The Keeping (60 page)

“That’s right.
It’s my decision as Alpha.” Ryne slid into place behind her and
wrapped his arms around her waist while nuzzling her neck. “No one
sees her naked except me.” He looked up and growled at Bryan who
paled and backed away.

“Uh, sure, Ryne.
Whatever you say. We’ll just...uh...wait over there.” He gestured
vaguely to the north.

“Make sure it’s
really far ‘over there’ where you can’t ‘accidentally’ peek.” Mel
warned.

Bryan winked, shot
a nervous glance at Ryne, who was still growling lightly, and then
walked away calling for the others to follow him.

The change had
come amazingly easy to her, however the coordination needed to walk
on all fours had been a bit difficult to master, let alone running
and dealing with the amplified sensations coming at her from all
sides. She did more than a few face plants before managing to walk
far enough to greet her pack mates who had already transformed and
were patiently waiting for her on the far side of the woods.

She’d soon
adjusted however and enjoyed her first night running through the
woods. In fact, she’d been reluctant to return home and Ryne
eventually had to pull rank, nipping her heels so she’d follow
him!

Now it was the
morning. She lay in bed beside Ryne, still keyed up from the
experience. He was sleeping peacefully, the blankets loosely
wrapped around his waist. A thought came to mind and she grinned
mischievously. Carefully sitting up, she slid the covers off him,
revealing his naked body. Mmm... It was too yummy to resist.

Leaning forward
she licked and nibbled at his ear, while her fingers traced
patterns on his muscular thigh. Ryne just murmured and shifted
slightly before settling into sleep again. Mel snickered to herself
and kissed his jaw while her fingers walked up his hip to his belly
button where she proceeded to trace circles around the interesting
indent.

Again he stirred,
his lashes fluttering, but still he didn’t wake up. Glancing down,
she noticed that at least a certain part of him was paying
attention to her. Feeling bold, she moved lower on the mattress,
then recalled something he’d said to her once. Lowering her head,
she brushed her hair over the sensitive flesh and planted kisses
along his burgeoning arousal. That got his attention!

“Melody!” Ryne
half sat up, his voice husky with sleep.

Smiling up at him,
she planted a kiss on the flared tip. “I remembered what you told
me about long hair and how you liked to feel it brushing against
you.” She brushed her hair over him to demonstrate and he trembled
in response, a hiss escaping his lips.

“Mmm... You’re
right. Never cut your hair.”

“Never?” She gave
it another swish and then swirled her tongue around his quivering
flesh.

“Never. Just the
bangs, so I can still see your eyes while you... ah!” He stopped
speaking abruptly as she took all of him in her mouth. After a
moment, he forced a response passed his tightened jaw. “I didn’t
know I was getting involved with such a lusty woman.”

She released her
treat and worked her way up his body. “Mmm... I tried to keep my
lustful side a secret so you wouldn’t run away.” She murmured the
comment against his chest, trailing butterfly kisses over the
smooth muscular surface, while stroking his shaft with her
hand.

“I never run from
a challenge.” Melody noted that Ryne had closed his eyes and a
blissful smile was playing over his lips. Gently, she pushed him
down onto his back and straddled his legs. Running her hands up his
chest, she flicked his nipples, moulded his shoulders, and then
slid her hands downward again, enjoying the feel of his warm skin
and hard muscles.

As she leaned
forward to kiss him, she felt his erection pressing hot and hard
against her stomach. The sensation made her own body respond,
warmth pooling between her thighs. Instinctively, she rocked her
hips and Ryne growled in approval.

He slid his hands
up her arms to her shoulders, then down her back, finally cupping
her ass and squeezing gently. “I love your body, Melody.” Ryne
moved his hands lower still, his fingertips barely skimming her
feminine folds as he reached for her thighs then slid his hands up
to her butt cheeks again. Back and forth, back and forth, he
ensured that his hands never actually touched her where she wanted
it the most. Melody felt herself growing even wetter in
anticipation.

Nibbling at his
neck, then his chin, she bit his lower lip, sucking it into her
mouth before releasing it in favour of exploring him with her
tongue. Meanwhile, she ran her fingers over his ears and through
his hair, tugging at the silken strands, her nails gently abrading
his skin. Soon they were both panting, a sheen of sweat beginning
to dampen their bodies.

