When Helm went down for the night, she withdrew to the cocoon sanctuary of a long, hot bath and even dozed off for a bit. When she woke, the water was still warm but no longer hot the way she liked it. She wrapped a bath sheet around herself and went to her closet to get a nightgown. She felt more than heard Ram come up behind her. When she reached for the gown his fingers closed around hers and interlaced.
There was no question that the male standing behind her was her mate. The aroma of musk and wild fern was strong in the enclosed space and nobody smelled like him. It was as intoxicating as ever. He stepped closer behind her, rested his hands lightly on her waist, and pressed his mouth to the nape of her neck.
The fatigue she had felt melted away and was replaced by a sudden desire to turn and encourage the silent seducer. She knew his feel and knew his smell so she was hardly surprised to find her mate when she turned to weave her arms around his neck, but she was surprised by the event.
Ram was a great lover. He should be. He'd certainly had enough practice, but sex with Ram was typically playful. He had a ritual pattern that included a series of leers and innuendos, usually during dinner, followed by signals of touch that throughout the evening gradually advanced to suggestions about outrageously acrobatic positions, or costumes, even laundry baskets.
This. This was something different.
There had been no verbal foreplay. No provocative ramp up. He just stole into her closet after her bath and silently put his arms around her while she was still warm, damp, and completely relaxed. When she had turned around to face him, one look at his face told her that he was not feeling playful.
He pulled back just far enough to grab the hem of his Nine Inch Nails tee shirt and pull it over his head. Normally he would take the time to smirk and enjoy watching her visually feast on his beautiful body. But that night, without taking his eyes away from her face, without the slightest hint of humor, he quickly divested himself of boots and jeans and boxers. The look of purpose and sexual intensity on his face caused her to feel suddenly shy, as uncertain as the day she'd waited for him in the New Forest cottage with her heart beating fast with the hope the beautiful elf would return to his childhood retreat and claim her.
When there was nothing left between them but the oversized bath towel, she realized that she was clutching it to her chest with a death grip. He didn't try to take it from her. He just began slowly backing toward their bed, pulling her with him as he went. It was a journey of a few feet that felt like miles to Elora.
Since the near totality of what she knew about sex had been learned from Ram, she didn't know how to respond or behave.
Rammel urged her onto the bed and lay down beside her, ducking his head to place a gentle kiss on her shoulder before his fingertips feathered down the side of her face and along her jaw. He was staring at her mouth like he'd never kissed her before. When he ran his thumb over her bottom lip with the lightest of touches, she drew in a small gasp that made his eyes jerk up to hers. He cocked his head slightly while he studied her face and her reaction. Likewise, she was desperately trying to read what she saw in his eyes, and failing.
He gently urged her to relinquish her hold on the towel she still clutched to her breast. Even when prying her fingers open, one at a time, she saw nothing of the usual lift of his beautiful mouth. No sexy smile of challenge. No cocky grin. No groan of approval.
When she gave up the towel and lay bare to his gaze, she felt like he was seeing her naked for the first time. The way his eyes ran up and down her body made her want to curl up and hide from his view, but she forced herself to remain passive. Feeling stripped of the role she'd grown comfortable playing, she drew in a ragged breath that, again, made Ram's eyes come back to her face like he was looking for something there.
He began a torturously slow path of kisses and touches, progressing down her body, avoiding her nipples because she was still nursing. His tongue slowly swirled in her navel and her clit jerked, probably more from the erotic sight than the sensation. She was squeezing her thighs together to ease her arousal, but he nudged her legs apart as he slid further down her body. It felt like he'd been teasing her for hours.
She alternated panting and moaning as he nuzzled and nibbled at the fiery red pubic curls. She had taken hold of handfuls of his silky hair and had just opened her mouth to beg when his tongue slid slowly up her slit and flicked across her swollen nub.
Breath was frozen in her lungs when the first wave of climax extinguished all thought. Rammel's demeanor and behavior were confusing. His careful and intense lovemaking had made her feel awkward and off balance, but it was also working her up to the point where it didn't take much encouragement to bring her to orgasm. She was ready.
Gently, but deliberately, Ram settled himself into the cradle of her thighs. Using his muscular arms to hold himself just above her breasts, he kissed her long and deep. She responded with a renewed series of moans that punctuated the slight arch of her body, pressing him closer in ancient feminine invitation. Of their own accord her legs drew up to encircle his waist and lock him in their embrace. At the same time she reached down with her hand to encircle the engorged evidence that he wanted to be inside her as much as she wanted him. When he felt her touch, he closed his eyes for a second and sucked in a shaky breath.
She guided him to the spot where she wanted him. He entered slowly like the sweetest torture, keeping his eyes locked on hers. The drawn-out friction of his first unhurried withdrawal made her hiss air between her teeth. That was followed by a powerful thrust that was so unexpected she cried out in surprise, then felt embarrassed about the sound she had made.
He knew her so well there was no hiding any part of herself from him. He placed his lips next to her ear. "Do no' be embarrassed with me. Ever. I'm the elf who loves you. All of you. Exactly as you are."
