Primal Quest Read online

  “The Taivain on Carait has been isolated for far too long. You are safe now and there is a sizable force to defend the Taivain. You will discover that being connected to others has advantages, namely the many allies who will come to help if we need it,” Raven opined. His hands moved over her still-flat stomach to her full breasts. He cupped both of her breasts in his large palms, before sliding his hands up, his fingers moving over her sensitive nipples slowly.

  “Do you truly think that they will be able to find her?” Caidi struggled to concentrate, arching her back and pressing her aching breasts more fully into his palms. “Are you certain that there is really someone out there who wants to hurt me?”

  “There is really someone out there.” There wasn’t a doubt in his mind. “I think that they will be able to find the one who is connected to the rogues who were sent to Carait and that person will lead to her.” One of his hands left her breast, sliding down her stomach to the golden hair guarding her sex.

  A small nudge with the palm of his hand was all of the guidance she needed. She widened her stance and his hand cupped her pubis. She thrust her hips against his hand in a demand for more as the hand at her breast went around her waist and tightened, lifting her off her feet as he carried her over to the bedroll. Caidi gasped at the stark jolt of fiery sensation that tore through her from the pressure of his hand against her clit as he lifted her. Each step he took sent another bolt arcing through her. He gently lowered them into a sitting position on the bedroll with her facing away from him, between his powerful thighs.

  “Lean back against me,” he ordered.

  Caidi did as he said without hesitation. In deliberate invitation, she widened the space between her legs and felt two of the fingers cupping her slip between the folds of flesh and stroke over her clit in a sure, firm caress. She closed her eyes as a white-hot bolt of pleasure shot through her.

  “So good…” Caidi bit her lip and whimpered as the sensations built within her.

  Her hips tilted, rocking against his hand as his fingers continued to stroke over that sensitive hood. Her legs shifted restlessly and she moaned as her back arched in a feminine invitation to the male. She craved more than the delightful touch of his fingers against her. She wanted him over her, the hard press of his body against hers as they came together.

  The hand at her breast continued the slow, sensual torment, heightening the arousal coursing through her body. His fingers plucked at her nipples, lightly twisting them and then soothing the sensual sting with soft caresses. He lifted her breast in his hand, pressing the hardened nipple into his palm and then lowering the lush weight to slide his calloused fingers across her sensitive skin flicking at the tight buds every time he neared them. Gods, he knew how to torment her.

  “You’re wet for me.” Raven’s hand moved lower. Two of his large fingers found the creamy evidence of her desire for him when they slid into the tight channel of her pussy. “You want me. I can smell your desire just as surely as I can feel it. It isn’t something that you could ever hide from me.”

  Caidi’s body undulated in response to the hot, flaring sensations running through her body. Raven’s fingers were inside her and his hand was at her breast and she wanted…more. His fingers withdrew only to thrust back into her and each time he would press the heel of his hand against her mound, stimulating her clit, doubling the hunger coursing through her.

  Caidi moaned, her entire body was burning with the ache for release. Her hips rocked forward just as his hand thrust into her and the fever within her grew. Raven’s fingers plucked at her nipples and sent needle-sharp sensation rocketing deep within her.

  It was almost too much. Her muscles were tight, quivering, and her mind was hazy with the primal demand for satisfaction. She needed more, wanted more than the feel of his hands at her breasts and the feel of those large, long fingers moving within her.

  “Raven!” Caidi’s groan was full of unfulfilled desire, a demand for release as his hand withdrew from the tight channel of her pussy.

  “Undress me, Caidi,” Raven ordered in a growl made husky with his own need for her—a need which had grown as he had watched her body come alive under his hands and smelled her sweet passion.

  It took Caidi a moment to realize exactly what he wanted. Her mind was foggy with need. She half turned to look up at him through eyes glazed with passion. Her decision wasn’t hard. If that was the only way to get him to cooperate and make love to her then she was more than happy to help him undress.

  Caidi started with his boots, lifting his foot and tugging the leather boot off only to toss it over her shoulder, careless of where it landed. She crawled up his body, bypassing his breeches for the moment. She knelt between his thighs as she worked on the buttons of his shirt. As she worked, he reached out and cupped her breasts in his palms and rubbed his thumb across the hardened crest, destroying her concentration and causing her to fumble as she tried to remove the black cloth of his shirt. The last button flew away as she tugged at the cloth and slid it off his muscled shoulders.

  Caidi drew in a shaky breath, trying to regain some of her shattered control. Moving her hands to the buckle of his belt, she noticed then that his sword was gone. He must have taken it off before he had taken her in his arms. The leather seemed stiff and unwieldy, didn’t want to move. Her hands brushed repeatedly across the cloth- covered hardened ridge of his cock as she pulled at the belt.

  So focused on her task, on getting his clothing off him, she was unaware that her touch sent daggers of fire through his cock. Raven drew in a harsh breath, praying for control. With a final tug, Caidi finally pulled the belt free and tossed it over her shoulder. She immediately began to work on the buttons at the fly of his pants.

  Raven groaned at the light brush of her fingers across him as she undid the buttons securing the tightly stretched cloth. She was practically holding him in her hands and the image and feel was maddening. He could feel each movement of her hands, each stroke of her fingers as if there wasn’t any leather between them.

