by Ann Mayburn
“Good?”
“I had no idea,” he panted. “How the fuck am I ever going to be able to be around you without wanting your mouth on my cock and balls?”
His words made me feel powerful and desired. “I’m glad you like it, my Alpha.”
“Oh, I more than like it, my Queen. I love it. But right now I want your kiss.”
“Are you sure? I—”
I was going to offer to finish, but when he began to kiss me in a rough, demanding way I became putty in his hands. Our bodies pressed together, and my pussy throbbed with every racing beat of my heart. My poor clit was so sensitive, that the feeling of the sweatpants rubbing against me was too much. All it took was one whimper, and Nevoj was crouched next to me, his erection bobbing at me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m so sensitive. My pussy hurts, like it aches and I feel so wet and empty.” I reached forward and grasped his dick, tracing the length with my fingertips. “I need you.”
“Are you certain?”
In response I did what felt most natural at the moment. I quickly kicked off my clothes, then gave him what I hoped was an encouraging look. Turning so I was on my hands and knees, I aimed my butt at him then spread my legs and arched my back. He was on me so quick my arms collapsed, but the soft earth cushioned me like a silk pillow. It wasn’t his dick that he buried in me, but his face, his mouth seeking out my clit. Instead of easing my tension, he teased the edges of my nub, my whole body begging for him. I swear my wetness must have been dripping off of his chin, because he was tonguing my pussy so damn good. The burning tension of an orgasm wound tighter within me as he continued to feast.
“Please, please, fuck me.”
“Not yet,” he took a hard bite of my ass. “I want you hurting for me.”
“I do hurt,” I moaned as his breath left my pussy and he moved behind me, his erection sliding between my butt cheeks.
Grasping himself, he rubbed the bulbous tip of his shaft against me. “Goddess, your pussy is perfect. So hot and silky. Begging me to fuck it. Tilt your ass, my Queen, I want to see how swollen your cunt is. How tight it’s going to grip me when I shove my way into you. I can’t be gentle, not the first time.”
“Don’t be,” I was all but crying. “Take me, anyway you want. Just please fuck me!”
Both his hands gripped my hips, the wide mushroom head of his erection already pressed against my entrance. My body shuddered as I tried to push back on him, but he was too big. Even after being stretched when my Beta had fucked me with my dildo, his big dick was going to be a tight fit.
I’d no sooner had that thought before he drove into me with a sharp snap of his hips and a growl. The head of his cock popped inside of me, and I moaned as I tried to accommodate him. Low cramps ripped through me, and the pleasure started to shift into discomfort and pain. Nevoj must have sensed this, because he reached around to pull and stroke at my now larger clit. I didn’t realize it had grown until he was able to mimic jerking me off with a few of his fingers. Normally I would have been freaking out, but all my focus was on the heated flesh tearing me in half.
Nevoj changed his grip on my clit and the angle had my toes curling.
“Yes!”
“There we go,” he licked my shoulder and pressed deeper into me. “You have no idea how good your tight pussy feels around me.”
I pressed back, my head falling onto my hands as my body twitched and wiggled around him, slowly being impaled by his length. After what seemed like forever, his balls finally rested against my pussy where his fingers still worked me. The pulses of pleasure became stronger, and he didn’t move, just left me stuffed so full of dick I couldn’t even think. My hips seemed to move on their own, grinding back against both his fingers and cock.
Covering me with his massive frame, he licked at the side of my neck. “I can feel you getting ready to orgasm, my sweet Queen. Let go, give your Alpha what he wants.”
Rubbing my clit quickly now, he whispered all kinds of dirty encouragement as I heaved and bucked beneath him, totally controlled by his heavy weight as I cried out. The tension built higher, burned hotter, until it finally broke. My scream became long and drawn out as Nevoj finally began to fuck me.
Hard.
So hard I had to brace myself against the power of his thrusts, little yelps of pleasure-pain breaking through my orgasm like sparks. At the same time I both wanted more, and begged him to stop. He ignored my babbling, holding onto my hips with such strength that I knew they would be bruised while he fucked me with abandon.
