Thork talked to Eirik for a few moments before he picked up the bat. Like a true athlete, he held it in several positions to feel its weight, scrutinized the angle of the pitcher’s position, seemed to smell the wind, then took the batter’s position.
THWACK!
Ruby wasn’t surprised when the ball whistled over the astonished heads of Eirik and the other players and continued in a flying arc way past the outfield. Eirik beamed with pride at his father’s expertise. Thork declined to run the bases, only wanting to prove a point to her, and handed the bat to the next player. He flashed Ruby a huge smirk when he turned and strutted arrogantly toward her.
Good Lord! A Viking jock!
“Shall we negotiate my forfeit, wench?” Thork asked smoothly as he reached out a hand and hauled her to her feet. Ruby’s heart skipped a beat when he twined his fingers in hers. Like a lifeline, she felt his pulse beat against hers in their joined palms as they walked back to the tents. “You did not wait for me yestereve,” Thork complained softly.
I didn’t think you wanted me to.” Ruby glanced sideways at him in surprise at his abrupt change of subject. Had he been disappointed to find her gone? I thought the moment had passed, that your usual cool reason had doused your hot blood by the time you returned to the room.”
“Hot blood, huh?” Thork grinned. “Didst you think I only wanted you when you had stoked my lust with that”—Thork stopped for loss of words and smiled with a shake of his head—”with that tiny wisp of a garb designed, no doubt, to make a man’s tongue hang out. Not to mention other body parts. By the by, I found it under my bed this morn.”
Ruby’s heart soared with hope. What exactly did he mean? She studied his inscrutable face, seeing only the intensity of his expression. Thork seemed to deliberate for several moments the wisdom of disclosing his inner thoughts. With the knuckle of his right hand, he caressed her jaw from ear to chin and back.
Wistfully he finally whispered, “Sweetling, I want you in the morn when I waken and remember my night dreams of you boldly seducing me.” His blue eyes locked with hers to seal his soul-wrenched message, and Ruby felt her world tilt. “I want you when I see you touch my sons with kindness. I want you when I hear you sing about making it through the night. I want you when you speak of kisses that last three days. God’s blood, I want you when you make me laugh. Yea, I do. But one thing you must never misdoubt, sweetling—I want you.”
Ruby had trouble speaking over the lump in her throat. “But you resist me, Thork. Despite everything you say, you won’t let me get close. Whether you believe what I say about the future or not, you obviously recognize this bond between us.” She put her hand up to his face and stroked it lovingly. “I don’t know if you’re Jack or just a time reflection of him, but I love you. I know that now, and, dammit, I don’t know what to do about it anymore.” She raised tear-filled eyes to his, looking for answers. “I’ve tried every stupid trick in the book to seduce you, and—”
“Shush,” Thork whispered, pulling her into his arms, his lips in her hair. ” ‘Tis not our time, Rube. In truth, ’twill never be. Mayhap ’tis why your God gave me another chance in another lifetime, if your tales of the future be true.” His voice was deep-timbered with regret for his heartfelt words.
Rube! He’d called her Rube. “Why did you call me that?”
“What?”
“Rube. You called me Rube.”
Thork shrugged, puzzled at the importance she placed on a simple word. “It just came out that way. Do your people never shorten names?”
The fine hairs stood out on Ruby’s arms. “Oh, Thork! Rube was Jack’s pet name for me. Can’t you see that your use of it is like an omen, as if God, or some higher being, were telling me everything will be all right?”