Viking Claim (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 2) (14 page)

But she never looked away.

Raknar ground his jaw and fought the overwhelming urge to slam her down. Fiery, tight, he bit by torturous bit plowed on.
Hel
, did she feel good. Better than good. Better than any before. The dragon within flared and bared its teeth.

Impatient.

Exasperated.

Desperate.

Her nails dug into his shoulders and her eyelids drifted as she worked to take him. As she clearly fought the same carnal need for completion he did. His head fell back a fraction and he inhaled deeply as he continued to fill her…claim her.

The dragon’s eyes consumed his vision, a red haze that sharpened every beautiful inch of her body. This was the first time his other half had wanted a woman as much as his human half. Inextinguishable lust tore through him and his nostrils again flared, sensing something he hadn’t before.

She was fertile. Ripe.

Regardless, this was something he could control. He had the power to stop his seed from taking root. At least he always had. It was as simple as weaving an enchantment. Aesa’s words slipped through his mind. Her revelation. Indescribable wonders. Life.

A tremor rippled through him as he flexed his muscles, tightened his hold and forced her to rock forward a little bit at a time. Forced her to open up to the sharp swells of pleasure that were consuming them both.

Entering her body, taking her like this, was empowering. A privilege unlike any other. But he wanted more. For her. So he grasped one hip then circled the pad of his finger over the knob at the top of her center.

“Oh God,” she gasped, her eyes struggling to hold his and not drift shut.

His eyes might be locked with hers, but his dragon vision allowed him to see parallel and horizontal well beyond what humans could. He didn’t just see the flush spreading over her but the heat beneath her skin building and spanning out from her center. Like a flower blooming.

Mesmerized, fascinated, he watched her pupils dilate further as heat swirled and inundated up her belly, over her breasts and shoulders, then down her arms until it crawled over her thighs and lower. The brighter it grew, the heavier she breathed.

Now she balanced on the edge of a precipice.

One entirely of his making.

Just as the heat spread up her neck and covered her face, he wrapped his hand into her hair and thrust up hard, filling her completely.

His body tensed.

A vast myriad of sensations swamped him as he watched her climax almost violently. The way she cried out, the sound strangled, broken, guttural, endless. The way her chest arched, thrusting her breasts forward as she dug her nails in so deep she drew blood.

He just about lost his well-constrained control when her sheath rippled, fluttered then clamped down hard. A long moment stretched, her body locked up tight before she loosened enough that he could wrap his arms around her and pull her close. The muscles around his cock released then started to flutter again, clasping far tighter up and down his length. But it gave him the freedom to thrust even deeper.

Which made her explode all over again.

Raknar pressed his lips against her neck and relished the vibration of her moans almost as much as the vice grip of her center milking him. Sweat slicked her body and he licked the salt along the column of her neck, up over her chin until his lips hovered over hers and he breathed in the hot, heated air of her release.

“
Hell
,” she finally whispered against his lips, chest heaving.

Colors continued to tumble and undulate across the sky while he at first brushed his lips over hers then kissed her deeply. He wrapped her hair around his fist and lifted it, allowing cool air to brush her back alongside the finger he trailed down her spine.

Shivers rippled over her as his tongue twisted around hers. Raknar continued to explore the recesses of her mouth and finally gave into his barely checked lust. He lifted her slightly and began to move. The boat was built well and handled his movement with ease, water lapping gently against the side.

Veronica wasn’t above joining in as she rolled her hips along with his. Untwisting his hand from her hair, he grasped her hips and met her eyes. Hands again on his shoulders, a small, knowing, tempting smile curved her lips as she took control and increased the pace.

In.

Out.

Over and over.

Too much.

Never enough.

Sweat glistened on them both as he pulled her body flush against his and felt his need increase, her need increase. Together, they struggled toward something that had his dragon thrashing from within, eager for freedom.

Faster.

More.

Fierce.

Not long now.

“Raknar,” she cried out against his neck as her body seized in yet another gripping climax.

