The Hunter (A Dark, Erotic Romance)

by A. R. Ford

  “Too much?” he growled, frozen in mid-thrust.

  The only response he received was a moan and wiggle of her bottom against his groin. Luca settled into a slow, teasing pace. He withdrew until only the tip of his cock remained inside her. Nyssa whined, grinding against him.

  “Not enough!” she gasped.

  Luca leaned over her, his tongue tracing along her spine. “That’s all I need to hear, wife.”

  The rapid-fire thrusts drove her over the edge within minutes. Luca was not content to settle with one climax. No. That simply wasn’t good enough. His big hands held her hips while she sucked in of air. His shaft was thick and steely within her honeyed walls.

  “I can’t, not again,” she whispered.

  “You can and you will, wife. I need to show you how much I love you, how much I crave you. It’s always been you, Nyssa. I just had to find you first.” His voice was a low growl. It made her pussy clench around his shaft.

  The same pace began again. Slow, teasing thrusts building into a brutal driving rhythm that made her cry out. Her flesh was sensitive from the last time he had taken her in the hotel at Crossroads.

  The slap of his hips against her ass punctuated the gasps and moans pouring from her. His hand slid under her body, fingers finding the swollen nub. The circling, maddening pressure combined with the drag of his cock along nerve endings already abraded brought her to the peak again. Her passage milked his shaft frantically. He roared his release.

  Luca eased her onto her side. His big body cradled hers. “Gods that made my spine melt,” he muttered.

  “Mmhmm,” she panted.

  “Don’t think I’m through with you yet, minx. I’ve got weeks of need stored up after your little escapade.”

  “Luca, you’ve had me more in the past few days than the first month we were together,” she laughed.

  “Who’s counting?” he growled. Nyssa sighed when he knelt between her thighs and eased inside her once again. “My favorite hot, wet silk wrapped around my cock like this? That could keep me hard for days, minx.”

  By the time he tucked her into the curve of his arm that night, she was exhausted and sore. There was no doubt in her mind. Every bit had been erased in the past few days. Luca was an open book, and for that she was grateful.

  They left the cabin the next day to visit with Jack and Mary. Jack and Mary hugged her hard. Mary cried upon seeing the wedding bands.

  “It’s about time you made an honest man out of him, Nyssa.” Mary took Nyssa’s hands in her own, gave them a squeeze, and smiled at Luca. “And it’s about time you let this young lady love you without reservations. We should start getting ready for that baby to get here soon. He’ll be here in a couple months.”

  Jack clapped Luca on the back. “You’ll make a fine father, Luca. Mary and I will help any way we can. We have been known to spoil a baby or two though if left to our own devices.”

  The couples lingered together on the front porch enjoying the warm evening. Mary entertained them with gospel songs she learned from her grandmother before The Great War. The sing-song soulful melodies echoed deep in their bones. As the night drew to a close, a shooting star appeared in the sky. Luca encouraged her to make a wish.

  Nyssa smiled and shook her head. The shooting star disappeared in the distance. “I have everything I could possibly want,” she murmured. “Someone else can have that wish tonight.”

  Chapter 16

  Luca

  Preparation for Tristan’s arrival kicked into high gear. Mary purchased several bolts of fabric, thread, cotton batting and other trinkets from a peddler who passed by.

  Luca found relaxing evenings spent with Jack and Mary a treat he looked forward to each evening. Mary and Nyssa created several quilts for the baby. The remaining soft, fleecy material created receiving blankets and gowns. Mary purchased cloth diapers and diaper pins from the peddler.

  Jack brought up the subject of building a crib out of aged cedar stored in the old barn. Luca and Jack spent several days planning and building the crib in secret. Mary lured Nyssa away from the cabin under the pretense of needing help sewing.

  Nyssa cried when she returned and saw the crib in the baby’s room. Luca held her close until the tears ended. “I didn’t make the crib for you to cry,” he grumbled.

  “There is a difference between happy and sad tears, Luca. Knowing that you made this for Tristan makes me happy.” She traced a finger over the smooth wood, polished through long hours of sanding. The faint scent of cedar filled the room. Nyssa placed a hand on her belly. “You know it won’t be long now. Mary said the baby has dropped.”

