Chapter Thirteen

Natasha

The warmth of Ragnar’s arms made it difficult to shake off her dreams. When she came to Jaegar, she promised herself she wouldn’t let Ragnar touch her. She’d been afraid he’d treat her like a plaything. His words about being her mate and all the promises he made should have frightened her more, but at least he hadn’t coerced her into any sort of intimacy.

Or at least, there had been nothing untoward in the night. Now, as the predawn darkness outside the window gave way to the first rays of dawn, she grew aware of his palm cupping her breast. The weight of his hand sent shimmers of arousal across her skin. A soft moan escaped her lips. She hadn’t meant to respond in any way. The sound came unbidden.

The night on Jaegar had been as cold as the night on Doranna. She’d been grateful for his warmth and the shelter of his arms.

Ragnar was fast asleep, judging from his deep, even breathing, but not so fast asleep that he hadn’t noticed her response. He gave her an answering sound, a deep rumble that reverberated against her. He stroked her nipple with his thumb and she arched beneath his touch. It was as if her body had a will of its own and wanted more of Ragnar’s attention.

“Little Natasha,” he murmured. “Your body has changed.”

“I know,” she admitted. “I don’t understand why.”

“It’s simple. Because you’re my mate.”

The idea went against everything she stood for and all her training. From her early beginnings in the Maiden program, when she had been only thirteen, she’d taken pride in her work. She, along with the other Maidens, had disparaged the Nymphs’ life of motherhood and family, but now that she knew Ragnar’s touch, she couldn’t deny the attraction that coursed through her veins.

She wanted to submit to his seduction. She wanted the things he wanted, like family and a home. The only reason she hadn’t wanted those things before was because she couldn’t imagine they’d ever be offered to her.

He pulled her against his chest. His arousal pressed into the curve of her bottom. To her utter shock, her reflexes took over. She wriggled against him. He responded by bringing his hand down on her bottom. A quick, playful smack on her ass. The air shot from her lungs with a loud huff and she mentally replayed what had just happened.

“You smacked me,” she said in disbelief. “You hit me on my backside.”

“Be quiet, Natasha. It’s too early for arguments.” He ran his hand up her body and back to her breast. Giving it a slight squeeze, he laughed softly. “I think you liked it.”

To her mortification, a strange sort of response had come over her body, especially across her chest. Her breasts felt heavy and taut and tingled with an odd sensation. Her nipples tightened into stiff peaks beneath his thumb.

“Natasha, you know nothing of the pleasure a man can give a woman.”

The comment was more a statement than a question, yet he waited for a response.

“Of course not. How would I?”

He nuzzled her neck. “Say yes.”

“Yes?”

What was he talking about? Yes to his comment about pleasure or something else? Before she could ask, he’d rolled her to her back and tugged her gown lower. The gauzy material was no match for his powerful hand. With a quick pull, her breasts spilled from the snug bodice. A slow breath eased from her lips and she closed her eyes as the cool morning air washed over her breasts. She should push him away. She should protest his barbaric treatment of her, but could summon no words.

He kissed her neck and moved lower to her collarbone. With the tip of his tongue, he traced a line across her shoulder. He pushed the torn fabric away to bare her breasts and kissed a trail down her chest until he reached the aching peak of her breast. His mouth felt hot against the tender flesh. When he sucked her nipple, she whimpered.

Lifting her hands to his head, she threaded her fingers through his hair and held him to her breast. His mouth felt glorious pressed against her. When he stroked her with his tongue, she thought she might lose her mind entirely.

“Ragnar,” she breathed. “It’s almost too much for me.”

He lifted his head and smiled, his eyes lit with a feral gleam. “Tell me to stop then, little one.”

Her breaths came in shallow gasps. In the furthest recesses of her mind she tried to summon the words to stop him, but couldn’t make herself say anything. Instead, she writhed beneath him, doing everything she could to entice him to continue. She needed his touch. It was more than desire. It was as if her body hungered for him. Maybe, on some primitive level, her body recognized him as her mate, just as he claimed his wolf knew she belonged to him. Until now, she hadn’t believed a word of what he’d said about fated mates.

With a soft growl, he lowered to her breast and flicked his tongue across the nipple.

“Please,” she breathed. “Don’t stop.”

He growled again and moved to her other breast. She could tell he enjoyed teasing her. He alternated between gentle strokes of his tongue and sucking her nipple into his warm mouth. Her restlessness grew. She squirmed beneath him, not fully understanding what she needed, but trusting him somehow to know.

He kissed the swell of her breast and lower. When he reached her stomach, he nipped her playfully and hooked his thumb under the edge of her panties. The sound of tearing fabric was followed by him nudging her thighs apart with his immense shoulder. Just as her thoughts cleared enough for her to understand what he intended, his pressed his mouth between her legs, firmly against her intimate flesh.

Her legs trembled. Small, wild sounds fell from her lips. He growled his approval and stroked her with his tongue, a long, slow motion that took him to the most sensitive part of her core. She flinched when he brushed against the tender spot. Digging her fingers into the bedding beneath her, it was all she could do to hold tight and submit to his wicked torment. She panted and twisted beneath him, but he wouldn’t allow her much movement and pinned her to the bed with his arm over her hips.

Her mind was thrust into such turmoil she wondered if she were descending into madness. Just when she thought she might tumble into wild pleasure, he pushed her thighs further apart, spreading her open beneath him. Her senses erupted. Her climax gripped her with a primitive explosion of pleasure that tore a cry from her lips.

