A Viking's Peace Read online

  “Well, that makes two of us. Most of the time. But I’m eager to partake in one of your famed feasts.”

  “All of it?” The question was out of his mouth before he could censor himself.

  Her cheeks pinked. “Partake was the wrong word. But I don’t judge your cultural practices.”

  Orgies were hardly a vaunted cultural practice. That was more a myth propagated to keep their Earth cousins at bay. Bed sharing was one thing, a private, carnal enjoyment that allowed them to explore the full extent of their human sexuality. It was nothing like the oiled up spectacle that would go on after the meal… “It’s pomp and pretension and I have little time for either.”

  She made a surprised face, eyebrows raised and lips twisted to the side. “Surely that’s not the party line?”

  “Did you join me for the party line? If so, I’m sure we have a brochure around somewhere…” He craned his neck, looking for non-existent glossy paper handouts appropriate for a tourist cruise. No matter what the pretty lieutenant thought, Midgard wasn’t ready for that.

  Her laugh was low and throaty and entirely real. It warmed him from the inside out and he found himself joining her with a chuckle of his own.

  “No, I came over here because we’re going to be working together for the next three months, like it or not, and I’d prefer our time be productive.”

  He leaned back, casting an appraising glance at her. “You think I don’t like it?”

  “I know so.” She offered an apologetic smile. “I’m going to be the optimistic bee in your bonnet, I’m afraid.”

  “I look forward to that, Lt. Tavistock.” And to his surprise, for the first time since his father assigned him to this godsforsaken project, he honestly could say that was true.

  2

  Reinn and Aldric stood on the rail platform, waiting patiently for Ashleigh to brief her team. The other cells were already transporting their equipment to the wagons provided at the City Core side of the station. The larger city of Ny København, modern and functional, stretched twenty kilometres in either direction from the walled City Core. Within those walls, however, the government seat and public spaces were a cherished throwback to the ancient history of their people. Transport was restricted to foot, wagon and hoof. Midgardian donkeys didn’t bear a ton of resemblance to their Earth namesakes, other than their general shape and braying sound. The stumpy bone protrusion in the middle of their foreheads and their ethereal coats, shades of creamy white to pale pink, had the first travellers calling them another name, but their function as work animals soon showed that the donkey moniker was more appropriate.

  Besides, calling them unicorns would just encourage more Earth nosiness.

  Wait until they saw the dragons.

  Reinn laughed to himself. Of course the visitors would know about the native fauna, but seeing the flying beasts with one’s own eyes was something entirely different. They weren’t on this continent, so he’d been thirteen when he’d first laid eyes on them. The heavy whoosh of ten-foot wingspan flying overhead still made his heartbeat speed up.

  When they arrived at the inn designated for the Earth delegation, Reinn and Aldric escorted the team to their rooms. Not strictly necessary, but if they had any questions…sure, he could convince himself that was why. Not because the thought of being separated from the serious liaison officer made his chest ache a bit.

  While the public spaces were throwbacks to a simpler time, the private rooms at the inn were similar to his own home, a creative blend of old and new. Ashleigh’s eyes lit up at the water bath, and he was reminded that she’d been on a spaceship for two months. Ozone showers were functional but not pleasurable. His single journey away from Midgard had been washed away in the deepest, most glorious soak in his outdoor tub as soon as he returned home.

  “You have time,” he said gruffly. “If you want to bathe.”

  The door to her room was open, but they were essentially alone. Her second was across the hall, and Aldric was showing her two men how to connect to the central network from the ports in their rooms. He’d meant the suggestion to be hospitable, but just the mention of her slipping naked into a tub sparked a hot, itchy awareness between them. He saw it in her eyes and felt it in the air.

  “I’m fine,” she said, her voice catching. “The decontam…” She trailed off, her gaze flitting back to the tub.

  “Go ahead.” He kept his voice low. “Our water…you’ll find it enjoyable.”