  Luca frowned at the term. “Dropped? What does that mean?”

  “He’s settled head down and is just waiting for time to be born. There’s a lot more room between the top of my belly and my breasts now.” Nyssa placed a hand on top of her belly. “See?”

  A knock at the front door interrupted further conversation. Luca opened the door, fully expecting to see Jack standing there. The man standing at the front door was not who he expected. Luca stood without speaking before grabbing the man in a hug.

  “Donovan! You old devil! How did you find me?” Luca said in greeting.

  “I heard about you in Arkala. Some guy named Pritchard said I might find you in the general area. I stopped by Jack and Mary’s place. Jack gave me directions.”

  The man standing in the doorway was nearly as tall as Luca. A mane of dirty blonde hair was in stark contrast to Luca’s dark hair. He was lean and muscular. Darker brows sat above grey eyes rimmed in dark lashes. And as was customary with most men in the wilderness, a heavy scruff covered his cheeks and chin. He smiled when Nyssa made her way into the cabin’s great room.

  “Is this your wife? Jack told me you’d gotten married.”

  Nyssa stood by Luca’s side to meet the man.

  “Nyssa, this is one of the few friends I have from the resistance, Donovan Fitzpatrick.” Luca grinned. “Donovan, this is my wife, Nyssa.”

  “It’s good to meet you, Donovan,” Nyssa smiled.

  The conversation moved from introductions to an invitation for dinner. Luca and Donovan sat by the fireplace talking while Nyssa cooked the evening meal. Fried potatoes, venison, and pone bread filled their stomachs. Nyssa allowed herself to be pulled onto Luca’s lap where she sat listening to tales the men shared.

  When the sun faded into the horizon, Donovan stood in preparation to leave. “I should let you get ready for bed.”

  “Why not spend the night with us?” Nyssa asked. “You’re more than welcome to the baby’s room. We have sleeping bags.”

  Donovan smiled at Nyssa as he bobbed his head. “I appreciate it. I don’t want to impose on you.”

  Luca stood up after lifting Nyssa off his lap. “We’ll be right back, Nyssa. I’d like to talk to Donovan about some things.”

  Nyssa kissed her husband’s cheek, nonplussed by the separation. Donovan and Luca stepped outside. They stood in silence looking at the beauty of the woodland. Luca cast a glance at Donovan before breaking into conversation.

  “I would like for you to stay, Donovan. Nyssa will give birth soon. We need a medic in the event things don’t go well.” He grimaced, closed his eyes, and stood with hands thrust deep into pockets. “If anything happens to her or the baby. I don’t know what I would do.”

  Donovan placed a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “You love her a great deal.” The statement brought a nod from Luca. “I can understand that. Not that I have anyone to call my own. But love, it’s a special thing. I would be glad to stay but I won’t impose on you and Nyssa forever. I’ll start working on a cabin. Maybe you could show me a place not too far from here.”

  “I appreciate that,” Luca replied.

  Another fierce hug was exchanged between the men before they entered the cabin. It was an odd gesture, one reserved for the few men Luca could trust. Only Jack and Donovan resided within that circle. The night passed without incident.

  They
rose early the next morning, ate breakfast, and set out on a hike. Luca led Donovan to a flat area along the ridgeline less than a mile from his cabin. He indicated a natural spring in a low, sandy area marked with palm-sized round rocks.

  “It has a natural water source. There are plenty of trees to fell for the cabin. What do you think?” Luca turned to Donovan, waiting patiently while his friend surveyed the piece of land.

  Donovan examined the small piece of land. Flat land in the mountains was hard to come by. Finding a place like this with a fresh-water spring would be difficult. The property was perfect. “I’ll need some help felling trees.”

  Luca thrust both fists into the air and whooped at the sky. “We can start today, brother. You have no idea how happy this makes me. Who knows, you may find your soulmate here in the mountains.”

  “I could never be so lucky.”

  The process of felling trees began that day. Nyssa insisted on coming along to help. Luca handed her a hatchet with strict instructions to clean up the logs. “Only remove the small limbs. If you lift anything heavier than this hatchet, young lady, I will spank your behind.”

