Vulcan's Woman (3 page)

Ivy’s eyes rounded. “You did?” she squeaked. “Who?”

“His name is Vulcan. But you must keep it a secret. He’s a
tribesman.”

“Wisty, that’s dangerous! If Daddy―”

“Shhh.” Wisteria squeezed Ivy’s hand and glanced once again
around the area, assuring herself no one had heard the outburst. “I may never
see him again, but the pictures and sensations he bred in my mind will remain
there forever.”

“Momma sent Boar to find you. What if he saw you together?”

“He’d not tattle on me. He still hasn’t forgiven Father for
that brutal beating. He’ll not subject me to the same punishment.”

“I wish I could be happy for you, Wisty,” Ivy conveyed,
lowering her gaze to her lap. “But I’m afraid the visions of this tribesman
will soon fade.”

“I won’t allow that to happen. When Sledge is rutting me,
I’ll imagine it’s Vulcan. I’ll keep him alive.”

“But how will I keep you alive when you’re gone?”

She patted Ivy’s cheek with her palm and smiled at the
amount of love in her sister’s eyes. “I have something for you. Stay here by
the fire.”

Ivy nodded. “Hurry in case Momma calls for help.”

Wisteria stood and hobbled quickly into the cave where she
kept her jewel supplies. She knelt beside a pile of jewelry that was already
adorned with intricate sparkling stones and grabbed two identical strands. They
consisted of medium white stones separated by knots. They were her favorite
because when held in the sunshine the white coating turned different colors.

She folded one of each inside her hand and returned to the
fire. Ivy sat hugging her knees and her eyes were red and puffy as if they’d
been weeping. “Don’t cry, Ivy. You’ve no reason to be sad.”

“What if I never see you again?”

“I’ll not let Sledge keep me away long. I’ll find my way
home if I have to.” She held out her hands and unfolded her fingers. The stones
sparkled in the sunlight. “These are for us. They will keep our spirits
together when we’re apart.”

Ivy’s eyes brightened and she smiled while gazing at the
stones. She reached forward and gently brushed them with her fingertips. Her
lashes fluttered as she glanced at Wisteria. “They are so beautiful, Wisty.”

Wisteria kissed one strand and then draped it around Ivy’s
ankle. “Know that my love surrounds you, little sister,” she said, tying the
ends with a knot. Smiling, she handed the other to Ivy.

As Ivy lifted the stones to her lips, Wisteria’s eyes filled
with tears.

“Wisty, know this signifies my arms. You will always be in
my embrace.” Ivy kissed the stones a second time before placing the strand
around Wisteria’s ankle to secure it.

Wisteria hugged her sister tighter than ever before, as if
they’d never see one another again. “There will be no sad goodbyes when I
leave.”

Ivy stiffened. “Uh-oh.”

“What is it?”

“Here comes Sledge.”

Wisteria wiggled free of Ivy’s arms. “I’m going to leave. If
he asks, tell him I’ve fallen ill.” She climbed to her feet and limped as fast
as she could toward the cave.

“Woman, halt!” he shouted.

She ignored him, darted into her home and sank to her knees
near the wall where she slept. As desperately as she hated the thought of
uniting with Sledge, she sighed in relief at her father’s decision to trade her
for the hides rather than trading Ivy. Ivy wouldn’t survive Sledge’s savage
actions. Though Wisteria wasn’t sure she could either. Despite him being a
member of their gentle, peaceful clan, he’d shown signs of aggression and anger
toward others. If things didn’t go his way he destroyed property by throwing
boulders or shredding hides.

No one tried stopping his fits of rage. Not even her father,
their powerful leader. Failing to utilize his authority by punishing Sledge
during those outbursts shocked Wisteria. So did the fact he’d traded her to the
unsympathetic, grumpy man. Had Father truly wanted rid of her that badly? Or
perhaps he’d done it for breeding purposes. But why Sledge? There were other
men in the clan more suitable and to her liking who were also skilled hunters.
Who needed the best hunter when he had the personality of a bear? Obviously her
father hadn’t considered that either.

