Ice Man Read online

  Perhaps he would be more comfortable speaking his own language, although his Latin was passable. In Celtic she said, “You have been ill for a long time. We brought you here to heal your wounds. My name is Allie.”

  His eyes widened. “You speak Celt?”

  She hadn’t considered what to tell him about herself. “My father was Celt.” Well, close enough. He was Irish. “Can you remember your name?”

  He closed his eyes, then opened them. “I seem to hear the name ‘Kell’, but whether it is mine or not, I cannot be sure.”

  “I’ll call you Kell then. Perhaps it will help you remember.”

  “You wear the pendant of the crescent moon. Are you an adept of the moon goddess?” His fingertip nearly touched her skin, stopping a hairsbreadth from the pendant. She could have sworn she felt the heat emanating from his body, and a shiver ran through her.

  “No. This belonged to my mother.”

  “Ah.” The man drew back slightly and looked around the room, his eyes taking in every detail. “You said ‘we’ brought me to this place. Where are the others?”

  “They have gone…er…hunting.” That sounded right. She smiled. “Can you remember your name now?”

  He shook his head, his eyes still scanning the room. “In my bones, I feel a strangeness. Is this the land of the dead? I have died, haven’t I, and you are the goddess come to carry me to paradise.” He chuckled and before she could react, reached out and touched her breast. “Such a beauty you are. My life on earth must have been exemplary if the gods sent you to me.”

  The touch of his hand on her breast sent a delicious tingle through her body, but Allie drew back, her heart pounding. “You are mistaken. You are very much alive. Here, let me get you something to eat.”

  “I feel no hunger.” He shook his head as if to clear it and rubbed a hand over his face. His hand lingered, and he frowned. “Who shaved me?”

  “Uh, the healer.” Allie gulped. Had he worn a beard when he’d fallen into the icy water? Would he go crazy on her now and attack her, ripping her from limb to limb? She peered at him. No, he looked perfectly civilized, despite the aura of raw energy that surrounded him.

  “A healer?” He cocked an eyebrow at her, and she saw a spark of humor in the depths of his dark brown eyes. “Are you a healer too? Is that why you watch over me like a mother hawk with her young?”

  Had she been staring at him? She lowered her eyes. Would he take offense if she stared at him? She had no idea. “Excuse me. I’m just a foolish woman.”

  “Why do you beg my pardon?” He reached out and touched her chin, lifting it so that her eyes met his again. “Don’t tell me you’re a Greek. The women there are downtrodden, but in my land they are equals.”

  His gentle touch reassured her. Whatever apprehension she’d had about him vanished. He was no savage. “No, I’m not Greek.”

  “I didn’t think so. Your accent is strange but definitely not Greek. I have traveled far, but I’ve yet to hear someone with your accent.” He let go of her chin and sat back, examining her from head to toe. “There is something very strange going on. I cannot recall my own name, and I have no idea where I am or who you are, but I can recall certain things, like the sight of white swans on a small pond and the smell of fresh lavender. Can you tell me who and where I am?” For the first time his voice wavered slightly, as if from fear.

  “Do you trust me?” she asked.

  He hesitated a long time before he spoke, and when he did, his voice was soft. “Yes, for some reason, I do. I think I must be in the land between the living and the dead. My memories have fled, but my body is still intact. Perhaps I have to accomplish some feat before I can go join my ancestors.” He looked at her, his gaze smoldering. “You must be the goddess who will lead me to the land of the dead. I am glad it is you, for you please me, Allie.”

  Her cheeks burned. “I am not a goddess and you are not dead, I promise. Let me get you some more to drink. You must be thirsty.”

  “No.” He knelt and took her wrist, pressing it to his lips. “You please me, Allie, handmaiden to the gods. Come warm my body with your caresses.”

  She pulled back, but his grip tightened like a steel trap. “Let go!”

  “Are you married?” The question surprised her.

  “No.”

