Torkel's Chosen: A World Beyond Book 1

by Michelle Howard

  “Now, Torkel. Come in me now!”

  He lifted his head. “I want to hear you come like this, Faye. From my mouth.”

  Rough fingers pulled at his hair when he lowered his head again and laved her center. Moisture flowed freely as he lashed her from one side then the other. Her cries rose until the words made no sense and still Torkel pressed on. He mouthed her, pushing her closer to the precipice he knew she bordered on.

  “Torkel. Yes. So good, please.”

  And please her he did. Faye arched up beneath him and screamed. As tremors shook her body, Torkel moved up her undulating frame and slid home. Her body welcomed him with desperate pulls. He wanted to make it last. To enjoy riding the wave as he made her crest again but his Chosen had other ideas. She gripped him, her hold merciless. Hands at his shoulders and thighs hugging his hips, Faye reached deep and pulled the pleasure from him.

  Torkel groaned as the spasms refused to let him go. His release continued to pour from him until he felt rung dry. He collapsed next to her as Faye petted him with a sweep of her soft hands down his back and up again. If someone had asked him what attributes he wanted in a Chosen never in his mind could he have imagined a female like Faye.

  When he had his breathing under control, Torkel rolled to his side and curled around her. “You amaze me,” he said.

  She grinned up at him, the smile melting his heart further. “I could amaze you again, if you’re up to it.” Her fingers walked down his chest stopping at his groin and leaving no doubt what she meant.

  Torkel grabbed her fingers and kissed the tips. His shaft thickened when she leaned forward and sucked one of his fingers into her mouth. A very lush mouth and plump lips. “I’m more than up to it.”

  To prove his point, Torkel flipped her to her back and crawled over her, letting his weight settle on her full curves. He released her hand, only to use his own to pin both hers by the wild tangle of her hair on the pillow. Her hips bumped upward, teasing him.

  “Don’t you have to get back to practice?”

  “Later,” he groaned, easing his length between her damp folds. “Much later.”

  Chapter 9

  Torkel woke and blinked into the darkness. His ears strained for what had awakened him. Faye’s soft breath caressed his right forearm where her head had fallen when she drifted to sleep. Torkel eased his arm from beneath her weight.

  She hummed slightly in annoyance but quieted down. Torkel leaned over and brushed the hair from the side of her face to kiss her cheek in apology. Her backside pressed against his semi-erect groin. His left hand smoothed down her torso as he contemplated the best way to wake her.

  Sex-sharing with her was proving to be difficult to resist. His appetite for his luscious Earthling was more than he’d expected. Faye shared his passion for their bed sport so Torkel didn’t mind. A grin pulled at his lips; he didn’t mind at all.

  He nudged the covers to the side revealing, one of his shirts she’d slipped on before drifting to sleep, this one in black. Once more she’d only done up the two buttons in the middle. His Chosen had declared unofficial ownership of his clothing it seemed. Something else he didn’t mind since the shirt drew Torkel’s eyes to Faye’s thighs and the hidden treasure between her legs.

  He glided his hand up her thigh and cupped the curve of her hip when the eerie feeling returned. Torkel stiffened. An increased sense of foreboding pushed at him. His eyes adjusted to the darkness as he scanned the familiar shapes of the objects in their bedroom. He tugged the sheet up over Faye and slid from the bed. She rolled toward his side but didn’t wake.

  Torkel cursed the fact that he’d left his weapon in a locked cabinet in the kitchen. He hadn’t wanted to frighten Faye by sleeping with it under his pillow as usual. That would change tomorrow. With another glance at her sleeping form, Torkel pulled on his pants and crossed the room to the door. The small crack allowed him to peer into his living space. Nothing moved but his years of training had the hair at his nape curling.

  His gut screamed something didn’t feel right. His Chosen was in danger. He stifled a growl and closed the door firmly behind him as he searched for the threat. Living space, kitchen, secondary bath. Nothing.

  Torkel clicked on his communicator and called down to the Comm Center. Jaron answered. “Shouldn’t you be asleep, Torkel?”

