The Illegitimate Claim (42 page)

Lorie O’Clare

She let her head fall back and arched her back when his mouth sucked in one of her

nipples. Electricity raced through her as her insides turned to molten lava.

“I want to claim every inch of you,” he whispered as he trailed kisses down to her

belly button then teased her with his tongue.

When he parted her hair with his fingers and tasted her with his tongue, she

thought her legs would give out on her there on the spot. She couldn’t believe what he

was doing to her. Wave after wave of heated sensations raced through her as he

continued to enjoy her passion. When she thought she would certainly fall right over

him, he pulled away from her. At first she couldn’t catch her breath, and when she

finally opened her eyes, he kneeled in front of her staring up at her with an evil grin. It

was all she could do to form the words.

“You can’t stop now. Andru, please.”

He stood up, and captured her lips, as he lifted her up and carried her tingling body

over to his bed. He laid her on top of the comforters and then simply marveled at her

naked beauty as he began to undress. She was on the verge of exploding. The eager lust

that swam through her glazed blue-green eyes made it difficult to move slowly. When

he stood over her naked, she bit her lip and reached for him.

She exploded immediately when he entered her and he battled his urges to drive

into her and satisfy himself. No, this was their night—his official claim on her, and he

wanted to make sure she knew exactly what was happening. He began to move slowly.

“Open your eyes, my lady,” he whispered as he ran his hands along her smooth

legs.

She opened her eyes.

He pulled out of her until he barely touched her, and he could feel her muscles

quivering.

“Andru, please.”

“You’re my claim, Meah.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You’ll obey me.”

Her gaze shot up to his, and she gasped as he teased her.

“You’re evil,” she whispered with a grin, and then lifted herself off the bed, quickly

consuming every inch of him within her constricting muscles.

He howled and slammed her down to the bed, lowering himself on top of her then

grinding ferociously as she wrapped her legs around him and demanded more. He

couldn’t help himself any longer as he exploded within her, and then collapsed to the

side of her so as not to crush her with his sweaty body. She quickly rolled on top of him

and spread her sleek, sweat-soaked body across his.

“I must have your loyalty, Meah.” He stroked her hair and then wrapped several

strands through his finger, before bringing them to his face to inhale her scent.

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“You have my loyalty, my lord. I think you know that. But if I swear to obey

you…we both know it would be a lie. And my lord, I can swear that I will never lie to

you.” She leaned forward, crushing her tender breasts against his hard, hairy chest and

slowly planted kisses along the side of his face.

“Meah, do you realize I may be Lord of Gothman within the next few days?”

She looked at him quickly. No, she hadn’t realized that. Her astonished look made

that clear.

“That will change some things and offer power to all of us. Gilroy will have

permanent rank of his own, and I will no longer need anyone to oversee my decisions.”

The moment had come…or at least it was within hand’s reach. Andru had lived to

be Lord of Gothman all his life, but she never dreamed he would obtain it at such an

early age. She saw incredible satisfaction in his eyes, and knew he would be more

dangerous than ever once he was officially in charge.

“It’s so strange how it all happened. I can’t believe Rog would shoot someone in

cold blood like that.” Meah shuddered at the thought.

“Why do you say that?” Andru’s expression changed suddenly.

She looked down into his face, partially hidden in the darkness, and tried to focus

on his thoughts.

“He wasn’t a violent man,” she offered.

“But he was a man with beliefs. He believed Gothman and Neurians were a bad

mix.”

“And you? What do you think?”

“I won’t sign the truce if it’s presented to me.”

A terrible thought crossed her mind, and when she felt Andru’s entire body stiffen

she slowly started to back off him. Had he arranged for Lord Darius to be shot? But

how could he? He would have to communicate with Rog. There would be no way Rog

could shoot the lord and live through it. Oh Crator, did Rog want Neurians so free of

Gothman that he would give his life for it?

Andru sat up quickly and grabbed Meah. She quickly tried to stifle her thoughts.

“What are you thinking, my lady?” His tone was harsh, and he grabbed her arms,

and pulled her down to the bed, pinning her there.

“It was nothing, nothing that matters now.”

