Britta's eyes opened slowly and the horror of the last moments before she lost consciousness replayed in her mind's eye. The sight of Tork struck down by the blaster, lying helpless on the ground, brought tears to her eyes. She gave up trying not to cry as she thought about all she had lost in only a few short moments. This was all her fault.
She had finally come to a place in her life where she was happy. She had found a new home, new friends and a man who she loved more than anything. Now it was all gone. It was more than she could bear.
Tolpek must have heard her moving around and got up to check on her. Since their last encounter, he'd become wary of her. Grabbing the hypo spray, he leaned in the cell and dosed her again.
The next thing she knew bright light was shining on her face. Britta tried to open her eyes, but the light made her head hurt. She groaned, grabbing the sides of her throbbing skull in an attempt to slow the pounding. It was then she realized she was no longer tied up. She put her hand up to shade her eyes and looked around the room. She was home, no not home anymore. She was at her parent's house. Tolpek had done his job well. Britta sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She was starving and needed to get something to eat. Then she would deal with her father.
Britta was sitting at the table in the kitchen eating when her mother came in. Her mother stood at the door watching her for a moment, then slowly walked into the room and sat down across the table from her.
"It looks like you haven't eaten in days."
"Instead of waiting for me to wake and try to attack him, Tolpek decided to keep me out the whole way back. I guess he felt a hell of a lot better knowing I wouldn't be able to slit his throat when he wasn't looking."
Trina thought that was probably what had happened. Bounty hunters were not known for taking care of the quarry once they had been captured. All they had to do was bring them in alive, feeding them wasn't a high priority.
After Britta sat back from her plate, Trina reached across the table and squeezed her daughters’ hand. “I am sorry.” She said. “I tried to keep him from sending people after you, but he did so behind my back. When you did not call in for a couple of days I panicked and had to tell him everything. Those fanatics on Tul overran the spaceport and began a small war with the authorities and royal family. I told him what I knew and he sent a bounty hunter after you.” Trina was quiet as she waited for her daughter to absorb all of this. She could not take the idea that Britta might not forgive her. Her daughter meant so much to her.
"What happened?” Trina asked softly. She was shocked to see tears gather and begin to fall from her daughter's eyes.
"I was kidnapped by a total barbarian and married to him within a day. I didn't even know we had been married until later. Then, when I got to know him, I fell in love. Mom, you would have loved him. He sees only the best in me. He gave me everything I wanted or needed and.... “She couldn't continue.
"I will take care of your father."
Britta looked up and stared at her mother in utter despair. “No mother, it's not possible"
"I don't understand"
"Tolpek killed Tork. My husband is dead."
With those words Britta tipped her head back, trying not to sob. The tears pooled in her eyes as her mother looked on helplessly. Trina sat back not knowing what to say. There were no words to comfort Britta, that much her mother knew. So she got up and walked around the table and helped Britta to stand. Holding her by her shoulders she walked her to her room, turned the lights off and left.
* * * *
Klist was in the sitting area of his personal rooms when his wife came in. “How is she?” he asked.
"How could you? I begged and begged you not to send bounty hunters after her. I told you they were no good, but all you could think about was yourself. You just wanted to have your ‘little’ girl home. Well, she hasn't been little for some time now and she may never talk to any of us again.” Trina's voice ended on a high note and she turned giving her back to her husband trying to regain control of her emotions.
"What happened? Did that Bounty hunter hurt her? I'll have his head. There's no place he can hide from me."
"Oh shut up!” yelled Trina. Klist's eyes widened and his jaw almost dropped. Trina never spoke to anyone like that, and as a rule never raised her voice. “Your bounty hunter brought her back unharmed physically. Your outrageous bounty took care of that. But do you want to know what happened while Britta was away? She fell in love. She met a man who cared more about her than anything else. He made her happy. They even got married. When your bounty hunter showed up to take her home, her husband tried to protect her. And do you want to know what happened? Do you?” Trina shouted at him in anger.
Klist did not want to know. He already knew the answer. It was the same thing he would have done in his younger years, act first think later.
"Well, do you?” demanded Trina. “He killed him. Britta's husband was killed in front of her—by the man you sent!” Her anger having drained her strength from her, Trina sat on the bed. “She will never forgive us."
* * * *
Britta spent the rest of the day asleep. In the morning she still did not feel any better. The stress of the trip back to Malach while sedated must have been too much for her body. She was still tired and groggy. Trying not to mope in her room, she went out into the courtyard to sit under her favorite Yarmilla tree. The bright pink flowers were blooming, and the sight cheered her up just a little bit.
Hearing footsteps and looked up. Her mother was walking towards her.
"How are you feeling this morning?” She asked.
"I'm tired and I don't feel too well. It must be all those drugs Tolpek gave me wearing off."
