Bronto's Revenge: 2 (Barbarian Lust) Read online

  Jade squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Additional tears escaped beneath her lashes and slowly rolled down her cheeks. “I’m with child,” she whispered.

  Instinctively Ivy glanced at Jade’s tummy. “How do you know? It just happened.”

  “It’s Rocko’s child,” she replied then inhaled a deep breath and shrugged.

  “Rocko? I didn’t know.”

  “No one does. We love one another, Ivy.”

  “Then why are you sad? He doesn’t know about the child?”

  “He does,” Jade said nodding. “And I now repulse him because Grunt has been inside me.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It is. He’s shunned me.”

  Ivy lifted Jade’s chin. “He wouldn’t do so on purpose. He’s hurting too. Just give him some time to sort through it.”

  Jade opened her eyes. “What kind of man rejects his woman when she needs him the most?”

  “Don’t take this wrong but he’s a Barbarian. Maybe he doesn’t know how to coddle a woman.”

  That brought a meek smile to Jade’s lips. “He knew how when he planted his seed in me.”

  “Men are strange creatures. They don’t make sense. Bronto said men should not hit women yet he threatened to throw me over his lap and spank me.”

  Jade’s mouth dropped open. “He spanked you?” she asked aghast. “That’s why you were so mad?”

  Ivy lowered her hands to her thighs and slid them up and down. “No, but he wanted to.”

  “On your bare behind?”

  Ivy nodded. “I guess so. I’m not wearing any bottoms under my frock.”

  “I’m sorry, baby doll,” Jade apologized then burst into laughter.

  “It’s not very funny,” Ivy said adamantly, but she couldn’t help it, she laughed too.

  “I-I…” Jade tried containing herself but failed. “I can’t imagine…”

  “I’m glad you think it’s so funny but he really frightened me.” Ivy’s tummy hurt worse, possibly because she started laughing harder.

  “Thank you, Ivy. I needed that.”

  “Come. Let’s find Rocko. You need to speak with him.” Ivy stood, offering her hand. Warm moisture gushed between her thighs. “Oh gosh,” she murmured. “I think I just entered my infertile phase.” No wonder she woke with belly cramps.

  Jade set the weaving aside and rose to her feet.

  “Do you have bottoms I can borrow? I left mine in Bronto’s hut when you gave me this beautiful frock to wear.”

  “Of course, baby doll.” Jade smiled sweetly while laying Ivy’s hair over her shoulder. “They’re in my crate. Help yourself.”

  Ivy walked to the end of the hut and opened a crate that was very similar to Bronto’s. An assortment of folded clothing lay inside. She shuffled through it carefully, removed the first bottom garment she found and quickly slipped it on. “May I ask another favor?”

  Jade approached and rested her hand on Ivy’s shoulder. “Yes. Anything.”

  “I don’t have any—”

  “There are small pelts in the supply hut for this purpose. Help yourself.”

  “Thank you, but I’d rather…” Ivy glanced at her toes and picked at her fingers. Why the sudden jitters? They’d just discussed men planting their seed and a spanking. How could she suddenly feel humiliated by the subject of her infertile phase? “Can I try…would it be okay,” she sighed and shrugged, “to use one of those tampons?”

  “Absolutely.” She lifted Ivy’s chin with a gentle hand. “Do you know how they work?”

  Ivy meekly shook her head.

  “You insert them inside your vagina.”

  My what? Her eyes widened.

  “Your,” Jade lowered her gaze to the center of Ivy’s thighs then recaptured her eyes, “female core. I don’t mean to sound crass but where Bronto inserts his penis.”

  Oh gosh. How embarrassing. She nodded. “Th-thank you,” she said while heading toward the door.

  “Ivy?”

  She halted but wouldn’t turn back around because it was suddenly very hard to look Jade in the eye. “Yes?”

  “Don’t be embarrassed. We’re both women. You can talk to me about anything. You should know that by now. I confided in you. I want you to do the same.”

  “Thank you,” Ivy said softly, taking another step toward the doorway.

  “And, Ivy?”

  Again she halted. “Yes?”

