by Sasha Gold
“Is that good?” she asked.
His shoulders moved gently up and down with each breath and he nodded.
“Now what, Ragnar. I need you to tell me what to do.”
He beckoned her to the edge of the bed. She did as she was told and sat before him, looking up at him as she awaited his next command.
“Undress me,” he rasped.
Her heart thudded against her ribs as she pulled his briefs down. She’d been teasing him with her attempt at a sultry voice, but she hadn’t been prepared for the hard reality of her situation. The very hard reality was at eye level now, directly in front of her. She’d never seen a man’s erection before. Ragnar’s cock was as thick as her wrist and longer than… she wasn’t even sure, but he was immense.
Unable to stop the wave of panic swirling inside her, she edged away.
“S’all right,” he said, stroking her jaw.
She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat.
He ran his hand down the back of her head and grasped her hair. Winding it slowly around his hand, he tilted her head back and drew her closer. “Put your hands on me. When you’re ready.”
She lifted her hands to his shaft and touched him. He snarled.
His shaft was iron, yet the skin was velvet soft and she let out a huff of surprise as she brushed her fingers along his length.
“Is this right?” she asked.
“I think so,” he said from between gritted teeth.
“You don’t know?”
He shook his head. “You’re the first woman I’ve touched.”
A warmth filled her chest. She’d imagined that he’d been with scores of women. He’d never been touched. The idea made her thoughts spin. She was his first.
“What should I do next?” she asked.
He laughed breathlessly. “I’ve read that a woman can put a man’s cock in her mouth.”
She giggled. “I think you’re making that up.”
“I swear, Natasha. I’ll show you the book.” He shuddered as her fingers brushed over the head of his cock. “I’ll read it to you.”
“If you’re lying to me, Ragnar…”
He closed his eyes. “I’ve imagined my mate accepting me into her mouth a thousand times. I’d rather fuck you, but I want this too.”
The look on his face made her doubts fade. If she could show him a fraction of the pleasure he’d given her, it would please her. Tremendously. In the dim light of dawn, she could make out a drop of fluid at the tip of his cock and she leaned forward, tugged the shaft down to her mouth tentatively and licked it.
He tightened his hold on her hair. “Natasha…”
The sound of her name on his lips emboldened her. She wrapped her lips around him and sucked him just as he’d done to her breast. With her hair coiled around his hand, he moved her back and forth so she had no choice but to take more of his cock into her mouth. Lifting her gaze, she saw the expression on his face. His eyes glittered as he watched her suck him. The look on his face filled her with pleasure.
His breathing grew faster and uneven. He moved her back and forth a little faster and to her astonishment, his cock swelled even more inside her mouth. She moaned softly, wordlessly pleading with him not to make her take too much of his length.
“I’m close, Natasha. You’re so beautiful.”
A savage snarl tore from his throat and his cock jerked between her lips. Semen hit the back of her throat. She swallowed, taking everything he gave her, until he was spent.
He released her hair and let out a low groan, pushing her back to the bed. Gathering her in his arms, he collapsed beside her. They lay side-by-side in the quiet of dawn.
“You’re mine, Natasha. Our meeting was no accident.”
She smiled.
He stroked her jaw and kissed her. “And what you just did to me, or for me, was a precious gift. Thank you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ragnar
The spring morning felt unseasonably cool. Ragnar wondered if his mother might be chilled despite the sunshine. He motioned for her nurse to take her a shawl and inquire if Natasha wanted something to cover her bare arms. His mother and Natasha stood at the far side of the terrace, looking at his mother’s roses.
His mother had asked to be brought to breakfast, surprising both Gunnar and Ragnar. Neither could remember the last time she’d left her chambers. She looked happy and vivacious and had even walked a little, holding Natasha’s arm as they strolled amongst the flowerbeds.
“You’re showing me up.” Gunnar sat across the table, devouring a mountain of food. “As the older brother, I was supposed to find my mate after Thorsen, but before you.”
