The Barbarian's Captive (15 page)

“What do you have to say for yourself?”

Only her eyes moved as she shot him a withering look. “Oh? Is your slave

allowed to speak now? I didn’t know. Perhaps you should give me a sign.” She held up a middle finger. “This works well where I come from.”

The hint of a smirk on her face told him the gesture wasn’t polite.

“You’re testing me, mate. I warn you that you will not triumph in a battle of wills with me.”

“Of course, how could I, a mere female, defeat the great Maxime Princep? I should probably prostrate myself before you in gratitude for being allowed to dine in your presence, or breathe the same air. I know I’m not worthy.”

“Sarcasm is unbecoming. It is also going to earn you a regretful behind if you do not cease immediately. Now, offer your apology and vow to follow the rules in the future and we will put this behind us.”

“I’m sure an inferior female such as myself is too feeble-minded to understand what you mean.”

He growled, his frustration seething in his chest. “I explained the two rules required this evening. It wasn’t that you weren’t allowed to speak, just that you were not to initiate it out of respect for the elders who are used to the old ways. You failed that from the outset, then were intent on arguing even when I told you to cease. What do you have to say for yourself?”

She arched a brow at him, but remained silent.

“You are making this more difficult than it has to be.”

“I’d like to go home.”

“Your home is with me.”

“I don’t accept that. We are a free people, and I demand that you release me and my shipmates and send us home.”

“Impossible, and I will not discuss it further. We are joined for life and you will have to make the best of your situation — which includes following the rules of our society or facing the consequences. My consequences.”

“Then I have nothing to say to you. And I have no intention of apologizing. Ever.”

“You leave me no choice then.”

“I don’t accept that either.”

“That’s too bad, and not something you get to decide.” He grasped her wrist and hauled her to her feet. Taking her place on the couch, he pulled her over his lap. She lay stiffly over his thighs until he lifted the hem of her gown up above her waist. The cool air seemed to spark a reaction, and as he’d anticipated, she began to squirm to get away. He anchored her with an arm around her waist and confined her kicking legs with one of his own, his intent to contain her and keep her from harming herself in the process. The last thing he wanted was for Eva to be hurt, but she was being unreasonable and needed an attention getter.

“No, Kerr. You can’t!”

“I can and will, Eva, as your mate and your leader.”

“I’ll hate you for this.”

“No you won’t, but I hope that you’ll learn better behavior. And the next time you are tempted to disobey, you’ll remember how this feels.” He looked down at the pale cheeks of her beautiful, round bottom. They wouldn’t be pale for long though. Slowly, he rubbed the entire surface, warming her skin and stimulating blood flow, knowing it would allow her to take the more intense spanking she had in store. The two times before had been very mild. This time, considering her continued defiance, she deserved more.

He drew back his hand and swatted her right cheek firmly, watching as the fleshiest portion of her trim body wobbled in response. He followed it with another swat to her other side. Alternating side to side, he continued, moving down from the upper most crest to the sensitive spot just above her thigh, suffusing both cheeks with a rosy blush.

After a period of uninterrupted swatting, Kerr stopped, massaging every heated pink inch while frowning down at her. She hadn’t said a word, no pleas to stop, and he hadn’t heard the apology he’d expected.

Stubborn little thing.

Her chest was rising and falling at a faster pace, but she showed no other reaction. His palm tingled with warmth from the sharp blows, and he expected her bare bottom did too.

He sat rubbing and pondering over their quarrel for a moment, then lifted his leg, intent on another flurry on the sensitive lower curves of her buttocks. But the movement separated her thighs and he caught sight of glistening skin. His fingers moved to explore this interesting development, and she immediately stiffened, as he delved between the cheeks. She was drenched. He explored further and when he located the sensitive bud at the front of her sex, found it firm and distended.

This posed another challenge: if she liked a bottom warming so much, it would hardly be a deterrent. He pondered his next move as he circled her clit, flicked it lightly, pressing more firmly after a few strokes. As he teased her wet, inflamed flesh, her breath hitched and her hips tilted, ever so slightly, allowing her thighs to part further. That was enough to convince him. He’d have to come up with another punishment instead.