  “Don’t forget to remove the outside wrapper on the tampon. You need to change them periodically too, depending on the severity of your flow. And you must dispose of the used ones. You don’t rinse them out to reuse as you do pelt squares.”

  She nodded, dashed outside and walked quickly to the supply hut. Goodness, why was that so difficult? She sighed in relief and walked inside. Her belly fluttered in anticipation of trying something new. Stuffing leather squares between her thighs caused awful discomfort and cleanliness issues. Funny, they’d never bothered her before and she’d dealt with her infertile phase for six seasonal cycles. Or as Bronto would say, six years.

  Pushing those thoughts aside, she found the tampons and removed one from the box. The wrapper crinkled but she tore it off quickly and inserted the tampon as Jade instructed. It was the most uncomfortable sensation she’d ever felt and it actually hurt when she walked. To lessen the pain, instead of walking normally she walked stiff-legged, side to side. She had a feeling tampons were overrated. There was no way she could sit, and standing for the next four or five days would be disastrous to her legs. She’d much rather wear a yucky pelt.

  Slowly, very slowly, she inched outside. Jade stood beside the fire pit with her back to the hut. She either waited for Ivy or looked for Rocko. She turned around just as Ivy neared and her mouth dropped open.

  “Ivy, what’s wrong?”

  “This tampon hurts. Bronto said they’re supposed to be comfortable. That’s why I wanted to try it.”

  “You removed the wrapper, right?” Jade asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And,” Jade continued, nodding once gradually, “the cardboard?”

  Ivy eyes broadened and darted around Jade’s face. “Cardboard?”

  “Oh dear,” Jade murmured. “I should’ve been more specific. Come with me. No,” she yelped, holding up her hands, palms facing Ivy. “Better yet, stay right here.”

  Ivy nodded and at the same time saw Bronto approaching from the direction of his hut. His hair free-flowed over his shoulders and chest and he looked as if he hadn’t slept all night. His blade was sheathed at his side so he might have stayed awake guarding the camp.

  Despite the anger he’d caused, her heart pitter-pattered. She lowered her gaze to the fire before he caught her ogling him.

  “Ivy, I need to see you,” he said. “Will you come with me to my hut, please?”

  “She can’t. Not yet,” Jade replied. “We’re having a problem,” she yelled over her shoulder as she dashed into the supply hut.

  “What type of problem?” he asked but Ivy chose to ignore him.

  “I’m only going to say this to you once,” he said, stepping closer and lifting her chin. “I’m sorry.”

  “You should be.”

  “I’d never hurt you. I was driven by anger and tried proving a point by strong-arming you. That was totally uncalled for and I seriously regret it.”

  “You should.”

  “Envy is a relentless emotion. I admit I got carried away, but you should never have approached and offered Grunt help. I’m not sure I can forget those actions.”

  She lowered her eyes to his mouth, which was a big mistake because she suddenly wanted to forgive him, wrap her arms around his broad back and kiss him until her lungs collapsed. “So, you’re apologizing without actually apologizing?”

  His brows rose. “No.”

  “Then I have—” She snapped her lips shut as Jade approached, holding her hands behind her back.

  “What are you ladies up to?” he asked, eyeing Jade f
irst then Ivy.

  “Tampon malfunction,” Jade replied as she slowly brought her hands forward and opened her fist, exposing a new tampon. “You’re welcome to stay for the demonstration,” she replied, grinning ear to ear.

  He shook his head. “I’ll pass. Thanks.”

  “I need your help,” Jade said, addressing Bronto. “I need you to carry her.”

  “I can walk,” Ivy snapped.

  “No, baby doll, you can’t.” Jade glanced at the sky. “If we plan on reaching my hut by nightfall, we need Bronto’s assistance.”

  “Fine.” If she could’ve stomped her foot she would have. She didn’t like being put in a situation where she had no choice.

  As Bronto reached for Ivy, Jade grabbed hold of his upper arm. “Lift her gently and don’t jostle her around. She’s very uncomfortable right now. It might even be better if you drape her over your back so she’s not scrunched in your arms.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Ivy huffed.

  “Suit yourself, baby doll, but I don’t want to hear one whimper when that stiff cardboard digs into your insides.”

