Viking Unbound (9 page)

Whatever happened in the future, she would never forget her Viking and the gift he’d given her—the knowledge of what a true-mated pair felt and thought together. And, unlike her father, who had never intended to stay with her mother and just lied, she’d make sure that when Einarr left her she’d wave him goodbye with a smile and never let him know what he might have meant to her.

She bit her lip as her smile faded. When they reached Alpha Three, they’d be separated. She’d have to face her employers and he…would be facing months, if not years, of reintegration training. If his brother survived, at least he’d have someone to share the experience with. What would she have? A hurried dismissal and a transport back to Pavlovan if she was lucky. A public trial and prosecution if FREN were in a picky kind of mood.

But they’d given her the new codes… She’d just done what they’d told her to do. Which meant nothing. She’d touched the blood and added hers. She might be young, but she wasn’t naïve. FREN wasn’t known for its nurturing environment and any blame, especially if Einarr failed to survive, would fall squarely on her. They couldn’t have known she’d find her mate, though. Would it make a difference if she told them? Would they let her stay with him? Somehow she doubted it.

She’d asked her grandmother once what it felt like when one of your mates died. She hadn’t expected to make her cry. It seemed that even thirty years after the event, a mate was still mourned. And she would be losing hers before she could even publicly claim or acknowledge him. But she couldn’t be selfish about this. Einarr deserved better.

He knew nothing about Pavlovan mating culture, and she refused to make a claim on him that he wouldn’t understand or might accept because he didn’t know any better. At her core, she wanted to own him, to make him hers, but knew that it would be selfish and wrong. She couldn’t expect him to make promises he had no intention of keeping. He’d end up hating and resenting her. She’d rather stop before she got involved and hope he was left in blissful ignorance of what might have been. That was the practical, sane thing to do. The thing the
normal
her wouldn’t think twice about.

With a sigh, she cleaned up and went back into the cabin. Her Viking lay sprawled on his back, one arm behind his head and one leg bent at the knee. She paused to study his magnificence. What was that quote her mother loved? Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all or something? She couldn’t decide whether that was true or not. If she had her way, she’d fight with her bare hands to keep this male.

Her hands clenched into fists. She shouldn’t have touched him. She’d never get over him now.

“There’s no need to look so fierce, my female. Come back to bed.”

She started as she realized he was watching her through narrowed eyes. How long did they have together before the ship landed up Alpha Three? Hours? Days? She had no idea. It was too late for regrets. She only knew that she would stay glued to his side for every second that was granted to her and try and forget what would happen after that.

Einarr woke up again and was relieved to see that Frey was still with him. In truth, because of the narrowness of the cot, she lay sprawled over him, her cheek on his chest and her thigh across his groin. He had no sense of time. The ship sped through darkness, which never seemed to end.

He sensed that she was troubled about something, but was unsure what it was. She’d tried to hold back her thoughts and her body from him during their last bout of lovemaking, and it wasn’t that she was tired or sore. It was as though she was deliberately building a wall between them. Didn’t she understand that he would never let her go? That he would fight and kill to keep her safe?

Perhaps things were different in her world, and mating with a man was always this powerful. That thought made him want to growl. She murmured something soothing against his chest and stroked his skin. He forced himself to settle down again. The ship hummed around them, its various sounds now familiar to Einarr and almost comforting. He thought of leaving the ship and finding out Aki’s fate. Had his twin survived within the ice or had the “eclipse” affected him, too?

If Frey hadn’t been with him, and he’d awakened by himself, would he still be alive? Her presence had soothed his fears and allowed him not to go into a blind panic at the strangeness of everything. If Aki woke up alone…

“
What is it?”

She reached for him with her thoughts.

“I am wondering what has befallen Aki.” He cleared his throat and spoke his fear out loud. “I hope the Gods have looked kindly upon him.”

“Can you sense him?”

He opened his eyes and looked down at her. “How?”

She tapped his forehead. “With your thoughts.”

