by Treva Harte
Just the sound of her mouth slurping against his cock was enough to make him want to weep. His cock was weeping with joy already.
“Stand up straight.”
“I’m standing!” Ulrich snapped. At least his cock was standing as straight as he knew how. “Don’t stop now.”
“I meant that I can’t catch you if you fall. Stop shaking.”
“Oh…Oh! Flame it, Maryam, I can’t ‑‑ Ah.” His hands gripped her shoulders and they rocked together, dangerously, for a moment or two. He moaned as he spilled into her. Groaned deep in his throat as she continued to milk his cock with her mouth.
There was a short silence.
“There now. At least you feel better.”
“Thank you.” Ulrich stroked Maryam’s dark hair. “You even swallowed.”
“It can’t taste any nastier than the food I’ve been trying to force down for the past few months.” Maryam patted his nearest thigh. “Don’t scowl at me like that. I enjoyed it, too. I fear there is a rather wanton streak in me.”
“I admire and respect your wanton streak.” Ulrich lifted her to her feet as easily as he had before she’d grown heavy. “And when you’re able, I will be happy to indulge it.”
“Oh, I rather counted on that.” Maryam leaned her head against his chest. “I must say, as important as bearing children is, I wish females could do it in just a week or two, rather than these many months.”
“Everything will be better once we get you to the keep.” Ulrich held her tight. “And we’ll get you there as quickly as humanly possible. Mio says the keep is a day’s journey off.”
“Between you and Mio and your men, I’ve been pampered the entire trip.”
Ulrich decided it was best to ignore the moments at sea where she had demanded they throw her overboard and let her die before the seasickness took her. Or the times he’d leaped to his feet, sword in hand, in the middle of the night, only to realize she had awakened with leg cramps and was screaming from surprise and pain. Instead he murmured, “I hope the others have as safe a journey’s end.”
* * * * *
The hall gleamed with polish. Her men gleamed too, in their finest array. Shining armor, handsome faces, strong bodies. Domini fought against the pride and tenderness inside. They were all looking their best. They were the best. Would any other woman but her be able to truly appreciate them?
They were about to find out.
“Miner House, I present to you the lady Isabel.”
There was a long silence and then the scraping of benches and chairs as the men rose to their feet. An almost silent hissing started up. Excitement hummed through the audience hall.
Domini laid her hand on the girl’s shoulder. Let them all see she was comfortable with Isabel. With the announcement she intended to make. She would be sure no one would see her falter in public, no matter how much she privately worried. She owed that to future Lady of the House.
“She has come for a trial month. She will see if our House is suitable for her. If she feels equal to the task of caring for my sons. You will treat her with the courtesy and respect you do me.”
She could see Jaxxson look her over before he lowered his gaze in the traditional gesture of deference. Even Keenan, whose voice was just beginning to change, looked.
Why not? Isabel might well be their future. Would be, most likely. When a House accepted the offer of a trial month, negotiations were serious. No woman traveled so far on a whim.
“Thank you, Lady Domini. I am honored to be here.” Isabel’s voice was soft but carried well. “I hope to speak with you all and learn more about the House. About all of you.”
The girl looked so right. Why was everything in Domini screaming that this was a mistake? Domini nodded and let her hand fall from the girl’s shoulder. Time for Isabel to step forward and show her mettle.
“Gentlemen --”
The entrance door crashed open, sounding even louder than usual in the hushed hall. Crispus stepped forward a half second before the other men whirled around, hands reaching for weapons.
“Wait!”
Domini gasped. That voice was familiar. Strong, impatient ‑‑ very alive. Quinn.
“There’s been a mistake here. Mother, I ‑‑ well, I didn’t mean to do things this way but I heard the news at the Miner outpost last night and hurried as fast I could.”
“What mistake?” Domini slipped into her most haughty voice. One did not discuss mistakes in public.
“Let me explain. This is the future Lady of Miner House.” Quinn turned and thrust someone before him. “Lady Ara.”