  “Then I will be gentle.” He flashed a grin, surprising her. Still kneeling, he pulled her close and, without letting go of her arm, he stroked her hair. “I think I will claim you for my own, maiden Allie.” He chuckled. “Your heart races like a hare in flight. I feel your desire like a firebrand; do you deny it? Come, refuse me no longer.” He reached down and stroked his cock, which swelled and hardened.

  Allie’s mouth went dry. A flood of hot wetness dampened her inner thighs, and she realized she hadn’t any panties. Underpants didn’t exist until the twentieth century.

  She glanced beseechingly at the camera in the wall. Please, someone come in here quickly. But she knew no one would unless he started to hurt her, and he wasn’t hurting her at all. Perversely, she wanted him to continue stroking her breast. Her mind grew curiously numb even while her body seemed to come almost painfully alive.

  “Kell, please let go of me.” She managed to get the words past her lips, all the while wondering what it would be like to feel those strong arms wrapped around her… No! That is enough! ‘Easy Allie’--that’s what the boys in school called her. She’d sworn to stop saying ‘yes’ on the first date. As that thought flitted through her mind she almost laughed.

  “Why do you smile?” Kell let go of her wrist and stood, stretching languorously. “I have let go of you, but I will have you, Allie, don’t doubt it for a minute.”

  Another blast of heat soaked her pussy and she almost groaned aloud. No one had ever looked at her with such a smoldering gaze and said those words to her with such assurance, as if nothing she could do or say would ever stop him from possessing her. She had to close her eyes to catch her breath and calm her pounding heart. When she opened them, Kell still stood in front of her, his head tilted to the side. As she watched, he rubbed his temples, a line of pain appearing between his brows. “What is it?” Her voice sounded almost back to normal.

  “I am trying to remember this place and how I came to be here, but thinking too hard pains me.” He gave a slight grin and shrugged. “I must have hit my head, for I would surely remember meeting a beauty like you.” Without waiting for her comment, he strode to the far side of the longhouse. He looked around, unease written on his features. “I would relieve myself, and then I’d like to bathe. My muscles are stiff and my head still aches. Where, pray tell, is the door?”

  Allie swallowed. Where the hell was the bathroom in this place? Clearing her throat she spoke loudly in the direction of the camera. “You’d like to take a bath, is that it?” At once she saw a crack of light appear under a hanging deer skin and a door opened slightly. Thank goodness, they must have heard her. Why did they have to hide the damn doors? “Um, over here Kell,” she said.

  Allie had no idea what kind of bathroom a longhouse would possess, so her interest sharpened as she opened the door, pushing aside the deer skin. Inside she saw a wooden bucket of water, a fire, some rocks, a bench, a rough-looking cloth, and one bucket by itself behind a standing screen. Oh joy, the loo. She hoped part of her job did not include emptying the potty.

  And what did the stones do? She opened her mouth to ask, but Kell stepped in the room and gave a big smile. “Ah, a sauna bath.” Kell didn’t seem to be startled by the details, so it must be authentic, and the stones must be used to make the steam.

  “I’ll leave you alone.” She backed away hurriedly.

  He lifted his eyebrow at her. “Who will scrub my back?”

  “Scrub your own back.” She pointed to a long-handled brush, then stepped out of the room, closed the door, and glared at the camera in the wall. ‘What else haven’t you showed me?” she hissed.

  As before, the hidden door in the wall opened a
crack and a scientist poked his head in. “We didn’t have time to give you the grand tour. If he gets hungry, there are honey cakes in a jar by the fire, and some soup heating in the cauldron. Try to get him to tell you what he was doing so far north. Did he tell you what tribe he supposedly belonged to?”

  Supposedly? “He’s Celt.” Allie waited for his look of awe or amazement.

  “Celt. Yeah, right.” He looked more bored than amazed. With a shrug, he took a notepad from his pocket and scribbled something. A voice murmured something behind him and the scientist nodded.

