He scanned the room for some kind of distraction. The hut was small with a dirt floor and table only large enough for two. Though the few belongings she had—a few pots and earthenware jugs and beakers—were neatly stacked in one corner, the whole place appeared almost neglected. But with no man around, that was not surprising.
His gaze latched onto the bottom of her skirts. “I see your garments are still wet.”
Ilisa flustered and snatched her skirts, bunching them in her hands. “They will dry soon enough.”
Alrek paused to eye the empty fire pit. “Not without a fire.”
“I—” She let out a heavy breath. “I was searching for wood when I found you. I could not carry the wood and you.”
“Indeed, how did you bring me here? I cannot believe the village men helped a Norseman.” Her slender arms barely looked capable of lifting firewood let alone a fully grown man of his size.
“We are not in the village.” Ilisa folded her arms across her chest and drew up her chin, as if preparing herself for an argument. What kind of argument that was, he could not fathom.
“You should change, Ilisa. It would not do to catch a chill.”
A scowl etched her forehead. “Why should you care?”
“If you catch a chill, I shall be left here tied to a bed forever.” He let his lips curve upwards.
Her mouth quirked in response. “Mayhap you shall stay tied there forever anyway.”
“I hope not, Ilisa.” He allowed his voice to drop as he uttered her name and his pride swelled at the darkening of her eyes. Maybe he wasn’t the only one affected here. “I should like my hands free…” Alrek let the words trail, hoped her imagination was running as vividly as his. Why was he torturing himself thus? But it seemed around Ilisa he could not help himself.
Chapter Two
Ilisa failed to suppress a shudder at his words. Perhaps the cold caused it. Her damp skirts had turned her legs to ice long ago, but she suspected it more likely his words. If his hands were free, what would he do? Touch her as she had him? Or use the opportunity to harm her like she expected a Viking would? She turned her head to the side to avoid his assessing look and moved to fuss with the blankets.
In truth, this man seemed nothing like a normal Viking. He laughed openly and was grateful for her help. Mayhap he was simply trying to lure her into a sense of security so she’d release him. Ilisa wasn’t the best at reading people. Since the death of her husband and brother, she’d spent little time around others. It was better she leave him tied up for the moment, though he was right. He couldn’t stay that way forever.
She caught sight of his long legs peeking out of the blanket. Dusted with dark golden hair, they made her body ache as she recalled other parts of him covered in the same hair. Undressing the Viking had been no easy task, particularly when every part of him fascinated her. She’d never seen a man so powerful and muscular. Interesting swirling patterns covered his skin made out of some kind of blue dye, she concluded. Picts painted themselves in battle but she had never seen permanent markings before. His skin was golden, even the parts usually hidden by clothing so she assumed he spent time naked out of doors. Her cheeks heated just imagining the warrior in all his glory under the midday sun. Scars littered his body, some small and some that spoke of many near death experiences.
This man was a warrior, a bringer of death. So why wasn’t she scared of him?
Ilisa glanced up and caught him studying her. Her breath caught, she dropped the blanket and stood back.
“You must get out of your gown, Ilisa. Do not ail because of me.”
She ground her teeth and glanced at the wet hem again. She had little intention of falling ill but she could not change in front of him and in her tiny home, there was nowhere to hide.
“I cannot do anything, can I?” He lifted his bound wrists.
“You can look.”
“I shall close my eyes.”
The twist of his lips told her otherwise and she sighed. “See that you do. Do not forget who saved your life. I could have easily tossed you back to sea.”
“I doubt that.” His grin widened.
She shook her head, exasperated. Alrek really did seem to be able to see through her. She should have left him but she was too soft-hearted. If she had abandoned him, it would have plagued her forever. Snatching a gown from the hook on the door, she peered at him from over her shoulder. “Close your eyes.”
He did. Slowly. As if unwilling to give up the sight of her. She hadn’t revealed her body to a man in many years. The thought of him seeing her as she had him both unnerved and thrilled her. Such wanton thoughts made her movements jerky as she tugged off the damp wool. She chanced another look at Alrek to see he had remained true to his word and kept his eyes shut. Good. That was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Besides, he might not appreciate her curved figure. Perhaps he liked women with a more muscular build. He was clearly strong. Ilisa had little idea what Viking women looked like but she imagined they were strong and fierce like their men.