Authors: Constantine De Bohon
above her head with one hand, pressing her hands into the fur. The
other alternated squeezing from one breast to the other. Her legs
were lifted onto Rolf’s shoulders.
Sky cried out Rolf’s name as he moved faster and harder. He
was so big and she felt so small under both men. It was scary and
thrilling and she tried hard to meet each thrust. Rolf roared when
he came. Brandr took his place. Rolf held her wrists and Brandr
pumped furiously within her wasting no time. She had known he
was ready. Sky gasped as his hips collided with hers, making huge
thumping noises. She whimpered and groaned; he was always so
demanding and rough. It seemed each time he had her, he took her
harder than the last, but she was growing accustomed to it. She
cried out when his hips slammed then ground against hers, both
men holding her in place. She came when Brandr did. She gasped
and her body shuddered. Brandr’s look was intense and he seemed
pleased he had given her release. She knew she was pleased. Brandr
collapsed onto his side. She snuggled into the furs between both
men, warmed by their heat. It had been a long day.
* * * *
Rolf watched as Sky joined the women in the cabin to work
with them a few days later. Though she was still mostly uncertain
of their language, she had made a few friends. She was sweet and
caring and tried hard to do what the other women did. It was hard
to resist her appeal and innocence. Already, she had charmed
many. Her impish looks were charming and unthreatening. The
village children adored her as most often she tried inventing new
games for them to play.
Haunches of meat cooked slowly over many hearths. The last
of the winter supplies were bubbling in pots. Room was being
made with the spring bounty that would soon be upon them. A
78
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
huge feast was prepared for the evening. The hunters had been
lucky on their hunt and had many elk to show for their hard work.
As always, spring fever was in the air and many young men were
feeling full of themselves.
Rolf watched as Sky occasionally glanced toward the dark
secluded area where the captive was being used by the eager young
men. The situation didn’t sit well with Rolf, even though he had
grown up surrounded by slaves. In the back of his mind, a thought
nagged—had nagged for a long time. What was done was done
under the cover of darkness, hidden yet not. He knew the scene
frightened Sky. She had even tried to plead the woman’s case.
Rolf had listened to her patiently. He could tell how
passionate she felt when she tried so hard to be understood; she
was smart and was picking up on their language quickly. He even
agreed with her. But Rolf wasn’t on the council; he wasn’t in
charge of the woman’s fate. She belonged to a man, a cruel man in
his opinion, who wasn’t interested in offering her any protection.
The men could be forbidden to touch her, but everyone knew
some would corner her eventually. How was he to explain to Sky
that the woman was safer in view rather than being dragged into a
forest away from any who would stop an even harsher physical
assault? This way she was doubly watched and kept from harming
others, and in turn, others wanting revenge were stopped from
breaking her bones. There was much hatred toward the woman.
Rolf felt she never should have been brought here. Their women
were never allowed to be beaten. It was unfortunate there was so
much animosity toward the captive that a few would be willing to
make an exception to their law and risk Odin’s wrath.
Sky didn’t understand that the woman was a cold-hearted
killer. Relatives from their neighboring villages had been killed,
maimed or stolen by her people. The men in the village wouldn’t
kill her for her crimes. But it was their way to keep her as a slave.
When she wasn’t needed for work, she was tied. Everyone was
79
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
safer when she was retrained. What the men did while she was
restrained was up to them. No one saw fit to offer the woman
protection. He didn’t know how to explain to Sky that no man
would take the woman into his home—she would kill if given a
chance; she wasn’t given that chance.
Brandr joined him. He also looked at the captive. “I see Sky
look every once in a while. She looks horrified and I can see she
wants desperately to interfere. Valkyries are protective of women.
I know what those men are doing the woman doesn’t want, but
some men like rough sex. So do some women, when they’re
willing,” Brandr said.
“Sky thinks the captive should be shown mercy, not abused. If
you are rough with the woman, Sky might be angry with you.”
“I wasn’t planning on having the captive,” Brandr said and
sighed.
“We will introduce Sky slowly to be more open toward more,
uh, vigorous sex with you. Have patience, my friend.”
Rolf broached a subject he had been dreading.
“Have you taken the captive?”
Brandr scowled. “I don’t want her. Since I found Sky, I
haven’t wanted anyone else. You’re right about Sky’s feelings
toward the woman. You’re not the only one she’s cornered and
pled with. Sky has no idea how hated the woman is. Seeing what is
happening from a fresh pair of eyes, I can see it must make her
think we’re all cruel. I don’t want her to be afraid to stay here. She
has such odd ideas about slaves.
“We have grown up surrounded by slaves or captives. She
insists her people have no slaves and some word she called ‘jail’ for
captives is to me horrifying. If I understood her correctly, people
are caged in small metal containers with bars for years, men and
women. At least the captive can wander outside in the fresh air. At
any time, she can ask to feel the sunshine on her face. She
accompanies us to the ocean. She can bathe in the stream. When I
80
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
asked Sky if these caged prisoners were abused, she remained
stubbornly silent. Her ideas confuse me as much as she says mine
confuse her.”
Rolf shook his head. Brandr and he had taken many women
together. To Rolf’s knowledge, any woman he had ever touched
had been willing. Brandr wasn’t cruel, just more controlling. Rolf
had no idea why his friend had such an insatiable appetite for rough
sex. Perhaps it was just the control he sought. He had been told
many times he was just like his great-grandfather, Ulfr. Many
stories Rolf’s mother had told him involved Ulfr and a warrior
woman who could battle like a man. Although lately, the story was
disputed when recalled and told by other men. The story had
become distorted over the years and some were uncertain as to
who was the wolf. Not many men wanted to believe a woman had
saved a warrior. Rolf knew that soon in time it would be said the
warrior tamed a she-wolf. Brandr was related to Biorn. It was
rumored both men had Valkyries for great-grandmothers.
