Primal Quest Page 2

  Cate’s luscious body beckoned. The mounds of her breasts drew his eyes with just as much force as the honey-blonde triangle between her legs. He wanted everything, immediately. He wanted her taste flowing in his mouth, those pink lips on his body in any way she chose, the sheath of her cunt wrapped around his cock and her nipples pebbling in his mouth.

  Caidi shifted her position on the bed. With the absence of constant contact or stimulation, a human would be coming down from the Zarain scent-induced lust. She edged across the bed, keeping her eyes on him, with what she hoped appeared to be wary distrust rather than hunger. Taking one of the furs with her, she scooted backward, pressing the covering to her breasts.

  “Uh…um…I have to…” Caidi began in what she tried to make a nervous stammer.

  Chapter Two

  Even with her extraordinary eyesight, Caidi didn’t see him move. She blinked and then his weight hit the bed. In that rush of movement, she was pushed back on the mattress. His knees straddled her thighs, his hands landed beside her shoulders, securely caging her.

  He leaned over her, his breath fanning over her face as he gently nipped her full lower lip. There was something about this woman that pulled at the beast within him. He stilled, thinking, but she wriggled and his mind focused completely on the soft woman under him.

  “You have to kiss me, little Cate,” Raven instructed.

  Caidi readily followed his order. She raised her head, slanted her lips across his and tentatively entered his mouth with her tongue. Wanting to put her arms around his back, she lifted her arms, sliding her fingers under his shirt and over his rib cage in a light caress. He stopped her and urged her hands up to his neck. Caidi was a little curious about why he would do that, but everything felt too good to question it very long.

  His lips left hers after a last nip of her full lower lip and traveled down her neck to the valley between her breasts. He placed a slow lick in the very center before he kissed his way to her right breast. His tongue lapped at her nipple and his teeth nibbled at the hardened peak, alternately stimulating and soothing the sensitive flesh, sending fire straight through her to the pulsing core of her desire.

  His hand eased her thighs apart and began stroking the warm flesh hidden there. His fingers stroked over her clit with knowing expertise. Caidi looked up into his eyes as he watched her reaction. She had never seen such intensity, such heat in anyone’s eyes. Within a few strokes, she was arching her hips into his hand as carnal hunger flared higher with each caress, each nibble.

  His fingers brushed down her sex to the small, slick opening of her vagina. He slipped one of his large fingers into the heated sheath, smiling when he found her tight. The inner muscles of her slick cunt clenched around his finger as he slowly withdrew his finger from her moist passage only to slide it back into the warmth once again.

  “I am your first.” Raven smiled as he stroked his thumb over the hard nub of her clitoris. Caidi frowned in confusion at the possessiveness in his tone. He shouldn’t be feeling possessive with that drug coursing through him.

  His finger slid easily in and out of her with the lubrication from her desire. He then inserted a second finger, letting her adjust and come to enjoy the increased fullness, before inserting yet another. His fingers moved within her stretching her tight, untried channel for his cock.

  He took her nipple into his mouth and sucked, first gently and then with more intensity. With a slurp, his mouth left her breast, but he promised himself that before the night was over he would feast again on those lush mounds. He raised his head and thrust his fingers farther into her. Raven watched her face, saw the building desire, the heat of lust. Her neck arched back and her hips rolled sensuously in counterpoint to the rhythm of his stroking fingers and the brush of his thumb. Her juices coated his fingers, proving that she wanted him very badly.

  “Ah…” Caidi’s hands clutched his hair, pulling him up to her mouth. She needed his kiss, something. “More.”

  Caidi was startled when Raven drew back and flipped her onto her stomach. She followed his guiding hands readily as soon as she realized that he wasn’t leaving her. He drew her onto her knees, holding her as she braced herself on her hands. His hands stroked over her sides and back in a sensuous pattern. He widened her legs, kneeling between them.

  “If you want me, say my name.” His hands held her hips and he pressed his leather-covered cock against her buttocks.

  “Raven.” Caidi arched into his touch.