“Aki is not as strong as I am magically. I’m not sure if he would hear me over such vast distances.”

She came up on her elbows and leaned over him, her auburn hair tickling his skin.

“We could do it together.” She paused when he didn’t respond. “If you call him in your mind, I can add my telepathic strength, my thoughts, to yours.”

He studied her earnest expression and the line of freckles that drifted over her nose. “
Show me
.”

“
Call his name
.
Shout it in your head
.” Her fingers encircled the pulse at his throat. “
That’s right, now…”

Her power flooded through him, sending Aki’s name booming out like Thor’s hammer into the darkness. He waited but heard nothing except the echo of his own words.

She sighed and kissed him. “It’s all right. We can try when we get closer to Alpha Three. It’s possible that he avoided any effects from the eclipse and is still frozen in the ice.”

“Or dead.”

“Would you sense that?”

He shrugged. “I do not know. I do not know anything anymore.”

She held his gaze. “I know that you are a strong man and that you will not let these strange and wonderful events break you.”

Her confidence in him shamed him. With a groan he speared his fingers through her hair and brought her head down so that he could kiss her. Who needed words when he had this? A blood link with the female who had made sure of his survival.

“Your people are all magical?” he asked softly.

“Magical?” She smiled at him. “Not really. We are all telepaths, which means we can talk without using the spoken word just like you and Aki can. The only Pavlovan family I’d consider
magical
is that of the Oracle. She has powers beyond the norm.”

“Does she use her power for the good of her people?”

“She foretells the future, and often finds Pavlovans their mates, which is pretty special.”

“Ah, she has the sight.” Einarr smoothed Frey’s hair away from her cheek. “I wish I had that gift.”

“Then you wouldn’t be here with me now.”

“I am glad to be with you, but still…” he hesitated. “ I am afraid. I have no understanding of this place. I miss my home by the river and my family.” He had to swallow hard as his voice thickened. Would she think him a coward? “I am nothing, here.”

She cupped his cheek. “There is no shame in admitting you are afraid. That takes courage.” She kissed his nose. “If I’d woken up back in your time I’d be a raving lunatic by now.”

“Or dead.” He countered.

“Probably.” Her hand traveled down from his neck to his armbands. “I have no magic to save me either.” She traced the engraved marks. “These are runes aren’t they? What do they say?”

“I cannot tell you the exact words because they are sacred. It is a prayer to Odin asking him to make me a channel for his power.”

Her fingers lingered on his arm making all the fine hairs quiver to life.

“That’s why the armbands glowed when you were fighting.”

“Odin likes his servants to win.”

Her expression became serious. “Don’t tell them about your magic.”

“Tell who?”

“The scientists on Alpha Three. Especially not the ones from your home planet, because they don’t believe in magic anymore on Earth. They might tell FREN and you don’t want them thinking of you as a potential weapon.”

“Who is Fren? Is he your earl or king?”

“FREN is an organization with similar powers to those of a king. But they aren’t good people, and they won’t use you or your powers for good.”

‘But would they let me fight?”

“Not in the way you want. They’d take what they needed and you’d never be the same again.”

He frowned as her voice broke.

“These people are your enemies? Do you want me to kill them for you?”

“That’s very kind of you, but there are thousands of them. I just want you to be careful. I want you to survive.”

He studied her carefully, aware of her bone deep concern for him. He touched her mouth. “Would you fight by my side like a shield maiden if Fren attacked us?”

She smiled. “I’d rather hide behind you. I’m not much of a fighter.”

With some difficulty in the narrow cot, he rolled her onto her back and crouched over her, his knees pushing her thighs wide.

“I would protect you.”

“I know.”

She was beautiful, his woman. Her skin pale and her hair the reddish brown of an autumn leaf on the turn. Soft in all the right places, too, but with a core of strength and practicality that had helped her face him without fear and convince him to
live.
He kissed her again and then allowed his lips to move lower, feathering down her throat to her breasts, where her tight hard nipples awaited him. He took his time sucking them into his mouth and playing with them. She deserved to be worshipped and cherished.