Elora's body betrayed her feelings about the pent up emotions and his declaration with an involuntary sob. As she felt the first tear run down her cheek and onto her pillow, her mate said again in a voice that was little more than a whisper, "I love you." Those three words were repeated with every advance of his body and every retreat from hers, winding her feelings tighter.
"I love you. I love you. I love you."
She cried openly, not having known that lovemaking could be so thorough that it was soul-baring. Feeling exposed to her core, she came harder and longer than she ever had known was possible. Ram's hands were still on either side of her, lifting his upper body so that he could watch her from that position. His release followed moments after, looking down at her with a flush that measured the heat of their coupling. She watched, mesmerized. As the powerful arms holding him up started to shake while he came, she reached up and cupped his face, just needing to complete the connection by touching him and feeling his feverish skin underneath her hands. His eyes, turned to their darkest blue, reflected the dim light so that they seemed to shine from within.
"I love you, Ram," she whispered back to him. He collapsed to the side of her with his face in the crook of her shoulder so that she wouldn't see his own eyes watering.
After a while he rolled them onto their sides so that they were facing each other. They lay quietly looking at each other. When Elora parted her lips to speak, Ram's eyes traveled down to her mouth and back up again.
"Tell me what this was about." She waited for the wisecrack. It never came.
Finally, still not smiling, he said, "You complainin'?"
"You know I'm not. That was..." She paused, trying to find the right thing to say.
"What?"
"It was more than making love, wasn't it?" She watched a parade of emotions flicker across his face.
"'Tis me feelin' shame for no' bein' a good mate to you." Elora opened her mouth to protest, but he put his fingertips against her lips. "When I said I wanted to leave our home and come here, you tried to tell me 'twas no' what you wanted. And I did no' listen.
"I was set on havin' my way, sure that no price is too much
to pay to keep you safe. Today, when we were at the werewolf's home, I knew I made a mistake. I want to protect you." He cupped her face and brushed away a lingering tear trail with his thumb. "But I want you happy more. Do you want to go home?"
Her eyes threatened to spill again. "We just got here," she whispered.
"'Tis neither here nor there." She looked like she was trying to find an answer in his eyes. "Tell me what you want. You have my full attention and I'm listenin'."
She swallowed hard. "I don't want to put our baby in danger."
Ram nodded slowly.
"But I don't want him to grow up in captivity either."
"Captivity," he repeated. "Then 'tis settled? We're goin' home?"
Elora pulled in a rush of breath and blinked repeatedly to keep from breaking into sobs. She hadn't let herself feel either how much she hated the current arrangement or how much she wanted to be home. "Sir Hawking. I have never loved you more."
"I..." It sounded like Ram's voice was going to break. She nestled in closer, pressing her body into his to encourage him. "I'd never do anythin' to hurt you. When I think what might have happened on Helm's birthday... I can no' stand the idea of livin' without you."
She felt his fingers tighten on her skin like he was holding on for dear life and knew that it was subconscious.
"We're smart enough to figure this out, Ram. We know that life comes with risk. We just have to manage the level of risk that we can live with."
"What are you thinkin'?"
"Since we're here, I say we give Monq a chance. He's a genius, right? That justifies giving him a few months to make our miracle. I can make this work that long, especially since it seems to relieve your stress and worry. If it looks like it's going to drag out beyond that, we'll need to come up with a fall back plan.
"Meantime, I need to get trotted out more often. I want to go into the city and visit some of the other museums, spend time in the Soho galleries, check out clubs in Greenwich, go to plays and concerts. We're living so close to New York and, if all goes well, that's a temporary thing. Let's get the most out of it while we're here."
Elora's hair had grown several inches since she was on active duty. He reached up and pushed it back from her, face cupping her head with his hand. When he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. "And I have the most impressive secret weapon in the history of the world."
"Speak."
"Litha." Ram looked stumped. "If I call her, she can find me with the signal of my phone. If I can survive for thirty seconds, she can grab me and get me out."
"And what if she happened to be busy doin' her funky spells? Or seein' a movie? Or sleepin' or showerin' or fuckin'?"
"Then I'd be fucked."
"Funny."
"Life is risk." She gave him a small peck on the lips.
"But you can count on the way I feel about you."
He pulled her close so that their naked bodies were perfectly aligned, and reveled in the way she fit him like she was custom made. When it came to the scent and feel of this woman, her wry humor and unlikely talents, her constant faith that the best was yet to come, he would never get enough. And, since he knew he'd come close to losing her, he had vowed to treasure every second.
Since you've been snugglin' so close, and I'm no' complainin' mind you, but since so much of Helm's milk is runnin' free, I thought I might have a wee taste. Out of curiosity?"
She laughed. "Go ahead. It's not like you're not really a baby."
***
CHAPTER_9
The community building wasn't nearly large enough to hold everybody. It wasn't often an issue, since the entire tribe gathering together all at once was a rare occurrence. Except for those who volunteered to patrol the borders, all the wolf people were present, those who lived in the settlement and those who lived in the mountains. The meeting place was a dry canyon with naturally amplified sound. No microphones needed. The rock walls were also a shield from wind.
