To Vex A Valkyrie

by Jane Cousins

  Fen had a really bad feeling about this, that smile was still lurking at the edges of Brodie’s mouth, but what alternative did he have? They needed to sleep, and he’d kill for a shower. His place was isolated, expendable, and would minimise the risk of innocent bystanders getting caught in the cross fire if their mystery Firebug hurled another super heated rock their way.

  The high beams lit up the silver birch trees that lined his driveway, their canopies of bright green leaves fluttering in the night breeze. Fen slowed the car to a crawl. The driveway was rutted and in serious need of repair. It was on his list of things to do… the very, very long list.

  A dim external light cast shadows across the sagging porch. At one time the place had been a pineapple farm belonging to a distant Great-Great Aunt and Uncle of his. But the majority of the land had been sold off long ago and the house, now standing on only four acres of land, had fallen into disrepair after his relatives moved into the Retirement Village, located next to the Marina.

  The place had originally been painted white, and where it hadn’t peeled away, the remaining paint was now a dull cloudy colour. The majority of the windows were boarded up. Wrought iron work was missing and a large dark coloured tarp had been secured to the roof, as a temporary measure to keep the place somewhat water tight.

  Brodie exited the car and stared at the house. “You didn’t tell me this squatter of yours was crazy?”

  Fen grinned as he studied the place. “Trust me, when I’m done, it’s going to be beautiful. Remind me to show you the plans some time, they’re at the Station.”

  “Sure.” For some reason Brodie felt happy, liking the way Fen so casually included her in his future. And yes, with the moon behind a cloud, if she squinted, she could kind of glimpse the potential in the wreck of a house that stood before her.

  “Come-” Fen stopped speaking as the front door swung open, and there stood his squatter, barely wearing a white baby-doll nightie.

  With the way she was back lit she might as well have opened the door naked, Brodie’s gut instantly began to churn once more with anger. She wanted to draw Reaper, stand in front of Fen and protect her man.

  What?

  Yes, Valkyries were territorial. But over their ale, their food and their weapons. Never a man. And yet here she was practically trembling with the desire to attack this woman. It was unacceptable. This being on holiday was making her soft. Fen was not hers. And she would never ever fight someone over a man.

  With an effort she uncurled her hands, and began taking slow measured steps towards the house. The closer she got the more details she could see of her rival.

  Rival? No, the only rivals she had were on the battlefield. This woman was nothing more to her than an impediment, a small annoying bump on the road to her completing the task of banging Fen and returning to her life.

  Her rewarding, wonderful, and very satisfying life.

  Fen’s squatter didn’t let a strange woman’s presence interrupt what was was obviously a scripted seduction. She was too busy thrusting back her shoulders, head cocked at a weird angle, exposing the long line of her neck. Her full lips were painted red, and she kept them slightly parted, breathing heavily and deeply. Bosom heaving under the all but transparent material of her nightie accordingly. The woman’s blue black hair was too artfully tousled, she must have spent an hour arranging it just so. The only thing missing was a director yelling action, so that the soft-core porn scene could commence.

  “Sweetheart.” Her voice was low and breathy. “You’re home.”

  Brodie’s head whipped around. She expected to find Fen looking glazed and possibly drooling. Surprisingly, he looked like he was trying not to cringe in embarrassment upon behalf of his deluded, uninvited, house guest. What a seriously nice guy.

  Huh? What an erroneous thought. It didn’t matter to her one way or the other what kind of man Fen was. Her only interest was in getting him naked. And then decidedly hot and sweaty.

  “Saffron, this is a colleague of mine, Brodie. We need a place to stay tonight.”

  Saffron quickly shifted her attention, scoping out Brodie from head to toe before dismissing her with a casual disregard that set Brodie’s teeth on edge. Okay, she wasn’t some half naked bimbo on the prowl, but she wasn’t exactly chopped liver either.

  “It’s your home, Fen. Any friend of yours is always welcome here.”

  Hmm, that throaty purr seriously made Brodie want to haul off and punch Saffron in the throat. Unfortunately, she’d promised no violence. Gritting her teeth, she followed Fen as he stepped into the house.

