Raven swallowed and climbed onto the bed. Then, when he shifted back into human form, with every inch of his muscular, enticing body on display, she quickly reached out and laid a hand on his chest, resisting the urge to run her fingers through the sprinkling of black hair that led downward. She kept her eyes on his face as the vicious, swirling tornado of magic whipped about inside of him.
She almost snatched her hand back as magic swirled around it and crept up her arm, like fine, ice-cold tendrils of air. Summoning her own power, she drew on her long-lost empathy at the same time and attempted to soothe him.
A moment later, soft, silky fur rippled under her hand. She continued to push her soothing magic at him and soon the whirlwind began to slow, until a magnificent black wolf watched her. Raven swallowed and ran her fingers over his silky, soft pelt, noting the streaks of bright red that looked like blood and smirked, wondering what he must’ve thought of the red in her own hair.
She slowly raised her eyes and met the wolf’s gaze. Her heart caught in her throat as intense, red glowing eyes held her spellbound. She could feel this desperate desire to be free, to run again. Then the magic began to swirl ferociously around them once again.
Raven felt the wolf fight to stay—he didn’t want to be in human form. Then the moment was lost and her heart cried out as the magic began to drive him back. Pain-filled turquoise eyes barely recognized her as Soroyan shifted back into his human form for a fleeting second, before the wolf took over once again.
The fight going on inside of him tore her apart. “Shhh,” she crooned, petting the wolf as she drew on more of her own power. “We will find a way to free you, have patience,” she said, but didn’t know if the wolf understood her words. Yet he retreated and then, Soroyan’s whole body tensed up.
Raven bit her bottom lip when he finally lay still in human form once again, all traces of his power gone, like it had never been.
“Are you all right?” she asked, but he didn’t respond, he just continued to lay staring up at the ceiling.
Not sure what else to do, she scanned the rest of him and sucked in a breath. She’d only wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurt anywhere else from what he’d just gone through. Though a part of her just wanted to look at him. “Well, your bandage is still in place,” she muttered, jerking her eyes back to his face.
At her words he took a deep breath.
Her pulse leaped in her throat as she suddenly realized her hand was still on his chest and she’d been absently drawing in the fine, curly black hair.
Raven began to pull away, only to have him clap his hand over hers, holding it in place.
“Thank you,” he said and his voice did funny things to her insides.
She fought to regulate her breathing. “Tierney told me what happened when they tried to capture you. I’m sorry,” she said, not thinking of how strongly her body was reacting to him.
“I shouldn’t have summoned him, but I thought he was gone,” he said, talking about his wolf. His voice was quiet as if he were thinking out loud.
“No, he’s very much still here and fighting to be free,” she said.
“Yes. I know he’s sleeping, or hibernating, but I can’t feel him. It is … very unsettling.” He glanced away and she knew he wasn’t sure why he was telling her all this.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Anticipation
Raven yanked her hand away when a shock of electricity crackled between them. Instant hunger surged through her and she swallowed under his intense, burning gaze.
Flames began to whip through her entire body, sending heat to her core with an intense ache of need. Why did she have to react this way around him? Resorting to sarcasm, Raven smirked. “Wasn’t sure if I was going to get you back, or be stuck with a giant black wolf with red eyes,” she said.
When he didn’t answer, her throat went suddenly dry. She didn’t dare look away. Turquoise eyes filled with stark need, stared steadily back at her, assessing, studying, wanting, and collar or not, she knew this was an extremely powerful male.
“You should have left me,” he finally said and she blinked in surprise that he’d spoken. Still, she could see and feel the soul weary defeat in him and scowled as it resonated with her on a level she didn’t even want to think about. It also made her want to take it away so badly she almost hurt for him.
“I could have hurt you,” he muttered when she didn’t say anything, and turned his gaze back up to stare at the ceiling. Raven knew it was a dismissal, he was giving her a chance to leave.
“You wouldn’t have hurt me,” she said quietly, knowing deep in her heart that it was true and unable to move away from him.
Soroyan scowled and then turned to look at her again. “You took a big chance.”
“Sometimes you have to take a chance.”
Soroyan narrowed his gaze on her, studying again. “You don’t even know me, why did you help me?” he asked and even though she felt his attraction to her and had been feeling it for days, it was clear he was also puzzled by her.
Having spent most of her life alone, she had sensed a connection to him almost from the beginning and now, it melted her heart that he would ask such a thing. “Does it matter if I know you or not?” she asked. He didn’t answer. “We seem to have this …” she said and waved her hand between them, “a connection or something, and I felt your struggle.” She shrugged her shoulders again. “I couldn’t just leave you like that.”
The large, intense male watched her and more heat bloomed inside, causing a fire to curl and twist its way throughout her body.
He broke the stare and her breath caught in her throat when his searing gaze began to travel all over her. Like a warm breath, his eyes slowly traveled from the tips of her toes up her bare legs to pause at her black lace undies. She swallowed as his eyes lingered, then slowly moved upward, to the too-small shirt she was wearing that hugged her breasts like a second skin.
Had she anticipated this moment when she put the shirt on? Unsure, and uncaring, her body came alive and in that instant, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anyone.
