The Barbarian's Captive by Maddie Taylor Page B

back, his heavy arm clasped around her thighs to keep her there. Once more, he’d thrown her off balance — quite literally. Before she was able to get her bearings, he flipped her, and she landed flat on her back, this time on a plush mattress. As her world righted, she looked up into eyes flashing with formidable determination.
    “What are you called?”
    “Uh—” She hadn’t expected him to ask, anticipating a lecture, or more smacks on the behind like he’d given her the previous night. “Eva.”
    “Well, then, little Eva, heed me well. I don’t have time to explain all the rules right now. I will, however, clue you in to one that you haven’t quite figured out. You are my mate. As such, you belong to me and will do what I tell you. If it makes it easier, lieutenant, think of me as your new captain, and know that when I give you an order, I expect it to be obeyed. If I tell you to remove your clothes, which I did and am doing so again now, you will get naked. If I tell you to rest in my bed, you will do that as well. And, if I tell you to spread your thighs for me so that I can take you as I did in my tent last night, you will do so eagerly and without hesitation. You see, Eva, you are not in your United States anymore. You are in my world, where men make the rules and women obey them. That is the way it is, and you will adjust to it in time. If you do not, you will learn quickly that disobedience carries consequences — and it’s often more extensive than the few light swats I laid upon your backside last night. I advise that you not test me further.”
    He paused, his hand gently brushing the hair out of her eyes and back off her forehead, while ignoring her slackened jaw as she stared up at him in shocked amazement. “Obey me, pretty one, and we will get along together very well. Please me, like last night, and the favor will be returned tenfold, resulting in more pleasure than you ever thought possible. Fight me on this and — well, if you choose that path, I promise that you will find me a worthy and very capable opponent. One that you cannot and will not defeat.” He bent and touched his mouth lightly to her parted lips. “Now, I really must go. Be good while I’m gone, and get some rest.”
    His face disappeared and she stared up at the ceiling, hearing the thuds of his footfalls followed by a whoosh of the doors which indicated he had left the suite. She lay there, rendered speechless by his archaic views on men and women, and came to a disheartening conclusion. Clean him up, dress him in fine clothes, and surround him by technology, yet despite the showy façade, beneath it all, the Philistine remained.
    “Holy cow!” she mused aloud. “I’ve been mated to a freakin’ barbarian!”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    P ausing outside the meeting room door, Kerr glanced over Jarlan’s report one more time. The news was excellent. All eight of the new females had tested positively and conception rates were predicted as excellent with a highly matched pair. The lone piece of bad news that wouldn’t go over well, was that not all of the warriors had matched well with their female. They would have to be entered into the data bank to determine a more favorable pairing. Despite their inevitable disappointment, five out of eight positive matches gave promising odds that other of their males would prove so as well.
    Inhaling slowly, he collected himself before opening the door. Once through, all conversation ended. Gathered were the members of the hunting party, and his leaders, Commander Rothke, in charge of his space fleet; General Trask, the leader of his army; Lothar, the general’s second in command; and Krager, his closest kinsman and heir. Two of the elders also attended, their keen gazes ever watchful. All eyes were upon Max as he walked to the front of the room to address them.
    “As I first told you on Ventorcopia, my female was compatible and matched with me at an