Her fingers closed around his wrist. “For the Gods sake, put it
down
! If it goes off, it could take out the engines of this ship or rip through the hull, and we’d all plummet to our deaths.”
He considered that, his fingers moving over the shining metal tube and handle. “But I wish to die gloriously in battle and take my place in Valhalla.”
“Oh
please
, don’t say that.” She hesitated. “Don’t you wish to see if your companion survived the ice, too?”
He stiffened. “My brother Aki is here?”
“Not on this ship. He is being taken to Alpha Three to be defrosted just like you were.”
“De-frosted?”
“You were both found encased in ice in the city of York on Earth. Alpha Base Three is the only place in this planetary alliance with the necessary technology to even attempt to bring you back to life.”
Again, almost nothing she said made sense. “But I am alive.” He flexed his muscles.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen yet.”
“Then perhaps my brother is alive, too.”
She tried to turn her head to look at him. “I could find out, but you’d have to let me go.”
“Or I can accompany you while you find out.”
She dug her elbow into his side. “You’re not being very cooperative.”
“Why should I be? You’ve already deceived me once.”
“Because it’s safer for you to be in a controlled environment where we can talk without anyone getting hurt.”
Einarr snorted. “As if such a place exists. No man can be trusted.”
“Not even your brother?”
Frey gasped as the Viking lifted her up and turned her to face him. It was the first time she’d gotten a good look at his eyes, which were the pale blue of a husky dog and far icier. His black hair was shaved on the sides, braided at the back and then gathered at the base of his neck. It wasn’t a handsome face, but it was a compelling one. She knew she’d never forget him. But how to persuade him to come out of hiding and release her?
He shrugged as though he didn’t have a care in the world. “My brother can take care of himself.”
“Alone?” She blinked slowly at him. “Don’t you want to see him again?”
A muscle flexed in his square jaw, and Frey resisted an urge to touch his unsmiling mouth. He’d sat her across his lap, her thighs spread over his crossed knees her sex pressed against his groin. She could feel the throbbing heat of his concealed cock inches from the sudden wet need of her arousal. The reality of his presence was a million times better than the fevered dreams she’d had since embarking on the voyage. She’d dreamed of being his, of being tangled up naked in bed with him while they fucked for hours… And she was aroused now. She wanted to strip him out of his leathers and lick his skin…
His blue eyes narrowed, and he spread his fingers over her ass, pushing her even closer to the stiff temptation of his erection. She brought her hand up and braced it against his massive chest.
“Let me go.”
“You want me,” he said quietly.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“I think you understand me very well.” He rocked his hips. “I can smell your desire, and you know I am already hard for you.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “It’s not that simple.”
“Aye it is. I free my cock and I’ll be inside you in less than a moment.” He glanced down at his lap. “I’m big. I would satisfy you well.”
She smothered a groan as he settled her even more intimately over him. “It wouldn’t be a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because…” She glared at him. “Because it wouldn’t, okay? Just because I’m acting a little weirdly around a telepath doesn’t mean there’s anything in particular going on, like I want to mate with you or anything…” Frey stopped speaking. Oh dear Gods. This was exactly like the health unit Teacher Forbes had shown them during their junior space camp training:
The inconvenient nature of telepathic attraction and finding mates where you least expect them.
But this male was a four-thousand-year-old Viking! He wasn’t Pavlovan or even an Etruscan.
He was her science project.
And she wanted to fuck him more than she wanted to breathe.
“What is wrong?”
His low voice made her jump.
“Nothing! As I said, we need to get you into a safe and secure area.” She was aware that she was jabbering and that he still held her tightly against the big, hard, hot rod of his cock…
“You want me.” He slowly inhaled. “I need to fuck you. I can sense your desire in your blood.”
“Which doesn’t mean anything,” she snapped back. “Now behave yourself and come and be officially welcomed by the captain and crew.”
He cupped her cheek, his remarkable eyes moving over her face. “Nay.”
