Savage Desire (Savage Lagonda 1) (48 page)

Mara had been expecting some resentment from him because Anias had touched her. In fact she had dreaded it, not knowing what form his anger would take. Tajarez dunked her head under the water and Mara sputtered and gasped, trying to catch her breath. Then he proceeded to wash her all over with rough hands. When he was satisfied that every trace of Anias had been washed from her body, he carried her to the riverbank and pulled her dress over her still wet body. Then he sat down on the grass and pulled her into his lap.

It was a dark night. The crescent-shaped moon gave off very little night. Mara could just make out the rugged, handsome face of her husband. She could sense the scowl on his face. She knew how jealous he had been on occasion, and today he had been pushed to the limit. She waited for him to speak, fearing the worst.

"Mara, are you hurt in any way? When Anias struck you, did he injure you?"

"No, I am not hurt, Tajarez."

"Did he ever strike you other than today?"

"Only when he first abducted me. Other than that he was kind to me in his own way."

"I would not be able to bear it if he had harmed you or caused you pain." There was a world of feeling in Tajarez's voice.

She placed her hands on either side of his face. "It is over. We can now put it out of our minds. Anias is dead. He can no longer harm us, nor can anyone as long as we are together."

Tajarez crushed her to him. "Today you saw me at my worst, Mara. You saw me humbled before Anias, begging him not to touch you. Will you ever be able to forget that I, the king of the Lagonda, cried like a helpless child? Loving you has done this to me, Mara."

"I was very proud of you, today, Tajarez. You did not beg for yourself, but for me and the babies. I know no greater proof that you love me. There will be times in the future when you will be unbending and arrogant, and even turn one of your icy stares on me, but you will never be able to convince me that you do not love me. I saw proof of that love today, and that is what I will always remember."

She felt his lips on her throat. Then they moved slowly up her neck to her lips. He did not kiss her at first, but rested his lips against the corner of her mouth. "I love you so deeply, my beloved. Is it true what you told me today? Do you also love me?"

"More than words can say, my tall, handsome husband."

His mouth finally closed over hers and Mara caught her breath at the glorious feeling that embraced her heart.

"I have been so empty, so alone without you, beloved," he whispered against her lips. "Breathe life into me once more. Love me, hold me, Mara." His voice was thick with desire as his lips covered hers once more. Then he groaned and pushed her gently away from him. "I am not made of stone, Mara, and I cannot make love to you in front of the whole tribe."

"No, you are most certainly not made of stone, my husband."

He pulled her against him once more. His breath stirred her hair as he leaned his face against hers. She felt weak with longing, and would gladly have abandoned herself to him regardless of the warriors who were not more than fifty paces from them at that moment.

Standing up, Tajarez placed her on her feet. "Come, we must return to camp. Tonight you will sleep in my arms and I will be in agony. Tomorrow night you will be awake in my arms and I shall be in paradise."

As they returned to the camp Mara noticed that all but the warriors who were standing guard were bedded down for the night. Jeffery had fallen asleep, his hand resting protectively on the basket where the twins slept. Tajarez woke his brother-in-law and sent him to his own robe.

Mara curled up in Tajarez's arms. How good it felt to have his strong arms around her once more. She was lying on her side with her back pressed tightly against his body; his face was resting against hers.

"Have you thought what we will call the babies?" he whispered, trying to pull his mind away from the soft curves that were pressing into his body. "We cannot go around calling them baby. That will sound strange when my son reaches my height."

Mara laughed softly. "I did not name them because I wanted you to help me with their names."

"Were you so sure I would find you, then?"

"To be honest with you, I thought you might be glad to be rid of me."

His arms tightened around her. "Did I hurt you so badly that you did not believe I loved you?"

She hesitated. "I did not think you wanted me or the babies."

His heart contracted at the pain he heard in her voice. "The truth is I loved you too much."

"I know that now, Tajarez. I will always know you love me.

Tajarez wondered how he had been chosen by the Great Father to have this beautiful woman as his queen. He did not for one moment feel he was worthy of her. The Great Father had reached across time and space to choose him as the lover of the Golden One. He felt humbled, and knew that he would strive to be worthy of her.

They talked quietly, not wanting to be overheard by anyone who might be awake.

Tajarez smiled against her face. "It seems I spend half my time rescuing you from those who would take you for themselves. Must I post extra guards at the palace to keep what is mine? Perhaps if you were ugly . . ." His smile deepened. "Yes, if you were ugly, it would solve all of my problems."

Mara turned to face him. "Do you think me beautiful, Tajarez?"

He moved his head slightly. He could not see her face in the dim moonlight, but every detail of it was burned into his mind. "No flower has a petal that is as soft as your skin. No bird that sings in the garden at the palace has a voice so sweet as yours. The color of your eyes rivals the trees and the grasses. Your hair puts the color of the noonday sun to shame. Your body is perfection. Your face has long haunted me. When you are angry with me, I am in the depths of despair, and when you smile, I feel as though my heart will burst within me. If there is more to beauty than this, it is the kindness of your heart and the love you give to others."

Mara felt tears sting her eyes at his beautiful declaration of love. They were both quiet for a long time, just holding each other and feeling a bond so strong that time could never alter. Finally Tajarez spoke. "Would you mind if we named my son after my father, Mara?"

"That is what I hoped you would say, Tajarez. You do not know that I held your father in my arms as he died." Her voice broke, and it was almost impossible for her to go on, but she wanted Tajarez to know Hamez had not been alone when he died. There was a tightening in her throat for the man whom she had loved and called father.

"Tell me," Tajarez urged gently.