The sound of his name on her tongue made the world rush to a screeching halt. His muscles locked. Fire raced down his spine. His balls tightened. He swelled within her. Dragon haze swamped him entirely and he rammed upward.

Then exploded.

Renewed heat swarmed and licked his back. His tattoo. His muscles locked up tighter than before. If his wings were free, they would close around her. Instead, he enfolded her in his arms, held on tight and groaned loudly with sharp release. Veronica melted against him, body trembling and jerking slightly as she continued to let go. His eyes slid shut as another shudder rippled through him.

They stayed that way for a long time, holding each other, unwilling to speak, unwilling to let the moment go.

Until they had no choice.

Naðr’s words entered his mind.

“Time to get your ass back here, brother. Loki’s hel is waiting for you.”

Veronica lay back on a pile of furs and wondered what the hell she had done with Raknar.

Sex, sure, but
so
much more,
so
much better.

Now she, Kol and Kjar shared a room next to the king’s. They lounged on equally plush piles of fur. Not close but close enough. Tensions were apparently so high that Raknar had been ordered back to his lodge alone and these two were ordered to watch over her, sleeping in shifts. If that wasn’t enough, more warriors than usual were posted outside the door.

Several torches continued to burn.

Both inside and outside.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Raknar misbehave like this,” Kol said with genuine amusement as he sat against the wall. Knees bent, a skin of mead dangling from his fingers, he eyed Veronica.

“Right,” Kjar grunted, taking a long swig before he flopped onto his back and winked at Kol. “Usually it’s you.”

“I’m so sorry you guys are stuck with me tonight,” Veronica muttered as she rolled onto her stomach and rested her chin on her hands. “This is crazy.”

Kol shrugged. “I could think of worse places to be.”

Veronica frowned and sighed. “Am I really in that much danger?”

“As much as Raknar right now,” Kjar said. “Though I would’ve done the same, his actions have brought grave trouble down on him. Until the threat is eliminated, the king’s decision this eve was a good one.”

Right. Her here and Raknar anywhere she wasn’t. “I still don’t get why Naðr urged us to go out in Megan’s boat to begin with if things were this bad.”

“He wanted both of you out of here while he assessed the situation,” Kjar said.

Worried, her eyes met Kol's. “Naðr won’t rule against Raknar tomorrow, right?” Though she didn’t want the answer, she had to ask. “He won’t order his death, will he?”

Neither man seemed particularly comfortable with her question. When quickly masked distress crossed Kol’s features, Kjar answered for him. “Our king will do what is right based on the evidence presented.”

“What a bunch of crap.” Restless, Veronica flopped onto her back, then sat up and wrapped her arms around bent knees as she eyed them. As she did, all she could envision was Raknar’s face and his similar response.

Then, as if her mind couldn’t help itself, all she could envision was his strong body against hers. The unimaginable things he had made her feel. She still didn’t know if she should have slept with him. At the time, she’d been desperate and needed to escape all the powerful emotions seeing her son had inflicted.

Then the escape had become something else entirely.

It took on a life of its own.

And still had her wondering exactly what happened.

The night had felt like one long, unbelievable dream. The sadness then peace she felt seeing Matthew. The desire and intense connection she experienced with Raknar. Not to mention the mind-blowing sex. But she shoved that to the back of her mind despite the pleasant sting between her legs. Right now she needed to stay focused on…well, she hadn’t quite figured that out but knew it wasn’t sex.

“You should try to sleep, Veronica,” Kjar said softly. “Though he’d never admit it, my cousin will need you at your best on the morrow.”

“I agree.” Kol set aside his drink, walked over and crouched. His dark eyes met hers with affection as he cupped her cheek. “Whatever you do on the morrow, don’t listen to Raknar because he doesn’t know what’s best for him.”

Veronica pressed her lips together and nodded.

“Take care of him,” Kol whispered before his voice grew surprisingly stern. “Now lie down.”

Unaccustomed to the authority of his tone, she instinctually listened. Kol spread a fur over her and brushed his lips against her forehead, soft words whispered in her ear. “Sleep.”

