บท 109: Chapter 109: Private Surrender (1)

Ravyn POV

"Do you trust me, Ravyn?"

She grinned. "Is that a trick question?"

Jude leaned in and whispered, "For our bonding night, I want to live out one of your fantasies. I'm We can't reach that river right away, but Kyon told me about one of his favorite spots. Are you game?"

The passion fired her blood because of the renewed bond. "Yes!"

Jude whisked her away from the ceremony, shifting, encouraging her to jump on his back. Breathless, she did. When she looked over at Lilia, her daughter winked at her. Signalling her approval. Kyon took up his lute again and called out, "Let the dance continue!"

Well-wishers and cheers accompanied Jude's and Ravyn's exit.

She'd been the one to whisper the suggestion in his ear when they kissed after the ceremony. From the way his warm arms closed more tightly around her, he loved the idea.

The celebration continued behind them. The shifters could have been in disarray, fearful and uncertain following the vile attempt earlier to disrupt such a beautiful celebration of community and friendship. Jude's idea had been a master stroke, capturing everyone's attention.

Thank the Goddess she hadn't been stubborn about bonding with Jude publicly. A word from her daughter had helped. Of course, knowing about the old bonding ceremonies would have been helpful! She could have researched them, but there was so much about Lycan culture and society she still didn't know even after three years of living as a member of the pack and having shifter grandchildren.

The wind whistled in her ears while Jude raced like an orc machine along the greenbelt to the northwest. The cleansing air soothed her soul as it caressed her, and the beauty of the night filled her senses. Her hands gripped fistfuls of Jude's soft fur so she could stay on his back.

After an hour or so of riding, they arrived at a wide, silvery river, with lush green riverbanks on either side and a thick forest on the opposite bank. Fireflies and fire pixies put on a light show, while an onyx stag and fawn dipped their noses in the river and took a cool drink.

Ravyn dismounted and kicked off her shoes, feeling the soft grass beneath her feet. A ripple of energy in the air signaled Jude returning to human form. Naked and glorious in the night, he strolled towards her, his hands outstretched. "Completely alone," he said in a husky voice.

Smiling, Ravyn pulled her dress robe over her head, then spread it out on the grass for them to lie on. Chuckling, Jude marched over and folded it with precision.

"Don't want anything to happen to this pretty outfit," he said huskily. "Especially since we'll probably get a bit… ah … wild and enthusiastic."

Tenderly, she smiled. "I'm supposed to submit to you, after all. Submission gets a bad name, you know. Tulaska and the others had it right. It takes a lot of trust and strength to submit to someone … to put yourself in their hands. When you kissed me weeks ago in the grip of your fever dream … I think I wanted you, deep down. I wanted to be your mate."

Pulling her into his arms, he murmured, "Did you, now?"

Her eyes darkened with anger, and her knees trembled. "If those people Patch threw into a jail cell had their way–"

He ran his hands over her body. "DON'T. They don't matter."

A possessive growl, to be obeyed.

"Jude … what if others feel that way? Lilia faced opposition three years ago …"

"Yes, but we've caught up with the times. All those endless sessions in the Shifter Parliament have been focused on that goal, at least as for Dane, Jiro, and I are concerned–and put Alpha Caden Wolfbane in that camp now, too. He wants that ex-bandit bodyguard working for the Blackthorns."

"I know. I know things are changing."

Jude grimly commented, "The shifters have always been suspicious of outsiders–we're territorial, and we've been hunted in the past. But our Shifter Federation is open for business, and will remain so."

"The Dark Goddess is messing with the shifters, using our own pack instincts against us," Ravyn mused. "Creating unrest in the world, and stirring us up so we bite and claw each other–no to mention everyone else."

Jude wrapped his arms around her, stroking her velvety skin, fondling her behind in a way that never failed to make her mind go hazy. "We're not going to allow that. We've worked too hard."

Moaning, she let her head fall back. "I'm not going anywhere."

His teeth sank into her neck, wringing a scream from her lips. "That's right. The only place you'll be going from here is home to Faolan Castle. I can't wait to see you in action as pack Luna."

"I … oooh … imagine there'll be much for us to do when we're home for good."

He gave her a seductive smile. "Yes, but tonight, we celebrate. Tonight, my precious mate, once again you're going to do everything I ask of you without question, and I'm going to give you pleasure that you'll remember until your dying day."

Breathless, she nodded.

* * * * *

Jude POV

He lay her down on the riverbank, admiring the way the green grass created a perfect backdrop for all that golden beauty. "Later tonight, we'll cool off in the river … once I've got you nice and heated and all sweaty for me."

He knelt between her thighs and lowered his mouth to her pleasure center, his fingers He knelt between her thighs and lowered his mouth to her pleasure center, his fingers parting her dewy folds. "But first … I'm going to make you come. Not for a long time. You'll have to beg. It'll be all the sweeter when I allow you release, I promise. Understood?"

He never wanted to take control so completely like this. Ravyn evoked feelings of possession and need and desire in him, ignited on that fateful night weeks ago.

"Yes, Jude," she whispered.

His name on her lips hooked him like a drug. "Say my name again, while I'm pleasuring you."

His mouth fastened on her bud, and his tongue flicked out to taste her. Goddess! It was like drinking liquid moonlight. He loved her taste. Couldn't get enough of it.

"JUDE!"

Her scream startled the birds and the deer. He barely heard the trampling of grass and flapping of wings. All he wanted to hear was Ravyn crying his name.

His mouth pleasured her with a vengeance, his hands gripping her hips to draw her even closer and part her thighs wider. They quivered around him, and Ravyn's gasps of delight sounded like the sweetest music.

"Jude … please … please."

He lifted his head, his lips deliciously wet. "Please what, my precious witch mate?"

"Please … let me come," she whispered.

"Hmmmm. I did promise you'd beg repeatedly, didn't I?" He grinned, stroking her and smiling when a particular spot made her light up like the moon. "But maybe I could grant you release early just this once … you've been such a good girl. Beg me one more time. Scream my name so they can hear it in New Moon City."

"JUDE, PLEASE, PLEASE! Let me come!"

Grinning, he obliged. "You asked for it, sweet one."

He feasted on her sweet flesh until she convulsed around him and her screams soared to the heavens.