by Jane Cousins
Crap, how was she ever going to have naked, hot, monkey sex with the man if he refused to even look at her?
“You hungry?” Fen pushed back a dark folding door, revealing the large kitchen beyond. He needed to keep busy. Not think about how suddenly he was alone with a gorgeous, all too tempting Valkyrie, who had declared that she wanted his body. He had to be strong, be smart. Keep moving and keep his distance.
“Yes. Very.” Brodie eyed the immaculate kitchen warily, with its gleaming high tech intimidating appliances, reclaimed wooden bench tops and elegant cabinetry. “Do you know how to cook?”
Fen gave her a smug grin. “I know how to barbecue.”
“Wow.” Brodie was impressed at the large indoor grill Fen pointed out. “I cook quite a mean steak myself.” All those campfire meals over the years had taught her a thing or two about grilling meat.
“Well, let’s get started. You crank up the grill and I’ll raid the fridge.”
Forty minutes later, Brodie found herself seated across from Fen at the sturdy kitchen table. A glass of wine in her hand as she eyed with delight the baked potato covered in a chive sour cream sauce, and the perfectly cooked steak on her plate.
“Who taught you to barbeque?”
Fen smiled. “My uncle taught me, along with his sons, my brothers, and all the male cousins. Partly to teach us discipline, and partly so that one day we could impress the ladies. You impressed?”
“Without a doubt.” Brodie sliced into her steak. Hmmm, perfection.
“You seem to know your way around a grill as well, did your mother teach you?”
“Hardly. I was sent to training camp when I was five. Most of the stuff I’ve picked up over the years has been on campaign. Lots of campfire cooking.”
“You went to training camp when you were five?” Fen had grown up with warriors, on his dad’s side of the family, but they kept their kids close and the training was conducted within the family unit.
“It was the done thing… back then, not so much any more. My class at the Folkvangr academy was quite small in number compared to years previous. It wasn’t long after I graduated that the academy closed.”
“Five?” Fen couldn’t get his head around how young that sounded. Of course he, like all his siblings, had commenced training at the age of three. But his father, Gunther, had made it seem like a game at the time. And his mother had demanded equal time for normal childish activities.
Brodie shrugged. She knew no other existence. Though watching her friend and mentor, Stephanie, bring up her children, she couldn’t help but wonder occasionally at what might have been. “There was only my mother. And she was busy on the battlefields.”
“Valkyries don’t have maternity leave?”
“They do. But my mother is very… traditional.”
“What about your father?”
“My mother killed him.”
Fen coughed, swallowing the piece of steak in his mouth with difficultly. “She did what?”
“It was a righteous killing.” Brodie tried to work out why Fen suddenly sounded so upset. “They met on the fields of Fjornfiall. She said he fought well, caught her eye. When she defeated him, she offered him a choice, to live on through progeny or a swift death.”
“Your mother… had sex with him and then killed him?”
“I believe the sex was very satisfying and his death very quick… if that helps.”
“If that helps?” Fen shook his head, reaching for his glass of wine. “If that helps? No, it doesn’t help. And you’re just okay with this?”
Brodie shrugged. “I can do nothing to change the past. When I was younger I sometimes wondered what he was like, but I grew out of that.”
Fen went pale, gulping back more wine. “That’s not what this whole offer of sex with me is about, is it?”
Brodie’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “Freyja, no. The practise of Glengonar has all but died out. Trust me, I only want to fuck you, I’m not looking to be a mother. Banging you will get my boss off my back and I’ll finally be allowed to return to the battlefields, where I belong.”
“Um… about that, us having…”
“Sex.” Brodie pushed her empty plate out of the way, leaning forward intently on the table.
Fen fought the urge to look down and get lost in the bountiful bosom on display. Damn, the Valkyrie didn’t play fair. “Yeah, about that. I won’t be changing my stance on the subject. Sex isn’t in my foreseeable future, but if you want.” Fen swallowed down the bile that threatened to burn a hole in the back of his throat. Funny, he’d never had heartburn before. “… I’ll help you find someone you can…”
“Fuck.” Brodie finished the sentence when it looked like Fen wouldn’t. She tamped down on the strange negative feelings that swamped her. She hadn’t been serious about her earlier request for him to help her choose a replacement stud. She had only asked to prod a reaction out of him.
