Clarity's Doom (Ancient Origins Book 1) Read online

  Tenderness flowed from him. She was the most important person in the world, his world. If she let him make love to her, there would be no going back. He would sacrifice himself for her and she knew it.

  Passion tingled her skin from his fingertips. So many, too many years of need spilled from the depth of his yearning gaze. They had a long hard year ahead of them. A year to save his life. If he perished, she would be sacrificed as well; she knew it. There could be no baby. There could be no flight—only fight. Their kiss broke.

  Clarity smiled. “I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me,” she sang in a whisper.

  His bemused expression gazed back. Clarity ran her hand over his chest and dipped lower. Doom groaned when she reached his straining manhood, caressing him through his pants. He dropped lower to rest his forehead against hers while his hands cupped the sides of her face, his thumbs stroking her cheeks.

  “I will fight, Clarity. I will kill any dinosaur or hybrid to keep you safe. I will not die and leave you alone.”

  “Those are the most romantic words anyone has ever said to me.”

  On her tiptoes, she crushed her lips against his. Her hand clung to the back of his neck when he picked her up and cradled her to his chest. The warm furs were piled high, and she sank into them when he set her upon the bed. She sat up as he slipped the revealing hide shirt over her head, tracing his fingertips up over flesh. Spiraling goose bumps to dot her arms. For a moment, he gazed at her breasts. His hand shook when he lifted it to trail his fingers over her curves. The pads of his thumbs grazed her buds as they hardened and strained toward him. Mouth open, he panted then swallowed hard.

  “Clarity my insides crave to be a part of you.”

  He leaned to nuzzle his nose against her cheek. The warmth of his breath tingled her skin. His lips kissed her ear and tugged against a lobe. It was Clarity’s turn to shake. His hands roamed her back, searing a path of discovery. When he satisfied himself after touching every inch of her, he began again on her front. His assault was no less lethal to her quivering flesh. Her nipples ached for their turn and she wasn’t disappointed when finally his large beautiful hands cupped each breast.

  “Your beauty would shame flowers to hide at your approach.”

  He was killing her with words alone while she remained tongue-tied. With a gentle ease, he guided her to lie back and again he stared at her. His gaze centered on her face. The loving look he cast was almost her undoing. She didn’t know a man could make love with his eyes. He was already inside of her. At that moment, she was claimed.

  “Doom,” she whispered.

  For a second his gaze clouded. “I hate that name.”

  “Don’t.”

  He sighed and attempted a smile. “You’re right. Now isn’t the time to mention the word hate, because that word is far worse than my name.”

  Clarity shimmied out of her pants and lay before him. Doom leaned to kiss her belly making a trail downward to stop between her thighs. A gentle nudge was all it took for her to spread her legs and welcome his touch. Coaxing fingers slipped within her folds and he grinned at her when he discovered she was ready for him. She stifled a laugh thinking Niagara Falls would be dry compared to her.

  “I didn’t know a woman’s heat would make my cock jealous of my fingers.”

  “Make your cock jealous of your tongue.”

  He cocked a raised eyebrow at her and grinned. Doom dipped his tongue into her wetness and licked at her until she writhed. His tongue was maddening delight. Round her folds he went as he whispered words such as sweet, delicious, beautiful. Her teeth clacked together as her need built.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  When he stood, she wanted to scream at him to get his ass back to her. With slow deliberation he removed his belt, letting it fall to the fur beneath his feet. His pants followed suit. The entire length of him was engorged and thrust forward.

  Clarity wanted to impale herself until a fast realization struck. “Damn.” Frustrated she jumped from the bed and raced past him. He spun, eyes wide, arms spread wide.

  “Am I really that big?”

  Clarity was fumbling in the side pocket of her purse. If she didn’t have him inside her soon she knew she’d die of longing but this was important. She fumbled with the condom, ripping it from the package and raced back. She jumped on the bed and knelt before him. Doom gripped her hand when she began to roll the rubber onto his cock.

  “You want me to wear a coat on my cock? I just took all my clothes off. This is the last thing that needs to be dressed. Isn’t it?”