  “Check the security feeds. My senses are crawling and I can’t pin down the source.”

  “On it.” The joking tone turned deadly.

  Torkel waited while his friend ran the reports.

  “All clear. No breach on any of the exit points to the building.”

  His stomach muscles clenched. Didn’t feel right. It could have been left over stress and all of the excitement from the presentation but what slivered down his spine felt like more. “I’m coming down. I want to view the feeds myself.”

  “Affirmative.”

  Torkel checked on Faye once more. She hadn’t moved. Long hair trailed over his pillow and her knees were bent slightly as she slept undisturbed by whatever sensation had pulled him from a deep sleep. He locked the door to his quarters and hurried down to the Comm Center.

  Jaron stood at his approach, concern lighting his eyes. “Is your Chosen alright?”

  “She’s asleep. Pull up camera two and three.” Both cameras would give him views of the front and rear entrance to their building.

  Jaron’s fingers flew over the monitor and both of them watched the onscreen footage of the doorway, concrete walkway and the path that led street side. This time of night there was no traffic in the city. Torkel’s eyes focused on the shadowed corners. Even with the light of the two moons, the area was dense, darkness making it impossible to see clearly.

  Torkel bit back a frustrated growl, his protective instincts roused. “Show me the rooftop.” There was a door from the roof that led to the upper level of the building but they’d determined it too great a risk when his unit moved in so it had been sealed.

  The angle and view on the screen changed. The lighting here was better but neither of them detected any motion.

  “Who’s here?” Torkel questioned studying for any hint of something odd on screen.

  “All three teams are in residence.”

  “Show my quarters,” Torkel ordered, unable to shake the tension knotting his shoulders. His hands clenched and unclenched. The need to do something was kicking at him and he refused to ignore it. Too many times his instincts had saved him in the field.

  Keys clicked as Jaron pulled up the interior view of Torkel’s place. “Start in my bedroom and pan out then work your way around the living space.”

  Jaron frowned. “The cameras in your bedroom aren’t active.” His blond brow arched as he added, “For obvious reasons.”

  Torkel folded his arms across his chest. He needed to see his Chosen. Reassure himself she safely rested in their bed. “Activate them.”

  Jaron shrugged and the first monitor showed his bedroom. Faye under the covers. She’d shifted during his absence and now hugged his pillow to her face as if to catch his scent left behind. His breath stilled. Torkel massaged his chest to relieve the building pressure. It was happening fast. The intensity of his affection and feelings for the curvy female from Earth. No one warned him that she’d own a portion of his heart in a matter of days.

  Jaron cleared his throat. “Switching to kitchen camera feed.”

  Torkel nodded. He noticed absently that they’d left the dinner dishes out. Faye had found a framed picture of his family and propped it next to the food unit. Soon his place would be overrun with knickknacks and all the things women liked to surround themselves with. Surprisingly he didn’t mind.

  “Pull up the living room.”

  Window panels from ceiling to floor ran the length of his large living room. One camera also focused on the balcony doors that led to the exterior space where he’d eaten breakfast with Faye the day before. Maybe he’d add a table out there for future meals. She seemed drawn to the outside. Or
the sunlight since he’d caught her holding her hand up to the windows at various times.

  Torkel went motionless. He squinted and planted a hand on the desk near the keyboard Jaron used. There. An icy chill spread through his chest. The curtains swayed against the glass of the partially opened balcony doors.

  “Fuck! Sound the alarms. The bastard’s in my quarters with my Chosen.”

  Torkel didn’t wait to see if Jaron followed his direction as he raced from the Comm Center and hit the stairway at full speed. He’d never forgive himself for leaving Faye alone with a potential assassin.

  ***

  Faye rolled over with a frown unsure what had awakened her. She pushed up on her elbows and a hand slapped over her mouth. A hard shoulder shoved her back down as her hands were yanked in front of her and rough rope was wrapped around her wrists.

  She bucked and tried to scream only to have a cloth pushed in her mouth. Panic shot pulses of fear through Faye’s brain. She kicked out with one leg and hit flesh. Her hair burned an instant later as the stranger pulled her to her feet. Faye stumbled, trying to orient herself as she was half pushed and dragged from the bedroom.