  She shot him a wide-eyed look. Yes, he meant it just like that. That hadn’t made it into their briefing notes, apparently. But just as quickly as she’d let her guard down, it was back up again. She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked one carefully manicured brow. “In that case, it sounds like something one should approach with great caution.”

  Why was he flirting with her when she obviously didn’t want him to? She was small and quiet, not at all his type—except his type hadn’t been doing it for him for quite some time and one look at this woman and he wanted to find the nearest pile of furs and spread her legs. Bury his face in the heaven there and show her how a Viking could use his tongue. The way she blushed, she might even be a virgin.

  She stretched to her full height and he was forced to admit she wasn’t small, exactly. Not compared to her colleagues, but at six and a half feet, Reinn still had nine inches on her and when he crossed his arms, he was like three of her wide. She was mighty, but he was mightier.

  “Thank you for your suggestion.” She took a step back and gestured to the door. “We’ll see you at the reception.”

  “We’ll wait for you downstairs.”

  “We’ll meet you there.” She pasted a pleasant smile on her face. Okay, so she wasn’t quiet, either. His kitten had claws.

  His kitten. Gods. He needed to have his head examined. “If you insist.” He knew he was scowling and he didn’t care. She’d need to get used to his moods if they were going to work together.

  Two hours later, the scowl had returned in full force. He didn’t like being away from her, but as the delegation arrived at the longhouse across the public square from the inn, he realized he also didn’t like having his first look of her in her dress uniform in public.

  Something primal tugged at his gut, and he shook it off. He’d been wrong about lust before, confusing it with something else. He’d be well served to ignore the attraction, but she made that a damned challenge.

  She’d pulled her long dark hair back in a sleek ponytail, instead of the bun she’d had earlier, and where her flight suit had been boxy and utilitarian, her fitted dress uniform emphasized her willowy but strong figure. Black dress pants hugged trim, muscular thighs, and from the way the door guard was checking her out, her ass probably looked fantastic.

  It took all of his restraint to not throw a fur around her. He didn’t hold himself back from stalking over to the door guard and shoving him against the wall, though. Aggression wasn’t unusual in their culture, although it was for him. “Forget whatever disgusting thought is in your head,” he growled at the young man before pushing his way outside.

  It didn’t take long for his brother to find him. “Will you be joining us in the receiving line?”

  “As a liaison officer, I thought I’d accompany my counterpart.”

  “Ah.”

  He narrowed his eyes at Rolf. “Don’t ah me.”

  “Then don’t be so painfully obvious.” His brother grinned. “Love at first sight?”

  Maybe third or fourth sight. “No.”

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “She’s a FedNat officer.”

  “So? They’re not the enemy.”

  Rolf might be older, taller, and thicker, but Reinn could kick his ass. “That’s not what I mean. She’s not just a beautiful woman. She’s smart and capable.”

  “And young and fertile…”

  The awful feast hadn’t yet begun and Reinn wanted to explode. This wasn’t a good sign. “Hold your tongue, brother.”

  Rolf chuckled and headed back inside. They were close—no one else could speak to Reinn like that. That didn’t mean he had to like it. He followed a minute later, taking his time approaching Ashleigh and her team. He tamped down his visceral reaction to the young officer and tried to just see her as her rank and uniform.

  That lasted twenty seconds, right up until she offered him a welcoming smile when he landed at her side.

  “The receiving line is only necessary for unit leaders,” she was telling her team. Reinn looked for Aldric, but his second was already heading over.

  The younger man offered his arm to Navena, who laughed and took it. “Sure, why not, Viking Man.”

  The two young soldiers followed behind, the foursome settling into an easy camaraderie. Why couldn’t he and Ashleigh have that instead of this prickly tension? He liked her, despite his initial misgivings. And even though he’d flirted inappropriately, growled at her and generally done his worst to represent himself as a professional officer, she still smiled at him.

  A smile that made him want to back her up against a wall and taste her mouth.

  Right. That was the problem.

  “Shall we?” he asked tightly.

