What the Earl Desires

by Burke, Aliyah

  Like he gave a damn.

  “Where?!” The word was guttural and dangerous.

  Trystan wiped his hand across the back of his mouth and placed a cloth under his nose. “Damn it man, you may very well have broken my nose.”

  Colin longed to do it again. All he could see was Tryst touching Najja. “Do not make me ask you again.”

  “Good to see you, too,” Trystan said sarcastically. “Hello, Pug.”

  Another step brought his hand up again. “I never touched…never slept with her.”

  Rage swamped him and he snapped, grabbing Trystan up by the collar, and shoved him toward the door. Once they were outside, he directed him to a bench. “Talk fast,” he barked.

  Readjusting his bloodied cloth, Trystan glared up at him. “We shared a room.” Colin growled and clenched his fists. “A room only. We alternated between the hammock and bed. I never touched her, not like that. You know me.”

  “Yes. I am well aware of how you go through women.”

  “And I have known since the first time I saw you with her she was yours.”

  That calmed him a bit and he looked, really looked at his friend. Tryst had the beginnings of a black eye, bloodied nose, and a split lip. “Where is she?”

  Trystan shook his head and lifted a shoulder. “We parted ways a while ago. I suspect she went home.”

  “Come on.”

  Out of his good eye, Trystan watched him with caution. “If it is all the same to you, I would rather be where there are witnesses.”

  “I am sure some husband has hit you harder. You need to get cleaned up.”

  “Something that would not be an issue had you more damn control over your temper.”

  Colin had no remorse and just shrugged. As they walked he kept an eye on Pug. The boy seemed enamored by everything. Soaked it up like a sponge. Soon they were in their room and Trystan had a cold cloth on his eyes and the other two places. Pug sat on the balcony and stared down at the street.

  “How long ago did you leave her?”

  “A few days. How did you get here so quick?”

  Colin arched a brow and Trystan laughed. “Never mind. I forgot who I was talking to, Commander Faulkner.”

  “I will not let her go.”

  “I told her that.”

  His heart sped up. “I need you to keep Pug with you.”

  “I am not here for fun, Colin.”

  “He needs to be safe.”

  “Safest place is back in England. What were you thinking, bringing him along?”

  “He refused to stay.” Colin glanced in Pug’s direction, the boy still awestruck over the hustle of the African port city.

  Trystan gave a disbelieving snort then moaned in pain. “Damn you hit hard.”

  “Consider yourself lucky I stopped. I wanted to kill you.”

  “I know. Look, I am sorry but I thought she would be safest in my room with me as her protector versus with everyone else.”

  He knew Trystan was right but it still pissed him off that she had been in a room with him the entire trip. There’d be no way he would have been able to keep his hands off her and he was suspicious of Trystan.

  “Touch her again, Trystan, and I will kill you.”

  “Understood.” He leaned back against the wall. “You need to keep Pug with you.”

  He nodded. “I know, I just want him safe. And I have no idea what is out there.”

  “I have a feeling he would slip off after you so he would be better off with you from the start.”

  “Probably right.”

  “Of course I am. Your son thinks the world of you and he will follow you anywhere.”

  “My son?”

  Trystan smiled. “Oh yeah, he is yours. He acts like you. Watch him sometime, he is picking up your behaviors.”

  Colin rubbed his eyes, he was exhausted and yet desperate to find her. “You here for a while?”

  “Yes, sleep. I will keep an eye on your boy. I have to heal before I go back out in public.”

  He wanted to go but darkness approached swiftly. Tomorrow morning he would begin. And he did. Bright and early he’d woken Pug and gotten them on the road to the house the Adryses had lived in during their stay.

  As they traveled he couldn’t help but be impressed--continually--by the beauty of this untamed land. Not that he lowered his guard for they were near what was known as the “Slave Coast” he knew there could be trouble.

  Early afternoon, they broke from surrounding forest to a sprawling lush green meadow with a large one storey stone home on it. A servant swept the front but stopped when she spotted them. Moments later four large men--who’s skin tone ranged from light brown to black--approached.

  Beside him, Pug took a sharp breath and he was tempted to do so as well. Reining in his horse, he leaned forward and did his best to appear unthreatening. The four men paused and one spoke in a language he didn’t know.

  “Sorry. I do not understand I am looking for Mr. Snee. I am a friend of Lord Adrys.”

  Their countenances softened after that.

  “Come to the house. You can rest while we send for Mr. Snee.”

  With a nod of thanks and a grin of reassurance to Pug they headed in. While Pug ate some food, Colin walked around and did what Jo told him to do. He only had to wait now and that was never his strong suit.

  Mr. Snee was a short rotund man with a bald head and a thick moustache. They spent the evening with him and he left some things to return to Lord Adrys. The night air was cool and felt good countering against the sweat lingering on his skin. He peeked in the room Pug had been given and smiled at the sight of him sleeping there. Pug no longer had pale skin and sunken eyes. This was a boy fit and tired from his day of play and adventure, not malnutrition and beatings.

