Nuworld: Claiming Tara

by Fitzgerald, Laurie

  “It’s a Runner’s bike.”

  Darius sounded proud as he ran his hand over her bike that she’d owned and taken very good care of for almost ten winters.

  “Are we going to ride it?”

  “I wish we were.” Darius looked at her. “It has some kind of lock on it. Once I break the code on it, I will. You can believe me on that one.”

  “I do believe you.” Tara stroked her bike. She was glad to see it wasn’t damaged. It didn’t appear tampered with either. She did a visual inspection and fought the urge to squat next to it and reassure herself that all was still in working order.

  “Let’s go.” Darius walked out of the shed and shut the door after her.

  Reluctantly she followed to his bike. Tara stifled a gasp when large hands encircled her waist and lifted her onto it.

  “You’re heavier than you look, lass. You’re quite the thin one. I would think you’d be light as a feather, but every muscle of yours is built up as if you did man’s work.”

  He looked at her with those deep gray eyes, so unlike any shade she’d ever seen before. They held her captive when she tried to look away. When he dropped his hands to his sides, she almost wished he would put them back on her.

  “I’ve worked hard all my life.” Tara forced herself to look at the ground.

  “I’d like to hear about that life sometime,” he said and eased on the long seat in front of her.

  Tara stifled a groan when the smooth leather of his pants rubbed her inner thighs. The man didn’t offer her a lot of room behind him, and her body was forced up against his backside. Her legs spread wide to accommodate him, which caused her dress to slide up, exposing a fair amount of leg. The position left her feeling incredible vulnerable, a feeling she didn’t like. At the same time, being smashed up against this virile man’s backside sent a rush of heat through her too strong to ignore. There wasn’t time to sit and evaluate her conflicting emotions however.

  “Hold on tight, my lady.” Lord Darius started the bike and took off quickly…very quickly.

  Tara’s inner thighs locked against his legs. She grabbed him and pressed herself against his back.

  Darius would enjoy the mission of exposing this Runner. And yes, she had to be the Runner. Any Gothman woman would have fallen off the bike and landed flat on her back from his quick take off. Yet Tara had remained glued to him as his bike left the ground to fly over the uneven, rocky ground.

  If Tara hadn’t been an expert rider, he would have killed her right there on the spot. Maybe that was what he had in mind. He raced over the first hill too fast for their ride to be a casual view of the countryside. She hugged his body, moving as he did, keeping her head down. Taut muscles rippled underneath her hands, and she fought not to move her fingers over them.

  They rode faster than she expected, almost as if racing into battle. The wind slapped her hair against her face and, when she tried to look up, made her eyes water. Lord Darius’ motorcycle rumbled loudly as he went flying over hills and around rocks. If it weren’t for the many winters she’d been on a bike, she would have flown off to her death.

  After some distance, Darius slowed his bike and stopped. They were at the base of a very rocky hill, and a gutted path disappeared into the pines leading up it.

  Tara allowed her hands to move slowly down Darius’ chest until she rested them on either side of his waist. His body was as fine tuned as the machine they sat on. He would make an incredible adversary, or an incredible lover. Now wasn’t the time to decide which. She was being tested here, and she planned to do her fair share of testing in return.

  “You’ve been on a bike before. Don’t deny it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you rode rather well, too.”

  Lord Darius turned his head, but his expression wasn’t readable. She might hide the truth about who she was but a Runner would never lie about her warrior skills.

  “Good thing then,” he said as if she’d answered him. “Are you ready for a climb?”

  “I think so,” Tara said, trying to sound unsure, but she was thoroughly excited about the fact that they were not through with the ride.

  “Wrap those arms around tight now.”