“Ryne...” She
murmured against his lips.

“Yeah?”

“If you don’t
touch me there soon, I’m going to scream.”

She felt his
breath puff against her mouth as he chuckled. “Well, you’re going
to be screaming sooner or later, anyway...”

Melody lifted her
head and stared down at him. “You sound pretty confident about
that, Taylor.”

“I am.” He smiled
up at her and then grabbed her waist. Suddenly, Melody found
herself face first on the mattress, with Ryne straddling her.

“What just
happened?” She sputtered.

Ryne worked his
hand under her and cupped her breast. Massaging the soft globe, he
whispered in her ear. “I said you’re going to be screaming soon,
and we don’t want to disturb the others now, do we? This way, you
can just bury your face in the mattress instead of biting my
shoulder like you did the other night. Not that I minded.” He
laughed evilly and Melody felt her face growing warm as she
recalled that particular event.

Experimentally,
she pushed upwards trying to lever her body, but Ryne was using his
weight to keep her in place. A shiver of excitement ran through her
as she realized that she was trapped.

“Do you like
this?” He asked, brushing her hair aside and biting gently on her
neck.

“Mmm. It’s
different, but yeah...I like it.”

“Good.” Ryne
removed his hand from her breast and grabbed her around the waist.
He removed his weight, lifting her hips up and leaving her
shoulders down. She squirmed a bit, thinking of how exposed her
most intimate parts must be, but then Ryne stroked her slick folds
with his fingers and she lost all inhibitions.

“Oh my gosh, Ryne,
that feels so good!” Her body was quivering in anticipation. He bit
at her butt cheek then lapped her juices with his tongue. When he
invaded her with his fingers, she was sure she’d come right then
and there. “Oh yes, oh yes...” She panted her approval as he
massaged her inner walls, stimulating the sensitive nerves
within.

Just as she felt a
telltale coiling in her lower belly, he suddenly withdrew his
fingers. She whimpered in disappointment only to gasp as she felt
his hot, thick flesh invading her body. Slowly, he pressed forward,
parting her flesh, retreating, then pushing in deeper. With him
behind her, it was a totally different feeling than any of the
other times they’d been together. When she was sure she was filled
beyond capacity, he paused.

“Are you still
okay?” Ryne’s voice sounded tight, as if he was exerting great
control over himself.

“Not if you don’t
start to do something about this real soon.” She rocked back
against him, desperately needing release.

“Your wish...”
Instead of finishing the statement, he took hold of her hips and
began the rhythm they both craved.

In and out, in and
out; each thrust was exquisite torture as it stroked her inner
walls. She clutched at the sheets, panting; her eyes squeezed shut
as she concentrated on the feeling building within her. It coiled
tighter with each stroke, her breathing grew more rapid, his balls
slapped against her with each thrust, providing an added
stimulation. Never had she believed it could feel this good...

Just when she
thought she was going to explode, he stopped and pulled out.
“Ryne!” She was near panic. It was so close, he couldn’t stop
now!

He flipped her
over and knelt between her legs. His quivering erection was
gleaming with the juices from her body. A drop of his seed poised
near the tip. She forced her gaze away from his manhood and looked
up at his flushed face.

“Why did you
stop?”

His faced was
flushed and he was breathing hard, yet he answered her question
with a question. “Remember when I told you about blood
bonding?”

She forced herself
to think beyond the clamouring need of her body and nodded. “Weres
become connected with their mates, forming an almost telepathic
bond.”

“It’s permanent,
for life, until one of the pair dies.” He drew in a shuddering
breath.

“Like a marriage,
but with no chance of divorce.”

“Right.” He paused
and licked his lips. “Would you... Would you blood bond with
me?”

Mel half sat up.
“Are you proposing?”

He gave her a
lopsided grin. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

She gave squeal of
delight and launched herself at him, completely knocking him over.
“Ryne, I thought you’d never ask.” Before he could answer, she was
kissing him soundly.

After a few
minutes, he pushed her away and sat up. “So I take it that’s a
yes?”

“Of course, you
big dummy.” She smacked him lightly. “So when? And how?”

