“Row-rowr-rowr!” The one-hundred-pound Great Pyrenees puppy bellowed and shot from his resting place like he’d been fired from a cannon. “Row-rowr-rowr!”
Charity cringed at Mack’s deep, echoing bark, and then her jaw dropped as the cat nosed the turkey leg again as Mack leaped for him, knocking both Buck and himself into the pool, turkey leg and all. The cat took off around the pool and disappeared in the bushes. Chaos erupted as Buck surfaced, still holding his turkey leg. Chance Carlisle jumped into the pool to help, fighting laughter and cursing the dog.
“I’m sorry about your pool, Mrs. Warner,” Buck said as he handed her the soggy turkey leg and helped heave the now water-logged Great Pyrenees from the pool.
“Yeah, Grace, sorry about the pool,” Lydia said as she grasped Mack by the collar and returned to her seat, scolding him.
Through her laughter, Grace said, “I’m sure those aren’t the only reasons the pool is going to have to be cleaned. Don’t worry about it. Buck, I’ll get you another turkey leg.” She handed him a beach towel and pitched the ruined drumstick in the trash can.
Charity had just settled back into Justin’s lap when Grace said, “Charity, did you by chance see a jar of bread-and-butter pickles while you were in the pantry?”
“Yeah, you need them?”
Grace nodded as Ethan and Jack placed the meat Grace had brought them onto the huge grate of the barbecue pit. “Would you mind?”
Justin goosed Charity’s ass as she stood. She winked at him and bent down to whisper, “You sure have been handsy all day. Hold that thought, handsome.”
The air-conditioning felt heavenly when she went back in the house, and she looked forward to sunset when they all rode out to the lake for the fireworks display. “Somethin’ ’bout a Truck” was playing on the stereo, and she couldn’t help wiggling and dancing as Kip Moore went on about a girl in a red sundress.
Suddenly an enormous male body pressed aggressively against her, the glass jar was removed from her hand, and the large body lifted away from her for two seconds. She heard the jar land firmly on the kitchen counter, and then he was back. The light in the pantry went out, and the door closed and she heard a metallic click.
Why in the fuck is there a lock on the pantry door? Really, Charity? That’s what you want to know right now?
“What are you doing?” she whispered, trying to draw air into her lungs as he pressed her against the canned goods shelf.
“Silence, unless you want them to hear. If they hear, they will come. Do you really want my men to watch me take you?” The deep, masculine growl and the prickle of his scruffy beard sent an icy-hot thrill up her spine.
“Please, don’t hurt me,” she whispered, breathing shallowly as she suppressed a smile. She’d been anticipating this for weeks, not knowing when he would strike. Well, this explains the desire to grow a beard in summer. “Please, I’m just a serving maid. I have nothing of value for you to steal.”
The Viking marauder chuckled deeply, ending on a growly note. “That’s what you think, wench. You have exactly what I need.”
Charity bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood as her hot juices soaked her bikini bottom. Leathery hands tugged on the ties at her hips, and she was oh so glad she’d worn the two-piece swimsuit.
“But you can’t!” She struggled against him, and he grasped her arms and tugged them behind her, immobilizing her.
“No? I can do whatever I want to. I’ve conquered your lands. Everything as far as my eyes can see belongs to me now…including you, my spritely little wench. I’ll have you right now.”
The bikini bottom fell to the floor, and his callused fingers yanked at the ties of the top, freeing her breasts so they swayed sensually with his jerky, rough movements.
“No. You mustn’t.” Her cunt clenched so tight she thought she might go over the edge. Not now, wench! You’ll ruin it! I’ve waited fucking weeks for this!
“I care not if you are wed. You are mine now.”
“Please don’t! I’m a—” Her heart pounded when he jerked her head back by her hair and crushed her lips beneath his.
The pitch black of the pantry intensified all her other senses. Over the rushing pound of her heart in her ears, she could hear his raspy breath as he ground his lips against hers in a bruising kiss.
Grace will notice that for sure.
The Viking released her lips and pulled at his clothing, his rough knuckles rubbing against her ass cheeks. Seconds later, the thick, hard length of his erection was pressed against the cleft of her ass. He was huge! He’d surely split her asunder!