Mouth suddenly dry as her body responded to him, she licked her lips.
“You should go,” he warned and his deep, husky voice drew a shiver through her. The need to feel his hands on her and him deep inside of her tightened things low inside, making her wet.
Raven was tempted to look down to see what kind of reaction he had to her, but held his gaze instead. His bluish-green eyes grew dark and flared with awareness as he drew in a deep breath, taking in her scent.
She quivered in anticipation, knowing that as a wolf, he’d be able to smell her desire.
What are you doing? This is a bad idea! No matter what her brain said, her body, her soul, wanted this and she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. His eyes reminded her of a volcanic lake she’d once come across on another world. It was deceiving and appeared icy-cool, calm, and as ancient as time itself. Yet it had been the exact opposite, burning in intensity.
Very aware that her window to leave was quickly slipping away, Raven drew in a deep breath. “What if I don’t want to?”
The pulse beat strong and fast in Soroyan’s neck and Raven had the urge to bend over and lick it. Drawn to him like she’d never been with anyone, finally her reservations drifted away like a whiff of smoke, as if they’d never been.
“You like to play with fire,” he said, his naked hunger burned bright in his eyes, making butterfly wings tickle her insides. Even though it was insane, she couldn’t resist. He was just so breathtaking, so sexy, she just had to taste him once again.
“Your wolf is beautiful,” she breathed in a challenge, breathless at the desire throbbing like a living entity between them both.
Soroyan stilled, every inch the predator, and watched her as she leaned close and lowered her lips to his.
At contact, flames sparked between them and suddenly steel bands slipped around her to hold her firmly but gently against his chest. The wild, ma
sculine taste of him was overpowering as his mouth opened to her. She moaned at the heady flavor, knowing she was lost.
Then he jerked away and with a growl that was non-threatening, flipped her onto her back. A gasp slipped from her lips in surprise.
She started to rise up, but he pressed her back down and Raven was mildly shocked at her own lack of resistance. She’d always been dominant, even with Lukkah he’d let her take the lead. Suddenly the thought of letting go, letting someone else take control, turned her on more than she thought possible.
She settled back with a smug grin as Soroyan rose over her on all fours. His eyes glowed, a fierce challenge that made her whole body quiver with anticipation. Oh yeah, baby. She could get used to this.
Her skin began to tingle and though she was poking the beast again, she couldn’t make herself stop. Still, she knew without a doubt that he wouldn’t hurt her.
Her beast was curious at who could draw such a reaction from her. She gave him a little grin. Then she eased her grip on his waist and slowly, seductively, spread her arms out on the bed then letting her legs go loose, she did the same with them as much as she could, opening herself in invitation—accepting his challenge and adding her own to the mix.
“Raven,” he groaned and a heady feeling of power washed over her. “Don’t play with me. I am close to losing control,” he said and the desperation in his eyes only fanned the flames of passion inside of her.
She held onto his scorching gaze and ran her fingers down his sides in a light caress just above his hips, careful of his wound. She smiled when he shuddered. As badly as she could feel his need, Soroyan continued to hold himself with a stillness that she knew had taken years to command.
Slowly, she began to move her fingers up over his tight abs, then across his chest, playing with the fine dusting of chest hair. She let her own desire fill her eyes as she worked her way up and over his shoulders to tangle in the silky black hair at the back of his neck. “Maybe I don’t want you in control,” she whispered, slowly licking her lips. Her heart stuttered when his eyes widened and heat coiled between her legs.
With a growl of raw hunger he lowered himself over her. She shivered at the feel of him against her, even though she knew he hadn’t given her all his weight. His erection, a thick, warm, and long delight pressed into her, and the thought of it inside of her made her even wilder for the reality.
Soroyan rested most of his weight on his elbows as his lips descended over hers, claiming her with a fury that might have scared anyone else, but only excited her to a fevered pitch.
Raven clutched at him with one hand in his hair, while the other roamed over his back, digging into the thick ropes of muscle. She moaned and pressed harder against his thickness as he devoured her with an insatiable hunger. A hunger that quickly became hers and sent her mind spinning. She knew her power was leaking out, surrounding them as his tongue delved deep, tasting, seeking, licking then nibbling at her lips like a starved man, in and out, over and over again.
She could feel his heart thundering in time with her own and arched against him again, feeling the steel rod of his desire pressing against her. She wanted more, she hungered for him to be buried deep inside of her. Her breasts tingled and ached as they strained to feel her skin against his.
A cry slipped out of her when he pulled back. Breathing ragged, he stared at her. Emotions whirled in him and Raven could feel his inner struggle. Common sense was telling him to back off, leave her alone, guard himself, don’t lose control. Yet there was also amazement, shock at his response to her, quickly followed by brutal hunger.
Raven sucked in a breath and had no idea how he could resist. His inner struggle reminded her she should resist, though she could no longer remember why. Even her own beast was hungry for more, for him.
Soroyan’s hair spilled around his face as he took deep, steadying breaths and held himself painfully rigid as he fought to control his body. Her heart thrummed and flames licked at every inch of her, he was a sight to behold, like a dark god of old.