She moaned as he bent his head and took her mouth in a savage kiss of possession. His hands shifted, locking her hard against his body until she was rubbing herself shamelessly against him like Armstrong the cat. Her clit was throbbing, her nipples were hard, and she was so wet that if he’d touched her sex she’d easily take his cock.
“
Not easily. I’m big. I’d need to get you ready with my mouth and my fingers
.” he crooned to her as his mouth ravished hers. “
But
by Odin
,
I would serve you well.”
She thought she whimpered. She couldn’t even protect her most intimate thoughts from him. Kissing him was more arousing than having full sex with any of her previous partners. It just felt so right. As if she’d been waiting for this moment for the whole of her life. It was
incredible.
Oh Gods, if she kept this up she was going to come and he was bound to notice, and then he’d fuck her, and she wouldn’t be able to stop him, maybe for days, and…
“
Just hold him there
.”
Even as she recognized Slavin’s voice the big Viking beneath her jerked and went still, his head falling back to strike against the metal storage unit behind him. A dart bristled in the crease of his neck.
No! Had she screamed that out loud? She hoped she hadn’t. Frey forced herself to slide out of the Viking’s arms and step away. Brown and his two assistants picked the unconscious form up and this time took off as fast as they could to the tiny brig.
“Are you okay?” Slavin crouched down beside her.
“Not really.” Frey forced down a shudder of pure, frustrated lust.
Slavin grinned. “You looked like you were quite enjoying being mauled.”
“I was.” Frey stood up. “He’s a telepath”
“I got that. He isn’t very clear to me.”
“He’s
way
too clear to me.” She switched into telepathic mode. “
I’m struggling to keep my hands off him.
”
Slavin put her hand on Frey’s arm. “
What?”
“Yeah, I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“Well, they do say we might meet our mates anywhere.”
Slavin gave her a tentative grin. “
My instructor at university was Etruscan and was brought here by a Pavlovan soldier after her unit abandoned her during a mission.”
“That’s slightly different to a four-thousand year old Viking.”
Frey started walking again. “
I feel like such a fool. How am I going to explain this to my mothers
?”
“
You’re that certain he’s the one
?”
“
Well, he’s one of the one’s
,” Frey muttered.
I feel it in my soul.”
She squared her shoulders. It felt stupid even saying such dramatic and life changing words, but she’d learned never to lie to herself. “And now I have to forget all of that and just make sure he stays alive.”
Einarr considered the shackles that had been put on his ankles and wrists and how easily he could remove them. There was also something attached to his upper arm through a long needle buried in his skin. The healer had told him it was for
nutritional purposes
, whatever that meant. Brown, one of his guards had simplified the matter and said it was food and water and necessary to keep him alive.
He’d developed a grudging respect for Brown who didn’t treat him like a fool, but also refused to leave him alone for a second. Not that he couldn’t escape in the blink of an eye… His female had made a good point. Learning where he was and about his brother’s fate could only help him plan his future escape. He’d already decided that whatever happened he would be taking his woman with him.
Apart from the bars on the door, the cell bore no resemblance to any similar structure he’d been incarcerated in on an unsuccessful raid. There was no wood, only smooth white surfaces that resisted his attempts to break them. He slammed his fist against the unforgiving wall and then continued his pacing. The lights were giving him a headache and were brighter than the noon sun. He hated this place. It made him yearn to fight his way out with whatever weapons he could find and destroy everything.
The door unlocked from the outside and Brown stood to attention as another older man came in. Einarr recognized him as one of the men who’d been hunting him earlier.
“I’m Travis, captain of this vessel.”
Einarr inclined his head an inch and kept his gaze bland.
“We wish you no harm, Viking. Our intention is to take you to Alpha Three where you will be reunited with your companion from the ice.”
Travis sat down as Einarr continued to study him before taking the seat opposite. Eventually, Travis looked back over his shoulder at the guard and asked.
“Can he understand me, Brown?”
“Yes, sir. The translator is working perfectly.”
“Then he’s not choosing to cooperate.”
