Taming a Raven

by Kathleen Lash

  “You’re wet clear down, Reina. Is your need so great?”

  “Yes.”

  Settled between her legs, he came forward and braced himself on outstretched arms. His warm body radiated heat as he hovered so close. She took in his scent and remembered to remain stil . Keep your wits about you, Reina.

  “Bring your legs against me. I aim to make this take a while.”

  She groaned and al owed her knees to rest against his sides. Her thighs shook in response to his body coming closer, pressing more firmly against her. Menace and anger appeared gone from him. She’d do everything within her power to make sure it stayed away. When he leaned down to brush his lips against her mouth, she opened wil ingly before he could make the request. More than accepting him in the dominant role, she wanted it with every breath she took.

  Gage’s cock never softened, in fact it grew more rigid now that it stroked her pussy. Simply kissing had her hips pumping wetness against his cock.

  The urge to drive into her became tremendous but he forced himself to hold back.

  His thoughts became clouded. Push into her. Take her virginity roughly to finish the lesson. The only thing you’ve taught her is to cream herself from a half-assed attempt at discipline!

  Able to keep the strong urges at bay, he settled himself, knowing it’d take a while before he’d act on them again. After reddening her ass, having her become so aroused and then sucking him to completion… She’d stolen his anger and temporarily appeased his lust. It was her turn.

  He tasted his seed on her tongue and his hips stirred. The head of his cock rubbed up and down her slit, finding the entrance. Poised at the opening to al that heat, he concentrated elsewhere. His lips left hers to trail kisses to a breast. His tongue lapped at the nipple, taking in the arousal-scented sweetness. He licked and tongued until her nipple grew stiff and thick. Rewarding her for responding to his ministrations, he careful y sucked, bringing the nipple to a hardened peak. Lovely, hot, so desirable.

  He drew her in, using his teeth to gently hold her captive while his tongue tickled and stroked. As he stretched out over her again, he’d barely managed to place his cock for penetration when she suddenly tensed. Her thighs hugged him tighter and she trembled.

  “Easy, Reina. Don’t we have an agreement about such things?” Amber eyes hesitantly rose to meet his. She peered at him guiltily. “You’re to tel me before you come. Remember?”

  She nodded. “I’m ready to come,” she said hoarsely.

  “And when might you’ve mentioned it?”

  “Too late I think. Sorry.” It pained him to hear her struggle to speak.

  “Are you upset with me because I disciplined you?”

  She shook her head but he believed it to be otherwise. She’d yet to say his name or refer to him in any manner at al . In the span of a day they’d be on Infur and her lack of wil ingness to obey a command would see them dead right quick. They needed to trust one another. He’d take the first step. He said,

  “Release restraints.”

  Her breaching would happen once and he wanted it done fittingly, not as it might’ve happened with her tied down so a male of his race could rut between her thighs and plant his seed. She went stil beneath him and didn’t move. Her arms had been tense and hands fisted prior, as if she tested the restraints. Once taken away, she went limp. He stroked the length of his cock between the wet folds of her pussy. She drew a breath and tightened her legs and stomach but remained otherwise pliant and motionless.

  “Are you afraid of taking me in, Reina?” She shook her head. “Tel me why you’re so stil .”

  “I,” she said, before clearing her throat, “wish to please you, Sir.”

  The restraints might as wel be in place with her addressing him thusly. Nonetheless, with her thoughts made known, he gently explained his intent.

  “Your lesson’s past—it’s over. That which we do now is between a man and woman. Although I wish to guide you, your participation would help me in assessing what you feel.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You’ve no desire to touch me?”

  “Oh yes, but may I, Sir?”

  Ignorance of the ways between male and female had little to do with her hesitance. It did have everything to do with her recent punishment and the regret he felt earlier for the spanking then doubled. Perhaps after measuring it out, he should’ve left her to contemplate the foolishness of her actions. He couldn’t, not with the scent of desire coming up from between the cheeks of her ass.

