Torkel's Chosen: A World Beyond Book 1

by Michelle Howard

A bolt of lightening arced through him. She swallowed him whole, while her throat worked around his hardness and began a rhythmic suction. The greedy flex and pull of her mouth unmanned him.

  “Your mouth. So hot. Suck me, baby.”

  Her lips enveloped most of him, as her head bobbed back and forth. Every touch and lick of her lips lashed him with trails of fire. He wanted to last. To enjoy every moment of her loving him in this manner. He’d run into very few females who took a male into their mouths and Faye had done it without being coerced. His Chosen was a treasure.

  Torkel stared down at her face. Eyes closed and cheeks hollowed, she accepted his pumping length as she laved his rings with the wicked tip of her tongue.

  She must have sensed his climax nearing and tongued the rings under his tip faster.

  “Fuuuuckkk!” He roared and hot blasts jetted into her mouth.

  Faye swallowed and rose to her feet. Torkel’s hands dropped from her hair as he slumped against the wall and gasped for air. She snuggled along his muscled frame and his arms curled weakly around her.

  She tipped her head up and asked, “What do you think? Better than lap dances and strippers.”

  The crooked line of his mouth curved into a warm smile. “For that, you can have whatever you want.”

  ***

  When Torkel regained his strength, Faye helped wash his magnificent body, ducking when he attempted to touch her for more than cleaning. “We don’t have time. Your sister is waiting.”

  He rolled his eyes but acquiesced. Faye dressed in one of the new outfits she’d purchased. The light blue skirt cinched at the waist and the flowing blue top with the wrap around ends added a shapeliness to her figure that most clothing never managed.

  Torkel paused in buttoning his black shirt. “You look beautiful, Faye.”

  “Thank you.” She felt beautiful in his eyes.

  Once dressed, they entered his living room to find a young blonde and two children playing at her feet. When they saw Torkel, the boy and girl jumped up and ran over to him, each grabbing onto a leg.

  “Seppi Torkel,” they screamed.

  Faye winced at the volume but when the lady laughed, she made her way toward her and extended her hand. “Hi, I’m Faye.”

  Torkel’s sister ignored her hand and hugged her. “I’m Tor’s sister, Lissi.”

  She pulled back and held Faye’s shoulders. The two of them studied each other before Lissi declared. “You’ll do. I’m so happy you chose my brother.”

  Torkel limped over to their side, dragging a child on each side of him. “These are her little ones. Aya and Boid.”

  The girl couldn’t have been more than three. When she smiled, Faye’s heart melted. The boy, Boid was shier and ducked his head when his gaze met Faye. He looked about five and had the typical Enotian’s blond hair but his eyes were a light, stormy gray.

  Faye and Lissa sat on the sofa and Torkel managed to seat himself across from them with both children cuddled on his lap. His hands rested on their backs securely and Faye was hit with the image of him holding their own child one day. The way his gaze softened when he glanced down showed how much he loved his niece and nephew. He’d be a wonderful dad. They hadn’t talked about it but surely he’d be open to the idea of starting a family right away.

  “Why are you here, Lissi?” Torkel asked with an indulgent glance at his sister.

  She leaned back on the sofa, the white dress she wore molding to her legs. Torkel’s sister looked identical to her mother. They also seemed to possess the same gentle spirit.

  “Maman and papan met your Chosen and I wanted to meet her too.” She stuck her tongue out at Torkel after answering.

  He merely sighed. “I planned on bringing Faye to the home for a family dinner when I had time.”

  “Yes, but Aya and Boid missed their Seppi and with Rydak coming back from assignment this was perfect.”

  “Home?” She’d heard Torkel mention that before.

  “Our parents still live in the large country home where we were raised. I visit often in between assignments. Lissi stays with them so they can help with the children when she’s alone instead of their quarters here.”

  The bell at their door sounded.

  “Lissi,” Torkel drawled.

  She jumped from the sofa and answered the front door.

  “Please make yourself at home,” Torkel called out as she opened it to a tall blond man in a black uniform.