  “Dr. Paula wants you to ask him about his religion, his mating ceremonies, and his family structure. Oh, and she says to put the necklace back on right this minute.” He rolled his eyes and then pulled his head back, the door shutting with a click.

  “Great. She wants to know about his mating ceremonies.” Allie considered going to scrub Kell’s back--that would probably get the mating ceremony going--but she figured she had enough trouble already.

  * * * * *

  Kell poured the hot water over his head and body, using the ladle. He put water on the hot stones too, making steam. Using handfuls of herbs and soft clay, he scrubbed his skin and hair, then rinsed carefully. Then he shook his head, making water drops fly. It didn’t clear his thoughts, however. Everything stayed muzzy. Almost angrily he tossed the ladle down and rubbed his hands over his face. Every time he tried to remember who he was or where he was, a stabbing pain hit him.

  He threw his head back and closed his eyes, breathing deeply of the steamy air. He tensed his muscles and then relaxed, thinking of the fair maiden waiting in the longhouse. He’d never seen such luxurious, deep auburn hair, and her fair, clear skin glowed with health. Her curves would put the goddess of love to shame, and her eyes reminded him of clear, sunlit water running over amber pebbles. Long lashes framed her sparkling eyes, and when her wide mouth curled into a smile, dimples appeared in her cheeks--two dimples, a sign of a lusty appetite for life and love.

  Love. He frowned and took the towel from the wooden bench, drying himself as he tried to recall if he’d ever had a wife…or even a woman. His cock stirred and hardened as he thought of Allie, so obviously it knew what to do even though he couldn’t remember ever lying between a woman’s thighs.

  His cock twitched again and he reached down to stroke it. He couldn’t think of anything right now except taking Allie in his arms and holding her close to his naked skin. He hoped she’d be willing. The looks she had given him, the way her fair skin had flushed when he’d touched her breast, and the way her breathing had deepened all told him she had been interested in him. Purely by instinct he could tell she wanted him. Now he had to convince her to listen to her instincts, and maybe the release he sought would help clear his head.

  Opening the door, he saw Allie sitting near the fire, her chin in her hands. Quietly, using his hunting skills, he slid through the door and padded across the floor, staying out of sight at her back. He paused, a vague memory stirring in his mind. A wide expanse of snow, trees leaning in the wind, and something breaking beneath his feet. There came an impression of falling into nothingness. He tensed, sudden terror icing his blood, and then Allie turned and let out a bloodcurdling cry.

  Startled, he jumped backwards, caught his heel on the edge of a pelt, and fell. His head hit the floor with a jolt that made him see stars. Instantly Allie knelt by his side.

  “Kell! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scream. You scared me, that’s all. Are you all right? Answer me!” She cradled his head on her lap and bent over him, her breasts brushing against his chest.

  All thoughts of falling or panic fled. His cock stiffened and he managed a grin. “I think I’ve hurt something. Could you rub it for me?”

  “Yes, of course. Where?”

  He took her hand and put it on his cock. “Here.”

  She jumped like a rabbit caught in a snare, but he didn’t let go of her wrist. He got to his knees and faced her, keeping her hand firmly on his cock. “Please, Allie. Let me ease my need. My body aches with longing for you.” He lowered his head, trying to catch her gaze. Would she agree? She acted torn in two, this woman. A strange combination of shyness and desire seemed to inhabit her. One moment she stared at him with eyes that blazed. The next, she pulled away like a virgin maiden.

  “Are you a virgin?” She seemed too old to be one, but she wore the moon goddess pendant, and virgins prayed to the moon goddess. He hoped she didn’t venerate the moon goddess.

  “No, I’m not.”

  Good. He tipped her chin up with his finger and stared into her eyes. “I want to worship your body. Will you let me?”

  Allie couldn’t believe her predicament. Dr. Paula must think she took her instructions very seriously. Damn Dr. Paula, and damn Kell, with his dark, serious eyes, and chiseled good looks. She had a weakness for good-looking men. It always ended in heartbreak and disaster for her. This would be no different. A one-night stand with a man from another time? She must be out of her mind. Well, she did have orders to do whatever needed to make Kell more comfortable.