  Raven freed himself from the almost painful confinement of his pants. He drew her back against him, letting her feel the length of his shaft against her, as he ran his hand around her, briefly cupping her breast and flicking one hard nipple before he cupped her sex. Long, slow strokes of his fingers over her clit incited her to roll her hips and moan with longing.

  “Oh, I need…” Caidi pushed back against his hold, begging for more.

  She was burning with the sensations coursing through her. His fingers between her thighs had brought forth a tight knot of fire and an ache in her groin that was pulsing and relentless. She had never felt like this before. His other hand was stroking over her in a repetitive pattern that was both soothing and arousing.

  “You need me.” Raven positioned his shaft, feeling the hot liquid of her arousal coat the tip of his erection as it slid between her thighs.

  He kept his arm around her waist. His palm cupped her mound, stimulating her, keeping her poised on the edge of climax, but never allowing her to go over the edge and soar. His cock parted the tight flesh in a slow, smooth glide, letting her untried sheath adjust to his girth.

  Caidi felt stretched. The slight tingle of pain in the skin that surrounded his shaft dulled some of the delicious sensations pulsing through her. His hips surged forward, urging the entire length of his thick sex into her and Caidi gasped as a surge of pain killed all of the pleasure within her.

  She tried to crawl away from him in a blind attempt to escape the pain, but his arm around her waist locked her to him. She stilled, startled, as she felt him move out of her a little when she leaned away from him. His fingers stroked over that sensitive hood of flesh above the tingling, stretched flesh which surrounded his cock. He ran his other hand over her shoulders and back to soothe her as his fingers began to provoke the heat inside her once again.

  She rolled her hips at each teasing, provoking touch over her clit. Caidi pushed her buttocks back against him, taking more of his length as the fire blossomed within her once more. Her breaths came in sharp, quick pants. She couldn’t stop her body from tensing, expecting a return of the pain, as he withdrew from her to firmly reenter her with a slow, sure surge. She now felt only desire and a delicious fullness as he rocked into her. Her hips rolled as she accepted his driving shaft, riding the fingers rubbing and plucking at her clit.

  “Yes, move with me.” Raven threw his head back, his clenched teeth baring the lengthened canines.

  Caidi gasped and dragged in a ragged breath as her hips pumped down into the stroking of his talented fingers. Her body was on fire. His scent swirled around her, masculine, arousing. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on what she should be doing to seem human. She couldn’t think of anything but the feel of his hard cock, how tight and full it made her feel, the sharp passion as he drove into her and the strong jolts of sensation shooting through her with every movement of his fingers over her clit. Need ruled her mind and her body.

  “Harder,” Caidi whispered.

  Raven thrust into her, his balls slapping against her with the force of his movements. She moved with him, arching back against him, encouraging him with pleas for more as the strength of his thrusts grew and the pace quickened. Husky cries tore from her with almost every breath and her need only increased with each pounding stroke. The tight clasp of her hot, slick cunt around his cock nearly took his control. His balls were drawn tight, the seed ready to surge into her hot pussy.

  Caidi moaned, arching her back and lowering her shoulders
and head to the cool white sheet on the bed, pushing back into his surging thrusts as the tension within her exploded. Hot ecstasy cascaded over her leaving nothing untouched by the euphoria. Her body trembled and shook and she screamed her release as a wave of fiery bliss poured through her.

  Raven thrust harder, deeper. Her body seemed to be made for his, her pussy sheathing his cock so tightly it was nearly painful. He rushed toward climax, but he was determined to give her a gift for the exquisite ecstasy she brought him. As the spasms shook him and he exploded within her, he placed his hand on the small of her back. A harsh groan rumbled from his throat as wave after wave of heated bliss hit him and his seed pumped into her hot, clutching pussy.

  Caidi stiffened, shocked as sensation flowed from him, from his mind, into her. Another orgasm washed over her, causing her muscles to clench and convulse and her eyes to close as a flood of satisfaction rushed through her shuddering body. Caidi lowered her face to the sheets, moaning in ecstasy and would have collapsed onto the bed had he not still held her. She felt boneless, content. Never had she felt such pleasure, such satisfaction. She wanted more.

