Page 85 of Victoria's Discovery

Sighing deeply, he mimicked her earlier move and cupped her cheeks, expression becoming serious.

“We are all heels over horns for you, you maddening little hess.” He traced her features with his gaze, his smile turning dry. “I believe I was lost that moment you speared me with those big eyes of yours. You were held in Thegan’s arms, pretending to be a kittling. You stared at me as though certain I was going to eat you alive, and, yet, all I could think was that you had no reason to fear. One look from you would bring any male to his knees.”

“Really?” she breathed.

His smile widened, becoming a little wicked. “Ah, it was either then… or when I caught you staring up my loincloth.”

Victoria felt her cheeks catch fire. “I didn’t– I wasn’t—”

“You were. And flashing color at me just as you are now. Now show pity and tell me you feel the same.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

“Thank the Gods,” he groaned.

Pulling her to his chest, he enfolded her in his huge arms, hugging her tightly.

Victoria wrapped her arms as far around his ribs as she could and held on just as tightly. They stayed like that for a long couple of minutes, but something he’d started to say kept swirling in her mind.

“Hey, Thorn?” she whispered.

“Yes,mín værling.”

“You’re sure Thegan feels the way you do?”

“Of course.”

‘Of course.’ Like it’s so damn obvious. Men.

“What about Vi’kail?”

“Mmm, yes, he is lost as well, but he is a halfwit. Fool thinks he is not good enough for you, as though that is his judgement to make.”

Not good enough? What the hell?

Pulling back when she heard him yawn, she realized he looked exhausted. Making out some more, preferably without clothes and with his penis available for her to play with, sounded better than chocolate, but he looked half asleep, his bright eyes bloodshot and bleary.

He very clearly needed rest, not a rousing game of Can Victoria Mount the Monster Cock. And, aside from her neglected libido, she didn’t actuallywantto rush into anything physical, not when they’d just admitted their feelings after weeks and weeks of uncertainty.

Lightly running her fingertips over the dark circles under his eyes, she murmured, “You look tired, Thorn.”

He returned her look of concern with a mock glare and a cocked brow. “That is only because I do not sleep enough.”

Snorting, she smirked. “Smartass. ‘Knowledgeable rump.’ What? No, that’s… nevermind.” Leaning forward, she kissed him again, just because she could. “Go get some sleep, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow?”

He looked a little confused by the question. “Of course. You will see me many times.”

With another soft, lingering kiss, he set her on her feet, glanced at a still blissful Snitch with a shake of his head, and headed off.

Their eyes met just before he disappeared around the corner. At the soft, happy smile he sent her, she almost called him back but stopped at the last second.

She could’ve asked him to stay with her, even if just to sleep. It felt a little… anticlimactic to bid him goodnight and part ways after they’d revealed their feelings for one another, and, yet, it also felt like the right thing to do.

She had it bad for the giant, scowly Viking, and finding out he felt the same was staggering and incredible and lifted a huge weight off her chest, but he also wasn’t the only person from whom she needed answers.

Was she being a greedy cow? Absolutely.

But she knew what she wanted, what she’d only recently admitted her heart desperately craved, and it was way past time she do something about it.

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