“If you’d agree to delegate the search for the pirate, you could spend time seeking out your mate instead.”
Gunnar shook his head. “The man has stolen two shipments of Rhenium and three shipments of Iridium.”
Ragnar kept his gaze fixed on Natasha. In the past, the subject of mineral piracy had incensed him, but he could hardly summon any anger now. All he wanted was to make her his. To claim her so that he could formally take her as his wife. Once she was with child, he could announce the match and make the happy news known across the realm.
“Would you like to know the worst part?” Gunnar asked.
“Worst part of what?”
“Are you even listening to me?”
Ragnar tore his attention from Natasha and turned to his brother. “I’m listening. What’s the worst part?”
“I’m talking about the bastard who is stealing from Jaegarian coffers.”
“Of course.”
Gunnar rolled his eyes. “He leaves me notes, gloating about how easy it is to steal from me.”
Ragnar lifted his goblet both to take a drink and to hide his smile. He could picture his brother seething as he read the thief’s taunts. Neither he nor his brothers liked to lose. And here, Gunnar was not only losing, but the thief mocked him too. Gunnar probably lay awake at nights fuming about it.
“I’ve set traps for him, but I’ve never gone on any of the transport ships. The pirate outsmarts my crews. I don’t know how he manages to outwit them but he does. He boards the vessel and teleports the minerals to his ship and vanishes without a trace.
“Does he harm any of the crew?”
Gunnar shook his head. “Not yet. But that might change.”
“No trace of him on surveillance?”
“None.”
“Have you spoken to Thorsen?”
“No.”
At the mention of their brother’s name, Gunnar flinched. Thorsen, the eldest of the three brothers, lived on the distant outpost of Minos, where the majority of the Jaegarian minerals were mined. It had been years since he’d stepped foot on Jaegar.
An explosion at a mine left him scarred and bitter. The accident happened not long after their father died. Thorsen had been visiting the mine. Despite his injuries, he rescued a dozen people from the collapsed tunnels.
Ragnar was certain his mother would scheme to get her eldest son to come home for his and Natasha’s Tidings. She mourned not only her husband, but Thorsen, too. His brother had taken on a self-imposed exile because of his disfigurement. The scars weren’t that bad, but Thorsen couldn’t bear the way people stared and whispered.
“Maybe Thorsen could help,” Ragnar said. “He would have some idea as to who might want such large quantities of certain minerals.”
“Our mother has spoken to him, hoping he’d come home to address the situation. He told her he had his own troubles. I don’t want to ask for help. Not from him.”
Ragnar jerked to face his brother. “You still want me to help you?”
“I do. I want to travel with the next shipment and catch the man stealing from me.”
Ragnar’s loyalty to his brothers ran deep, but Gunnar’s request wasn’t anything he wanted to consider. Not now. Not when he had his lovely, soft, sensuous mate to seduce. Gunnar stared, unblinking, probably shocke
d that Ragnar didn’t jump at the chance to chase down the scoundrel robbing the Jaegarian fleet.
“I’m busy,” he said, tilting his head toward Natasha.
Gunnar’s jaw dropped and he narrowed his eyes as he snapped his mouth shut. “You coward. You’re going to stay home with your woman while I go and defend the realm?”
“Correct. I have priorities.”
“I heard you didn’t get to keep your winnings from Andromeda. That a Vrandarian made sure you didn’t receive the purse.”
Ragnar shrugged. “True. It was Riddeal. If I hadn’t scented my mate I might have hunted him down and killed him for it.”
“The man’s gloating that the Andromedins are afraid of him and sacrificed your winnings to appease him.”
Ragnar gritted his teeth. He hadn’t thought about the winnings or Vrandarians or much of anything since he discovered Natasha was his mate. Gunnar baited him, but Ragnar didn’t want to argue or fight with his brother, not in front of Natasha. In his wolf form, he’d frightened her once before. If she witnessed him embroiled in a battle with his brother, she might be more afraid than ever. Two wolves locked in a battle would overwhelm any woman who hadn’t grown up on Jaegar. Inside, his wolf snarled and grew restless.
