Torkel's Chosen (7 page)

“Whatever you do,
don’t stop.”

If he wasn’t
buried between her legs, he would have laughed out in exultant relief. Her
passionate nature matched his. Torkel focused his energy on the fleshy nub
protruding from her lower lips. He sucked and kissed until she begged.

“Now, Torkel. Come
in me now!”

He lifted his head.
“I want to hear you come like this, Faye. From my mouth.”

Rough fingers
pulled at his hair when he lowered his head again and laved her center.
Moisture flowed freely as he lashed her from one side then the other. Her cries
rose until the words made no sense and still Torkel pressed on. He mouthed her,
pushing her closer to the precipice he knew she bordered on.

“Torkel. Yes. So
good, please.”

And please her he
did. Faye arched up beneath him and screamed. As tremors shook her body, Torkel
moved up her undulating frame and slid home. Her body welcomed him with
desperate pulls. He wanted to make it last. To enjoy riding the wave as he made
her crest again but his Chosen had other ideas. She gripped him, her hold
merciless. Hands at his shoulders and thighs hugging his hips, Faye reached
deep and pulled the pleasure from him.

Torkel groaned as
the spasms refused to let him go. His release continued to pour from him until
he felt rung dry. He collapsed next to her as Faye petted him with a sweep of
her soft hands down his back and up again. If someone had asked him what
attributes he wanted in a Chosen never in his mind could he have imagined a
female like Faye.

When he had his breathing
under control, Torkel rolled to his side and curled around her. “You amaze me,”
he said.

She grinned up at
him, the smile melting his heart further. “I could amaze you again, if you’re
up to it.” Her fingers walked down his chest stopping at his groin and leaving
no doubt what she meant.

Torkel grabbed her
fingers and kissed the tips. His shaft thickened when she leaned forward and
sucked one of his fingers into her mouth. A very lush mouth and plump lips.
“I’m more than up to it.”

To prove his point,
Torkel flipped her to her back and crawled over her, letting his weight settle
on her full curves. He released her hand, only to use his own to pin both hers
by the wild tangle of her hair on the pillow. Her hips bumped upward, teasing
him.

“Don’t you have to
get back to practice?”

“Later,” he
groaned, easing his length between her damp folds. “Much later.”

Chapter 9

Torkel woke and
blinked into the darkness. His ears strained for what had awakened him. Faye’s soft
breath caressed his right forearm where her head had fallen when she drifted to
sleep. Torkel eased his arm from beneath her weight.

She hummed
slightly in annoyance but quieted down. Torkel leaned over and brushed the hair
from the side of her face to kiss her cheek in apology. Her backside pressed
against his semi-erect groin. His left hand smoothed down her torso as he
contemplated the best way to wake her.

Sex-sharing with
her was proving to be difficult to resist. His appetite for his luscious
Earthling was more than he’d expected. Faye shared his passion for their bed
sport so Torkel didn’t mind. A grin pulled at his lips; he didn’t mind at all.

He nudged the
covers to the side revealing, one of his shirts she’d slipped on before
drifting to sleep, this one in black. Once more she’d only done up the two
buttons in the middle. His Chosen had declared unofficial ownership of his
clothing it seemed. Something else he didn’t mind since the shirt drew Torkel’s
eyes to Faye’s thighs and the hidden treasure between her legs.

He glided his hand
up her thigh and cupped the curve of her hip when the eerie feeling returned. Torkel
stiffened. An increased sense of foreboding pushed at him. His eyes adjusted to
the darkness as he scanned the familiar shapes of the objects in their bedroom.
He tugged the sheet up over Faye and slid from the bed. She rolled toward his
side but didn’t wake.

Torkel cursed the
fact that he’d left his weapon in a locked cabinet in the kitchen. He hadn’t
wanted to frighten Faye by sleeping with it under his pillow as usual. That
would change tomorrow. With another glance at her sleeping form, Torkel pulled
on his pants and crossed the room to the door. The small crack allowed him to
peer into his living space. Nothing moved but his years of training had the
hair at his nape curling.

His gut screamed
something didn’t feel right. His Chosen was in danger. He stifled a growl and
closed the door firmly behind him as he searched for the threat. Living space,
kitchen, secondary bath. Nothing.

Torkel clicked on
his communicator and called down to the Comm Center. Jaron answered. “Shouldn’t
you be asleep, Torkel?”

“Check the
security feeds. My senses are crawling and I can’t pin down the source.”

“On it.” The
joking tone turned deadly.

Torkel waited
while his friend ran the reports.

“All clear. No
breach on any of the exit points to the building.”

His stomach
muscles clenched. Didn’t feel right. It could have been left over stress and
all of the excitement from the presentation but what slivered down his spine
felt like more. “I’m coming down. I want to view the feeds myself.”

“Affirmative.”