“Sky will get used to what you want in time, but you are not
to push. No frightening her,” Rolf warned.
Brandr rolled his eyes and Rolf laughed.
“I don’t ever want to make her cry again,” Brandr said
seriously.
“I know, my friend,” Rolf said sympathetically. “She doesn’t
fear you. She is strong. Even though you bruised her and made her
cry, she still comes to you. You make her feel safe in this
frightening new time and place. Give her time to trust you, love
you. She will.”
Brandr smiled, then leaped to his feet when a young man
squeezed Sky’s behind and she yelped in pain. The bowl she had
been holding clattered to the ground.
Rolf shook his head when Brandr smashed the young man into
a wall.
A few of the women screamed. Sky stood wide-eyed.
81
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
“She is bruised, you idiot!” Brandr howled.
“I’m sorry, Brandr,” the young man who wasn’t really more
than a boy, howled in fear.
Rolf chuckled. Most warriors were lenient with the lusty new
younger warriors like Dagr, who tested their limits and strutted
about like proud cocks, trying to look powerful for the women.
Normally Brandr would be lenient, too, but not with his own
woman. Brandr dragged Dagr to Sky. Her face flamed red when
Brandr pulled her leather wrap aside at her hips and showed the
man her bottom. Dagr looked horrified when he saw her bruising.
He stammered an apology.
“Who would be so cruel to such a tiny woman?” Dagr uttered
with true concern.
Now it was Brandr who flamed red. “Just leave her be,” he
demanded.
Dagr nodded and was soon surrounded with other young men
who began whispering.
Brandr crushed Sky to his chest and stroked her behind. Sky
wiggled free and scowled at him.
Rolf heard her snap a few words. She was obviously
embarrassed for being exposed in public. Many more were looking
at her and pointing in sympathy. Rolf felt it was for the best. There
would be no further punishment for her wearing a warrior’s
clothing.
Rolf rose to his feet, preparing to take Sky home for awhile to
let her calm down when he was approached by Eirik, their chief.
The man looked grim. Rolf frowned wondering what was wrong.
It was apparent when Eirik went to Sky and pulled her wrap aside
to assess her bruising.
“Who did this?” he demanded.
“I did,” Brandr said.
Many gasped in surprise including the young man who had
accosted her.
82
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
“Why was she beaten?” Eirik asked.
“She was wearing a training warrior’s clothing when we found
her; we thought her to be a boy. We settled the matter,” Lud said,
coming forward.
“We do not beat women here,” Eirik said angrily. “We will
not anger Odin. Have you learned nothing from the legends? What
was used on her?”
“She wasn’t beaten, Eirik. Brandr used only his hand to simply
spank her,” Lud said.
Rolf took note the man seemed extremely offended.
Eirik looked skeptical.
Rolf admitted he had been as well when he had first seen Sky’s
black-and-blue bruising. But after only a small bump on her hip to
their table earlier that morning, the resulting discoloration had
strengthened Brandr’s tale. Brandr had never lied to Rolf
regardless, but it was short of amazing to see a woman bruise so
easily.
Eirik crossed his arms over his chest. “Perhaps you had best
explain what happened.”
“I didn’t know the full story of how she came to be wearing
the clothes,” Brandr began. “I couldn’t understand her words. But I
saw her fear mounting, especially when her clothing was removed.
Whatever we decided needed to be done fast before she expired in
terror. She couldn’t have been worked as a captive female for
punishment until we got here.
“She was already so bruised from work, I just couldn’t have
her hauling more rocks or wood like a man or boy. She absolutely
couldn’t be lashed; it would have damaged her too badly and we
don’t lash women. You know how a captive is sometimes
punished. But I claimed her; she is not a captive, none may touch
her vaginally. She had never had her behind taken. Cull was
demanding we punish her swiftly before Odin became angry at
what might have transpired,” Brandr argued.
83
Viking Warriors Book 3: Valkyrie Heat
Rolf could hear the fury and frustration mounting in his voice.
“I told Cull I’ll kill anyone who touches her. Cull would have
caused more damage than a spanking. Lud was in agreement with
me and he sits on the council. I hadn’t thought I hit her so hard, or
a simple spanking would cause such damage until I saw her welts
and discoloration the next morning. Eirik, you know I have never
beaten a woman. I never intended to do this to her. It’s shameful, I
admit that.”
“You should have brought her to me. The council would not
have let Cull harm her, as Lud proved. Lud, I’m surprised with
you. I have heard a rumor that she is a Valkyrie. It has been a
hundred years since we have seen one. If a punishment was
warranted, I would have taken care with my decision. She is very
small. I am not without compassion,” Eirik argued. The huge dark-
haired man was obviously angry. His eyes were narrowed onto
Brandr in disapproval. Lud shifted uncomfortably.
“I’m sorry, Eirik,” Brandr stammered. “She was so terrified of
being taken that way, I thought a spanking more merciful.”
Eirik pointed to her bruising. “Does this look merciful to
you!” he roared. Eirik was then studying her arms; his anger
seemed to be rising higher with his inspection.
Rolf placed his hand on Sky’s shoulder; she was gazing up at
Eirik in terror.
“Eirik,” Rolf said quietly. “You are frightening her. She
doesn’t understand your words. She thinks your anger is directed