, as you promised? You won’t leave me behind, will you?”

“What?” He looked at Odaria. She was biting her bottom lip, and tears welled in her green eyes. “Why would you ask me that?”

She blinked a few times and shrugged. “I thought you might have promised that only so you could be the first to have me. I didn’t know if you wanted me with you because you … truly care for me.”

“Of course I care for you.” He hugged her tight. “You’re coming home with me because I want to be with you. We will live on my farm and make love every night. I will not leave without you, Odaria. I swear.”

She sniffled and nodded. “I needed to be sure. You are all I’ve got. Part of me worried that after we had lain together, there would be nothing left you’d want from me.” She let out a little laugh. “I suppose I’m being silly on account of what we’ve done.”

“That is possible. You are a sensitive woman and your tender body is not used to being invaded by a well-endowed Norseman,” he joked and kissed her cheek. “Rest now, my little witch. Do not worry. I will never leave you. I promise. I will take you away with me soon. You are more precious to me than anything else in the world.”

He closed his eyes and settled under the blanket. Why was Odaria talking this way? Had she seen a troubling vision of the future? He pushed that thought aside. She had no reason to worry about his loyalty. He had no intention of leaving her here. Tomorrow morning they would simply board his ship and set sail for home.

All they had to do was make it through the rest of the night, and everything would be fine. Their time left on the isle was limited. What could possibly happen to them in a few short hours?

Odaria rolled over in bed and opened her eyes. She stifled a yawn as she glanced out the window. It was dark. How long had she been asleep? Where was Rothgar?

After they had woken from their nap in the
cairn
, they had eaten a hearty meal and snuggled under the blankets. Rothgar told her stories about his homeland and promised her that they would leave in the morning.

When they had returned to the gathering hall, Rothgar had insisted that she go upstairs and take a nap. Tomorrow would be a busy day, and he wanted her well rested for their journey. She grinned. Everything was going to be fine after all. Even though she’d given herself to Rothgar, she had no reason to worry about him abandoning her. By this time tomorrow, they’d be sailing across the sea.

She climbed out of bed and stretched her arms over her head. Her right hip popped, and she winced. Although she had enjoyed making love, the muscles in her hips and thighs ached from being stretched. She was pleasantly sore in new, private places.

Rothgar’s forceful lovemaking had satisfied her immediate craving, yet she wanted to do it again. Toward the end, as Rothgar’s thrusts grew faster and deeper, she felt an odd tickling sensation building inside her, but then it faded. She’d been tempted to ask Rothgar what it was, but she hadn’t wanted to appear stupid. The next time they made love, she would ask him to explain it to her.

She let out a sigh of contentment as she pulled on her red dress and boots. Would being intimate with Rothgar always feel like that, or were there more wicked delights to come? She hoped so.

She opened the bedroom door and walked down the first two steps. Voices from the main room caught her attention, and she paused on the stairs. Who was Rothgar talking to?

“Give me what
I
want, and you will have what
you
want. Refuse, and die.”

“How do I know I can trust you, pagan devil?”

She covered her mouth with her hand. That was Brennan’s voice. Why was Rothgar talking to him?

“Do you have a choice? What do you have to lose with this bargain? When you give me Orvind, my men and I will leave. You may keep Odaria. I’ve taken my fill of her,” Rothgar said, then chuckled.

She clutched the banister and closed her eyes. The room spun, and she felt her stomach drop. This could not be happening. Just this afternoon, Rothgar had promised to take her away with him. But now that he’d deflowered her, he was trading her for Orvind. How could he betray her so quickly?

“Is it a deal?” Rothgar said.

Brennan let out a long sigh. “Aye. I shall show you where your friend has been kept. But I warn you. If any Norsemen follow us or if you attempt to use trickery against me, the bargain is canceled.” Brennan paused. “And whether your friend is dead or alive, I still get Odaria.”

“Agreed. There will be no tricks. Odaria is yours. Take her and do as you please. The sooner I am off this dreadful isle and home among my people, the happier I’ll be.”

Odaria blinked back tears. Rothgar didn’t care for her one bit. He’d merely used her to sate his lust and then lied about taking her home with him. She swallowed the lump in her throat. How could she have been fooled so easily? She had trusted him, given herself to him, and for what? To be used as chattel?

Rothgar spoke to someone in Norse, then cleared his throat. “You will take me to Orvind at first light. If you keep your word, by this time tomorrow we will be far away.”

Odaria balled her fists and clenched her jaw. First light? As soon as Rothgar gave her over to Brennan, she’d be dead. Thunder rumbled overhead, and she opened her eyes. Rothgar thought he was sending her to her death, but she’d have the final say over her own fate.

She bolted down the stairs two at a time. “How dare you!”

Rothgar and Brennan spun in their chairs and gaped at her. Sig stood in the cookroom doorway. His eyes widened as she grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it at Brennan’s head. He ducked, and the chair went crashing to the floor.

“Odaria, stop it,” Rothgar yelled.

Her rage built as she crossed the room to face him. “Shut your mouth, filthy, lying bastard.” She slapped him across the face as hard as she could. “You think you’ll give me to Brennan and let him do as he pleases, eh? We shall see about that.”

Her temper flared, and a pitcher of beer flew off the table. It shattered against the far wall.