  He realized Tryst had been right, he was viewing Pug as his son. And it didn’t bother him at all. Leaving the boy to his rest, Colin backed out and closed the door. Heading to his room, he made sure to douse all the lights and sat in a corner hidden by shadows. Waiting.

  Time passed and he’d begun to doze when a soft voice woke him in more than one way.

  “Jo?” Najja’s voice was barely over a whisper and yet hit him stronger than one of his ship cannons. “Why are you here?”

  “Because you left without saying goodbye,” Colin said never moving.

  The filtered moonlight gave him a chance to see her. Beautiful. He’d missed her fiercely since she’d left. She wore a sleeveless shirt which confirmed tight to her body, highlighting her full breasts and emphasizing her small waist. And she wore breeches, which made him think of having her long legs around his hips as he thrust home between her thighs. Lust broadsided him and he clutched the arms of the seat he occupied.

  Her entire body went rigid. “Colin?”

  His name rolled from her tongue and he bit back a groan. “Why luv? Why leave without a word?”

  The darkness swallowed her then he blinked and she was right there in front of him. Close enough to touch.

  “Where is Jo?” The whispered words raked like talons over his skin.

  “She is in England.”

  A relieved sigh. “Why are you here and how did you know--”

  Her question ceased beneath his lips. It had been so long since her mouth had been under his. He grabbed the back of her head refusing to relinquish her, not now. Not after all this time and just finding her again. Najja was his.

  Her taste exploded through him and he used his other hand to bring her closer. She didn’t fight him, in fact she sank into him, climbed on and wedged her knees on either side of his thighs. Her hands sank into his hair and nails scraped his skin. She rocked on him, their tongues rolled along one another, stroking and dancing. It was too much and yet not enough.

  Najja broke the kiss and nibbled on his lower lip. Her breaths came in short pants. “You should not be here.”

  Tightening his hand in her hair he growled, “The hell I should not.”

  She struggled but he
refused to release her. “I have to go.”

  “I cannot let you go, Najja.”

  “You have to.”

  “Never,” he vowed, covering her mouth again.

  This time he wanted her submission and when he got it, he moved them from the chair to the bed where he spent the rest of the night making love to her. When morning’s first light filtered through the window and balcony door, he stirred before reaching for the woman he’d actually been able to fall asleep holding. There was an empty spot where Najja should have been.

  Had it been a dream? He bolted up, the sheet sliding down his bare chest to gather around his waist.

  “Najja?”

  “Here.” The word was hushed.

  She sat in the chair in the corner, her legs drawn up and arms laced across the front of them. The handles of her sais stuck up past her bared arms.

  Shoving one hand through his hair, he raked it back from his eyes. “Come back to bed.”

  “I must go. And so must you and Pug.” He lifted a brow. “I checked on him, he is still asleep.”

  “He wanted to come with,” he explained.

  For a moment, she said nothing, just stared at him. He was there, pressing her against the wall, when she rose from the chair. It didn’t matter she wore clothes and he had none on. Her curves along his body almost derailed his thoughts from asking her where she was going. As it was his cock responded.

  “Colin,” she said on a sigh.

  He could get lost in her eyes, so big, so inviting, so…Najja. She brought her hand between them and touched the necklace he wore.

  “You--” The feel of her lips on his, stopped his sentence.

  “I have to go, Colin. I have tarried too long as it is.”

  “Why such a rush to leave? Pug would love to see you. He will be sorry his missed you.”

  Yes…it may be a low blow to use Pug like that but damn it all, Najja was his. She belonged to him. With him.

  “Father is expecting me.”

  He wanted to gnash his teeth together. This father of hers was really pissing him off.

  “What does he have to do with this?”

  Her expression fell. “Do not ask questions you know the answer to.”

  “Najja,” he said staring into her eyes. “I can give you anything you need, you do not have to let him run your life.”

  He could see the war waging in her eyes. For a second, he had a glimmer of hope, then it faded. Her gaze shuttered. “I have to go.”

  His fingers tightened on her upper arms. “Najja.”

  “I am sorry, Colin. Father is picking a man to give me a child. I have to go.”

  Red rage settled over him. Immobilizing him. The hell he is. “No!”

  She blinked. “No?”

  “Hell, no.” He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. “Hell. No.” Colin released her and stepped back. When she moved he pinned her with a glare. “Do not move.” He scrambled to pull on his breeches and once they hung on his hips, he focused on her again. She’d listened and had not budged.

  “Mine, Najja. Mine!” His words flowed on a low growl and he stepped flush to her. “You are mine. I took your virginity and I will kill any man, any, who touches you.”

  Her eyes grew wide and he would swear tears shimmered in their depths. She whispered a few words in the language he didn’t understand, but desperately wished he did. The agony was on her face and it tore him up inside.

  “You once asked me what I would want if I was allowed to have anything for myself,” Najja said solemnly. She reached out and stroked her fingers along his face. They paused on his lips before she skimmed them back and forth on the bottom one. “Had I a choice, Colin Faulkner, it would be you. It has always been you, since the day we met.”

  You do have one. He closed his eyes only to reopen them when her touch vanished. Correction, she’d disappeared, completely. There had been no sound just one moment there, the next, gone.