Was he really not tempted in the least at the idea of having sex with her? Did Fen not find her attractive enough? Was she too tall? Too blunt? Coming on too strong?
What was this man doing to her? She’d never lacked confidence in herself before. Never been bothered by what others thought of her. Where was this self-doubt coming from? Just because she cared what Fen thought about her… oh.
Well that was unexpected. She cared.
Not that it mattered. Once she was back on the battlefields, blood running, heads flying, she’d no doubt forget all about Fen and his cerulean eyes, broad shoulders, and the way his whole face lit up when he smiled.
Her body didn’t like the idea of choosing a replacement, the knots were back in her stomach. But common sense prevailed, refraining from any physical interaction with Fen was probably wisest. If she liked him now, was thinking about him now, wouldn’t it be worse to know what his lips tasted like, what his hands felt like on her skin?
“Who?” She forced the word out, shying away from the distracting idea of picturing what Fen would look like naked. She was becoming unhealthily obsessed with the man.
“Who?” Fen echoed her word in confusion.
“Who are these men you would have me consider as worthy bed partners?”
“Well, there are more Enforcers you haven’t met yet.”
“And you would introduce me to them?” Brodie nodded. “That would be good. What about your brothers?” If she couldn’t have Fen, perhaps a pale substitute might do.
“What? No! I told you, both my brothers are melded… married… monogamous.”
“Oh.” Pity, she could have closed her eyes and imagined they were Fen. By the Sword, she was going mad. If she couldn’t have Fen, then she would just pick some random male. The sooner she did so, the sooner she could return home. To her life, her job. Though they were pretty much the same thing, weren’t they?
Grrr, there was that vague feeling of dissatisfaction again.
No, she was happy, her life was very fulfilling. All she needed was a new campaign, a new enemy to fight. It was all this sitting around twiddling her thumbs that was making her feel unsettled.
Though she hadn’t actually been twiddling her thumbs, had she? Yesterday, she’d trained harder that she had in a long time when she faced the Enforcers. And today, that look of intense satisfaction on Gaia’s face when she’d escaped that headlock had been kind of gratifying.
No. No! NO! This holiday was making her weak. She needed to draw blood, kill something. Kill a whole battalion of somethings. She needed to get home.
“Can you introduce me to these men tomorrow?”
Fen blinked, vaguely annoyed at how eager the Valkyrie was to toss him aside and move on too studlier new pastures. Well, he had like a numbskull offered. “Some of them are probably scheduled for training tomorrow.”
“Good. I’m sure one of them will prove worthy.” She’d make sure of it. All she had to do was pick one, simple as that. And yet, the knots in her stomach only seemed to be getting larger and tighter. “Is the
re more wine?”
“Hell yes.” Fen scrambled up, pleased to have something to do to distract him from the technicolour images suddenly assailing him of Brodie hooking up with one of his close friends or relatives. Grabbing a fresh bottle, he returned to the table and paused. They’d done more than enough chatting for one night. Sweet Merciful Lady, he swore if Brodie started listing what she was looking for in a bed partner, he’d start breaking stuff. “TV.” Brodie looked at him in confusion. “We should watch TV.” He pointed towards the living room and the huge screen that hung above the fireplace.
Brodie got to her feet slowly. “I’ve never had the time to watch much TV. I do like the history channel though. The series they did on the Peloponnesian wars was excellent, very graphic re-enactments.”
“I was thinking of maybe something a bit lighter.” He filled Brodie’s glass, then his own before heading for the coffee table to sweep up the remote.
Brodie walked reluctantly over to sit on the large couch facing the screen. She hated sitting still. Biting back a sigh, she watched as the large screen lit up and Fen began to scroll through the options. “Wait! Go back. What about Xena?” Perhaps it was time she found out why Fen called her that ridiculous name.