But how would he have known since she never spoke to him
about such things?

She curled on her side with her back to the stone wall.
She’d be safe here. Neither Sledge nor anyone not a part of their family could
enter their cave without permission.

At least she had privacy and she needed it now to adjust to
the day’s events. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes, and that’s where she
found comfort as visions of Vulcan emerged in her mind.

Why had he affected her so? Their encounter was brief but
much happened in that short time. How could she ever forget him and the
feelings he stirred, all by one simple touch?

Her belly squirmed and warmth settled between her thighs. She
placed her hands together and slid them near her private parts, adding pressure
to deaden the unfamiliar sensation. Instead a tingly feeling burst forth and
spiraled from her toes to her tummy.

Her lips parted and her eyes popped open in surprise. To be sure
she hadn’t mistaken the feeling she added more pressure. The sensation
intensified and spread beyond her belly to her breasts. They tingled and her
nipples hardened. It was intrusive yet it stirred her curiosity.

Touching herself seemed a forbidden act but she felt the
need to explore her body and find the cause of that excitement. She didn’t
understand what was happening but she experienced a deep ache and pleasure
mixed together.

The thrill of discovery forced her to do something she’d
never done ― she wiggled her hand inside the leather strip of her bottom
garment and slid her fingertip through the folded skin. When her fingertip
rolled over a soft bud, something wicked shot to her chest.

She gasped. She was familiar with that bud because she’d
brushed flower petals against it after relieving herself but she’d never
experienced what she felt now. It was tingly and intense and…wonderful. A new
stream of moisture escaped from between her folds. She sucked her bottom lip
between her teeth and rubbed the nub again. Sparks ignited in her blood and her
belly somersaulted. As the skin around her private area swelled she rubbed her
finger up and down, dragging the moisture to the sensitive bud where she
rotated circles around it.

Her breath caught and her hips jutted slightly forward. Her
female parts throbbed. As pressure built, cresting in her chest and neck, sweat
broke along her brow and her breathing increased. She didn’t know what she was
reaching for but an underlying craving begged for more. She rubbed and circled
and teased that very private place. She needed to wiggle her hips but she
remained still in case someone entered the cave. Then all at once the pressure
became unbearable. Something inside her exploded. She snapped her eyes shut as
her insides sparked and colorful lights danced around in her head. Her bottom
throbbed and her belly jerked. While feeling as if her mind had left her body,
she rubbed inside her folds until the excitement turned into a pleasurable
pain. She squeezed her eyes, straining her neck as she fought the urge to cry
out.

She halted her finger’s motion and inhaled sharply. A few
moments later her entire body, from neck to toes, relaxed and her skin slowly
meshed against the bumpy clay ground. Along with the throb fading from the
inside of her thighs, her breathing returned to normal.

What had just happened? Where had all those sensations come
from? Why hadn’t she discovered them prior to today?

She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly.
Was something wrong with her? How could a body literally explode on the inside
with tingly excitement?

Reluctantly she opened her eyes and gazed at the gloomy
daylight outside the cave entrance. Why hadn’t her mom explained this? It was
the second physical reaction she’d experienced today that her mom neglected to
speak of. She’d taught Wisteria everything about a woman’s monthly cycles to
bearing children. Why not this? Had her mom never experienced it herself?

Sighing heavily, Wisteria closed her eyes again. She
couldn’t ask. She’d have to tell her mother what she’d done to provoke such
feelings. She’d rather keep that her secret for now. Whatever it was, it
drained her physically and made her very sleepy. She patted a yawn then placed
her hands together and laid them beneath her cheek. As her lids fluttered
closed, Vulcan’s face reappeared.

“Wisty, wake up,” Ivy whispered, nudging Wisteria’s
shoulder. “Daylight shines over the land. In six more days you’ll be united
with Sledge. Don’t sleep the time away, sister.”

