Commander

Chapter 2

Dominic would have none of it!

He was not a child. His parents had no business trying to pick a wife for him. Besides, what was the rush? He was only twenty-six years of age, after all.

He ignored them and continued to eat the broth. He sipped water from the glass and continued eating. Keeping his eyes on his bowl, he forced down another spoonful of broth, though his appetite had long since disappeared.

“You will marry Claudia Newcastle, boy,”Henry Princeton, Commander of the Windsor tribe, ordered, his voice cutting through the hall like steel. “She is suitable in all senses. When your mother and I are long gone, she will rule by your side as the Lady of Windsor.”

Dominic looked up from his food. “Father, I am not in the market for marriage. I’m not ready. Even if I were to wed, it definitely wouldn’t be to Claudia Newcastle.”

“Why not?”his mother, Lady Edna, asked sweetly. “My son, that lady is the most beautiful in all the tribes. She is well-mannered, ladylike, and very respectful. You two are already well-acquainted. She will be your wife.”

“You cannot simply conclude that she is the most beautiful when you haven’t seen all the ladies from all the tribes, Mother,”Dominic countered even though he’d rarely come across a beauty that rivaled Claudia’s. “And besides, I know why you are doing this. You think a marriage between me and Claudia would bring peace between our tribe and the Tauranga tribe. Have you even sought out Commander Newcastle to know what he wants?”

“Your mother and I have spoken to Claudia’s father,”Henry said, his tone firm. “He has agreed to give out his daughter’s hand in marriage to you. It has all been concluded.”

Dominic slammed a fist down on the table, rattling all the dishes. “This is my life! Why don’t you just let me make my own decisions?”

Edna signalled for the maids to come clear the table.

Henry stared hard at his stubborn son. “You seem to be forgetting that I am not only your father but also your Commander. You will not go against my orders!”

“And you seem to forget that I am not only your subject, but your son,”he retorted, pushing his chair back with a scrape. "Or does that mean nothing to you?"

“And where is Cisco?” Henry bellowed, ignoring Dominic's jab. “Why isn’t your brother at dinner!”

Dominic didn't answer. In a blatant show of defiance, he rose from the chair and walked through the vast hallways to the family room. He picked up his velvety cloak and wore it over his riding breeches and vest, fastened it by the neck, and walked out of the Windsor manor, ignoring his father’s orders for him to come back.

The night air outside the manor was colder than he expected. He drew his cloak tighter over his shoulders and headed straight for the stables. He was not a little boy anymore. His parents needed to know that.

He wasn’t sure what he was doing yet. Only that he could not stay.

Inside the stables, the familiar scent of hay and horses met him like an old friend. And there, sprawled on a wooden stand as if he had no worries in the world, was Cisco.

Dominic’s younger brother looked up, twirling a strand of hay between his fingers. “What’s got your breeches in a twist, Dom?”

Dominic scrubbed a hand over his face. “What are you doing here, Cisco?”

He sat up straight. “What I’m not doing is marrying Claudia Newcastle.”

“I do not know what to do.” Dominic's voice came out rougher than he intended. “Father seems to have made up his mind, and Mother is right behind him. I might actually have to go through with it.”

Cisco hopped down from the stand, suddenly serious. “You do have options.”

Dominic’s eyes lit up with hope. “You think so?”

Cisco gave a lop-sided grin. “Positive. You have three options.”

Dominic was getting impatient. “I’m all ears.”

Cisco raised a finger. “One, you could murder Claudia so you won’t have to get married to her.”

Dominic felt the hope drain out of him at his brother’s idiocy. “That is not happening, Cisco. I’ll hear the remaining two now, if you please.”

“Two.” Cisco raised another finger. “You could commit suicide.” He grinned. “Never heard of a dead man getting dragged down the altar.”

At this point, Dominic was wondering what gods he must have wronged to deserve such an oaf for a brother. “I’m not that desperate, Cisco. Why don’t you give me an option that doesn’t involve me ‘dead’?”

“Three.” Another finger went up, his eyes gleaming. “You could run away.”

