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

  “I know.”

  Ivy pulled back the flap and tucked Wisteria inside near the fire.

  “How could they get to him?” Wisteria asked. “He was such a strong man.”

  “The aliens can get anyone, not only the weak. Boar was a strong man as well.”

  “What about Momma?” Wisteria grabbed Ivy’s hand and squeezed. “What if they turned Momma into a mutant too?”

  Ivy brushed hair from her sister’s lashes and tucked it behind her ear. “We cannot think about that right now. With Daddy now gone, we can return to the clan to see if she’s okay.”

  “I still loved him, Ivy. For the man he used to be.”

  Ivy palmed Wisteria’s face. “I know. Me too but that was a long time ago. That man died alongside Lily. You mustn’t dwell on it.”

  Ivy embraced Wisteria and sat rocking her in her arms while trying to recall the memorable times spent with their father. Unfortunately there weren’t any recent instances that made her smile. He became difficult to live with upon Lily’s death and turned into a vicious, hateful man. He failed to realize they’d loved her too and hurt as desperately as he had.

  If Ivy reached further into her past she’d find the happy times but she wasn’t ready to visit those yet. Once she did, it would be very, very sad.

  “Are you ladies all right?”

  Ivy looked up to see Bronto standing in the doorway, and the compassion in his expression brought tears to her eyes. “Yes.”

  “Things are calm out here,” he said softly, which meant her mutant father was destroyed and fed to the fire.

  She nodded in understanding. “Thank you. We’ll be out in a little while. You’re welcome to stay with us if you’d like.”

  “No,” he replied, shaking his head. “You ladies need your privacy. We’ll be on the back side of the huts chopping trees if you need anything.”

  After he left she and Wisteria talked. About their past. Their future. Their current arrangement. They laughed and they cried. About happy times. And sad. Ivy even reminisced about the fun days she’d chosen to ignore.

  Then they sat in silence, embraced in each other’s arms. They listened to the men chop down the trees. Heard the trunks hit the ground. They even listened to the silence when the men stole time to bathe after working so hard all day.

  After Vulcan returned and handed her and Wisteria each a bowl of what resembled what Momma used to make and called potato-slosh, Ivy ate then stood to leave. “Wisty, if you need me, I’ll be in Bronto’s hut.”

  Wisteria’s eyes rolled upward from her food. “Will you spend the night there?”

  “If he’ll allow me to.”

  Wisty smiled meekly. “Good night, Ivy.”

  “Good night. I love you, Wisty.”

  “Love you too.”

  Vulcan stood beside Ivy and walked her to the door. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart. I’m going to walk with Ivy.”

  Wisteria nodded while taking a bit of her slosh.

  After Vulcan left Ivy outside Bronto’s hut she cautiously pulled the flap aside and quietly entered.

  Bronto was by the fire, the firelight dancing over his skin as he lay asleep on his stomach, wearing only a loincloth. Her breath caught and her mouth dropped open at the power he displayed. His arms were folded beneath his head and muscles bulged on his back and thighs. Large black pictures of insects with claws and a curled tail were drawn on both shoulders and along his biceps. They were creepy looking yet so detailed they intrigued her in a strange way.

  She couldn’t hear him breathing but his broad back slightly rose and fell. His dark hair was held together by some type of a string, and the thick, black tail lay draped down his spine.

  She snapped her lips closed and swallowed, drawing air through her nose. Then she closed her eyes. She’d never imagined he’d hidden such a refined, masculine body behind his full-length furs.

  She shrugged and opened her eyes to the comforting visual. Her belly flipped in circles as she soaked up Bronto’s body once more.

  She squeezed her hands into fists, fighting the urge to reach down and touch his muscles. She dropped to her knees near his waist, studying the definition along his spine. His body heat radiated close to the ground and it embraced her legs. Little by little she lowered herself to the fur he lay upon. Would it upset him if he woke to find her lying beside him?

  Why would it? It wasn’t any different than sitting snuggled on his lap or standing in his arms.

  She curled onto her side, tucked her hands beneath her head and closed her eyes. In fear of waking him, she left a short distance between their bodies. The darkness behind her lids heightened her senses and she became keenly aware of his warmth and scent. The scent of a man. Even his shallow breaths reached her ears.

