Valkyrie Heat (22 page)

Sky chuckled and Katla laughed then grew serious. “Eirik will

protect you. My husband cares for you a great deal. You saved his

son; you are best friend to his beloved wife. He is certain you are a

gift from Odin and very lucky for our village. Rolf and Brandr

would never allow harm to come to you. Eirik has had a meeting

with the men. Most are fuming you will not dance and are angry

with the men who scared you. You are very beautiful to watch, my

friend. Not many can move as you do. You have heat, passion.

Please dance again.”

Sky sighed then hugged the woman.

“What if they go nuts again?” Sky asked.

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Katla gave her a sidelong glance. “The women have mapped

out your escape route. When the men clash, you will be safe

before the sparks fly.”

* * * *

Sky stood in the middle of the cabin with her hands, back to

back, held high over her head. Her heart was pounding. She knew

from this position the men behind her were given a good view of

her backside since Katla had insisted she wear the same revealing

skirt. Katla swore to her that she would be safe. Now that the men

knew what to expect, they were on their guard. Sky was still

nervous, but Rolf’s look toward the men was fierce. His sword

wasn’t sheathed, neither was Brandr’s nor Eirik’s. They were the

only ones in the room allowed to have their weapons in their

hands. Eirik wouldn’t demand the others be unarmed, that would

be too dangerous, but he could command they keep their weapons

sheathed…for now. If it was such a fuss, why did they want her to

dance again? Never would she understand men.

The music began to play and Sky couldn’t help herself. It

flowed into her veins and captured her soul. Her body took over

her thoughts and she began moving. She didn’t need to concentrate

on her next move, it just came to her. In this dance a woman had

been spurned by her lover. Her heart had been broken and her

body moved as though in pain. A few women began weeping. Sky

went from man to man, her arms pleading for someone to love

her. When a man reached for her, she backed up and went to yet

another man. The woman in the story was said to have gone from

warrior to warrior in need of a gentle touch, but each man was

brutal, until the woman lost all hope. Each man in the room was

treated to a touch, a quivering, begging finger, trailed along their

bare flesh. Sky could feel the sweat trickle down between her

breasts, as the night was hot.

Each man she stood before was panting, watching the rise and

fall of her hips. Her body rolled from feet to fingertips as though

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riding a wave. Her hips thrust forward and back telling of great

rewards if only she were loved. If only a man would care for her.

The softness of the furs under her feet tickled her instep. The area

was large, but as the dance went on, everyone crowded closer and

she occasionally found herself in someone’s arms. Many were

reluctant to release her. She felt her backside rest against hard hot

arousals. Instead of being fearful, she became more sensual. The

men’s heated panting breaths matched her own and Sky couldn’t

help but enjoy the power she felt over them. Some looked to be

melting into puddles. It was fascinating to see such huge brutes

tremble with desire. The women wanted their men hot? Sky made

certain every man’s loins flamed.

Finally, there were only two men left to dance to. Rolf’s look

was so intense, Sky felt herself quiver. She felt the wetness of the

tears on her face as she lifted her arms to Rolf and then Brandr. She

couldn’t imagine them spurning her and she danced with the

thought of how much pain that would cause her. She didn’t know

her emotions fueled the dance. Every man wanted a woman to

look upon them the same way. Every woman in the cabin wanted

to feel the power of a man’s overwhelming protective passion.

The music was faster now, more heated as the story became

demanding. She would have her lovers. They became the only ones

in the room and she danced until she thought her heart would

burst. She would make them want her, care for her, love her. Sky

could barely breathe when she dropped to the ground before them.

She lay back in submission; she knew the skirt was hiked into a

very revealing position. Before she could even sit up, the

commotion started.

“I must have the woman!” someone shouted.

Sky groaned.

The race had begun. Rolf yanked her to her feet and sent her

spinning into Eirik’s arms. Eirik tossed her to another man. Sky

screamed and kicked her feet as she went sailing in the air. It would

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seem the men had their own plan. The man who had her grinned

down at her.

“No wait!” Sky yelled.

She was tossed again. She felt like a sandbag looking for a

flood. The floodwaters had broken all right. It sounded like a dam

had come crashing down.
Damn.
She heard swords clash behind

her. Two men she saw, Lud and Cull, were battling, grinning from

ear to ear looking like crazy fools. A thought occurred to Sky as she

once more became airborne.
Katla was right, they
like
fighting. They

really
are
nuts.
Finally her feet hit the floor and she was ushered

into a large room in the cabin. The door was double bolted. Katla

came over to her and put her arms around her. To Sky’s surprise,

the woman was chuckling. The women in the room were all

smiling.

The men were yelling and things were crashing, until finally

Eirik bellowed for silence.

There was a calm knock at the door. Katla opened it

cautiously.

Eirik stood disheveled and smiling. “Find your men,” he

commanded the women. Panting, his wide grin settled onto Sky.

“You, little Valkyrie,” he said to Sky, “you have much heat.”

He grabbed his wife by the hand and led her away.

Rolf went to Sky and scooped her up. “Let’s see how much

heat you have,” he growled.

Sky went over his shoulder. To her mortification, he fondled

her behind as he strode out of the cabin with her, Brandr trailing

closely behind. Sky’s leather skirt wrap was off before she hit the

furs in the hut. Rolf knelt her before him, while Brandr gripped

her from behind. Sky cried out as both men pushed into her at the

same time. She felt hot from the dance and excited. One hand

splayed across Rolf’s chest, the other reached back to settle onto

Brandr’s hip. Their rhythm and pace matched each other’s, fast and

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furious. Sky moaned and cried out again. There was so much

power in front of and behind her.