  Bronto stopped short of lifting Ivy off her feet. He straightened and both brows arched. “Cardboard?”

  Jade nodded. “A six-inch, cylindrical piece.”

  Ivy said nothing.

  Bronto shook his head. “Ivy, lie against my back.”

  She did, then wrapped her arms around his neck. Instead of grabbing her legs and placing them around his waist he held onto her hands and let her dangle. Though it was better than trying to walk to the hut on her own, she felt foolish being toted through the yard like a pelt.

  When they reached the doorway he squatted until her feet reached the ground so she wouldn’t have to drop. Then he turned and lifted her chin a second time.

  “Go make yourself comfortable. I’ll wait here.”

  She nodded as he opened the door.

  “Okay, baby doll,” Jade said, resting her hands on the back side of Ivy’s shoulders and walking her into the hut. “In you go. Bronto, she’ll be out in a sec.”

  He was still in the same spot when Ivy resurfaced, content, curious and ready to sort through their differences. Anything was better than what she’d just experienced with Jade. They were both women but wow, she was more embarrassed by the hands-on instructions than by the humiliating spanking Bronto threatened her with.

  “Ready?” he asked, reaching for her hand.

  She nodded and walked the short distance to his hut.

  “Would you like something to eat or drink, Ivy?”

  “No thank you.”

  “Have you eaten this morning?”

  “No, but I’m not hungry,” she said as she walked into his hut and sat beside the fire. She stretched her legs out and crossed her ankles. She watched from the corner of her eye as he sat down on the other side, resting his arm across his propped knee. Gosh, she must have made him really, really mad if he wasn’t even willing to sit beside her.

  She sighed and trembled as if it were the first time they were alone.

  “Are you still upset with me?” he asked. He drew a small stick into his mouth and chewed on the end.

  “Not really.” How could she be? As much as she’d like to remain mad, she discovered it impossible. Now, being secluded inside his hut, she couldn’t keep her eyes off him and wished he’d move closer. “I understand why you’re disappointed with me. It took me a while to figure it out but I really do get it.”

  “Ivy, you don’t know the fear I experienced when I saw you standing near Grunt.”

  “I’m sorry. I saw no harm in what I was doing. Then. I don’t want to hurt you,” she said, pulling her knees to her chest. “I don’t.”

  His lids narrowed as he stared at her from across the small fire. She bent her legs, lowered her cheek to her knees and stared back as intently. “Can I hold you?” she asked. “I missed you so much.”

  As he stood, her heart fluttered to life and her gaze followed him while he walked around the fire pit. The instant he sat behind her she curled into his body and rested her head against his chest. She wrapped one arm around his back and stroked his neck with her free hand. As she listened to his soothing heartbeat, the dinosaur babies began yelping and squawking.

  Bronto stiffened and sat her up between his legs. Just then the sound of people running and hollering breached her ears. As Bronto started to rise, a green arm shot through the doorframe and long, gnarly fingers clutched around her ankle.

  She screamed and tried to kick them off but they pulled on her leg and she partially slid to the door. “Bronto!” she wailed, digging her nails into his arm while trying to hang on. The strength the alien had was beyond human and its claws dug into her skin. Bronto held on to her wrists, struggling to hold her in place.

  The fingers tightened and claws sank deeper. The pain was unbearable but she couldn’t wedge the hand loose no matter how hard she gouged it with her opposite foot.

  “Give me your blade,” she hollered, reaching for his sheath.

  Bronto wrapped his legs around her waist and let go of her wrists briefly to unsheathe his knife. She grabbed it by the handle and sat up.

  When he jumped to his feet she was dragged another foot backward. She scraped her nails along the ground and her feet frantically scuffed the dirt.

  Bronto cuffed his hand around the alien’s arm, preventing it from dragging her farther while she sat up and chopped it in half near its wrist. Blood squirted into the air as the arm sprang backward and snapped against his hand. He let go and watched it retract through the frame.

  The fingers continued squeezing her ankle. Blood surfaced around the claws and her foot was turning purple. “Oh gosh. Oh gosh,” she shrieked. “It’s pinching me.”

