Battling Rapture (16 page)

“Are you a girl or a boy?” she whispered.

“It’s female,” Bronwyn said.

“Does it have a name?” she asked.

Bronwyn frowned at her. “The
hundrivarg
keeper has
names for them. They are not pets. They patrol the holding, guarding against
intruders. The keeper won’t like it if you pet them.”

Camryn moved closer. “They have always scared me. They’re
cute when they’re little, though.”

“This one seems nice,” Niki said.

The animal licked Camryn’s outstretched hand. She laughed.

“Camryn, step away from that animal,” Venn said.

A whistle sounded and the animal lifted its head before
trotting over to an old man with black hair.

“That’s the keeper,” Bronwyn said.

Niki looked after the animal. She wanted one. How kick-ass
would she be with her very own coyote-jackal hybrid? She’d even paint its
toenails so it wouldn’t be as scary to others. She grinned.

“No,” Rhine said.

“No, what?”

“No, you cannot have a
hundrivarg
. They aren’t pets.
The animal is as big as you are,” he replied.

Venn patted her back and she winced a little at the sting.
“You are good with animals, Niki, but a
hundrivarg
is no good indoors.”

Rhine pulled her closer. “Be careful, Venn. You might damage
her.” He pulled her dress away from her back and looked inside.

She batted at his hands. “I’m fine.”

“Sometimes I forget they are weaker. I’m sorry,” Venn said.

She was so shocked, she forgot to be offended about being
called weak.

“If we are done out here, I suspect the lawyers and Dr. Falk
have arrived,” Camryn said.

It was time to get emancipated.

Chapter Nine

Niki was a little ticked that Rhine had been right about the
Rary woman. She hadn’t wanted any part of being freed. She liked her position
and she liked fucking the single Huntu males as often as they desired. Niki had
to promise not to send her away until she found the woman another place she
liked as well as having free access to the apparently talented and large dicks
of Tribe Huntu. She and Camryn had received more information about Tor, Gunter and
Olaf than they’d ever wanted to know.

Removing the slave brand would take three removal sessions
and the first one hurt worse than it did when they placed the brand on her
wrist. What surprised her most was the feeling she got when Rhine signed the
document on the lawyers’ information pad stating she was a free person. She’d
thought she didn’t care what the paper said. It was startling to find that she
really did care. Her eyes had almost watered.

She’d thought if she didn’t acknowledge the slave status someone
had imposed on her, it wouldn’t exist. But it felt as if an invisible weight
lifted from her. She was her own person again and not a possession. It felt
good. The knowledge that she’d allowed someone else’s label to define her, even
unconsciously, was unnerving.

Camryn was having an emancipation party, complete with
liquor, music and snacks. She’d said she didn’t care if it was still morning.

Niki’s paradigm shift from a strong woman who didn’t let
others define her to someone who let the label slave change her wouldn’t allow
her to relax. She needed a distraction.

She turned to Rhine. “Can I talk to you in the room?”

He stared at her, but she kept tight rein on her feelings.

“We’ll be back, everyone. Carry on the party without us,”
Rhine said.

As soon as they walked into the room, she began taking off
her clothes. She had her shoes, leggings and panties off before he turned to
face her. His eyes widened, but he quickly got with the program and started
stripping too.

His cock was flushed, and as usual, thick and long. She
promised herself she would have her lips around it later. Right now she really
needed her pussy filled. What better way to celebrate freedom than to do
exactly what she wanted.

“This first time, just take me fast and deep right against
this wall,” she said. She tossed her dress away.

He raised an eyebrow. He was handsome as hell and she really
wanted him to fuck her. Now. She hopped into his arms and he caught her just as
she knew he would. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around
his neck. She rubbed her wet pussy against his stomach and he groaned.

“Come on, sexy. I’m not even trying to play hard to get. I
need you.” She whispered the words against his mouth.

He clutched her ass and pulled her down on his cock. She hissed.
This man had the best dick ever. She told him so. He laughed and began walking
her closer to the wall. Every step rocked her clit against his pelvis and she
oohed and ahhed. He pressed her against the cool smooth surface and tucked in.
He curved his hips as he thrust into her.

“Oh that’s good.”

And it was. She loved it when he showed her pussy no mercy.
The tingle of discomfort, which accompanied the shot of pleasure he gave her
with each thrust, was heaven. Her breasts were crushed against him and she
absolutely loved it. They were already sweaty and it just added to the moment.

“Kiss me,” he demanded.