Fen chuffed a laugh. “Why not.”
Which is how Fen found himself snuggled up close to Brodie four hours later, sharing a big bowl of popcorn. More and more he found his attention straying from the big screen. Watching Brodie watch the TV show was proving far more entertaining. The way she scoffed in derision at many of the stunts, even as her eyes sparkled with delight. How she rolled her eyes anytime the slightest hint of romance popped up, though a small pleased smile tilted up the corners of her lips. Not to mention her unfettered enthusiasm for the fight scenes, and her new hero, Xena, Warrior Princess.
As episode five finished he looked her way, stifling a yawn. “We’ve run out of popcorn and it’s getting late.”
“Just one more, please.”
“Fine, one more.” Fen hit the start button, how could he say no to her? She looked so relaxed, comfortable and happy, and just for once she didn’t have a sword in her hand to go with that look. A black and grey cashmere throw covered her long curled up legs, only her bare toes peeking out at the edge. Her cheeks tinged a soft pink thanks to the heat radiating from the nearby fireplace.
Hmmm, it was comfortable here, he settled back beside her. It had been a long futile day of getting nowhere on the arson case, it was kind of nice just to sit here. Letting the smell of Brodie dispel the memory of charred wood and metal that had plagued him all day… hmm, tangy citrus, dark berries and crisp mint.
It was nicer still not to have to think, just switch his mind off and laugh and be entertained by a show that was both witty and cheesy at the same time. He really was comfortable… and warm, the fire was roaring and Brodie was close enough that her body heat intermingled with his own. Sweet Lady, he was tired, he’d just close his eyes for a moment…
* * *
Fen was tangling with a fire Goddess, there was no other explanation for why the woman in his dreams was burning so hot. Her skin, like heated silk under his touch, her lips, soft, drugging, and branding his soul. Too hot, yet he wanted more. He gripped her tighter in case she had thoughts of escaping. Goddesses could be tricky.
Only this woman could quench the need that threatened to engulf him. His cock, stiff and aching, more so as she pressed and rubbed her curvaceous body against his. Emitting soft throaty moans from the back of her throat that both urged him on and made him hotter still.
He pushed material out of the way, not stopping to question why a dream fire Goddess would be wearing clothes. His hand cupping a large, soft, inviting breast, his head dipping to capture dark coral peaked flesh in his mouth.
The fire Goddess uttered his name in a whispered plea. Hmmm… she knew his name, weird sex dream. Who needed names in a dream? Yet it sounded so right.
He burned not just to fuck her… but to possess her. He wanted to hear her say his name again. Have it be the only name she ever said… now and forever.
Forever?
Their lips met again, she tasted of fire and rich, heady, forbidden nectar. Her hands on him, digging into his back as she clutched at him almost hurt, the dream felt that real. Forever? That word spun around in his head… would forever be long enough? Forever? He was not now, or would ever be, a forever kind of guy. And just like that he was awake.
Shit, he froze. Breaking the kiss abruptly. Opening his eyes, he found fractured blue eyes only inches away from his, heavy lidded with sleep and arousal. He was lying on top of Brodie… shit, shit.
“Fen?” She said his name low, questioning, as if she too were just waking up from a dream.
“Um.” Fen arched his back. Had he just…. had they been…? “I was sleeping… dreaming.”
“Me, too.” Brodie’s gaze dipped to his mouth, hovering inches above her own. Unconsciously she licked her lower lip and it was all Fen could do not to take her right there and then.
He arched his back even higher, away from temptation. Asshole, he could have flayed himself, shifting his weight meant that his lower body pressed harder up against Brodie, or, more specifically, his hard - as a lead pipe – cock, which had come to rest between Brodie’s thighs. He could feel the wet heat of her through the material of his denim jeans.
Fuck… no, there would be no fucking. He needed to be crystal clear on that thought.
Fucking in the Sanctuary of late too often led to commitment, to feelings, to melding… forever. Three things he wanted nothing to do with. Shit, man, and you’re still lying on top of the sexy Valkyrie.