  Caidi felt both of his arms come around her just as she felt him pull his length out of her. He lifted her, turning her in his strong arms. Placing her head on the pillows, he pulled a sheet over her body as he rolled to his feet. Caidi basked in these new sensations, in the almost intoxicating bliss still surrounding her and wished that she had more than just this one night with this man.

  Even as she wished it, she knew that it was impossible. The drugs in his system would only last until the dawn. She would have to be gone before their effect started to fade. When she heard the rustle of clothing, she opened her eyes and turned them to the man, whom she would know only for this one night. He was not the type of man she could take back to the Taivain—the main dwelling of a Zarain holding. The thought brought reality back into her mind and saddened her.

  Caidi caught a glimpse of his chest as he took off his shirt. The markings on his chest fascinated her and she couldn’t help admiring the way they seemed to emphasize the breadth of his shoulders. His chest was massively muscled. She enjoyed the sight of those thick cords moving under his skin. Groaning as he realized he still wore his boots, he turned and sat down on the bed to pull them off.

  She stifled a gasp and then bit her lip. Damn! She struggled for a few moments to keep her swearing silent as the sight before her brought home just what she had done.

  His back was to her. Now, she knew the reason that he had kept his shirt on while they had made love. She saw the markings inked into his skin as well as two sets of stripes high on each side of his back. The first stripe started on each shoulder blade and curved around under his arms. The second set started just a little below his shoulder blades and curved around onto his rib cage.

  The only Zarain who bore such markings, the malkit, were the Shadatai Zarain. Fierce, untamed and rough, the Shadatai’s reputation had spread beyond the packs and clans of the shifters. Considered barbarians by some, they abided by a code of honor known only to them. They weren’t men who took deception lightly. Even among the Zarain, a people feared for their shape-shifting abilities, ferocity and skill as warriors, the Shadatai held a place of awe, fear and respect.

  Caidi wished that she had known that he was Shadatai before she had approached him. She wasn’t an idiot. If she had known that he was one of the Shadatai, regardless of her desire to have a baby, she would never have tried anything with this man. Drug or no drug, she would have walked right out of the building before she had done anything with him.

  It was too late to walk away now. Regardless of her intentions, she had tricked him. He would be furious when he discovered that he had been drugged tonight. He would discover that she was far more than a human when she drugged him again to prevent any interference when she left.

  It was the second drugging which would enlighten him to the fact that he was dealing with a woman who was more than human. Just that she did it would tell him that she was hiding something. The speed of her movements would also be a tip-off. Also, she wouldn’t leave without trying to explain some of it. She hadn’t intended to find someone like him, but she had. Now, she had to face the consequences.

  Other things about tonight would make him just as angry. He would discover most of them in the morning when he woke. His senses would be functioning perfectly by that time. There would be no way of preventing the most damning revelation. He would learn that she was his mate. There was only one true mate for each Zarain and he’d know her merely from her scent.

  She wanted to leave now, to flee, but that too was impossible. She couldn’t very well get up and walk out of the room. He wouldn’t let her and if she did try it, he would know something was wrong. A human, enthralled by the desire-inducing scent and sensual skills of a Zarain, would still be reveling in the rapture she had known from his lovemaking. No one walked away right after sex with a Zarain. They stayed for more and then more.

  Some disastrous quirk of fate had unraveled all of the meticulous work done to make this a safe, uncomplicated night. He wasn’t one of the men she had thought that she would find among the group who normally frequented this tavern. A Shadatai male would never make his home here among the humans. They were too intense, too predatory to live the life of a human for long.

  The Shadatai wandered along the gate paths selling their skills as warriors until the alpha, the leader, found his mate, if he wasn’t ready before that time to find and make a home for himself. If the pack his true mate came from was weak or in need of a leader, the alpha and the other males of his pack moved in and took over the pack, protecting and caring for them.

