Chapter 3

She stood at the bow looking over the sea, enjoying the wind bringing mist and the smells of the sea to her nose. A chill swept over her body, eliciting a shiver from her. However, the cold did not bother her, she enjoyed the feeling the open elements gave her.

She could hear him approach, but she did not turn to look or acknowledge his approach, "you look like you could use some company," he stated as her came to stop beside her.

She hadn't said much since agreeing to join them. She stayed primarily silent throughout the voyage, most of her time was spent observing the men with her emerald and gold eyes. She unnerved many of the men, as her gaze seemed to pierce through their flesh deep into their souls.

Her silence never deterred him, as he was determined to penetrate her cold demeanor. "Ylva," he started, "will you at least acknowledge me." He almost pleaded, which surprised him. He has never had to work so hard to gain a woman's attention, being the brother of a king.

Her emerald eyes, as cold as the stones themselves, flitted briefly towards him before returning to stare over the sea. "What is it you want from me?"

Her question took him by surprise, but he quickly recovered his composure, "I am simply trying to talk."

"No one ever just wants to talk," she turned to face him. "So, what is it that you want," she asked again.

A dark smirk crawled upon his face as he stepped closer to her and caught her in his arms by her waist, "I want you." He whispered it in her ear, so close his beard brushed against her neck causing another shiver to run through her body.

Seeing his effect on her, his smile widened as he brushed his lips against the tender skin beneath her ear, "may I have you?" His hot breath slid across her skin causing chills to prickle her skin.

"No." With her cool denial, she snaked his legs from out from under him, causing him to fall to the deck. She gave him a smirk as she kneeled in front of him, "do not assume to hold power over me." She lightly ghosted his lips with her own before again returning to her solitary post overlooking the sea.

He was beginning to realize that she was in control of their encounter, her reactions to his touch a show of her dominating effect on him. His breath out a laugh as he shook his head, "just 'no' would have been enough."

Just as she was about to respond, a call announcing they would be stopping on land to make camp went across the fleet of ships. "Perhaps we can pick this up later," he said as he stood to join his brother at the back of the ship.