She did. She tried to consume everything he was with the
kiss. She sucked on his tongue as it explored her mouth. She was so close to
her release. She let go of his neck with one hand and squeezed it between their
bodies. She worked her clit, applying continuous pressure until she had no
choice but to fly apart in his arms. She screamed into his mouth. He thrust
twice more into her before reaching his own climax.

She loved having his cum inside her. She’d never fucked a
man without a condom before. Sometimes she wondered if her cum craving had more
to do with novelty or with the man. She suspected it was the man.

She panted against his mouth and tried to get some control
back. She had every intention of molesting him for a couple of hours or until
they passed out. She unwrapped her legs from his waist slowly. He helped her to
stand and then pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged him back and used the
opportunity to caress his ass. It was muscular and quite stellar. She couldn’t
get enough of him.

She bumped him slightly and he gave her a little room. She
ran her hands from his ass around to his cock. She traced its impressive length
as she kissed his chest. She swirled her tongue around his nipples. He braced
both his arms on the wall above her head.

“That’s good. A little harder,” he said.

She nipped at his pec and squeezed his cock at the same
time. His entire body shivered. She began to stroke his cock faster as she
nibbled her way down his chest and abdomen. The outline of his pelvic bone
delighted her and she got distracted for a moment. Finally, she was face to
face with the flushed head of his cock.

She kissed the tip and then licked the salty fluid from the
tip. She tasted her pussy juices mingled with his normal taste and it made her
hungry for the feelings they could only create together. She released his shaft
to grip his hips. She licked the underside of his cock from base to tip as she
gazed up at him.

His face was caught between pleasure and pain. His hair hung
down around his face and it felt as if there was a canopy above them, shutting
them in together. She took the head of his cock into her mouth and sucked. He
hissed.

“Take a little more, love,” he said.

She smiled around her mouthful upon hearing him call her
love in such a coaxing voice. She complied, sucking a little more of him into
her mouth. She hummed a little and he closed his eyes briefly. She felt the
power she had over him at that moment. On her knees before him, she could make
him lose control if she chose. Sometimes he was a little too controlled while
seeing to her pleasure. She had the control now.

She slowly took him in as far as she could. She relaxed her
throat so he could enter it. Her eyes watered, but she continued to watch his
face. He growled a little and she found it deliciously barbarian.

She worked his cock with her mouth. She sucked and swirled
her tongue. She reached between his legs and cupped his balls as she rubbed the
space between the sack and anus.

“Damn,” he said.

She was completely encouraged by the quivering in his thighs
and the muscles tightening under the hand she held on his hip. She redoubled
her efforts, sucking with enthusiasm as she massaged his balls and perineum.
She felt his hand rest lightly against the back of her head. He whispered
softly to her, telling her how wonderful she was. He told her how much he loved
her mouth around his cock. He even told her how lovely he thought she was.

Her pussy was positively soaked as he talked softly to her
and she stared into his eyes. She could have touched herself and sent herself
into a climax, but the feeling of her pussy trying to grasp at nothing added to
the moment. She was in each second of the encounter with him.

Every word out of his mouth made her feel special. She knew
he wanted her. The look in his eyes told her she was the sexiest woman he’d
ever seen. They told her he wanted only her, and she reciprocated. She felt
safe showing him some things with her own eyes. She showed him he was the best
man she’d ever met. She showed him she felt safe. She tried to tell him she
wanted to be with only him. She allowed herself to acknowledge her emotions
without feeling they made her weak.

“Ah, love, I’m coming.”

She welcomed it. She welcomed him. She watched him while he
climaxed. She swallowed every drop of his seed. She licked her sore lips after
she released him from her mouth.

Her need couldn’t be denied and she reached down and touched
her pussy lips. She closed her eyes on a sigh as she felt the smooth sensitive
flesh under her fingers. She parted her folds and rubbed along her slit from
clit to her entrance, and back again. She thrummed her flesh. It wasn’t long
before she was gasping, legs wide as she came.

She leaned her head back against the wall and opened her
eyes. Rhine stared down at her. His eyes were hungry and his smile sultry.

“I love watching you touch your pussy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She reached her hand up and he took it. She stood on shaky
legs.

“What about a ten minute break and round two?” she asked.

He smiled before picking her up, striding to the bed and
lying down. He cradled her in his arms and she squeezed as close to him as she
could get.

* * * * *

Lady Helsa gave Camryn a brand-new electronic information
pad at lunch, already loaded with articles about overcoming conception
difficulties. Camryn stared at the little black electronic device and then back
up at her mother-in-law. The entire room had gone quiet with Lady Helsa’s declaration
of the information pad’s contents. Lady Helsa sat eating with a slight smile on
her face.

