I'd had my bath and, even though I could do it, she was brushing my hair. Meeta was across the room, arranging my clothes for the next day.

"I do not either," Meeta agreed and I looked to her in surprise at her words. She was supposed to be my Spock-level-headed, not irrational. "There's a chill coming down from that mountain," she went on and I felt a chill slide across my skin when she did. Her eyes came to mine. "And it is not the normal chill of this icy place."

"It's all going to be fine," I lied, and I did this because I was Captain Kirk. I was supposed to be confident and rea.s.suring, even if I was totally full of s.h.i.t.

"It will be for you in about ten minutes when Ulfr strides through that door," Loretta noted, putting down the brush and arranging my hair on my shoulders.

I watched Meeta's foreboding expression change to a knowing one. A small smile lit her face as she threw the dress I was to wear tomorrow over a chair and did this still smiling.

I had no response because this was true, when Apollo walked through my door, everything would be fine. At least for me.

Loretta scooted her chair around to face the one I was in and remarked, "He has not had maid or cook or wench from the village."

This confirmation of what Apollo told me was good to know. Even so, I had no clue where she was going with it.

Then she gave me a clue where she was going with it.

"So what's he like?" she asked.

"Do not answer that," Meeta demanded. "I have not had a lover in months, my hand is getting tired and I share a bed with you." She pinpointed her gaze on Loretta. "Therefore, that won't even be of use until we're home."

This was not good news. Not that Meeta couldn't engage in certain activities. No, that coupled with the fact she hadn't gotten herself any in months and a bevy of Apollo's boys was around, she was gorgeous, and they were active.

"I won't answer," I stated and aimed a smile at Loretta. "I'm sorry, honey, but that's private."

Her head tipped to the side. "Private?"

"As in, none of your business," Meeta clarified.

"I know what it means," Loretta retorted. "I just don't know why she thinks it is."

"Because she thinks it is," Meeta returned.

"But that's mad," Loretta shot back. "Everyone talks about what they get up to under the duvet."

"I think you may have noticed, doe, Miss Maddie is not everyone," Meeta replied.

Well, that was nice.

Loretta looked at me, now grinning. "That's the G.o.ds truth. If you were, Ulfr would not be striding in here at any moment."

"He has good taste," Meeta murmured and I started feeling squishy because that was really nice.

"Thanks, honey." I said softly and she looked at me.

"You're gentle. You're kind. And you're amusing. A woman who looks like you is rarely any of these things, much less all of them."

"And that's the G.o.ds truth, too," Loretta agreed. "They're usually vain and smug."

"And demanding," Meeta added.

"And attention-seeking," Loretta put in.

"But you're none of that," Meeta concluded.

"Which makes you grand," Loretta finished on a big smile directed at me.

Now they were both being nice.

"Uh...not sure you two have looked in the mirror lately, but you're both all those and neither of you are hard to look at," I pointed out.

"Hans seems not to think so. It seems he finds me very hard to look at," Loretta murmured.

I could see that still stung, worse now since we were traveling with him and she had to deal with him ignoring her for hours on end day after day.

And truth be told, I didn't get why Hans didn't think Loretta was the bomb and go back for more. Or simply just go back to stay.

She was very curvy, quite pet.i.te, had lovely light brown hair and beautiful bright blue eyes. She was funny. She was sweet. She held an excitement for life that was almost akin to elan's. And, last, she was loyal to the core. I knew this because I knew she felt this for me, even if we hadn't known each other for very long.

Hans could do worse, but I didn't know how he could do better.

On these thoughts, I reached out and grabbed her hand. "Then why don't you look elsewhere, maybe to someone who'll see all that's you. But not one of Apollo's men," I hastened to add. "None of them seem quite ready to settle down...yet. And I think you are."

"She has great beauty, is gentle, kind, amusing and wise," Meeta decreed, coming our way and grabbing Loretta's other hand to pull her out of the chair, her meaning clear.

I let Loretta go as she stood.

"You guys get some rest," I called as they moved to the door.

Meeta arched her long elegant neck toward me.

Loretta waved.

"And, as usual, thanks for everything," I finished as they disappeared out the door.

All except Meeta's head, which she dipped my way before she closed the door.

