Eirik wanted to pull away. To push Sif away from him and stop what was happening. He wanted to throw her into a jail cell and melt down the key. But none of those things happened.

Instead, he returned the kiss and they were about to embrace when the sound of someone at the door interrupted them. As if burned by fire, Eirik shot away from Sif and called out "ENTER!" while adjusting the collar of his shirt.

Sif was smiling like she had just won the miss universe contest and walked back towards the table as Old Pan entered with a rolling tray. "Anyone for dessert?" He asked in a merry voice.

"Yes please, but only for me. The captain already had his!" Sif said before Eirik could answer, leaving Old Pan bewildered.

"Only dessert for one, Pan, we are almost finished here and I have work to do," Eirik said hastily. Old Pan shrugged and put a single plate of strawberries and cheese on the table. After he left, Eirik turned to Sif.

"Why would you do that?" He asked, dumbfounded by her boldness and more than a little excited. It had been wrong on so many levels. Maybe that's why it had felt so fucking good...

"I already told you. Because we both wanted it. But you are not getting anymore tonight. A kiss on the first date is a big thing. Consider yourself lucky. Oh, and check your pocket, I slipped the decryption key in there for you." Sif said playfully as she walked the last few steps back to the table, making sure to sway her hips as she walked.

Eirik fumbled around his breast pocket for a second and found a slip of paper with 8 number sequences on it. Satisfied, he pushed it back into the pocket and turned toward the door. "A guard will take you back to your cell when you are finished. And about what happened..." Eirik said once he reached the door.

"I am sure it will make for pleasant dreams. Don't worry Eirik, I do not kiss and tell. But I will wait eagerly in my cell." Sif answered coyly.

"And what makes you think I will come to your cell?" Eirik asked defiantly. He knew he would have a hard time resisting temptation, especially when it was locked on the ship with him.

"You will come. Sooner or later," She said with a bubbling laugh full of the confidence you only find in people that know for certain they are right. "And I know this because I could feel it in you before. If the old man had not come in here, who knows how the big bad emperor of Libertalia would have ravaged little innocent Sif?" Sif was taking great delight in teasing Eirik. It was rare that a man gave her resistance, not like Dalle that had been drooling over her, thinking her a pretty decoration before he learned of her true nature.

But Eirik. He resisted her. He presented a challenge to her. And the fact that his woman was so fierce in keeping him to herself made him even more interesting. What "qualities" did he possess that she valued so highly, Sif wondered.

"You are anything but innocent!" Eirik retorted. "You have been throwing yourself at me, almost literally, since we met for the first time. But you have hidden layers that make me cautious. You are way too comfortable in this situation for someone who is taken prisoner. Either you are planning something, have planned something, or you are the poster child for Stockholm syndrome, which is highly unlikely. In any case, I bid you a good night!" Eirik turned and walked out the door but her could not tune out her voice behind him.

"I will be waiting with eager anticipation!"

Why did he feel so cheated, that she had sent him away after kissing him? How had she managed to rip control of the situation away from him like that? "Don't hold your breath!" He called back. He hoped she didn't take notice of the lack of conviction in his voice.

______________________________

Las'Tai, Trasti, Knud, Signe, Jeanette, Jesper, and David were all sitting around a table in Jesper's room, as it had the least amount of personal items.

"What do you think they are doing right now?" Signe asked out loud to the group. "Eating, or eating"

"Eirik wouldn't risk his relationship with Freja for someone he just ran into. And one who works for his mortal enemy, no less!" Jeanette declared her opinion as the first.

"That calculating cunt is going to do her very best to ensnare Eirik!" Jesper said angrily. "The horny slut was practically blowing him when we entered the command room!"

"Don't let Freja hear you talk like that!" Knud said quickly. "Where is she, by the way?"

"The gym," Las'Tai interjected. "She is beating the heavy bag into submission. At least she is working out her anger in a productive manner."

"Eirik is a smart man, he can take care of himself," David said quietly. "But he is still a man, and no matter your opinion of her, she is a beautiful woman by every standard, and she wants him badly. She seems as willful as him and if she is serious in her pursuit of him, I fear that he might give in. If only to get it out of his system. She is a disruption to the stability of our stability. As long as Eirik is conflicted, he will be vulnerable. I will talk to him. It has been too long since we talked on a 1-to-1 basis anyway."

"I will never understand what all this is about. Isn't Eirik and Freja mated?" Trasti asked.

"Yes, but Freja's jealousy and Eirik's attraction to Sif is causing discourse on the ship," Jeanette explained.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I have heard about that. Kloxna doesn't get jealous. When we choose a mate, it is for life." Las'Tai said.

"What a wonderfully simple people." Jesper groaned. "Let us let David talk with Eirik before the rest of us interfere. We need him focused for this. Not rolling around in triangular drama!"

They all agreed and went back to relaxation and playing board games.

________________________

Freja was almost tearing apart the heavy bag in her fury as she worked out her anger. The other people present in the gym had very quickly read her mood and gave her a wide berth, for which she was extremely thankful. She just wanted to be alone with her anger. Right now, Eirik was sitting across from that... that hussy! Having a romantic dinner, laughing, gazing into each other's eyes...

She stopped her thoughts. There was no reason for her to torture herself like this. She took a break from the punching and kicking to get a drink of water. That's when she got the idea. She would tell him tonight!! Enough time had passed that she was more than certain.

