Captured

by Melinda Barron

  “You will behave, captive, or I will find rope.” He repeated the words she’d said to him when she’d taken him that first night, reminding him that she was basically the raider at his home.

  Excitement coursed through her as he re-latched the door and turned toward the main part of the house. That thought made her giggle. This wasn’t a house, it was a cave. What was the old saying, “Home is where the heart is?” Could a cave be considered a home?

  She supposed she’d find out soon enough, since it didn’t look as if they were going anywhere in the near future.

  Her body continued to sway as he stalked across the floor, and then he unceremoniously dumped her on the bed.

  “Rugoff, I—”

  “Silence, captive. I did not give you leave to speak.”

  “Excuse me?” She tried to sit up but he pushed her back down. The intense look on his face sent a chill through her, as she couldn’t quite read it. Had something else happened at the clearing? Had he somehow been taken over by something that changed his personality? Or was he just pissed at her because she’d insisted they go?

  He undid his winter coverings, tossing them aside without a care for where they landed. She wanted to tell him that he needed to put them back into the niches where they belonged.

  “A clean cave is a happy cave,” she thought as he got to his tunic and stripped it off. His leggings followed suit and he now stood before her, naked and fully erect. The sight made her mouth water, and it made her forget all about the failure in the clearing.

  She reached for him, but he batted her hand away, taking a step back. “Take off your clothing.”

  There was a hard bite to his voice that she’d never heard before, and she wasn’t sure that she liked it. She shook her head ever so slightly, wondering exactly what the hell was going on.

  He watched her through lowered lids, then stalked to the wall of weapons, searching them for a few moments before selecting a wicked looking knife.

  As he moved back toward the bed, armed with the steel, Venise finally moved, crawling to the top of the bed as fast as the heavy garments she wore would allow. She pressed against the wall as he took the knife and stabbed it into the bedding.

  The hilt of it stood out, wavering just a little. She watched it, then lifted her gaze to find him staring at her, his expression hard to read. “I will not ask again. Either take off your clothing, or I will do it for you.”

  The implication was clear. He wouldn’t help her undo the laces as he’d done so many times in the past. He’d cut them from her.

  Her heart raced at the idea and she stared at the man in front of her. She didn’t know him. He hadn’t even been this way with her when she’d first arrived and they couldn’t speak to each other.

  “Listen, I don’t know, um, who…” She broke off and looked around the room. There was no way out of this situation.

  “So be it.” He picked up the knife and advanced on her, standing on the thick mattress and walking, his movements making it sway and causing her to lose her balance. She fell onto her stomach, the bed continuing to move as he walked.

  She rolled toward him, then scrambled off the bed, running to the table and putting it between them. He stepped off the bed and moved the knife to his side, his grip still firm.

  “You cannot hide from me, nor can you outrun me. You are mine, my prize to do with as I see fit. You will obey me.”

  “And you can kiss my rosy red ass. What the hell happened to you?” Whatever it was, she didn’t like it. The sweet Rugoff who thought first and acted second was gone, replaced by a Viking that… Realization dawned on her as she thought about their discussions on romance novels and how the captured heroine would bend to the hero’s will.

  “I don’t want to play a game,” she said, shrugging out of the fur. “Let’s just leave it be, shall we?”

  He didn’t answer her, but from the glint in his eye, she could see that he didn’t want to listen to her. He took a step toward the table, stopping to fix her with another one of those penetrating stares.

  This was a game, wasn’t it? From the look on his face, she wasn’t exactly sure. It was a little disconcerting to see him standing there with that knife in his hand.

  “Rugoff.”

  “Undress!”

  If there was a roof on this place, she was pretty sure his yell would have lifted it off its frame. Her heart beat just a little faster, and this time there was excitement mixed with the trepidation. There was no telling where he would take this. Well, she was pretty sure where it was heading. The hard cock gave her a pretty big hint. Maybe she should play along. Maybe it would help her to get over the disappointment she felt right now. No, not maybe. Definitely.

  “Listen, I realize you’re upset, but…”

  “Silence!” He moved toward her, his stride no longer hesitant. “I tire of your disobedience. You must learn that you belong to me now!” He slammed the knife into the table, the tip of it now embedded in the wood. “You will undress this very instant.”

  “I think not.” She backed up, putting her hands on her hips. “Why don’t we just sit down and discuss this. I realize that…oh!”

  He lunged for her, moving around the table faster than she ever thought possible. She ducked out from under his arm and ran toward the bed again, stopping long enough to realize that going to the bed wouldn’t help. She needed to find someplace where she could either hide from him, or keep away from him while she tried to talk.

