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Caidi put down the toweling sheet and soap and then undressed, folding her clothing and leaving it beside the cloth sheet. She took the soap with her as she waded out into the water until it lapped around her waist. She turned to watch Raven undress, enjoying the play of the dappled light on the expanse of muscled, bronze skin. He folded his clothing, placing his sword on top and leaving them a little closer to the water that she had left hers.

  His eyes had already darkened with desire, his cock was proudly erect. He walked into the water and straight to her. When he got close to her, his hands went to her waist, lifted her high in the air and then he dunked her under the water, letting her go when she disappeared beneath it. Caidi’s yelp of surprise was cut off by the water rushing over her and enclosing her in its warm grip.

  Caidi surfaced an arm’s length away from her grinning chalon. She was sputtering and coughing, even as she focused on his smiling face. She glared at Raven who was laughing with unrepentant glee as he moved into deeper water, away from her.

  “That was uncalled for.” Thoughts of righteous vengeance swirled in her mind.

  “You wanted a bath. You even bargained for it,” Raven said with a laugh and then continued in a patient, instructional tone. “To take a bath requires that you get your entire body wet. I was just helping you to get wet like the good chalon that I am. I am certain that you would do the same for me.”

  Caidi wasn’t fooled by his innocent look. “You wanted to play and you think that you will win any game between us just because you are bigger than me,” Caidi declared with a pointed look as he moved toward her. “You’re wrong.”

  She spun in the water and dove beneath the surface swimming away from him, but changed directions after a few strokes. The water was far from clear. Although she was close to him, she didn’t see him until she was almost to him. She swam deeper, near the bottom of the river as she swam back toward him and around him. She went for his knees, trying to knock him off his feet and then swim away from him. She ran into his knee, but he didn’t lose his footing. He simply reached beneath the water, grasped her by the back of her neck and hauled her to the surface, pulling her in front of him. His eyes were dancing with good humor as he held her by the waist once again.

  “If I won’t win because I am bigger than you, then why will I win this game, sweet, golden reha?” Raven’s smile was gentle just before he dunked her once again. Caidi heard his laughter even as she went under the water.

  Caidi came to the surface a good distance away from him and looked determinedly at her mate. She would never get him off his feet where he was and he knew it. His footing was too sure there. She needed to get him into deeper water where she would have a chance. She knew that there was only one way of getting him there. She backed away from shore and simply floated on the surface, feeling the slight current tug at her.

  She waited for Raven to become concerned over the widening gap between them. She knew he would. The slow current of the river carried her a little farther away from him and then she saw his eyes narrow.

  “Come back to me, Caidi. You are too far away from me.” Raven’s body tensed.

  Caidi raised her head, her feet sinking beneath the surface as she looked at him as if gauging the distance between them. “I’m not that far away. I am still safe.”

  Raven moved purposefully forward, glided through the water toward her. It was clearly his intention to come get her. Caidi smiled, using her hands to push herself backward a little even as he advanced and then she dove beneath the surface. She swam underwater toward Raven, but when she got to where he should have been, he wasn’t there. He must have moved while she was still too far away to see him. She surfaced and looked around frantically, but not because she was worried about his safety. If she didn’t know where he was, then she was in danger. Where had he gone?

  Caidi felt his hands close firmly around her waist before he surfaced in front of her. The unrepentant beast was grinning even as his eyes promised sensual delight. She writhed within his grasp and his hands tightened as she slipped a bit in his grasp.

  “Now, why did I win, my Caidi?” Raven held her in front of him. “I really want to know why I won if it isn’t because I am bigger than you.”

  Caidi grimaced, trying once again to wriggle free of his hold, but had to admit that he had her too securely for any chance of easy escape. She knew that there were ways that she could get away from him, but this was only a game and not a fight for her life or honor. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt him simply to escape his hold and the dunking that she knew would probably follow.

  “You won because I am too little and because I’m not strong enough.” Caidi’s lips pouted, but she freely admitted it.