“Sorry… um, just let me….” Okay, he lifted his weight off of her completely, better, he was effectively doing a push up. It was awkward but at least he was no longer in danger of dry humping the woman.
“Ur…” Brodie winced. “My hair!”
“Oh, yeah… sorry.” Fen shifted again, looking for an escape route. Somehow he needed to climb off Brodie without touching her, setting off that flash burn desire that seared him gut deep. “I could… maybe…” No. He couldn’t move without putting his will power at risk. “Could you… maybe… um… slide out?”
“Oh.” Brodie fought the urge to yank Fen’s lips down on hers. He was so close. And if that half remembered dream of them tousling here on the couch had any basis in reality, then sex between them would be scorching hot. She wanted more. She wanted him. But she knew from the way sweat dotted his brow and the steely resolve in his eyes that he was back on the abstinence bandwagon. Damn.
She ached. Physically ached to possess him. Grrr, he was so damnably vexing. Why did he insist upon denying them what would be an hour’s fun? Maybe two… an afternoon… oh, no… what was she thinking? Anything more than a bout or two smacked of a relationship. She rarely went back for seconds, unless the guy had great recovery powers right then and there. Oh, no, no, she was in real danger here.
“Yes, Yes… absolutely. I could totally slide out.” She needed a cold shower immediately.
Fen waited. A dark eyebrow arching upwards in query, still hovering above her, trying to keep any part of his body from coming into contact with hers. Brodie was saying all the right things but the gorgeous temptress wasn’t moving. “Well?” The word might have come out a little more terse than he meant it to.
Brodie met his gaze. “Well, what?”
“Why aren’t you moving?”
He sounded upset with her. Perplexed she gave him a bemused look. “Are you thinking of letting go of my breast anytime soon?”
“What the…” Fen lifted his hand away as if he’d been shot by a bolt of electricity. “Sorry.” Buggeration, he fought to re-distribute his weight again and not collapse.
Brodie slid sideways out from under him, flashing a naked breast, deeming escape was more important than modesty at this juncture. Flowing to her feet she quickly re-adjusted her top and strode quickly away from Fen. “I’ll be in the show
er.”
Fen collapsed face down on the couch. Big mistake. It smelt like Brodie and arousal.
He leapt to his feet. His whole body aching with need. The bathroom was taken, crap. He looked outside, night had fallen at some point and it was still snowing. Thank Goddess, now he just needed to find a snowbank deep enough for him to dive into. And he could only pray that the icy freezing temperatures outside would be enough to quench his lust for an all too annoying, all too willing, all too gorgeous, Valkyrie.
Snowbank? Fuck, who was he kidding. He was going to need an avalanche load of the icy stuff to extinguish this need that was gnawing away at him.
Chapter Eleven
Fen fought not to wince as he stepped out of the Portal pulling double duty as a maintenance closet, into the Fitness Centre foyer. His boots were full of melted ice, and he was relatively sure that he’d sustained frostbite on several of his fingers. On the plus side, at least all that discomfort distracted him from thinking too much about Brodie, standing only two feet away.
Today she wore black tiny shorts that hugged her derriere and a blood red tank top. Her midnight black hair was woven close to her head in one of those intricate braid arrangements. All the better to showcase all of her perfect, touchable flesh he grumped silently to himself, quickly averting his gaze from her shoulders and the bared back of her neck. Seriously… he was turned on by the strangest things when it came to this woman. The sooner he got some distance, the better.
“Where do you think you’re going?” A scowl settled on Brodie’s face as Fen turned back towards the Portal. Lovely, he was doing a ditch and run. And the sight of him leaving… she was surprised she wasn’t bent over considering how big and tight the knots in her stomach had suddenly gotten.
“Work.” Fen met her scowl and matched it.
Okay, so the simmering sexual tension between them was practically giving off a palpable heat haze, still, that didn’t mean he got to leave her… she meant, negate on his promise. “You said you would introduce me to a suitable man to have sex with, remember?”
