Re: Hedeby: Lagertha/Ragnar
He lingered just long enough that it was nearly her undoing. The hesitation allowed for just enough time that she was about to open her mouth again, murmur an agreement, step or reach forward to close that space between them. How easy it would be to eliminate that space. Her body nearly swayed forward with the desire of it.
But he thankfully complied, even if it was with a sound that lit her spine like friction of skin against rock. Even with the increased space, she still watched him, eyes along his arm, over his shoulders, contemplating just one touch. But she knew it wouldn't be just one. She could feel it in her own heat and in the expression behind Ragnar's eyes. If they started, they would both be unable to stop after just a single touch.
Gods help her, but she wanted him.
But she simply smiled at him, tried to keep the heat out of it, and shook her head. "You do not get to tell me what to do in my own home. For my own people." Though with the words, she was stepping foward, angling to go around him and head for the door that would return her to them. And though she shouldn't have, though she knew she shouldn't have, as she passed him she reached over to slip her palm down along his arm, following the curve of shoulder and bicep, curling them in the crook of his elbow and squeezing lightly before pulling away again. It was all leather and fabric, no slide of skin at least, but it still made her pause and exhale before continuing along her way.
And maybe, perhaps, though she would never admit to it, the whisper of 'soon' lingered in the room as she exited.