Page 78 of Viking Unchained

“I do not recall. I must have. Well, mayhap not. Whether I said the words or not, she must have known.”

“You are dumber than dirt.”

“Your insults are not appreciated.”

“Listen, Finn, are you in love with Lydia?”

“No! But I do get this squeezing sensation in my chest when I see her. And I do miss her, but that is probably just the incredible sex I am missing. And I sure as sin felt jealousy for the first time over her and Cage.”

“Okay, buddy, how do you know she’s involved with Cage?”

“I saw them embracing. That same night, Cage went out on a date. And now they are in Minnesota together.”

“I admit that looks bad, but don’t rush to judgment.”

“So, you think there’s a chance he is not swiving her?”

“Hell, no! But if it makes you feel better, you can be dumbass hopeful. And, by the way, around women you should say making love, not swiving or tupping. And never, ever ask a woman to give you a blow job or to eat her. You say flowery things, like, ‘I want to taste you, baby.’ And you refer to it as ‘the most intimate kiss.’ ”

“Why?”

“Why? Why? Why? You’re worse than a child.”

“I would feel stupid asking a woman to give me a ‘most intimate kiss.’ What’s wrong with saying, ‘Blow me’? Short and descriptive. It’s not like saying, ‘Take me in your mouth and suck me dry.’ ”

Torolf rolled his eyes. “It’s too crude.”

“Sex is crude.”

“Women prefer to romanticize sex.”

“Does Hilda romanticize sex?”

“Of course, and, frankly, Finn, so do I when it comes to my wife. I make love to her.” He grinned at him, then added, “And on occasion I swive and tup her, too. You would not believe what Hilda can do in front of a full-length mirror to turn me on. Whoo-boy! ”

“Pfff! Now you are a self-proclaimed master in the art of loveplay?”

Instead of answering, Torolf made much fuss over pushing his chair back, folding his arms over his chest, and closing his eyes. A deliberate attempt to shut him up, no doubt. Well, he could fix that.

“Does Hilda ever pole dance for you . . . naked?”

To his great satisfaction, Torolf’s eyes shot open, and he turned very slowly to gaze at him.

He was bloody hell not thinking of Thorfinn as a child now.

Chapter 15

“Let’s rumble,” sayeth the

Vikings . . .

There was a famous Anglo-Saxon saying that Lydia had read in a history book one time. “Oh, Lord, from the fury of the Northmen, please protect us.”

How true!

She set about doing the lunch dishes, while her dad, Mike, the hired hand Lanny, and his son Itchy were out in the barn, mucking manure. Her mother was gathering eggs, and Cage was over at the Denton farm.

Lydia heard the sound of a car pulling into the lane, and her heart skipped a beat when she realized it was probably Finn.