Odin's Shadow (Sons Of Odin Book 1) (9th Century Viking Romance) by Erin S. Riley

there, and each time a surge of excitement would course through her veins.
    Was that the human equivalent of wagging her tail?
    Then Alrik and his men stripped off their clothes, and dove into the sea. They bobbed up, laughing and splashing each other in the moonlight, more like playful little boys than grown men. But the smoky fire of the merchant ship burning in the distance behind them was a harsh reminder that these boys were deadly.
    Many of the men, Alrik included, had curious dark drawings on their torsos. Were they tattoos? Some of the men were nearly covered with the markings but she could only see one on Alrik, a small mark on his chest. She would have to look at it later when they were alone.
    The men washed themselves, scrubbed the blood from their clothes, and finally climbed back onto the ship to lay their clothing out to dry. Selia averted her gaze. Did that mean she would be surrounded by a group of nearly-naked men tonight, wrapped only in their cloaks? But the Finngalls pulled out a change of clothes, clean and dry, from their sea chests. These men were prepared for the possibility of being drenched in blood on occasion.
    Scrubbed clean, Alrik returned to her carrying two cups of wine. Selia was a bit ashamed at how much she enjoyed the way the tight muscles of his thighs moved under his breeches as he walked. He had a glint in his eye as he handed her a cup, and she blushed.
    She took a delicate sip, mindful of her alcohol-induced confession to his brother the night before. She would not make that mistake again. She had only tasted wine twice before in her life when her father had attempted to impress a high status guest. This wine was delicious, much better than she’d had at home. But again the memory flashed of blood spurting from the foreign sailor's headless body. Selia's throat contracted, causing her to sputter and nearly choke.
    Alrik frowned as he rubbed his thumb across the mark on her neck left by the tip of the dagger. Selia's heart did a strange flip-flop inside her chest. Was he actually concerned for her wellbeing? No, he was more likely angry at the idea of someone damaging his property. Or maybe he wasn't interested in having a wife whose beauty was flawed by a scar.
    He dragged his thumb against her flesh, down her throat and across her collarbone. His hand was hot against her skin. "So," he said slowly, "What did you and Ulfrik find to talk about all day?"
    She drew her brows together as she translated the words. Her own mind had been consumed by thoughts of the battle at sea and her brief stint as a hostage, and she had assumed his would be as well. But no, he had obviously moved on to the more important issue of whether or not his wife and his brother were overly interested in each other.
    Selia wasn't sure how to answer. "Norse . . . words," she said hesitantly.
    After a moment, Alrik threw his head back and laughed. She released a relieved breath.
    "Ulfrik says you're quite the quick learner." He took a long drink, watching her over the rim of his cup.
    Selia smiled. "I want to speak . . . for you happy—happiness."
    He put his hand on her thigh, and she could feel the heat of it even through the fabric of her gown. Again he drew her in with his hypnotic gaze. She was still more than a bit afraid of him, but when he was this close to her she felt so strange, completely overwhelmed by his physical presence. Like a bug caught in a spider's web, waiting for the inevitable, poison bite. No, not just waiting for it.
    Wanting it.
    Alrik leaned in close to her. She smelled the briny scent of seawater on him, and she shivered when the damp strands of his hair brushed her cheek.
    "There are many things I can teach you, little one,” he whispered. “Things that will make me very happy."

Chapter 8
    The next several days passed pleasantly enough as they sailed along the Irish coastline, stopping to trade at ports along the way whenever the mood struck Alrik. He seemed in no great hurry to get