  “No, my chalie, you aren’t too small. You are just the right size for me,” Raven said as he pulled her close to him and swam back to the rock shelf. She was adorable when she didn’t get her way.

  When he reached the rock shelf, he stood. Here, the water reached only to the middle of his chest. Caidi put her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to plant a kiss on his lips. His hands gripped her waist, easily holding her aloft as his lips opened under hers and her tongue slipped eagerly into the warm cavern of his mouth, tangling with his for a moment and then retreating. Raven quickly asserted his dominance in the intimate duel that followed, his tongue thrusting into her mouth aggressively.

  Raven broke the kiss reluctantly, valiantly resisting her eager attempts to kiss him again. He took a few steps forward, taking them into shallower water. At the insistent prodding of one of Raven’s hands, Caidi turned away from him, leaning her back against his warm chest. An arm around her waist made sure that she stayed where he wanted her.

  She could feel the hard length of his arousal pressing insistently at her buttocks. When she touched his mind, she could feel his desire burning hotly through him. His hand brushed across the crest of her breast. It was a tantalizingly short, teasing caress before his hand disappeared beneath the water, flattening for a moment on her stomach before moving downward.

  His hand found the nest of springy curls at the juncture of her thighs and his fingers slipped between the plump folds of skin hidden there. His talented fingers sought and found her clitoris, stroking over it with sure knowledge. The breeze brought her his scent as his body heated. It doubled the drugging effects of his touch, his kiss. Caidi couldn’t stop herself from seeking more of his touch, arching into the hand that was coaxing forth the fire of a hunger that was never far from the surface when he was anywhere near her. Caidi bit her lip to stifle a moan as the ache low in her belly began to throb and tighten into a ball of fierce need.

  “Yes, Caidi, tell me about it,” Raven urged roughly, his lips pressing against the top of her head. “Tell me what you want.”

  At that moment, two of his large fingers slipped into the slick, heated channel of her vagina and she couldn’t have uttered a coherent word even if she had the breath for it. Caidi’s hips bucked against his hand as her head fell back against his chest and her eyes closed as she savored the riotous need coursing through her. His fingers moved in and out of her. Occasionally, they would completely leave her needy channel and stroke teasingly over the throbbing hood of her clit in a tantalizingly slow rhythm.

  “Tell me what you want from me, my chalie.” Raven’s voice rumbled a heated, low, rough growl against the shell of her ear.

  Caidi’s mind was in chaos from the myriad needs and wants that came screaming to the fore at his words. She wanted him, her breasts ached to be touched and more importantly enclosed within the heated cavern of his mouth. She wanted his cock inside her, so deeply that she would feel as if they were one being, inseparable. She wanted him to ache, to burn with passion as she did. She wanted him to want her as fiercely as she wanted him right now. But what first?

  “I want you to kiss my breasts,” Caidi whispered.

  With a smile, he turned her to face him, lifted her easily with just his hands at her hips, and gruffly ordered her to wra
p her legs around his hips. Caidi complied as his hands moved to cup the round cheeks of her buttocks and lift her higher so that he could grant her wish. His head dipped, his tongue slipping out to lap lovingly over the taut crest to his right and then the one to the left. With relish, he took the aching flesh between his lips, plucking at it, before he scraped his teeth over the reddened berry. He nibbled on the hardened, sensitive tip of her breast, taking it fully into his mouth and sucking lightly at the flesh.

  Caidi growled low in her throat. That light, teasing suction wasn’t enough. Not nearly. She wanted his mouth drawing at her breast as if it was the one thing that he needed to live. She wanted his hands plucking at her nipple, stroking over her aching clit. She wanted him inside her. She wanted everything and she wanted it now.

  Caidi’s hands slid from his shoulders and laced into his long hair. Using her grip, she pulled herself up, pressing her breast firmly against his lips, demanding more, but he merely grunted against her and kept the suction light. Delicate, tingling prickles flickered within her but frustration grew. It wasn’t enough.