  Then with the liberation of a last button, he was in the heaven of her soft, warm hands. Her warm hands caught his cock, wrapped eagerly around it and stroked over him from base to tip, once and then again. She stopped to pull at his breeches, he lifted his hips and as she pulled she lowered her head to place a kiss on the tip as she freed his legs from the fabric. His hips thrust as the moist heat of her breath flared over the darkened tip.

  She moved back up his body and once again took his length in her hand. Caidi paid loving attention to his engorged shaft, circling the tip with her fingertips delicately, before curling around his width and pumping up and down until he was forced to grab her hand. He pulled her up over his body, holding her close as he rolled until her back was pressed to the pallet and he loomed over her. Her legs came up, cradling his hips eagerly, even as he thrust into her hot, tight depths unable to contemplate being separated from her for one more moment.

  A low, appreciative feminine growl rumbled in the back of Caidi’s throat as she ran her hands up his sides and around to his back. Her hips punched up to meet his thrust. Hunger rolled through her. “More, harder.” The brush of his chest across the hardened nubs of her nipples sent tingles of pleasure-pain spiraling through her. It felt so good.

  Her nails raked his back as the head of his shaft found that spot deep within her that sent bolts of pure rapture cascading within her body. The deep penetration immediately catapulted her into a gasping, trembling orgasm that drove all thought from her mind, except for the fiery sensation burning within her. She arched beneath him, holding on to him tightly.

  “You’re so delicious, so sexy.” Raven’s tongue lapped over her collarbone and slid up her neck.

  Raven moved within her hot, slick channel, lost to all thought but the way her tight pussy clasped him so firmly and the soft cries that escaped her as she found her pleasure. The need for release was an ache that burned within him, demanding release. He thrust against her, grinding
his hips into hers, enjoying her moans.

  Caidi’s hips lifted against his with each surge as desire began to burn hot and high once again. Her hips rolled sensuously against his, nearly shredding the last of his control. Her hands moved to grasp his buttocks, pulling him hard against her as she raised her head to nip at his neck as he moved over her.

  That savage little bite sent him spiraling over the edge. His hips pounded into hers. Caidi felt his seed rush into her in hot jets as his harsh groan rumbled against her neck. At that moment, waves of hot desire hit her throwing her into a sudden, intense orgasm that ripped through her body even as the waves of psychic pleasure continued to roll over her.

  Caidi’s breath came in harsh pants as she lay under Raven. Her body was coated with a fine film of sweat as was his. She savored their combined smells, his reassuring weight as he lay over her and the satisfaction that she could feel when she touched his mind. She ran her hands over his slick back in slow, caressing strokes, very sated, very tired. She would be content to stay like this, connected to him in body and mind, all night.

  She felt a little regret when Raven withdrew and moved his large, warm body to the side. He pulled her back against him, sitting up only to grab a cover and arrange it over them. Caidi snuggled back against him, surrounded by the massive heat his body generated and cocooned in the blanket and his arms. She went to sleep only moments later.

  * * * * *

  The next day, Caidi spent most of the day with Edena. In the afternoon, a blonde woman was sent to escort her to the meeting room. Caidi knew only that Raven had sent for her. She had no idea why she had been called there.

  Raven had left her with Edena that morning with only a stern word for her to stay with Edena and not to leave the Taivain. She knew that he had spent most of the day talking trade with the other Zarain who had come here especially for that purpose. He had said nothing about planning a meeting for later where her presence would be required.

  When they arrived at the council room, the woman who had escorted her opened the door and Caidi slowly entered the room, acutely conscious that every eye in the room had swung to her. The table was surrounded with people. There were more people here than there were chairs. There was one free chair next to Raven and Caidi walked forward looking around at the people who stood behind those sitting at the table. She recognized Zaden and the Kaden Charal Aran Ak’el Nevin, and each had several of his men behind them. The sage was there as was Achan Cavor.

  Caidi walked forward when Raven gestured for her to come. She took the seat beside him and looked at him curiously. He didn’t explain verbally. He merely smiled and pushed the Worlds book in front of her. She looked up at him, surprised.

  “I have decided how we will repay Zaden and Aran for their help in rescuing you,” Raven declared. “I have known for some time that Zaden was looking for a home. It also came to my attention that Aran and his pack are looking for a place to make a home. It is only just that we use the knowledge that you have to repay them for their help in our time of need.”

  Caidi smiled. “I will need to know a few things about what kind of home they want before I can suggest any worlds for them to visit,” she stated.

  “What do you need to know?” Zaden’s voice was calm, but he couldn’t hide the bright sparkle of anticipation in his eyes.

  “I need to know if you want to be the only people on a planet or if you care if there might be another small population there. It would also be helpful to know if you want to be close to a world on a well-known main gate path or if you would prefer to be away from the main path. Also, there is the weather on the planet. There are some planets with very dramatic weather shifts, from hot summer conditions to full winter blizzards in a matter of days with no hint of a spring or fall and others where the climate is seasonal, the changes are gradual from spring to summer to fall to winter.” On her fingers, Caidi ticked off some of the specifics which had been noted in the book.