Large ground fires dotted the area and served the assembly in three ways. Visually, the collective clusters of flame lit the geological strafing in the rock face cliffs in a beautiful rendering of nature's random abstract art. Physically they provided warmth for those close by. They also alerted the psyche of each and every attending werewolf that it wasn't an ordinary night. It was an event.
Some of Stalkson Grey's strongest, and most trusted young males stood on promontories above the congregation. Their presence reassured everyone that the extended pack was safe and well-guarded. Grey stood on an outcropping raised a few feet above the heads of his people. The tribal elders sat on boulders on either side of him.
When the king faced forward, ready to speak, everyone grew quiet so that the only sounds were an occasional pop of sap coming in contact with flame.
"I've gathered the wolf people of Elk Mountain because we've come to a crossroads. The old ones sit to my left and to my right so that all know they guide me with their wisdom. The little ones are here so that they will bury the memory of this night deep in their hearts and carry it to future generations. The rest of us have a decision to make.
"It's a decision that begins with a story - the story of our ancestors who left this world for fairer hunting grounds, where game is plentiful and people of the wolf are free. You all know this story. You heard it many times in childhood and probably grew up to believe it was a legend. But we have learned that it was an actual, historical event."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"There came a time in the distant past when those like us were presented with a choice. They could stay and watch the world grow smaller around themselves and their young, or they could migrate to another world that is real, but hidden from our awareness, and start a new life there.
"Some stayed. We are evidence of that. But many chose to go.
"We find ourselves with a quandary. We do not have enough young females to replenish the tribe with a new generation. Our young males long to pair with mates according to the natural order of things, and bring young into the world. Parents long to be grandparents. But this cannot come to pass without life-bringers.
"This is a trying time, but fortune has been kind. Our friends at The Order of the Black Swan have sent emissaries. They have shown a light onto a path that was dark and hopeless. They have promised to help find a new home that is suitable to our needs and then provide us with a way to follow the tracks of the old ones.
"There are worlds where land and females are plentiful."
Another crescendo of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Stalkson paused and looked over his people.
"There are some unknowns, some questions still to be answered. I cannot promise that we will all be reunited elsewhere. Depending on how many want to go, we may need to assimilate into other tribes in different locations. Before we go, we will have an understanding with the wolf people who are scattered on the winds, and be welcomed into their tribes and onto their lands. Families will be kept together. For now, that is all I can promise.
"The choice is yours. There will be no objections if you wish to stay. Nor will anyone think less of you. But if you want to go, you must declare your intention. We will require names and ages and mating status. If you are part of a family group, we need the number who must stay together. If you are a young blood in need of a mate and you are willing to go alone, we need to note that for the record.
"Please go home and talk amongst yourselves. Tomorrow WhiteDawn will be in the community center to create a manifest list. Those who want to be included in this journey must go and enter your names. Those who want to stay need do nothing but go about your business.
"You may ask questions. If I have the answers I will tell you."
Silence persisted for only a heartbeat before the single young males began offering their pledges in loud excited voices, "I'm going."
"I'm going."
"Put my name down now."
The unmated laughed and gave each other shoulder nudges, pats on the ba
ck, fist bumps, and high fives. Stalkson felt a hint of optimistic joy seeing the flicker of hope renewed in the eyes of those who had come of age with no prospect of cultivating a family. They had looked far too resigned and sorrowful for far too long. An adult male without a mate was a shadow of the wolf he might have been.
Most of the young males had never had a heterosexual encounter, but the gleam in their eyes said they were overeager to experiment with mounting a female.
One of the women spoke up. No doubt she was mother to one of the unmated who had issued a public proclamation and was alarmed by how quickly their lives had been irrevocably altered.
"Forgive me for saying so, Alpha, but you're asking us to give up everything familiar without knowing our destination. Are we to follow blindly?"
Conversation broke out among the people and quickly became too loud for Grey to be heard above them. He let them talk to each other for a few more minutes then held up his hand. The power of his authority was absolute among the wolf people of his tribe. He expected their instant attention and silence and that is what they gave him.
Stalkson Grey was calm and composed, unmistakably commanding, immeasurably handsome. Those who were close enough could occasionally see firelight catch in the steel blue of his eyes as they listened, captivated by the authority of his manner and the rhythmic cadence of his speech.
"If I asked you to follow me blindly, I would hope that you would." Another murmur moved through the crowd and many heads were nodding in assent. "But that is not your future or mine.
"I will personally accompany the Black Swan representative on a scouting mission to find new lands that are suited to the best interests of our people. While I'm away, my son, Windwalker, will be charged with fulfilling the duties of alpha. Your problems and concerns will still be my problems and concerns, but he will take care of you in my stead.
"When I return, I hope to have word for you on what awaits us in the new world. What I must carry with me, when I go, is a count. How many? Who?
Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf (Black Swan 4) Page 14