  She headed for the hallway, remembering as she was partway there that there were only two rooms this way. The first was the bathroom, the second the bathing room. The sound of water rushing over the falls sounded as if they were amplified by the best stereo system as she entered the room. It was either that or the pounding of her heart that sounded so loud.

  There was only one place to go, and that was into the water. It wasn’t deep water, with just enough to cover a person’s waist when they were sitting, much like a bathtub. She quickly pushed off what passed for shoes, then stepped into the warm flow.

  She’d only taken a few steps when she realized her error. Clothing grew heavy as it got wet, and it slowed her down as she moved toward the waterfalls. She lost her footing and fell, the water soaking through everything she wore.

  She heard a splash, the sound of him getting into the water with her. She got back up, moving as fast as she could. Maybe she could maneuver around him and get back out.

  Not that getting out was a good idea. No matter whether she was in or out of the water her clothing was now soaked, and there was no way she could outrace him.

  He was right behind her now and she bent down, thinking she could repeat the movement from the under room, ducking under his arm and eluding him once again. But this time he anticipated her move and he grabbed her around the waist, tossing her in front of him so that she landed on her hands and knees.

  Venise twisted and turned as he put his body over hers, pushing them deeper into the water. She hated to admit it, but this rough behavior was turning her on. Wetness had formed inside her and she imagined him mounting her and riding her in a very primitive way.

  “Did I not tell you that you were mine?” He pushed the tunic up, exposing the breeches she wore. She gasped when she felt the cold steel of the knife against her skin. She heard the pants fabric tear and imagined him using the knife to make a nick so he could tear them the rest of the way.

  He was inside her in seconds, pushing hard into her wet folds, claiming her with actions that backed up his words that she was “his.” His thrusts were hard and jerky, the pressure making her clit pulse with desire.

  Damn but this felt incredible. She rolled her head from side to side, her hair getting wet. Then she threw her head around, the wet strands slapping her as he continued to pound into her. His thrusts drove his cock deep inside her, sliding back and forth over that sweet spot that made her feel as if she were losing her mind.

  Hard, wonderful strokes drove her on, and when he
wrapped his hands in her hair and tugged, she came, her orgasm slamming into her with such force that she felt as if she might split in two.

  Rugoff’s cry of triumph mixed with his climax and she felt him fill her, the warmth spreading through her as he clasped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder. Her legs and arms trembled, as they remained locked together for several long, satisfying moments.

  Then he left her, making her feel alone and abandoned. He pulled her to her feet and turned her, clasping her face in his hand and kissing her deeply, his tongue claiming her as it never had before.

  She melted into his arms, feeling warm and wanted.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No.” She glanced up at him. “I suppose that was your Viking self, reminding me of your true nature.”

  His deep chuckle made her laugh. “That was me, claiming you, yes.”

  “You can claim me again and again. I loved it.”

  “And I love you.” He kissed her forehead and pulled her head against his hard chest. “I’m sorry your plan to leave didn’t work.”

  “I don’t care.” She rubbed her cheek against him. “If I stay here forever, at least I know I’ll be here with you. It only matters that we’re together.”

  “I love you, too.”

  She’d never heard sweeter words in her life, and she knew that, even if they were stuck in this hellhole, at least they had each other to depend on.

  Epilogue

  Mrs. Westergard’s eyes filled with tears. How long had it taken her to find a way to help her suffering sons? The repercussions of her husband’s betrayals ran deep.

  She’d left her husband’s court when her sons had disappeared. She’d known what had happened, and she’d tried as hard as she could to find a solution, to find a way to bring her sons back; all to no avail.

  It wasn’t long after she left that she heard the emerald had disappeared, and that her husband blamed her, and was on a search to recover it, and punish her for taking what was his.

  Soon afterward she’d found the witch’s sister, who had shown her the box that housed the emerald, told her she’d fashioned a lock with three keys and distributed them amongst Rugoff, Benedikt and Egill.

  “Your husband killed my sister, and since the loss of his sons didn’t seem to bother him, I took what did matter the most. The emerald. He will know what happens to it, and once a cycle, he will be forced to battle his sons for the keys. If he can beat them, the emerald will be his. If not, he will suffer time and time again.”

  Mrs. Westergard had tried to convince the witch that her husband wasn’t the only one suffering. Her sons were stuck in limbo. Alone.

  And so the witch had proposed a solution. If the sons could find their true loves, and could face one final battle when the three of them would fight against their father, then they would be released.

