Snatched

by Vijaya Schartz

  Zania removed her weapon belt and hung it up. "I’m impressed."

  Svend stared at the mask he had carved, now decorating a wall. The Amazons had added to it a colorful feather headdress. He smiled as he noticed his toy horse prancing on the top shelf. His spare crutch hung on a peg.

  Toward the far wall, an area partly closed by a leather screen piqued Zania’s curiosity. Behind it, she found a small table, with a large pitcher of water and a pottery basin. For their morning ablutions... The screen also concealed a clay chamber pot with a lid.

  Zania smiled at the unexpected luxury. "Home, sweet home!"

  "This place is almost as refined as my father’s hall." Svend hung up this crutch next to the other one and dropped on the furs. The soft mattress yielded under his weight. He propped his leg cast upon the bed then lay down. "This is a great life."

  Zania sunk into the furs next to him and nuzzled his neck. "I know your ribs are still fragile and all, but I have an idea."

  He grinned wolfishly. "I’m open to suggestions. As long as you don’t crush my chest, I’m game."

  She flashed a coy smile. "First, you watch."

  Zania rose and extinguished all but one torch, then she stood at the foot of the bed and proceeded to undress suggestively, with slow, sensual movements, humming a tune from her faraway past.

  Svend winked. "Whatever this is, I like it."

  Zania’s boots came off first, then the leather top. She wondered whether the scar at her neck from the fight in the arena, and the new one on the back of her thigh, stood out in the torchlight. But it didn’t matter. She knew now that Svend loved her with or without scars.

  She chuckled as she rolled her hips and undid the laces of her skort.

  Svend stared, fascinated. "This is sweet torture. Haven’t I suffered enough already?"

  "Not nearly." Zania kept humming as she stepped on the mattress and slowly removed Svend’s vest.

  He had to sit up to help her slip his long arms through the sleeve holes. He’d gained back some weight. The muscles of his shoulders and arms bulged again, from gripping the crutches.

  But Zania enjoyed taking her time and making him wait. She caressed his shoulders and kissed the bandages on his chest. Moving lower, she played with the ties of his leather pants, loosening them with her teeth and teasing the tight skin over his stomach muscles with her tongue. The front flap could not hold back his strong erection.

  She glanced up at his face and smiled. "In my world, they say the more you wait for it, the better it is in the end."

  "And my people say, enjoy what the gods let you have now, because you never know when they will take it back." He reached for her shoulders, pulled her up to his level with unexpected strength, then he rolled over her with surprising agility.

  Zania laughed and let him overpower her, delighted by his newfound vigor. "You seem to be feeling much better."

  "Better than ever." He stared at her lips then planted a demanding kiss on her mouth.

  Enthralled by his initiative, Zania responded with all the pent up passion she’d denied herself because of his injuries. She lost herself in his kiss, enjoying the tender yet insistent pressure of his tongue. The heat at her core mounted in anticipation of a deeper contact. She’d waited for this moment for so long.

  When he came up for air, she clung to him and nibbled his ear. "Are you sure this is all right?"

  "I feel fine, better than I ever have on this planet." Svend squeezed her hips and lowered himself awkwardly to kiss her belly. "What about the baby?"

  Zania chuckled. "The baby wants to meet his father."

  "In that case..." He rose and shifted his weight upon her.

  Unable to control her growing need, Zania arched under the pressure of his strong hands. She reveled in the feel of his glistening skin and the scent of his long silky hair, a mix of moss and animal musk. "I want you so much..."

  "I thought this day would never come again," he said breathlessly as he kissed her throat.

  At the feel of his erection against her inner thigh, Zania lifted her hips to meet him. His penetration, deep and gentle, elicited a groan she couldn’t and wouldn’t control. Letting go of all the anguish and suffering of the past weeks, Zania lost herself in the pleasure Svend unleashed upon her, stroke after stroke. Surrendering to his will, she enjoyed the powerful ride, amazed by his sudden recovery.

  Wave after wave of heated pleasure washed over her and she lost track of place and time. Nothing mattered, only that this man made her feel like the woman she always wanted to be.

  When he finally let go in a powerful release that made them both quiver as one, Zania didn’t think she could take anymore pleasure.

  Svend lifted himself from her and rose on one elbow, softly blowing the sweat from her skin. "Tell me I’m not dreaming."

  "You’re not." To think that she almost lost him made her want to cry.

  He pushed a strand of chestnut hair away from her face. "I wouldn’t switch places for all the bliss in Valhalla."

  And gazing into his clear gray eyes, Zania believed him. She’d forgiven herself for her past mistakes. This time, she’d fallen in love with a trustworthy warrior, who appreciated her for herself, and looked forward to being the father of their child. "I thank Aries we crossed paths."

  "I’m sure Thor had a hand in it as well."

  And as he deposited a soft kiss on her forehead, Zania closed her eyes and felt perfectly contented, safe and happy for the first time in her life.

  She’d finally found a place to call home.

  The End

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Born in France, award-winning author Vijaya Schartz never conformed to anything and could never refuse a challenge. She likes action and exotic settings, in life and on the page. She traveled the world and claims she comes from the future. Her books collected many five star reviews and literary awards. She makes you believe you actually lived these extraordinary adventures among her characters. Her stories have been compared to Indiana Jones with sizzling romance. So, go ahead, dare to experience the magic, and she will keep you entranced, turning the pages until the last line. Find more at http://www.vijayaschartz.com

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  NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER:

  Thank you for purchasing and reading this Books We Love eBook. We hope you have enjoyed your reading experience. Best Regards and Happy Reading, Jamie and Jude

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