“I’m so sorry, I can’t stop. Fuck, you’re so fucking hot and wet. Yeah, squeeze me like that. Squeeze my dick with that tight cunt. Fuck!”
I quaked beneath him at the strange feeling of his dick getting even bigger inside of me, stretching me truly to my limit. Panic warred with pleasure and I tried to move away, but he collapsed atop me, keeping me pinned to the earth. Forced to take him. I have no idea why, but the idea of him making me take his seed stroked my senses just right. I cried out, my body gushing my release around his erection that threatened to tear me. A hot blast of his semen warmed my battered insides, and I nearly cried in relief as the terrible need that had consumed me from the moment I woke finally eased.
He held me there beneath him, kissing my back and shoulders reverently, whispering to me about how amazing I was, how he’d been waiting his whole life for me. When he pulled out I moaned in pain, my entire body protesting the movement. Now that I’d been sated, it was as if I’d been snapped out of some kind of sexual trance, and I became very aware that I was naked, dripping fluids, laying in dirt. At least it wasn’t normal dirt. It didn’t stick to my skin, or try to get into crevasses.
Just the thought of having to flush dirt out of my lady bits made me desperately wish there was a shower nearby.
“My Queen,” Nevoj said in a tight voice. “Do you wish for a bath?”
I opened my eyes and sat up on my elbows, staring at the magnificent form of my Alpha.
That darned sexual haze started to cloud my brain again, and I forced myself to study the rose quartz and amethyst crystals that composed the majority of this cave.
Glowing, crystals.
I ignored the last part, because if I thought about it too long I’d go crazy.
Speaking of crazy, I was pretty sure Nevoj just read my mind. “How did you know I wanted a bath?”
He beamed at me with a proud look in his sparkling eyes. “It seems the den already reflects your desires.”
“What?”
He leaned down, scooping me up into his arms. I don’t what it was with this guy, but he seemed to like to carry me everywhere we went. Not that I was complaining. Being securely held in a man’s arms, trusting him to hold your weight and keep you safe, was a heady feeling. I snuggled into him, my relaxed body lazing in his grip. Resting my head against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, I let out a shaky breath and went limp as a noodle.
Well, limp as a noodle until my butt hit warm water.
Then I shrieked, which echoed strangely in the cavern, and almost fell face first into a natural rock spring that had appeared in the middle of what had been empty space in this alcove.
It wasn’t a huge spring, big enough for a half dozen people, but it was warm, and the minerals scenting the air weren’t unpleasant.
“Where did this come from?”
Holding me close, Nevoj laughed at my curious splashing as I poked at the water surrounding us.
“Your den will provide for you if given the chance. When we mated, we released energy into the earth, a sacrifice of sorts.” He leaned back against a smooth sandstone wall, supporting me against his chest as he got comfortable. “The den responded to your need to be clean.”
The now soft brownish pink tips of my breasts peeked out of the water as I semi-floated. Little whirls of bubbles tickled my toes as I let myself drift. Nevoj had me firmly in his grasp, and I knew he’d keep me safe. Trusting him was an
intoxicating feeling. For once in my life someone was taking care of me because they cared about me. And not like friendship. No, this caring was on a whole ‘nother level. If I had more experience I might think this is what love felt like, but I had nothing to base the emotion on. The sensation in my chest, in my heart and soul, was euphoric yet comfortable. And I was living completely in the moment. I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now.
Cupping a handful of water, Nevoj began to sensually bathe me. I had no idea washing could be like foreplay. He gently urged me to tilt my head so the back of my neck and head were resting on his bicep. Using his freehand, he began to lightly work out the tangles in my hair beneath the water. The gentle, insignificant tugs had me smiling in bliss. On some level I knew part of this sense of primal satisfaction came from my spirit animal. She loved the fact that her mate was grooming her, and completely luxuriated in the feeling. I had an odd mental image of two hyenas made of golden sparks cuddling together.