  “Your hands upon me bring great pleasure, Reina.”

  She stroked his face and brushed his forehead and cheeks before her fingertips smoothed hair behind his ears. Comforted by her touch, knowing her mind got beyond the punishment, he took stock of everything she availed. Her face, hands and nipples were sweet indeed. They were a sight tempting him to take what he most wanted. He pul ed back to stroke her between her lips again, spreading her apart with the girth of his cock.

  “Not yet,” he said, urging her to calm her hips. “When you come, I need to be very close, much closer than I am. Hold back your pleasure.”

  “I don’t think I can.”

  “This one time, you must.”

  “I’l try.”

  He slid his length from between her lips and positioned the head of his cock at her opening.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she whispered urgently, trying to rise up to take him in.

  He kept himself at bay and waited until she averted the crisis before gathering himself for the task at hand. Perspiration misted his body as he struggled to control his cock. It wanted in so badly he felt pre-cum leak.

  “Hold back as long as you can,” he said, his jaw set, determined to wait until the pain could be masked with orgasm. “Suffer a bit, sweet one, and when you can’t put it off, come hard.”

  He stroked her crease with the head of his cock, up and down slowly. Each time he neared her entrance, her hips came off the bed. Holding the base of his cock, he concentrated on stimulating her clit. Hoarse sounds of anticipation rose from her throat. Her eyes closed and jaw set as her legs grasped his sides. His bal s drew up in response, and before he could rein himself in, pre-cum trickled against her clit.

  “Please,” she rasped.

  “I know,” he said, rubbing her clit faster. If she’d just settle down, he’d take care of their problem.

  When she cried out, he fol owed the slick crease down, poised himself at her wet opening and slipped his mouth over hers. He kissed her hard as he thrust into her passage, stretching her open for the first time. He’d never felt anything so tight and welcoming.

  “That’s it, sweet one, come on my cock.” He encouraged her by pushing a bit harder, showing her how good it felt to be stretched and entered. “Hold nothing back from me.”

  Grabbed by surges of tightening muscle, she threatened to milk him. Her nails bit into his flesh as he slowly eased from her heat. Feel the virgin’s blood seeping deep, surrounding your cock. She felt pleasure with the opening of her body, now take yours. Fuck her so that those after you will mean nothing.

  He’d not ruin her first experience by quenching his desire to fuck her hard and fast. But God, he fought the urge to do exactly that.

  “Gage, oh, Gage, it’s so good,” she whispered.

  His name from her lips soothed him and at the same time stole the last shred of control, forcing hot seed into her close-fitting sheath. Euphoria surrounded him as his cock pumped up great bursts of cum.

  His hands slid under her back to grasp her shoulders. He held her down so she’d take it al . “You’re so beautiful. So perfect.” A moment of indecision came. He struggled with the right course of action. Certain Reina could handle more, his body geared up for another round of fucking. His conscience needled him and reminded him the woman would receive pleasure but undoubtedly require medical if he let himself take al he wanted.

  When naught remained in either one of them to give, he calmed and ga
thered himself for the task at hand. After a lingering kiss was placed on her lips, she sighed into his mouth. No virgin’s tears or regrets came forth. A slight smile pursed her lips as she stil ed beneath him. She hadn’t been hurt, she’d been sated.

  When he left her, he felt humbled at how weak and slow his limbs responded. It’d been years since he’d been required to exercise that level of restraint with a woman. It’d also been years since he felt so absolutely replete after sex.

  In the relief area he assembled what he’d need. The custom as old as civilization, he gathered warm water into the basin and added a splash of scented sanitizer. After throwing in the softest cloth available he went to her.

  Although she’d almost fal en asleep, he brought her hips up and placed a thick towel beneath. He wrung out the cloth and cleaned her gently. The amount of blood mingling with his seed disturbed him. He tried not to think overly much about it.

