Valkyrie Heat (6 page)

her. She clung to him in desperation, with her face pressed to his

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

bare chest, assaulted with horrific memories. Each time the

thunder roared and she tensed in fear, Brandr quieted her until,

finally exhausted, she drifted into a restless slumber.

When morning came, Sky awoke to Brandr over the top of

her staring down at her. He was frowning and looked worried and

confused. Mortified, Sky realized her too-large bulky top had lifted

high and Brandr was being given a good look at her tiny breasts.

She struggled, but he held her still.

He asked her a question but she didn’t understand.

One of his hands was suddenly creeping lower and she tensed

and whimpered. Soon his hand was inside the front of her pants.

One large finger dipped into her heat and her teeth began to

chatter. She couldn’t stop the moisture from invading her eyes no

matter how hard she tried. Instead of a reprimand as a tear slipped

down her cheek, he said a soothing word and probed her carefully.

His finger glided within her higher. A smile split his face animating

his features. He then shook his head and laughed. Removing his

hand from her pants he grinned down at her in utter amazement.

Brandr tossed the fur off them and hauled her into his arms.

He carried her to the other men and held her high in the air and

shouted something.

Sky was terrified, thinking he would throw her to the ground

because she wasn’t supposed to cry.

This time the other men had seen her tears. Instead of hurting

her, Brandr lowered her and cuddled her gently. For some reason

the other men were laughing uproariously, slapping at their thighs.

Brandr looked smug. He released her legs and Sky cried out

mortified when he dropped her pants, exposing her. The men

stopped laughing.

Cull pointed at her pubic area, moving closer to gawk at her

and Sky felt certain they were making fun of her. She struggled

weakly but Brandr held her with ease. Not only Cull was panting in

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

desire, so was Lud who had never before even given her a second

glance.

Brandr pulled her pants back up and kissed the side of her

face. Sky felt so confused. He said nothing about her tears and

seemed unconcerned with them.
Why the sudden change?

Cull was saying something and motioning to her shirt. Cull

touched the leather across her breasts. For some reason, he looked

angry.

Brandr was looking at her thoughtfully and finally nodded. He

pulled her shirt off over her head.

Sky tried to grab it back but he tossed it to Lud. Lud

examined the garment and smiled. Sky realized with horror Brandr

had given her shirt away. Her horror built when she was stripped

of her pants as well. She stood nude before the three of them,

flaming with embarrassment.

“Brandr,” she whimpered.

He looked at her sternly. His expression was now dark and

foreboding. He said something and motioned to the clothes. He

was apparently angry she had been wearing them.

But why?
Why couldn’t she wear them? It had been so cold at

night and she couldn’t be expected to wander the forest nude.

Brandr struck his fist to his chest and said a word. He pointed

at the other two men and said the same word. Yes she got it—they

were men. He pointed at the garment. Was the garment only for

men? They had thought she was a man? How could that be

possible? She was too small to be a man A sudden realization

struck—the clothing she wore had been found near a teenage

youth, an exceptionally well-built young man. That was why they

had wanted to teach her to fight, and why Brandr had wanted to

wrestle—they had thought she was a boy!

Sky felt sick. Lud was looking over the clothing happily and

she realized he must have a son who he could give them to. No

wonder he hadn’t been interested in her. But Cull had still wanted

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

to Sky shuddered in disgust.
What a filthy creep
! Now she

understood why Brandr had pushed her away; he wasn’t interested

in boys either. His interest was apparent now.

“I can’t stay nude,” Sky pleaded, her arms wrapped around

her breasts. Her nipples had hardened in the cool morning air.

Brandr shook his finger at her and she realized he was

punishing her for what they believed to be a ruse on her part. But

she hadn’t known. And from the look on Brandr’s face, her

remaining naked wasn’t going to be her only punishment.

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

Chapter 2

Sky backed up, her feet scuffling across the ground in a timid

retreat. Brandr was stalking her like a huge human beast of prey.

Sky shook her head, her eyes widening and her breath coming in

quick gasps. She realized yet again just how powerful he was.
Oh

God, what is he going to do?
She pleaded with him. He grabbed her

by her arms and she cried out when his fingers wrapped around her

bruising.

Brandr loosened his grip and his look turned thoughtful, as he

showed the other men.

Lud said something, then he pointed to where Brandr had

punched her arm.

Another large bruise had formed. There were also small

bruises to her legs and scrapes to her body where the vegetation

had gotten her. A darkened smudge rested on her chin where Cull

had callously cuffed her the day before.

Sky’s teeth were clicking together as her entire body was

examined.

The men seemed to be arguing over her punishment. Oddly

enough Sky heard the word Odin tossed out numerous times.

Odin?
That was a Viking god.

Cull reached to clasp her wrist. His fingers hurt as they curled

around her and she cried out in fear. From his look Sky knew

immediately what he planned on doing.

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

Brandr reacted swiftly, smashing his fist into Cull’s mouth,

and knocking the man to the ground.

He pulled Sky behind him, but not before Sky had seen the

look on his face. Brandr looked at Cull like he was the grim reaper

and though Sky didn’t understand his growled words to Cull, even

she got his meaning. If Cull touched her again, Brandr would draw

his weapon. Sky blinked hard. He would kill to protect her. How

could that be possible?