  Nyssa snorted and tossed her head before taking the hatchet from Luca’s hand. “I can still outrun you, you know.”

  The trio began working in earnest. Within the space of a week, most of the logs needed for the cabin were on the ground. Nyssa was relegated to lighter tasks and forbidden to help with lifting the heavy logs into place. The walls of the cabin and framing for the roof were in place.

  Luca and Donovan climbed onto makeshift ladders the next day to begin the process of completing the roof. Nyssa stood on the ground, holding the ladder in place. Luca noted that she was uncharacteristically quiet but did not remark on it. He knew any activity that placed him in harm’s way made her nervous. He failed to take note when she disappeared not long after the early dinner.

  When Luca and Donovan returned to the cabin that night, they found Nyssa leaning against a wall, head down.

  “Is everything alright here?” Luca asked.

  Nyssa nodded and smiled faintly. “It’s fine.”

  Luca and Donovan drifted off into conversation about the remainder of work to be completed on the cabin. It seemed to Luca hours had passed since they started talking. He glanced around for Nyssa, fully expecting to find her asleep on the bed. She was nowhere to be seen. The hairs on his arms stood erect. Something was wrong, of that much he was certain.

  Donovan glanced at Luca when he stood up. “Is everything alright?”

  “Nyssa isn’t here. I didn’t see her leave. Dammit!” Luca swore. He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “She couldn’t have gone far. I’ll be right back.”

  He suspected the outhouse was Nyssa’s destination. He found the door standing ajar. Fear clawed at his gut. A sound from the bath house caught his attention. Upon opening the door, he found Nyssa kneeling in a tub of steaming water. The knuckles of her fingers blanched, and a moan burst from her lips.

  “What’s wrong?” Luca knelt in front of the tub. He stroked Nyssa’s hair while waiting for a response.

  “Nothing, really. Just, my back aches. I thought the water might help.”

  He scanned her face, finding it flushed and perspiration covered. “I’m not sure I believe that’s all, Nyssa. What are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing,” she murmured. A groan burst from her lips, fingers tightening on the tub’s edge once again.

  The realization that she was in labor hit him hard. Their son, the evidence of their love, would soon be here. In his arms. At her breast. A wave of concern brought with it questions. How long had she struggled alone? And why had she not told him? Now was not the time to lose it. Nyssa needed his strength and support.

  “How long have you been having contractions, Nyssa?” a big hand rubbed the low part of her back as it had almost every night for the past two months.

  A muffled sob came at his question. “Since this morning after breakfast.”

  Luca remained at her side until she raised her head. A thumb brushed away a tear that slid down her cheek. “You should have told me before. Nothing is more important than you and our son. Can you get out of the tub?”

  Nyssa shook her head. “The hot water helps.” She caught his hand and buried her face against a shoulder. “I’m scared, Luca.”

  “Donovan is a medic. He can help if it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Further conversation ended when another contraction took Nyssa’s breath. Luca rubbed her back and murmured words of encouragement. When the contraction came to an end, he left briefly to get Donovan. “She’s in labor and has been since this morning. How long do you think?”

  Donovan shrugged and held both hands out palm up. “It’s her first. It could go fast, or it could linger for days. I have gloves in my field kit. If you’re okay with it, I can see how far along she is.”

  “Days? Hell no! There will be no days,” Luca swore. Eyes narrowed, he asked the next question that came to his mind. “And what do you mean by checking to see how far along she is?”

  “The only way to know for sure is to put two fingers inside her vagina into the cervix. She has to be ten centimeters dilated before the baby is ready to be born. Like I said,” Donovan chuckled. “If you’re okay with it.”

  “You should talk to Nyssa about that. She’s in the bath house. Said the hot water makes things easier.” Luca motioned toward the door with a snap of his head. He led Donovan into the bath house after retrieving a t-shirt for Nyssa. “Let me get this t-shirt on her first.”

  “Protective, huh?”

  “I don’t like others ogling my woman, even if it is my best friend,” Luca growled.