Domini blinked. He was presenting them with an enemy woman. The female was almost completely white-skinned, not a scale in sight, looking as alien to their people as any woman could. She was filthy, dressed in dusty travel robes. Slight. Almost doll-like.
As different from the self-possessed, regal Isabel, dressed in her presentation gown, as anyone could imagine. What had possessed Quinn?
“Who is thizzz?” Isabel hissed, her careful speech forgotten.
“You heard Quinn. I’m Lady Ara.” The small creature drew herself up. Domini frowned, thoughtfully. The intruder’s accent was abominable and clearly foreign. Still, there was something… Despite all her clear disadvantages, this Ara’s voice was husky and held unmistakable authority. “Gentlemen, I am Quinn’s betrothed wife. Betrothed to all of his brothers.”
Did she know how bold she was, flinging forth such a statement to them all? She wasn’t the one to decide such things. The true Lady of the House was. Domini drew herself up. From Quinn’s face, his mother could tell he at least knew what he’d done. He looked terrified…but determined. She looked again. Quinn’s hand came up, as if it couldn’t help itself, to rest on the alien woman’s shoulder.
Domini glanced around her. If the other men had been interested in Isabel, they were mesmerized by this one.
Hmmm.
“Indeed.” Domini looked down from the dais. “I think that we all need to discuss this privately.”
“As you wish, ma’am.” Ara looked back up at her, seemingly unaffected. “I’d be delighted to talk with my future mother-in-law.”
Domini bit back both a hiss and a sudden smile. Trust Quinn to complicate things by bringing a mouthy alien and proposing her for a wife. But the foreigner did have the correct tone of command down perfectly. Perhaps she could, with training and supervision, actually become a Lady of Miner House. Perhaps.
* * * * *
The keep was noisy with excitement. Mio had never been so close to the inside the Castle M’Cee before, but he was sure that the keep rarely hit such a frenzied pitch. Ever since Ulrich had stumbled to the gates with Maryam, everyone ‑‑ even the men who waited outside ‑‑ had been in a fever of anxiety and anticipation over the event to come.
And, as always, the men outside were the last to know what was going on within the keep’s walls.
“We have babies, Ulrich. Three healthy little girls.”
“Girls? Three?” Ulrich’s voice rose into a squawk. “Sacred name! Three.”
“Raven, Erin and Linden. Identical little girls.”
“Oh. Oh, Maryam.” One hand reached out through the bars, to touch her cheek. “And you? How are you?”
“Sore. Tired. Missing you.” Her hand wrapped around his and squeezed. “But I can stand here. Do you want to see them?”
“Very much.”
“Ladies!” Maryam called.
Two women came out and timidly edged near the giant behind the gate. He reached his hands out through the bars. Three tiny infants were placed in two huge paws. Ulrich stared down at the babies without a word. Tiny mouths opened, rather like fledglings that wanted to be fed.
“Well? What do you think of them?” Maryam licked her lips, as if they were suddenly dry. “Are they all you wanted?”
“More. They’re more.” Ulrich whispered. “Just as you are more than I’d ever thought. Three. Three girls. Thank you.” His voice went
back to its usual harsh grumble. “They need to be guarded. Do you realize what a treasure they are?”
“I know. Goddess protect us once they get older.”
“The Goddess won’t be the only one to protect you. I will.” His scowl deepened. “I won’t have any cursed men sniffing after my little babies…”
One shifted, grasped the thumb of her father’s hand. Another let out a cry. Ulrich stared down as if in a trance.
“They’re hungry.” Maryam stepped forward.
“At least one is wet.” Ulrich made no move to let them go.
“Let me take them.” One of the women scuttled back toward him. “We’ll watch over the babies. We know exactly what to do for them.”
“I suppose I don’t.” The babies were snatched away. He looked back at Maryam, his face blank. He reached out to hold Maryam’s hands. “I expected a boy or two. I know about boys.”