  Darius didn’t go as fast this time. He used caution on the rocky path and the bike groaned under their weight as he revved the motor and pushed the large motorcycle up the dangerous path. He enjoyed Tara’s body pressed against him. When she did as she was told, and wrapped her arms around his waist once again, he grinned, knowing she couldn’t see his expression. No woman had stirred him like this before. Not only did he want her body, for some reason he had a desire to know her thoughts. The reason came to him too quickly for him to process. It was simply there. Gothman women all thought the same thing. They wanted a good claim, a nice home, and children. They would raise those children and spend the rest of their lives talking endlessly about the goings on—the gossip in Bryton, who was doing what, how they were doing it, and who they were doing it with. If Runner women wanted the same thing as Gothman women, what was this woman doing on his land?

  “I’m going to show you a very private place. I’ve been coming here since I was a boy. I hope you won’t think less of me if I say I like to escape from ruling this land once in a while.”

  “No, my lord, I won’t think that.” Tara also watched the road, if the jagged path was actually that. She didn’t have to press against him now and was able to focus more on her surroundings.

  He skilfully navigated the bike around each rock and protrusion without any instruction from her, although she did have to bite her tongue a time or two to keep from pointing out large rocks. Eventually, the path led them to a clearing at the top of the rugged hill.

  It was a small shady area of grass, completely surrounded by pine trees and hidden from the world. “Oh, it’s beautiful,” she said without thinking.

  Tara again ran her hands down the side of his chest, and adjusted her legs, feeling him all the way from her inner thighs to her crotch. This man over stimulated every inch of her.

  He would not make a good enemy. Not only was his physical strength twice that of hers, his body tormented her beyond what it should. Heat scorched her skin wherever they touched. It was a noticeable distraction. Beyond that, the natural warrior blood running through him, his ability to connect with what was around him really appealed to her. One fact made all of this very unpleasant. It was impossible to make Darius a lover. The simple truth was that he was already her enemy.

  Darius cut the engine. This time, Tara slid off from behind him before he was able to put those confident hands on her and help her off the bike. She twisted and shook her hips to adjust her dress, and knew Darius watched. Tara made quick work of it instead of arching her body, or pressing her hands to the curves of her hips the way her mind suggested she might. Flirting with danger might lead to an attack. She turned to see his eyes on her rear end and knew a sense of power, one she needed to use very carefully.

  “So, when did you first ride on a motorcycle?”

  Those powerful gray eyes never left her while she walked across the small patch of thick, wet grass to a large rock and sat down on it. The cloth shoes she wore were useless. Tara wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling the material of her dress so that she felt less exposed and watched him as he climbed off his bike. He suspected her, of that there was no doubt. Or did he know her true identify and simply toyed with her? There had to be a way to find out.

  Tara thought of the best way to answer. If Darius killed her, Patha would have his revenge. If she killed him, it would also start a war. Her instincts usually didn’t fail her when caution was called for. This man was a threat, but she didn’t sense hostility, nor had she since she met him.

  By the look in his eyes it didn’t appear that he had murder on his mind. His gaze was incredibly seductive yet guarded. She smiled and decided to take his comment as a joke.

  “You really don’t think I can drive your big motorcycle.” Tara liked her response. It was time t
o change the subject, though. “Why did you bring me up here?”

  “I want to know you better. I’ve seen your response to my men’s advances, and I sure don’t want to be made the fool in front of them.”

  Tara looked down at the ground fighting a grin. He walked over and sat down on the rock next to her. He didn’t hesitate but put one arm around her back and rested his hand on her shoulder.

  Tara’s entire body tightened from his forwardness, and the urge to elbow him in the gut was almost as strong as the urge to turn and kiss him before he kissed her. These warring emotions were clouding her ability to think.

  He pointed at the hill across from them with his other hand. “There’s a cliff up that way. You have to climb to get to it, but you can see all of Gothman from up there. That, my lady, is my favorite place of all.” Darius pointed to some rocks further up the hill. “Are you up for the climb?”

  “I don’t think I could do that, my lord.” He was trying to test her. She wouldn’t allow him to fail her. “I would tear my dress for sure.”