“What about right
now?” His face was suddenly serious and Mel sobered too.

“Really? Here?
Right now?” Mel looked around nervously.

He nodded.

“I’d have to bite
you?”

“And I’d bite you.
Then we’d drink a bit of each other’s blood.”

She grimaced at
the idea, but then stared at Ryne. She really did love him. And
this was the way of his people. Well, they were her people now,
too. “Okay. So, how do we start?”

Ryne chuckled.
“Well, we were half way there a few moments ago. Basically we have
great sex and then your wolf partially emerges and we bite each
other.”

“So it’s animal
sex? Eww!”

“No! Your canines
lengthen, your eyes might glow, but your body stays human.”

“Oh, that’s good.”
She took a deep breath and then smiled at him tremulously. “I guess
I’m ready then.”

“You’re sure?” He
cautioned her once more. “A blood bond is forever.”

“I’m sure.” She
reached up and cupped his face, tracing his cheek bone with her
thumb. “I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

“Same here,” he
whispered as he pulled her close and kissed her reverently.

Lips slid over
lips. Tongues tangled. Mel stroked Ryne’s muscular back while he
caressed her breasts. Soon she was sinking back onto the mattress,
Ryne’s weight pressing down on her as he lay between her thighs. He
nuzzled her neck, then ran his teeth over her collar bone. Moving
lower, he sought her pink tipped breast, licking at her nipple
before suckling until it was engorged and red. Turning his
attention to its twin, he repeated the process. Each pull of his
lips shot down to her womb. Mel moaned and shifted restlessly in
response.

She combed her
fingers through his hair, gently scraping his scalp and tugging on
the strands. He murmured in appreciation then let out a soft sigh
as she traced the indent of his spine reaching down as far as she
could to squeeze his taut buttocks.

Ryne lifted his
head from her breasts, his mouth moist and red. He sat back on his
haunches and ran his hands down her stomach, then traced the crease
where her thighs met her body. Cupping his hands under her knees,
he spread her legs wide and then stared at her moist, swollen
folds.

“So hot and wet,”
he murmured as he gently traced the soft flesh. Gently, he pressed
a finger to her entrance, sliding it in easily. He smiled up at her
as he instinctively found her g-spot. “You like this, don’t you?”
Ryne teased her as her hands clutched the sheets, her back arching.
Stroking her clit with his thumb, his finger worked its magic
inside her. When her hips were flexing against his hand, he stopped
and pulled out. Shifting so he was on top her, he carefully tucked
the head of his shaft inside her and slowly sank into her welcoming
depths.

The sensation was
exquisite, feeling his thick flesh parting her, filling her aching
void until she was sure she could hold no more. Once he was fully
encased, he leaned forward to kiss her. “I love you, Melody
Greene.”

“And I love you,
Ryne Taylor.” She blinked at him through the tears in her eyes.
This was it. They were going to be joined for the rest of their
lives.

He grasped her
hand, entwining their fingers as he started to move, setting a
rhythm that soon had a coil of tension growing inside her once
again. There were long slow strokes, that had her sighing with
pleasure, then short fast thrusts that drove her wild. Mel bit her
lip, panting, reaching... Above her, Ryne was breathing heavily,
his movements become harder, more forceful. He was hammering into
her now, each stroke bringing her higher. Rivers of sweat trickled
down his neck and she watched the path of the droplets, suddenly
fascinated by his throat, by the vein throbbing wildly as his heart
pumped blood to his straining muscles.

There was a pain
in her jaw, but she barely registered it at first. When she licked
her dry lips, she realized that her canines had dropped. Shocked,
she quickly looked up at Ryne. His eyes were glowing, his mouth
open, exposing wickedly long teeth. Mel gave a start as a momentary
flutter of fear passed through her. “Ryne? It’s starting!” Barely
had the words passed her lips, when a tingling sensation washed
over her.

Her body strained
and trembled; she felt energy gathering inside of her. She was on
the brink of shifting! Then somehow the energy refocused, turning
in on itself and entwining with the twisting need inside her until
she was balanced on the very edge of orgasm. Her whole body started
to shake, her fingers tightened on Ryne’s, her toes curled.