  She should struggle, pull back, act like a civilized woman. People were watching!

  Struggle! her brain said very sternly.

  Surrender, giggled her body.

  She couldn’t fight. Her muscles resisted about as strongly as marshmallows when he tugged on her arm. Besides, she suddenly realized the idea of people watching didn’t bother her. Am I an exhibitionist? She’d never thought about it until now. And now the idea made her knees go weak.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed her to his rock-hard chest. “Allie, I take you in the name of Kell.” His mouth curved into a smile. “I have remembered my name. It is Kell, son of Bran, son of Orin. Kellorin Branson is the name I go by in my troop. I have led my men to many victories against the invaders from the north. I must have died in battle and this is the paradise promised to valiant warriors.”

  As he spoke he flexed his hips and rubbed his cock in sensuous circles against her belly. Its smooth, hot tip burned her skin through the thin leather of her dress. Rushes of heat and cold alternately washed over her, leaving her panting and totally incapable of speech. The most gorgeous man she’d seen in her life wanted her. All she wanted was to scream fuck me, and she didn’t know how to say that in any foreign language. Think, Allie!

  To know. To know a woman meant to fuck her.

  She stared at his perfect features--dark, burning eyes, high cheekbones and long, narrow nose above full lips. Lips coming closer to her face and brushing against her temples, her cheeks, branding slow kisses down her chin and over her throat. “Know me,” she begged, a sharp spasm shaking her belly and spearing her right through her cunt. The idea that people watched sent shivers of excitement down her spine. Exhibitionist? You bet your sweet ass. Another flash of heat inundated her body.

  He untied the laces and pushed her dress down to her waist. Her breasts ached for his touch, and touch them he did. He took them in his hands, his calloused palms rough on her sensitive nipples. They hardened, lengthening and darkening, and he leaned down to take one in his mouth. Fiercely he tugged on her nipple, sucking hard. Soft growls came from his throat and he pushed her onto her back. Still on his knees, he grabbed her thighs and pulled her to him. Crouching over her, he took his cock in one hand. With his other hand, he reached beneath her dress and found her pussy. One finger dipped into her passage and she clenched her buttocks as he stroked her softly, his finger crooked as he probed delicately into her wet folds.

  “Pure maiden you are not, but your readiness coats my hand like honey.” He groaned and pushed the tip of his cock into her vagina. “Your heated cunt welcomes my shaft. By Lug, I know you, Allie.”

  He grabbed both her thighs and thrust his hips forward, sheathing himself in her in one, smooth movement. His face darkened as he uttered a long, drawn-out growl. Like a wolf, he threw his head back and howled as he drove himself into her.

  His raucous cry r
aised the hair on the back of her neck, while his wiry hands held her thighs spread wide. Her dress bunched around her waist and bared her pubic mound. His glistening cock sank between her labia, sliding as if buttered into her aching cunt.

  Kneeling, the view he offered made her head spin. His muscular torso might have come from a Greek statue, stunning in its perfection. Her eyes followed the dark line of pubic hair, descending from his navel to his cock. Her pink labia hugged his root tightly, and as he thrust, his balls slapped lightly against her ass. His muscles flexed as he drove his cock deeper, and as it hit her cervix a bolt of pleasure mixed with exquisite pain shot through her.

  Slowly he drew out, letting just the tip of his cock tease the entrance to her vagina. He grinned down at her. “Do you love that, my sweet Allie?”

  “Yes.” Gasping, she raised her hips, trying to spear herself on his hardness. He only teased her more, flexing his buttocks so that his cock stroked her slick flesh, rubbing gently but insistently against her clit. A burning started in her pussy, spreading to her head, making her dizzy with desire so strong she thought she’d scream or go crazy. And still his cockhead caressed her clit, as he ignored her little cries of frustration. She lifted her hips, straining to catch his cock in her cunt.