What had he done? Darius kept his expression placid. The slightest inclination that he found her lacking, and she’d be outraged. Tara looked worn out enough, yet spiking on adrenaline at the same time. He knew from experience that often led to quick tempers, even in himself. But Tara didn’t look well. He’d been so wrapped up in battles, strategy, and protecting Gothman from an unpredictable enemy that he hadn’t given enough thought to his claim and unborn child.
He’d issued his fair amount of lectures over the winters in drills, scrimmages, and even recently during battle that his men keep their claims out of their heads. The moment any man started thinking with his dick instead of his brain was the day he died a dishonourable death. Had he intentionally followed his own advice a bit too closely because, if he hadn’t, it would have meant pulling himself from the front line to deal with his pregnant claim?
Not that he hadn’t wanted to see her. Hell be doomed! He’d ached from the very fibers of his being to have her fighting at his side. He had definitely wanted her warming his bed at night. The only time he had mentioned his place was in the Gothman camp to Patha, he’d quickly been shot down. Patha wanted Darius by his side to uphold the reality of Gothman and Runners fighting together. He’d also pointed out how it was good for Tara to learn to give orders to warriors who didn’t already follow her blindly. Darius saw now that as much as he liked the old man— he’d wished his own father had been half the man Patha was—that he should have stood up to him and insisted on seeing Tara. Because he hadn’t, his claim looked ready to collapse. Darius should have known she would never have pulled herself from duty.
Tara was too thin. She no longer wore her skin tight Runner clothing. Was she wearing another man’s clothing? He almost growled at the thought but didn’t want the conversation he was about to have beginning with a fight. His claim was dirty, exhausted, and smelled.
It struck Darius that he still found her incredibly beautiful. He had made a promise to the doctor to remove her from battle. A promise that now had to be carried out.
“Sit, Tara, have something to eat.” Patha took her from Darius and guided her into a chair at the round table, which sat to one side of the spacious living area.
Tara complied and almost collapsed into the chair. A wave of exhaustion hit her. Holding up her head with her hands, she ran fingers through her hair. She was not thinking clearly and guessed fatigue was taking over quickly. A few hours’ sleep and a hot shower and she’d be good as new.
“I can help.” Tara tried standing.
Patha began pulling food from his cold box.
“Sit.” Darius stopped her with a hand to her shoulder.
Patha placed several plates of food on the table.
“This looks so good.” Tara eyed the sliced meat, smoked boar with the fat trimmed, and cold duck legs. Several chunks of cheese were still wrapped in thin, almost transparent cloth. She reached for a vine of grapes out of a chilled bowl.
The men joined her and they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
“The Blue Horn clan reports all units are ready for battle,” Darius said with his mouth full and a peeled duck egg in his hand.
“Good. I want all clans to report in before the end of the day.” Patha stabbed his boar meat with his eating knife, then added a chunk of cheese. “Something to drink, Taragirl?”
Patha leaned back to the wooden counter behind him, which divided his living/working area from his kitchen and grabbed a ceramic pitcher. He poured iced grape juice into mugs for all of them.
“Thank you,” Tara said between bites.
Darius pondered how to bring up the conversation of Tara stepping down. He gave less thought to relieving his seasoned warriors of duty when necessary. Darius knew why, too. None of them would dare argue with him over his decision.
“Don’t let those clans dawdle in getting their updates to you.” Patha waved his silver eating knife at Darius, a gift Tara had given him when she’d been a child. Its tip, similar to Reena’s knitting needle but with a sharper end, had remnants of cheese on it. “If all clans haven’t reported in before sundown, send them notice, or they’ll receive the last available slots when I position everyone for battle.”
Patha slid his chair from the table, then stood and patted his belly.
“Are you leaving? I’ll walk with you,” Tara said. She wanted to talk to him about her and Darius working together instead of in different camps.
Patha chuckled. “Not this time, Tara-girl. I can tell you aren’t done eating. And when you are done, enjoy a shower. I know living out of that tent you’ve been in all this time has denied you such luxuries.”
“A shower would be nice.” Tara stood and began carrying the plates to the other side of the counter. She waited for Patha to leave before speaking again. “Your Gothman warriors still have trouble acknowledging my authority.”
“It will take them time. A culture doesn’t change in a few cycles.” Darius slid her hair across her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck. “Go enjoy that shower now, my lady,” he whispered against her skin, sending chills down her body.
The water was hot and had never felt so good. Tara let it spray over her body, praying it would revitalize her. She was so worn out it took effort to scrub herself. Water was rationed and not wanting to use all of it for her own comfort, she did her best to hurry.
Tara stepped out of the shower long before she wanted to and wrapped herself in a large towel. She wasn’t wearing the clothes again that she’d removed to shower. They were stained, and they smelled. She would have to send for fresh clothes. The large bulky towel wrapped around her accentuated the size of her growing tummy.
“You’ve got to come out sooner or later.” Darius leaned patiently against the wall at the end of the short hallway as Tara opened the bathroom door and turned the other direction. Nothing but that white towel separated her from Darius.