  She sighed and relaxed, her body sinking into the thick, soft furs. It’d been a long time since she felt such comfort. At home in the stone cave nothing separated her skin from the damp, clay ground when she’d slept. Even after Sledge gave her father a stack of pelts and hides as payment for a future unity with Wisteria, Ivy refused to sleep on them. She’d not enjoy the solace they were intended to provide while her sister was facing a horrible life with the foul, filthy man. Wisty was worth so much more than that. Thankfully he’d met his demise and no longer posed a threat to her sister.

  She yawned, her eyes watering behind her lids. Then she drifted into the haze that consumed her before falling sleep.

  “Ivy?”

  Were her dreams calling to her?

  “Ivy?” a whispered voice repeated.

  She opened her eyes and came face-to-face with Bronto. His hand lay on her cheek, his thumb stroking the area beneath her bottom lashes. “Hi,” she said. “I didn’t mean to impose.”

  He smiled. “It’s fine.”

  “I wanted to come here instead of spending the night with Jade.”

  “Ivy-love,” he said, leaning forward and kissing the tip of her nose, “I said it’s fine. You don’t need to explain.”

  Oh how she wished his lips would travel to her mouth. Was it wrong to wish that? Unfortunately she’d never been kissed. She blamed her momma for the inability to experiment because she’d sheltered and clung to her and Wisteria while they should’ve been exploring life.

  “Your sister may murder me but I’ll take the chance,” Bronto said, grinning.

  “She knows.” She also knew Ivy’s feelings for him and would never interfere. “I’m a grown woman. She didn’t question my actions.” Wisty actually tried explaining what happened between a man and a woman to prevent Ivy any embarrassment when the time came. She’d not care in the least what would transpire between Ivy and Bronto, if anything. It wasn’t as if Ivy came to his hut to mate, though. That wasn’t her purpose at all.

  “I’m just speaking from a brother’s perspective. If my younger sister snuck into a man’s room, I might be tempted to beat him to death.”

  Ivy laughed softly. “If anyone would beat you, it would be my momma. She’s very protective.”

  “That explains a lot.”

  “About what?”

  He smiled. “Your innocence.”

  “I guess so. Momma held on to me and Wisty too tightly. She lost eight of her twelve kids.” Since Boar’s demise it was now nine children Momma lost. But she didn’t know that yet. Neither Ivy nor Wisteria had the heart to tell her the other night that aliens had captured Boar and used him as an experiment. Sadly they’d done the same to Ivy’s father. How could they ever explain to their mom both men had died? “Her heart is broken.”

  “Understandably so.”

  “Most women my age already have children but ever since the Mountain Slayers shredded my older sister Lily to pieces, Momma wouldn’t part with me and Wisty. She set limits and wouldn’t let us wander far.” She sighed and curled her knees farther against her tummy. “She only recently agreed to let Wisteria unite with Sledge because our clan needs to grow. When the Flesh Eaters stole our home in the meadows, they kil
led a lot of our people. That’s how I lost most of my brothers and sisters.”

  “I know,” he replied, gently stroking her brow. “Our tribe wanted to chase them away and reclaim the land for you but we were prohibited from taking action because of our governmental rules.”

  Again she yawned. “I don’t know why they gave you rules to follow,” she stated rather than asked.

  “They don’t want us to interfere with any tribal cultures. They see it this way—what happens between primitive people, happens. Unless it personally involves our tribe we have to let it go. Even if the bloodthirsty tribes are being cruel and causing death to the peaceful clans.” He paused and studied her face as if checking whether or not his words upset her. “Now that Vulcan and I are residing here permanently, those rules no longer apply to us. If we had decided sooner to stay behind, we would’ve killed Sledge the night he beat your sister.”

  Ivy still couldn’t stomach the visual of Wisty tied between the stoning trees while Sledge whipped her until she bled. Nor could she believe her own father ordered the punishment. Yes, Wisteria deserved retribution for deceiving their clan by kissing Vulcan, a man not of their blood, but deception was punishable by stoning, not a whipping. And because Wisteria had been promised to Sledge as a mate, he’d acted harsher than necessary when he delivered the blows. Being rescued and taken captive by Vulcan that night was the best thing that could’ve happened to Wisty.