Wisteria’s eyes popped open. She glanced at her
surroundings, capturing the familiar details of the cave. She hadn’t moved nor
did the damp ground keep her awake half the night as usual. Had her thoughts
and dreams of Vulcan bathed her in comfort and chased away the cold? “I’ve
slept that long?”

“Yes. You didn’t eat last night so you’d better eat this
morning. I boiled the grains because Momma is worrying herself sick. Boar
didn’t come home last night.”

“He didn’t?” Where could he have gone? He wandered off all
the time but he’d never stayed away all night.

“No, and no one is searching for him either. Dahlia went
missing during the night. Her father Wolf thinks they’re together.”

Boar admired Dahlia from a distance but he’d never
approached her, offering a unity. Had he finally decided to take her as his
mate? Wisteria hoped so. She wanted him to be happy. The right woman could rid
him of his bitterness.

Thank you, Daddy, for causing so much pain to your
existing children.

Wisteria sat up slowly and stretched her arms above her
head. She’d never been so rested or relaxed. Had the effects of her
secret
caused
this wave of contentment? If so, what she’d done to herself couldn’t be a bad
thing.

“Are you all right, Wisty? You’re very quiet. Do you feel
okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay.” Wisteria stood and adjusted her garments.
“I’ll eat with you after I visit the relief shanty.”

“Then hurry. I’m hungry.”

Wisteria strode from the cave and headed toward the shanty,
kicking pebbles aside. Her foot no longer hurt but the scratch on her thigh was
crusted with dried blood. She probably broke it open during the night or when
her hips jolted the ground as she’d massaged her private parts.

She grinned while she plucked a couple petals from the
bright-pink flower bush near the entrance then pushed the pelt aside to enter.
Daylight sliced through the top of the stone structure where it was completely
open to treetops and the sky. As she squatted over the fluid basin she tilted
her face upward and absorbed the warm air on her face. Oddly she felt
different. Tranquil. Not as rushed or anxious to start her morning chores.
Despite not wanting to dawdle too long in case her mom already started sewing,
she stalled.

Having left everything behind when the flesh-eating tribe
attacked, they had to make new clothing from scratch. She didn’t mind helping
but it interfered with her jewelry craft. Her fingers were often too sore and
swollen from forcing the needle through the animal hides, which prevented her
from working with her intricate stones.

After she finished relieving herself she wiped dry with the
flower petal. The instant she brushed it against the sensitive nub inside her
womanly folds, a jolt of excitement raced along her spine. It was intense. More
so than yesterday and she rubbed it again. Her breath caught. She chewed her
lower lip as she dropped the leaf into the basin then traced circles around the
hidden nub with her fingertip.

She closed her eyes. Slowly her hips fell into the same
rotation. Then they picked up speed to keep in pace with her finger. Tiny
sparks danced in her tummy, branching to her chest. Her legs trembled and she
laid her free hand on the wooden wall to prevent herself from falling. Sweat
dampened her skin as she rubbed harder, chasing the exciting sensation just
within reach. The flesh beneath her finger swelled and throbbed. With each
swipe it appeared more sensitive and alive. She shivered and tilted her head
farther back.

With the air caressing her face and the breathtaking
pressure building throughout her body, she slightly moaned. She had to. The
sensation was unbearable. She needed to burst. As she quickly rubbed to bring
on the wonderful sensations, something slapped the outside shanty wall.

“What are you doing in there, woman?”

Sledge!

Wisteria’s eyes flew open. With her heartbeat drumming in
her chest and ears she straightened and quickly pulled her lower garment over
her hips. “What do you think I’m doing in here?” she snapped. She smelled the
stench of decaying animals before she even threw the flap aside and stomped
out. “What nerve you have, disturbing a woman’s privacy.”

She nearly retched as he reached for her throat but
instinctively she smacked his hand aside. “My father will bludgeon you if you
touch my bare skin.”

“Your father has given you to me. Have you not been told?”