Niki was just waiting for Camryn’s cue to deliver the verbal
beat down of Lady Helsa’s life. Venn had turned several shades of red as he
gripped the table. He looked as though he was trying to chew and swallow nails.

“I can’t do it.” He stood.

Camryn stopped him with a hand to his thigh. “You promised I
could deal with this on my own.”

Niki hadn’t realized she’d tried to move until she felt
Rhine’s restraining hand on her arm. Venn placed his hand over Camryn’s and
sat. He glared at his mother and took a tearing bite of his meat.

Camryn took a deep breath. “Thank you for thinking of me,
Lady Helsa.”

Niki blinked. Who had taken over her sister’s body?

“Oh heck no,” Niki said. “Seriously?”

“Niki, let it go. It isn’t important.” Camryn avoided her
eyes.

“Can I speak to you for a minute, you know, in private?”
Niki asked her.

“Now isn’t a good time.”

“Now would be a great time. Or I can always just blurt out
what I have to say right here.”

Camryn stood. “Excuse us.”

She smiled at the people around the table before leading
Niki out and across the hallway to a sitting room. Niki closed the door behind
them and leaned back against it.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I don’t want to cause trouble over something so
trivial. She is family. I don’t want Venn to alienate his mother over something
I can overlook,” Camryn said.

“She’s harassing you at mealtimes. On purpose. I don’t think
smacking her around is okay, but at least stand up for yourself. I’ve never
seen you so passive.” Niki walked toward her.

“Haven’t you?”

The door opened and Rhine and Venn entered. Venn shut the
door. Niki looked back at her sister. She had a nasty suspicion this wasn’t
about Lady Helsa anymore.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Niki asked her.

“It just means…nothing.”

“Don’t ‘nothing’ me. If you have an issue, just tell me.”

“When have I ever made waves with you, Niki?”

“What are you talking about? You tell me what to do all the
time.”

“No, I don’t. I suggest something to you, and when you
resist or get uncomfortable, I drop it.” Camryn stared down at her hands.

“Like what?” Niki crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’ve asked you to stop calling me your cousin,” Camryn
whispered.

“I haven’t called you that since I’ve been here.”

Camryn looked up and pierced her with her gaze.

“It’s been less than two days. You don’t say I’m your sister
either, you just call me family. You used to call me cuz’ or cousin and you
knew it hurt me. If I challenged you about how you treated me, you would leave.
I wouldn’t hear from you for months. What’s the difference between what you did
and what my mother-in-law is doing?”

Niki took an involuntary step back. Camryn was using a tone
she’d never taken with her. She could clearly see the other woman was angry.

“I never stood up to you, did I, Niki? That’s why you feel
you can come in here and tell me what to do now.” Tears appeared in the corners
of Camryn’s eyes, but they didn’t fall.

“You obviously have something to say. I’m here, you’re here.
Get it off your chest.”

Camryn took a deep breath. “Listen to your tone. So cold.
You could be talking to anyone. I’m your sister! I’ve only ever tried to
protect you, love you, understand you. It’s as if you can’t stand to look at
me. It’s as though you hate me. I’m surprised you’re still here and didn’t try
to take off the moment you saw I wasn’t hurt.”

Niki didn’t know how to deal with this. Her nature was to
attack, but she couldn’t. She could tell Camryn believed what she was saying.

“I don’t hate you, Cam.”

“Maybe, but you don’t want to hang around me. You know, when
Mark told me you’d come on to him and he’d slept with you, I believed him.”

Niki’s entire body froze. “You said—”

“I said he was a liar. But inside I thought you might have
done it. You know, just to hurt me. It didn’t matter, though. I still chose
you. You were the reason I married him after all. I felt bad about using your
friend to keep you around. I just figured it was karma paying me back.”

“I
never
slept with him. I didn’t come on to him. I
wouldn’t do that.” Niki’s throat stung and she prayed she wouldn’t cry.

“The way you despised him afterward told me so. If you’d
done it, you would have just been indifferent. It didn’t matter. That’s how
much I loved you. Mark knew it too. He wanted me all to himself and he wanted
me to hate you. He told me the day we signed the divorce papers.”

“Cam—”

“No, let me say it all. I love you so much it hurts. I used
to love you more than I loved myself. But I can’t let myself be that person
anymore. You’re a grown woman. We aren’t children anymore. I don’t want you to
leave me, but I won’t go crazy if you do. I see the way you interact with Venn.
You don’t trust each other. But I trust him. If you’re planning to make
trouble, don’t. I won’t choose you this time.” She blinked rapidly, turned and
left the room.