บท 31: Chapter 31: Negotiating With Pleasure

Jude POV

When the thick, warm fog of delight cleared, Jude lay with his head pillowed on Ravyn's breasts. He luxuriated in the overwhelming contentment and the soft flesh cushioning him.

Incredible.

He'd wondered if lovemaking could be good with anyone else but Emer. He had needs as a man, and his wolf had needs, no different than satisfying hunger when out on patrol or roaming the forest. But what he'd just experienced with Ravyn was like sitting down to a gourmet feast rather than devouring wild game on the run.

Her soft sigh of joy warmed his heart, and drew his attention to her lush lips, red and swollen from his kisses. He lazily nipped and planted kisses on her breasts to show her how much he'd enjoyed their lovemaking.

It had been beyond his wildest dreams … just like with Emer that first time.

His wolf, now firmly in command, observed that Jude's thoughts just proved what a fool he'd been to resist Arcturus' will in the first place.

"Welcome back," Ravyn teased softly.

"Mmmm. You couldn't keep me asleep for long, although I suspect we'll probably need to rest at some point–and eat."

Her eyes sparkled. "Maybe we can raid the kitchen later tonight after everyone's gone to bed–even the pups. Although a few of them can teleport into the kitchen when their parents aren't looking, and they do. Kodi is the worst offender …"

"Naturally–look who his father is. And their witch grandmother takes enormous pride in their feats, yes?"

She pulled his hair playfully. "Are you trying to tell me you aren't impressed?"

He gave her a boyish smile. "You know I am. The bond makes it hard to hide anything."

"I had no idea. Even after becoming an honorary shifter and seeing how the couples in our family behave. People say witches and wizards have soulmates, that we bond in a way when we share energies through sex, and we do … but it's like a sputtering candle compared to a forest fire."

He nodded in understanding and fanned her hair out on the pillow with his hands. "There. Now you look like you're at the center of the sun."

"I felt like it just a moment ago," she confessed. "Dane and Lilia said that witch magic just intensifies the connection. Patch and Anneliese, Dirge and Thessi, and of course our resident shifter witch and wizard all have such ups and downs with each other."

His eyes widened. "I didn't think of that–even though you warned me about it with two of the ladies you found for me."

And a disturbing thought crept into his mind that made his wolf sit up and take notice.

During their quest, if something happened to Ravyn or him, the other one would suffer.

He stared past her, seeing Emer's lifeless eyes and broken body lying in the Healing Wing, where he'd begged everyone to at least try and revive her. Hopeless, and he'd known it, and had grasped at any hope, no matter how deluded. The madness and pain had followed the gaping enormous hole inside him when the monster's blow severed the bond by force.

He couldn't bear that torture again.

"But now that I know, I wish I hadn't agreed to this."

Ravyn jerked back, her purple eyes huge with anxiety. "You didn't want to–"

"I didn't, but I couldn't stop myself."

With admirable calm, she argued, "It's too late for that!" She pressed her fingers to the bite mark that had formed beautifully, resembling a flower bud.

Jude blinked, astounded, "You thought I meant the bond? Fenrir's guts, no, you silly woman!"

He kissed her passionately, seeking to banish that ridiculous misconception from her mind, and after a moment she responded. Her mouth opened and her tongue came out to play with his. Goddess, he was becoming addicted to Ravyn's kisses–and hard and ready for her all over again.

"What did you mean?" she asked breathlessly when they both came up for air.

He paused, reluctant to do anything to kill this lovely arousal of his and the desire bombarding him through the bond.

"Jude?" she prompted.

"I wish I hadn't agreed to accompany you, your former husband, and Dane and Lilia on a journey I still have so many doubts about, enough to fill the deepest gorge in Silverpaw territory. But I gave you my word, and I intend to honor it."

* * * * *

Patch POV

Fenrir's guts, Brandy, Fairmont, and Bentley moved so fast! He couldn't remember being this fast as a pup. Where in the world were they going?

They'd been active for hours, long after everyone finished scanning Daxius. Tomorrow, they'd be scanning him more, because Tulaska and the witches refused to let Ravyn go on this half-baked quest until they were satisfied he didn't have even one speck of Dark Goddess energy in him. Patch almost hoped he did.

Daxius at least had a sense of humor, but that was about all Patch could say in his favor. He wasn't even as charming as Cyran. True, the man was Lilia's father, but Patch didn't see a big resemblance in terms of personality. Thank the Goddess Daxius was Jiro's and Garnet's problem right now. As for him, he'd rather be chasing the pups down the corridor.

"If you wanted a nap, all you had to do was ask," he told his niece, nephew, and daughter.

"No nap, Daddy," Brandy said.