After we’d been in long enough to prune, Nevoj dragged me out and insisted I eat.
While I already knew sitting on the ground wouldn’t get me filthy, I just couldn’t take having my privates pressed against dirt. Nevoj chuckled as I tugged on my sweats, then sat down bare as the day he was born, without a care in the world. My gaze snagged on his semi-hard arousal, and I felt a weak pulse in my belly, followed by a muscle clench that had me cringing. No, I wouldn’t be repeating that experience anytime soon.
“Do you want roast beef or chicken?” he said as he opened one of the coolers.
“Um, chicken.”
To my surprise, he pulled out a wrapped plate and handed it to me. “Here you go.”
As soon as I peeled the cover off the dish, my stomach snarled to life. The mouthwatering scents of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole filled the air. It was literally the best thing I’d ever smelled.
Taking a big whiff, like a coke head with a mountain of powder, I eagerly accepted the fork he handed me. “This smells amazing. I’m not even kidding, I’ve never smelled anything so good.”
Nevoj chuckled as I dug in, stuffing my face with what had to be ambrosia of the gods. The seasoning used on the meat was unlike anything I’d had before. It wasn’t overpowering, but it certainly enhanced the flavors. And everything was fresh, not stuffed full of chemicals. As a human I’d never noticed the stench of antibiotics in meat, but now I could detect their faint, chemical odor and it changed the taste of food for me. I’d started to eat only organic, and had the increased grocery bill to prove it. That shit was expensive, but I didn’t like tasting pesticides on my carrots so I sucked up the cost.
“Is this organic?” Is what I meant to say, what came out was, “Mmfhghm.”
Nevoj smiled, his dark skin taking on a pearly sheen in the strange crystalline light. “What was that?”
I held up my hand, took a sip of the bottled water he’d given me, then said, “Is this organic? Who made it? I totally need this recipe.”
“Benjamin will be thrilled that you like it.”
“He made this? Really? I’m impressed.”
“This is probably the first time you’ve had a meal made by a hyena shifter for a hyena shifter. Robert has spent his life cultivating his cooking skills. Submissive hyenas tend to be people pleasers. In many ways they are born to serve.”
My chewing slowed, then stopped. “What do you mean by born to serve?”
“As I’m sure you sensed, Benjamin is very submissive.”
I nodded, uncomfortable as I picked at my green beans. “Yeah. But I don’t like calling him that. It feels mean.”
“It’s okay, you’re not saying anything bad by referring to him as being submissive. It’s how he was born, just as I was born—well, reborn as a dominant. The Mother Goddess created both, and both are needed to balance the world. Benjamin loves to make people happy. What could be more noble than truly living your life for others? Nothing gives him more satisfaction than to know that he is making whatever family he’s serving content. To him service is an honor, and you would insult him greatly if you implied otherwise.”
“Oh. I never thought of it like that.”
“He takes pride in what he does, and with good reason. One day, he’ll run your household. And by that I mean he’ll have stewardship over all of the domestic staff. He’ll be your representative to the hundreds, maybe thousands of families living on the property. Benjamin will not only deal with making sure our house is running smoothly, he’ll also be working with our Omega solving any petty den problems that pop up.”
“So he’s kind of like the vice principal?”
“What?”
“Like the vice principal at a school. At the Junior High that my mom works at she says the Vice Principal is the one who deals with all the small, but important bullshit so the principal can do her job.”
“In a way, yes. Sometimes, adults can certainly act like children so the school analogy is a good one. People can get wound up about something, throw a tantrum, and someone has to step in to settle things in a diplomatic manner. With your permission, Benjamin will be your line of defense between you, and your den’s trivial problems.”
“That doesn’t sound like a fun job.”
“To you and me, maybe not, but to Benjamin taking care of others is his calling. Service to most submissives isn’t just about fetching someone the right glass of wine, it’s about serving the greater good of the den. They’re the peace keepers, the ones who offer a shoulder to lean on and a caring ear to listen. When I say submissives are the heart of a den, I’m not exaggerating.”