But not now, he had official duties to attend to and a meeting scheduled with his officers. It would do her good to have time to think about her behavior, and his displeasure over it. And leaving her aroused would be enough punishment, in and of itself. He knew he would suffer, for his cock stood aching and ramrod stiff in his too-tight pants.

With his hands at her waist, he lifted her upright, planting her well-spanked behind on his thigh. She sucked in a breath when her heated skin made contact with his leg.

Not so immune after all.

Her face was flushed and her eyes were bright, shining with unshed tears.

Obstinate, sprite.

He knew mating with one from outside their world would be a challenge, and he welcomed it, but he had no idea she would be so intractable. Somehow, she had learned to bottle up her emotions, something he would not allow between them.

Several golden locks had come free from her hair ornament, and he brushed them off her face. He stroked fingertips down one cheek to her jaw, and angled her face up to his. Despite his gentle touch, she remained aloof, and oh so stubborn.

“A tree that does not bend tends to break under the stress, little one.”

“If you’re done,” she said, raw emotion roughening her voice. “Am I permitted to go to bed now?”

“We are through, so you may. I have to leave for a while to see to business. Will you be all right alone?”

She sniffed, but it wasn’t from crying. “I’m not a child, although you obviously think otherwise.”

“I don’t see a child when I look at you. Quite the opposite, in fact. I see a beautiful responsive woman, who is mine to teach, provide guidance to, and protect.”

“And punish when I get out of line.”

“It is our way. And despite your protests to the contrary, your body doesn’t seem to mind.”

Her cheeks filled with even more color, but she ignored his observation.

“Your way sucks, Kerr.” She got up and walked toward the hall, where she stopped without turning. “Are there other clothes besides this gown?”

“I’ve arranged for daytime attire to be delivered in the morning. We’ll see to a full wardrobe when I get you home. As I told you earlier, we have limited resources aboard ship. We weren’t expecting—”

“Hostages? No, wait, the correct term would be
prisoners
.”

He rose and put his hands on his hips, his blood heating with exasperation. “You didn’t learn a thing just now, did you?”

“On the contrary, my burning, tingling behind has learned something profound — my place in your world. May I borrow something of yours to wear?”

“What is the need before morning?”

“To sleep in…”

“Why do you insist on wearing clothing to sleep?”

“Warmth, modesty, comfort.”

“I will keep you warm. Until I return, the bed will regulate your temperature to your comfort. As far as modesty, that doesn’t exist between bonded mates, and as to the last, I don’t see how clothing that binds and restricts could be considered comfortable.”

“I’d rather sleep alone and with clothes, thank you.”

“We sleep bare and together.”

“By your decree, Maxime Princep?”

“By my preference, and it is not up for further discussion.”

“Why am I not surprised by that?”

She turned and walked on silent feet down the hallway.

* * *

A
s he entered his suite, he made his way to her side in the dark, his gait slow, his thoughts heavy after the nightly briefing with his leaders. Not all of it was bad news; most of the new warrior mates reporting that things were progressing well.

All except Ram.

His usually unflappable, composed captain had been brooding, silent and shifting restlessly throughout the meeting, clearly agitated.

When they adjourned, Ram practically leapt from his chair to get out of the room. He and Trask had looked after him, concerned.

“I tried to talk to him,” Trask had said. “Hoped he would take some friendly advice…”

“His female looks the least biddable,” Kerr added.

“With good reason.” Trask frowned. “Lana said Eryn was one of their guards, a trained warrior. Female or not, a soldier would balk against being conquered and made to submit. Lana says she is very proud, and it stings being the only warrior captured. She evidently stayed behind to help an injured comrade as she fled. The reason she was caught is an admirable one.”

“What does that say about the other guards who got safely away, and left their charges behind?”

“Not much,” Trask had grumbled. “One of our warriors would give his life before letting those he was charged to protect be taken.”

