Viking Sensitivity (Night World Series Book 2) (16 page)

Viking could tell from Gwen's expression that she wasn't sure how to take that information. She was almost physically setting that information aside to be processed later. That was the Gwen he knew. Set the stuff bothering you aside and mull about it later.

Since she'd stepped into marriage so easily he'd been expecting her to stress about it now that the immediate danger was over, but she had not seemed to.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts Viking looked at the women and focused on the problem at hand. They did not have much time left in the dream and when they got out of it he was not going to be in his right frame of mind.

"So tell me exactly, what is the plan?"

Gwen shifted from foot to foot and crossed her arms over her chest. "I think the plan is to get a sketch somehow and give it to Lucia. See if she can do a tracking spell to find the two people the being used to bother Mia. We'll also give sketches to Carter. So he'll be on the lookout for them. Track them down and see if they are the central power source. Or if the thing is just jumping from person to person. I guess we will try to see just how many people this being had control over. Unless you have a better idea it's all we got." Gwen was looking at him almost challengingly. As if daring him to come up with a better idea.

Instead he looked at his mother. "Okay so how do we wake up? Do you just wait for the spells to ware off?"

His mother just looked at him and Gwen before raising her arms.

֍

Viking sat up in bed so fast he hadn't even registered doing it. It took him a second to readjust, not only to being awake but the strong pull of the Maddening. The spell to put off the Maddening worked for a little while but it had done nothing to lessen its effects on Viking. It felt as if the Maddening crashed into him all at once. All he could think about was bedding Mia.

About the slight curves of her body and what they would look like without clothes. The lusty feelings were so strong there didn't seem to be room for anything else.

Viking struggled to find that inner well of calm he always possessed. Had to reach really far down to get to it. He pulled at it with all his might trying to cover himself in a sort of numbness. It wasn't as effective as it should've been. As it would've been if he hadn't been in the Maddening.

There was just this red fog in his mind. Sex and violence were the only things he could think of. As the wave of calm, or what little was left of it, washed over the red haze it didn't disappear completely only lessened enough Viking could breathe normally and he didn't have the overwhelming urge to kill anyone.

He got himself out of bed and strode out of Gwen's apartment. He didn't remember having his keys in his hand or his wallet but they were there just the same. He didn't even think. He walked straight to one of the dark SUVs. He had no idea how many people or Warriors he passed on his mission. His one single goal of getting to Mia was the only thing that registered in his brain. He turned on the car and drove out on the roadway headed south.

If all else failed, if Mia rejected him. Then Viking would have no other option but to fall on his sword. He would rely on Poet to see him for the danger that he was and end him for the safety of everyone.

He knew he couldn't count on Raider to do it. Raider was weaker than him and he wasn't entirely sure the other man would be up for trying to kill Viking. Poet however would see the necessity and was strong enough to follow through.

For whatever reason, that thought seemed the only bit of comfort Viking had since waking up. No matter the outcome the Maddening would be ending within the next hour. Either Mia would accept him or Poet would end him.

He glanced down at the clock on the dashboard. He only had about four hours until the Maddening had taken full control and his third day would be ending. He almost laughed at the thought that he had originally been convinced he could last past the deadline.

Chapter 13

Mia woke with a start. It had not been simply the waking up that startled her, even though she just had the strangest dream of her life. What set her adrenaline going was opening her eyes and seeing Poet sitting at the foot of her bed. At first her brain had not registered she knew him or that he was no threat. It simply registered that there was a stranger in her room. Panic set in strong and she wasn't sure if she had been breathing. It only took a beat for her mind to catch up and register who Poet was. Even then, it still took her another minute or two to settle her system down.

"Are you all right?" He sounded genuinely concerned.

Mia nodded.

"Are you sure? You don't appear to be all right. Was the dream bad?"

Mia concentrated on taking a deep breath before answering. "Yes, I'm fine. You just startled me when I opened my eyes. I'm not used to somebody being in my bedroom when I wake up and it took a second for my mind to catch up and register who you were."

His face shone general concern and guilt. "I am so sorry for that. I have not been here the whole time. It's just, when I walked by your room to check on you I saw you stirring and realized you would awake soon. So I simply came in and waited. I did not think how distressing that might be. I am out of practice dealing with normal people." He smiled with his last statement.

She knew it was a genuine smile because there was only a glimpse of his sharpened canines. He seemed to only fully show them when he was antagonizing someone.

Before Mia could say anything, Poet's phone rang. His expression looked a little confused when he pulled it out of his pocket and answered.

"What is it? What has happened? Do you know this thing we are hunting for?"

There was a lengthy pause as the person was on the other end of the line spoke.