I got out of my chair and pulled my soft wool robe tighter around me as I walked to the window.

We were at an inn on the nicer spectrum. It was clean, well-decorated and had its own restaurant downstairs. And the rooms had thick rugs on the floors so the cold couldn't seep through and heavy draperies so the chill couldn't come through the windows.

Still, I braved it to pull a curtain back and look out at Brunskar.

Yep.

Still creepy.

Totally.

"Maddie, dove, drop the draperies. You're letting in a draught."

I dropped the draperies at Apollo's voice and turned away from the window to see him in my room. No cloak, hair a mess (but in a good way) and hot.

My belly fluttered.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Come here and say that in my arms," he returned.

I smiled a small smile and did as he bid, walking to him and putting my arms around him as he did the same to me.

"Hey," I repeated a lot softer this time.

"Hey," he replied, also soft, and sweet, and that got a belly flutter too.

He bent his head to touch his mouth to mine.

Usually, this led direct to other things, including me taking his clothes off, him divesting me of my robe, nightgown and panties, and the fun didn't stop there.

But after he brushed his lips against mine, he lifted them to kiss my nose, let me go and moved to the bed.

I stood where he left me and watched him sit on it. Then I watched him take off his boots.

"Is everything okay?" I asked when he reached both hands back between his shoulders to pull off his sweater.

His eyes came to mine. "We're in Brunskar," he told me something I knew and pulled off his sweater.

I ignored him unveiling the wall of his magnificent chest, not to mention the span of his wide shoulders (okay, I didn't ignore it, but I tried to) and said, "Uh...yeah. We're in Brunskar."

"No good can come of a visit to Brunskar," he muttered, standing and putting his hands to his breeches.

Great.

Now even Apollo was freaking me out about this place.

"Do you want to explain that?" I asked.

His belt undone, his fingers at the b.u.t.tons of his fly, he looked to me again.

"No, I want your mouth between my legs. Then I want to watch you ride my c.o.c.k. When we've both climaxed and my seed is dripping from inside you, I'll explain about Brunskar."

Suddenly, I didn't give a d.a.m.n about Brunskar.

I gave less of one when he pulled down his breeches and I saw he was very ready for my mouth to be between his legs.

And I didn't even remember there was a Brunskar when he got in bed, put his back to the headboard, spread his legs, c.o.c.ked his knees, and leveled his eyes to me even as he wrapped his big hand around his hard thick c.o.c.k and started stroking.

Every inch of me started tingling, most specifically my nipples and the area between my legs.

I had a feeling we weren't going slow and sweet tonight.

And I was looking forward to it.

"Remove your robe and gown before you join me, poppy," he murmured.

I couldn't be sure, I didn't think they recorded those types of things for the books, but I was relatively certain I had my robe and nightgown off in record time.

He liked what he saw and I knew this because his voice was gruff when he ordered, "Crawl up the bed from the bottom."

Oh G.o.d.

Hot.

I didn't delay and moved to the foot of the bed.

"Slow," he commanded and I swallowed.

I put my hands to the bed, then my knees and did as ordered, the whole way my eyes to his hand working his c.o.c.k.

I got to my destination and felt his other hand cup the side of my face. I guessed what that meant and stilled so he could he feed himself to me. I guessed right. Shifting the tip to my lips, his hand at my face slid up into my hair and put gentle pressure on until I took him inside.

His voice was thick when he whispered, "That's it, dove."

He was right.

That was it.

Or it was for right then.

I would get a whole lot more later.

Later, I remembered Brunskar because I'd climaxed, so had Apollo, his "seed" was seeping out of me and his hand was smoothing over my hip when he murmured, "Brunskar."

"Yes?" I prompted when he said no more.

His arms closed around me and he gathered me closer so we were pressed front to front on our sides.

"The Drakkars, save Frey and his two brothers, are a vicious lot, greedy, lascivious and spiteful. Some are even cruel. They like to play and their favorite toys are people."

Wonderful. More good news about the Drakkars.

Ugh.

"Draven kind of warned me about them," I shared.

"Good," he muttered. "I would have done the same but I've been struggling with whether or not to take you to the gale. Being here, the feel of the place, which I forgot just how unpleasant it could be, I think not."