Taming a Raven

by Kathleen Lash

  After a moment, she straightened, threw the sword to the mats and came toward him. Battle ready too long, he came upright but slowed his mind and watched her advance. Her aggressive movement was swift and subtle. He almost hadn’t detected it in time. He caught her leg mid-kick before capturing the rest of her. With her legs held in one arm, his other trapped her arms and midsection tightly against his chest.

  She struggled. He tightened his hold until she gasped for air. Stronger than most beings, he wondered if he could’ve held her had she not spent the better portion of two hours in combat. “Concede!”

  Not having any of it, she almost broke free before he squeezed with more force.

  “General,” LeRoy said from the speaker, “twenty seconds.”

  Gage didn’t need a verbal accounting of how long the woman had gone without taking a breath. He’d keep track as not to kil her. “Concede!” Her inability to take air didn’t matter as she fought.

  “One minute, Sir.”

  The struggle got worse and he tightened a bit more.

  “One minute, thirty seconds! Gage, you—”

  “Damn you, concede!” he bel owed to the raven.

  “I’m sending—”

  “Hold!” Gage replied to LeRoy, seething with anger.

  He would not—could not—tolerate her behavior. To attack the commander of a vessel was mutiny. Wel within his right to kil her, he tried instead to subdue her. She’d suffer little damage if she fel unconscious from the lack of oxygen. By the stars, he’d get to the bottom of this and use any means necessary!

  She continued to fight but final y with lessened intensity.

  “Two minutes, fifteen seconds.”

  As her strength diminished, so too did his hold. If she’d give in and stop struggling he’d deal with her in one manner. If she held out until he rendered her unconscious, she’d be treated as a hostile and find herself confined to the brig. He offered one last chance. “Concede.” A brief nod gained her air and she slumped against him as he loosened his arms. He let go of her legs and her feet hit the floor before he dragged her toward the door. She jerked back slightly in protest, which he immediately remedied. Brought up by a tug on her arm, she plodded beside him.

  Her rapid footsteps kept time with his purposeful strides. When they reached his quarters and the door opened, he shoved her through. It appeared her entrance into his space would forever thusly be accomplished. Concern spurred anger. Adrenaline made hot embers combust. The woman could’ve injured herself or Lobank and he’d see to it she learned some control. Able then to appreciate why those handling a raven prior used the col ar, he’d place it around her little neck as soon as he settled a matter between them. He’d extract obedience in his own manner this time. Electronics would be used in the future to remind her to behave.

  The anger stretched, touching spots in him yet to be ignited. Not many places remained unaffected. “Face me, Raven.” She didn’t. He ordered,

  “Secure, no admittance. LeRoy?”

  After a moment, the computer summoned LeRoy and he replied through the overhead speaker, “Sir?”

  “I expect silence unless we go to battle stations. Understood?”

  “Gage—”

  “Understood?”

  “Yes, General.”

  The link fel silent. “Restraints,” he said before the bed made them available.

  Reina’s senses returned. She hadn’t been total y unaware of al that’d taken place. Stil under the influence of the training exercises, she needed distance and quiet to come back to herself. It’d happen quickest alone and in her chamber. When she walked toward the door, her mind went fuzzy and instinct took over because he’d grabbed her arm. If he’d afford her a few moments of stil ness!

  He dragged her toward the bed and threw her upon it. Its softness hampered her motion and he came over her. Wrestled down and held there, she felt something tighten first around one wrist and then the other. She’d been captured by soft leather attached to foot-long chains. After testing the restraints, she convulsed against him in aggravation and rage.

  “Lady, cease! You’ve woken one demon, tempt not the other!”

  She lay on her back with him hovering above, breathing heavily. She felt his knee between her slightly spread legs and each time she struggled, she was intimately stroked. Angry because her body started to respond, furious because she couldn’t make it cease, she forced herself to lie quietly so her flesh would settle and the arousal would leave.