  *****

  Donovan

  Luca was one of the only men to scare the shit out of him. As intense and brutal as he was during their days with the resistance, Donovan could imagine how protective he was of his wife. Especially with said wife in labor. He knew to tread carefully.

  Donovan waited patiently outside the bath house, respectfully giving Luca time to ensure Nyssa’s modesty. Luca appeared at the door a moment later and beckoned for him to enter. Luca knelt at one end of the tub. Nyssa lay there, her head resting against Luca’s chest. Her hands lay on her belly. Both eyes were closed, a serene smile curving her lips.

  Donovan knelt beside the tub and spoke to Nyssa. “Luca says you’ve been having contractions since breakfast. Are you able to talk when having a contraction, Nyssa?” Being unable to talk during a contraction meant the intensity was elevated. Elevated intensity was only seen in later stages of labor. He prayed the brief training on childbirth gained as a medic would be enough to see them through the baby’s birth.

  “No. I have to concentrate so I don’t lose control,” Nyssa murmured. She bit her lip, hands clenching on tub’s sides when another contraction began. Luca instantly whispered reassuring words in her ear. His face was twisted with pain and what looked like worry.

  Luca really did love this little wisp of a lady. It was evident in the days they worked on the cabin. Seeing his reaction to her pain drove that fact home. If only Donovan could find someone to love him the way that Nyssa loved Luca. There was no time to worry about his status as a bachelor. Nyssa’s distress increased during the contraction until she cried out.

  His eyes caught Luca’s steely gaze. “I think we should move you inside, Nyssa. I would bet the baby will be here soon.”

  “Go fetch a blanket,” Luca muttered. “I won’t have her catching a chill.”

  When Donovan returned with the blanket, Nyssa stood by the tub, her body shielded by Luca’s mass. He draped the blanket around her before picking her up and walking from the cabin. The gentleness with which he handled her reminded Donovan of how a museum curator would handle a rare work of art.

  Luca stripped the wet t-shirt from his wife’s body and dressed her in a clean, dry nightgown. With Donovan’s encouragement he folded a ragged blanket into a thick pad and placed it beneat
h her.

  “Let me check you, Nyssa.” Donovan slid the gloves onto his hands, thankful he thought to pack them in the kit before entering the wilderness. The instant he saw Nyssa’s perineum, he knew there was no need in going further. It bulged with each contraction. The baby was on its way. The intense contractions made sense now.

  “The baby’s almost here. When you have the next contraction, take a deep breath, put your chin on your chest and push. You might feel an intense burning when the baby’s head crowns. Pant when that happens. No matter what, don’t push. I’ll tell you when it’s okay to push again. I want to do this without any stitches.” Donovan’s instructions were met with a nod from Nyssa and a glare from Luca who suddenly paled.

  The miracle of birth never grows old. Regardless of the destruction and desolation heaped on the world by The Great War, the arrival of a baby reassures us that life goes on. In its own way, birth is a reminder of the ever-changing ebbs and flows of the world.

  Donovan couldn’t hold back a tear when the baby slipped into his hands. He wiped the baby’s face with a cloth and suctioned his airway. A lusty cry filled the air. He placed the baby on Nyssa’s chest. Luca was enamored with his son. Donovan could see the look of love on the big lug’s face.

  The time they spent together during those early minutes of life were important. The baby bonded with both mother and father. Donovan smiled when Nyssa instinctively unbuttoned the gown and brought the baby to her breast. He latched on and nursed.

  Donovan dealt with the afterbirth and ensured Nyssa’s uterus was contracting as it should. Breastfeeding was the best way to ensure that. It gave the baby a perfect formulation of food in addition to antibodies from his mother.

  Luca attempted to diaper the baby. Donovan admired his courage. The first attempt with a pin brought a swiftly muttered curse when the pin slipped, jabbing his thumb. Donovan’s laughter was met with a glare. The second attempt went well. He demonstrated to Luca how to swaddle the baby in a receiving blanket. Nyssa lay drowsily admiring their son.

  “What’s his name?” Donovan asked with a finger pressed to the inside of Nyssa’s wrist. Her pulse was strong and steady.