I let his words settle into me, changing my view of the world just a little bit. That’s what learning felt like to me sometimes, like the world around me physically shifted, just a smidge. Once again I’d been using human references for shifter practices, and I just didn’t understand enough about my own people to predict their response. It was a depressing thought, but I didn’t let it take hold. I wasn’t a Queen yet, and I needed to learn about my people.
“If he takes on all that, and is still a happy man at the end of the day, he sounds like a great guy.”
“He absolutely is.”
“And how did he end up serving you?”
“I was visiting his Queen to see if we were a match. We weren’t, but I hung around long enough to get Benjamin to sign a secret contract with me, binding him to our den for life.”
I swallowed hard, putting aside the nearly empty plate as my mouth soured. “I don’t want anyone bound to me. He’s a free man. If he wants to work for me, awesome, but I don’t want anyone forced into service or whatever. The very concept is barbaric.”
“Barbaric though it may be, that contract enabled him to leave behind a neglectful, cruel Queen who had no use for the submissive shifter one of her den members bore. That contract gave him enough protection that he could walk out of the home he was rarely allowed to leave, and that he’ll never have to go back. Your protection is what will allow Benjamin to be truly free. It is our guarantee that as long as he is a member of our den, as his Queen and Alpha, we will keep him safe.” Nevoj pointed his fork at me. “You need to stop thinking about this like a human, and more like a hyena.”
“Well I’m sorry,” I snapped, frustrated and feeling bitchy. “I don’t even have a clue how hyenas are supposed to think. I can only be me, and I’ll try to learn as much about your culture as I can, but there will always be things I don’t agree with. Like the fact that Benjamin was stuck serving an abusive Queen simply because he was born into her den is crap. It’s utter bullshit.”
“It is, which is why I got him out of it. He will make a good steward, if you should choose to keep him on once you’re recognized as a Queen. As of right now, he officially works for me. All the public knows is that I’ve found my Queen, and I’ve obviously transformed, but I’ve managed to keep the secret of who you are. At least so far.”
I couldn’t help but feel a pang of hu
rt. “You don’t want people to know who I am?”
His eyes widened as he caught my expression, and probably my scent by the way his wide nostrils flared. “No, I mean yes, but not for the reasons you’re probably thinking. Come here.”
He held out his hand and I stood, then came over to him, collapsing against him as he pulled me into his lap.
“That’s better,” he brushed back some of my damp hair. “I come a very old, very prosperous hyena family line. I’m what you would consider a prime catch.”
He gave me a teasing wink that helped ease the knot in my belly. “I bet.”
“Many, many Ladies tried to lure me to their sides, but none of them managed to start the change within me. And many of those Ladies were bitter about losing the promise of me, even though I wasn’t theirs to begin with. I’m older than you probably think, ninety-six, and I’ve accumulated many enemies in my time. Once they learn you’re my Queen, they’ll have a vested interest in keeping you from finding the rest of your mates simply to screw with me. I’m afraid the rumors have already started, which is why when you leave for home, it will be without me at your side.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Sadly, I’m not.” He rubbed my arm and tears filled my eyes. “There are some things I must take care of before I can openly be with you. Until then, Aidan will watch over you for me.”
“What? No, you’re coming with me. You’re my mate, my Alpha. You have to come with me. I just found you.”
“Shhhh,” he stroked my body, helping me to catch my breath. “I’ll still be with you, just not out in public. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I’ll be there watching you.”
I couldn’t help but give a laugh that hurt my throat. “Stalker, but that’s not good enough. I need you.”
“I know, and I’ll visit you when I can. Trust me, I don’t want to leave your side any more than you want to leave me, but I will always do what’s best for you. And right now, that means staying in the shadows and loving you from afar. Once Aidan awakens, and is strong enough, you’ll return to Fairfax while I make a public showing in Thailand. I have some business in the region and that should throw them off the trail, at least for a little bit.”