Valkyrie Heat (2 page)

about her.

“This would be the perfect cave to do it in,” she heard Brody

whisper in her ear.

He had startled Sky out of her reverie. “At least my mud-

colored eyes wouldn’t see your dirty expression,” she snapped

back.

“We were just teasing.”

“Go tease Colleen.”

“You can be pretty damned sexy when you’re pissed, baby,”

Brody said and lifted a hand toward her breasts.

“Leave her alone,” Rolf said.

Both turned when Rolf came to stand near Sky. The only

reason she hadn’t moved on to another job was because Rolf

always kept Brody in line. Rolf teased, but he was a rabid wolf

when protecting women. He always kept a close eye on Sky when

he was around, claiming she was his responsibility. Brody smiled

cheekily at her and left to find Colleen, who encouraged his

advances.

“He’s just kidding,” Rolf said.

“He’s a jerk,” Sky replied.

“Yes, but he’s our jerk and we love him.”

“Speak for yourself.”

Sky moved away and continued her discoveries. Once more,

she was soon enthralled with the beauty of the deep cavern. She

always felt like such an intruder when first venturing into a new

cave. It was odd knowing no one had walked where she was

walking in centuries. No one had breathed the same air in years

and a chill ran up her spine wondering if the breath of an ancestor

still lingered. She touched the cold rock walls and wished she could

feel any other hand that had stroked these surfaces. Had someone

else experienced the same joy of discovery before them?

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

“Are you wishing the walls could speak?” Rolf asked.

“Yes,” she whispered, caught up in the moment.

Rolf placed his hand over hers; his touch was gentle and

warm. For a geologist, his fingers were perfectly manicured; his

hands were soft and smooth. But there was strength beneath his

touch. Sky shivered, unable to help herself. She turned her head

slowly to look up into his eyes. His gaze was intense as it settled

onto the rock. She wished just once he would look at her the same

way, with interest and passion. Rolf looked so enticing in his black

jeans that hugged his hips. His dark t-shirt was tight and

emphasized his large muscular biceps. Her heart was flipping

wildly again and her mouth opened to pant in shallow puffs of air.

She couldn’t help but want this man.

When Rolf moved even closer she thought she would expire.

It was sweet tormenting hell having him so close, but it would have

been worse if she could never touch him or see his face again. The

curve of her behind settled back against his hips. A perfect fit. If

only she had the courage to tell him how she felt. So many nights

Sky lay alone fantasizing on how he would feel, his huge nude body

pressed to hers. She could imagine the taste of his sweet mouth, his

tongue rolling with hers. She pictured in her mind’s eye his

length—as long as Brody’s. How would he feel? The fantasy

gripped her as it did so often and she could picture each gentle roll

of his hips colliding with her own. She could almost feel his sweat

as she imagined her legs rising to clasp around his bare midriff.

Desperately, her aching nipples begged to be fondled in his perfect

hands. Wetness crept between her legs and she shuddered,

wanting him so bad she turned within his arms. She wanted him

to…she needed him to…

“We could have a threesome,” Brody whispered from behind

them, startling her.

“Screw off!” Sky snapped and jumped back away from Rolf.

She collided with the hard rock wall and groaned.

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

Brody laughed and Rolf chuckled. Rolf flashed his baby blues

at her and winked. Sky could almost see the two of them imagining

pumping into her simultaneously. She could feel the heat creep

over her neck as her face flamed red.

“Can we concentrate on our job?” she demanded with

embarrassment, her hand rubbing her elbow that ached from

banging into the stone. “Or has it always been a dream of you both

to have sex with a twelve-year-old boy?”

“Ouch,” Rolf said. “You heard that, huh?”

Sky looked at him with wounded eyes. She knew she wasn’t

his type; still, she had been hurt when he had thrown out the

callous comment. She’d harbored a secret crush on him for the last

year, ever since she graduated university and was approached for

this job. When she had met him in his office, Sky was certain she

wouldn’t get the position. He was professional, but predatory.

When Rolf had hired her on the spot she had been thrilled. Later,

Colleen had been added to the crew. Sky had overheard Brody

laugh and say Rolf had given in and hired a real looker, not caring if

she distracted him like Sky wouldn’t. Sky had secretly hoped Rolf’s

overprotectiveness was something more, then realized it wasn’t.

Keeping her safe was just part of his job; it was the type of man he

was. Her heart had broke realizing she was hired because he was

only interested in her skills—and the fact she was so undesirable to

him that she wouldn’t distract him.

Sky’s chin quivered when Rolf cupped her face in his hand.

His thumb stroked her cheek. She hated that her knees went weak.

She wanted to kiss his open palm. For a moment, when he gazed

into her eyes, time stood still. There was no Brody, no cave,

nothing but him and the erratic pounding of her heart. Why

couldn’t he see her the way she saw him?

“Rolf?” Colleen called urgently.

The moment was broken. As always Rolf abandoned her for

Colleen. Sky was left breathing heavy with Brody leering down at

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

her. With Rolf distracted, Brody pounced. Sky was pinned to the

cave wall with gentle pressure. The rock surface behind her was

cool, but his long hard body was warm. She could feel the stirring

of his impressive, stiffening erection. Brody’s face was only inches

from her own. She could feel his heated breath on her cheek when

he leaned in closer.

“I’m not into boys,” he panted. “But I wouldn’t mind my cock

tasting your sweet little ass.”

Sky glared at him, having no fear of the hulking brute. Brody

was all talk. She also had an ace in the hole. “I wonder how Rolf

would feel knowing you said that?” she replied sweetly.

“Bitch,” he said, smiling.

“Right down to my toes,” she replied.

“Hey, guys, over here,” Rolf called.