She arched and gasped for breath. Stars burst behind her eyes and she shuddered as she sank back to the bed. “Ragnar…” she whispered.

He lifted onto all fours and prowled the length of her body until he looked down at her. For a moment, she wondered if he might shift into his wolf because he looked every bit the fierce beast. His mouth curved with a smug smile. He watched her with a possessive satisfaction. She knew her response pleased him and she was struck with a desire to make him feel the same pleasure.

“I know that men, especially Jaegarian men, like sexual pleasure.”

“We do.”

“I’m not ready for that. I’m afraid I’m too small and you’re too big.”

He stroked her hair. “We have all the time you need. I can show you, little by little, that you were made for me and me for you. I promise to go as slowly as you like.”

His words warmed her heart. He could be so gruff at times but he also had a capacity to be tender and so sweet that it made her heart beat wildly. When he touched her, she could hardly think of anything other than how wonderful it was to be by his side.

“Show me, Ragnar.” She cupped his jaw. “I want to please you. I want to know how to make you feel what you made me feel.”

“Aren’t you the brave one.” He rubbed his thumb over her lips. “I want to fuck you. Breed you. Make you mine completely.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

He nodded. “Maybe it’s too soon for you.”

It wasn’t too soon, she wanted to say. It was impossible. Her body might have changed but there was no way they’d fit together. He was far too big for her, and even though she looked like a fertile Nymph, it was possible she’d be unable to conceive and carry a child. And yet, she yearned to know how to please him.

“Tell me what to do,” she said softly. “Tell me now. When the sun comes up, I’ll be far too shy to obey your commands.”

He moved away from her. “Take off the rest of your gown. I want to enjoy my mate’s body while she pleases me.”

His voice was rough and sent a thrill down her spine. She’d just climaxed and yet his words made her arousal stir once more. Did her voice have that effect on him?

“All right,” she said softly, noting the way his body tensed as she spoke. He liked her submissive tone and she wanted to see more of his response. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

His lips drew back with a feral smile and he watched as she tugged the remnants of her gown from her shoulders and let it fall to the bed.

“Is that good?” she asked.

His shoulders moved gently up and down with each breath and he nodded.

“Now what, Ragnar. I need you to tell me what to do.”

He beckoned her to the edge of the bed. She did as she was told and sat before him, looking up at him as she awaited his next command.

“Undress me,” he rasped.

Her heart thudded against her ribs as she pulled his briefs down. She’d been teasing him with her attempt at a sultry voice, but she hadn’t been prepared for the hard reality of her situation. The very hard reality was at eye level now, directly in front of her. She’d never seen a man’s erection before. Ragnar’s cock was as thick as her wrist and longer than… she wasn’t even sure, but he was immense.

Unable to stop the wave of panic swirling inside her, she edged away.

“S’all right,” he said, stroking her jaw.

She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat.

He ran his hand down the back of her head and grasped her hair. Winding it slowly around his hand, he tilted her head back and drew her closer. “Put your hands on me. When you’re ready.”

She lifted her hands to his shaft and touched him. He snarled.

His shaft was iron, yet the skin was velvet soft and she let out a huff of surprise as she brushed her fingers along his length.

“Is this right?” she asked.

“I think so,” he said from between gritted teeth.

“You don’t know?”

He shook his head. “You’re the first woman I’ve touched.”

A warmth filled her chest. She’d imagined that he’d been with scores of women. He’d never been touched. The idea made her thoughts spin. She was his first.

“What should I do next?” she asked.

He laughed breathlessly. “I’ve read that a woman can put a man’s cock in her mouth.”

She giggled. “I think you’re making that up.”

“I swear, Natasha. I’ll show you the book.” He shuddered as her fingers brushed over the head of his cock. “I’ll read it to you.”

“If you’re lying to me, Ragnar…”

He closed his eyes. “I’ve imagined my mate accepting me into her mouth a thousand times. I’d rather fuck you, but I want this too.”

The look on his face made her doubts fade. If she could show him a fraction of the pleasure he’d given her, it would please her. Tremendously. In the dim light of dawn, she could make out a drop of fluid at the tip of his cock and she leaned forward, tugged the shaft down to her mouth tentatively and licked it.

He tightened his hold on her hair. “Natasha…”

The sound of her name on his lips emboldened her. She wrapped her lips around him and sucked him just as he’d done to her breast. With her hair coiled around his hand, he moved her back and forth so she had no choice but to take more of his cock into her mouth. Lifting her gaze, she saw the expression on his face. His eyes glittered as he watched her suck him. The look on his face filled her with pleasure.

His breathing grew faster and uneven. He moved her back and forth a little faster and to her astonishment, his cock swelled even more inside her mouth. She moaned softly, wordlessly pleading with him not to make her take too much of his length.

“I’m close, Natasha. You’re so beautiful.”

A savage snarl tore from his throat and his cock jerked between her lips. Semen hit the back of her throat. She swallowed, taking everything he gave her, until he was spent.

He released her hair and let out a low groan, pushing her back to the bed. Gathering her in his arms, he collapsed beside her. They lay side-by-side in the quiet of dawn.

“You’re mine, Natasha. Our meeting was no accident.”

She smiled.

He stroked her jaw and kissed her. “And what you just did to me, or for me, was a precious gift. Thank you.”