"Hold on, hold on I'm going to put you on speakerphone. Mia should hear this as well." He then held the phone up between them and tapped the screen.

"Okay can you both hear me?" It was Gwen.

Mia looked at Poet. What could possibly be so important he wanted to put it on speakerphone?

Poet answered for both of them "yes, I have you on speakerphone."

"Mia, when I woke up and headed downstairs Viking was gone. I can only assume he's headed your way. That being said we have a game plan for how to find this being that was harassing you. It's not the best plan in the world. But we think it'll work.

“In the meantime though, I felt you guys over there should be prepared for Viking's arrival. You have two options right now if he is as far gone as I think he is. You can either sleep with him. Or Poet can deal with him. If you decide to let Poet deal with him then you should stay out of sight. If you decide on the former than Poet should stay out of sight.

“Know that Viking means the world to me but whatever decision you make we won't begrudge you the outcome. We will help you with this being no matter what. I just ask that you let me say goodbye before you deal with him, Poet." Then the line went dead.

"You have my word." Poet promised, even though Gwen could no longer hear him.

Mia wasn't sure what to take from that. Her blood pumped faster at the idea of Viking coming for her. Part of her was very turned on by that fact. Part of her was panicking. And part of her thought it was insane.

This was a man she barely knew and yet she wanted to sleep with him more than anyone else she ever met. She was simply just not a girl who slept with someone she barely knew. Even when she wanted to. That being said, the circumstances were different than usual. If what everyone kept saying was true then this person, this Viking, was meant to belong to her forever. That seemed like a foreign concept.

She looked up at Poet to see his blank face. By his lack of expression she knew she had to consider other people and in this decision. There were people that care very deeply for Viking that her decision affected. She knew Gwen told the truth when the other woman said they would help her no matter what. But she also knew if Viking succumbed to the Maddening it would be her fault and all the people in his life would know it.

"I am just not a girl who sleeps with men she barely knows. Yes, I know this is extenuating circumstances, but part of me has trouble seeing the difference. I wish I had another week. I think I would be okay with it if I had another week."

Poet's eyes softened at her words. "Trust me when I say every Warrior wishes he had a week to woo his mate. But for whatever reason this crazy world has deemed three days to be enough time. So either the universe hadn't considered extenuating circumstances would bring mates together or it just didn't care. Or my personal favorite: the universe has a sick sense of humor.

"For what it is worth, Viking is a good and moral man. A bit boring if you ask me, but he will do right by you. Once the Maddening has lessened, especially if you ask him, he will woo you as his and your old-fashioned hearts’ desire. That being said, if that is not a leap you can make, I understand. Viking will not be the first Warrior in Maddening I have had to take care of and he certainly is not going to be the last."

The dark humor he inserted with that last part made Mia sad. Clearly this man in front of her was an old soul who had seen too many dark and unhappy things. Her thoughts were out of her mouth before she could think to hold them back.

"Poet, why are you not mated?" She couldn't help her eyes widening in her own rudeness. Something about this situation seem to have destroyed her inner filter.

Poet chuckled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That, my dear, is a very long story. I'll tell you what, I will tell you that whole ridiculously dramatic story over coffee once Viking gets through the Maddening and we solve this little mystery of the being that has taken such an interest in you."

She knew what he was doing. He was trying to tease her into a better mood. She couldn't help but like Poet. But there was something inside her that felt he set off or rather should set off her warning bells despite the fact that he didn't. Like Viking, she knew Poet wouldn't harm her. But there was something dangerous about him. Despite that, she liked him.

"How long do you think we have until Viking gets here?"

Poet looked at his phone. Mia could only assume checking the time.

"Well the good news and the bad news is it is going to take him forty-five minutes to an hour to get here. Unfortunately my fearless leader is not in the frame of mind to take into account rush-hour. So on the plus side you have more time. The down side is he is probably going to be more agitated as rush-hour brings out the worst in pretty much anyone under the best of circumstances." He slid his phone back into his pockets

Mia watched Poet for a second and a plan started to emerge in her mind. "Okay, don't judge me but I think I've got an idea."

There must've been something in her tone because Poet watched her with amused curiosity. He leaned back and folded his arms over his chest waiting for her to continue.

"When Viking gets here is there any way that he could be…" she couldn't believe what she was about to say, out loud no less... She could feel her face turning red with embarrassment. "Any way to tie him to the bed?"

Poet's increased amusement made her blurt out the rest of her idea.

"My thought is if he can be tied to the bed than I can be in control and I can move as slow as I need or if I chicken out he will be somehow weak enough to be kicked out of the house or whatever it is you need to do.