  “Harder, Raven.” Caidi’s head fell back. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, lifting her body against him as she made her wishes very clear.

  Raven chuckled, but complied readily. His lips tightened around her breast as he drew more forcefully on her full breast. Caidi arched her back, pressing against his lips. With each drawing tug of his lips, she quivered and moaned. She could feel the pulling sensation of his hot mouth on her breast deep in the core of her sex. The fiery ache within her was out of control and soon she would burn up. She wanted him with her when she burned. She needed him within her now.

  “Now, Raven,” Caidi pleaded. “I need you now.”

  “What do you need, my Caidi?” Raven’s unrepentant teasing tone vibrated against the rounded swell of her breast. He gave her nipple one last lick and nibble, before he allowed her to slide down his body. Her heady scent surrounded him, a little lingering anger mixing with the desire. It incited him and he ached to drive into her, but he held on to his control.

  “I need you in me, filling me, Raven.” Caidi kissed his chin and nibbled on his lips, trying to urge him to join her.

  “What do you want in you, my sweet reha, my fingers or my cock? Tell me, sweet Caidi.” Raven’s grin surpassed wicked as his hands ran over her back and sides, stimulating but not inflaming. He knew exactly how close she was to coming.

  Caidi gulped, a little embarrassed in spite of her desire. She had never said the word that he demanded, but she wanted him too much to deny herself because of her embarrassment. “I want your…cock in me.”

  Raven lifted her slightly away from his body and slowly lowered her onto his engorged shaft. A long hiss of air escaped him as he fought for control. The heated, wet, silken sheath clasped him tightly. He caught her moan of satisfaction and anticipation as his lips closed over hers. He was so sexy, his every touch sensual, arousing. Caidi’s back arched and she tried to thrust her hips against his, wanting a quick, hard ride to bliss.

  Raven held her hips in his strong hands, preventing her movement. He lowered his mouth to hers and slowly lifted her until just the dark round head remained inside her. He then lowered her just as slowly until she was flush against him and had taken his length inside her. He didn’t know how long he could hold on to his control. It felt so good, so hot.

  Caidi was shaking, suspended on the edge of a high peak, near completion, aching for it but unable to fling herself from the heights. She could feel everything in her highly sensitized body and it only added fuel to the fire that burned within her. The brush of his chest against hers, every bit of his long, thick cock as he came into her and then his withdrawal to just the tip of the rounded head of that impressive shaft, sent dazzling bursts of sensation through her. It was all almost too much, yet not enough as she remained poised on the edge of climax. She wanted to scream her frustration.

  “Fuck me.” Caidi’s nails sank into his shoulders.

  Raven thrust his head back, fighting to keep control, until he had satisfied her, gently. He was so focused on her that she heard his thoughts, felt his determination not to hurt her with his passion. Raising his head, he focused on her breasts, just the sight of them made him want to drive into her. Bad move. He loved her breasts, so full and round, the large nipples perfect in his mouth and the shape seemingly designed for his hand, so sensitive that he could sometimes bring her to orgasm simply by suckling.

  Prickles of pleasure-pain ran the length of his cock as her hot channel rippled around it. He couldn’t take much more of this torture. The feel of her hot, slick cunt surrounding him was sheer bliss. The way those inner muscles clenched around his cock, gripping him, drawing him deep into her sent a fiery, addictive ecstasy racing through him.

  Caidi felt her breasts being firmly caressed, her nipples were gently being rolled between skilled, warm fingers. She had a moment to register that his hands were still gripping her hips, before a wave of molten sensation washed over her. Shudders flowed through her body as the white-hot torrent of release engulfed her, blinding her to everything except the man moving within her in long, smooth strokes and the rising bliss washing through her body.

  With the first tremors shaking her body, Raven’s control over those psychic hands broke. In spite of his fierce need, he kept his movements smooth and controlled for as long as possible. Soon, his raging desire for release took control and he thrust into her, against her, his restraint gone. He surged against her, driving deep with each thrust, release his only goal. His hands at her hips pulled her tightly to him as he came with a ragged groan muffled against the silky skin of her neck.