  She stirred. “Gage, please don’t, I’l —”

  “You’ve given your body to me, sweet one. I’l keep it for a while longer and see to this need as wel .” After cleaning her thighs and wiping the remnants of sex away, he rinsed the cloth. Making sure it stayed warm and clean, he placed it against her pussy. No freezing cloth would carelessly be thrust against her after how she’d opened herself and come for him.

  He placed a hand low on her abdomen and rubbed deeply until she relaxed and released the remainder of the fluids. After completing his chore, he kissed her forehead as she drifted off. He gathered supplies, took them to the other room and replaced the materials. In the cabinet, he found the standard-issue tube of lubricant. She might appreciate its medicinal qualities if he took care in its application.

  Seated next to her on the bed, he squeezed the ointment over his middle and index fingers before drawing the leg closest to him up and resting it against his side. After his cock, two fingers shouldn’t be too uncomfortable an intrusion. As gently as he could, he inserted the cool balm into her poor, battered little pussy.

  “Easy, Reina, this wil make the burning cease. Let me care for you.”

  “It feels good.”

  The cream eased his penetration and he stroked inside to spread it. He took a long time, going slowly to cover every little inch, enjoying the random manner in which her pussy tightened to grasp his fingers. At peace and sleeping soundly, she appeared most lovely. Wanting nothing more than to lie at her side, he grudgingly stood to care for his own state of disarray. He al owed thoughts to drift about his mind as he washed her blood from his body.

  Eden had come to him a woman, having buried a husband before him. In many respects Reina and Eden were opposites. Pale-skinned with hair the color of fire, Eden was a solemn and tranquil beauty who’d taken every aspect of life quite seriously. Spoiled, pampered and righteously so, she died as they’d lived—quietly.

  Reina would burst if mischief and curiosity could cause it. The traits weren’t overly desirable qualities in a woman. They’d be acceptable though if a man wanted a companion rather than a wife.

  She could be whomever she wanted, he remembered, for ravens remained with their clan throughout life, devoting themselves to their womenfolk.

  Thoughts progressed until he tiredly mumbled, “When she breeds, at least she won’t be torn to pieces by one of my kind in a hurry to get between soft thighs and into a warm body that’s been prepared.”

  Until the words spil ed, he’d not consciously thought about it, how much that very image plagued him. Despite her antics and speaking in riddles, thus far she’d been honest and accepted responsibility for her actions.

  There probably wasn’t a female alive who hadn’t felt the sting of a man’s hand when the deed necessitated it. The use of such discipline was commonly practiced in civilized worlds. It kept women of nonmilitary training in a safe place under her father’s or husband’s protection. Of course it hadn’t done Eden any good, her inability to cope with their time in captivity the proof.

  He considered Reina again. Obviously she received some form of training, but not military as he knew it. Was the punishment he measured out understood by her? Could she fathom that the slaps to her ass were for her betterment and not entirely to assuage his anger?

  He quit questioning the spanking and resolutely decided she’d determined their future course. Under his protection and command, it became his right to use any form of correction necessary to keep her safe. And for God’s sake, he hadn’t damaged her, not real y!

  Chapter Nine

  “Reina?” Gage cal ed, thrashing in his sleep.

  “Gage,” she murmured, turning toward him and placing an arm across his chest. A similar embrace settled him twice during the night.

  “Your voice, it’s returned.”

  She stretched slightly, took the cramp from her side and spoke against the hair covering his chest. “It’s only ever temporary.” He settled back and brought her somewhat over him. “So it’s common?”

  “Yes, when I fight.” Her eyes closed and she felt as if she might drift off again. The general wouldn’t let her.

  “Why is that?”

  “It simply happens.”

  “Explain,” he said, obviously more awake than she.

  “When a raven’s engaged with an enemy, her vocal cords swel so if the need arises, the cry for help wil carry.”

  “But you could barely speak.”

  “Words, yes, the raven’s cal would be more audible,” she explained, growing slightly irritated relaying information she believed he should already know.

