Page 62 of Viking Unchained

Then Geek had taken him out to some country road to practice driving his car. And Geek hadn’t even yelled at him, or hidden his head in his hands, like Torolf was wont to do. Then they’d gone to the driver testing center, where a policing man checked his driving abilities. And he’d passed, praise the gods!

Although the officer was not amused about his seeming jest concerning horseless carriages. Now he could drive whenever he wanted, and mayhap even buy his own vehicle.

He was whistling as he entered the number on the security pad on Lydia’s door. That was when he was hit in the chest with one of her cloth running shoes.

“Ooomph,” he said, then ducked as the matching shoe hit the closed door just over his head. “Lydia!

What is amiss?” When he’d left this morning, she kissed him farewell, but now it did not appear there would be any kisses on his horizon anytime soon.

“You jerk! You obnoxious arrogant lying worm!” She had an orange from the fruit bowl in hand now.

When she lobbed it at him, he caught it in his right hand. The apple landed in his left hand. With no hands remaining, he rushed forward, dropping the fruit, and tackled her to the floor. “Desist! Dost hear me?

Leave off with this nonsense.”

“You liar! You liar! You liar!” she was screeching as he knelt, straddling her hips, both of her hands held to the floor above her head. Even as she berated him, tears streamed down her face, and, if her red eyes were any indication, she had been doing much weeping afore his return.

“Lydia! What happened? Oh, good gods, it is not Miklof, is it?”

That caught her attention. “No, it is not Mike. It’s you.”

“But I am safe.”

“Not for long.” She attempted to raise her knees and no doubt hit him in some vulnerable spot.

He tightened his grip on her hips with his knees and half-sat on her thighs.

“You bastard! You horse’s ass! You son of a bitch! You slimy loser!” On and on she hurled expletives at him, some very creative, some downright insulting. Finally, she wound down with a hiccough, then whispered, “Damn you.”

“I am going to release you now, Lydia, so you can explain what this is about. If you start railing at me again, I give you fair warning: you will be across my knees, your bare, blistered arse facing northward.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Dost dare to dare a Viking?”

“Let me up. I’m calm now.”

He arched his eyebrows, unconvinced. Still, he rose in one fluid motion, then took her hand, raising her to her feet. Immediately, she pulled her hand, away, as if his touch were repugnant. Then she went to the kitchen and grabbed some paper handkerchiefs, dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose.

He watched her the whole time, hands folded over his chest, waiting.

“You were a soldier,” she accused him. “And you plan on joining the teams.”

Whew! I thought it was something grave and life-threatening. “That is so.”

“ ‘That is so,’ ” she mimicked in an offensive, mock-masculine tone. “You lied to me, you rat.”

He shook his head. “I did not lie. I never lie.”

“Are you trying to say that you told me you planned to join the military . . . the SEALs? Oops, my ears must have been plugged that day.”

He felt his face heat. “At first, I did not tell you, deliberately, because I am new in this country, and I was warned not to give out too much information about myself. Especially not about the time travel or SEALs. Later, after I overheard your prayers, mentioning how you could not be involved with another military man, I decided not to volunteer the information, but I did not realize it mattered this much to you.” Even I find that hard to believe.

“A lie of omission.”

“That does not signify.” He gritted his teeth. “I value honesty above all else. If you had asked, specifically, I would have told you.”

“Oh, that’s just great. Try to lay the blame on me.”