“I wouldn’t say that either, sir. He’s still sitting here.”
“You believe he’s a security risk?”
“Yes, sir. Despite his advanced age he has unusual abilities.”
Reluctant to allow the captain’s thoughts to stray in that direction, Einarr sat forward. “I understand. Where is the female?”
“Which one?”
“The one who trapped me.”
“You mean Slavin? She shot the tranquilizer dart at you, but it was on my orders.”
“Not her. The one who ensnared me with her kisses.”
An expression of discomfort crossed the captain’s face. “Science Officer Frey is confined to her quarters until we reach Alpha Three.”
“I want her.”
“She is not available.”
“Then we have nothing more to say to each other.” Einarr turned away and lay down on his bunk, his gaze on the shining white ceiling.
“What do you mean?” Travis blustered. “I am authorized to negotiate with you.”
Einarr didn’t bother to reply. Either they wanted to talk to him and they fetched his female, or he’d go and find her himself.
After another muttered conversation, the captain left. Brown sighed and sat down again.
“You’ve done it now, mate. The captain doesn’t take kindly to anyone undermining his authority, and he’s already got it in for our Science Officer.”
Her name was Frey…like the goddess.
Closing his eyes and radiating a sense of complete relaxation, Einarr sought Frey in his mind. She wasn’t in pain, or in fear of her life. That was good. She was, however angry and frustrated. He felt the same. Having her in his arms had felt right somehow—as if she belonged there. He didn’t question such feelings. They came from the Gods and the source of his magic. She called to his blood. That was enough.
Smiling, he remembered how her lips felt and the way she’d stroked and sucked his tongue into her mouth. How would her lips feel parted around his thick rod? How would his mouth feel against the wetness of her lower lips as he plunged his tongue inside her?
His cock stirred and he cupped a hand over it.
“
Stop it, Viking.”
Frey’s voice echoed in his head.
He ran a finger along the hardness of his shaft as she responded to him. The thought of having her, of finally possessing her flesh, was the only thing that made sense to him in this frightening world. “
I’m thinking how I’m going to make you scream when I put my mouth on your cunt and plunge my tongue deep inside you.”
“You’re not going to do anything of the kind. You’re in the brig.”
She sounded…disappointed.
“
Do not doubt me. Frey, I will have you naked and under me before very long. You’ll scream for me. I know it.
”
“
When I’m locked in my cabin?”
“If you want me, I’ll come to you.”
“Yeah, right
.”
He wasn’t sure what her words meant, but he knew she doubted him. And, in truth, he wasn’t sure he could magic himself to her side in this strange cold metal ship, but he would certainly try if she needed him. And if he couldn’t get out, perhaps he could make sure she came to him.
He opened one eye and glanced over at Brown. Perhaps it was time to be diplomatic.
“Tell your captain that I am willing to speak to him, but only if the woman Frey is present.”
Frey stood up as her cabin door was unlocked and she tried to look calm as Ross came in, his weapon out and armed. This whole situation was crazy and not how she had envisioned meeting one of her mates at all. Her birth mother had told her that meeting her First Male had been unforgettable and that even though he’d later deserted their family, she still loved him. Frey hadn’t understood or accepted any of that until the thought of
not
seeing the Viking again made her want to scream and pull out her hair. Which was a ridiculous way to feel about someone you had only just met—even if they had shoved their tongue down your throat and made you want to throw off your clothes and simply fuck them forever.
“Tecky? Come on, you’re wanted.”
She followed him down the passageway, aware of a second armed security guard behind her. They halted at the holding room next to the brig, and Ross held onto her arm.
“Go in slowly and keep your hands visible. The Viking and Captain Travis are already at the table.”
Frey did as she was told blinking at the stark lighting of the cell and the minimum furnishings. Her Viking sat on one side of the table, his wrists shackled, his fingers linked together. He looked up as she entered the room, his icy blue gaze fixing on her. She couldn’t look away. After a long moment, he stared down at the scarred white table top, and she was able to breathe again.