Page 29 of Valkyrie Confused

The girl beside her loops an arm around hers and pulls her closer. “We all do.”

“You’re the reason we met,” says the last of them. “We’ve sort of formed a local fan club for you, in Athens.”

All of them express their admiration. They’re taking shuffling steps closer, amid suitcases and backpacks, and it’s all too much.

“Thank you so much.” My hands are fisted at my sides. I don’t know how to respond to this wave of love. And my shoulder blades itch.

One of the girls reaches for me—a friendly pat on the shoulder?—but a sharp whistle from Arnlaug stops her in her tracks and quiets the din around and inside me.

“Now that you’ve seen she’s really here,” Panos says in a tone that brooks no argument, “let her get back to writing. If you leave your copies of the book with me, I’ll jot down your names, and she’ll sign them for you before you leave. If you don’t have a copy with you, I got you covered.” He points to the small table by the door, and I notice a stack of books.

My books.

Warmth mingles with the tension inside, soothing it. He’s probably just trying to get back on my good graces, but I appreciate that he put my books on display like this.

The girls start closing in again, but Arnlaug pushes off the wall to stand between them and me. “You heard the man,” he booms. “Now go check in and let Scarlett get back to work.”

They scramble to do as he said. I don’t blame them. He’s imposing.

He turns to face me, as the girls fall into line behind him, stealing glances our way. “Can I have my copy signed too?” he asks.

“You have a copy ofThe Berserker Who Loved me?” Im-fucking-possible.

He tugs lightly on his braided beard. “Yeah. Read it a couple times. It’s pretty good.”

Woah.

“Listen.” Panos leans in. “It’s Saturday. Don’t work tonight. Come hang out with us? You haven’t been outside in days. Be a bad girl—go to bed at midnight.”

Trapped between them like in my fantasy, I’m sorely tempted. But I have a schedule to stick to, and my embarrassment over Panos’s overhearing my talk with Mia to overcome. “Thank you, but I don’t want to be a third wheel.” I point at the duffel bag on Arnlaug’s shoulder. “He’s leaving. You should get some more alone time.”

Arnlaug looks at his shoulder, as if surprised to notice the strap digging into the muscle. “I’m not going anywhere just yet. Panos invited me to stay with him for a few weeks, if that’s okay.”

Oh, it’s okay. He’ll act as a reminder that Panos is off limits. “Of course it’s okay,” I say. “As long as the guests are taken care of, I don’t mind you sticking around.”

“Trust me when I say I can take care of multiple people at the same time,” Panos whispers. “And maybe the three of us can spend some quality time together on slow days.”

The insinuation in that suggestion has my legs trembling all the way back up to my room and the safe haven of my bed. Can’t believe I’ve turned them down twice now. And Panos isn’t gay. This makes the flirting less playful.

Naughty images of the three of us in bed together flash before my eyes. I may not be getting laid tonight—again—but I know what scene I’m writing next.

Shit. I forgot to get my laptop back from Panos.

ELEVEN

ARNLAUG

“So you’re stayingwith me, huh? Is that so I’ll keep fucking you, or so I don’t fuck her?” Pan sounds like he’s teasing, but I hear the edge underneath the light delivery as he lets me inside his room.

I toss my duffel to the floor, by his mini fridge. “I don’t care whom you do or do not fuck, as long as you don’t fuck up my plans.”

Only half of that is true. Being with him yesterday…

I’d forgotten what it was like to feel utterly desired. Desperately needed.

To be fucked until I wanted to beg for release and pray that it never ended.

And of course it had to be with the one man who’d made it clear there was no room for me in his life—and who’ll soon hate me more, for taking away the woman he’s falling for.

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