Here She Rules: The Chronicles of Erla: Book 1 (54 page)

“Mika, make love to me . . .” She pulled his mouth down to hers and kissed him softly. He responded gently.

“Mistress, I do not want to hurt you or the babe.” This was as close as Mika would ever come to turning down her advances, and she knew it.

“You won’t. We will be careful, and you are always so gentle with me. I want you, Mika.” Her desire was evident in her vibrant blue-green eyes and Mika could not resist her.
 

He removed her clothing and ran his mouth down her throat and between her breasts to her distended abdomen and worshipped her flesh with his warm mouth. Cassie moaned softly and relaxed against the soft bed, allowing him to take the lead. His large, well-shaped hands caressed her flesh from her quivering breasts to her sensitive thighs and calves, loving her with hands and mouth.
 

When she could stand no more of his teasing, she begged him to take her.
 

Mika took a pillow and slipped it under her bottom, elevating her hips so that he could kneel between her legs and not lay on top of her. He rubbed the head of his hardness against her clit softly and then more firmly when she moved her hips against him. Then, he placed his thumb on her and rubbed firm circles around her clit as he slowly and gently filled her.
 

Cassie moaned and writhed as he began a steady rhythm, continually working her clit until she climaxed, and then he continued until she came again, her nails grabbing his hips and digging in. Mika increased his pace, and as she reached her peak for the third time, he joined her, crying out his pleasure.
 

He opened his eyes to find her looking upon him lovingly, and as he slowly pulled his body from hers, he removed the pillow and then lay beside her, kissing her softly and caressing her hair until she fell asleep.

Later that afternoon, Cassie awoke with a backache, and as she tried to roll from the bed, she was struck by a pain which rippled across her abdomen, tightening as it moved down her belly.
 

Falling back on the bed, she tried to breathe through it, and it eventually faded.
 

Finally, she was able to stand, but when she did, she was rocked by another pain, and gripping the headboard, she panted and grimaced. As the pain passed, she walked out from her bed chamber, looking for her men.
 

The baby was definitely making its presence known.
 

They were nowhere in sight, and she figured they were in the exercise room. So, she walked carefully across to the room, and just as she was about to reach the door, another pain gripped her, and she hoarsely called out for them.
 

The door burst open, and all six of them poured out, and seeing her condition, they rushed to her. Arn swept her up into his arms as Taylyn ran for the door, intending to fetch the physician.
 

As Arn carried her to the bed, she looked over his shoulder and called to Mika and Aidan to fetch Nera and Kara. The men turned and ran out immediately as Kai turned to the kitchen to begin boiling the water and gathering the cloths which would be required.

“Arn, don’t leave me,” she cried out through another strong contraction.

“I won’t, Mistress. I will stay with you,” he murmured reassuringly.
 

Five feet from her bed, a flood of water ran down him and hit the floor. Arn looked at her gravely.
 

“Mistress, your waters have broken, and the baby will follow shortly.” At that moment, Taylyn returned with the physician, practically carrying the small woman in his haste to get her there.
 

The physician saw the puddle of water and hurried to the bedside to examine Cassie as Arn placed her upon the bed.

“So, your water has broken.” She looked up at Arn. “Help me get her clothed, find a fresh shift for her, then go clean yourself up.” Arn nodded and quickly brought forth a soft cotton gown which he expertly put on her while she clutched at his hand hard as a pain tore through her.
 

He squeezed gently in return until her grip faded and Taylyn moved to take his place by her side as Arn went to clean up.
 

“Lady Cassandra,” the physician looked up from between her legs, “your womb has opened, and I can see the babe’s head.” She smiled at Cassie. “I will tell you when to start pushing. This looks like it will be a very quick labor. You are fortunate. Some women labor for days.” Cassie nodded, biting her lip. Truth be told, however, she didn’t feel very fortunate; her stomach felt like it was being squeezed through a grape press.
 