Andru stared at her for a long minute and she didn’t dare lower her eyes. Finally,

he lowered his mouth to hers and she allowed herself to savor the kiss. What was done

was done. Andru was powerful, very powerful. She knew she would have to accept

things without question at times, and now was her first opportunity to learn how to do

that.

His kiss deepened and Meah submitted willingly when he took her again.

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* * * * *

Several days later there was still no definite news on Darius. Ana left the Runner

hospital where her papa had Dr. Digo and a handful of assistants working around the

clock to see to his every need. Everyone told her that he would live and she shouldn’t

worry about him, but she couldn’t help it. She walked back toward her glider, which

was parked by her mama’s trailer.

“You are way too beautiful to look so sullen.”

Ana looked up and smiled at her brother. She hadn’t seen him in several days, and

couldn’t believe how powerfully handsome and incredibly virile he looked. She let her

eyes travel over him before returning to gaze into his deep gray eyes. He reached out

and stroked her hair and she knew instantly that he was as impressed with seeing her

as she was with him.

“What are you doing here?” Ana glanced around them as she spoke.

“We finished up early and I thought I’d see how Papa is doing.”

Ana knew he and Gilroy led troops down to where the Neurian camp had been to

ensure they were all gone.

“I take it the Neurians are gone?”

Andru nodded, distracted by one of her curls he fondled with his fingers.

“I’ll let Mama know.” She could tell where his thoughts were going and smiled up

at him then pushed past him toward her glider. He fell into stride next to her. She

climbed onto her glider and then smiled mischievously. “The way you and Meah have

been going at it, I’m surprised you can look at me like that.”

“Meah talked to you about me?” Andru raised an eyebrow.

“No, Paleah told me.”

He scowled, and she laughed. “Sometimes, even my perfect brother can be

gullible.”

He quickly took her in a headlock and she giggled when he messed up her hair.

“People can see us, Andru. Stop it.”

“Then let’s go someplace where they can’t see us.” He started his glider, and

gestured with his head that she should follow. Ana started her glider and took off after

him.

* * * * *

Meah stood inside the trailer and opened the door farther after the sounds of the

gliders indicated they’d taken flight. She walked slowly to her glider, looking up at the

fading gliders in the evening sunset. Her heart ached as she realized what they’d left to

do. The man who said he loved her, and the body she enjoyed, was going to be with

another woman…in her arms…inside her. Meah felt sick. And her hands were tied. She

had told him when she first returned that she understood and wouldn’t interfere.

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Paleah had the twins over at Ana and Gilroy’s playing with Darien. Meah decided

to go get them and take them home. She’d made arrangements to take the children in

the evenings so Paleah could have some time to herself. Her thoughts were still focused

on Andru and Ana when she landed, and she didn’t pay any attention to the children

running through the yard, until a leather ball hit her in the arm.

“Mama, you weren’t paying attention. I told you to catch it.” Tory ran up to her,

and picked up the ball.

“I’m sorry, honey, my thoughts were elsewhere.” She noticed then that Gilroy sat

on the back steps, lazily moving a cradle with his foot that held Curi, while Paleah sat in

the grass with Magi on her lap. Both of them were watching her.

“Hi everyone,” she said with a forced smile, as she walked over to where the

Neurian sat on the ground with the baby. “Are you having fun?”

“What’s wrong, Mama? You look sad.” Tia looked up at her with innocent gray

eyes, and Meah felt tears fill in her own.

“Paleah, would you watch them for another hour? I’ll be back, I promise. You can

take them back to the house if you want.”

“Andru told me to keep them here. He said he’d contact me when I could bring

them home.”

“He did?” Meah’s voice cracked. “When did he contact you?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

Meah backed away slowly, aware that Gilroy watched her, but unable to look at

him.

“I’ll be back after a bit.” She turned, and almost ran to her glider, unaware that

Gilroy followed her.

Meah flew once around the Bryon house when her comm beeped and she flipped

the switch on it.

“Meah, you don’t want to go down there right now.” Gilroy’s baritone voice came

through clearly, and she looked around until she saw him behind her.

“Gilroy, I saw them.” Meah fought to control the panic that rose within her. Panic