“You’ll learn about girls. What you don’t know, they’ll explain to you.”
“I daresay.”
“I need to go rest a bit. I’m sorry.”
“You’re feeling ill? Are they caring for you properly?”
Maryam kissed the palm of each large hand before she pulled away from him. She spoke more briskly. “I’m as fine as can be expected. As soon as I can, I’ll see to it that we visit. After all, I am the mother of four females now. I should get some consideration.”
“Visit.” Ulrich repeated the word. “That’s all?”
Maryam smiled calmly. “For now. …I’m a little tired.”
“Of course you are. It will probably take you at least a day or two to be ready to run the castle.” Ulrich cleared his throat. “Go on and rest then…love.”
Maryam blinked. ”Love? Oh.”
She swayed forward. Ulrich lunged, rattling the bars of the door. The tips of his hands caught hers, precariously bracing her.
“Yo! You wo ‑‑ ladies! She needs help!” He roared the words.
“Maryam, you need to lie down.” One of the other women caught her arm. “You’re shaking all over.”
“I’m not that tired. I was just ‑‑ surprised.” She smiled at Ulrich. “Good-bye then, love.”
Maryam let herself be led away.
He stood, his face perilously close to pressing against the bars of the door, staring after the mother of his babies…and the babies. Mio shifted his feet nervously, afraid to disturb the huge man, the man with hands big enough to beat a man’s face in--or to hold three tiny infants easily. The man who was hiding his face from Mio to keep the tears from showing.
“I ‑‑ ah ‑‑ I’m leaving now.”
“What?” Ulrich shifted his body carefully to face Mio, moving as if he’d been wounded. “What did you say?”
“I’m leaving.”
“Where?”
“Does it matter? I don’t belong here.” Mio fought a sudden ache in his own throat. “Listen, I promised to bring you here. I didn’t promise to stay.”
“Jewel.” Ulrich straightened his shoulders. “You want to be with her. I understand. That’s fine, boy. I can handle things here now.”
“Yes. Well, I don’t know. I may not try to find her. “ Mio wasn’t sure what else to say. He wasn’t sure Ulrich could handle things, but Mio doubted he could help. He was better off gone.
“It’s dangerous out there on your own.” Ulrich gradually seemed to focus on him. “Ah ‑‑ if you wish to stay a little longer, I can teach you some more about the finer points of swordplay. You must have had a poor mentor. I never saw a lad with worse form in that fight in the Hinterlands.”
“I managed well enough.”
“You could have done better. I have some soldiers I can send with you.”
“No. No one else. I’m used to doing things alone. It’s better that way.” Mio wasn’t sure why he felt so ‑‑ odd. He was used to being on his own.
“I understand. But if you need help, you just need to ask, son. I’d like to be sure you can manage.”
Son? Well, in a round about way of things, perhaps Ulrich was a father of sorts to him. A man didn’t need a father when he was almost nineteen. But still.
“Thank you…uh… Sir. Ulrich.” Mio smiled. “I appreciate the offer. Maybe if I had more time, I’d take you up on your instruction. But I’ll manage just fine.”
He would manage. He wasn’t going to run after her. If she had needed him she’d have communicated it to him. She said she could. She was fine. In the Miner House in the Hinterlands and being well-treated. She hadn’t asked for him. Flame it, he wasn’t some stray hund, desperate for a kind word, willing to put up with anything if she just let him stay a little longer…
“I know. You’re in a hurry.” Ulrich smiled back. “Women. You never know what you’re going to be doing for one.”
“No. But it’s been interesting. Very interesting indeed.”
Epilogue
“Mio.”
“Jewel.”
“I’m here.”
“Yes. I see. You look like you were caught in a sandstorm. Rather ‑‑ tousled and dirty.”
“I was caught in one. I suppose you would prefer I stopped to pretty myself up like Ka.”
“No.”
“Then I suppose you expected me to come running as fast as I could.” Mio scowled.