Fairmont sided with her, growling. "Want Nana and Ju."

"You want Nana and Papa Chalice?" Patch pounced and snatched up Fairmontt.

Brandy and Bentley zipped past him and pressed their hands against Jude's bedroom door.

When they said "Ju," they meant Jude … and Patch could smell Ravyn's scent in Jude's bedroom from the hallway. From the strong lingering scent of mating, they'd apparently been locked away in their own private world for quite some time. Fenrir's guts, even the tiny pups knew Jude and Ravyn were together.

"Nana Ravyn and Alpha Jude are taking a nap together." He scooped up the other two wriggling pups. "You should be napping."

"NO NAP," all the pups howled.

"Do you want me to tell you a story about the orcs?"

They all loved that idea, and forgot about bothering Ravyn and Jude.

"Come on," he said in his best uncle and dad voice. "We'll have storytime, and then I really need to talk to our Alpha and Luna."

* * * * *

Jude POV

She lifted herself up, and he rolled off her, then rested by her side, looking intently at her.

Ravyn's eyes were round, glittering amethysts. "I thought we settled this."

"We made a bargain," he said with all the patience he possessed. "That doesn't mean I like the idea of this quest. Tell me that you don't have any doubts, and I won't believe you."

"What do you wish me to say, Jude? That I don't trust the man who left without so much as a goodbye? That I don't want Lilia anywhere near him? That's all true. But it doesn't change one simple fact."

"And that is?"

Ravyn was resolute. "Just what I told you before you claimed me. We'll always have a cloud over our future unless I learn the truth about Daxius' disappearance."

She made so much sense. Goddess, he wished she didn't. He gazed into her eyes, letting her see the depth of his concern. "Do you remember the plot of that dwarf opera we argued over a few weeks ago?"

"'Love's Fiery Forge'?"

"That's the one. Remember when you said that the hero was being too reckless wandering into danger at the Obelisk of Doom?"

"JUDE! There was no reason whatsoever for him to go there! It wasn't needed to save the dwarves or their treasure. That part of the story didn't make sense at all. Hagin had his true love and he'd secured his throne, and then he risked it all and his betrothed followed him, which he had to know would happen!"

"And what happened at the end?" he prompted.

Ravyn grumbled, "He died and she threw herself off the obelisk. It was ridiculous, but try telling that to the dwarves." Her eyes grew huge. "You don't think if something happened, either of us would–"

He pulled her on top of him without warning. "I've come around to your way of thinking about that opera. I was fortunate after Emer was killed …"

And he cringed, knowing how bad it sounded.

"You had much to live for," she said softly.

She understood. If anyone did, she did. She'd rallied and found the courage to continue for Lilia's sake and her shop's sake, even though she'd gone through a kind of death after Daxius left. He was NOT ready to forgive the man, and he was only one in a long line of people. He didn't give the Crestas enough credit. They were willing to tolerate the man and not kill him on the spot.

He took her face in his. "Still do. I might not die physically if something happened to you, but there's no way I could ever trust the Moon Goddess again."

He expected her to argue, but she merely nodded.

With a wry expression, he said, "Not to mention I'd have to turn invisible because your family would all hunt me down."

"And I'd come back as a spirit and make their lives miserable."

He growled, aroused by this woman's power and ferocity. "Unfortunately, unlike the plot of that opera, your desire to make this journey is believable–and I won't stand in the way of your search for the truth. I'll help you."

Her grateful, loving hug took his breath away. "Thank you."

He put his lips closer to her ear and whispered, "But you know the price for that."

Taking her cute earlobe between his teeth, he nipped lightly and heard her breath catch in response. His hands found the glorious swells of her buttocks and kneaded them. Hearing her moan of pleasure was better than that dwarf opera any day.

"How many times are you going to claim me?" she asked playfully.

His tongue delved into her ear. "Hmmm. I haven't decided yet. As many as it takes to satisfy our desires–you did agree to a penalty, after all.:

"That sounds fair."

"It is–OH."

She'd slid down his body and taken him in her mouth before he even suspected a thing.

"You'd make a h*ll of a hunter with stealth like that," he gasped, already halfway to oblivion.

With a seductive smile, she worked her wicked magic on him until his howls of fulfillment echoed in the room and he exploded in a fiery burst of heat and light.

Lying in her arms afterwards, he brushed the hair out of her eyes. "My bed doesn't feel as silky at home," he said once he caught his breath.

"This one won't either after we're done with it."

He roared with laughter. "Goddess, Ravyn, what enchantment did I just unleash?"

"Oh, a particularly powerful one, and to make matters worse, there's no counterspell."

"Thank the Goddess."