  “I thought the cal came from your mind.”

  “Partial y, but it’s also created from our throats. It’s rather hard to describe.” He stroked long black hair from between them and his fingers took it down her back before lazily rubbing her skin. “I must go soon and I would’ve left you to your dreams, however I need to have an understanding between us because the mission draws near.”

  “Al right.” She feared she knew the subject and didn’t wish to face unpleasantness with his warmth so close.

  “Don’t tense up, sweet one. We’l speak about it and have it done.” Nothing to say, she waited for him to proceed. “Do you know why you were disciplined?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She’d known what the topic would be.

  “And you can now understand why I was concerned.”

  “No, Sir.”

  He grew tense. “You can’t fathom why I might disapprove of you turning on me?”

  “It won’t happen again.”

  “Because your ass wil remind you of the lesson?”

  Confused with the direction of the conversation, she corrected him. “No, Sir, because the situation probably won’t arise again. Your man LeRoy explained what’s expected of me. I doubt I’l be placed in a similar situation.”

  “When did you speak with LeRoy?” Oh my, but his temper could rise quickly!

  “At breakfast yestermorn when you went to Pinski.”

  “How did you know I saw her, Reina?”

  Another unpleasant topic. “I came in as you spoke to her. You appeared deep in conversation and I didn’t wish to intrude.”

  “Al right, now what of LeRoy? What did he tel you?”

  “That I’m to track for you. My safety is al but guaranteed and I’l remain from harm and actual battle. Hence, I won’t find myself using fighting skil s.”

  “But you spent a great deal of time kil ing Rodney yestereve.”

  “I did.”

  “Why?”

  She hated admitting it but gave the answer anyhow. “When you told me there was but a single day to ready myself—as you know this is my first experience… You told me to stay close to my chamber, Sir, not necessarily in it.”

  “Get it out, Reina, there’s only so many hours this morn.”

  “My stomach, Sir. The creatures dwel ing there woke and wouldn’t remain stil and my head pained me because of fear that I wouldn’t be of service to you in finding the baby—the
major.”

  “You were worried?”

  “Greatly.”

  “And that has what to do with Rodney?”

  “The activity. Something to do other than sit about my chamber.”

  “You were working off the worry.”

  “Aptly put, Sir. Yes, that’s what I’d hoped.”

  “But obviously Rodney didn’t help in that regard.”

  “Oh, indeed he did. I was calming myself for my return to the chamber when you required me.”

  “I had no need of you.”

  “Certainly you did! It was of such import that you became quite assertive in your gaining my attention.” She braced herself on an elbow to add a bit of distance.

  “I went to the training room because you’d kil ed the android in simulation and your eyes appeared as they did when you took flight. I went to you for fear something happened.”

  “Then why was I punished, Sir?”

  “Because you attacked me!”

  “With provocation, Sir.”

  “What provocation, Lady, my entering the room?”

  “Your angry voice. The signs of your body preparing to fight me.”

  “And how I entered the room was significant in your later behavior?”

  She distanced herself, brought the covers up and glared. If he thought to manipulate her into insubordination and another punishment, he could go to hel .

  “You’l finish spitting it out, right now.” He sat up himself before grabbing her shoulders and shaking her a bit.

  Oh, she would and quickly too so the idiot could understand. “You saw my eyes. You saw me with your Rodney, knew I was in battle readiness and yet you came into that area with aggression and malice flowing from you. If you had no need of me, you would’ve behaved as Lobank.”

  “Explain Lobank’s behavior.”

  Huffing, she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “He remained calm and nonthreatening so I wouldn’t target him. Even your Rodney’s settings needed to be altered so that he would consistently be the aggressor. I had to explain to Lobank a raven won’t defend herself if there’s no peril. Now, Sir, please tel me why you knowingly provoked me, forcing me to attack, which wrought my uncomfortable seat at the moment!”