Rolf gripped a handful of her hair and she winced. He dragged

her face to his and kissed her until she struggled for breath. Sky felt

Brandr’s lips move across her shoulder blade. His hands were

clasped to her breasts, kneading and fondling. Both men had

gentled their thrusting and Sky groaned as they slipped in and out

of her slowly. Her tongue danced with Rolf’s. She remained

between them for a long time and she realized both men had

already come; they were starting over.

“I love you, Rolf,” Sky whispered. She felt Brandr tense

behind her. “I love you, too, Brandr. You are both so different and

I love you both in different ways, but the same. I’m so happy you

found me, Brandr. Thank you for bringing me here. I can’t imagine

being without either of you, ever.”

“I am happy I found you, too,” Brandr said, with joy in his

voice. “I love you, too.”

Rolf smiled down at Sky. He nuzzled her ear and whispered

he loved her, too.

She knew he had waited for Brandr to declare his love first.

She knew it would be important to Brandr, after all he had found

her. Sky knew Rolf was the leader of their little family. Brandr

took care of her, but it was Rolf who made the decisions.

* * * *

Sky paced nervously in the small cabin room. It was Monday,

or Moon’s Day as the Vikings referred to it. The room was at the

back of the cabin and airtight, virtually soundproof. No windows.

Sky wondered why and Katla explained that normally only the

women were allowed in. That would make them vulnerable, hence

no windows, so no stray arrows, little danger of an attack. There

was the occasional exception of allowing a man entry. If a woman

was suffering from a long brutal delivery her husband might be

called in just in case.

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The last time Katla had delivered in this room, Eirik had been

by her side. It had been a sad day. The baby girl had been stillborn

but would have been cherished by both parents. Katla yearned to

have a daughter. So, too, did Eirik.

A small fire burned in the hearth to heat water. There was a

high bed and Katla was in it thrashing with another contraction.

Sky dipped a cloth in cool water and bathed her friend’s face. She

felt so helpless, but Katla wanted her there, declaring she was good

luck. Sky hoped so. The healer, Adisla, was between Katla’s legs

demanding she push. Katla screamed and pushed hard.

“I see the baby’s head,” Adisla said.

“Is it a boy?” asked a young woman. She, too, was expecting

and wanted to be present for the birth of Katla’s baby, curious as to

what to expect.

“I said I see the actual head, Birna,” Adisla explained. “Not the

head you are thinking of. Sky’s dancing has everyone here all

overheated.”

Both Sky and the young woman went red, and Adisla grinned

at them both.

“Sky, please,” Katla begged. “Pray to Odin for me.”

Sky looked at her helplessly. How could she explain she didn’t

think Odin existed? Sky didn’t believe in God either. But she

believed in angels. She placed her hands over Katla’s belly and

mumbled a few words, asking her angels to help this woman who

was her friend. She spoke in English so Katla and the others

wouldn’t understand her.

Katla smiled, then screamed and pushed hard. Her body

strained with her effort.

Sky winced as Katla squeezed her hand. Sweat dripped from

the woman’s face. She grit her teeth. Sky felt a range of emotions.

She was thinking of her own two missed periods. She could count

three soon. Could she be pregnant? It was too soon to tell. Either

way, this could soon be her screaming in agony in seven months.

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Could she stand it? She realized she would have no choice. She was

curious, too. How could a woman stretch to accommodate such a

large head? Her body shifted to watch as a tiny wet bundle

emerged from the woman. After the head, a shoulder was worked

loose, then the other, then the babe slipped free. It looked so small

and unmoving. Sky’s heart pounded.
Is the baby alive?

Oh please let the babe live.

Adisla yelled in triumph. “It’s a girl!”

“A girl?” Katla said on a hushed breath. “Does she breathe?

Does she live?”

As though on cue a large cry came from the babe and the

women laughed.

“She is yelling to you, Katla,” Adisla said, weeping. Her joy

radiated from her. “She says I am here, Mother. I am whole and

well.”

Sky felt her own tears fall. The babe was beautiful. Katla

looked so happy.

Adisla handed Sky the infant who was wrapped in soft leather.

Sky looked down into unbelievable blue-grey eyes. Tuffs of downy

soft hair resembled her mother’s strawberry blond. Her fingers

were so tiny. She was so unbelievably perfect. Sky filled with so

much emotion. Sky knew she wanted one. She didn’t care about

the pain any longer. She realized why women gave birth. It was

worth it to hold such a treasure.

Katla started gasping, catching her attention.

“It’s the afterbirth, it’s coming fast,” Adisla claimed.

Once more, the woman settled between Katla’s legs. Katla

cried out and pushed, she sobbed and gasped and pushed again

harder.

“No wait!” Adisla yelled.

“What?” Katla said fearfully.

“Another head. I see another head!”

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This baby came quicker. A very stunned and quiet Adisla held

the baby before Katla who gasped then muttered in disbelief.

“Twin girls. Odin has given me twin girls. One to replace the

daughter I lost and a gift.”

The baby howled loudly.

“A noisy gift to be certain,” Sky said, smiling widely at her

friend’s good fortune.

“Sky, go tell Eirik,” Katla asked, her voice urgent. “He must

be so worried. This has taken a while. He will be so pleased. It has

been years and years since our village has been gifted with twins of

any kind. We have been favored.”