Torkel checked on
Faye once more. She hadn’t moved. Long hair trailed over his pillow and her
knees were bent slightly as she slept undisturbed by whatever sensation had
pulled him from a deep sleep. He locked the door to his quarters and hurried
down to the Comm Center.

Jaron stood at his
approach, concern lighting his eyes. “Is your Chosen alright?”

“She’s asleep.
Pull up camera two and three.” Both cameras would give him views of the front
and rear entrance to their building.

Jaron’s fingers
flew over the monitor and both of them watched the onscreen footage of the
doorway, concrete walkway and the path that led street side. This time of night
there was no traffic in the city. Torkel’s eyes focused on the shadowed
corners. Even with the light of the two moons, the area was dense, darkness
making it impossible to see clearly.

Torkel bit back a
frustrated growl, his protective instincts roused. “Show me the rooftop.” There
was a door from the roof that led to the upper level of the building but they’d
determined it too great a risk when his unit moved in so it had been sealed.

The angle and view
on the screen changed. The lighting here was better but neither of them
detected any motion.

“Who’s here?”
Torkel questioned studying for any hint of something odd on screen.

“All three teams
are in residence.”

“Show my quarters,”
Torkel ordered, unable to shake the tension knotting his shoulders. His hands
clenched and unclenched. The need to do something was kicking at him and he
refused to ignore it. Too many times his instincts had saved him in the field.

Keys clicked as
Jaron pulled up the interior view of Torkel’s place. “Start in my bedroom and
pan out then work your way around the living space.”

Jaron frowned.
“The cameras in your bedroom aren’t active.” His blond brow arched as he added,
“For obvious reasons.”

Torkel folded his
arms across his chest. He needed to see his Chosen. Reassure himself she safely
rested in their bed. “Activate them.”

Jaron shrugged and
the first monitor showed his bedroom. Faye under the covers. She’d shifted
during his absence and now hugged his pillow to her face as if to catch his
scent left behind. His breath stilled. Torkel massaged his chest to relieve the
building pressure. It was happening fast. The intensity of his affection and
feelings for the curvy female from Earth. No one warned him that she’d own a
portion of his heart in a matter of days.

Jaron cleared his
throat. “Switching to kitchen camera feed.”

Torkel nodded. He
noticed absently that they’d left the dinner dishes out. Faye had found a
framed picture of his family and propped it next to the food unit. Soon his
place would be overrun with knickknacks and all the things women liked to
surround themselves with. Surprisingly he didn’t mind.

“Pull up the
living room.”

Window panels from
ceiling to floor ran the length of his large living room. One camera also
focused on the balcony doors that led to the exterior space where he’d eaten
breakfast with Faye the day before. Maybe he’d add a table out there for future
meals. She seemed drawn to the outside. Or the sunlight since he’d caught her
holding her hand up to the windows at various times.

Torkel went
motionless. He squinted and planted a hand on the desk near the keyboard Jaron
used. There. An icy chill spread through his chest. The curtains swayed against
the glass of the partially opened balcony doors.

“Fuck! Sound the
alarms. The bastard’s in my quarters with my Chosen.”

Torkel didn’t wait
to see if Jaron followed his direction as he raced from the Comm Center and hit
the stairway at full speed. He’d never forgive himself for leaving Faye alone
with a potential assassin.

***

Faye rolled over
with a frown unsure what had awakened her. She pushed up on her elbows and a hand
slapped over her mouth. A hard shoulder shoved her back down as her hands were
yanked in front of her and rough rope was wrapped around her wrists.

She bucked and
tried to scream only to have a cloth pushed in her mouth. Panic shot pulses of
fear through Faye’s brain. She kicked out with one leg and hit flesh. Her hair
burned an instant later as the stranger pulled her to her feet. Faye stumbled,
trying to orient herself as she was half pushed and dragged from the bedroom.

Torkel. Where
was Torkel?

“Keep moving,” a
low voice growled by her ear.

Violent trembles
shook Faye when they entered the living room. Empty. No sign of Torkel. Her
frantic gaze searched the kitchen and the closed front door. As her assailant
headed for the balcony, his grip pinched her elbow savagely, bringing the sting
of tears to her eyes. If he got her outside, her chances of escape dwindled.

Faye fought harder,
wishing she had paid attention to all the self-defense lessons on old vids but men
didn’t have to attack women in the dark any more on Earth.
They
were the
ones fearful of being attacked.

Alarms blared
overhead.

Faye’s feet
skidded across the floor and the man circled her neck with his free arm. As
soon as they reached the balcony, he jerked the curtains to the side and thrust
the door open all the way. The pressure at her neck tightened. Dressed only in
another of Torkel’s shirts, she shivered as the cold air whipped around them.

“Don’t fight.
We’re going over the balcony. If you fight, I’m not afraid to leave bruises
though I was paid to bring you back unmarred.” He ended on a snicker.

