Valkyrie Heat (5 page)

Brandr snapped something angrily, but the man continued

what he was doing.

The huge brute who held her laughed as she squiggled away

and he dragged her back. She kicked at him in desperation. He

yanked hard on her ankle and she was in his arms once again. She

screamed.

Sobbing hysterically Sky’s eyes settled onto Brandr, begging

for his help. Frantically she was shaking her head no. Her frenzied

eyes locked onto him.

Brandr yelled something to the man and he shook his head no,

but still he was ignored.

Sky could see a red stain creep up Brandr’s neck and a look of

disgust crossed his face.

Brandr moved like lightning, as he tossed the knife back to the

man, unsheathed. The blade landed no more than a hairsbreadth

from the man’s foot. Once more Brandr uttered a heated

command, only this time his voice brooked no resistance. Brandr

was on his feet in an obvious challenge, fists balled.

Sky thought he looked deadly and was very happy those

piercing eyes weren’t settled onto her.

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

The man shrugged. He loosened his grip on her and, smiling,

smacked her hard on the ass. He then pulled her pants back up and

tossed her toward Brandr who hauled her to her feet.

Sky wiped at her eyes. No one had ever tried to touch her

there before. Brandr led her back to his fur and shoved her down.

He still looked furious. Without a word, he dropped beside

her and before long was soon sleeping.

Sky lay for a long while with her eyes open staring at the

heavens. She was afraid and humiliated and she wanted to run

away. She knew the other man was determining if she had ever

been taken anally before. She knew if she had, and possibly even

though she hadn’t, she would be under the huge brute of a man

who wanted her that way if Brandr hadn’t interfered. She wouldn’t

take the chance Brandr would change his mind.

Sky slowly rose to her feet, wanting to bolt. She was about to

make a mad dash into the dark woods when she felt a hand tighten

on her ankle and pull her down. A hand went over her mouth and

Brandr was soon on top of her, his huge frame keeping her

immobile. She was belly down and her scream was muffled when

he lowered her pants a small way. He settled himself so his hard

erection was pressing painfully against her bare behind and she

could feel him through his clothing. Sky sobbed uncontrollably.

Brandr turned her head to face the direction of the man who

had wanted her this way. Brandr said something to her in a low

gruff voice. He pointed to the man, then the woods and, still

remaining clothed, he pushed against her even harder.

She felt his long length. Sky was groaning as he pushed harder.

His hips moved over her to imitate the motion of sex. She

squeezed her eyes closed, thinking he was about to rape her, but he

remained fully clothed.

Brandr pumped against her for a moment before moving off

her. He roughly growled out more words in an urgent tone and

she thought she understood what he meant. If she ran he would

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

give her to the man or somehow the man could claim her. Only

next time the man wouldn’t be trying to use a finger. And it would

hurt much worse and be more frightening than what Brandr had

just done. After all, Brandr hadn’t penetrated her. She knew the

other man would. Sky curled into a small ball at the bottom of his

furs and cried herself to sleep.

* * * *

Sky followed the men listlessly through the forest. Everything

remained unfamiliar and frightening. The large forest seemed to go

on forever. They came across no one. Everything was oddly quiet.

It was as though the human population was lacking. Sky considered

herself fairly well traveled. She was young, yet she had seen a great

deal of the world. An odd thought clung to her.
Everything feels

primeval.
The way the men behaved was barbaric not just rude or

domineering. Each one moved with surety, as though they owned

the world. They were certainly large enough to control their own

little piece of it.

It was apparent none cared how they treated her. If she was in

someone’s way she was knocked out of it, or pushed down. None

of the other men offered her food, or drink. She was Brandr’s

problem. Quickly, she learned to dodge and stay sharp around

cantankerous, patientless fists or cuffs. She stayed near Brandr. She

could tell her fearful clinging was getting on his nerves, but he was

the only one between her and Cull—the man who had tried to

trade for her. Brandr also wasn’t so quick to cause unnecessary

harm. He treated her like she was a nuisance, but he didn’t strike

at her, nor did he interfere on her behalf. He appeared annoyed

that his companions, though it was mostly Cull, were rough with

her. Oddly enough he seemed even more annoyed with her for not

fighting back. It was a strange notion; she knew absolutely she was

not to anger Brandr. Why did he not expect her to obey Cull and

Lud, only himself?

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

When they stopped for the evening Sky gathered more wood

and filled Brandr’s flask at the river. She was still dogging his every

move and kept him well within her sight.

Brandr caught a huge fish that he shared with her. He

skewered it over the open fire, head and all.

Sky didn’t care, she was starving. He gave her a large piece

and watched as she wolfed it down. The open air and all of her

activity gave her such an appetite. Once more she was licking her

fingers wishing for more while Brandr again looked amazed as

though wondering where she put it all.

After dinner the men sparred with their swords. Brandr and

Lud sparred first. Brandr bested him easily then faced off with

Cull.

Sky winced when steel collided with steel and sparks flew.

All three men remained bare-chested, muscles flexing. All three

were huge, even bigger than Rolf and she had never seen anyone

bigger than Rolf. Lud had his arms crossed over his massive chest

cheering both men on, while Sky quietly wished Brandr would run

Cull through.

Brandr was smiling when he struck Cull’s sword from his

hand. He tossed his head back and roared his victory.

Sky shuddered at how brutal he sounded. Her hands rose to

cover her ears.