Dominic’s brows creased. “Run away?”

Cisco made an exploding gesture with his hands. “Poof! Just disappear. Somewhere Father can't drag you back from.” He leaned closer to his brother. “Word on the street is that Commander Newcastle is tired of Claudia’s antics in his tribe, and rumours of her…carnality… are beginning to spread. If you disappear for a few months, he’d marry her off to some other unfortunate fellow. If you dally any longer, you just might be that unfortunate fellow.”

Dominic looked out the stable windows. “It’s getting dark. I’ll need supplies.”

Cisco smiled. “Meet me at the Montgomery Inn in an hour. I’ll have everything you need ready and waiting for you.”

Dominic patted Cisco on the shoulder. “Thank you.”

Cisco shrugged his hands off playfully. “I’m doing this for me, brother. I don’t want Claudia for a sister-in-law.”

Dominic chuckled as Cisco walked out of the stables.

He walked over to his horse and rubbed his snout fondly. Storm was a light brown stallion with a white patch around his right eye. Dominic bent to check the horseshoes, and he heard the rustling of hay from behind him. He knew at once that he had company.

Hand on the hilt of his sword, he straightened to his full height and turned around. Then he relaxed his stance. It was merely an unwanted company in the form of Claudia Newcastle.

As always, Claudia was dressed to sensual perfection. She wore a blue velvety dress with a low scoop neckline. The bodice of the dress clung to her like a second skin. She undid the lace in the front of the dress as she walked slowly towards him with a lascivious smile on her face. The front of her dress left almost nothing to imagination as her full breasts threatened to spill out of her dress.

“Going somewhere?”

“You shouldn’t be here, Claudia,”Dominic said, trying hard to maintain self-control. Even her voice was provocative. “It’s too late. You could stay at an inn for the night. At first light, you can begin your journey back home.”

“You weren’t told I was coming over for a stay?”she asked, batting her eyelashes at him as she flattened her palm against his chest. “Lady Windsor is eager to show me her garden.”

Dominic frowned slightly. “My parents must have forgotten to inform me.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her soft body against his. “I’ve missed you, Dom.”

Dominic looked down at the full swell of her breasts just begging to be touched. Claudia was attractive. Beautiful. Voluptuous. She’d warmed his bed many nights, and he knew how good she was between the sheets. A smile slowly curved his lips as he traced the swell of her breasts with his finger. “Really.”

She sighed satisfactorily and pressed her lips to his. Dominic’s hands trailed down her breasts to her waist, then finally cupped her firmly rounded bottom, pulling her tighter against him. He rubbed his hands against her butt cheeks, and she purred against his lips.

Roughly, he pushed her against the wall, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He hitched up her gown and bunched it around her waist. He laid a hand on the bare skin of her thigh, and she ground her hips into his pelvis, letting out a loud moan. He felt her fumbling for the waist band of his breeches, and he stilled her wandering hands, his other hand still gripping her buttocks.

“Perhaps if my parents knew how many times you’ve whored yourself to me,”he bit out harshly,”they wouldn’t think you to be such a suitable wife.” He let go of her roughly and mounted his horse.

Outside, the night stretched wide and dark, and for the first time in his life, he felt it: the terrifying freedom of having nowhere to go.

But then Cisco’s words returned.

Somewhere Father can’t drag you back from.

Dominic’s gaze lifted toward the north, toward the forests people whispered about when they thought no one was listening.

A tribe that prospered too easily.

A Commander too young.

A beast that left blood in its wake.

He kicked Storm into motion and rode towards Montgomery Inn where Cisco was waiting for him in the stables. As promised, he had a satchel of provisions and two bags of clothes and supplies ready for him. He helped him load the bags onto Storm.

Cisco passed him the satchel and leaned against the stable door. “I have arranged some new papers for you, so you can travel without drawing attention.” He eyed him warily. “You still haven’t told me where you’re going.”

Dominic mounted Storm and looked toward the distant treeline.

“North.”

Cisco stilled. “And yet they say I'm the reckless brother.”