Page 52 of Ravik's Mercy

As I neared my bodyguards standing by the front door, Boros’ sons approached me with a medium-sized hovercart carrying a small crate.

“These are samples of our materials for your female,” Boros said, “to give her a clear idea of what we have to offer.”

“Very well,” I said, my voice still filled with tension. “I will make sure to give them to her.”

A soft—but not particularly natural—cough drew our attention. Boros’ wife, Sorna, stared intently at her husband, her arm passed around the shoulders of their oldest daughter, Vela. The younger woman held a pretty, rectangular, flat box.

“Ah yes,” Boros said, distracted. “My mate has prepared a present for your female, to thank her for assisting in the hunt and, in many ways, saving most of our men. We would be honored if you would accept it.”

I stared at it, speechless for a moment. Females were not normally acknowledged in such a fashion, and least of all for battle prowess. The thought it might be a trap to hurt Ravena, and me through her, flashed through my mind, but I immediately dismissed the idea. The punishment for such a cowardly act would be too dire; his entire clan would be passed through the sword.

“You may approach,” I said, softening my voice.

Sorna gave Boros another worried glance before leading her daughter towards me, their steps a little ungainly from nerves. They stopped before me, Sorna standing behind her daughter with both hands on her shoulders.

“My daughter is very talented with nyrian stones and made this for your female,” Sorna said, nudging her daughter.

Vela stared at me, wide-eyed, her slender body shaking slightly. She looked unable to decide if she were awed or terrified to be in my presence. When she failed to react, a more forceful nudge from her mother snapped her out of her dazed trance. She lifted the lid of the box with a shaky hand to reveal a jewelry set; necklace, earrings, and bracelet. I didn’t know much about jewelry but could immediately recognize the work as exquisite.

“Beautiful work,” I said, genuinely impressed. “It is lovely. I’m sure Ravena will like it.”

Vela’s face heated with pleasure. She cast an uncertain look over her shoulder at her mother who smiled proudly and squeezed her shoulder, and then at her sire who nodded his approval. After I took the box from her hands, Vela and her mother bowed their heads before moving back to their place among the other females and servants.

With a final goodbye, I headed back to my shuttle, chest aching, head spinning, and wanting nothing more than the comfort of my little bird’s presence.

Sitting at the breakfast table in my room, Ravena on my lap, I nuzzled her nape, while she scanned the stone and metal samples Boros had sent. She squirmed, mumbling for me to behave as my roaming hands cupped her breasts. I wanted her, again, despite having taken her twice since my return. Braxian males lived in an almost constant state of arousal. We could literally get hard on demand, even without being excited at all—which was a rare occurrence. However, getting soft without proper release actually proved far more complicated.

I’d never been so hungry for a female before. Yet, this hunger had grown stronger. Ravena’s scent had started changing last night. Subtle at first, it had been growing steadily ever since. I initially wondered if she’d already conceived, but even if it were the case, the change of scent due to pregnancy didn’t become noticeable before the first month, but usually closer to the second month. The aroma didn’t match either. Ravena smelled like concentrated lust in its purest form. It took me a while to realize she was entering the early stages of her mating fever, which Veredians calledseason. I’d heard plenty of wild stories about how sexually voracious and aggressive they became then. I couldn’t wait to see—and experience—it all.

Ravena sighed as she put down her scanner. I didn’t need to ask why. I hadn’t held much hope, but it still saddened me to have my suspicions confirmed.

“Useless, right?” I asked, my hand lifting the hem of her concubine dress to caress her inner thigh.

When I’d asked her to wear it, I’d expected her to tell me to fuck off. But she’d been willing to play along—as long as it remained within the privacy of our chamber. The diaphanous, sleeveless, white dress fell mid-thigh, transparent enough to show her curves but not details like her nipples.

“Hmmm, not useless, no,” she said, spreading her legs ever so slightly. “But this stuff is available pretty much everywhere. Although, these stones have greater density and are sturdier. No wonder your buildings last forever.”

“But that’s not appealing enough to justify buying them over others?” I asked, my fingers venturing higher towards the apex of her legs.

“Technically, yes; it would be worth it if they were closer,” Ravena said, turning slightly to the side. “But it’s a long trip to the Western Quadrant. The transport costs alone will likely eat most of the profits they could possibly make. Assuming the Tuureans agree—which remains a big if—Clan Grumar will, at best, break even.”

“That would still be a major improvement,” I said, a sliver of hope taking root. “Break even means wages are paid, expenses are covered, and bellies are filled. As a temporary solution, it will keep them from starving until they find something else.”

Ravena nodded. “True enough.” Turning fully around, forcing my wandering fingers away from their target, she placed her legs on each side of me, and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Again, don’t get your hopes up too high. It’s still a long shot, but I’ll do my best to convince the Admiral.”

“That’s all I can ask,” I said before leaning down to kiss her.

My tongue demanded entry, which she promptly granted. Lifting the hem of her dress again, my palms rubbed over the naked globes of her bum. With the concubine dress, no underwear was allowed. One hand sliding up the silky skin of her back, the other slipped under and around her behind to tease her pussy. She gasped against my lips, trying to pull away from the kiss, but I didn’t allow it. Holding her by the nape, my mouth plundered hers while my fingers explored her folds already getting wet for me.

I thanked the Ancestors that Ravena’s sexual drive could keep up with mine, and that she was as wild and unleashed in her passion as I. She was truly made for me.

My woman moaned, her hardening nipples pressing against my chest. Proof of her arousal dripped over my fingers dipping in and out of her, the scent of her musk driving me insane with desire. Breaking the kiss, I lifted the dress off her, bending her backwards to suck on her taut nipples, my fingers still fucking her. I loved the sweet taste of her skin and her unique scent mixed with the spicy perfume she wore.

Ravena fisted my hair, pressing her breast to my face, then blindly fiddled with the clasp of my pant with her free hand.

“We’re going to be late for dinner,” she whispered between two moans.

“No, we won’t,” I grumbled against her chest, pulling my fingers from her slit to help her free my cock from its confines. “But I will have you scream my name once more before we leave.”

---