"Why don't you go use the med unit? It will clear all of the sleep agents out of your system and get rid of your headache. Maybe you'll feel better. After that, I'll make us a nice lunch and we can eat out here. Your father is picking up your brothers. They somehow managed to get caught up on that mess on Tul and had to hop a freighter home.
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure, something about a card game, the ownership papers for their runner and a slave. They should be grateful your father is home this week other wise I would have made them walk home from the freight terminal. That's the third runner in two years they've lost. Anyway, go on while I make lunch and then you can tell me all about you adventure ok?"
Britta thought about it for a moment, then got up and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks mom. I'll be back in a little bit.” Britta turned and walked away. Not knowing the look on her mother's face was one of worry.
The med unit was on the ground floor of the house in its own room. Britta's brothers were always coming home injured, and when they were little her mother finally broken her dad down and made him buy one. Her mother had been afraid that one day they would come home grievously injured and it would take too long to transport them to the nearest medical facility.
Stepping into the med unit Britta closed the door and waited for it to finish. The lid pushed open a few seconds later and she did feel much better.
But it wasn't long after she had lunch with her mother that her headache started to come back.
"Britta, he's so torn up about this. He was up nights worrying. You know how he hates not being in control. It drove him crazy when he didn't know where you were.” Her mother's voice held a pleading tone, hoping her daughter would realize how truly upset her father had been over her absence.
"That's his own fault and you know it. I hadn't been let outside of this compound without an armed guard or those brothers of mine my entire life. You knew how I felt, otherwise you wouldn't have helped me leave."
"I know, but he's sorry about what happened to your husband, he loves you more than anything. You know your father has always acted first and thought later, especially when it concerns those he loves. Please try to forgive him, if not at least talk to him. Your father seems really strong, but he can
't handle the guilt. Remember, all he wanted to do was get you home safe and sound."
"I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt me, but he still did. I don't even want talk to him, and I'm definitely not ready to forgive him.” Britta looked at her mother knowing that in some small way she also played a role in the tragedy, this could have been avoided if she would have confronted her father rather than running away. “I will talk to him, but only for you mother. I don't promise anything other than that."
"That's all I can ask for then. Just give him a chance to say that he's sorry."
They were still in the garden an hour later when they heard the sound of a large ship approaching. Britta stood up and spotted a large cruiser coming in a breakneck speed.
This was not her father's Runner. “Mom, get the blasters and call for help!” She yelled. “Someone's attacking!"
Trina turned and ran. Klist kept a Comm relay in their home always at the ready. It was only to be used in an emergency. She activated it, then grabbed the blasters in the closet and ran back to find her daughter. When she came around the corner she saw her daughter lying limp on the floor surrounded by twenty or more huge men, all armed to the teeth.
* * * *
Tork hardly spared a glance at the small female as she came around the corner. He barely paid any attention to her. His mate was lying on the floor unconscious. She had fainted dead away when she had seen him. Fear for her health had replaced the joy he felt when he first saw her.
Picking her up gently he cradled her in his arms. Tears forming in his eyes as noticed her pallor.
"Britta, wake up for me.” Stroking her cheek, he prayed for her eyes to open. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Karn bending down beside him.
"Tork, she just fainted from the shock. Give her a moment to breathe."
The pain at losing her had become almost unbearable. The trip to Malach nerve wracking. She was all he had been able to think about for days, fearing every leg of the journey here for her safety. Knowing he had failed her made it even worse
Staring, he saw her eyes flicker open. She moaned softly and looked up into his eyes. Tork crushed her to his chest and squeezed her.
Britta opened her eyes and saw a man she thought was dead.
"You're alive.” She whispered. “I thought he killed you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she relived that moment in her mind.
"Only stunned unconscious, I woke up a few hours later and came after you. I told you I would never let you leave me.” His arrogance made her laugh and she threw her arms around his neck.
"I'll never leave you willingly. Not ever.” Leaning back she looked at the torque around his neck and smiled. She reached up, grabbed the torque, and said the words he though he might never hear from her.
"Mate of my heart, take this as you have taken my love. I will wear this as a sign of my love.” Placing the torque around her neck she looked at Tork and smiled. She leaned in to kiss him when the sound of someone clearing their throat broke the silence around them.
"I hate to break this up, but we have a problem."
Turning around, Britta spied her mother, armed with blasters right behind her.
"Mom! He's alive."
"I can see that dear, but you might want to think about...” Her words trailed off a she heard Klist's Runner roar overhead. Within seconds, she heard the laser cannons discharge and an explosion as Tork's ship was hit. Britta and her mother both cringed. Her father was a very calm man, but when upset his anger was something fierce. These days the only thing that upset him was a threat to his family. The coming confrontation would not be pretty.
Klist del Mar entered the house with his guns drawn and ready. Britta quickly went around Tork and stood in front of him. She would have to talk fast so that nobody would get hurt.
"Father, put down the guns and meet your new son-in-law.” Brittia tried to smile at her father to diffuse his obvious anger.