"I don't want to think about him being killed or anything like that. I don't want to be responsible for that. I don't want to be responsible for his death. So I'm going to try to sleep with him. But I think it would be much easier for me if I could be in control." She wasn't entirely sure she took a breath that entire time she had spoken.

Poet watched her several seconds not saying anything. The longer he watched her the more red she felt her face become. She was positive she was the color of the tomato by the time he finally spoke.

"Well, this is a very interesting turn of events. I am more than glad to help you. But you should be aware that not much can hold a Warrior still." He seemed to be choosing his words very deliberately. "Our best chance is for me to get something sturdy enough to give him pause. And to get him to agree to being tied to the bed. The tying down will simply be a reminder to him that he is to remain still. If he really wanted to break free he could but we are relying on his inner gentleman to remain still. That is the best I can offer you in the time that we have. If I had an hour to come up with something I could find you something that would legitimately keep him where he was. But unfortunately we just don't have that time. Will that work for you?" By the end he had gone serious again.

Mia looked over Poet's shoulder in consideration. She thought she could do it. She wanted to sleep with Viking, he was sexy, in the un-cocky way Mia preferred. And from the time they've spent together she was sure Poet was right when he said Viking would woo her like a regular person.

She wanted that. She wanted someone who would romance her a bit. It just seemed a little backwards to have to sleep with a man to get that. Mia shook her head. She could do this. If she could be in control and take the time she needed she could do this. More importantly she wanted to do this. She looked back at Poet again.

"Okay what do you need?"

He smiled at her. "Mia I can tell you are going to be very interesting. I am glad I will get the chance to get to know you better." Then he moved to the door of her bedroom. "I will wait for you downstairs. Go ahead and get dressed and we'll see what we can find."

A thought tugged at her and Mia found curiosity take hold. "Poet, why do I get the impression you have done this before?"

His grin went so wide his eyes crinkled. "Now what would give you that idea? You think I make a habit of chaining men to bed?"

Mia opened her mouth to clarify but Poet spoke over her.

"I know what you meant. Let's just say, this is not the first time recently I have been propositioned by a mate to incapacitate her Maddening Warrior. Perhaps I have a new side job on my hands." Without anything further he turned and left the room

֍

They had finalized the plan by the time Viking reached her door. Poet was right. It'd taken almost an hour between Gwen's phone call and when the doorbell rang. Mia waited on the staircase just out of the line of sight of the front door. This way she could hear the entire conversation without being seen.

Mia felt weird being in lingerie and being covered in her bathrobe with soon to be two men in her house. It was almost a laughable possibility. If someone had told her a week ago she would be in this situation she would've thought them insane.

She heard Poet open the door and Viking's answering growl.

"Where is Mia?"

She heard Poet's voice waft up to her as calm as ever. "You need to listen to me. You need to put all of your effort into understanding my words in this moment and keeping yourself calm."

Part of Mia wished she could see what Viking's response was. There was silence for several beats before his voice growled up from the doorway again.

"Why have you stopped me in the doorway Poet?"

She heard Poet give a dramatic sigh. "Your Mia has a deal for you. You can take it or you can leave. Mia has graciously chosen to sleep with you. Why any woman would do such a thing is beyond me. Clearly she has lost all her faculties to see what you look like."

She could hear Viking's growl clear enough and loud enough, it seemed as if he was right next to her. "Get on with it, Poet."

"Calm down. She will sleep with you, however she has a stipulation. That stipulation being you are going to be tied to the bed. That way you will have no control over the situation at all and Mia can go her own pace and not have to worry about you startling her with your brutish Maddening. Do you agree with these terms?"

There was silence again but it had a different quality to it. It was as if Viking was actually weighing his response.

"Yes." There was nothing beyond that.

"Well alright, then come on in."

Mia heard both men step into the house. She quickly dashed upstairs and into the master bathroom. The plan was for her to hide until Poet knocked on the door, giving her the all clear.

Her heart raced. Not with fear but with excitement. Mia was excited to have an attractive man tied up in her bedroom. It seemed so titillating her curiosity and excitement was getting the better of her.

She even went so far as to stand in the closet. She knew she didn't need to. That she could simply stand on the other side of the bathroom door. But for some reason she wanted the extra couple of feet that standing inside the closet would give her.

She could hear the two men shuffling into the room and silence. Then a few seconds later she heard Poet speak.

"Let's get down to logistics shall we. You and I both know this can't hold you. So you are entering a verbal contract not to move until Mia tells you it's all right. Also you're going to want to take off all of the clothing you can right now before I tie you to the bed. Let's just make things easier on Mia and give her less clothing to deal with. But by all means leave your boxers on. That is not something I care to see."