  Gosh, Ivy wanted to cry just thinking about it. If her clan discovered she had feelings for Bronto, a man from a forbidden tribe, she’d endure the same punishment. Maybe not now that her father was gone, but nonetheless, she didn’t plan on returning home. Ever. Until they apologized to Wisty and welcomed her back, Ivy would not step foot into their territory.

  Ivy’s eyelids grew heavy. She smiled meekly at Bronto while fighting to keep them open. “So, if me or Wisty are threatened by the Flesh Eaters or Mountain Slayers you’d kill them?”

  “In the span of a heartbeat.”

  “What about another Barbarian?”

  “You bet. We’d fight them to the death.”

  We’d fight them to the death. Those were the final words she heard before she fell asleep.

  Chapter Three

  “Get everyone out of here. Now!” a male shouted.

  Ivy bolted upright. What’s going on? She gazed around Bronto’s hut, darting her eyes from one side to the other. She was alone but a lot of commotion took place outside. Men’s voices and women’s cries of panic overshadowed the sound of stampeding footsteps.

  The flap flew open. “Ivy,” Bronto yelled, rushing inside fully dressed in his furs. Only his muscular arms and handsome face were visible. “Come with me.” He didn’t stall as he grabbed her arm and assisted her to her feet.

  She shook off the fuzzy aftereffects of sleep and rubbed her eyes. “What’s happening? Where are we going?” she asked. A loud boom-boom, boom-boom echoed in the distance. Her tummy lurched and she fully awoke. “Is it another tyrannosaur?” she asked, alarm rising to her chest.

  “We’re not sure.” He retrieved his bow, situated it over his shoulder then tucked numerous arrows inside a sheath at his side. “Whatever it is, it hasn’t arrived yet but it’s close.”

  She gulped, latched on to his hand and flew out the door.

  “Run to the underground weapons shelter,” he ordered, remaining close at her heels.

  She raced past the huts, noticing she was the only woman left in the camp, then she fled into the forest. Bronto briefly yanked her to a stop then he took the lead. His furs protected his body while he cleared a path for her. Suddenly he halted. To the left side of the shelter near the marking stick lay a cave lion. It appeared to be guarding the closed door. The fur on its neck stood up. As it eyed Bronto it licked its mouth. Blood was caked around its snout and on its large, curved teeth.

  Ivy gasped. Her heartbeat thumped her breast. She squeezed Bronto’s hand hard.

  “Back up,” he said, sliding her behind him. “Slowly.”

  She tempered the urge to run and very slowly backed between two large pine trees, glancing past his arm at the huge animal. The lion didn’t move, nor did it remove its gaze from their bodies. It was one of the most feared animals in the land, capable of killing bears. Though she’d only seen one once from a distance, it was scarier and larger than she’d remembered. Now she wished she hadn’t laid eyes on it at all.

  She gulped, anticipating it to lunge and attack, but it yawned and laid its head on the ground between its large, matted paws.

  She held her breath while continuing the backward trek. Once they were confined and hidden within the trees, Bronto loaded an arrow in the bow and squatted, gazing through an opening between branches.

  Ivy shrieked and dropped to her knees beside him. “Don’t shoot it. What if it doesn’t die? It’ll be mad.”

  “I have no choice. It’ll attack the first person who climbs out of the shelter.”

  Oh gosh, she couldn’t imagine that happening. It would be a horrid, gruesome, painful death.

  The cave lion lifted its head at the sound of their voices and peered in their direction. Dark, hungry eyes bored into them as it raised its back end, preparing to lunge. Bronto took aim and released the arrow, plugging it into the animal’s throat. The lion roared. Then sprang forward. And charged.

  Ivy screamed and jumped to her feet.

  “Run, Ivy,” Bronto shouted. “Go. Go!”

  There wasn’t enough time to decide which direction to flee, so she spun and ran for her life straight ahead. No way could they outrun a cave lion. No way possible.

  Oh gosh! Oh gosh!