Chapter 9
Britta had been tense as she watched her father march Tork into his office. He had not taken the surprise entrance of his new son in law very well. It didn't help that the small army Tork had brought with him had held her father down after he punched Tork. The door had slammed shut, and not a sound had come out of it for over an hour. When it opened again Tork and her father came out. Neither one of them was smiling, but it was better than someone ending up shot. Nothing could compare to the relief she felt when she realized the two of them had come to an understanding.
Britta went over and hugged them both. Before she could say a word though Tork took her by the arm, and with a grin pulled her towards his ship.
"Wait! I have to..."
"I want to know that all is well with you. I have been worried sick for days and need to make sure you're alright.” Tork walked and talked and in a blink she was in his cabin. She'd been so busy staring at him she hadn't notice them leave the house.
When the door slid closed behind them Tork turned to face her. She could see he was holding himself back, not wanting to overwhelm her with his ardor. He leaned down and kissed her and lost whatever control he had.
Britta's body burned for him. She needed to touch him, to reassure herself he was real, and her nightmare was over. He had come back to her, and she would never let him go. Her arms wound around his neck as she pressed her hips against his. His groan echoed in the confines of the small room. It was her only warning as he pulled back from her. Tork brought his hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks. They then slid down her throat to the neckline of her gown, and with one smooth rip she was naked in front of him.
Britta gasped, but soon got into the spirit as she reached for his pants. He had already started on them, and her hands met his as they struggled to free his cock. Britta stroked him through the fabric as he tried to open his pants. With a groan he pulled away forom her, freeing his straining member. He reached for her, yanking her into his arms. He forgot about the bed entirely and pressed her up against the wall. His large hands grabbed her by the hips and pulled her up so they were at eye level.
She could feel the tip of him pressing against her weeping core. Her channel was drenched and she wanted nothing more than to have him slide up inside her. Tork wasted no time in setting her down onto his cock. Bliss pulsed though them both as they were swept away in the fury of their joining.
Tork leaned into her and began moving in and out at a furious pace. The wet slapping of his body into hers echoed in the room along with their mixed groans. Britta could feel her channel gripping every inch of his cock. It was too much. She came with such a tremendous force she screamed his name. Gripping his arms, her nails dug into his flesh and her back arched as much as it could with her pressed up against the wall.
Her orgasm spurred him on. His pace became relentless as he strained to join her in bliss. With a hoarse cry, he thrust deep twice and held still as he poured himself into her clenching channel. Stunned by the force of their combined orgasm he leaned into the wall to catch his breath. Satisfied beyond belief, he turned and dropped them both onto the bed.
Britta's head rested on Tork's chest. His breathing had slowed, and he was almost purring in satisfaction. The last couple of days had been the most stressful of his life. He never wanted to go though something like that again. The need to reassure himself Britta was fine and unharmed from her kidnapping and voyage home had been overwhelming, but he had had to deal with his new and very angry father in law before he could properly say hello to his wife.
Tork just looked down at her and felt something in him give.
"I love you. Losing you, however briefly, had made my days unbearable."
"It was even worse for me. I thought you were dead. I didn't realize how hard I'd fallen in love until I saw Tolpek shoot you."
"I still can't believe you never told me you were a prince."
"I just wanted you to accept our mating before I told you."
"No, you wanted to make sure I'd accept you for yourself."
"Y
eah well, it might have helped things a little. I didn't appreciate finding out from your small army that I am a princess."
"I'm sorry sweetness."
"So what exactly happened between you and my father? I was so scared he would do something to you when you two disappeared into his office. He's not known for being nice."
Tork grunted in response
"I wasn't exactly at my best either. All I wanted to do was take you an empty room and sink into you. Instead I had to go and deal with one of the most feared men in the galaxy. It was not easy leaving you in the hallway."
"So everything is going to be fine then between you two?'
"Yes."
"Good, because I want to stay and visit my parents for a while before we go back to Rara."
All Tork could do was groan.
Author Bio
Georgia Thorne has loved reading and writing all of her life. Science fiction has having always been her favorite genre. “There are so many possibilities inherent in the genre. All you have to have is a little imagination."
Georgia lives near Charlotte, NC with her family and computer.
For more information on books available
Please visit us at
www.4girlspublishing.com
Also be sure when you drop by our website to sign up for our newsletter. Four Girls Publishing's 411 lets readers in on the latest books being released by Four Girls Publishing as well as contests, author chats and more.
We would also like to invite you to our monthly chats with the publisher and authors of Four Girls Publishing. Our chats are held the first Saturday of every month.
* * * *
* * * *
Leaving home to explore the galaxy hasn't exactly gone the way Britta expected. Stranded at an isolated port on a remote mining planet with no hope of getting a job anytime soon, she thought things just couldn't get any worse. But when a barfight lands her at the feet of Tork Ro'den her days of running across the galaxy are about to be curtailed.
The Running Mate Page 6