Page 39 of Shared By the Vikings

“I can look after myself; those wolves were just about to go.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I’d just chased off one, and that one was backing up.”

“That is not what I saw.” He gripped her shoulders tighter.

“Ouch, you’re hurting me.”

“You could have been more than hurt, they could have killed you, ripped you to shreds and we’d never have found you.”

“As if you’d care.”

“What?” He stilled. “Of course we’d care.”

“You seem to think I’m only good for keeping a fire going and stirring a pot.”

“No, I can see you are a fine shield maiden.” He released her right shoulder and took her dagger. He placed it in his belt. “And also that you are a disobedient stowaway.”

She tightened her jaw and tipped her chin. “I didn’t stow away.”

“You might as well have.” He glanced around. “They’ve gone.”

“I know.”

He kind of growled, wrapped his hand around her upper arm and dragged her eastward in the direction of the camp. “Jarl Erik will have you over his knee when I tell him about this.”

“No! You don’t need to tell him.” She didn’t want another spanking.

“I will. He needs to know what we are dealing with. Just how badly behaved you are.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’ll be spanked soundly until you have learned to do as we say.”

“No, please, Gunnvar.”

“You give me no option.”

“There must be another way.” She tried to yank her arm free. “Please.”

He turned on her. “Another way? Another way to ensure you understand how serious we are about keeping you safe?”

“You do it.” She swallowed down a bite of regret the moment the words were out. But they’d been said now, they were in the open. “You spank me, now, here, get it over with.”

“I’m not sure you’d like that.” He leaned close. “I am so angry with you my blood is boiling.”

“I don’t care, if it’s got to happen, do it now.”

He gritted his teeth and sucked in a breath. “You’ve got me in knots, woman, and now I think of it, you have had for weeks.”

“I don’t know what you mean, I... oh!”

He’d yanked her pants down to her thighs and spun her around to face a tree.

“Hold!” He positioned her hands on the trunk. “And brace.”

The next thing she knew a sharp slap had landed on her rump. She bucked forward, her mound coming into contact with the tree bark.

“Be still.” He pressed his palm on the back of her head, forcing her cheek also onto the bark.

She closed her eyes and grimaced. Another hard slap rained down on her behind.

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