Bronto's Revenge: 2 (Barbarian Lust) (9 page)

Once she was secured inside, he closed the door and ran back
to the camp. Vulcan and Zypher stood at the end of Zypher’s hut near the
clearing. Vulcan had his Barrett aimed at the head of a dinosaur that stood on
the outside of the forest wall, eating leaves off the top of a conifer tree.
Zypher was equipped with his M16 but held it so the barrel pointed to the
ground. Tyran was nowhere in sight. Where the hell did he go?

Unarmed, Bronto felt naked but it was better than feeling
like an idiot had he grabbed his bow or knife to fend off the humongous
creature. Unless he was positive it was a shifter he found no reason to poke it
with an arrow just to hurt it anyway. Despite the ineffectiveness of those
types of weapons against the true-blooded animals, he should’ve been armed with
something. The rifle he’d taken from the weapons shelter the other day was
tucked in his hut inside the crate.
Nice place for it.
If the dinosaur
showed aggression he wouldn’t have time to get to it. Vulcan would and could
take it down with his Barrett. Hopefully. The damn monster was bigger than the
T-Rex. How in the hell could they tell the difference between a shifter and the
real thing?

“Do you think it’s a shifter?” Zypher asked as if reading
Bronto’s thoughts.

“I’m not sure,” Vulcan replied. “But I doubt a shifter on a
mission would stop to eat before obliterating the camp.”

Good point.

Twice now Bronto had been caught empty-handed. He needed to
get his head out of his ass regarding Ivy and act more responsibly to protect
his people. Vulcan had assigned him second-in-charge for a reason. If he failed
in his obligations as a fighter he might as well reside with the families on
the other side.

He ran a stiff hand through his hair and watched as a second
dinosaur joined the first. It wasn’t as tall, and rather than eat the leaves
that were within its reach, it stood up on its hind legs and placed its front
feet on a tree. It pushed and pushed until the tree uprooted and toppled to the
ground.

“Hell, we could’ve used them twenty minutes ago,” Zypher
said under his breath. “They would’ve saved us a lot of trouble.” He looked at
Vulcan then at Bronto. “What, no smart-ass comments from either of you?”

Not from Bronto. He currently was not in the mood for humor
or sarcasm. Now if someone issued an order to take those monsters down with
their bare hands, he was their guy.

Another tree dropped with a ground-shaking thud. He wasn’t
thinking about the additional wood they’d just inherited. He was wondering if
Ivy felt the vibration and imagining her scared expression if she had.

A third dinosaur avoided the trees and found interest in the
huts. Its long neck stretched right in front of Vulcan to sniff Zypher’s
dwelling. Vulcan and Zypher both backed up while it investigated the
pelt-covered structure. Some of the horses whinnied and reared and others
backed up as far as their tethers allowed, stomping their hooves.

The dinosaur wasn’t threatened by the loud commotion or by
the armed men because it turned around as if it couldn’t care less and headed
in the direction it came, its feet thundering across the dirt. The vibration
actually knocked the men off balance. Zypher teetered into Vulcan and Bronto
sat down.

The other two creatures fell into step behind it, apparently
having had their fill of leaves. Vulcan stood silently until they were far
enough way to remove any threat. “Zypher, go ahead and release the people.
Bronto, help me gather those trees.”

Bronto nodded and headed for the forest. He was still pissed
enough that he could’ve stacked them and pulled all twelve at once. One-handed.
By himself.

“Feeling a little deceived?” Vulcan had the gumption to ask.

Apparently he’d seen Ivy with Grunt. Seriously, who hadn’t?
“A little.”

Vulcan gave Bronto’s shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t be too hard
on her.”

“Smart-ass,” Bronto grumbled.

“Hey, I’m only giving you a piece of
your
own
advice.”

“You were pissed enough to murder Wisteria for running away.
You overreacted a bit.”

“Ivy hasn’t done anything but hand Grunt some yarrow,”
Vulcan presumably tried to reason.

Bronto glared at him over his nose. “Exactly. I busted my
knuckles on his face in her honor and she offers to nurse
his
wounds?”

“You can’t hold it against her.”

“Like hell I can’t,” Bronto growled.

“Their instinct is to nurture. Leave her alone.”

“How about I give Wisteria a reason to nurture you?”

Vulcan laughed and slapped Bronto on the back. “I wouldn’t
mind.”

“Yeah, I bet you wouldn’t.”