“Since she shows some of the traits we value, bravery and dedication to duty, she should make Ram an excellent mate — if he can break through. And I thought Eva was stubborn.”

“Problems with your fair-haired lieutenant?”

“Nothing I won’t overcome.”

“I have no doubt our Princep will prevail.” Trask chuckled, openly amused. “But she suits you well. You would be bored without a challenge, I think. My Lana predicts she will keep you on your toes. She knows your Eva well, and says she is as intelligent as she is beautiful. Although a good soldier, she says Eva wasn’t afraid to speak her mind when she saw a better way or wanted to right a wrong.”

“I have had a taste of all of these inclinations already. What else does she say about Eva?”

“That she’s stubborn, as you’ve no doubt encountered, but also tender-hearted and a devoted friend. Her loyalties are boundless and if you cross one of her friends, watch out — she’ll come after you.”

Kerr was smiling as he finished. “Anything else?”

“Yes. That she will make a wonderful queen and mother to your children.”

He scoffed at the word queen. “They are fascinated by rank and title.”

“It is their way. Something else my mate keeps talking about is a civil joining as though it is stronger and more regarded than a physical bond.”

“Eva called it ‘marriage,’ but there is also something called divorce that dissolves the bond with the stroke of a pen.”

“Such nonsense. How is a bond formed with no more than a few words and a piece of paper supposed to keep a pair together for eternity? No wonder their world is a mess.”

“Eva and your Lana were close?”

“Something she called ‘BFF’s’.”

“Pardon?”

Trask chuckled. “Best friends forever.”

Kerr tilted his head and regarded his childhood friend. “It is fitting they should be mated to us.”

He’d left Trask with a clap on the back, liking everything he had heard. As he’d made his way back to his suite, Kerr hoped to find Eva sleeping; he wasn’t up for more sparring with her at that moment.

Instead, he wanted to lie beside her and simply hold her, breathing her in, and strengthening the bond, imprinting on her in the old ways as she was on him. Already attuned to her, his thoughts were consumed by her, the need to be with her building within him even during their brief separation that evening.

Staring down at her now, he watched the slight rise and fall of her chest. It was a subtle movement, but he knew she slept soundly from the soft rush of breath through her lips. Every once in a while she would sigh, a sound so sweetly erotic, it stirred him fiercely as did the sight of her loveliness in his bed.

“Night lights on,” he said low, so as not to wake her. Immediately, a faint glow illuminated the room. He folded his tall frame onto the edge of the bed. In sleep, her brows gathered slightly as if she dreamed. He couldn’t resist lightly stroking the tiny creases and smoothing them gently with the tip of one finger. She responded and relaxed under his touch.

For a long while, he sat watching her, taking in the pale luster of skin that appeared pearlescent in the low lights, her hair, tempting his touch where it lay in a thick, golden wave across his pillow. She lay curled in a ball on her side, her hands tucked under her chin, holding the covers snugly around her shoulders, lips parted slightly, the dark sweep of her lashes standing out against her slightly pinkened cheeks. She looked as innocent as a child, but he knew well her alluring curves, and the way her eyes could flash with anger, the determined tilt of her chin an early warning sign of her defiance. He knew too her gentle capitulation, despite her resistance, when he roused her desire, these things all female, his female.

His
mate
.

Kerr breathed in, trying to stave off the near constant arousal he felt for her. He was exhausted, though, and she needed rest after he’d used her thoroughly and often during the past few days. Battling fatigue, he quickly stripped down to his skin and climbed in next to her. She didn’t stir as he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against his front. Nor did she respond when he turned his face into her hair and inhaled his own scent. The feel of her, sweet, warm and soft in repose, comforted him as he tried to relax and let go of the multitude of concerns laid at his feet by his people, if only for a short while.

Thinking of the days and weeks that lay ahead — and potentially bringing many more new females into their world — he prayed for an easy transition. Perhaps not easy, but he’d settle for uneventful, because truly, nothing about his mate had been easy. Though he’d had a head start with Eva, he was only slightly further along than many; less so than Trask, yet not nearly as far to go as Ram.