  She tried prying the fingers loose but they wouldn’t budge. Bronto bent one completely backward, grabbed the blade and cut the finger off then threw it into the fire but it didn’t weaken the alien’s grip.

  Bronto severed two more and tossed them into the pit. They wiggled away from the heat and tried to escape but melted against the rocks. One at a time he cut off and burned the remaining four then he flung in what was left of the species’ hand.

  Ivy scrambled across the hut and tucked herself into the corner as far away from the door as possible. She tightened her hand on the blade as she stared at the entrance, sucking air into her chest.

  Bronto dropped beside her and lifted her chin. “Breathe, Ivy,” he said, stroking her bottom lip with his thumb. “Breathe.”

  She exhaled and wrapped her hands around his wrist. “Go kill it, Bronto,” she said, digging her nails into his flesh. “You have to kill it or it’ll come back.”

  “I will. Shhh,” he soothed. “I will.”

  “Now. Before it gets away.”

  “You’re coming with me.”

  Her eyes rounded. “I’m not going out there.”

  “You’re not staying in here alone. You don’t know what will happen when I walk away from the hut.”

  She hadn’t thought about that. “Then let’s go,” she said, jumping to her feet.

  When he stood she squeezed his hand and scooted as closely as possible to his side. She was having a really bad day and she feared it was about to get worse.

  “Bronto!” Zypher shouted from outside. “Get out here. We’re under attack!”

  Chapter Ten

  “Fuck,” Bronto grimaced.

  Ivy dug her fingernails into the back side of his hand. “If we’re under attack—”

  “Don’t let the knife out of your sight.” He released her then grabbed the rifle from the crate and dashed outside, shoving her behind his back. For being under attack, it was awfully calm.

  Zypher stood with his M16 aimed at a thick section of forest near the horses, directly across from the huts. Tyran was squatted by the pen, and Vulcan, Rocko and Trice covered the southern section. Grunt wasn’t in sight but that wasn’t a bad thing. No way in hell would anyone hand him a firearm. He’d
likely shoot his own people, starting with Rocko. That left at least thirty additional men spread throughout the inner trees and surrounding the secondary camp. Considering the perimeter’s broad range, a lot of sections remained uncovered. “Zypher, where are they?”

  “They fled into the forest. The bastards seemed to fall from the sky.”

  “Where are the women?” Bronto asked. Hopefully he wouldn’t say underground. Unless someone stood guard directly over the door, the aliens could easily get inside the shelters.

  Zypher nudged his head over his shoulder. “Vulcan’s hut.”

  Bronto walked backward, sheltering Ivy until they reached Vulcan’s dwelling. He kissed her desperately but briefly then opened the door. Pearl, Ruby, Wisteria and Jade sat huddled around the fire, holding hands. Birmon lay tucked under his wings on Wisteria’s lap.

  “Ivy!” Wisteria yelped as she set the creature aside, jumped up and pulled Ivy into her arms.

  Bronto assessed the inside of the hut, making sure the walls were properly secured to the ground. “Ladies, don’t sit in front of the doorway. Move into a corner.”

  Ivy broke away from her sister. “He’s right. An alien reached inside his hut and grabbed my leg. It tried pulling me out the door.”

  Jade scurried to her feet. “Bronto, is that true?”

  Why would she question it? Had she hoped Ivy was overexaggerating? “Yes.” He glanced at the blood on Ivy’s leg and nodded, instructing Jade to look at the claw marks. “Will you help her clean up?”

  Jade observed Ivy’s ankle. She then looked at the stream of water trickling along the inside rock wall and then at the small waterhole. “We will,” she replied, moving toward Ivy.

  “Ladies, stay close together. There is safety in numbers. Is anyone armed besides Ivy?”

  “I have my weaving knife,” Jade replied while reaching into her pocket.

  He nodded in approval then glanced longingly into Ivy’s eyes. She blew him a kiss right before he stepped outside and closed the door.

  He’d dreaded when this day would come. They were as prepared as they could be but he suddenly felt as if it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. Caging the baby dinosaurs as bait to pluck the aliens from the forest one at a time was a great idea but it seemed too easy. The damn species were too smart to fall for that plan.