“No. I didn’t know what to expect.” Jewel took a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be as easy as when she’d rehearsed in her head. She hoped Mio would arrive. She hadn’t expected he would arrive in the same bad mood as when he left. “I missed you.”
“Really?”
“Really.” And you missed me. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t miss me. “Things have been…lively here. But I wanted you around.”
“Things were lively on our trip to the castle. Busy. I can tell you about it, if you want.” His hands were already unlacing her shirt. “You look…well.”
“I am well. Mio ‑‑ I never was pregnant. But ‑‑ but I thought about it while you were gone.”
“Did you?” His face was a mix of hope and more familiar wariness.
“I did. I just don’t know what I decided. About having your baby. But ‑‑ but I’d never not carry your child if I was pregnant. I’m sure of that.”
“Ah. “ Wariness eased from him.
“Let’s talk more. Later.” Jewel pulled him toward the bedroom.
“Jewel. Wait. I do have a question.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Mio was smiling at her. She’d wondered when she would see him smile again. “You don’t know the question.”
“Yes, I do love you.”
“You do?” For a moment Mio stopped. Oh, Goddess. She’d never seen a smile like that.
Jewel nodded. She knew she was grinning like a loon herself. There. That had slipped out even more easily than her rehearsed approach. “I realize now being with you isn’t always going to be easy. Or fun. But it’s necessary to me. It’s the most important thing in the world.”
“I ‑‑ that wasn’t actually what I was asking, though I’m very ‑‑ very…” Mio took a deep breath. Then he began to walk even faster toward the bedroom. “What I wanted to know was whether you might want to travel with me for a bit. Before you go back.”
“Travel where?”
“I’m not sure. The City of Thieves. The Hinterlands.” He opened her door. “Wherever Ka might be. I need to find him and see my brother is all right.”
“The Hinterlands is a big place.”
“It may take a while. A very long while.”
Mio held her head between his hands. Smiled.
“We have time, love.”
Jewel kissed him. Open-mouthed, with all her heart and all the heat she’d had building during the fearful months without him.
Then Jewel shut the door. Remembering Maryam’s words, she made sure to lock it. Sometimes privacy was definitely needed.
~*~
Treva Harte
Treva Harte read far too many roma
nces for far too long. One day the inevitable happened. She started writing her own brand of romance. She claims taking care of the family’s neurotic miniature dachshund and raising two elementary school age kids is a full time job itself, but in addition she works as an attorney in a city with many other attorneys. She and her husband both like writing in whatever time they have left, so they often fight over ‑‑ sorry, since they are attorneys they NEGOTIATE ‑‑ keyboard time.
You can visit Treva on the web at www.trevaharte.com, or email her at [email protected].
* * * * *
Read on for a tantalizing glimpse of
The Deviants
by Treva Harte
Coming Soon from Loose Id
The Deviants, Book 1
Usually Aric strolled around the outpost a little during these trips. Women’s ways of living fascinated him. Androvian barracks were kept clean. Any shrubs were trimmed and orderly.
But here there were buckets of flowers on the doorsteps. Flowers? There was no point to flowers. But they were colorful and feminine. Aric had paused to sniff the colorful blossoms more than once, hoping no one caught him doing such a foolish thing.
Women were just such different and exotic creatures.
Today, though, Aric knew he couldn’t linger among the brightly painted little houses and try to imagine what the inhabitants were doing. He headed for the back of the Jeep and, for just a moment, rested his forehead against the canvas, breathing hard.
It had happened. After years of coming here just to be near the women, he’d finally lost his mind.
The new one. Tory. She had actually looked at him. He was sure she’d really noticed him. Not just a passing gaze, but a real up-and-down stare. As if she was interested. Even before…
It hadn’t been just the look, though that stare had promised delightful things. Things he wasn’t even sure he knew about but now desperately wanted to know. No, it was more than how she watched him. It was everything. Tory wore a uniform like everyone else but she looked different. She looked like someone who wouldn’t mind getting out of that uniform.