  “See the problem is, Saffron, that someone is tracking Brodie, causing trouble… fires. It’s not safe. So, maybe you could pack your-”

  “And you’re playing bodyguard?” Saffron’s tone said everything was suddenly made clear. “You’re so sweet, Fen, and brave.” This worshipful statement was followed by an epic storm of fluttering eyelashes that to Brodie, looked painful.

  “Not really. But Saffron, it’s too dangerous for you to stay here.”

  “Oh, I trust you to keep me safe.” Saffron stepped closer to Fen, all the better to give the man a front row view down her cleavage. “And besides, it’s far too late for me to find anywhere else to stay tonight.”

  “Oh.” Fen frowned and glanced at his watch.

  Brodie bit back a sigh. No way was Saffron budging from this house, especially now that Fen was here. “Saffron’s right. And I’m sure there’s plenty of room for all of us to stay.” She looked around dubiously at the distinct lack of furniture. A sagging long sofa off to one side, a dingy armchair next to it, and through an archway, in the next room, stood a large silk screening press, with colourful lengths of delicate material hanging from the ceiling. Fen had mentioned the woman was an artist. They had to be examples of her work.

  “Yeah, I suppose.” Fen rubbed wearily at the back of his neck. “You two can share the bed and I’ll take the sofa.”

  Saffron looked like she was about to lodge a protest but Brodie stepped up, wrapped an arm around the woman’s delicate shoulders and squeezed. “I’m sure that will be fine. Why don’t you go grab a shower whilst Saffron and I get to know each other a little better.”

  The women watched as Fen frowned for a moment, glancing between the two of them before muttering something under his breath and turning to head for the bathroom. As soon as the door closed behind him, Saffron grabbed Brodie’s arm and flung it away.

  “I don’t swing that way, so keep your over large paws to yourself.” Oh, now the real Saffron was coming out to play. No more breathy sex kitten voice, her words spat out from between clenched teeth. “You need to leave, Sasquatch. Fen’s finally home, and it should be obvious that he and I need some grown up alone time.”

  Brodie couldn’t help but laugh, the woman reeked of desperation. Stepping closer, looming, Brodie smiled, pulling back her shoulders, letting Saffron get the full frontal effect of her own impressive rack. The material of her navy tank top straining. “There are many perks to being a Valkyrie, first and foremost is… we never sag.” She arched an eyebrow, her gaze dropping to Saffron’s over exposed assets. Clearly being held aloft by underwire fitted into the nightie.

  “Oh…. you…” Hot colour flooded Saffron’s face.

  “Now.” Brodie leaned down so that they were eye level. “You and I are going to come to an understanding. You will remain a distance of three feet or more from Fen at all times. You can heave your bosom at him all you like, and flutter those lashes until you give yourself eye strain. But there will be no touching, no rubbing, no physical contact of any kind. Nod if you understand?”

  Saffron reluctantly nodded, anything to get the over large Valkyrie out of her face.

  “You will remain dressed in his presence at all times.”

  Saffron rolled her eyes.

  Brodie continued. “I’m warning you now water sprite. For any part of your body that you expose to Fen, I will meet and match that exposure.” Brodie c
ast a disdainful glance down Saffron’s unnaturally hiked up cleavage. “And I am willing to bet that you will come off second best by comparison.”

  “Fine.” Saffron agreed petulantly. “I don’t know why you can’t find your own man. I have dibbs, I saw him first. And we’re perfect. He’s fire, I’m water. Opposites attract you know.”

  Brodie shook her head. This woman didn’t know Fen at all. Fire was his job, not who he was. Fire was one dimensional, it consumed and it burned. It was single minded and destructive. Fen was none of those things. Which kind of weirded Brodie out. Since when had she ever cared about a man’s character? Generally, the only thing she’d ever looked for in a man was convenience. The fact that Fen was brave, strong and protective was irrelevant.

  Her head snapped around as the bathroom door opened and Fen stepped out, surrounded by a cloud of steam. He was wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips.

  Beside her, Saffron whimpered softly in appreciation and it was all Brodie could do not to echo the woman. Damn, the man had a body that was made for exploration. Eyeing the droplets of water still clinging to his broad shoulders, several carving a path down his muscular chest, Brodie suddenly felt as if she was dying of thirst and here, was the answer to her prayers.