  Torkel. Where was Torkel?

  “Keep moving,” a low voice growled by her ear.

  Violent trembles shook Faye when they entered the living room. Empty. No sign of Torkel. Her frantic gaze searched the kitchen and the closed front door. As her assailant headed for the balcony, his grip pinched her elbow savagely, bringing the sting of tears to her eyes. If he got her outside, her chances of escape dwindled.

  Faye fought harder, wishing she had paid attention to all the self-defense lessons on old vids but men didn’t have to attack women in the dark any more on Earth. They were the ones fearful of being attacked.

  Alarms blared overhead.

  Faye’s feet skidded across the floor and the man circled her neck with his free arm. As soon as they reached the balcony, he jerked the curtains to the side and thrust the door open all the way. The pressure at her neck tightened. Dressed only in another of Torkel’s shirts, she shivered as the cold air whipped around them.

  “Don’t fight. We’re going over the balcony. If you fight, I’m not afraid to leave bruises though I was paid to bring you back unmarred.” He ended on a snicker.

  Faye’s breath rasped in her throat at the disclosure. They stumbled and staggered outside. Restrained as she was, Faye could only lean her weight back and hope he didn’t accidently choke her. Hooked to the side of the rails was a thick black cable that swung down to the ground below. His hands tugged a harness over her shoulders and connected a belt to the harness around his body.

  When her knees shook hard enough to give out, he used her hair to keep her on her feet. “Climb over. Now!” He barked in her ear.

  Bile rose in her throat but she straddled the railing as best she could with his assistance and her tied hands. He climbed behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist and placed the other on the cable. The whine of the cable filled her ears as he used his other hand to lower them with an automated device. They were half way down as tears streamed down her face.

  “Faye!”

  She glanced up to see Torkel leaning over the railing.

  Relief bubbled up as he looped his legs around the cable. His bare hands moved quickly as he followed. Wind whipped her face as they descended. Faye held still, fearful she’d plunge to the ground. The man behind her cursed and they flew through the air faster until they hit. Hard. Her knees buckled but the harness kept them connected. Moisture squished under her bare feet from the wet grass.

  Faye dug her nails into the arms holding her and shook her head back and forth trying to dislodge the gag.

  “Stop it.” His hands struggled with the harness and the buckle until it released.

  Torkel landed with a thud.

  The man cursed again then screamed. “Stay back!”

  Torkel rose, hands up. “Don’t hurt her.”

  The man’s grip choked her with every step back he took. The agony on Torkel’s face tore a hole in Faye’s heart.

  Dark masculine laughter filled the night. A gloved hand reached up and jerked Faye’s hair back which pressed the other arm harder against her throat.

  Torkel snarled. “If you hurt her, I will kill you.”

  “If you move, I kill her. Turn around.”

  Torkel bared his back.

  “Hands behind your head, Torkel Alonson.”

  Faye shivered as he clasped his fingers behind his dark head.

  “If I notice you following, I’ll plunge this sharp blade in her back.”

  Torkel’s shoulders knotted but Faye didn’t get to see more as her assailant lifted her up and slung her over a bruising shoulder. Her body bounced as the man ran across the wide expanse of the lawn, using the few trees as cover. Alarms continued to sound.

  ***

  Moments later, Jaron ran up behind Torkel and tossed him an ear bud and his spare weapon. “He ran east.”

  His friend nodded, clicking the mic. “Converge on east end of property.”

  Torkel took off running, Jaron behind him. “He has my Chosen. He has Faye.”

  Jaron’s gaze narrowed but he didn’t slow down. “Assailant has Unit Leader’s Chosen. Find his ass.”

  Torkel was grateful for the show of support. His paced kicked up as fear beat at his senses. The glimpse he’d had of Faye’s face revealed pale features and wide eyes. She should have been safe in their quarters. Someone would pay for taking that sense of safety away from her.

  “I’ve got a line of sight on individual on foot. Request authorization to fire.”