  She tasted blood and felt it run from her lower lip. Held stil , she ignored it and tried building a happy place in her mind where she could be at peace.

  Hair was roughly brushed from her face before her chin was grabbed and her head was turned. “Open your mouth and let me see the damage.” She didn’t and his fingers applied slight pressure to her jaws. “Open. Your. Mouth.”

  He sat beside her before leaning over. His upper body rested just above her chest. She stil ed and tried not to breathe. His palm came down on her forehead. “So help me, if you bite me…”

  The hand slid down before fingers pinched her nose closed. She fought and struggled, which only served to get her squished. Continued movement brought her breasts firmly against him. Within nanoseconds, her nipples grew firm beneath the soft leather being rubbed between them.

  “Open.”

  Undecided whether or not to comply, she eventual y chose to open her mouth. She couldn’t stand the continued stimulation and hoped compliance would get him to ease away. He pul ed on her lower lip. “You wouldn’t be damaged if you would’ve listened.” His fingers toying just inside her mouth made her react without thought. Grabbing the finger with her teeth, she applied slight pressure. When he shifted, her breasts were flattened by his chest. Anger faded and the notion to bite him left too. Pinned beneath him with her nipples inadvertently being rubbed made her choose a different course of action.

  Her mouth closed around him instinctively as her tongue unconsciously licked. With the general in her mouth, she suddenly didn’t want to harm him in any way. It happened fast, the remembrance and arousal. Lightly sucking his finger before sliding her tongue along its length, she grew weak as she savored the penetration. The general settled more heavily upon her. As she lessened her hold, he remained within, pushing a bit before pul ing back. Her hips lurched and a hoarse sound came from the back of her throat. His breath came heavy against her face as he slowly slid his finger from her mouth.

  Every bit of energy she’d drawn up to fight turned inward to became a high-level, peaking arousal. The haste in which her body went from one fixation to another made her dizzy and confused.

  “I warned you not to bite me.”

  His words were low, devilish, threatening and they made her heart quicken. She liked the things he did to her when he spoke that way. In her current state, she hoped her smal defiance provoked him to irrational behavior. Hers wasn’t particularly sensible.

  He picked at the laces of her shirt, making sure his fingertips lingered when he’d pul one lying against her breast. When they’d al been undone, he grasped the sides of the leather and jerked it apart. He undid the fastener at her neck and brushed the remnants away to leave her exposed. Rather than shrink away from the uncovering, her back arched. She wanted him to take notice of the drops forming on her nipples, see how much she desired and needed his mouth.

  “How would you like it if I bit you?” He came close.

  With breasts thrust upward, she arched as high as she could to bring the nipple in contact with his lips. The flat of his tongue came against her before he wiggled it and took a single, rough lick. After he did the same to her other nipple, she whimpered when he sat back. Air stirring across the moisture left from his tongue made the ache worsen.

  His hands moved down to below her bel ybutton. He unfastened her belt and the buttons beneath before pul ing the closure apart. He slid them down quickly and stopped when the waist rested at her calves. Boots were slid off and then so were he
r pants.

  Anger and menace vibrated from him and her passiveness no longer seemed appropriate. Unable to settle herself, she couldn’t stop the tensing of muscles and acted on instinct. Her leg flew forward to kick him. When he grabbed it, she used the other. Accustomed to winning in battle, she didn’t like how swiftly she’d been subdued.

  Effortlessly, he flipped her onto her stomach. The chains attached to her wrists only had so much length and her wrists crossed as they reached their limit. Tugging helplessly, she grew angry and desperate before his upper body settled across the back of her legs. She didn’t care to be trapped but attempts to dislodge him gained nothing as a hand settled against her. Brought to stil ness, she couldn’t see his expression to gauge his emotion. Clearly stroking her cheeks, he said in that mischievous, threatening voice, “The sooner we deal with your lack of obedience, the sooner I’l get back to your sensitive nipples. Understood, Lady?”