  “Of course.” Lord Darius leaned against the wall of rock behind them and stared at her. His hand moved from her shoulder to rub the center of her back. “You’re very beautiful, Tara. I know for a fact there’s not a lady in all of Gothman that comes close to your looks.”

  He smiled and reached to stroke her hair. “I can’t help but wonder if you’d attack me if I tried to kiss you.” Darius looked at her, seeming amused at the thought. “And the way that body of yours is finetuned, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d have some luck at it.”

  Tara turned to look at him, but didn’t answer. The thought of attacking him if he tried to kiss her created a rush of warmth between her legs. His face was inches from hers and those gray eyes seemed capable of owning her every thought. She fought a grin as she imagined challenging him.

  He must have noticed her slight change in expression because his eyebrows rose, as if sincerely surprised that she might be considering attacking him. He really didn’t know anything about Runners.

  But he did suspect her. She was certain at that moment that she’d betrayed every secret she had by meeting his gaze. He would own her every thought if she didn’t pull her eyes from his. He was reaching deep toward her very soul.

  She fought for control of her thoughts with every ounce of power she possessed. Just because he suggested sensuality didn’t mean she had to submit. He was accustomed to passive women but at that moment she didn’t like the role she was supposed to be playing. Her defiance might prove an ugly taste for him. Then what? The lord might throw her on the ground and have his way with her, unless she took charge of the situation. If she did, though, it might mean a death sentence.

  Passive, be passive. And if you are he will definitely fuck you.

  It became clear if she fought him, or remained submissive and allowed him control, the end result would be the same. If she fought his advances and refused to fuck him he would have his answer about her true identity. No matter the end result, she had to play the part of a Gothman woman, or risk a possible war.

  Tara studied Lord Darius and those beautiful gray eyes. The sunlight added color to his blond curls, some of them pale as corn silk, while others were darker than gold. His hair bordered a smooth face, shy of a small scar that interrupted an otherwise perfect jaw line. She curled her hands into fists to prevent herself from reaching up to touch that scar and trace it just to see if it would alter his expression. He had no wrinkles, no worry lines, nothing to indicate he was consumed or tortured with hard decisions. His features were perfect.

  “Would you have me fight you, my lord?” she whispered. His lips parted, and he dropped his gaze to her mouth. “No woman has ever tried to stop me before.”

  “And you think I would have some success at it?” His chuckle forced his Adam’s apple up and down, and sent chills through her heated body. “I’m thinking you are like no other woman.”

  The laughter in his eyes was almost her undoing. She wanted to pounce on him, to slap him for his pompous attitude, and to kiss him just to show him she had what it took to overpower his supposed omnipotence.

  “But no, my l ady, you won’t be successful at stopping me.”

  Tara jumped to her feet. She stood over him with her hands still balled in fists at her sides. Every bit of sense she had, along with winters of training to understand all types of attacks, prepared her to take the offensive. She towered over Darius, planting her feet firmly on the ground, and inhaled deeply to clear her thoughts.

  “You think you can have me as you please, simply because you desire it?” Tara barely remembered at the last moment to speak with a Gothman accent.

  “There is no doubt, my lady.”

  “And if I don’t wish it?”

  “My lady,” Lord Darius whispered, almost growled. “You do wish it.”

  Tara had never met a man more sexually sure of himself. He excited her and filled her with outrage. She stared at him.

  Darius relaxed, then crossed his arms across that broad chest. Rope-like muscles twitched under his tanned forearms. He seemed at ease, as if allowing her time to accept the inevitable.

  Tara narrowed her eyes. “You will not rape me,” she hissed.

  Darius laughed, and she took a step backward. “My lady, I’m thinking that won’t be necessary.”

