Falling to the Viking Read Online Free PDF Page B

their necks as they gripped their weapons, the main guy stood, running the show. He seemed to be asking questions that both tried to outshout the other with answers.
    The big honcho looked down at her and pushed his boot into her hair. He said something while looking at her. She heard Rodmar firmly say, “Naj.” She thought that probably meant No . Again, there were more questions from the head honcho. The guy at her feet did not reply but Rodmar said, “Hej.” He looked down at her in anger.
    That might mean Yes, but Rodmar looked down at her as if she was going to get another beating. The big honcho started laughing, a deep from the stomach belly laugh. He said a couple of words to Rodmar and clapped him on the shoulder. Everyone in the room cheered.
    The guy at her feet grabbed his sword and knife as he stalked away through the crowd. As she sat up to watch his back, relieved to have one of her tormentors move away, the other one reached a heavy arm around her waist. He was strong enough to pull her across the table. She had no way to fight his strength as he held her to him and started out of the building. He was so tall that her feet were off the ground. The arm was tight, causing her to fight for air, getting grabbing little gasps as he stomped across the area between buildings in the twilight.
    His hipbone dug into her side, causing the raw stripes on her back to wake up. He ducked to enter a building, or what she thought might call a lodge. There were a couple of people in the low ceilinged room, but as Rodmar entered, they bowed. He yelled and they ran out of the same door he had entered. He walked across the room and threw her down against a pile of furs piled in one corner.
    She lay still, glad that the furs were thick enough to break her fall. She watched him as he paced the room. It wasn’t long before one of the men returned with a bucket. There was steam coming from it and she thought the man must have dipped water from the hot spring.
    Rodmar stooped to begin to unwrap his boots. As he kicked them off, he undid all the leather straps crossing his chest and waist and dropped his weapons, along with any of the other items attached to his muscular body. Finally, he went to the bucket that was sitting on a wide table. He removed his furs. He had a type of dark diaper, that was the last item he took from his body. Now he stood up and began to wash.
    Kathryn couldn’t help but look. She was frightened and angry, but inside, she was confused. She had no idea where she was or who he was. Still, he was a prime specimen of the male body. She had looked at photos on the magazines at the checkout counters, showing athletes for the male work out ads. He would put some of them to shame. He turned as he washed between his legs. Damn, she lowered her eyes immediately.
    Kathryn had seen the male body fully nude before, but this one was a little intimidating. Her boy friend didn’t look like this. She had broken up with Jim months ago. Why was she thinking of him now?
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rodmar throw his washcloth down as he turned towards her. She started clutching her long shirt as she pushed back against the wall with the furs bunching up behind her.
    “Rodmar, that’s your name, right? I would like to talk this over, but of course, you don’t understand me. My name is, ah, Kadlin.” She pointed at her chest. “Kadlin.” Finally letting go of her shirt with one hand, she pointed at him. “Rodmar.”
    He knelt down on his heels on the furs and nodded. “Rodmar.” Of course, he rattled off more words that she didn’t understand as he reached for the neck of her shirt.
    “Hey, no. Ah Naj. I think that means no .” She pushed his hand away.
    He took her wrist in an iron grip. “Naj.” He shook his head and pulled her. “Hej.”
    Kathryn saw him pull on the bottom of her long garment as he raised her to lift her so he could remove the rough shift.
    She thought for a moment as she felt cool