“If you had your mate, Gunnar, you’d understand. That’s what you need. Your Prima.”
“I’ll find her once I can rest easy at night. If you won’t go with me, I’ll have to take more extreme measures.”
“Such as?”
Gunnar pushed his empty plate aside and a servant hurried to the table to remove it. When she’d left, he spoke quietly. “I intend to send the ship into space, teleport the crew off and when movement is detected blow the ship up.”
Ragnar shook his head slowly. The plan would eliminate a problem but at a heavy price. They’d sacrifice a transport ship and risk the well-being of the crew. That didn’t sit well with Ragnar.
“You’ve issued a death sentence to a thief? Seems harsh. Even for you.”
Gunnar sat back in his chair and gave him a smug look. “You’d agree if you saw the last note the thief left me.”
“I doubt it.”
“It pertains to the girl.”
“What girl?’
Gunnar tilted his head toward Natasha and smirked. “That one.”
“She’s my mate.” Ragnar snarled, a low, deep sound of warning.
“If you say so. Up until a few days ago, she was a Maiden and I imagine she showed no signs of fertility. I’ll believe it when you breed her.”
Gunnar’s words hit like a Jaegarian war hammer. Natasha had grown a little taller. She’d blossomed from a beautiful girlish female to a lovely, lush woman. He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his days with her and have a family, but hearing Gunnar’s taunt made him realize he wanted her even if she couldn’t give him young.
He’d been drawn to her from the moment he laid eyes on her. She was the reason he’d been called to Andromeda for their Blood Games. He’d been looking for Natasha all along.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Ragnar said. He wasn’t certain if Natasha would be able to carry his child but he wouldn’t give his brother the satisfaction of appearing anything less than dead certain. “What did the note say?”
He was sure there hadn’t been any mention of Natasha on the pirate’s note. How could a stranger know about her, or that she was on Jaeger? He hadn’t made the existence of his mate public. Not yet. The Maidens who had come to Doranna thought she was dead.
“That we won’t be able to keep her.” Gunnar took a small piece of parchment from his pocket and pushed it across the table.
Ragnar picked it up, unfolded it slowly and read the words. The girl doesn’t belong to your people. Send her back to Andromeda where she belongs, or I’ll come for her and take her myself. Thank you for your kind donation to a fine cause.
Ragnar read the words again, his mind unwilling to accept their meaning. How could anyone know about Natasha? Was the pirate Vrandarian? Why would he insist she return to Andromeda?
He returned the paper to his brother. “They can’t have her back.”
Gunnar shrugged and put the note in his pocket. “Maybe she has a lover.”
A grip of jealousy clenched his chest. Red mist filled his vision. No, she didn’t have a lover. He was certain, but perhaps she had an admirer. He’d need to guard her carefully and he’d need to claim her soon, as soon as possible to make sure she’d see that her place was by his side.
“I’ll help you load the explosives onto the transport,” Ragnar growled. “How soon can we launch?”
Gunnar smiled. “You really do love the tiny Andromedin, don’t you?”
“Don’t talk about Natasha that way. Just because you haven’t found your mate doesn’t mean I’ll let you mock her.”
Gunnar rose and tapped his chest. “Warms my heart.”
Ragnar was filled with a desire to put his fist through something, preferably his brother’s grinning face, but he held back. Now was not the time for fighting or letting off aggression. Now was the time to be careful and cunning and to allow his wolf’s instincts to guide his every action.
Chapter Fifteen
Natasha
Ever since Natasha had begun flight training, she exercised vigorously daily. Fitness was important to her personally and as a pilot. After days of what felt like confinement inside the palace walls, she told Birgitta she needed to exercise. Preferably outdoors, in the glorious Jaegar sunshine.
