The Viking's Pursuit Read Free Page A

glance at said giant Dutch and he gave her a slow, easy smile. The smile that conjured those whispered words from days before.
            “I’m already in your territory, Becca.”
            And she knew what territory he was talking about too. The latent bit that she had hidden away just like he’d said. She’d finally stopped lying to herself and mentally admitted that there was a part of her that truly did want someone to come home to at night. Someone to fight with over dumb shit. Someone to spoon her and hog all the covers. Someone to leave his socks inches in front of the hamper or dump his gym bag in the middle of the floor. Someone who would take her crap without putting up with her bullshit. Someone who would make her smile and laugh and feel like she was the only one in the room.
            Quite simply put, someone to love her. Goddammit what had that viking bastard done to her?! Spending time with him, eating with him, talking to him over the past few days had obviously clouded her judgment greatly.
            She couldn’t even begin to list all the reasons it was extremely inappropriate for her to be standing inches away from a reverend with her panties soaked just because of one smile!
    ***
            He got as close as possible to her, easing into her side as she talked to her sister, and pressed his lips right to her ear before whispering, “For the love of God please dance with me before your nana asks me again. I can’t feel the left side of my ass because she wouldn’t stop pinching it.”
            Dean could’ve been insulted at the surprised burst of laughter that left Becca’s lips, but it made him smile instead. She turned her head and looked at him. Over her shoulder, he watched Ryssa give him two thumbs up and an eyebrow waggle before she slipped off into the arms of her newly acquired husband. The pair found the dance floor themselves; a slower melody was beginning to play now.
            “I should leave you at the old broad’s mercy,” she said, smirking.
            Placing a hand against his chest, he pouted. “She has no mercy and I can show you the bruises to prove it.”
            Her lips twitched.
            Dean gave a dramatic gasp. “Is that...is that a smile I actually see from you? Willingly?”
            Becca rolled her eyes. “Your obvious trauma amuses me.”
            This time he smirked. “Unh-hunh.” Holding out a hand, he wiggled his fingers. “Dance with me?”
            She hesitated.
            “Please?”
            After a taking a deep breath, she grabbed his hand. Dean pulled her out on the dance floor and easily into his arms. For such a little thing her body molded to his own perfectly. Resting his chin on top of her head, he placed his hands on her lower back and inhaled. Lilacs. She smelled like lilacs and it was heavenly.
            “Becca?”
            “Hmm?”
            “Why do you hate me?”
            She tensed then pulled back a bit to stare up at him. “I don’t hate you.”
            “Seems that way.”
            Biting her lip, she looked off. “Tell me something.”
            “Yes?”
            “What did you mean when you said I can’t fool you?” Her gaze returned to his.
            Letting his eyes rove the features of her face, he answered, “I meant that I know what you want rather than what you say you want.”
            Her brows winged. “Really? And that would be?”
            “A man who knows that he can’t control you, but he can compromise with you. Someone who gets that your day-to-day life needs a lot of fun to keep you regularly entertained. Someone who gets that he runs the risk of having to bail you out of jail on a weekly basis. Someone who understands not only you, Becca, but what you need, even if it’s not always what you want.”
            She