“Realistically, Bronto, Ivy didn’t offer to nurse his
wounds. She just offered a remedy.”

“Same damn difference.”

Vulcan smirked. “Then look at it this way.”

Great.
Can’t wait to hear it.

“She’s only nursing the wounds instilled by Rocko, not you.”

“You
are
a smart-ass,” Bronto stated then walked
away, listening to Vulcan burst into laughter.

By the time they dragged the first load of wood and stacked
it near Zypher’s hut, Ivy and Wisteria had returned and were sitting in front
of Vulcan’s dwelling. Birmon lay curled in Ivy’s lap, his wings covering his
head. Wisteria’s mouth moved as if she were talking but Ivy’s face was tilted
toward the animal and hadn’t moved. She was probably envisioning her fate.
Smart
woman.
Let her worry about it for a while.

He tried ignoring her as best as he could during the
remainder of the afternoon while he, Vulcan, Zypher, Trice, Rocko and Tyran
reinforced the huts but he failed a half dozen times. Not once had he caught
her eyes on him. Not once. Not one frigging time, and at one point he stood so
close she could’ve reached up and touched him. At least he’d worked off a chunk
of his anger. Not all but a good-sized portion. He still wanted to throw her
over his lap and beat her ass. Maybe not as hard but beat it nonetheless.

He said not a word as he pulled her to her feet by the hand
and led her into his hut. With the door having been reinforced, he latched it
closed with a small piece of rope. A gap remained around the entire doorframe
but it was better than the prior flimsy leather flap that could easily be
lifted.

Ivy broke from his grip and fled across the hut to the
farthest corner between a pile of hides and the wooden supply box. She spun
around, holding up her hands. “Before you yell, let me explain.”

“You’ll do more than that, I’m afraid.”

She flinched and sat down on the crate, wringing her hands
in her lap. “You have no reason to be angry,” she said so softly he hadn’t
heard the entire sentence.

Angry
pretty much summed it up and he got the gist.
“What part of the entire scenario don’t you get, Ivy?”

“You.”

“Me?” He strolled to the fire, turned, facing her, and
folded his arms at his chest. If he moved any closer than ten feet he’d likely
lunge for her perfect little throat. “Are you insinuating that I’m being
irrational?”

She nodded, lowering her gaze to his feet. “Yes. It’s human
nature that the women from my clan offer healing methods to those who’ve been
injured.”

“Then why didn’t you offer any to Sledge after Vulcan
rearranged his nose for beating your sister?”

Ivy’s mouth dropped. She snapped it shut and looked him in
the eye. “He seriously hurt her.”

“And Grunt hurt you,” he shouted.

“It was just a slap.”

“Just a slap,” he repeated in disgust. “Men don’t
just
slap women.” They needed a reason. Like
betrayal
.

“Do unto others. That’s what Wisty told me. I slapped him
first.”

“Sometimes a man needs to analyze a situation before
reacting. You didn’t threaten his life in any way.”

She shrugged.

“What about Jade, Ivy? He raped her. That’s more than a
slap. You’ve not only insulted Jade but you’ve insulted Rocko and me as well.”

Her eyes shot to his and bulged. “How?”

“By trying to repair the lessons displayed on Grunt’s face.
I beat him for your sake. Rocko beat him for Jade’s. When you offered yarrow to
mend Grunt’s wounds it signified your disagreement with how we handled the
situation. That’s a low blow to a man. I’m still feeling the sting.”

Tears filled her eyes and the tip of her nose turned red.
“In our culture Grunt did
nothing
wrong,” she argued in a desperate tone
as if trying to convince herself his actions were justifiable. “Men take women
against their will all the time. Even amongst my peaceful kind, if a man wants
a woman and she resists, he forces himself upon her. No harm done.”

Bronto narrowed his eyes and took a large step closer. “In
my culture assault and rape are against the law. Jade is from my world. She’s
been violated in the worst way possible.”

She huffed and again looked at his feet. “I don’t want to
talk to you right now.”

Of course she didn’t. Sometimes common sense took precedence
over beliefs and he had a feeling she was beginning to understand the
difference but was too stubborn to admit it. “Talking isn’t what I had in mind.
I’m going to throw you over my lap and spank your ass. There are not any yarrow
leave big enough on this planet to heal the burn.” No way in hell could he
actually beat her but she didn’t know that. He wanted to scare her a bit.
Hopefully he’d succeeded.