____________________________

Eirik had made his way to Signe's workshop, hoping to find her brooding over some problem that kept annoying her, but the place was empty and dark. He decided to leave it on the empty work desk with a note attached, and as he walked out again, he glanced at the mirror near the door and froze. She had not been wearing lipstick, but she most certainly had been wearing lipgloss. How had he not noticed it being smeared on his lips and cheek before? He sent a silent prayer of thanks to the gods and grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser and got to work removing the damning evidence of his dessert.

When he was done, He fixed a crease in his uniform shirt and got a stray lock of hair back in place. Looking as pristine as when he left for dinner, he was happy to go look for Freja. Sif's stunt had left him... unfulfilled.

__________________

Freja had just left the shower when she heard the door to her and Eirik's room open and the heavy steps of Eirik when he was in a hurry could be heard.

"Are you looking for something?" She called out as she dried her hair with a towel. The door to the bathroom was ripped open and she turned to look at him. He looked just like he had when he had left for that accursed dinner. Not a hair out of place or a wrong wrinkle in his clothes. She exhaled deeply, not realizing she had held her breath. That's when she saw his eyes. She knew that look, even though she had not seen it in a while.

She smiled as she pulled the towel tighter around herself. "You are going to have to work for it!" She said, knowing very well that he was blocking the only entrance to the bathroom. He closed the door behind him as he entered.

_________________________

Many hours later Eirik's datapad beeped and he reached over to take it. Freja mumbled in her sleep next to him and he read the message. It was from David, asking Eirik to come to his room. Carefully climbing out of bed, He pulled on a pair of pants and a sleeveless shirt before he made his way to David's room.

"Enter," David called out when Eirik knocked.

"Hey, David. You wanted to talk?" Eirik said as he came in, grabbing a chair by the small table.

David pulled out a bottle of Akvavit* and 2 glasses. "It has been too long since I sat down with my oldest friend and had a drink. So I figured I would trick you into coming here." David said with a grin and Eirik relaxed. He had been worried that something so bad that it could only be discussed in private, had happened.

For the next few hours, they drank and talked, slowly becoming mildly drunk. Not enough to be stupid, but enough to be honest and merry.

"So, 'Rik." David slurred after the 10th shot for each man. "What is the deal with you and that Sif? And don't lie to me, I know you too well for that to succeed. You can speak freely." The meaning was not lost on Eirik, despite their current mental state. Whatever was said within these 4 walls on this night, would stay within these 4 walls.

Eirik didn't answer. Instead, he downed the 11th shot and poured the next one. "I want her, David. I want her badly!" Eirik said. He was slurring quite a bit as well.

"Who wouldn't? She is a very attractive woman, there is no denying that!" David agreed."I doubt there is a man on board that doesn't wish they were you right now. Freja and Sif, both fighting tooth and nail. one to keep you, one to steal you. I mean, what do you even do in a situation like that?"

"When I figure it out, I promise to let you know!" Eirik rubbed his temples as he spoke. This was stressing him out more than he liked to admit.

"So what are you going to do? Are you going to take Sif up on the offer, risking Freja in the process? Or reject Sif, causing her to pursue you even more aggressively while you try to avoid Freja getting jealous. For a good reason, I might add, considering what you just said." David divided the situation into as simple terms as possible. Eirik always appreciated that.

"...We kissed after dinner, David. Or rather, she kissed me, but I didn't stop her. If Old Pan had not come with dessert when he did..." Eirik mumbled with lowered head.

"Damn, she DOES work fast. I owe Jesper 50 credits." David mumbled. "Does Freja know?" He asked Eirik.

"No! I was left with a.. situation.. after dinner and I went to find Freja. And find her I did!" Eirik said.

"THAT'S why you are calm enough to talk about this in this manner!" David laughed, that rough and coarse laugh that men use when they are alone.

Eirik grinned but his face soon returned to one of worry. "I don't know what to do, David. I don't know if I can control myself. I need your help! You need to keep an eye on me and intervene if I am about to make a mistake! I know it's a lot to ask, but as your friend, I am begging you!" He pleaded with David.

"Of course, Eirik, you don't even have to ask!" David assured him. "And I will keep this secret for you since I said you could speak freely. But I will not lie about further indiscretions!! Freja is still a dear friend to me, almost as dear as you, and I will not be forced to choose sides!"

"Thank you!!" Eirik grabbed Davids's hand with both of his and shook it. "I owe you one!"

"You most certainly do!" David said and they downed another shot. Determined to finish the bottle in a good mood, they changed the subject.

___________________________

Sif was very pleased with how the night went. She had managed to turn the small ember inside of Eirik, into a small flame. In time, that flame would become a roaring fire and he would come to her to slake his thirst, like a man dying of thirst seeks out a freshwater spring.

It didn't hurt that he was an attractive man as well. She had been worried that the armor had been hiding a deformed or mistreated body, but he took care of himself. She had been very surprised to see that his left arm had been there, though. All reports said he had lost it during his last encounter with Tai'Tanu. The thrashing that the arrogant lizard had received had made her paranoid and obsessed with still being in fighting shape, despite her age creeping up on her.

Sif hoped Eirik would hurry up. She might be playing a game, but she was not immune to the game herself, and she was still a woman with needs. But she would not accept anyone but Eirik. That man was now her target, and she WOULD find a way to bind him to her for the rest of their lives. Regardless of Eirik's wishes. He was made for her to have. Freja would just have to accept that fact and learn to take her place in the shadow as a mistress. Sif didn't mind sharing, but she was the one that should stand out in front!

She turned to the mirror and started practicing her facial expressions and body movements. Whatever trick she had to use was fair play from this point forward!