She swallowed at the erection straining between his legs, so strong, so thick and full. A lot of women would be afraid. He didn’t scare her. Instead, she ached to have him fill her up. As she devoured him with her eyes, Raven decided she wanted him out of control, consumed by his desire for her. Unafraid to let him know, she stared right back at him. “I burn to have you inside of me,” she said, her body like an out-of-control red-hot wildfire.
Soroyan licked her essence off his lips. “You do not know what you are saying.”
Raven felt a moment of anger that he would tell her she didn’t know her own mind. “I think I do.” She let a little of her power out, letting him feel what she wanted.
With a shudder, he closed his eyes for a moment and his body tensed up, but when he opened them, a flicker of his beast flashed briefly. “Last chance to run,” he warned, voice gravelly.
Raven shivered at the intensity, but her body was aflame for him and it was beyond too late. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Soroyan clenched his jaw for a moment and then sighed. “Tonight with Sin didn’t …” he started, then stopped.
Raven grinned. “Yeah, you didn’t get off.”
Soroyan gazed hungrily at her. “It has been long since I have been with someone I desired and I am big …” he said and she knew he wasn’t bragging, just stating fact.
“I can see that,” she said, a teasing, hungry light in her own eyes.
“You don’t understand. I have not the control to go slow.” Suddenly Raven understood that he feared that he’d hurt her. “I’m tough, I can handle it,” she said and reaching down, she peeled her shirt up, over her head, and off.
She grinned as his breath caught, his gaze devouring her breasts. Soroyan licked his lips once again and Raven found herself suddenly fascinated by his tongue. “I want to taste you,” she said. She wanted to suck on his tongue and make him cry out in ecstasy.
All her breath left her when Soroyan flipped her over onto her stomach. A gasp of surprise in giddy anticipation burst from her lips as he slipped her black lace panties down her legs and off.
There was a moment of utter silence when all she heard was her own rapid pulse beat out of control. Momentarily frozen above her, she caught his sharp inhale of breath and then felt his hot breath on her ass as he leaned close and drew in a deep breath. She felt the shudder that rocked him, leaving her with a heady feeling of power once again. His need swarmed through her and Raven shuddered in response herself.
Then his large, commanding hands pulled her up so she was on her hands and knees and pressed against his impossibly hard, yet smooth steel rod. She writhed, aching for him as his chest covered her back. One arm was propped against the bed holding them up, while the other curved around her waist, holding her tightly against him. His hand cupped first one breast, pinching the nipple and making her moan, before moving on to the other. At her breathless response, he shuddered against her and she knew he was still fighting for control.
Raven surprised him when she reached back between her legs and cupped his balls, thrilled at the bulk of him in her hands, so big, so hard and ready. With a wild cry, Soroyan pressed harder against her. Then his mouth was on her shoulder and he gently bit down, not breaking skin, but holding her. Warning her to be still.
She cried out at how good it felt and dropped her head, using her hands to grip the bed and hold on. Soroyan arched his hips back and away just a tiny bit. Just enough to direct his straining cock inside of her.
Raven sucked in a breath as he pressed against her opening and couldn’t help but push back against him, impatient to feel him deep inside. He growled and gently shook her with his teeth, still warning her to hold still. She could feel him tremble, on the edge of control while anticipation had her quivering. His breathing was ragged as he slowly stretched her, filling her moist sheath with all the hungry, hard, yet velvet length of him. She wasn’t sure if he kept his teeth clamped on her shoulder becaus
e he was still trying to control her, or because he was struggling to control himself.
Quick little breaths escaped her as she tried to be still, while her body quaked and vibrated with a deep, hungry need. It demanded more and she wanted to slam back into him, make him fill her up. The wait was excruciating but it fanned the flames of passion within her to higher, deeper heights as insatiable hunger roared. It built in crescendo, growing stronger and more demanding.
Still, he inched slowly forward, stretching her to accommodate him. The pain an exquisite pleasure as he sought that far off place, pressing, pushing deeper and deeper until he finally filled her completely.
Unable to resist, she glanced back to find the red of his beast glowing in his eyes mere inches from hers. The blaze burned hotter than a volcano, making her swallow deeply and lick her lips.
“Fuck me!” the growl spilled from deep inside of her, her beast demanding as well, and with a wild cry, Soroyan released her shoulder. He began to lick and suck her skin, searing where he touched as he trailed kisses up the column of her neck. The steel rod inside of her slid out, making her cry out with need. She needn’t have worried, for the next instant, he dove furiously right back in. A volcanic shudder rocked her as he began to drive relentlessly in and then back out.
His hand squeezed each breast before cupping them both together. Then with a ragged groan, he increased his speed, moving with a ferocity that set her ablaze, making her whimper in ecstasy. Soroyan drove in and back out, each time harder and faster, filling her with his thickness.
Raven felt like she was coming apart as passion took over and her body was no longer her own, but instead floating on a sea of pleasure. Soroyan released her breasts and gripped the bed so he could thrust even harder into her. She could feel the sweat trickling down from him onto her and longed to lick at him, but she wasn’t in the position to do so. Instead, she moved her hands over his and hung on as her big bad wolf finally lost all control.
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