Another pain hit, and she squeezed Taylyn’s hand, focusing on his somber eyes as she tried to breathe through the pain ripping through her.
 

Nera and Kara arrived and stationed themselves on either side of the head of her bed, immediately stroking her hair and making soothing noises. The physician’s assistant rolled Cassie gently and placed thick pads under her in preparation for the coming birth, and Kai and Mika stood ready with cloths to swaddle and wipe the babe.
 

Between pains, Cassie looked at the group of people surrounding her and laughed harshly. When they looked at her strangely, she said, “I would really love some Demerol or an epidural right now.”
 

They looked at each other perplexed. “Never mind,” she replied through gritted teeth as another contraction came over her.

“Jesus!” They all looked at each other, confused at her calling out a name they had never heard before. “Ow! I hate men, do you hear me? I. HATE. MEN! Aargh!” she yelled out as yet another contraction ripped through her. Nera and Kara fought down the urge to laugh at her words.

Her men looked at each other with wide eyes.

“Lady Cassandra, on the next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can; the babe’s head has crowned,” the physician said when the pain faded a bit.
 

Within moments, another pain hit her, harder than the last, and she grunted as she pushed down. She could feel the baby move through the birth canal, and held the push as long as she could.
 

The physician pulled the tiny baby the rest of the way out and handed it to Mika, who was glowing as he looked from his Lady to the baby in his hands. Kai came and stroked the baby gently, cleaning the blood and mucous from the tiny form. Mika turned the baby on its side and patted its back. The child roared out a cry, making his mother laugh as she saw she had just delivered a boy.
 

Mika beamed a smile at her.

“It is a handsome boy, Mistress and he is so strong!” Cassie smiled at his joy and looked at her son longingly.
 

The physician went back to work with Cassie, ready to deliver the afterbirth when she cried out loudly.

“Another one! Twins, My Lady!” the woman said as another pain ripped through Cassie. Nera and Kara cried out in surprise and joy, holding Cassie up as the physician pressed her knees back up.

“Push, Lady, push!” Cassie drew a breath and pushed down as hard as she could, growling loudly in pain as she tried not to scream when she felt the baby slide out of her womb into the waiting hands of the physician.
 

A thin cry sounded, but then became stronger as Cassie watched little arms flailing angrily as the child bellowed its anger at the cold, new world.
 

“A girl! My Lady Cassandra, you have a daughter!”
 
The physician spoke happily.
 

Nera and Kara cried out in happiness, holding hands above Cassie’s head, jubilant at the outcome of their friend’s labor.
 

Cassie was quickly delivered of the afterbirths. Her men quickly cleaned the infants, having cut the cords and tied them off. The physician and her assistant cleaned Cassie and packed her with an absorbent material. They then put a fresh gown on her before placing extra pillows behind her to prop her up.
 

Cassie sighed as her men laid the infants in her arms for her to inspect.
 

First, they brought her daughter. Thick white hair capped her head, a contrast to her red face. She sucked her fingers noisily as her mother nuzzled and kissed her.
 

Cassie grudgingly gave the baby to Nera, and her son was placed in her arms. He had an equally thick cap of white hair, and they both had the characteristic blue eyes of newborns. He was quieter than his sister and lay snuggled against his mother happily. Cassie had never seen a baby with such thick, blond hair. She admired how it curled against his ears.
 

Kara reached over and ran her finger down the boy’s face and tapped his nose softly. Cassie was surprised by the tenderness Kara showed to the little boy.

“They are beautiful, Cass, and he is just so adorable.” Kara smiled into Cassie’s eyes. Just then, her daughter let out a loud wail.

“My little Commander is hungry; I will not see her go without, Cassandra. You must now feed them,” Nera said imperiously, a mischievous smile on her face. They brought her the babies, and she arranged pillows at her side before attaching them to her breasts. They fed voraciously, latching on with little fuss, much to the joy of the watching adults.