  Faye decided if this man had been at the presentation, it may have been harder to choose between him and Torkel. A shimmering energy of savage, protective presence followed him into the room. His long hair was pulled back into a loose tail. He picked Lissi up and spun her around before planting a tongue twisting kiss on her that had Faye adjusting in her seat. When she glanced at Torkel, he hiked a brow in her direction and she blushed.

  When the two separated, Lissi held onto the newcomer’s hand. “Faye, this is my Chosen, Rydak. He’s Team Lead for Team Three under Tor’s unit.”

  Gray eyes smiled in her direction. “I’ve heard about you from the others, Faye. I’m sorry I’ve been away.”

  Aya and Boid tore from Torkel’s arms and hugged their father. “Papan.”

  Rydak went to his knees and wrapped both of them in his arms. His eyes closed as he rested his head on his son’s. Lissi stood beside them, her hands resting on her Chosen’s shoulders. There was something sweet and poignant about the four of them together. Envy snaked through her heart. She wanted the same with Torkel.

  As if sensing her thoughts, Torkel came over and sat beside her. He bent toward Faye and whispered, “Rydak has been undercover for the last month and this is his first time back home.”

  Rydak rose to his feet and the children reluctantly released his legs. He wore leather gloves, Faye noticed when he walked toward Torkel and gripped his forearm in greeting. Lissi and Rydak took the seats across from them and the children settled down to play at their feet with toys they’d brought with them.

  Lissi laid her head on her Chosen’s chest and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. Rydak ran his fingers through her long, blonde hair, occasionally pausing in his conversation with Torkel to place a kiss on the top of her head.

  “Faye, did I ever tell you how I used to drag Tor everywhere with me when he was little?” Lissa wondered.

  “Tor?” Faye’s brows creased.

  “She couldn’t pronounce my name when she began talking,” Torkel put in after shooting his sister a glare.

  It was obvious to see the love between them. Faye tried to imagine the small woman carting around an obviously huge Torkel. “How did you drag Torkel around?”

  Torkel looked uncomfortable but Lissi smirked. “I was taller than him for two years.”

  “Marenians don’t have their growth spurt until their twelfth year. Lissi took that time to abuse her size advantage.”

  His annoyed remark just made Lissi laugh harder.

  ***

  Now that his third team leader had returned, all of the men of his unit were in house. Rydak had gone on a special mission in an effort to track down the head of the renegade slave ring. All they knew was that the Marenian they chased was named Lothar and that he was the mastermind behind the largest group of Marenians violating the enslavement policy off world.

  His native people as a whole believed in slavery and there was nothing the government could do about what they did on their planet but when they attempted to expand and transport to other planets, Jutak warriors got involved.

  “What about Lothar?” Torkel asked Rydak now, naming the head of the slave ring they’d been chasing. “Were you able to track his location?”

  “No,” Rydak grumbled. “He was gone when the raid went down. I never got a glimpse of him during the month I was there but it was clear he’s in charge. Any hint of Lothar’s dissatisfaction would send the men I was with into a panic.”

  Torkel grunted. He’d hoped having Rydak undercover as a merchant interested in makin
g money as a slaver would give them a leg up.

  “It wasn’t all wasted time,” Rydak put in as if reading Torkel’s mind. “I found out that they’re planning to transport a large shipment of slaves in a few days. If we get approval to send a team to intercept, we’ll be able to break it up and rescue the women and men being held captive.”

  Torkel’s mind whirled with that bit of news. Faye shifted beside him. He glanced down and her gaze kept going to Rydak’s gloved hands then his face and back to his hands again. Her attention and appreciation for his team leader’s appearance couldn’t be missed. Rydak had always been considered overly good looking.

  The man was Torkel’s complete opposite. Blond where Torkel was dark. His gray eyes stood out among a race of predominantly blue-eyed people as Torkel’s brown gaze highlighted his own differences. He searched deep to see if he was jealous but nothing twitched. Perhaps if he had not had one of her blowjobs this morning where Faye expressed her desire for him so completely, he would have felt different.