  Sometimes, the male found his home before he found his mate. In that case, the woman had no choice but to go with him. He would take her from her home, if it came to that. When a Shadatai wanted his mate, very few families tried to stop him from taking her. It wasn’t worth the cost in lives to resist the inevitable.

  Goddess, what was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t just take a Shadatai to the Taivain. The change would be too sudden, too drastic. The Goddess only knew that he probably wasn’t alone. The men with him tonight were almost certainly some of his mercenary troop. The women at the Taivain wouldn’t be expecting one man much less a group of them.

  Raven finished undressing, climbed into bed and pulled her against his warm body. Caidi fought to keep from stiffening and pulling away from him. Just the fact that he was Shadatai made her nervous. She tried to keep herself calm and try to think.

  It would be some time before she found an opportunity to get the small, thin box that was concealed in her dress. He wasn’t anywhere near content. His cock already pressed against her again, hard, demanding. With a sigh, Caidi decided that she might as well enjoy the one or two more chances she had to mate with him and use the time to find out just how much trouble she had gotten herself into this time.

  “What were you doing here?” Raven looked down at her, trailing his fingers across the slope of her breast.

  Caidi shrugged and kept her eyes on the markings on his chest, trying to ignore the zing of arousal and immediate hardening of her nipples in response to that light touch. “I told you that I was looking for someone, but I had just decided that he wasn’t here when you came up to me and stalked me into a corner.” She looked up at him as if realizing now how strange that was. “Do you live here?”

  “No,” Raven laughed. He would never live in one of these crowded cities. “This city isn’t my type of place. At least, it isn’t my type of place for long.”

  “What is your type of place? Where are you happy?” Caidi stalled, trying to keep her wits about her, but it was a losing battle. Just the touch of his hand could drive her crazy.

  “I like open spaces, not crowded cities.” Raven leaned down, running his tongue over the skin of her shoulder.

  “Why are you here, if you don’t like this place?” This little jaunt had gone wrong from the fi
rst. She just wondered why. Everything had been carefully planned.

  “I came here because I had received news that a friend of mine was killed in this city. I needed to know if it was true and if justice had been served to the man or men who had killed him.” Raven nibbled on the column of her neck enjoying the taste of her skin.

  “Was the news true?” Caidi could barely form a coherent thought. Tingling darts of wanton need shot through her with every scrape of his teeth, every nibble.

  Her eyes skimmed over his body. He had ink tattoos on his shoulders as well as his upper chest and arms. The markings on his chest and shoulders were symbols of some kind. The dark ink tattoos circled his massive forearm in a band. She ran her hand over his chest. His skin was hot, smooth. She inhaled. She loved his scent, the one beneath the arousal. Musky, male, it reminded her of the forest, of freedom.

  “Yes.” Raven moved up to give her a lingering kiss, nibbling at her lips hungrily. “Before I saw you tonight, I couldn’t wait for the morning to arrive. All I wanted to do was leave this pit.”

  “Your friend lived here?” Caidi’s hand brushed across the bronzed skin of his chest to his corded stomach.

  “Yes.” Raven drew in a harsh breath as her hand wandered close to his cock. Sadness left his eyes as desire warmed them.

  He took her wandering hand and urged her to take his hardening length in her hand and grip him. He urged her hand up and down its length from base to the tip until she took over the movement on her own.

  While her hand was busy, his hands skimmed over her shoulders, throwing away the covering sheet with obvious impatience. She was beautiful. His eyes slid over her swollen lips down to her full, round breasts and farther to the golden triangle between her thighs. One of his hands slipped into the thatch of hair at her thighs, finding the sensitive hood of her clitoris and rubbing his fingers over that flesh in arousing circular movements.

  Her pussy was wet with her need. She rolled her hips as his stroking fingers fired her need. The other hand lifted, caressed and stroked her breasts lazily. He plucked at the hardening nipples with just the right amount of force to send zinging darts of hunger through her. He watched her red nipple poke up demandingly. Gods, he loved that quick hardening. She responded so readily to his touch.