  Faruk. His lead on Team Two was a master shot but Torkel had never had to worry about someone close to him being injured on assignment. What if Faye was hurt? His lungs stuttered. “Hold fire. Coordinates?”

  “Quadrant 6.”

  They’d sectioned the property into six quadrants including the front for such a contingency.

  “Visuals on Faye?” He waited with baited breath on a response.

  “Negative.”

  “Negative.”

  The word was repeated twice more in his ear until Arak came on line. “Intruder has something over his shoulder. A body.”

  Torkel choked. A body. Due to his genetics, Arak had better night vision then all of them combined. “Stop him. Use force if necessary but no shots.”

  He gave the command and veered toward quadrant 6.

  “Closing in. Gregir and I have a visual.” Geile’s update eased a little of Torkel’s worry.

  They would eliminate the threat. He and Jaron sprinted forward. The location selected for their housing was at the edge of the city line. Plenty of green space and lines of trees surrounded three sides of the property in case they needed to do outdoor training and prep for similar circumstances. Right now, Torkel cursed the decision because it kept him from having a clean line of sight to the person with Faye.

  Too many opportunities to hide.

  “Unit Leader, assailant has ditched the package over his shoulder and sprinting for the street.” Arak’s voice came on puffs of air. “In pursuit.”

  His heart revved. “Team Two and Three stand down. Find Faye. Get to my Chosen,” Torkel shouted.

  “Team Two has her. Repeat, Team Two is with your Chosen.”

  Torkel exhaled in relief. Ahead he could see his men kneeling around a prone figure. He put on a burst of speed, sliding to his knees when he reached them. Jaron dropped down beside him. Wide, frightened brown eyes met his. Torkel removed the cloth from her mouth.

  “Torkel,” she gasped. Tears trembled on her lids.

  His heart skipped a beat when she held up her hands. Thick rope tied her delicate wrists together. Torkel cursed under his breath. “Get me a knife to get these fucking bindings off her!”

  Several appeared in front of his face instantly. Torkel took the one Kyele handed him because the thin blade would slide easily between Faye’s skin with less chance of nicking her. He
cut the rope and Faye dove for his arms, face buried in his neck. Wet from her tears hit his skin. Rage rolled through Torkel, though his hands on her back remained gentle as he picked her up and stood.

  “I’ve got you, Faye.” He kissed her hair but her shoulders shook with silent tears. Torkel turned to the men gathered around, awaiting his direction. “Canvas the area. Find out who had the nerve to come at me like this. Jaron, you’re with me.”

  Nods greeted his order as they faded into the dark.

  Chapter 10

  They hadn’t found him. Faye held the cup between her palms in an attempt to warm the chill that had set in. She inhaled the smoky aroma and a hint of cinnamon. The first sip reminded her of coffee.

  “What do you mean there’s no trace of him?” Torkel growled as he paced in their living area. “Some bastard broke into my home, attacked my Chosen and we can’t fucking find him.”

  Faye huddled deeper into the sofa cushions and set her cup between her folded thighs. She had her legs tucked up to her side and hadn’t moved since Torkel had placed her there. He’d held her until the men from Team One knocked. They’d quickly been followed by Team Two and Three. Faye now had fourteen aggressive, growling men in a loose circle around her plus one angry Chosen.

  “He’s nothing but a shadow on the cameras. Even after you confronted him on the lawn he wore a mask. I followed his steps when Jaron radioed his position and it’s like he took off into thin air when I got street side,” Arak explained.

  “Jaron,” Torkel snapped.

  Jaron, she’d learned was their computer ace. There was a sharp mind behind the joking façade.

  “I reviewed the footage from every angle, Torkel. The only thing I can confirm is that he came through your balcony.”

  Torkel kicked over a table. She jumped. “And waited until I left for the chance to grab my Chosen.”

  Several gazes turned in her direction. Faye hunched her shoulders.

  “How did he get in?”

  Jaron bowed his head and mumbled. “No effing sensors on the balcony doors. It was assumed by higher ups that the sixty-foot drop was enough of a deterrent. I’ve rectified that and called in an order. They’ll be secure by tomorrow.”