  Clarity laughed. “It’s a condom. We can’t make a baby. Please let go. If that massive appendage of yours isn’t inside me soon I might rip my hair out.”

  Doom frowned but let go of her. Clarity was intrigued by his cock; magnificent was a puny word in comparison. The condom wasn’t large enough but it would serve its purpose. She lay back and tugged his hand.

  The look on Doom’s face was priceless. “Earthlings have clothes for everything. I hear they put clothes on animals. I feel a little silly.”

  “I’m not looking for style big boy, just action.”

  Doom swung his hips back and forth. He widened his eyes at her. Clarity had to make him stop before she was consumed with a bout of hysteria. She grabbed his cock and tried to draw him closer. Doom took each of her ankles and pulled her toward him. She let go and he kissed the instep of her feet then each ankle.

  His hands moved lower as he crept closer. She breathed a sigh of relief when finally he lay over her. The head of his cock pushed deep inside and she groaned in desire. Every inch of her was on fire. The broad span of his back rose and fell with every thrust. Clarity lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. Doom tested her depth and once realizing she could take all of him, his actions grew eager.

  “You are the beauty of the first snowfall. The aroma of the first spring day. Colors of autumn pale in comparison.”

  “I thought you were color blind.”

  “I see differently, but I know beauty. I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you. I’ve never touched anyone the way I need to touch you.”

  Every word he spoke was emphasized with passion—his need to make her believe what was said. He fisted a hand into her hair and forced her to expose her throat. He nipped her and using his other hand gripped an ass cheek, curling her body under him.

  Clarity didn’t know how to respond. Edward swore a lot when they had sex. Fuck you’re hot, hell you feel so damned good. Rock my world, baby. Nothing turned her on more than Doom’s words. Beautiful, flowing, sunshine words. If Edward had spouted anything else, she’d consider him sickly sweet. Not Doom. He spoke from his heart not lust.

  Heart pounding, Clarity wanted to say something back, gift him with something as she was gifted. Do me hard baby, didn’t seem to capture the moment. Had she ever spoken from the heart during sex? Never. What a sad thought. Now who’s the heathen?

  “Doom your name is beautiful. As wonderful as any name, because it’s yours. I never knew I had to travel to another world to find you. I’d fall through a dozen sinkholes to get to you.”

  When he gazed into her eyes she saw tears. “I’m not worthless when I’m with you.”

  Raw emotion as real as any tore at her chest. The power of the emotion built within her until waves of desire made her whimper his name. He wrapped her in his arms and rocked with a gentle motion until they were both spent. For a while neither moved. Doom shifted.

  “Clarity?”

  “Hmm?”

  “My new coat fell off. It’s kinda gross.”

  ****

  “Why not just rope the little bastards and shoot ’em? They’re animals after all, not like they’re human.” Heath was showing off his rope technics in the main hall. A bandage was wrapped around his head.

  Children were in another room being entertained by the dog and watched by a few women while a discussion took place. Doom wanted his villagers to know his plans. He knew with
Clarity the people had a shot at a real life.

  “The sacrifices need to continue. The hybrids will slaughter us all,” Edge argued.

  Doom could see the man was furious the humans knew what was going on and he was afraid of change. They all were. They had every right to be. What he was asking of them went against their survival instincts.

  “You’ve been between her legs and it’s stunted your thinking. A man who thinks with his cock has a hard head, and a dumb ass,” Edge raged.

  Doom smashed him in the face. Edge lay stunned on the ground. No one had ever struck him before. Fists balled Doom jumped up on a table.

  “Anyone who thinks I’m weak is welcome to challenge me.”

  No one moved. The men of the village were hard and powerful. It wasn’t Doom’s size that gave them pause, it was the burden of the tattoos he wore. His pecs flexed making the tattoos dance to be noticed.

  “Doom is right,” Menace said. “It’s time for a change. We are going to die regardless. Don’t you care how or for what you die? I want to spend time in a woman’s arms. I want to hold a child born of my flesh and blood.”

  “I don’t think we are capable of giving life,” a woman sadly said.