Tara headed into the spare bedroom, hoping Patha might have something stored that might fit her. Darius followed and came up behind her. As she turned to face him, he grabbed the towel and pulled it off her.
“Woman, you’re so beautiful.” He gazed at the growing bulge between her disappearing hipbones. “Look at you. I should have you home with plenty of servants waiting on you.”
“I’d be bored senseless,” she complained, making a face at him. He stroked her hair, pulled her to him, and rubbed her stretched tummy. His child grew within her. That child would be healthy and strong if his mama didn’t carry him into battle every day. She must return home, to a safe environment, and if he worded it right she would go willingly.
“We’re warriors, I don’t need to be taken care of,” Tara added, but made no attempt to move out of his strong hands. She wanted to stay by his side, with him helping her through this strange transformation she was experiencing.
“I love you, and our child,” he whispered in her ear as he picked her up and shut the door with his foot.
He laid her on the bed shoved in the corner and caressed her sore muscles. Darius kissed the bruises on her body with lips that seared her skin. Her weary muscles had the consistency of over-boiled potatoes. All she wanted was to reach up and run her fingertips over his skin. She wanted to feel those tight, coarse curls that sprinkled over perfectly chiselled chest muscle.
As sleepy as eating and a hot shower had made her, Tara was more awake than she’d been over the past cycle when Darius spread her legs and began kissing her inner thighs. Heat sprang to life inside her and grew unbearable. She felt a slight contraction as she lifted her hips to meet his lips. It was oddly pleasant.
That sensation was quickly replaced by another, more carnal, and desperate. Darius took her places she’d only dreamt of night after night, alone in his tent, in his camp. It took no time before her orgasm followed.
When Darius entered her, his velvety round tip glided over her soaked walls. His thick, hard shaft sunk deep inside, straight to her core. He wasn’t gentle, but she didn’
t want gentle. She wanted her warrior in all his magnificence. She wanted him aggressive, dominating and controlling her senses. Because right now she doubted she could do anything other than enjoy him.
Tara took all of him and cried out for him more. With each plunge, he brought her closer to the edge. She clung to him, and to the moment. She didn’t ever want their lovemaking to end. The edge was right there but it felt too good to take the plunge yet.
Darius was a relentless lover. His body rippled with power. She felt that power fill her. But then he adjusted his angle. He’d been toying with her, letting her think she controlled when she came. It showed on his face the moment he impaled her and hit that spot. Tara came so hard that her world shattered before her eyes. He followed with a few hard grunts, then exploded deep in the recesses of her flowing, molten heat.
Darius leaned on his arm next to Tara, enjoying the halfsmile on her face and the glow in her sapphire eyes. Her body relaxed and her expression turned peaceful. This is how he wanted his claim; satisfied with his love for her, and looking content instead of stressed and overworked as she had when she’d entered the trailer. He wouldn’t have her seen in public again showing such extreme signs of battle fatigue. This beautiful woman would carry his child and glow with satisfaction that she belonged to him, needing nothing and not entangled with worries.
“What?” Tara demanded after a moment. That sated smile remained on her face. “Why are you staring?”
“You’re glowing. Pregnancy suits you very well. We should have lots of children.” Darius traced his index finger along her cheekbone and down to her mouth, allowing her to suck on it while her wide blue eyes stared up at him.
Tara pushed his finger out of her mouth with her tongue. “Oh right, that way you can order me to my room as soon as I start to show.”
“Tara, you know you can’t stay here. I don’t need to tell you that.” He lay next to her and tightened his grip when she tried pulling away. “I’m going to reassign you—but your skills won’t go to waste. I promise. The Sea People have attacked Bryton as well.”
He hurried to speak when she would have interrupted. “I have warriors assigned there, but I don’t have to tell you most of them are here. Bryton is full of women and children. I need someone to watch over them. My men there are too young, or too old, to be here. Hilda and Reena can see to your needs as well as any other lass you wish to have help you. I’ve stationed soldiers around the house, but I need someone for them to report to who can keep me informed.”
“How long did it take for you to think up that one?” She smiled at him, pleased she would still have responsibilities, although she’d be out of the heart of battle.
He didn’t return the smile, but his eyes twinkled.
“I’ll leave in the morning,” she decided. She snuggled up next to him, and tried organizing in her mind what she would do in town. She would organize the women to supply the troops with food and clean blankets. She thought of ways to get his men to listen to her, but soon sleep took over.
Darius listened to Tara’s gentle breathing. Life couldn’t be this good if he’d planned it. He ran his finger up and down her outer thigh. She’d been so submissive during their lovemaking. Agreeable even when he reassigned her to home, where she’d relax and let the warriors tend to the duties of battle.
Just thinking about how she’d obeyed his orders got him hard all over again. Could it possibly be that she’d accepted that he was in charge? If he gained Tara’s submission to him completely, he’d rule Gothman and all the Runner clans.