Veronica tried to respond but couldn’t as the room dimmed before darkness stole her away.

Then thunder rumbled across the sky and she jerked awake.

Though torches still hissed and spit, darkened daylight filled the room as she peered around. Kol and Kjar were gone. Instead, Naðr Véurr sat where Kol had the night before. Leaning against the wall, his long legs were stretched out and he was running one finger around and around the lip of a mug as he watched her.

“Hey Sis, how are you feeling?”

Surprised, her eyes shot to Megan, who sat against the wall beside her.

“I’m all right.” Veronica sat up, discombobulated as her eyes flickered between them. “A little thrown off that you were both watching me sleep. That's sort of weird.”

Megan smiled but didn’t seem all that happy. “We haven’t been here long.”

“Regardless,” Veronica muttered. “It’s unnerving.”

“Sorry.” Megan handed her a skin. “Water?”

“Sure.” She took a swig and eyed them, well-aware of the tension in the air. “Okay, out with it. Why the pleasure of the king and queen’s company at this hour?”

“The hour being not all that long before the Thing,” Megan informed.

Veronica frowned and looked at her watch…which of course wasn’t there. She rubbed her forehead. “I hate not knowing what time it is.”

“All that matters about time is that it’s nearly here,” Naðr said. “I know you’ve been marked by the seers Veronica and you know what that means.”

Even though she did as Raknar asked and kept the cloak over her shoulders when they returned last night, she should have known Naðr would figure it out. Her eyes met his. “Dragon magic then?”

“Something like that,” he said softly, finger still making a slow stroll around the lip of his mug as he considered her. “Are you in love with Raknar?”

Veronica frowned. “Pretty intense question, Naðr.”

“Are you?”

Though tempted to look at her sister and ask her to tell Naðr how absurd his question was, she didn’t. Instead, she held the king’s gaze, mainly because she respected him. “I don’t particularly believe in love and if I did I wouldn’t believe it could happen so quickly. So no. Do I like Raknar? Yes. Am I in lust with him? Hell yeah.”

The corner of Naðr’s lips twitched in repressed amusement as he held her gaze. “As always, I appreciate your bluntness, sister.”

He had taken to calling her sister a few days ago and she sort of liked it. Again, an endearment Megan’s ex had never contemplated when it came to her sisters. Foolishly enough, Veronica thought for a second he would drop the subject but she should have known better.

“But I do not believe you,” Naðr said. “At least about feelings of love.”

“That would be because you’re so deep in it yourself.” She smiled at Megan before meeting his eyes again. “And I
love
you for it.”

As was so prone to happen, the king’s expression changed on a dime and lost all hint of humor as he leaned forward, eyes locked on hers. “Raknar does not want you at the Thing today. I have the authority to ensure his wishes are met.”

“Yes, you do.” Her eyes narrowed. “But will you?”

Since his brothers weren’t around, now was the best time to get some answers from Naðr. So before he could respond, she cut him off. “And while I have you, seeing how I was ushered and closed away in here last night without talking to you and Megan, I’ve another question. Why didn’t you make a judgment sooner about Hamdir’s claim over me?”

Naðr contemplated for a long moment before he at last responded. “It was not an easy decision to make.”

“You’re a king with twenty years of ruling under your belt.” Her brows lowered and she frowned. “No decision is easy. But I figured this one was easier than most.” She shook her head slowly. “Yet you still didn’t make it.”

“In his defense, I’ve been keeping him pretty busy,” Megan said.

“Not that busy,” Veronica said, her mental wheels spinning. This all seemed too pre-meditated. Her eyes shot to Megan. “You were part of his lack of decision, weren’t you?”

“So you think Naðr purposefully put you and now his brother in harm’s way?” Megan retaliated.

Veronica twisted her lips. “I think he’s capable of doing whatever it takes to fulfill the pact made with the seers which is well and good.” Her eyes went to Naðr. “As long as he doesn’t put his brother to death over it. Because if that’s the case, we have a serious fucking problem.”