Sky scooted out from under Brody’s arms and soon joined

Colleen and Rolf in a far corner. Rolf held something in his hands

that glinted in the light from his flashlight. It looked like he was

fingering coins. Looking down, Sky saw a ratty old hide pouch

resting in the dirt. More coins were on the ground. She bent down

and picked one up. She studied it and her fascination built. It

appeared to be made of silver with faded markings.

“I wonder how old these are?” she mumbled in awe.

“Old,” Rolf declared, his look was of pure amazement.

“Old as in, how old?” Brody asked; he was frowning. He took

the coin from Sky’s hand and held it close to his eyes. “Wow, these

are old.”

“Viking, tenth century, I would guess,” Rolf replied.

“Shit, I think you’re right,” Brody said with a low whistle.

“Damn.”

“I wonder how they got here?” Colleen said.

“If only the dead could talk,” Rolf said and pointed.

Off to the left, Sky saw a pile of old bones. Shaken with the

sudden image, she jumped when seeing the remains and ended up

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

in Rolf’s embrace. The skeleton was human, and tufts of fur clung

to his legs giving him an animalistic appearance. Between the ribs

was an old dagger. Whoever it was had been murdered. And

because there they stood with the coins, it was apparent robbery

wasn’t the cause.

“Oh my God,” Sky whispered.

“Relax, he’s dead,” Brody said. He squatted beside the bones.

“How do you know it’s a he?” Colleen asked.

“Pelvis bone is wider in females. Hip bones are lower and

wider in a woman, too. The bones are too big as well. He must

have had a helluva muscle mass. Huge ass son of a bitch. Look at

how long his legs are. His bones are heavy and thick. Bet he was a

good six foot six. I’m guessing he was a healthy weight.”

Brody would know considering he specialized in archeology.

Sky couldn’t make out much of his facial features in the dim lighted

dark corner, but she heard a somewhat pensive tone to his voice.

That was odd for Brody, not much shook him. It must have been a

rare find.

Sky disengaged herself from Rolf’s embrace. She knelt beside

Brody and shivered. The hair on the nape of her neck stood tall and

she had an odd feeling of déjà vu. Goose bumps dotted her clammy

skin. Her shoulder bumped against Brody; for once she welcomed

his warmth and she stayed touching him. For a split second, she felt

she had been here, in this exact spot with them before. But that

was impossible.

“I wonder what happened to him,” she whispered.

“He was stabbed,” Brody replied cheekily.

His elbow connected playfully with her side and she almost

toppled over.

“I can see that,” Sky said and rolled her eyes. “What I meant

was, I wonder why who stabbed him left the coins here? They must

have been valuable in this guy’s time, too.”

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

“Maybe whoever it was wanted us to find the coins,” Rolf

said. “Maybe there’s a mystery to be solved.”

Sky stood up and scowled into Rolf’s twinkling eyes as he

began humming the theme from
The Twilight Zone
and, sniggering,

Brody joined him. They were teasing again. This had to be one of

their biggest finds and even Rolf was joking around. She wished for

the hundredth time he wasn’t such a rich playboy type. She bent

down, grabbed the small pouch of coins, lifted them high and

waved them under his nose.

“You’re lucky any find is yours because the expedition is

yours. Some of us would like to take a real vacation,” she snapped.

Brody stood up and grinned down at her. “I’ll take you

somewhere sexy, baby.”

“Don’t fall for it, Sky,” Colleen intervened. “He took me to

Fiji and we never left the resort bedroom. Some sexy vacation.”

Brody wrapped his arms around Colleen and smiled at Sky.

“We could all go. Sky could bring us room service—and watch

while we get it on. I think she likes to watch.”

Sky glared at him, mortified. Brody winked at her and

Colleen giggled. Had he told Colleen she had seen them? Heat

flaming her cheeks, she filled with overwhelming embarrassment

when Rolf chuckled. He had told them both? Oddly she felt a sense

of betrayal. Her fist gripped the pouch she held in her hand so

tightly it became painful. She turned and marched off in a different

direction.

He is such an idiot
.

She heard Brody laughing behind her and Rolf calling her,

telling her to stay in his sight. But she didn’t care. She was angry

and embarrassed. Why could they both never behave like real

men? Why couldn’t they for just once act responsible and,

and…caring? It was a stupid thought. They were who they were

and they would never change; they couldn’t be someone they

weren’t. Why did she expect more?

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

Maybe I’m the idiot.

The cave went on a long way; the tunnel of the cavern twisted

and turned. Before long, Sky stopped hearing Brody’s hurtful

laughter. Rolf had stopped calling her and she imagined he had

given up and would find her later—he always found her.

Steam was billowing about. It grew warmer the farther she

went. The mist rolled beneath and above her eerily. Looking down

she was unable to see herself from the waist down. She was

puzzled; the vapors hadn’t been there a moment ago. She breathed

in the musty odor, her nose twitched distastefully. If ancient had a

smell, this would be it. Turning her head sharply from side to side

caused a moment’s panic; the sides of the cave seemed to have

disappeared as well as the ceiling. Stopping briefly, she spun about.

It was useless, there was even more rolling fog behind her, cutting

off any retreat. Worriedly, she hurried forward wanting out.

To her relief, there was light up ahead. Curious, Sky moved

toward it. It had to be another entrance, or exit as it were. The

flashlight in her hand suddenly plunked to the ground behind her as

she went on. Coolness invaded her body, washing over her. The

hand holding the pouch of coins tingled. The pouch heated with

sudden warmth as though hugged in welcome, then grew cold. The

oddest sense invaded her, that even if she wanted to drop them she

would be unable to. For a moment it was as though she were being

hurried along. The odd sensation of things slipping over her was