  Her smile faltered for a minute, but then she blinked and a practiced mask settled into place. She was a born diplomat, clearly. “Of course.”

  “I should warn you about my father,” Reinn said under his breath as they stepped into line behind her fellow officers. “He’s…crude.”

  Ashleigh just glanced at him and didn’t say anything in response. Maybe she didn’t understand. Surely they’d had dossiers…Just how cleaned up would the Earthling information officers have presented his king?

  “Reinn,” his father’s voice boomed around them. “Introduce me.”

&n
bsp; “Lt. Ashleigh Tavistock, commander, FedNat MIFEC Cell 3.” Reinn took a deep breath and gestured with his hand. “King Ragnar Sorenson, my father, first grandson of the first traveler, Stefan Rasmussen. Proud Viking, through and through.”

  His father clapped him on the shoulder. “My son, the scientist. You missed your calling, boy, you are a born politician.”

  He ignored Ashleigh’s curious gaze. They just needed to get through this conversation, then she could ask all the questions she wanted.

  “Now, young woman. Welcome to Midgard.” His father’s eyes glinted and his lips curved in a hard, dangerous line. “There’s much we could teach you about sexual pleasure.” He said it to offend. To test.

  Ashleigh was smarter than either of them had estimated. She lifted one brow, an elegant challenge. “Oh?”

  It wasn’t Reinn’s place to interrupt a conversation between his leader and an Earth military officer, but it took all of his will power to not interject and move her along the receiving line. A sexual harassment complaint from an Earthling wasn’t the way to start this visit.

  “Your people couple quietly and in the dark. Alone.” His father raked his gaze down the officer’s body and Reinn thought about punching him in the face. His mother wouldn’t like that. Shame.

  Ashleigh just smiled. “My people are your people, too, my lord. We share the same base human urges.” She winked. “We enjoy the same pleasures. Just because I prefer to take my mate alone doesn’t mean it’s quiet.”

  Everyone in earshot froze for a moment, and the tips of her ears turned pink, but her face remained a smooth mask and after a beat his father burst out in raucous laughter. “Well played, Lieutenant. I envy that man.”

  “Of course, my lord. He’s much younger and better looking than you.” Her voice was clear and light, and Reinn wondered why no one else picked up on the faint tremor. But then she smiled again and it was gone. “Perhaps I’ll tell you more about him later, over a glass of mead.”

  This time no one tried to hide their laughter. Reinn doubted that anyone else could see that Lt. Tavistock was lying through her teeth. With a final wink to his father, she allowed Reinn to guide her down the receiving line. Next up was his brother. Rolf was still laughing, his long beard shaking almost as much as his big barrel chest. “Well played, Lieutenant,” he rumbled. “Reinn treating you well?”

  “So far,” Ashleigh said, glancing in his direction but holding her gaze purposefully short of making eye contact.

  “We’ll have to stay in touch then. So you can let me know when he starts behaving badly.”

  “You don’t think I can handle him?”

  “I’m sure you can. I’d just like to watch.”

  Harsh possessiveness rose like molten steel inside Reinn. “There won’t be any watching.” He ground out the words, painfully aware that while they’d go over Ashleigh’s head, his brother would correctly parse his meaning.

  “That so?”

  He was acting like Ashleigh could be his next betrothed, mere hours after meeting her. Her mission almost certainly precluded that. You’re being unprofessional, he chastised himself. But his brother’s gaze didn’t carry any judgement, just a touch of concern. For him? Her? Both of them?

  “Come along,” Reinn said gruffly. He was ready to eat and drink and stop thinking for an hour.

  The last few remaining formal introductions went smoothly, then he escorted her to the table where the rest of her team sat with Aldric. His second acknowledged their arrival with a nod and a wink as he finished singing a song for the others.

  Reinn glanced at Ashleigh as the ribald lyrics sank in, but just as before, she wore the mask well. And when Aldric finished, she was the first to murmur a throaty approval.