“Yes, I’m aware, but you’re not at liberty to fondle me in
any way before our unity.” She couldn’t imagine ever lying beneath this beast.
If she had the urge to retch just standing beside him, how would she react
while he rutted her? It was a most disturbing impression. “Until that day
arrives, keep your hands to yourself.” As she turned and stomped off she heard
a low growl barrel from his throat.

Quickly she scoped the area for her mom, hoping she wasn’t
present. She’d only prevent Wisteria from leaving since Boar hadn’t returned
home yet.

After another modest scan of the camp she approached Ivy,
who sat near the fire scooping grains from a bowl with her fingers. “I no
longer have an appetite,” Wisteria whispered. “I’m going to the lake to bathe.
Don’t tell Momma. I don’t want her to worry. I’ll search for Boar and Dahlia
while I’m there. I won’t be gone long.”

She didn’t wait for Ivy to respond and she headed toward the
forest and darted down the path.

She stopped beside the nest to claim Vulcan’s moccasins and
noticed only one of the four eggs remained. A large crack stretched across the
center. She reached forward to pick it up to examine but it rolled to the
opposite side. She smiled. “Hello in there. Are you going to come out today?”

How long did it take eggs to hatch? Didn’t they require
warmth? Lying in the shaded forest on cool ground couldn’t be beneficial. She
glanced at the moccasins. Would Vulcan be upset if she used them to incubate
the egg?

Just as she lifted the shell, a tiny gray head with black
beady eyes popped through the crack.

Wisteria’s jaw dropped when its little mouth opened and it
squawked. A teensy mouth, full of sharp teeth. She quickly returned the egg to
the nest.

The creature had a snout and smooth head like a rhino, and
scaly skin like a snake. No beak. No feathers. No soothing chirping sounds as
those of a bird.

What is it?
“You’re cute, but unlike anything I’ve
ever seen.” Then the remaining shell shattered and two odd-shaped, pointed
wings emerged. A long tail unrolled and flopped onto the bottom of the nest.

Wisteria gasped as blue-tinted spikes rose from its spine.
It squawked again and tried to stand but it wobbled and fell onto its side.
Instinctively she reached forward to help it stand upright but at the last
moment quickly retracted her hand. Those teeth, no matter how small, looked
capable of causing major damage. Then she noticed two stubby legs kicking into
the air, each equipped with webbed feet and three talons.

The thought of its full-sized mom sent shivers down
Wisteria’s back. She had no doubt she’d seen its wingspan yesterday and she
didn’t want to be anywhere near the baby when its momma returned.

Wisteria stood and backed away from the nest. The little
creature rolled onto its belly and then it stood on its feet. Once balanced it
tried walking but fell on its face and its back end and tail rose, pointing
toward the treetops. “Aw, you poor little thing.”

As much as she wanted to help, she refrained. Aside from
getting bitten, she didn’t want to leave her scent for its momma. “Well, I’ll
see you later,” Wisteria said then turned and ran to the lake.

She stood on the edge and dipped her toes into the brisk
water. Gooseflesh instantly rose on her arms. Normally the cold rush didn’t
affect her and she would’ve plunged right in. Nor would she have hesitated to
pet the little creature in the nest when it’d hatched. Oddly she felt extremely
perceptive today and her senses were much sharper, as if they’d awoken from a
deep slumber.

She held her breath and forced herself to wade in knee-deep.
She shivered and her teeth chattered but that response didn’t equate to the
shock her private parts sustained when she walked farther into the water and
they grazed the cold. Sharp prickles, as if being poked with quills, tore
through her woman’s flesh. It wasn’t as painful as it was alarming but chills
bristled up her spine.

She gasped. Rather than acting on the impulse to return to
shore, she submerged herself completely and swam to the deep section in the
center of the lake. She swayed her arms and kicked her feet, treading water. Though
faint, the slight undercurrent caused by the motion of her limbs added pressure
between her thighs. That area started to throb, accompanied by the familiar
ache she’d deserted in the shanty because of Sledge’s abrupt intrusion.