Birgitta sent for clothing that would be suitable. A servant took her to an exercise field where some young men sparred. Each man had a telum strapped to his waist. Despite the sophisticated weapon, they practiced the old ways. Natasha couldn’t help but be impressed by their skill.
The servant took her to the leader of the regiment. He was polite, but she detected a hint of bemusement that she, a woman, wanted to exercise. He took her to the edge of the field where a sheer rock wall soared high above her.
“My Lord Ragnar would not allow an Andromedin guest to spar with our men, especially a woman, but perhaps you might enjoy climbing. Rock climbing is hard work, mentally and physically.”
She could tell from the hint of condescension in his voice, he doubted her ability to scale the wall. With a smile, she studied the face of the cliff. Here and there the wall had nooks and ledges that would support her. If she could manage to bridge the distance between the small supports, she could reach the top.
The young man helped her into a safety harness and attached her to a grid of safety ropes.
She began her journey up the face of the cliff. Sweat dripped from her brow. When her fingers grew damp, she paused to wipe the moisture on her shirt. Slowly, steadily she mounted the wall. By the time she reached the top, her legs shook. Had the young man watched her?
Pulling up to sit on the ledge, she looked down. The entire regiment gathered at the bottom of the cliff. With a laugh, she waved to them. For a moment, there was no response, and then a cheer erupted from the group.
As much as she wanted to get back down to see the looks on their faces, she lingered at the top. The majestic view filled her with happiness. The light on Jaegar was bright, yet soft, and somehow it changed her mood. She imagined sharing the view with Ragnar and then with Elise.
The pang of sorrow stung her heart.
With a sigh, she descended the cliff. By the time she reached the bottom, she no longer thought of her sister. The young soldiers clapped and cheered for her. After she unsnapped the harness, she bowed and laughed.
She jogged back to the castle and returned to her room. When she stepped inside her room, strong arms grabbed her. The next instant she landed on the bed. Vaguely she was aware of Ragnar’s playful laugh.
“What do we have here?” he growled in her ear.
Her instincts kicked in and her training was quick to follow. With a hard jab, she jerked her elbow sideways, connecting with the bend in his arm. He collapsed with a huff of sur
prise and she rolled away in time to avoid him landing on her. She followed with another jab to his ribs. Nothing that would bruise or injure him, but one that would gain her some distance. Her thoughts muddled, she couldn’t conceive of him as Ragnar. She simply responded to the feeling of threat.
Ragnar was quick to recover and rolled to his side and frowned. “Is that how you greet your mate, Natasha?”
He pushed her back to the bed and tried to grab her by the wrists. He managed to catch them but not before she landed a smack on his shoulder.
He laughed, his voice rough with desire. “I like the games you play.”
She twisted beneath him, trying to wrench free, but to no avail. “You’re lucky I didn’t crack one of your ribs.”
“Did I frighten you?”
His bemused tone made her grit her teeth. She tried to wrench free again but only drew another soft chuckle from him.
“You startled me,” she muttered. “I don’t like to be surprised.”
He loosened his grip on her wrists and kissed her temple. “I’m sorry, Natasha. I won’t frighten you again even though I like tussling with you.”
He leaned closer. “And I like how you look in your exercise garb. I heard you climbed the cliff on the field.”
“I did. Easily.”
He stroked her jaw. “Next time I’ll go with you.”
“And climb with me?”
“If you like. Or to watch. I would like that too.”
Her muscles relaxed and she allowed herself to savor the feel of his mouth on her neck. He was so gentle, trailing kisses along the tender expanse of her neck. She sighed. How could this infuriating man make her anger evaporate with a simple kiss? He liked to look at her? No one had ever told her that and she was tempted to ask for more.
With dismay, she realized she wanted to invite more flattery from him. Even more surprising, she realized how much she’d missed him last night. Her attendants had helped her get ready for bed. They’d mended the fire so the room was warm, but without him, she’d been cold all night. Countless times she’d woken and reached for him to find the bed empty.
“Where were you last night?” she asked softly.