  Not a bit, Sir, she wanted to say but her mind felt unclear and her tongue was stil thick. The sting of his hand came against her bottom and her torso came up on her forearms. Did he think such would impress her? His attempt to impart a lesson was pathetic. Her anger eventual y faded as she took delight in the fact that for once punishment wouldn’t be too unpleasant.

  “You expected a beating for your slowness to obey me with the cats. You’l get it now.” Really, a spanking, General! After enduring many swats, the sting and vibration penetrated, which brought about a steady awakening of thought and common sense. His hand didn’t do the damage of a whip, which could make her instantly remorseful. The near pain also didn’t give new fuel to her anger.

  What it did accomplish, however, was to somewhat humiliate. What have I done!

  “And why would I expect you to step lively to obey me?” His hand came down several more times.

  Answers came quickly as her mind finished waking. Because you command the vessel my stinging rear end is on and it’s necessary and appropriate for me to do so.

  “I don’t,” slap, “issue orders,” slap, “to hear myself speak,” he said, his voice deeply resonating, angry and—sexual?

  His hand final y rested over the heat rising from her rear end and her face went down to the pil ow. The fol y of what happened and its implications sank in. If there’d been any doubt, his lecturing tone made it impossibly real. “It’s for your safety and for the safety of those aboard this vessel, Lady. Have I made myself clear?”

  She nodded her understanding, wanting him to stop being irate. Truly, she never meant to misbehave but somehow always managed to draw menace from those she came in contact with. Why? She couldn’t arrange the incidents and make sense of how she’d wound up in her current situation.

  She seldom, if ever, calculated making herself a target for punishment. Apparently this was another inborn ability she’d have to live with. Female or male, it mattered not, for al seemed equal y compel ed to teach her appropriateness.

  He said naught and remained poised over her abused rear end, probably contemplating doing much worse. As he silently hovered, the heat radiated into the tissue beneath and made her warm. The further it went, the more she seemed to want his forgiveness.

  Offering what she could, she shifted and moved her aching backside, which caused his immobile hand to slightly stroke her flesh. By the stars, her startled mind realized, I don’t want pardoned for wrongdoing, I want fucked!

  What had the general done to her? First she experienced uncontrol able anger then remorse and then desire. Unable to sort through everything, she let the confusion and static in her brain settle until the strongest of what she felt dominated. Her thighs pressed together, which made the swol en flesh between them throb. Sure that the general remained too angry to pleasure her, she couldn’t help the near-silent sob leaving her mouth. If he left her upon the bed restrained to think about her reprimand, she’d never be able to reach her sweet spot and climax. If he required distance from her for any length of time, she’d suffer greatly.

  The bed shifted as he stood next to it. Don’t leave me like this! She gazed through strands of hair and watched as he unfastened his pants. Her body wanted him. Her mind seemed unwil ing or afraid at the moment to act on it. At odds emotional y and physical y, she couldn’t decide what to do.

  “Your scent surrounds you, Lady. Has some discipline got your juices flowing?”

  He sounded so commanding. He even sounded a trifle forgiving. Had the slaps pardoned her wrongdoing? They’d certainly done something to her.

  The cloth parted and he took his hard cock into his right hand. Holding tightly, he stroked its length as his fist surrounded its thickness. Her bel y tightened, nipples throbbed and mind cried out in indecision.

  “I should spread your legs and leave you to think about what you’ve done.” Having her worst fear vocalized, tears came to her eyes as she gazed up at him. “As it is…”

  There was compassion in him. She saw it in his eyes. “Come up on your knees and spread your legs. I wish to see what condition you’re in.” Random spasms jolted her sex, which left her legs uncooperative. He helped her up by grabbing her hips and lifting. Her legs trembled slightly under her weight.

  “Wider, Lady, don’t hide from me.”

  Moisture leaked as she acted in accordance. She groaned with embarrassment, feeling the wet trail against the inside of her thigh. The stirring of air settled her dilemma, forced mistrust of the general aside. She’d take whatever he measured out so she could climax because each encounter with the man caused sexual needs to grow and burn.

