Tro (Elsker Saga Book 3) Read Free

Paleolithic jungle plants framing the grand wooden structure, the oversized shutters guarding each wide-paned window, and the bright tropical flowers and tiki torches lining the path from ocean to front step. The far side of the home backed into the foliage, while the front of the veranda led directly onto the pale sand of the beach. It was absolutely breathtaking.
    “Do all your residences look like this?”
    “No.” Ull stopped walking. “Some are bigger.”
    I raised my eyes to the heavens. “Well this one is lovely.”
    “Not compared to you.” Ull let the words linger between us, and my cheeks blazed anew. Apparently becoming an Asgardian had done diddly-squat for my inability to hide emotions. Ull touched my flaming face with a smile. “I have never seen anything more beautiful than you wearing that dress, walking to join me at the alter.”
    “So you liked my dress?”
    “Yes. But I liked what it symbolized more.” Ull didn’t have to explain. He’d spent his existence thinking he was destined to live alone. It baffled him that I’d willingly traded my mortality for what he saw as a near certain-death sentence. Ragnarok loomed on the horizon, and it promised to end the Norse pantheon once and for all. But what Ull could never understand was that immortality with him, even if it only lasted a few months, was infinitely more valuable to me than one hundred years of being human. Ull was my world, and nothing was going to keep me from enjoying every single minute I got to spend at his side.
    “Come on, handsome. I want to see the house.”
    -Ull dropped the luggage and carried me across the threshold before setting me gently on my feet. I walked across the smooth wooden boards, taking in the open floor-plan. The living area stretched in front of me, large windows looking to the beach beyond. The kitchen sat behind the living area, with a large island-top and barstools separating the two. The bedrooms were off to each side, their imposing teak doors left open just enough to allow a glimpse of the key pieces of furniture. Ull kissed my cheek, pointed me to the master, and left to bring our suitcases into the house. When his glorious posterior disappeared from view, I closed my eyes for a beat. Gathering all my courage, I opened them, walked to the nearest door and stepped through. And then I forgot to breathe.
    The master suite was as opulent as I would expect for an Asgardian retreat. The dark wooden floors continued through this room, ending at the cream-colored walls that were easily fifteen feet high. A wide fan blew air down from the ceiling, keeping the heat at bay, but my eyes were locked on the room’s most prominent feature: the enormous bed swathed in netting, with plush white linen covering the generous surface. My insides tumbled as I thought about what was going to happen on that bed.
    Oh, good gravy.
    I forced myself to focus on the mahogany dresser, nightstands, and armoire. I spent a solid half-minute staring at the French doors that opened onto the deck, with three steps leading to the white sand below.
    But my eyes kept returning to the bed. It was the sun to my Icarus; as much as it frightened me, I was completely drawn to it.
    “Do you like the room?” Ull’s deep baritone came from the doorway and I turned with a gasp. “I am sorry—I thought you heard me come in.”
    A nervous giggle passed my lips as my eyes darted between the god and the bed. “I was just…uh…” I flailed. There were no words.
    Ull raised one eyebrow. “How about I make dinner while you get changed. Gorgeous as it is, I cannot imagine that dress is well suited for the beach.”
    I nodded, one nervous head bob. Ull smiled, then tilted his head toward the bathroom.
    “You might recognize the shower. I had it modeled after Ýdalir’s.”
    A soak under hot water sounded like a great idea. “Sold.”
    Ull took a step toward the bathroom. “Would you like any company?”
    My eyes doubled in size. “Um. I. I