Cull scowled and slowly rose to his feet. His hands were

splayed; no he wasn’t about to risk Brandr’s wrath. But the man

was obviously angry and seemed to expect Lud to back him up.

Lud, the eldest of the three, was shaking his head at Cull’s

heated words.

Again Cull snarled out the Viking name Odin.

Lud looked exasperated and said a word she understood to

mean small, or tiny, or even little. Brandr nodded in agreement.

Lud seemed to make a suggestion. Brandr nodded immediately.

Cull shifted his feet.

Now it was Lud who seemed to challenge with Odin’s name.

Cull relented then nodded in apparent agreement.

Sky swallowed hard, when a decision of sorts seemed to be

made. When Brandr pulled her from behind him, she panicked.

But the gaze on his face was sympathetic and he looked regretful.

She didn’t understand…only seconds before he was ready to kill

for her.
What is going on?
Sky felt herself spun around and one of

Brandr’s large arms clutched her to his chest sideways. She was

bent forward and his open palm smacked her behind painfully. Sky

screamed in agonized surprise.

Cull laughed, but Lud snapped at him.

Brandr struck her again. Sky was sobbing and squirming to get

away. She cried out his name, begging him to stop. Five times his

hand connected to her behind until both Lud and Cull nodded. It

was enough. Her behind was on fire. When released, Sky tried to

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

run away but was caught up into Brandr’s embrace. She struggled

to no avail. He had saved her then he hurt her. Tears streamed

down in humiliation and rage. Her hands pummeled at his chest

and he held her pressed tightly to him, allowing her to strike. She

beat at him until she wore herself out. Finally, she collapsed against

him. Brandr kissed her forehead and stroked her cheeks. He

muttered softly spoken words. She flailed her head back and forth

not wanting his touch. She clawed at him and gasped in huge

amounts of air, sobbing. Finally, she slumped in his arms. He lifted

her to cradle her against his chest, but she slapped his face. He

tossed her over his shoulder. As furious as she was, her cold body

molded to his for warmth. The heat of his back dried the tears on

her face. His large hand settled just under her bottom, keeping her

in place and the men strode into the forest to resume their journey

after collecting their gear.

When Sky was eventually placed back onto her feet she

stumbled and rubbed her still aching behind. Thankfully she had

been allowed to keep her footwear, but she shuddered with cold in

the late-spring afternoon. Her arms then wrapped around her bare

breasts as they continued on. Her teeth chattered nonstop, goose

bumps dotting her arms. Brandr kept her close to his side, his arm

wrapped around her and pulling her to his warmth. She had fought

him at first, but he remained persistent and her struggling made

her ache until she gave up. It was too cold for her. The day was

overcast and dampness hung in the air. Finally, her hands clasped

around his waist. She whimpered up at him. She could feel her lips

grow colder and knew they had turned blue. The tall thick trees

blocked out too much of what was left of the sun. Brandr sighed

loudly and enclosed her in his fur bedding. Thankfully their pace

wasn’t as grueling as the day before. The moment she had been set

down to walk, their trek became slower. With the fur around her

it was even more difficult to move. But the men seemed to have

developed more patience with her. None of them slapped at her or

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

shoved her again. Not that they would be able to regardless.

Discovering she was female seemed to have thrown a switch in

Brandr. He didn’t let her stray more than inches from his side.

When it began to grow dark, they made camp and Brandr

took her to a clear area. She remained wrapped in his fur. He told

her to stay. He collected the firewood himself, keeping her well

within his sight and soon had a huge flame blazing. The other two

men had left to hunt in the dusk. They returned shortly and set a

large rabbit on a spit as well as a few small fowl.

Sky remained on her knees, unable to sit, with her temper

rising. How dare he hit her! For simply wearing boy’s clothes?

What a stupid offense. Then she had been led nude around the

forest until she had been frighteningly close to hypothermia. Then

she had been practically dragged along by Brandr. Brandr had

finally tossed her back over his shoulder when she had stumbled yet

again within the fur. It was painful to be carried that way. She had

wiggled and squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position, until

Brandr’s open hand had once more struck her behind. It wasn’t a

cruel blow and she had been shielded by the fur, but it had still

hurt. She hadn’t given him the satisfaction of crying out. Hadn’t

she been bruised enough? Soon her insides were flaming as much as

her heated behind. Her arms wrapped around her breasts

protectively. She rocked back and forth, her agitation and anger

rising.

When their food was cooked it had grown very dark, and few

stars lit the dreary sky. Mother Nature seemed irritable. It matched

Sky’s mood. Brandr brought her some rabbit, skewered with a

stick, the meat smoldering. She wasn’t hungry; she wanted nothing

from him and she scowled. She called him a big bully and an

asshole through gritted teeth.

Brandr crouched before her and told her to eat.

Sky took the hot meat and threw it at him. It bounced off his

chest. Brandr shook his head and wiped at the grease smear. It had

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Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat

left a red mark. She hoped it hurt. The meat had landed in the dirt

off to his side; he retrieved it, brushed it off and handed it back to

her. His look, though patient, was persistent and he said a few

words. She glared at him and tossed it farther. He again retrieved

it. His look was now less than patient. His eyes narrowed when he

handed it back and his words were edged with warning. This time

when she pitched it for all she was worth it landed in the fire,

sizzling and burning. She looked at him, with her head cocked

sideways and she widened her eyes.

“Well, go get it,” she said smugly and waved her fingers at