  “What do you think, Torkel?” Rydak’s eyes glinted with humor. He’d noticed Faye’s attention as well.

  Torkel slid his arms under Faye and pulled her on his lap. He didn’t care what the possessive gesture said. “I think it’s a good plan. I’ll contact the commander for approval.”

  “Good.” Rydak rose to his feet, bringing Lissi with him. “I’m going to take my family to my quarters and rest.”

  Lissa flushed and gathered the children. Torkel pretended not to know what the two would be doing their first night together. There were certain things he didn’t want to think about when it came to his sister and his team leader.

  Faye looped her arms around his neck as soon as they were alone and nipped at his ear. “Want to be introduced to morning sex?”

  Torkel grinned and inched his hand down, lifting her skirt along the way. In no time he had her legs bared and continued on. Faye jumped when the tips of his fingers grazed her thigh. Need roughened his voice. “I believe I know this morning sex.”

  “Goody.” Her breathless answer egged him on.

  Down, down his fingers went until they reached their goal and parted her moist folds. “Very good,” he murmured.

  Chapter 14

  Over the next few days Faye and Torkel developed a pattern of sorts. They made love, ate in the privacy of their quarters or joined his men. Sometimes she’d watch the training sessions which displayed Torkel’s sweaty muscles but that turned her on more often than not. The only dark spot in her new life came the day the silver communicator given to her by the stranger at the marketplace buzzed.

  Torkel had left to meet with all three teams as they prepared to raid a slave auction based on the information Rydak gave them. His commander had approved the action and Torkel would lead with Team One and Rydak with Team Three. Team Two was assigned to the building and Faye along with Lissi and the kids. Torkel’s sister had decided she didn’t want to be parted from Rydak so soon again.

  “Faye Reid, how is your Chosen?”

  There was no image on the communicator as the stranger had it set to audio only. Nevertheless Faye flinched at the casual question. “He’s fine.”

  “I’m pleased to hear that. Your union is going well I take it?”

  Her heart jumped like a rabbit across a field during a hunt. “What do you want?”

  “It’s simple, my sweet Faye.”

  Her stomach rolled and tensioned tightened her hand ob the communicator.

  “When is your Chosen leaving?”

  “Why?” She snapped. “Why do you need to know?”

  He laughed. “Call me concerned. Now unless you want me to have an interesting conversation with Torkel about the twenty thousand in your account you’ll answer the question.”

  Faye bowed her head and pressed her palm to her belly as nausea rolled through her. “Tonight.”

  “Excellent and is he bringing one or two teams?”

  “Two,” she whispered.

  “Thank you, Faye.” His response was sickeningly sweet. “We’ll get along just fine.”

  He ended the call and Faye raced to the cleansing unit to be sick.

  Torkel found her curled there in a ball on the floor hours later. “Faye, is something wrong?”

  His hands roamed over her body, checking for injury. “Faye, talk to me.”

  She tried but only a cry came out as tears welled in her eyes.

  He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom where he sat with her cradled on his lap. His hands ran down her back as he rocked. Faye cried harder.

  “Please tell me. You’re my Chosen. I need to care for you.”

  She sniffed and forced back her pain. She couldn’t tell him. “I’ll miss you, that’s all.”

  His chest relaxed behind her. “It’s alright, Faye. I’ll be back in three days.”

  She scrubbed her face and tried to smile. “I’m fine now. I love you, Torkel.”

  He leaned back and smiled down at her. “I love you, Chosen.” He kissed her lips and set her on her feet.

  And so Faye’s nightmare began. The mysterious stranger had a sixth sense about Torkel’s missions. He called constantly to question her. Faye’s fingers trembled whenever she answered the mini-communicator. Her anxiety rose each time Torkel went on a mission and she never fully relaxed until he returned home to her.

  The one time she broke, she’d yelled into the communicator. “I don’t care any more. Do you hear me? I’m telling Torkel everything.” Tears burned but she forced them back. “I won’t let you continue to blackmail me like this.”