The three men laughed and Cull centered his attention on

Sky. He called to her.

Terrified, Sky pulled herself into a ball, trying to hide. Brandr

came over to her and hauled her to her feet. He dragged her over

to the others and put Cull’s sword in her hands. She could barely

lift it. Her hands slipped against the hilt while covered over in the

billowing material of her shirt. Brandr went behind her and helped

her when she faltered. The sword swung back and forth

effortlessly, but when Brandr let go, the tip fell to the ground. All

three men obviously thought it was hilarious she couldn’t lift it; she

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

was surprised they didn’t piss themselves with their laughter. Her

terror turned to annoyance realizing they were teasing her. It

wasn’t fair, she had been shoved and slapped at and then ignored

all day, now this. They were all just mean-spirited bullies.

“How on earth do you think I could lift this?” she demanded to

Brandr and Cull.

Her scowl made Brandr smile. He seemed pleased she was

sticking up for herself. He ruffled her hair under his hand. She

cried out when his fisted knuckles hit her shoulder playfully. He

had almost knocked her to the ground. The men laughed again.

Sky backed away.

“Why are you being so cruel?” she asked quietly.

Brandr’s look was sympathetic, but determined. He handed

her the sword and demanded she try to lift it.

Once more Sky struggled with it, but it was impossible; the

sword was much too heavy. It fell to the ground. Her arms ached

from gathering so much wood. She was tired from their long walk.

She was so terribly homesick. Tears of frustration built up and Sky

quickly tried to control them. For some reason, her crying angered

the men, especially Brandr.
Why won’t they let a frightened woman

cry?
Hiding her face so they wouldn’t see the wetness sliding down

her cheeks, she went to sit on Brandr’s fur.

Brandr came and sat beside her.

Sky struggled successfully and had her weepy emotions under

control.

Brandr bumped his shoulder into hers and he offered her a

grin.

Surprised, she gave him a stern look. He bumped her again

and she thought he was unbelievably attempting some type of

camaraderie. It was then her anger surfaced. Brandr made motions

with his hands indicating she needed to strengthen her arms.

“Why?” she asked, lifting her hands in exasperation. Why did

they want to teach her to fight with a sword? Couldn’t they see she

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

would never be able to lift it? Why were they even fighting with

swords at all? It couldn’t be legal.

Brandr frowned. He gripped one of her exposed hands and

held it up for inspection. His hands were huge compared to hers

and his frown deepened. He ran a calloused thumb across her soft

palm. A few of her nails were broken from the work he had made

her do, but seven remained long and manicured. The material

slipped down a small ways and he studied her slender wrist. His

large hand wrapped around her upper arm and she winced. He

pulled up on her sleeve revealing her pale white skin. Massive

bruises from where she held the heavy wood and rocks were all up

her tender flesh from her wrist to her shoulder. Places where the

other men had hit her were red and flaming. He pulled up her

other sleeve. The bruising to this arm was just as bad. He examined

her other tiny hand that was chafed from her hard work. Brandr

ran a hand over his face and looked to the sky and mumbled some

words in apparent exasperation.

To Sky’s surprise, he seemed to be dismayed her arms and

hands were so small and bruised.

In a brief moment of tenderness, he placed his hand on her

shoulder. His one finger under her jaw tilted her head and he asked

her a question. From his tone it seemed important, but she didn’t

understand him.

Sky shook her head with bewilderment. What was it he

wanted to know? Why was it so important to him to teach her

combat? Was it because of the murdered people in the village? Was

there some kind of war going on she didn’t know about?

Brandr sighed and cupped the side of her face before he

chuckled and pushed her over good-naturedly. He laughed at her

sprawled position.

Sky couldn’t help but think he was playing with her in some

weird twisted way. He smiled at her, then slapped his hand to his

chest in an invitation for her to try and knock him over.
As if!
Was

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

he insane? She could never, would never, seek to wrestle with

him. What was the matter with him? The fool was built like a

mountain.

As the sky darkened, a flash went through the dismal

billowing clouds that had been building all day and Sky tensed and

sat up immediately. She hated storms. When she had been a child,

their home was struck by lightning in a terrible hurricane and they

had been lucky to make it out alive. As it was, they had lost

everything including their beloved family pets. It was another

scene she had never gotten out of her mind’s eye. It surfaced now

with a vengeance.

When the thunder rumbled above their heads, Sky tried to

climb into Brandr’s arms—he being the lesser of two evils.

He scowled, looking disgusted and pushed her away.

Lightning flashed and Sky couldn’t help it, she cried out. They

were under a tree and otherwise exposed to the elements. Again

she tried to hide in Brandr’s arms and again he shoved her away

with obvious annoyance.

Sky looked at him, feeling devastated. All she wanted was a

little comfort. As rain pellets began to cover her, she pulled her

bruised arms up to her face and heaved in and out large building

sobs. Her body trembled with the cold. Where was she? Where

was Rolf? Why was this happening to her? She wept out Rolf’s

name, willing him to find her and angry that he hadn’t already. She

heard a very heavy sigh and Brandr relented and pulled her close.

His thumb wiped her tears away hurriedly, and he gave what

appeared to be an embarrassed look beyond her to see if the other

men had noticed; they hadn’t. He lay her down under him and

wrapped them tightly in his fur.

Sky clung to him. She was shielded from the heavy rain as it

came down now in sheets and her body began to warm from

Brandr’s heat. To her relief, he spoke soothing words that calmed