  Sensing Saffron take a step forward, Brodie swung out an arm, locking it firmly but gently around the woman’s shoulders once more. All of Saffron’s earlier promises no doubt forgotten in the face of what could only be described as sheer masculine perfection.

  “Everything all right out here?” Fen studied the two women for scratch marks or bruises.

  That protective gleam in his eye restored Brodie’s balance somewhat. He’d obviously rushed his shower and charged out here to check up on the two of him. Damn his noble soul.

  “We’re fine.” Brodie managed to form the words, it was easier she found if she kept her focus on his handsome face. “Just getting to know each other. Right, Saffron?”

  Silence followed.

  Brodie squeezed Saffron slightly tighter. “Right, Saffron?”

  “Ur, yes… yes… we’re good… very good.” The throaty rumble was back in Saffron’s voice as she stared at Fen’s chest with clear avarice in her eyes.

  Brodie fought the urge to throttle the woman, a blaze of heat shot through her gut. She wanted to tear Saffron’s eyes out. Was this… could she be jealous? No, she didn’t indulge in petty, silly emotions such as jealousy.

  No, all she was feeling was protective of her only way out of this holiday nightmare. Sure, there were other men she could sleep with… Fen’s fire fighting colleagues, several of the Enforcers she’d met earlier today… except, none of them intrigued her like Fen did… no, not intrigued, bested her. None of them had bested her like Fen had.

  Honour dictated that Fen had won the right… the privilege, to fuck her. Though as she fought not to drop her gaze from his face, she couldn’t help but think that the privilege might be all hers. Damn, and she was still thirsty, as a drop of water rolled down his bare throat. Perhaps dying of thirst.

  What was this mysterious power that Fen seemed to command over her? Making her knees feel weak. Her gut fluttery. Her sex an aching furnace.

  “Well.” Fen’s cerulean eyes shifted from Brodie to Saffron, searching more intently for any sign of bruising. Finding none, he frowned slightly and then shook his head. “Saffron can show you where the bedroom is. Goodnight.”

  The women remained locked in place, powerless to do anything but soak up the sight of Fen’s bare muscular back, dotted with tiny droplets of water, retreat. Both of them issuing a small sigh as the bathroom door closed behind him.

  Brodie leaned down so that she could whisper into Saffron’s ear, resettling her arm so that it rested across the shorter woman’s throat. “I hope you can sleep in a headlock, Saffron. Just be warned, you step one foot out of bed tonight, and you’ll be losing that limb. Understand?”

  “I hate you.” Saffron whispered through clenched teeth.

  Brodie chuffed a laugh. “I’m a Valkyrie, everyone hates us. But if you are smart, you’ll find other prey.”

  “I won’t stand idly by.” Saffron grabbed Brodie’s arm still wrapped around her throat, and tried futilely to move it. When she finally stopped trying, Brodie released her. Saffron swung around, glaring up, anger flashing in those blue depths. “You’ll never get him to meld with you. I’ve been working on the man for months and he won’t buckle just because you have big tits and legs up to your armpits.”

  Brodie followed Saffron as she stomped out of the living room, down a dimly lit hallway, the old floorboards creaking ominously under her weight. The master suite was large, but empty of anything but a very large bed, covered by crisp high thread count sheets and a blue throw. In one corner, Saffron had created a makeshift clothes rack for her array of colourful flimsy attire.

  At least the bed was big enough. Brodie called on her shellan to change shape. Morphing into tiny pale blue sleep shorts covered with white fluffy clouds and a tiny matching pale blue tank top that exposed her midriff. Hmmm, the outfit was a little bit more brief than she usually wore. Perhaps her competitive spirit was asserting itself sub-consciously.

  “I don’t wish to meld with Fen.” Damn, why was she being so defensive?

  Saffron threw back the sheets, sending Brodie a disbelieving look as she climbed onto the bed. “No? So that wasn’t you standing next to me out there drooling?”

  Brodie lay down, punching the pillow beneath her head. “I didn’t say I didn’t want the man. I just need his body… for sex.”