Darius ran his hand up her body and fondled one of her exposed breasts. She was so beautiful, the perfect woman for him. Tara wanted to be in charge, too. But there was only one leader. She would advise at his side, and he would control both nations. Darius smiled as he played with her nipple and delighted in her quickened breathing even though she remained sound asleep. He’d captured a beautiful Runner, and now she walked proudly by his side. He would defeat the Sea People and soon control all of Nuworld.
When Tara woke, she was alone. There was an outfit folded on the chair next to the bed, a Runner’s maternity dress. Tara got up and pulled it over her head. It slid down her body easily. She was thrilled not to have to struggle so her clothes fit, only to feel cramped in them all day. She ran her hands down the black material and turned to the full-length mirror that still hung next to her door from when she was a child.
Tara wrinkled her nose at her scraped knees and bare feet. She turned and searched the room and noticed black leggings, which had been folded underneath the dress. Of course, she had seen women dressed like this many times. The leggings were easy to slip into, and Tara decided the end result was tolerable. She slipped her laser into her pocket and went on a search for food.
After finding sweet rolls and grapes, Tara sat with her landlink and ate while tapping through the screens, catching up on communications with the other clans. A groundmobile pulled up outside the trailer.
She waited to see who would come through the door, assuming one of Patha or Darius’ commanders had arrived with news or questions. Instead she heard the sound of a motorcycle being started. Tara rushed to the door and shoved it open. A runner was sitting on her bike!
“I’d get off of that right now and find your own,” she said coolly, stepping out of the trailer with her laser pointed directly at the man’s chest.
The foolish man leapt off her bike, his eyes large behind his headscarf. “Look, I’m just following—”
“I can see what you’re doing.” She shot the laser at the ground in front of his feet and the Runner took off running.
Tara spun around at the sound of someone laughing. Patha and Darius stood alongside the trailer. The longer Patha stood there, the harder he laughed until he was holding on to Darius’ shoulder to keep from falling over. Darius’ baritone chuckle only annoyed her further.
“The poor lad.” Patha shook his head as he wiped his eyes.
“What’s so funny about someone trying to steal my bike?” Tara wanted nothing more at the moment than to slap the large grins off both their faces.
“My lady, the man was following orders.” Darius must have sensed her anger, because his smile disappeared, although slowly. “We asked him to drive your bike up to the shed behind the house.”
“Why?”
“You’ll drive this groundmobile.” He walked over to the groundmobile parked next to her bike.
“You’re taking away my bike?”
“It’s doctor’s orders, Taragirl.” Patha still smiled although he tried to stifle it when he saw her expression.
“And you asked the man to bring the groundmobile to me?” Tara was quiet for a moment and then smiled at her own mistake. “That poor man will never come near me again.”
Tara slipped her laser into her dress pocket and patted her bike. When Darius approached her, she smacked his chest. “Well, what are you waiting for, man? I can’t very well drive both of these into town. You need to get someone over here to drive my bike to the house.”
Darius moved before she could stop him and wrapped her into his arms. “Is that an order, my lady?”
“You bet it is,” Tara informed him. “Now let me go. I’ve got a town to organize.”
Darius watched his claim drive away from the campsite and hoped his town would survive his Runner claim.
CHAPTER TEN
“SHE’S HERE,”Reena yelled from the living room. “Oh,
goodness, old woman. Hurry up. She is here !”
“I’m coming.” Hilda waddled down the stairs as fast as
her plump legs would carry her.
Torgo galloped past his mama and flung open the front
door. “Wow, do you look pregnant!” He ran down the front
open room stairs to greet Tara.
“And you have grown.” She smiled at the boy as she got
out of the groundmobile.
He greeted her with a big hug and a smile that went
>
from ear to ear.
“Miss me, did you?”
“It was awful boring with two old women bossing me all
the time.” Torgo peered into the back of the groundmobile
at all of the landlink equipment. “Especially with a war
going on. What’s all that?”
“I’m in charge of the soldiers in town. I need this
equipment to help me keep track of what everyone is doing.
I’ll set up in my bedroom.”
“Oh, Reena, look how big she is.” Hilda clasped her
hands to her mouth.
“Of course she’s big. She’ll have that baby in a couple
cycles.” Reena sounded sure of herself.
“I wish I had only a couple cycles to go,” Tara said with a
laugh as she kissed each woman on the cheek. “But the
baby won’t be here until around the New Winter.” Tara instructed the guards standing in the driveway to
unload the equipment and take it up to her room. There
was no time like the present to show them who was in
charge.
“I’ll be wanting to do a thorough exam, lass.” Reena
rubbed her chin as she studied Tara’s belly. “I’m wondering
about that fancy doctor of yours.”
Tara doubted it would do her any good to argue. “I’ll
make sure you get to do your exam.”
“And soon,” Reena said, and wagged her finger. “Don’t
be putting me off.”
“As soon as I have everything in order with the troops,”
Tara promised.
The women hovered a bit longer, but bored quickly when
Tara began arranging her landlink. They left her to her
business with promises of a warm meal as soon as she was
settled.
“Can I help you?” Torgo hovered in Tara’s doorway. “Or
I’ll just watch if you’ll let me.”
Nuworld: Claiming Tara Page 21