  So Gunnmarr’s queen had changed to Mrs. Westergard, endowed with ultimate powers and eternal life from the witch’s sister, who took pity on her as she cried for her sons. She’d then gone on a hunt, using ancient tomes and modern day spells to search for the three women destined to be her sons’ mates.

  And finally she’d found them. She closed her eyes as Rugoff’s contentment settled over her. He was happy as he held the sweet, willing woman who loved him in his arms. They were together, which meant all that needed to happen was to unite Benedikt and Egill with their loves, and watch as they defeated their father.

  A knock on the door pulled her from her musings. She hurried to the door and pulled it open.

  “Come in, come in,” she said as she motioned the young woman who stood there to hurry inside. “You must be Lilliana. We have much to do, so don’t dawdle, child. Come in and have a seat in my very special chair.”

  Author’s Note

  Writing is a solitary business, as everyone knows. But it takes more than a writer to make a book. In this case, the series that will feature the sons of Gunnmarr: Rugoff, Benedikt and Egill, started with a phone call from my editor one night.

  I was sitting at my computer, as is often the case, my fingers gliding over the keys when the phone rang. She opened the conversation with “Oh My God. You have got to see this photo.”

  She directed me to my inbox where I found the photo that went on to become the cover of Captured. I was enthralled, to say the least. We spent the next two hours (thanks given at this point for cell phone companies that allow customers with the same firm to talk for free) discussing plots and characters and looking at other photos we could use for the series.

  The first result of that conversation is the story you have just read. It should be noted at this point that, no matter how much planning goes into a story, my finished product is always different that what I intended it to be. It turned from a Viking only story to a Viking that had been banished to another world by a witch, and has to be rescued by his soul mate.

  Times that by three and you have Captured, Enslaved and Hunted, featuring Rugoff and Venise; Benedikt and Lilliana; and Egill and Abella. Each brother and their newfound lover have to come to terms with their life as it is to escape to a better place. The stories build one on top of the other until the three brothers are reunited in Hunted, and face their final battle together.

  I hope you’ll enjoy meeting the three brothers and their ladies, since I know I loved creating them.

  Thanks to my editor, Tiff, for her never-ending patience, and to Leigh and Jess for the same thing. I also want to offer my thanks to my friends who don’t mind when, in the middle of a conversation about various topics I blurt out, “What do you think about this for a plot point?”

  In Captured, Venise and Rugoff have a fun time reading Ticket Me More by Tia Fanning, one of my best friends and a wonderful author. As a side plug, this title is available at Resplendence Publishing and it is great fun.

  Take care until next month when you will get to meet Lilliana and Benedikt.

  Happy reading!

  Mel

  About the Author

  Melinda Barron loves to explore Egyptian tombs and temples, discover Mayan ruins, play in castles towers, and explore new cities and countries. She generally does it all from the comfort of her home by opening a book.

  Melinda loves to lose herself between the pages of a book. The only thing she loves more is creating stories from the wonderful heroes and heroines that haunt her dreams and crowd her head. She believes love is for everyone, not just those who are a size 2. Her books are full of magic, suspense and love, in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

  Mel currently lives in the Texas Panhandle with two cats and a file stuffed with new ideas to keep her typing fingers busy, and your heart engaged.

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  Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down

  With no love life to
speak of, BBW Anya Bartholomew lives only for her job. This dedication has paid off. As a successful advertising agent, she has risen in the ranks of her firm to be the top money-maker.

  But at the insistence of her two best friends, who claim she needs a break from work, Anya takes a weekend vacation to the small town of Pleasant, Maine. While shopping at an antique shop, she rubs a lamp that looks as if it could belong to Aladdin himself.

  Things will never be the same.

  Back at work on Monday morning, Anya finds that her boss has given her a new account…for a lamp factory. However, her clients—two very handsome, very sexy men—are more than what they seem.

  They’re Pleasure Djinn. And they have come to fulfill five of Anya’s most secret sexual wishes.

  Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure

  Advertising agent Aliya Baban is beautiful with a capital B. Unfortunately, she’s also a witch with a capital B. In her twenty-eight years of life, she’s managed to offend almost every woman she has ever met.

  But she doesn’t care, really. That’s just the way life is.

  When her boss tells her to get the Cave of Pleasure account, or else get a new job, Aliya takes her party invitation—and the strange lamp she’s received—and attends the nightclub’s grand opening, ready to do battle for her livelihood.

  Matuse is more than just the owner of the Cave of Pleasure…he’s a pleasure djinni. And Aliya has rubbed his lamp. For the next thirty days, she belongs to him. Though he intends to bring intense pleasure to her body, it’s also his job to make sure his “she-devil” changes her wicked ways.