  At a quiet break mid-feast, she leaned in close and thanked him for letting her handle his father on her own.

  “You’re not so quiet after all, Lieutenant Tavistock.” His lips curved in pride. “I thought for a minute I’d need to intervene.”

  “No,” she shook her head solemnly. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Perhaps we need some sort of code word, just in case.”

  “You expect for me to be challenged like that often?”

  Not by anyone who’d witnessed her deftly take on the king. “Perhaps I’m more concerned about your poor victims.”

  She beamed at that, and he threw back his head and laughed.

  — —

  Good lord, she’d thought the man was attractive when glowering and serious. Happy and laughing, he was irresistible. He reached for his goblet and took a deep, long drink, and Ashleigh took the opportunity to eat him up with her eyes.

  Unlike many of his brethren, his hair wasn’t that long. He tied part of it back behind his head, but what was loose didn’t reach his shoulders. The dark wavy pieces looked soft and touchable, and she had to twist her fingers together to keep from reaching out and looping an errant strand back behind his ear.

  His face was an endless playground of interesting lines and planes. Carved cheekbones dropped into curving laugh lines which led to a hard, masculine jaw dusted with a light beard that framed his perfect mouth just so…

  Yeah. She needed to be re-assigned. This was a disaster waiting to happen. The man had practically suggested she strip naked and wash in front of him. And if he’d offered to help scrub her back, she’d probably have gone for it. Her attraction to him was off-the-charts and seriously problematic.

  Music had been playing since they entered the longhouse, a pulsing, electric beat that got under her skin, and when the lights dimmed further and a woman’s voice joined the instrumental swell, the hairs on the back of Ashleigh’s neck stood up. The voice was hauntingly beautiful. She craned her neck, looking for the singer, and almost fell out of her chair when she caught sight of the performer. Perched naked on a pile of furs at the front of the dais, the woman’s voluptuous beauty matched her voice. Golden hair tumbled over her swollen breasts and obviously pregnant belly. Two Debedian trolls sat at her feet, as if ready to deliver her every wish. They were the first non-humans Ashleigh had seen on Midgard and she turned to ask Reinn a question about that, but stopped herself because he looked pissed.

  He caught her look and let out a heavy sigh. “That is my ex-wife.”

  “Oh.” She looked at the head table where her CO and the King were both observing the singer quite…closely. They were staring. Blatantly. She rolled her eyes. “Would that have been your father’s doing, inviting her to perform?”

  “Ylsa would have offered, knowing he’d say yes. My father has been infatuated with her since she was a teenager.”

  Ashleigh’s head snapped against the tall padded chair back. She bit her tongue, but she was too close to Reinn for him not to see the truth in her eyes. And she didn’t want to hide her reaction from him.

  “Right?” He laughed without humour.

  “Are you obligated to be here?” She glanced at the side door. “Would you like to go for a walk? I didn’t see much of the sculpture garden in the square before we came inside.”

  He looked over her shoulder. She had no desire to turn around and see what was going on. None of it could be more interesting than the play of emotions on his face. “Your commanding officer…?”

  “It’s fine.” She stood and announced they were stepping outside for a few minutes. Aldric gave them a lazy nod. Navena and the goons were entranced by the entertainment and barely acknowledged their departure.

  The night air cooled her heated cheeks and she was glad for a moment of quiet. One of Midgard’s two moons shone bright overhead. The other would rise shortly, casting even more reflection down on the surprisingly still city.

  Reinn placed a hand in the small of her back and guided her to the plaque at the start of the maze-like statue garden. For a large man in heavy boots, he stepped lightly, matching her own quiet footfall. “This is the—”

  “Rasmussen garden,” she murmured, interrupting him softly. “I know. I’ve visited the matching one in Copenhagen.”

  “Really?” He shot her a surprised glance.

  “Of course. I didn’t have much time to prepare for this mission, but I went for the weekend before departure. I’d also been as a child, of course. Junior school graduation trip to the Midgard Museum.”