She jumped up so quickly she stumbled. “I’m not a child
deserving of such.”

“You’re right,” he said, strolling into her space, leaving a
foot of distance between them. “You’re a woman who overstepped her boundaries
who deserves more than a simple ass blistering.”

She placed her hands over her bottom as if to protect it. “Is
that not going against your beliefs?”

“No. I’m not going to beat you in retaliation or revenge.
I’m going to beat you as punishment to teach you a lesson about groveling over
a bad guy.”

She backed into the wall. “I didn’t grovel.”

“You opened a can of worms, Ivy.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“You led Grunt to believe you care about his well-being. He’ll
interpret that little bit of attention as a come-on. He will not leave you
alone despite me warning him to stay away.”

“I get it, okay?” she said through a shaky breath.

“Don’t try to pacify me with meaningless words.” He grabbed
her arm and yanked her forward, plowing her into his chest. “You should’ve
gotten
it before approaching him with your affections.” Her poorly thought-out
intentions thoroughly sickened him. Worrying about Grunt’s
future
intentions sickened him worse. Sure, Bronto understood her cultural
indifference but really, why would she run to Grunt’s rescue? The man deserved
to suffer the consequences of his actions. If what he’d done wasn’t such a big
deal, why’d they even rough him up? Why in the hell couldn’t Ivy see that? They
didn’t deliver ass whoopings just for sport.

“Please move aside. I’d like to leave now.”

“The only place you’re going,” he said while sitting on the
crate and pulling her onto his lap, “is over my knee.”

“Bronto, stop,” she yelped while struggling to stand. “Don’t
do this.”

Ignoring her pleas, he locked his hands around her waist,
and damn him to hell, the feel of her ass wiggling against his groin aroused
him and his cock sprang to attention. Shit, he couldn’t go there right now but
if he didn’t act fast, yeah, that was exactly where he’d go. He blinked to kill
the sensation then stood her on her feet.

“You’re a mean beast,” she shrieked, tugging the frock in
place around her thighs. “I said I get it. There’s no reason to frighten me.”

“I’m having a hard time believing you.” He rose and clamped
his hand around her wrist.

Again she shrieked. She twisted her arm free and took a
backward step. She had the right idea because if he didn’t get away from her,
and soon, he’d lay her down and fuck her senseless.

“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” she spat right before she
dashed to the door and fled outside.

Yeah, what a great disciplinarian he made.

Ivy had never, ever been so angry in her entire life. Bronto
had better apologize or she would not step one foot near him. He’d come to
Jade’s hut during the night but Jade convinced him to let Ivy cool down until
morning. Well, it was morning and she was still blazing mad, so that hadn’t
worked. Maybe she was more upset at herself because she realized she truly had
hurt his pride. She hadn’t meant to. She’d just followed her nurturing instinct
as any woman from her peaceful clan would have. Learning Barbarian customs was
going to take a lot of work.

Having run their argument through her head constantly, she
understood what he’d been trying to convey. She’d also apologized to Jade. They
had a very long, endearing talk during the night. Ivy didn’t want to mislead
Jade into thinking that Ivy thought what Grunt had done to her was okay. Ivy
realized it wasn’t okay and women should have a say regarding what happened to
their bodies. She was so sorry no one pointed that out before any of this
happened. Sadly, because of her naivety her dignity had suffered.

Oooooh, she wanted to hurt Bronto. Really badly.

No, she didn’t. That was anger speaking. Truth was she
missed listening to his heartbeat sing her to sleep. Missed his strong arms
holding her tightly. Just missed him in general.

She tossed the hide aside and gazed at Jade where she sat
near the fire, weaving a blanket. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she’d been
weeping. It saddened Ivy. They’d formed a friendly bond last night and she’d
rather not see Jade hurting.

Ivy stood and sauntered across the hut. She woke with belly
cramps and they continued to worsen. She rubbed her hand back and forth across
her tummy while she dropped to her knees near Jade. “Hi,” Ivy said softly.

“Hi, baby doll.”

Jade hadn’t looked at her. She wouldn’t take her eyes off
her project and Ivy knew it was because she didn’t want to expose her pain.
“Are you all right?”

She nodded and a tear slipped from her lashes.

“Are you still upset because of Grunt?” Ivy asked, laying
her hand on top of Jade’s. Her upper arms were bruised from Grunt’s grip and
the side of her cheek near her ear was slightly discolored. “Do you want to
talk about it some more?”

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 first
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.