She didn’t curse much but anger was flaring stronger than ever.

Naðr’s finger stopped its slow stroll over the mug as he eyed her, his own brand of lethal anger bubbling and bursting into flames within his eyes. “Yes, sister, we have a serious problem.” He lifted his hand from the mug and ale swirled into the air like a murky tornado. He flicked his fingers and the liquid twisted up and around until it formed into a body with wings, its tail whipping and fire curling out from its mouth.

A dragon.

“And the problem we now face looks like this.”

Only about six inches tall, the dragon took flight, swooping and spinning until it landed on her, its feet dampening her shoulder. Another roar of fire came from its mouth, warming her cheek, before it leaped into the air and melted, ale splashing on the floor in what seemed imminent death.

“
That
will be Raknar’s end if all of this doesn’t go a certain way.”

“Then make sure it does,” she bit back. It was still odd as hell seeing magic, but she was getting used to it pretty fast. “Dismiss the case against him.”

“No can do, Sis.” Megan shook her head. “It doesn’t work that way here.”

Veronica was about to respond, but Naðr stood and shook his head. Before she knew it, he crouched in front of her much like Kol had the night before. He cupped her cheeks, pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, “My brothers and I might be dragons but then we are only just men. Embrace who you are, Veronica. Save Raknar.”

Then, before she could respond, he strode from the room.

Dumbfounded, she stared after him and murmured, “Why do I get the feeling he’s going to make everything difficult.”

Both humor and affection laced her sister’s response. “My king does like his games.”

Megan pulled her up and after her. “Come on, almost court time.”

Baffled by the less-than-revealing transaction with Megan and Naðr, she followed her into the adjoining room. Megan nodded at a tub of water then the clothes on her monstrous bed. “Grab a bath, change, then meet me in the main holding.”

“Wait,” Veronica said. “I need answers.”

It didn’t seem to matter though because her sister left. In fact, for the first time since she arrived, she was completely alone. No slaves. No warriors. Though she didn’t doubt the warriors at least were right outside.

Still.

This
rocked
.

Alone. At last. She tore off her clothes, slipped into the warm water, leaned her head back and closed her eyes, relishing the relief between her thighs. Yet something was off. Lacking…

Raknar.

Her eyes shot open as emotions swamped her from out of nowhere. Since the moment he'd kissed her so thoroughly after sex to the careful way he helped her redress, Veronica had forced herself to stop thinking. About him. Them. What they shared. How far they had traveled though the boat hadn’t drifted far at all.

Naðr being Naðr, had been curt when they docked and Megan ushered her away.

And Veronica had allowed it.

Why?

Because she needed to think without Raknar near. About how she might possibly defend him today. Though she had continued to model and ran a successful magazine back home, she never turned her back on her passion.

Law.

Day after day, she’d come home from work and read the newspaper, always following the high profile cases. It became a hobby to work them out in her mind. How she would handle them. She plotted out her defense then watch eagerly to see if the defense attorneys did the same. For the most part they did. A total Law & Order television series junkie, she knew what she was doing.

So right now, here in ninth century Scandinavia, though she had no newspaper, Raknar’s case spun within her mind. Typically at home she would sleep on it but it seemed she crashed too hard last night. Even so.

She had this.

After she finished bathing, she jumped out of the tub, raked the towel over her and yanked on the clothes Megan had laid out, barely paying attention…until she did. Appearance was important in court—or at the Thing—and it was best to dress like a professional.

So she paused, amazed at what Megan had provided. Light brown linen pants and a tunic cinched at the waist. It was almost...a business outfit? Though not alluring in a sensual sense it was attractive and streamlined with slimming strips of leather woven within to give it a crisp, almost professional look.

Viking-like professional.

What was her sister up to?

Better yet Naðr Véurr.

God only knew with those two.

Yet now it was time to focus on everything she had to say. Veronica thought it through as she combed her hair, twisted it up into a knot and slashed a simple jeweled barb through it to hold it in place. No jewelry or make-up.