CHAPTER TEN
Erin waited until Stieg parked his car before she got out and headed into his building. She still had no shoes and her feet hurt. She was not a no-shoes kind of girl like many of her sister-Crows. And, hey, if they wanted to be all Southern California about it, that was up to them, but she’d like to avoid hepatitis if she could.
They got into the elevator without a word and went down the hall to his apartment. Once they were inside, Stieg did what he’d done the night before—turned on one light, turned on the TV, got himself a Norwegian beer—but this time he got two. He tossed one to her before he dropped onto the couch and began watching American Greed.
The man really liked American Greed.
Erin used the edge of the coffee table Stieg had his feet on to take the top off her beer. She took a long drink, decided she would never drink Norwegian beer again, and placed it on the table.
She slipped off her backpack and opened it, digging around for a few seconds before finding what she wanted. She held it in her hand and stepped closer to Stieg.
That’s when he looked up at her. “What?” he asked when she just stared down at him.
Deciding conversation was the last thing they needed at the moment, Erin reached under her dress and removed her panties.
Stieg’s eyes grew wide. “What the hell are you doing?”
She straddled his stretched-out legs and reached down to unzip his jeans. “Well, everyone is accusing me of taking advantage of you—because apparently that’s what I do or something—and I figure I might as well live up to my horrible reputation among my own sisterhood. Lift your hips.”
“Erin, wait. We just—”
Erin grinned. “I know. We just totally went Viking on a church. It was so Lindisfarne circa 793, right?”
She tore open the emergency condom she always kept in her backpack—because, as her mother told her when she turned sixteen, “A well-prepared girl is a disease-free girl”—and dug her hand into his boxer briefs, releasing his cock.
“Erin, wait—”
“Holy shit! Look at the size of that thing!”
“Hey!”
“Dude! That was a compliment,” she informed him as she put the condom on.
“That’s not the point!”
“And circumcised,” she praised. “Yes!”
“Erin!”
She tore her gaze away from his cock so she could look him in the eyes. “What?”
“I’m not just a piece of meat, ya know.”
“Oh, my God,” she said with real affection. “You’re so cute.” She placed her knees on either side of his hips and dropped down on his now-hard cock, taking him inside her in one move.
They both let out groans and Stieg’s hands immediately went to her waist, holding her there.
Eyes closed, he still wouldn’t give up. “Wait, wait. We should . . . like . . . talk or something.”
“About what?”
“Anything!” he shot back. “Absolutely anything.”
* * *
Unbelievable! This woman was unbelievable! She was using him to get her after-going-Viking needs fulfilled. Whether pillaging a monastery, destroying a village, or raiding a kingdom, the Viking sex always came after. And the Crows were no different.
Erin was no different! She might have no blood connection to Ivar the Boneless but she was as Viking as anyone Stieg had known in this sometimes shitty world. And she was acting just like his ancient brethren by taking what she wanted. From him! A fellow Viking!
Did shieldmaidens do this to the warriors after all the villagers were dead?
No. No! It was ridiculous! Stieg deserved better than this! Dinner out. Maybe a movie. Perhaps a little sweet talk.
He wasn’t a whore!
Some random booty call she’d picked up at a club.
He was Stieg Engstrom, Raven warrior for mighty Odin. Not some piece of ass!
He was going to tell her to stop right now.
Right this second.
Right this very second.
He really was.
Just watch him.
But then she kissed him. Kissed him and squeezed down on his dick.
The poor thing almost exploded.
Did she train for this sort of thing? Take a Pilates class that specialized in pelvic floor exercises or something? Because holy shit!
Erin’s hips began to move while her pussy kept that grip on his dick. How was that even possible?
And all Stieg could do was sit there and let the woman fuck him because his ability to think and reason seemed to have gotten up off the couch and walked out the goddamn door, leaving him to be nothing but the receiving whore to the Viking warrior on top of him.
She kept kissing him. And the kiss was . . . astounding. He wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been kissed before. By, to be quite blunt, way hotter women than Erin Amsel.
But his toes were curling in his steel-toe work boots and he was gripping her waist so hard he was concerned he’d tear flesh off.
She continued to rock against him. Her hands dug into his hair. Her mouth pressed tight against his . . .
He could only handle so much!
Erin shuddered against him and he knew she was coming. Could feel it in the way her pussy contracted. And knowing she was coming . . .
He followed right behind her, groaning and growling into her mouth, his hands releasing her waist so he could wrap his arms around her and pull her in tight while he powered into her from beneath.
It went on and on until he was sure he’d gone blind and deaf.
Then he was coming back. Breathing hard like he’d been in a marathon. Sweat pouring down his face. Limp and relaxed with Erin on top of him.
Until he was cold and alone.
Erin had pulled away. She was standing over him, putting her panties back on, grabbing her backpack, and pulling out her phone.
After a few seconds, she announced, “Got a car coming. See ya later.” Then she was walking to his front door.
Stieg sat up, shocked. And pissed! “Where the fuck are you going?” he demanded.
She faced him. “Home.”
“You’re just leaving me sitting here? The condom still on.”
“I got what I wanted. Cleanup’s on you.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what are you talking about?” She gave a snotty little laugh. “Are you talking about, like . . . a relationship? Are you high?”
“I am not high. You just can’t . . .”
“What? Walk away? Yeah. I can. And I am.”
“Why?” He knew it wasn’t because she hadn’t had a great time. Her cheeks were still flushed, she was still a little out of breath, and she just seemed . . . satisfied. So what was the problem?
“Because I’d break you. That’s why.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“No, sweetie. That’s me being honest. The bottom line is you’re kind of a nice guy.”
“Kind of?”
“A little rough around the edges. Definitely rude. But at your core, nice. And I am a horrible girlfriend. I’m sarcastic. I never take anything seriously. And I mock everything. I need a good sociopath or narcissist who I can tear down until he’s nothing but a nub of his former self. While you need a nice girl like . . . Karen. She’s so sweet. She’d make you dinner, be happy when you came home, not make it her life’s work to torment you just for the fuck of it.”
Erin’s phone vibrated and she took a quick look. “Wow. That was fast. My car’s already here.” She waved at him. “See you later!”
Then she was gone! Out his front door, down the hall, and into the elevator.
Through an open window, he heard her get into the car and heard the vehicle drive off.
Mouth open, his dick still out, condom still on, Stieg looked around the room, until he demanded of whatever gods were listening, “What the fuck just happened?”