Tears fell freely down her cheeks. "H ... he knew that he was dying and that Anias was taking me away. Oh, Tajarez, he looked at me with the saddest expression in his eyes, and he said,
f
I am sorry, my daughter, that I have not the strength to help you.'"

Tajarez held her tightly and felt the sobs that shook her body. "He loved you, Mara. He often told me how much you brightened up his life."

"Tajarez, I never respected a man more than Hamez. I loved him very much, and I will miss him."

"Many people will miss him, Mara. If at the end of my life I command as much love and respect as he did, I will consider I have done my best. You and I have a great responsibility facing us, Mara. The best tribute we can pay my father is to rule the Seven Cities with love and justice." He raised her face and kissed the tears away. He felt grief as she did at the loss of his father, but he would not give in to his tears. He had cried today, but he vowed he would never again give in to that weakness, at least outwardly. It was unheard of for a Lagonda warrior to weep, let alone the king. Feeling the sting of tears in his eyes, he fought for control. Great Father, was he becoming as a woman? He searched for something to distract him from his grief. "Mara, what will we call our daughter? Would you like to name her for your mother?"

"No, she is an Indian princess. I would have her take the name of your mother, Tamera. Would that please you?”

Tajarez swallowed hard at the tightening in his throat. "It would please me greatly, Mara. Now sleep, beloved, and dream of me."

Mara felt loved and protected as she easily gave in to the desire for sleep.

The next morning Mara was awakened before sunrise by two hungry babies. The camp was already astir, as the men made ready for the day's journey home. Tajarez was nowhere in sight. The smell of roasting meat made her mouth water. She had not realized how hungry she was. Mara did not see Tajarez approach, she was so engrossed in nursing the twins.

Tajarez felt his passion fan into a flame as his eyes fell on the gentle swell of her breast and her beautiful face glowing in the soft light of the campfire. Tonight, he thought, I will have her in my bed where she belongs.

Mara laid her daughter down beside her. She had been fed and now slept contentedly. Picking up her son, she began to feed him. He grabbed a tress of her golden hair. Mara tried to pry her hair from his tiny fist, but he would not relinquish it.

"Who do these extraordinary children belong to? Surely they are above average in looks and intelligence."

Mara smiled at him. "These are the children of the mighty king of the Seven Cities. I am told he is also above average in looks and intelligence."

He sat down beside her. "This man, this king, do you also belong to him?"

She looked into his eyes. No longer playing their little game, she spoke softly: "He is my love. He is brave and fearless, and I have the great honor of being his queen."

Tajarez's eyes grew dark as he reached across her, his hand brushing her exposed breast. He loosened his son's fingers from her hair. "It would seem my son has a fascination for your hair as his father does." He scooped the baby, Hamez, into his arms. "Enjoy your mother feeding you today, my son, for when we reach home, we shall find a suitable woman to perform that duty. You see, I have plans for your beautiful mother, and they do not include you or your sister." He laid the baby down and rose to his feet and offered Mara his hand. "Come, it is time you had something to eat. Then we will be on our way home."

Mara saw Palomas station himself nearby, watching over the sleeping babies. Home, how good that sounded.

When they reached the city, the people lined the roadway to greet them. Many of them rushed forward, wanting only to tell Mara of their happiness that she had been found. The love she saw on the faces of the people of the Lagonda, her people, reached out to her. She had truly come home.

When they reached the stone steps that led to the palace, Tajarez lifted his sleeping daughter from the basket and handed her to Mara, while the people watched and waited to hear their king speak.

"Behold, my people, your princess, Tamera, who your queen is holding."

The people shouted in unison, welcoming their new princess.

Sagas appeared at Tajarez's side and peered at the prince, who was wide awake, his green eyes fastened on the old man's face. Sagas looked at the baby Mara held in her arms. Then he looked down to the infant in the basket, his eyes wide in wonder. "Hmm, I did not see this," he said.

Tajarez raised his son over his head, and a hush fell over the crowd. "Behold, the prince, Hamez, prince royal," he said proudly.

There was a loud uproar from his people. There had been much grief of late—the death of their king, and the abduction of the Golden One. But now there was happiness. There would be a double celebration tonight. Not only was their queen home safely, but there were two royal births to celebrate, and one of them was that of the prince royal.

Mara reclined in the scented bath with her eyes closed, feeling very contented. She thought of the joyous welcome she had received when they had entered the city. The people's warm welcome had gladdened Mara's heart, and their joy at the sight of the young prince and princess had caused an uproar that could be heard long after the royal family had entered the palace. There had been a tearful reunion with Sasha, and even Sagas had shown his joy at Mara's safe return.

Mara stepped out of the bath and dried herself. She slipped into a sheer white nightgown that Linda had given her as a wedding gift. She had never worn it before, thinking it was too immodest, almost indecent. She smiled to herself as the soft fabric caressed her body. The babies had been safely tucked into their beds in a room that had been hurriedly prepared for them. Sasha, with her usual efficiency, had found a woman to feed them; in fact, the woman was Palomas's sister, and she was delighted at the honor of caring for the royal infants.

Mara walked out to the balcony and leaned against the railing. The night was warm, and a gentle breeze stirred her hair. She hoped Tajarez would not be too long. She had not seen him since their return. He had not eaten the evening meal with her, but knowing the many duties that faced him, she had not been surprised.

She stared down into the garden below. The warm breeze brought with it the aroma of the many flowers that were in full bloom. For a moment she thought of her mother's garden. It would also be in bloom now.

How long ago and far away St. Louis seemed to her now. This was where she belonged, with her husband and children.

When her thoughts went to her tall, dark husband, she felt her body tremble in anticipation. Tonight would belong to them alone.