  Caidi felt his semen flow hotly into her and only a moment later she was caught up in the mind-robbing sensations rolling from him into her as the re’kai caught her firmly within its grip.

  * * * * *

  Caidi slowly opened her eyes and raised her head from his chest where it had fallen after she had gone limp from that last orgasm. She looked up at Raven and smiled dreamily at him, she was a well-satisfied woman. Their breath came in ragged harsh pants and sweat glistened on their upper bodies. She was glad that they were in the water. At least, it kept them upright. She didn’t know if her legs would have supported her on land.

  Raven released her, reluctantly withdrawing from her, and slowly lowered her until her feet touched the underwater rock on which he stood. He wanted nothing more than to carry her out of the water and lie down with her and hold her, but they didn’t have that time. Caidi stroked her hands over his chest. Her movements were slow, lazy and infinitely satiated.

  They finished their baths with relaxed and happy contentment. Caidi glanced over her shoulder at the river as they left and a wicked smile curved her lips. She would have to ensure that they did this again. Next time, she would have to be more careful with the soap. She had lost the cake she had brought with her.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Askara was naturally one of the last places that she had thought that she would ever willingly go, even up to a few ronas ago. Caidi had been willing to explore unknown worlds and take many risks, but an entire planet of mostly Shadatai Zarain and controlled by the same was a little too much risk. She might not have known much about the Zarain in general, but she knew about Askara. She had always known that if she ever had to go there, she would probably not leave the planet a free woman.

  When Raven had told her that they would all be going to Askara, he had really meant everyone. Caidi had always assumed that he had merely meant the Shadatai Zarain. She was surprised when she saw that even the Kaden were making the long journey to the shifter-controlled planet. At the gate on Askara, from old habit, Caidi took the time to count the warriors guarding the gatehouse. She saw ten within the gatehouse and there were at least ten more outside.

  Raven led Caidi out of the door to the gatehouse. There was a crowd in the gatehouse and he ensured that she didn’t get a chance to wander off even if
she was inclined to do so. He kept his hand at the small of her back. Caidi knew that the gesture was more to protect and possess than to guide her. Unlike gates on many worlds, the gate wasn’t within a city, but she did notice that there was a city only a short walk away from the gate. She absently brushed dust off her skirt.

  Askara was different than she had imagined it. She had always pictured it in a vast forested area, much like the forests around the Taivain on Carait. Although there were plenty of trees in the area, lush green grasses abounded across the flat, open plain.

  This particular city was small by most standards and was held by the Shadatai Zarain, although their Taivain was situated well outside the city. The buildings were constructed with space in between them. It gave the impression of open area, instead of the confined feeling of a traditional city with buildings built wall-to-wall. The Taivain was their destination, but Raven, Caidi and some of his men detoured into the city while they were close to it as the carts and the rest of the men went on to the Taivain. Raven made a point of going through the city’s marketplace.

  It was their main reason for being in the city, but he also wanted to show her how some Zarain had taken the benefits of a city, yet kept away from the stifling closeness and stench that was present in most cities. He bought her a new travel bag. Her old one had gotten badly damaged in his men’s less than delicate search for the crystals.

  All three camps were raised outside the high dark brown walls of the Shadatai Taivain. Camp was just being set up as Raven, Caidi and the men who had escorted them arrived at the large camp. After tossing her new bag amid their things, Raven led Caidi through the open gates and into the Taivain. They drew many eyes as they walked toward the main dwelling area, but Caidi put that blatant curiosity to the fact that they were part of such a large, strangely diverse group camped outside the walls.

  Caidi knew that they were expected. Raven had told her that they were going to meet a man called Achan Cavor Retinial. The Achan was an ally as well as a very good friend of his. Once they entered the dwelling, they were directed to a meeting room where the Achan and a few others were waiting for their arrival. She could tell that Raven was very familiar with this Taivain by the way that he easily led the way to the meeting room.