  He’d laughed. Laughed as if her words meant nothing. “How about I call him now, Faye Reid? What do you think your precious Jutak warrior would say if he knew what you’d done? Torkel the unwanted had to be bought because no female would have him.”

  Faye flinched and fell to her knees. She couldn’t imagine the devastation if it ever got out that she’d accepted payment to have Torkel as her Chosen. He was very sensitive about his years of rejection. “Don’t.”

  The tone on the communicator became deeper. More menacing. “Even a Jutak can be hurt. My reach is long, Faye Reid. Anytime, anyplace, I can hurt Torkel Alonson.”

  Her heart stuttered at the threat. An image of the man, the warrior she’d come to care for injured and bleeding on a mission had bile rising in her throat.

  “Maybe you need an incentive not to force us to have this conversation again.”

  “I’ll give the money back. Please,” Faye begged. She’d do anything.

  “I don’t want the money back, Faye. Although I sympathize with the position you’re in. I’m not a callous man despite what you must think but you need to learn a lesson. No one threatens me. Maybe the next time I call, you’ll remember who’s in charge.”

  He ended the transmission before she could respond. The breath exploded from Faye’s lungs. The man would never cease calling. “Forgive me, Torkel.”

  She would do anything to keep Torkel safe.

  ***

  Torkel slammed the door on his locker and kicked over a chair. “It doesn’t make sense. How is that targot staying one step ahead of us?”

  His men put away their weapons. Frustration and weariness lined their faces. They’d gone on one raid after another and every time the slaves were transported before they reached them. They had one rumored sighting of Lothar but when Torkel and his teams arrived, the Marenian scum engaged in a lengthy fire fight before they’d departed, leaving behind empty cargo containers and filth stained cages that held human waste. Lothar was nowhere to be found.

  “It’s like he has a sixth sense,” Arak snarled, his animal instincts on edge.

  “We need to get more intel,” Geile said as he sat on one of the benches in front of his locker, back slumped. “Maybe have Rydak go back undercover?”

  Torkel was already shaking his head. He couldn’t do that to his sister. The last separation had been hard on her. Rydak too, though his team lead never com
plained. As an empath, Rydak needed to be around Lissi to balance the overload of emotions and sensations he picked up from others. By some miracle of fate, her presence soothed him.

  Jaron closed his locker and pinned Torkel with his stare. “Maybe we have a leak?”

  Every man in the locker room gave the Team One leader their attention as Jaron continued. “Think about it. We had firm details of dates and times from Rydak. Nothing should have made them suspicious. Now all of a sudden we can barely catch sight of the bastards.”

  Torkel shoved a hand through his hair and switched out his blood stained uniform shirt for a plain black tee to cover the white dressing on his side from a laser burn. “That would mean we need to look closer at those involved in the details of our missions.”

  “Someone on the Commander’s end, perhaps?”

  Kyele’s question was a reasonable one. Government officials had no true secrets in their offices. Confidences could be sold with the shake of a hand over a meal. Jutak warriors were under military protocol and thus, their records and any information regarding their personal life, identities and assignments required the highest security clearance for access but that didn’t mean leaks never occurred. Certainly his identity was widely known.

  “Possibly,” Torkel sighed. He’d been gone for four days on this last raid. Failure tasted bitter on his tongue. All he could think about at this point was getting to Faye and erasing the disappointment for not capturing Lothar and losing the men and women they’d planned to rescue.

  “Get some rest,” he ordered, dumping the rest of his gear. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

  Torkel bypassed the elevator and took the stairs, hoping the physical exertion would dispel his anxiety. The Marenians actions didn’t make sense. Most of the information from Rydak should have been valid allowing them a small window of dates to catch Lothar and lock him up for a long time. It wouldn’t stop the slave trade but eliminating one of the major masterminds would have seriously slowed things down for them. Now they were almost back to the beginning and starting from scratch.

  Torkel entered his quarters to find Faye curled on the sofa asleep. He closed the door behind him and just leaned there taking in the sensations pouring through his mind, heart and body. He was so in love with her he couldn’t see straight.