Swimming a little closer to shore to where the water leveled
at her chin, she set her feet on the ground and slightly spread her legs. She
bit on her bottom lip and at the same time slid her hand into her lower
garment. The instant her fingertips slid through her folds and grazed the
sensitive bud, tingles erupted in her blood. Her breath caught. She closed her
eyes and started a languid, circular massage on the nub. Small circles. Then
large. Then small again. The warm moisture seeping from her body turned cold
the moment it merged with the water.

Her belly twitched. She moaned and bit harder on her lip.
Then suddenly a smooth sensation brushed against her calves. Startled, she
yanked her hand from her garment and peered into the lake. Loo-La was circling
her legs then paused behind her to lick the back side of Wisteria’s knees. “Loo-La,
you have the worst timing.” Despite the mounting frustration, Wisteria smiled.
“Stop that, it tickles.”

The snake veered toward her front side and emerged from the
water, its green eyes sparkling like jewelry stones. The scales on its two
heads were orange and yellow. They looked rough to the touch but were actually
soft and slippery. A dark-pink band encircled its necks and a long red stripe
stretched from its mouths along its twenty-foot body to the tip of its tail.

The first time she’d seen the two-headed snake it frightened
her. She’d been sitting near her tree when it emerged from the water and
slithered beside her, examining her with both heads. One appeared to sniff her
while the other licked her with its abrasive tongue. Its body was the width of
a tree trunk and she didn’t move or breathe for fear it’d wrap around her and
squeeze. For the first time she understood the Flesh Eaters’ and Mountain
Slayers’ fears and she swore she’d never return to the lake again.

To her surprise the serpent had curled up as if it were
going to strike then it laid both heads on the ground near her hip. It didn’t
budge and neither did she. When it finally moved it nudged her toward the lake.
She thought it was going to pull her underwater but it started playfully
flipping her around.

Wisteria laughed at the memory and petted Loo-La’s heads.
Just then she heard a faint squawk.

Was she hearing things? She spun and glanced around the
embankment. The creature from the nest was waddling off the path into the
clearing that connected the forest to the lake. It headed toward the water,
flapping it wings. It fell snout first into the grass, stood up and shook off
then continued venturing forward. Wisteria giggled and watched in awe as it
wiggled through rows of flowers, stopping to sniff the red petals. Once it
stepped onto the embankment its talons sank in the sand. It plucked them free
one at a time and drew near the water, where its beady eyes locked on her. It
placed one foot into the lake then retracted it and stepped back. At least she
needn’t worry it’d fall in and drown.

“Loo-La, take me to shore.” She straddled the serpent’s back
and held on to its necks while it slithered into the shallow part of the lake
near the baby creature. Without removing her eyes from the little monster, she
slid off Loo-La’s back into ankle-deep water.

She’d never seen such a cute critter, but still leery of its
teeth, she refused to move closer. Technically anything born in the wild
was
wild. “What are you doing here? Your momma is going to be so mad.”

It tilted its head side to side.

“You’re just a tiny…”
Hmmm. What?
“I don’t know what
you are, but you look like a bird monster.” She squatted, crossing her arms
over her knees, and rested her chin on the back side of her wrist. “Let’s call
you Birmon.”

“Don’t trust it. It may be a carnivore.”

Wisteria froze at the sound of the masculine voice. Slowly
she turned her head and glanced in the direction from where it traveled. Her
insides quivered when she saw Vulcan leaning against a large tree.

Had he seen her touching herself in the water? She gulped.
Her cheeks burned and then she felt the color disappear from her face.

“Why are you here alone again?” he asked.

She thought it best to avoid that question. Not that it was
any of his business anyway. “Are you familiar with this breed?” she asked, her
voice trembling.

Though mortified, she didn’t sway her gaze from his eyes as
he moved away from the wide trunk and strode forward. No, he couldn’t have seen
her in the water earlier. She would’ve spotted him when she’d looked around and
found Birmon.

Vulcan’s evenly paced stride brought him close with his arms
folded at his chest. They bulged with muscle and his brows were drawn together
as if he was angry. She’d seen the expression many times on her father.

“Why didn’t you heed my advice?”