  He came toward the head of the bed stil holding his large cock. She stared and moved closer before his hand gathered a fist of her hair. “You won’t bite me this time, wil you?” She shook her head. “Open. Take the head and if your lip hurts, pul off me. Understood?” She tried to say she did but an odd sound came out. She nodded. His foot came up on the bed and he widened his stance. His splendid cock fel within reach. She took what he offered. Knowing what to do with his shaft this time, she didn’t hesitate and took him deep. Extremely excited, she intuitively gorged herself as she placed concentration on her own swol en sex. Perhaps this time his thrusting would bring her to orgasm.

  “Oh,” he said before growling and huffing out low sounds, “you learn quickly and know what I want, don’t you? You took it right to the hilt with your tongue going over me, Reina.”

  Since pul ing her from the training room, he hadn’t referred to her by name. Hearing it then al owed the last morsel of apprehension to drain. She knew for certain he no longer remained angry. She hastened her movements to meet his need. She wanted to hear her name again, praising her efforts.

  “I need it fast this time so I can col ect my wits. Appease me and I swear I’l fuck you gently.” He made no sense and it mattered little. The stimulation in her mouth and the movement causing her breasts to sway al brought her closer. That and the promise of a breaching made her most aggressive.

  “Open your legs and keep them apart. I’l see to you after you suck me off. Harder, mmm, harder.”

  “Open your legs and keep them apart. I’l see to you after you suck me off. Harder, mmm, harder.” When he came it was in great pulsing bursts, his hand rough in her hair as he held her and pressed deep. The taste came to her and she shifted and moaned. She’d gotten close to the edge without having been touched between her legs. Yes, oh yes, let me come. Straining with him, her warm place contracted and the sensation went high into her sex.

  His cock left her mouth and she whimpered. The loss of his flesh stopped the tightening between her legs. She looked down in remorse. She hadn’t come and worse yet, she hadn’t made it known she’d been close. She had much to regret.

  “Reina, go to your back and stretch the muscles in your arms and legs.”

  She did but it took great effort. She lay flat on her stomach and wormed around until she managed to rol to her back. His gaze perused her from head to toe while he unfastened his tunic. “Now move your legs apart and r
elax. Tel me—your ass against the covers, is it painful?” Not particularly. Attempting the words, clearing her throat to make her vocal cords work, she tried again, and final y said hoarsely, “No, Sir.” Until she ful y came back from her fighting state, her voice would remain unavailable. Partial y able to speak, she was also partial y calmed. Her mind knew the difference between simulated combat and a fight for her life. Other parts of her body did not.

  “Your voice, your throat—have I hurt you?”

  She shook her head.

  “You’re sure?”

  She nodded.

  Her pupils dilated as she looked at him. He bared his chest and worked to remove his pants. A more prime specimen of a male could only be imagined in wet, heated dreams. Layered in muscle, he had jagged lines of slightly discolored skin covering him. The scars were old because they were faint. The damage to him barely registered before she took in more details.

  Light hair ran over his chest and tapered down in a thick trail. It covered his thighs and from there she didn’t care. When he turned to finish removing his pants, she saw his ass cheeks, plump and tempting, laced with definition. Again, the skin covering him carried scars. The markings were of a soldier, a warrior, her general.

  Her mind didn’t differentiate between the placement of restraints for punishment and those placed for a mating. It seemed she’d get both that eve and her body made further preparation. Her stomach tightened with each random compression of her core. Almost rhythmical y, she clenched and released, which brought more blood to her already-swol en pussy.

  Her eyes closed as the bed moved. Her legs were drawn up and gently separated to bare her moist spot. About to accept a man for the first time, she prayed she’d do what was necessary to satisfy him. If the experience proved to be half as incredible as she expected, she’d want it to happen again. Her only hope of a repeat mating would be wil ing submission with the first. The general told her he required it. She’d obey.