Faye’s breath
rasped in her throat at the disclosure. They stumbled and staggered outside.
Restrained as she was, Faye could only lean her weight back and hope he didn’t
accidently choke her. Hooked to the side of the rails was a thick black cable
that swung down to the ground below. His hands tugged a harness over her
shoulders and connected a belt to the harness around his body.

When her knees
shook hard enough to give out, he used her hair to keep her on her feet. “Climb
over. Now!” He barked in her ear.

Bile rose in her
throat but she straddled the railing as best she could with his assistance and
her tied hands. He climbed behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist and
placed the other on the cable. The whine of the cable filled her ears as he
used his other hand to lower them with an automated device. They were half way
down as tears streamed down her face.

“Faye!”

She glanced up to
see Torkel leaning over the railing.

Relief bubbled up
as he looped his legs around the cable. His bare hands moved quickly as he
followed. Wind whipped her face as they descended. Faye held still, fearful
she’d plunge to the ground. The man behind her cursed and they flew through the
air faster until they hit. Hard. Her knees buckled but the harness kept them
connected. Moisture squished under her bare feet from the wet grass.

Faye dug her nails
into the arms holding her and shook her head back and forth trying to dislodge
the gag.

“Stop it.” His
hands struggled with the harness and the buckle until it released.

Torkel landed with
a thud.

The man cursed
again then screamed. “Stay back!”

Torkel rose, hands
up. “Don’t hurt her.”

The man’s grip
choked her with every step back he took. The agony on Torkel’s face tore a hole
in Faye’s heart.

Dark masculine
laughter filled the night. A gloved hand reached up and jerked Faye’s hair back
which pressed the other arm harder against her throat.

Torkel snarled.
“If you hurt her, I
will
kill you.”

“If you move, I
kill her. Turn around.”

Torkel bared his
back.

“Hands behind your
head, Torkel Alonson.”

Faye shivered as
he clasped his fingers behind his dark head.

“If I notice you
following, I’ll plunge this sharp blade in her back.”

Torkel’s shoulders
knotted but Faye didn’t get to see more as her assailant lifted her up and
slung her over a bruising shoulder. Her body bounced as the man ran across the
wide expanse of the lawn, using the few trees as cover. Alarms continued to
sound.

***

Moments later, Jaron
ran up behind Torkel and tossed him an ear bud and his spare weapon. “He ran
east.”

His friend nodded,
clicking the mic. “Converge on east end of property.”

Torkel took off
running, Jaron behind him. “He has my Chosen. He has Faye.”

Jaron’s gaze
narrowed but he didn’t slow down. “Assailant has Unit Leader’s Chosen. Find his
ass.”

Torkel was
grateful for the show of support. His paced kicked up as fear beat at his
senses. The glimpse he’d had of Faye’s face revealed pale features and wide
eyes. She should have been safe in their quarters. Someone would pay for taking
that sense of safety away from her.

“I’ve got a line
of sight on individual on foot. Request authorization to fire.”

Faruk. His lead on
Team Two was a master shot but Torkel had never had to worry about someone
close to him being injured on assignment. What if Faye was hurt? His lungs
stuttered. “Hold fire. Coordinates?”

“Quadrant 6.”

They’d sectioned
the property into six quadrants including the front for such a contingency.

“Visuals on Faye?”
He waited with baited breath on a response.

“Negative.”

“Negative.”

The word was
repeated twice more in his ear until Arak came on line. “Intruder has something
over his shoulder. A body.”

Torkel choked. A
body. Due to his genetics, Arak had better night vision then all of them combined.
“Stop him. Use force if necessary but no shots.”

He gave the
command and veered toward quadrant 6.

“Closing in.
Gregir and I have a visual.” Geile’s update eased a little of Torkel’s worry.

They would
eliminate the threat. He and Jaron sprinted forward. The location selected for
their housing was at the edge of the city line. Plenty of green space and lines
of trees surrounded three sides of the property in case they needed to do
outdoor training and prep for similar circumstances.  Right now, Torkel cursed
the decision because it kept him from having a clean line of sight to the
person with Faye.

Too many
opportunities to hide.

“Unit Leader,
assailant has ditched the package over his shoulder and sprinting for the
street.” Arak’s voice came on puffs of air. “In pursuit.”

His heart revved. “Team
Two and Three stand down. Find Faye. Get to my Chosen,” Torkel shouted.

“Team Two has her.
Repeat, Team Two is with your Chosen.”

Torkel exhaled in
relief. Ahead he could see his men kneeling around a prone figure. He put on a
burst of speed, sliding to his knees when he reached them. Jaron dropped down
beside him. Wide, frightened brown eyes met his. Torkel removed the cloth from
her mouth.

“Torkel,” she
gasped. Tears trembled on her lids.

His heart skipped a
beat when she held up her hands. Thick rope tied her delicate wrists together.
Torkel cursed under his breath. “Get me a knife to get these fucking bindings
off her!”