  Deep in his chest pain radiated up and out. It hit so hard it staggered him. Yes, he’d survived without her. That wasn’t the question. The question was, did he plan on letting the only woman he’d truly ever loved get away? And have another man’s baby? Just because her twisted father decreed it?

  Hell no.

  Shoving into the rest of his clothes, he strode to Pug’s room and burst in. The boy came awake immediately.

  “What?”

  “Get dressed,” he ordered strapping on his sword and some guns.

  “What ’appened?”

  “Nothing yet. We are going to get Najja back.”

  The gap-toothed grin told him all he needed to know. Pug agreed. Determination pumped through him and he left to get the things he needed ready. One of the servants pointed him in the right direction only to promptly tell him he shouldn’t go.

  Nothing would keep him from her. Nothing.

  As soon as he had what he needed, he and Pug rode off uncertain of what they faced. But he was confident he would get what he wanted. One way or another.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Najja listened to Father talk to some of his strongest warriors but in all truth her mind was on Colin. He’d come all this way for her. She shifted on the fur as the memory of last night resurfaced. She’d finally spent an entire night in his arms and it had been nothing short of heaven.

  His touches. The tender caresses. Kisses and more. How it felt to be held by him. He made her feel so protected, not something she expected to ever experience with another.

  Colin.

  His name alone made her feel a wealth of things no other’s touch could compare to. And Pug. The little urchin had found his way into her heart.

  “Daughter.” The tone rang sharp with disapproval.

  She had no idea what or where the conversation had gone. “I am sorry, Father. I lost track for a moment.”

  Crack!

  Her head rocked back with the force of his blow. Fingers flexed and reached for her sais before she controlled the urge. Instead she lowered her head and ignored the line of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

  “Those four will fight and you will submit to the winner.”

  Najja lifted her gaze enough to see the men. Her stomach recoiled at the thought. Turning her head, she took in those who watched. People who were strangers to her despite being from the same village. They shouldn’t be, yet they were. Not one friendly face toward her. Exactly how Father had wanted it. One of those women could be her mother. She had no clue. And now he wanted to take her baby and raise it how she had been raised. Without knowing kindness, love, or her mother.

  “Why?” The question slipped out.

  “Why what?” Father demanded, glaring at her with a fierce frown.

  “Why force me to have a child?”

  “You are the best. The best and the strongest have children.”

  She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t agree to bring a child in to face what she had. “No.”

  His eyes widened only to narrow. “No?”

  “No. I will not give you a child to raise as you did me.”

  Thunder darkened his expression. “You dare refuse my command? I own your life!”

  She lifted her chin and stared him back, directly in the eye. “Mine yes. Not that of my child. You would have to have me guarded every single hour for the second someone’s guard slipped, I would be gone.”

  His foot connected with her chest and sent her rolling back to lie on the hard packed ground. Getting up, she stood tall and refused to show weakness.

  Some other warriors began to move in and she instinctively withdrew her sais.

  “You dare draw weapons against me?”

  “Not you, Father. But I will fight everyone you send to breed me. I will not give up my child.”

  There was a flurry of activity and the crowd parted. Two men led Colin and Pug forward.

  “They were heading in this direction,” one man said, shoving Colin.

  Her heart jumped to her throat. Colin
and Pug didn’t look injured but it had ceased to matter. Those holding the spears on them would die. Her need to protect those she considered hers flowed powerfully.

  Pug had a fearful yet dogged expression on his face. Colin seemed rather calm until he lowered his gaze from hers to where the blood had ran from her mouth. Then those eyes, the color of the sea, darkened with dangerous and deadly intent.

  “Who the fuck hit you?” he demanded, struggling to get to her.

  “Silence!” Father yelled in English. He stepped down and walked toward Colin, each stride powerful and commanding. “Who are you?”

  Colin didn’t flinch. In fact he ignored him and peered back at her. “Are you okay, Najja?”

  “How do you know my daughter?”

  Still no response from Colin. His fiery gaze remained on her. “Najja?” he asked again.

  She gave him a slight nod. His expression softened before hardening again. Then he looked to Father.

  “I have come to take her home.” He tipped his head to Pug. “We have come to take her home.”

  “She is home. Did you perhaps wish to buy her services?”

  “I will gladly pay a dowry for her if you wish one.”

  Her heart thudded. Father’s black eyes flickered between them. “Dowry? You wish to marry her?”

  Colin turned his head and met her stare. “Yes.”

  Najja didn’t know what to do or say.

  “No. She is to give me her child to raise, as I did her.”

  “I will kill any man who touches her,” Colin growled, his eyes green fire.

  “I could kill you now. And your boy then do what I wish.”

  Najja’s fury rumbled low in her chest and she stepped forward. “No harm comes to the boy.”

  “No concern for this man?” Father questioned.

  “He is a warrior and the boy will be one himself one day.” She gestured for Pug to come to her. The one holding him, released him and he ran directly to her. Skinny arms wrapped around her waist. The simple act filled her with a feeling of completion.

  Father contemplated this. “Very well, English. You want to live and leave you fight and win.”

  “When I win, the boy and Najja come with.”