Page 55 of Damaged Princess

I'm terrified what could happen if Dimitri shows up. I don't know which men escaped with him, but some of my father's men were especially awful. I'm sure they're the ones who survived. It's always like that, isn't it? The monsters manage to come away with barely a scratch.

Rafe comes in the door with a huge black duffel bag. The unmistakable sound of metal rubbing against itself draws my eyes. The bottom of the bag bulges with the weight of whatever is inside.

Rafe grimaces and takes the few steps over to the stairs. "I thought you were going to check out the nest?"

"I did," I tell him, biting my lip and trying not to obsess over the fact I'm pretty damn sure that bag is filled with guns. All three of the guys are former military.

At least they know how to use them.

I steel myself and desperately try not to freak out about the fact that we left the lodge.

It's completely at odds with what Vik said about Evie's men being able to protect her. I get that I'm the target and they don't want me close to any guests. It makes sense what Vik said about how security can call the police and let us know if they spot Dimitri.

My stomach feels queasy when I think about it. It's scary as hell with my heat coming up. The guys will be vulnerable if they're wrapped up in my pheromones.

Dimitri is a lunatic. It's not hard to believe he would want to take over my father's import business. In addition to the clubs he owns to launder the money he makes illegally. Or, rather,made.

Shit, that is weird.

A strange warmth fills my chest. I feel like a horrible person for being so gleeful that my father is gone.

I continue down the hallway, through the kitchen, and spot the back door. It leads to another small porch on the back side of the house. The kitchen has been updated recently. The rest of the house has an older-style log cabin vibe, but the kitchen has newer appliances and sleek black cabinets. Somehow it still matches with the dark log walls, and the effect is actually really neat.

I spot movement outside the kitchen window and head closer to see what's going on.

My jaw drops open.

About twenty feet away is a stump. Vik has an ax and is chopping wood like a legit lumberjack. My lady bits most definitely enjoy the view. It's freezing, although the snow has stopped for the moment.

There's a huge tarp lying on the ground at Vik's side. His muscles flex as he grabs a huge chunk of wood and sets it on the stump.

His expansive shoulders flex as he lifts the ax and slams it into the chunk of wood. It immediately splinters, falling into two smaller pieces. My eyes track his forearms as he grabs the pieces, tossing them onto the other side of the tarp before repeating the process.

I'm moving before I can stop myself. I'm in a long-sleeve sweater dress, but my legs are freezing as I step outside. I'm drawn to Vik with an intensity that disturbs me. I shiver as I approach, but Vik is finally done with the wood on the tarp. He drags it across the ground, back toward the open barn door about ten feet away.

I shamelessly follow him. He slams the door open even wider and drags the tarp inside. It's extremely thick plastic. It would have to be not to rip with all that weight on it.

I step inside to find him stacking the wood in a giant pile along one wall.

I had no idea what the tarp was for, but with the snow on the ground it suddenly makes more sense. He's keeping the wood dry—or as dry as possible, considering.

Vik's leathery tobacco scent floods my nostrils as he bends to grab more of the firewood. His jeans ride low on his hips and the wings on his shoulders flex as he moves. The eagle is massive, crossing his strong back and down his shoulders over the tops of his arms. There's a storm with thunder and lightning in the background. Its talons look punishing, like they're poised to attack and rip apart any prey in its path.

I step over to the heavy door, pulling it closed. It makes a squeaking sound and Vik spins around to face me.

"It's cold, princess," Vik growls.

I lick my lips, nodding my agreement. It sure was before watching him toss the wood around like it weighs nothing. Suddenly, I'm very warm from the inside out. I get hit with a rolling wave of desire that's so potent it makes my knees weak. Vik has on combat boots and they crunch over the gravel and dirt of the barn floor as he stomps toward me.

My eyes skirt down his strong form and without conscious thought I'm moving forward. I chuck myself at Vik. I'm much heavier than the wood he was stacking, but he catches me easily.

My hands wrap around his neck as my mouth meets his. Being an omega is embarrassing sometimes. My pussy throbs painfully as Vik grinds my cunt over his zipper with a hand on my ass.

"I want more from you than sex," Vik murmurs as I shove my tongue into his mouth.

He holds me to his frame so securely that I let go of his neck. My nails trail down his chest, over his stomach, and make quick work of his belt and jeans.

"I won't leave you hurting," Vik says, running his thumb over the seam of my sex. "But I need to hear you tell me what you want from me. Do you forgive me for being gone?"

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