  “Preaching to the choir.” Saffron scoffed, reaching over to turn off the lamp. With the three large windows in here all boarded up, the room was suddenly pitch black.

  Brodie suppressed an exasperated sigh. She was tired but she could practically hear Saffron laying beside her plotting, waiting. She almost couldn’t blame the woman. It had been cruel of Fen to parade himself in front of Saffron like that. And not just Saffron. She found herself picturing him standing there wearing nothing but a towel every time she closed her eyes. That uncomfortable furnace between her legs scorching hotter still.

  Damn the man, he was not only disturbing her during the daylight hours, with his stubborn resistance to her offer, thoughts of him were threatening to keep her awake. Determinedly she measured her breathing, slowing it down. She would not think about Fen. Would not think about what he might look like without the towel.

  Her hand shot out across the bed. Saffron issued a frightened ‘eek’.

  “I warned you what would happen if you tried to leave.” She yanked Saffron in close, wrapping an arm around the woman’s throat. With Saffron now safely trapped in a headlock, Brodie found her mind settling, her instincts relaxing.

  Tomorrow was a new day. Tomorrow she would find a way to conquer Fen. A bout of hot, sweaty sex and she could quit this place. Leave Fen to the amorous advances of Saffron. The woman was obviously tenacious. Would Fen eventually cave? Meld with the blue haired sex kitten? Why did that thought make her want to squeeze Saffron’s throat until the woman’s head popped off?

  She didn’t want Fen for anything more than a - wham bam, thank Freyja for Valkyries - session. What happened to him after that point was not any concern of hers, was it? And why was she suddenly doing all this thinking? Dealing with all these strange and unfamiliar emotions?

  She needed a battle. She needed a war. She needed to fight.

  Damn, and in order to do that she needed to have sex with Fen.

  And at that thought the furnace between her legs grew even hotter. By the Sword, what was it about the man that challenged her so much? And damn her Valkyrie soul, she’d never been able to resist a challenge.

  Chapter Eight

  Fen’s eyes shot open and he frowned, genuinely surprised he’d managed to get any sleep at all. He’d tossed and turned for what felt like hours last night, his cock aching and his mind churning. The idea of two gorgeous women sharing a bed…
his bed, even though he wasn’t in it… was a fantasy come true.

  Except in his imagination, every time he tried to picture naughty Sapphic fun times, all he could think about was Brodie’s long, long legs. Wondering what those magnificent breasts of hers would look like unfettered. Whether she’d be take-charge savage, or a willing partner when it came to sex.

  Shit, the Valkyrie threatened his precarious, hated, monk-like existence just through the sheer act of breathing. He’d met the woman barely thirty-six hours ago and she was twisting him into knots.

  It had been relatively easy being abstinent for the last year or so. It wasn’t ideal, but going without women… without sex, surprisingly it hadn’t kept him up at night. Hadn’t left him in a constant state of frustrated arousal. Not until thirty-six hours ago when a Valkyrie had stood before him, legs astride, sword raised, a challenging - come take me if you dare - look directed his way.

  And damn it, down to his bones, he did want to take her.

  Celibacy was easy he realised, when there was no temptation around. Now, there was Brodie. Not just around, but in his life twenty-four seven. He needed to find a way to ditch her, and ditch her fast. Finding the rock throwing Firebug seemed the most obvious option. But how could he investigate when all the evidence was at the Fire Station and the Chief had banned Brodie from coming within a two mile radius?

  Maybe she could spend another day at the Fitness Centre, training with Elijah and the Enforcers? Perhaps find someone there to replace him on her sex wish list. His gut tightened at the thought but he decided to blame that on hunger. He’d expended a lot of energy last night containing the fire in the car park, of course he was just hungry.

  Hmmm, but maybe there was another group Brodie could spend the day with… he wondered what the Sunshine Seniors Club, otherwise know as the Shit-Stirrers Club, was up to today?

  Grrr, he sat up, stretching his neck from side to side to get the kinks out. Hmmm, was that breakfast he smelled? His stomach grumbled, see, he really was hungry. He noticed a pile of his clothes sitting on a nearby chair. They looked clean and folded. Grabbing blue jeans and a white t-shirt, he dressed quickly and followed his nose to the kitchen.