  “Because all we do is take lives. No more. Clarity has shown me inventions that will make you believe in her as I do. Edge, get off your ass. You look ridiculous sitting there,” Doom said.

  Grumbling, Edge climbed to his feet and glared at Clarity. She glared back. In her hand was the taser; no one was stupid enough to go near her. Especially when Heath saw it, threw up his hands, and gave her a wide berth. It was apparent he was familiar with the weapon, but had no idea what a gun was. Alice had known what a gun was. Clarity muttered she’d never heard of a cowboy who didn’t know guns. Heath told her tasers and cattle prods were sufficient. Clarity mentioned it might be why the hybrids didn’t have weapons. Another reason to keep her doubly safe from the beasts.

  “Doom says the hybrids travel in twos,” Heath said. He swung the rope around his upper body. “We can herd the buggers into a trap. After a few start to disappear we’re gonna have to make a stand.”

  “When do we start?” Menace asked.

  Clarity moved to join Doom. “We need to make sure we have a huge supply of everything we need. And more people. Doom tells me this is the start of your season to gather supplies for the winter. When snow hits and you have your big sleep, we can teach the children how to make pipe bombs.” She cast a glance at Heath. “And a few adults. Come spring, we strike before your time to sacrifice. Then once they figure out what’s going on, we hit them hard and fast.”

  “So you plan on saving the world?” Edge was contemptuous.

  Clarity smiled sweetly and squeezed Doom’s hand when he tensed, ready to pound the man again.

  “Yes, I plan to save the world. Maybe not you, though. You’re an asshole.”

  Heath roared with laughter. “Get ’em girl. You better watch it, Edge. She’s more ornery than a wasp nest. Cuter, but mean. Any little filly who cuddles with a bulwark and calls her Muffin can ride a bull into the ground.”

  “So where do we start?” Edge said.

  “It’s time we go hunting for earthlings. I think Heath is the first of many to come. I want them all, and I want them ready to fight. We’re going to make an army,” Doom said. “We’ll get so many humans the other village tribes will have to join us.”

  “An army of humans?” Heath let his rope drop. He looked puzzled.

  “You know what an army is, don’t you?” Clarity asked.

  “If it’s a posse to get men together to go after rabid bears and such, sure. Army ants was what comes to mind.”

  “Armies fight in wars.”

  “What’s a war?” Heath asked.

  Now Clarity looked confused. “Didn’t you have family who fought in World War One and Two? You don’t know about guns, but you mentioned you know what swords are.”

  “Who do you fight in these wars?”

  “Other humans.”

  Heath scratched his head. “Well no ma’am, um, Clarity. On Earth we don’t fight humans, we can kill animals, as long as it’s humane, but humans don’t kill humans. That’s some kinda sick and twisted shit.”

  Doom heard Clarity groan. He realized she wasn’t from the same Earth as Heath. Her speculation was just proven. The sinkholes were gathering other humans. A thought nagged him. Clarity said she had been pulled away last second in the sinkhole. Fear shot into his heart. If she was meant to go elsewhere what would happen if the planet who wanted her came looking for her? Doom would have to be ready.

  “I want four other men,” Menace yelled and jumped up onto the table beside Doom. “Grab your weapons and let’s go find salvation.”

  A number of men cheered, more looked scared to death.

  “Now isn’t the time to be seen,” Clarity warned. “We need a surprise attack.”

  Menace grinned; Doom had never seen him grin. “I need to hunt. The hybrids understand a need for food.”

  Doom sighed. Menace had a need to slaughter. The pots would be full tonight.

  ****

  Clarity walked beside Doom. They were looking for the wild children. Since they were prepared to fight, they needed back up and if these were Clarity’s Earth children as she suspected they might be, they could prove useful. Clarity insisted Earth children could be badass if needed. The dead hybrid was all the proof he should need. They walked deeper into the forested jungle.

  A strange mound almost undetectable came into view. Doom moved with caution. The cave was made up of smaller versions of mammoth tusks covered in hillocks of vegetation. The nest they stumbled across was recently deserted. Except for one dead occupant. The female hybrid’s body was crushed. Clarity knelt down and lifted her into her arms. She was so tiny; her features near human.