  Caidi looked at the two men as they gave thought to what she wanted to know. She waited patiently for one of the men to answer her. It was Zaden who came to a decision first.

  “I would like the area where I settle to be forested but with enough grassland and open area to grow things and allow easy building of the Taivain. I want a planet with an abundance of wildlife and plenty of fresh water.” Zaden sat back in the chair, relaxed as he waited.

  Caidi laughed. “There are many worlds that fit those two requirements. Anything more to help limit it?”

  “The planet has to be fairly uninhabited, but I don’t care if there is a small population of other people on the world. I have no concerns about how far away or how near it is from the known gate paths. I want a place that has normal seasons that we can predict each year.” Zaden placed his hands on the table.

  Caidi nodded as she listened to his requirements and then opened the book. There were actually quite a few planets that fit his requirements. The dramatic worlds which were made up of desert or ice were quite rare along this end of the gate paths. Caidi decided that she would suggest three worlds. If those didn’t suit, she would suggest more.

  “The worlds of Travern, Cordares, and Eirhan all fit the requirements you told me.” Caidi gave a nod as she found them in the book. “If you want, you can go look at all three of the planets and decide if you want to choose any of them or try other worlds.”

  “You and your people have been to them. Which one would you choose if you were looking for a home?” Zaden asked.

  “That’s easy. I would choose Cordares. I looked at it as a possible refuge when the attacks by the rogues became really bad.” Caidi remembered that planet well.

  “Where would you put your Taivain?” Zaden leaned forward.

  “There is a spot near the mountains about fourteen or fifteen days’ walk to the east of Cordares’ main gate that I looked at very seriously. There is a river there loaded with fish and a large lake nearby teems with them as well as wild birds. There is a forest near and all manner of game live in it and on the plain. There is enough flat land for a large Taivain and any crops that you might want to plant.” Caidi’s eyes and voice were vivid, alive with her memories.

  “And what about other people on this planet?”

  “The only other people on the planet are a few small nomadic bands whose travels take them near the second gate. You won’t ever see them unless you go there. There is only one drawback to choosing Cordares as your home planet, though. You don’t want to use the shortest route on the gate path to get there very often.” Warning laced Caidi’s voice.

  “Why wouldn’t you use the shortest route to get there? Are there hostile groups along that path?” It was Raven who asked that question.

  “No.” Caidi gave him a narrow-eyed look. The man should know her well enough to know that she would never risk the lives of any of her pack-mates to known danger, much less members of someone else’s pack. “The problem with using the main gate path is an obstacle of a world called Deral. The main gate there, the one you would have to use, has a dormancy period that starts about a rona before the end of Deral’s fall and it doesn’t end until spring over six ronas later. I have yet to be able to find a map of Deral’s gates. If any of your people get trapped by that dormancy, you will be stuck there for the winter. It would be wisest to just detour around Deral. It is possible, but it adds about two or three days to your journey.”

  “I will look at this Cordares. It sounds like a good place and I don’t think going around this Deral will be a problem.” A satisfied smile curved his lips.

  Caidi looked at Charal Aran of the Kaden. He was sitting back in his chair, his eyes on a point on the opposite wall as he contemplated exactly what he wanted from the planet that would be their new home.

  “I want almost exactly like what Achan Felinian asked for, but I would prefer that the world be farther off of the known paths,” the Charal informed her.

  Caidi nodded. He wanted isolation. She flipped to the middle of the b
ook and then to the back as she searched for worlds that would fit his requirements. There were many that could fill his request, but these worlds that were farther off were vastly unexplored by her people. She tried to give him the best and most explored of those. She found two that could be accessed from the second gate on Resil and one that the journey would begin from the third gate on Reshir, very isolated indeed.

  “You said that you wanted a world which was off of the known paths and I have tried to find one for you. Two of the worlds, Samein and Bacamal, you would start at the second gate on Resil. To find the other, Apiran, you start at the third gate on Reshir. They are all suitable. The areas we visited were forested with rivers and lakes, but we haven’t explored these far reaches much.”

  “I understand that you haven’t explored it thoroughly. I will want instructions on how to get to the more distant planet,” the Charal stated. “Apiran sounds like a good home.”

  “I will write them down for you,” Caidi agreed.

  Soon, the meeting ended with both men leaving with directions to a world where they hoped to make a permanent home. She could tell by the looks on their faces that they were both excited and satisfied. She stood in Raven’s loose embrace. It was part of being a Zarain, that desire to find a home and mate of one’s own. Caidi knew that Raven intended that they should leave for their own home in a few days. The search for the woman who wanted to hurt her would continue with the aid of Raven’s allies.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  They returned home to Carait and the Taivain. The journey was uneventful, which was a relief to Caidi who was still struggling to prove to Raven that she didn’t attract trouble. The pack was fine. Raven’s Terchal had taken care of everything competently in his absence.

  Caidi was relieved to be home. This was a busy time of the year for the Taivain. It was harvest time and there was always so much to be done with both the food crops and those crops used to make the cloth. With so many things being done at the same time, every hand available would be needed to help finish the process before winter hit.