  He straightened his legs, stretching them so that long corded muscles rippled underneath his brown leather pants. Every inch of him was perfect. Tara found her gaze travelling over the bulge at his crotch and forced her attention to keep moving. He might need a slight attitude adjustment, but she imagined him well-endowed. There wasn’t anything wrong with fucking a man who was more than a bit sure of himself. Once that thought entered her mind, it was hard picturing leaving this secluded place before finding out.

  She found herself standing between those long, powerful legs but then saw he had needed to rearrange his position to allow room for his growing erection. This time Tara didn’t look away from the hardened length now visible under the material below his belt. Beyond a doubt, she had never met a more pompous, self-righteous, and incredibly sexy man as the one who now seemed to surround her with his aura.

  Tara turned to create distance, and Darius bent one leg, blocking her path. She didn’t jump around him, or stumble over him, but merely stopped. “Is this how you take every lady who catches your eye, my lord?”

  “I’ve never waited this long before.” Darius sounded amused. “But then any other lass would have submitted by now.”

  Tara almost said she wasn’t any other lass. Those would have been her exact words to any other man, but Lord Darius wasn’t any other man. No man had ever stimulated her emotions like this before, much less one who kept her guessing at the same time. She might enjoy this man, and it would be a long time before she grew bored.

  “Do they fall at your feet? Or do they simply strip in front of you?” Tara asked as she continued to stare at the leg blocking her path.

  “Has it crossed your mind to do either?”

  Tara sensed Darius’ movement and turned as he leaned forward. “No,” she stated, unable to do more as one large hand interlocked fingers with her smaller hand. Tara didn’t oppose the touch, but studied his hand, which now held hers. The rough heat from his grasp sent warmth up her arm at an amazing speed.

  “I’ll teach you to submit.” Darius didn’t make the statement as a threat, but spoke the words gently, as a papa willing to show a child a new lesson.

  When he pulled her to him, the only thing crossing Tara’s mind was that likewise, she would teach him manners. The intensity of his gaze, those gray eyes, so unique in color, watching her while he drew her closer, gave her the impression teaching him anything would be quite the chore. Stubborn and powerful, ruthless and aggressive, she saw the bad and the good in him with defined clarity.

  She wanted to look away, anything to distract her. But damn it if she didn’t want to taste him and know the source of t
he heat that flooded through her with just his touch.

  His arms wrapped her into him, almost crushing her in their grip. And then he kissed her.

  Tara didn’t try stopping him. Placing her arms on his shoulders, then grabbing hair on either side of his head, she returned the kiss with an aggression she’d never used on a man before.

  He slid her off the rock and onto the ground. His strength made her wild. All attempts to conceal her identity were forgotten. A thick fog of lust consumed her senses. His body was strong, powerful, and dangerous. It excited her more than anything had before. She fought to strip the pants away from the treasure that would be hers.

  He was huge, hardened to stone. She felt, more than saw, his erection. His hands were rough on her as he used confident expertise in removing her dress. It was tossed to the side and instantly forgotten. Then Darius’ hand was between her legs, testing her for moistness. Not that she wanted foreplay. This wasn’t about romance. It wasn’t as if the two of them would ever have a relationship.

  “Let’s see if you fuck as well as you defy a man, my lady,” he growled.

  Tara was up to the challenge. “On your back,” she insisted, pushing against him as he spoke.

  Darius pushed his finger inside her instead of obeying. He did lift himself off of her partially, but only to grab her hair with his free hand and pull.

  “The first lesson in submission is not telling me what to do,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers as he spoke.

  She wasn’t able to answer. His finger impaled her. Her scalp burned where he pulled her hair. The mixture of pleasure and pain damn near sent her flailing into her first orgasm.

  But the kiss ended and his finger slid free before she peaked. Tara blinked, taking a moment to gather her wits. Before she did, Darius rolled to his back and pulled her on top of him.

  “Fuck me, my lady.”

  Clarity returned and she found herself amused instead of frustrated that she hadn’t just come. If Lord Darius needed to feel that edge of superiority over her, she’d allow him to entertain the notion, for a moment or two.