Page 24 of Lost in Barbarian Space

They parried a bit longer, staffs smacking together, feet shuffling across the mats. Finally, Colm saw his chance.

He stepped back, leaving himself open. An invitation she couldn’t ignore.

As soon as she lunged at him, he brought his staff up and knocked hers from her grip.

He saw her grit her teeth for a second. “You tricked me!”

“Did you think warriors were all just power and brawn?”

“No. But I didn’t think you were quite so cunning.”

“Ah, but with the right incentive…”

She released a long breath, then she strode forward. Without a word, she pressed her hands to his chest and leaned up on her toes.

Then she pressed her mouth against his.

It was like electricity through his body. She moved her lips softly, almost delicately over his.

“More,” he growled. His hands clamped on her hips.

Then the kiss ignited.

Colm groaned and wrapped his arms around her. She made a husky sound in her throat, and then she was practically trying to climb up his body. The kiss deepened, tongues tangling.

He dropped to his knees, pulling her close against him until they were plastered together. He wanted to devour every inch of her, strip her naked, spread her thighs, and plunge inside her. He felt like a rutting beast with the scent of a female in heat. The urges pounded inside him like nothing he’d ever felt before.

Then she tore her mouth from his, panting. She pulled away, falling back on the mat. His own chest was rising and falling very fast.

She cursed under her breath, pressing a hand to her lips.

He fought for control. He’d perfected control during his warrior training, made it his life’s work to never, ever let his nanami get out of control.

To not be what his father had been.

And right now, he was riding the edge of it.

“Not the usual response I get from a woman,” he said, managing to keep his tone light.

She stood. “You’re a problem, barbarian. One I don’t need. I have to go.” She hesitated.

Colm fought the urge to grab her and pull her back in for a kiss.

But maybe she was right. With his nanami going crazy the way they were, it might be best to limit his exposure to Honor Brandall.

She tightened the tail of her hair. “Be ready for your first trip into space, warrior. I’ll see you in the morning.”

She left him there, and Colm remained on his knees for a long time, his body buzzing and agitated.

Colm walked toward the large ship sitting out in the field.

By the Great Warrior. Its silver hull gleamed dully in the sunlight. It was called the Drake, named for some long-ago Earth explorer. Colm hefted his leather bag onto his shoulder and tried to find his adventurous spirit.

He’d much prefer his hargon beast beneath him and his sword in his hand.

Kavon, along with a small group of warriors, Niklas Phoenix, Nera Darc, and their team, had already left for the Darken Wilds. After their mission to the Excalibur shipwreck, they were planning to transfer to the larger ship—the Magellan—that was still in orbit to scan the northern reaches of Markaria. Niklas still believed a starship wreck could be hidden under the snow.

That left Colm to work with Honor on scanning the moons.