The Marriage Auction: Book One(78)

“Did you kill him?” I croaked, as blood slid down the side of my lip, dribbling down my jaw. “I hope you killed him.” My eyes were so heavy it felt as though magnets were pulling them together.

“He’s never going to hurt you again. Just breathe, baby. I’m gonna get you some help.” Sutton’s promise filtered through the inky blackness, swallowing me whole.

“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep,” I whispered, and let the darkness take me.





Episode 33


Why Are They Naked



SAVANNAH

The plane came to a speedy, rather bumpy halt at the Oslo airport. Erik lifted my hand and kissed my inner wrist. I quivered at the intimate touch as I realized that I’d reached out for his hand during the turbulence early on in our ride and had never let go.

He smiled brightly, his mustache and beard stretching across his handsome face. Erik was just so…so manly. His hair fell just past his chin in a wild array of messy locks that I wanted to run my fingers through. And his body—good God, it was unreal.

I cleared my voice and eased my hand from his.

“Better?” he asked.

I nodded. “Now that we’ve landed, I’m much better. Though I slept really well in this comfy chair considering how many hours we’ve traveled.”

“It’s definitely quite the journey, but the company was excellent.” His sleepy morning voice sounded like he’d gargled with a box of rocks, which had the added effect of making me warm and squishy on the inside .

“Are you ready to go to my home and meet my family?”

Until he said that.

I gulped and bit into my bottom lip before looking down and away, uncertain how to respond. I knew I’d be meeting his family at some time, it just never dawned on me that it would be the second we landed in Norway.

He frowned. “What is it?” Erik asked, reaching out and taking my chin with his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to face him. “Don’t be afraid to tell me anything. Ever. I’ll always be honest and forthcoming with you. I expect the same in return. Ja?” He used ja, the Norwegian word he’d taught me meant yes.

I pushed down the nerves and turned to face him as the flight attendant did her thing prior to us deplaning.

“It’s… I don’t know. We just got here. I’ve barely had the time to wrap my brain around us being engaged to one another, let alone meeting my future in-laws.” I scrunched up my nose. “What if they don’t like me? I mean, how could they? We’ve never met. They’ll be just as confused about this whole thing as we are, and I’m scared of what they’ll think of me when they learn the details behind how we became engaged.” I clasped my hands together in my lap so he wouldn’t see me trembling. “Does that make sense?”

He nodded and put his hand to my knee. It was warm and covered my entire kneecap and then some. Without thinking much about it, I covered his hand with one of my own, seeking his warmth.

“It makes perfect sense. First let me put your mind at ease on one of your concerns.” He smiled softly. “We do not have to tell my parents anything about our engagement. We met during our travels in Vegas. It was a whirlwind romance, and we wish to take the relationship to the next level. I promise you; they’ll be surprised but supportive.”

I could feel my lip trembling as hope filtered through my system. “Really? ”

“Really, elskede. My parents are very loving. Though they might find it surprising that we want to marry officially.”

I squinted. “Why’s that?”

“Norwegians don’t marry as often as Americans, and they definitely don’t marry young.”

I blinked in surprise. “Then what happens when you want to commit to one another for life?”

His corresponding grin was effervescent.

“We have children. And even then, many will not marry because we have the Children’s Act which gives both parents equal rights and responsibilities with respect to the child.”

“Huh, that is different. Now you have me curious about the average age of couples who do get married in Norway?”

“You ready to be shocked?” He chuckled.

“Lay it on me, big guy!” I teased, feeling the pressure of meeting the parents slipping away with each word my fiancé spoke.

“Forty,” he stated flatly.

My mouth dropped open. “No way!”

He nodded avidly and crossed a finger over his heart. “Swear.”

Right then Ingrid the flight attendant notified us that we were ready to disembark and that our bags were currently being loaded into the car Erik had requested.

Erik helped me up and then held open the denim jacket and scarf I’d brought on the plane. I pushed one arm and then the other through the sleeves and lifted my hair up and out, letting it fall down my back. Both of his hands rested on my shoulders, but before I could leave, he tugged me until my back leaned against his chest. He dipped his chin against the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply.

“You smell divine, Savannah. Like wild berries sprinkled in sugar.” He breathed against my neck. “It’s been driving me mad the entire flight.” He groaned low in his throat.

Feminine pride flooded my chest and gave me a sudden burst of confidence to turn within his embrace and place my hands to his narrow hips. I lifted my chin and looked up at him through my lashes. It was a coy maneuver to be certain, but for some reason, I wanted to be bold. To take a chance on this man the way he’d taken a chance on me.