  The hair on the back of her neck stood. Air sawed in and out of her lungs and her chest felt as though it were on fire. Large and small twigs cracked under her feet, pricking her soles, but she was too frightened to feel actual pain. Then she hit a patch of briars or thorns or thistle. She yelped when something punctured her skin. It hurt badly but she couldn’t stop running to pluck it free. The lion was still on their trail. Its paws loudly pounded the ground. It was close. Too close.

  What if it reached Bronto?

  She fled deep into the forest to an area she’d never been. The layer of ferns covering the ground grew denser, to the point she couldn’t see beneath the leaves. Anything could be hiding under them. Anything. Small animals. Snakes. Eek.

  She ran faster. And faster. To where it felt as if her feet barely touched the ground. She ducked under branches large enough to knock her down and shoved others aside, hoping they wouldn’t spring back.

  Her chest was ready to explode. Blood rushed to her ears, obstructing her hearing. Sweat poured from her forehead, dripping into her eyes. They burned and her vision blurred. She tried rubbing them to clear the haze but it worsened.

  “Ivy, stop!”

  The deep undertone broke through the muffled sounds in her ears. She halted and spun around. Overexertion hit her instantly and she nearly dropped.

  Bronto caught her by the waist before she hit the ground and he tugged her close to his chest, supporting her weight. “It’s down,” he said, panting between breaths. “It’s dead.”

  Little by little the pressure in her chest eased and the blood rush completely vanished from her eardrums. She rubbed her eyes on Bronto’s furs but her vision didn’t clear as quickly as she’d hoped. She blinked. Then blinked again. Finally the burning subsided and she could clearly see. She glanced past his upper arm. The lion lay on its side with a brownish-pink tongue hanging out the side of a mouth full of sharp teeth. Blood was splattered over the animal’s tan fur and spurted from the hole where the arrow still protruded.

  “I’m sorry, love,” Bronto said against the top of her head, his breaths rustling through her hair. “I didn’t have a clear shot to its heart. I’ll never put you in that type of situation again.” He tightened his embrace. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize. You did what you had to.” She stepped from his arms and looked
around at the unfamiliar surroundings. A purple haze glowed beyond a thick row of oak and conifer trees, their tops and upper branches barren. The calming sound of a waterfall rose from the same direction. “Where are we?”

  She took Bronto by the hand and walked toward the haze. The throbbing, burning pain in the bottom of her feet reached her brain and she winced. She halted and sat down. Amazingly, though, with her feet no longer bearing her weight, the pain disappeared.

  “What’s wrong?” Bronto asked.

  Genuine concern filled his eyes and she smiled. “I feel as if I’ve stepped on a porcupine.” She grabbed her ankle and draped her leg over her knee to inspect her foot. It wasn’t so bad. A few barbs were partially stuck in the skin. One at a time she pinched them between her nails, pulled them out and tossed them into the brush.

  She stood, brushing her bottom off, then grabbed hold of Bronto’s upper arm, snuggling her cheek against his bicep as he headed toward the sound of rushing water. When they breached the row of conifers and oaks they stepped into a paradise of bright colors. Her breath caught. Bronto whistled.

  “Wow,” she said in disbelief, eyeing the beauty. It was even more beautiful than the yellow lake, which was hard to believe. “Wisty would love this place. Where are we?”

  “I’ve never seen it before,” Bronto replied.

  A pink fish with a yellow, long, snakelike tail jumped from a small pond where purple water flowed from the edge of a tall cliff. Another fish emerged. Then another. They frolicked, jumping high out of the pond, and bumped bellies. After they submerged into the pond they sprang from the water and bumped tummies again.

  Ivy giggled. Beyond them were four columns of lily pads. They stood on either side of the waterfall. Orange, spiked flowers sprouted from the top of each column. Between a span of shallow forest and the cliffs, a golden hue glowed from the entrance of a cave. “It’s so beautiful, Bronto.”

  Slowly they approached the pond. She sat down on the border of blue, flat, sparkling rocks. The fish swam to the inside edge and lingered, their nearly transparent fins swaying back and forth. If Wisteria were here she’d reach into the water and pet them but Ivy wasn’t as bold. She’d rather visually admire things than touch them and risk getting bitten. “I would love to remain here and explore but we should go. Your people are in danger.”