Page 17 of Return of the Nine

She liked that he mentioned an oblique future where she would be picking up more knowledge. It made it feel less like a bizarre dream and more like a glowing reality.

Ziggy had gotten married to a male she had met once after she savaged his mind and took what she wanted from him. In a weird way she had made an honest man of him.

Chapter Nine

His private quarters were huge. There was a kitchen, a breakfast bar, dining room, living area and a huge bedroom. Ziggy assumed that the lav was off one of the hallways, but she didn’t need one so she didn’t ask.

Rothaway walked into the kitchen, withdrew a bottle that contained a substance that resembled wine. He gathered two glasses and set them on the table, pouring each glass half full.

He sat across from her and raised his glass. She lifted hers in reflex. “To Signy, my bond mate and companion.”

She didn’t drink but after he had sipped she spoke up, “My friends all call me Ziggy.”

“Ziggy?”

“Yes. The consonant contrast in my name makes it hard for some people to pronounce. Ziggy is easier.”

She paused and realised that she needed to return the toast. “To Rothaway, my bond mate and companion.”

She sipped carefully and realised that it was indeed wine in an almost black liquid form. Crossberry wine was supposed to act as an aphrodisiac, but she didn’t need one. Her blood was singing in her veins and the song was his name.

When Lyneer knocked on the door, he entered carefully as if unsure of what he would see. Relief and disappointment warred in his features as he allowed a stream of newcomers into Rothaway’s chamber.

They set the table and placed nine different dishes on the surface, each covered with a dome. As silently as they arrived, they left.

Lyneer bowed low and smiled at them. “Congratulations onyour bond.”

Ziggy was curious and she tried to look at the dishes, but Rothaway cleared his throat. “I will describe each dish to you. There are nine dishes to honour the Nine, and all of the dishes are from the Wilder tradition.”

Ziggy waited and watched as he described the four meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, one starch and one dessert.

Her arousal was increasing with every minute and she devoured the food with good appetite. The meat was almost raw but that did not bother her as it would normally.

By the time the meal was over her skin was on fire and she was done with waiting.

Ziggy lunged across the table and tackled Rothaway where he sat, the dishes went flying. She pressed her lips to his, whimpering wildly as her blood pulsed in all of her erogenous zones.

Her hands pulled at his formal tunic and when she was rewarded with warm hard skin she sighed in relief.

“Not here. Hold on.” Rothaway held her tight and rolled to his feet, taking her with him as he walked to the bedroom.

She pressed kisses to his neck and chin as he walked, her skirt rucked up around her thighs.

“You are going to have to explain to me what is going on, Rothaway.” She interspersed each word with a kiss to the cords of his neck and a nibble on his earlobe.

“Not now. I will tell you later.”

She nipped his ear with her teeth. “Now, Rothaway. I don’t normally straddle men I have just met, let alone have my hips grinding against them.”

“You inherited my rut. It shouldn’t have moved this fast, but your system is a little faster than that of one of the Nine.” His voice was muffled against the hollow of her throat as he began a string of kisses that worked to the edge of her gown.

She blanked out conscious thought and let her body lead her actions, peeling his tunic from him completely and then working at her own gown while she kicked her shoes off.

Her back pressed against the cool silk of his sheets and with a few short tugs her dress was gone and he was removing his boots and trousers as quickly as possible.

When he joined her on the bed she lunged and threw him off balance, bringing him to his back and straddling him. She roamed her hands over him, learning the textures of him, and then she followed her hands with her mouth.

His body was taut and arched under her, giving her only a moment before he flipped her to her back and joined their bodies.

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