  “How can they do this? Their own kind, and why? She looks so sweet, so innocent,” she whispered.

  “Sweet and innocent shouldn’t describe a hybrid. The males I met tried to kill me and were only a little older,” Doom said.

  A cold icy finger raced up her spine. Doom was right. Did mixing humans who knew nothing of war cause humanity in the females? Empathy for life would be frowned on.

  Glancing around, Clarity saw human footprints, handprints, claws. It was hard to tell if the prints were only human. No traces of bodies were found, but there were other prints. Dinosaurs. She wondered why the little body wasn’t taken as well. But she realized the body was still warm. Clarity glanced nervously around. The hair on the nape of her neck stood tall. They were being watched.

  When the hybrid appeared, Clarity set the dead baby hybrid down and stood. She was angry. Doom pulled her behind him. He stayed relaxed but clutched his spear tighter.

  “DaV-nin.”

  The hybrid made sharp whistles and hand gestures. Few words were spoken. Clarity caught some of what was said. He was surprised Doom was traveling outside the village with a human. Doom appeared calm but gestured she was safe enough with him. The hybrid eyed Doom, and Clarity could almost make out the hybrid said, for now. She was positive it’s what DaV-nin said when Doom gripped her hand tighter at the unveiled threat. The hybrid was then questioning Doom about the hybrid the children killed, but he was searching. DaV-nin was asking if Doom had seen any other hybrid wandering around. There was no doubt in her mind they hadn’t found the body. Doom simply shook his head and shrugged. DaV-nin stared at Clarity. He pointed and spoke a few more word whistles. Doom tensed. She knew she had been singled out for the next sacrifice. She wanted to shove a bomb up his ass.

  The hybrid turned and disappeared back into the foliage, leaving the dead offspring. Clarity started after him, wanting to rail against the inhumanity of worrying over a grown hybrid while a dead hybrid baby female meant nothing. Doom grabbed Clarity’s hand and led her away.

  “We need to find those children fast.” His whispered words were urgent. “If that hybrid is found before the snow falls, they wi
ll be hunted and destroyed, so might we be. The hybrids know we would never kill one of theirs for fear of retribution. DaV-nin hinted at the children out there. Maybe they’ve seen them use weapons different from ours.”

  “It’s time we stalk the hybrid.”

  Clarity yanked her hand from his and began in the direction DaV-nin went. Doom raced after and tried to stop her.

  “Are you crazy?” It was a yelled whisper.

  “I want to know where they are and this is the perfect opportunity.”

  “But,” Doom sputtered.

  “If he was going to kill us, he would have tried. No worries, I’ll protect you.”

  Doom glared at her but made no move to stop her as she continued on. Finally Doom surged ahead. He was stealthy; she’d give him that. DaV-nin appeared nonchalant about his motion. Cocky, he was arrogant in his stance. If he suspected they were tailing him, he showed no sign. Or didn’t care.

  They were downwind and Clarity was glad. The foliage grew thicker, easier to hide within. Two younger hybrids raced to DaV-nin when a short while later they came to a high mountain and a clearing. Doom sucked in his breath as they crouched and gazed way up. After a closer look, Clarity could make out round hole openings in the mountain, partly concealed with vast mounds of green foliage. They’d found the hybrids’ nesting area.

  As they watched, a giant bird circled near DaV-nin. Perhaps to check out the young. The hybrid gazed up while picking up a rock DaV-nin flung with such force the bird squawked and came crashing down. Another hybrid grabbed the bird and bit into it. DaV-nin snarled a warning and the hybrid dropped the meal when two other smaller hybrids raced forward to snatch the meal, ripping into it.

  “Shit,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  Clarity swallowed hard. “Look.” She pointed to a board hung near a cave opening.

  “Those marks are everywhere,” Doom said. “It warns us of hybrid territory.”

  “I thought you couldn’t read.”

  “I can’t, it’s a simple mark.”

  “Doom, that’s a sign, not a simple mark. It’s a word. Beware. The hybrids can spell. They must be able to read. Holy shit, that’s not good.”