“Your skin is so soft,” he murmured.

She gave a shaky laugh. “Flatterer. You just haven’t seen a woman for four thousand years. Anyone would look good.”

He kissed her slightly rounded stomach. “No. Only you. I only wish to please you.”

She moaned his name as he went lower, his tongue seeking and finding her already swollen bud, and lavishing it with attention until she grabbed hold of his head, her nails digging into his scalp, and shuddered through a climax. He smiled against her throbbing flesh and pointing his tongue pushed it deep into her channel and then out again mimicking the thrust of his cock. She was a little tender, but didn’t seem to be holding herself back from him in any way.

“
Please…”

“Mmm?”
He kept up the slow advance and retreat of his tongue as she started to writhe underneath him making it hard for him to breathe.

“
Please fuck me
.”

“
I am.”

She gave a frustrated whimper that pleased him greatly. “
With your cock.”

He gave her one long last lick and then sat back on his heels and smoothed a hand over the stiffness of his wet shaft. “
This
?” He looked down at himself. “
Are you not sore
?”

“I don’t care. I want you.”

“Then you will have me.”

She sighed as he eased the thick crown of his cock inside her. He rocked back and forth until she allowed him deeper and then deeper until he was fully sheathed inside her hot, slick sex.

He held himself still, allowing the beat of his heart to slow and match the throb of his cock. Taking his weight on one hand, he wrapped the other around both her wrists and drew her hands over her head. Her brown eyes widened as he stared down at her.

“When you are tired of taking me like this, will you let me have your mouth or your arse?”

She didn’t falter. “Yes.”

He slowly rocked his hips. “Have you taken a man like that before?”

“In my mouth, yes,” she wiggled underneath him. “Do we have to talk about this now, couldn’t you just—” She gasped as he moved a little faster. He liked her spread beneath him and impaled on his cock, liked the way her body trembled and swayed toward him, seeking more even when she was obviously tired.

“Did you like sucking a man’s cock?”

She made a face. “Not particularly.”

“You’ll like sucking mine. I’d like to see you on your knees taking me into your mouth and making me come down your throat.” His mind flowed into hers showing her how he pictured it, making her want it as much as he did. “I wouldn’t force myself on you, you’d take me willingly, and beg for it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’re that good are you?”

“The skill will be yours. Seeing your lips around my shaft will probably kill me.”

“How to bring a strong man to his knees…” she murmured.

“You would enjoy it.” Her slight smile made him want to smile back at her. “And my cock in your arse, too.”

Her cheeks reddened. “I haven’t tried that.”

“It is different, but it can be equally satisfying in its own way.” He closed his eyes as her flesh tightened around his embedded cock. “You are harder to fuck there, but then I can also use my fingers in your cunt and clit.”

“So I’ve heard. One of my sisters has two male mates, and she insists that having them together like that is the most amazing experience ever.”

“Two men?” Despite himself, Einarr’s hips started rocking back and forth and his cock slid in and out of her. He forced himself to slow down, to give her everything without pounding into her with all his might. He almost succeeded, except she was as aroused as he was. She started to come all around his cock, clenching and releasing him until he could do nothing but follow her over the edge and pump his seed deep within her.

He released her hands and sank down over her, his face buried in her neck, his cock still inside her. Her hand came up and stroked his unbound hair.

“You really are incredible, you know.”

“I do my best to please.”

“Oh, I’m pleased. Can’t you tell?” She kissed him. “I just can’t believe that you want me. I mean I’m nothing special. Slavin is a lot prettier than me and she’s a telepath and—”

He slid his hand over her mouth. “You are mine.”

She blinked and looked away from him. “
Don’t say that
.”

“Why not? It is the truth.” He removed his hand and stared down at her. “
I am yours. You know this.
”

She didn’t correct him, and after a long moment she nodded. “We should get some sleep. Then we can go and find out when we’ll arrive at Alpha Three.”