“They are indeed attached well, Lady. You should have no problem feeding them. If the boy is to go with Lord Nall, then a wet nurse must be located. I will send word to the village. Also, you look as if you will heal well; there was no tearing. I will check on you tomorrow. Send one of these magnificent beasts if you get sick, and do not lay with them for at least a month.” She shook her finger under Cassie’s nose, and Cassie just grinned at the woman as she swept from the room.
 

Nera came around and sat next to Cassie, taking her son from her and placing him on her shoulder to burp as Cassie did the same with his sister. A loud belch came from the boy, and Nera smiled, lowering him to look at him more closely.

“He is beautiful, Cassie; you have made a fine heir for Nall.” Nera looked a bit sad as she gazed at the boy, and kissing him softly, she handed him into Mika’s waiting arms.
 

The men crowded around and exclaimed over the infant, making the women laugh in delight.
 

Kara took the girl from Cassie and cuddled her, kissing the infant’s soft cheek.

“This makes me want one of my own,” Kara said, looking down at the sleeping child.

“Well, if I can do it, then you can too,” Cassie yawned. “Aidan, my angel, I am starving!” She smiled at him as he turned quickly to get her some food.
 

Kara handed the baby to Nera, who took her gratefully.

“I believe she will have your unique shade of blue-green eyes, Cassie. How beautiful they will be!” Nera kissed the baby softly.

“Nera, her eyes are closed, how can you possibly tell?” Cassie laughed.

“I can just tell,” Nera said smugly as she gave the baby to Garen.
 

The other’s brought the cradle to Cassie’s bedside, and they placed the sleeping infants in its cavernous interior.
 

Cassie stretched a bit and then grimaced at the soreness in her lower regions.
 

Just then, Aidan came in with a tray full of delicious-smelling foods, pastries, and fruits, and Cassie dug in ravenously. Her friends joined her in enjoying the massive amount of food.
 

Finally replete, Cassie drifted off to sleep under the watchful eyes of her friends and her men.

XXXIII

Several days later, Cassie was feeling well, and she refused to spend the majority of her days in bed anymore. Her bleeding continued as expected, but not too heavily after those first few days.
 

Her slaves had been incredible, rising at night with the babies, changing them, and then bringing them to their mother for feeding. The babies were quickly putting on weight, and Cassie could see that Nera was correct; both sets of eyes seemed to be changing into their mother’s unique shade.
 

Cassie stood in the seating area holding her son. She had named him Nicholas as she had been determined to make this decision herself. Since the child would grow up with Nall, she wanted whatever input she could get.
 

He was plump and round with rosy cheeks and thick, curling, white hair; he was a perfectly beautiful baby.
 

She had named his sister Jasmine as it was a name she had always been partial to.
 

As she stroked her son’s cheek, she looked down at her men as they sat huddled around Mika, who held Jasmine in his arms and cooed at her.
 

A knock sounded at the door, and smiling, Cassie motioned for them to stay where they were and answered the door herself.
 

The smile slid off of her face as she looked into the dark blue eyes of the Prince of Serlenn. His father, King Nyles, stood behind him. She noted this without breaking eye contact with Nall.
 

Nall was drowning in bright pools of blue-green as he maintained their eye contact. His heart was flipping over and over within his chest, stealing his breath. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, and his heart ached anew at his loss. He wrenched his eyes from hers finally and looked down to the baby she held in her arms, tears welling as he surveyed the child.
 

Cassie backed up, allowing the men entrance into her quarters. Nera stood next to Nyles and entered with him, sending her friend a bracing smile.

“Welcome, My Lords. Please, come in,” Cassie finally spoke, remembering her manners.

“My child, you have given me a grandson I hear, and from the looks of the babe in your arms, it is very clearly of my blood.” Nyles beamed at her, leaning in to kiss her cheek in a fatherly fashion.

“Yes, My Lord. This is your grandson, Nicholas.” She knew Nall had not taken his eyes from her and his son. “Would you care to hold him, Your Highness?” She handed the baby carefully into his grandfather’s waiting arms.