Overlord: A Dark Shifter Romance Page 10

  Sloan’s pussy pulsed in the same rhythm as he spanked her and she yowled, but wasn’t sure if it was from pain, frustration, or a combination of both. He held her in place as he swatted her ass more than a dozen times. She knew from talking to Rowan that it would be swollen and red by the next morning. Her hips bounced on his lap and she could feel the effect it was having on him. His cock was throbbing and had to be uncomfortable.

  Gareth began to focus on her lower butt cheeks and the delicate spot that lay at the juncture of her legs to her body. He splayed his hand so that part of it went between her legs and started to engage her swollen labia. His spanking of her aroused sex caused her to cry out.

  “Gareth, no!”

  His up-swinging hand smacked her vulva repeatedly with a lewd, wet splat. Sloan found it hard to accept that his harsh treatment of her was producing such a profound need for his dominant possession. She wailed, but the sound was a cross between pain and desire. As her ass and sex became more painful, her pussy became wetter. Gareth stopped but instead of rubbing her backside as she had come to expect when a spanking was finished, he shoved his fingers into her cunt, pumping them inside and out.

  Sloan’s entire body went tense in anticipation. She rubbed her pleasure nub along the hardened length of him. She could hear his breathing was as labored as her own.

  “I should leave you in this state, little wolf, until we get back to camp, but I fear the ride would be as agonizing for me as it would be for you.”

  He fisted her hair once again, dragging her to her feet as he stood and then bent her over the rock he’d sat on to spank her. There was enough light from the moon that she could make out his actions as he unfastened his breeches and freed his cock. He rubbed the swollen head against her slick, wet pussy before inserting it just inside the entrance to her core. Gareth grasped her hips and rammed home.

  Sloan experienced the exquisite torture of his large staff driving into her, filling her and burnishing her inner walls. Each contact with his body as he slammed into her punished backside, fucking her with the same ferocity with which he had claimed her, reinforced the fact that she belonged to him. She could scarcely breathe, and her nipples scraped along the rock as the force with which he drove into her slid her body across the rough surface.

  Sloan cried out in need and surrender.

  “Gareth,” she keened.

  His frenzied thrusting went unabated and every part of her body tensed in anticipation of his ability to force her to bend to his will and feel what it was he intended—a pleasure beyond her wildest imaginings before he had claimed her. She knew that she should feel shameful for the way she capitulated to their mutual need. She wailed in ecstasy as her body responded to his. There were no intelligible words, just a howl of abandon.

  Gareth continued to pummel her until she felt herself plummeting over the edge. He stroked her violently as her cunt clamped down hard, her entire body shuddering with the power of her orgasm. Gareth roared as he plunged to her depths and began to release his essence deep within her. Her body continued to quiver in blissful, tiny climaxes that seemed to please him as he growled and nipped her shoulders and neck.

  He groaned heavily as he withdrew from her. He reached up over her back and pulled her gown down to cover her punished bottom and wet and sticky nether regions. Without a word he grabbed her by her hair and led her back to his horse. He tossed her up, draping her over the stallion’s withers before he swung up behind her and turned them toward the encampment.

  Neither of them spoke as they made their way back to their pack. He entered the camp and one of his men rushed forward to take his horse. Gareth stepped off and found Fallon right behind him.

  “You’ve seen to the women we brought back with us?” he asked.

  “Yes, Alpha. We have seen them fed and they are resting. Ruari has set guards around their tent but I don’t believe that is necessary,” she said meekly.

  “That is not something on which I would solicit your opinion,” he growled.

  Gareth moved Sloan from his stallion to his shoulder. When she made a quiet protesting sound, he landed a harsh blow to her derriere, causing her to burst into tears.

  “You will be silent, mate.”

  Sloan gulped back her tears.

  “If the mistress is in distress, perhaps I should tend to her,” offered Fallon.

  “The only distress your mistress is in came from my hands and my cock. She will be fine, sore and hopefully repentant, but no she-wolf ever died from her mate’s loving discipline or rough pleasure... and she will not be the first.”

  Gareth turned toward their tent. He stopped to talk briefly to Ruari about the women. “See them settled for the night. I need to deal with Sloan. I will speak with them in the morning when I am assured that my mate will be either at my side or confined to our tent; I will have guards posted on all four sides when I cannot have her at my side. Keep men posted on our guests’ tents.”

  “Yes, Alpha.”

  Gareth proceeded to their tent where he set her down on her feet. “Do you have anything at all to say for yourself?” he growled.

  A thousand and one sarcastic answers went through her brain, but she rejected them all. Instead, Sloan wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his face close to hers. “No, my alpha. But you can’t be angry with me any longer.”

  “You think not?”

  She nodded. “I do. As the process was explained to me, once you have spanked me for displeasing you and I have atoned by responding to your carnal desires with a passionate response of my own, then you have to cease being angry and all is supposed to be set right between us.”

  “And you think you have atoned for your misbehavior?”

  Sloan purred at him. “I do indeed, and in fact I believe I have done so to an extent that I deserve a boon and show of your devotion to me.”

  Gareth smiled. “What are you angling for, Sloan?”

  She grinned at him. “I stink of dead fish, Gareth. Please, my fated mate and alpha, might I have a bath?”

  “We have no tub, but I can have one of the small troughs heated and water added. It won’t be big enough for you to soak, but it will be more pleasant than the river.”

  “I would very much appreciate that.”

  He called to one of his men to see that Sloan got what she needed. He sat down on the bed and beckoned her to him. He drew her into his lap while the makeshift bath was prepared. Once it was set up and the tent flap was lowered, he helped her up and then out of her gown.

  The trough wasn’t even large enough to sit down in, but with Gareth’s help she was able to get clean. He bathed her gently. She marveled that hands that had been able to inflict such a painful spanking and then made rough use of her body were now able to soothe and stroke her in a way that was sensual and loving. When he had her dry, he lifted her in his arms and deposited her into their bed, climbing in behind her and pulling her close.

  Sloan caught her breath to try to stop the tears that threatened to fall. She wasn’t even sure why she was so upset. She didn’t feel it was because he had caught her or even that he’d spanked her. That had felt, for lack of a better term, right. Sloan realized that regardless of what he did or how he did it, there was a rightness about everything Gareth did.

  “Shh, mate. Do not fear; I am here. All will be well,” he crooned softly to her.

  “Gareth?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry for the pain I caused you today...”

  “Shh. Go to sleep, Sloan. You’re overtired and overwrought. Things will be better in the morning.”

  “You could apologize to me too,” she said with just a hint of accusation.

  “For what? Coming after my mate? For seeing to her correction for her foolish misbehavior?” He nuzzled her and dipped his hand between her legs, stroking her gently. “For allowing her to atone for that misbehavior? Nay, mate. I have done nothing for which I am sorry or which requires you to forgive me.”

  S
loan snorted. “Your brother is right... you’re a nasty bastard when you’re provoked.”

  Gareth chuckled. “That he is. Best you try not to provoke me in the future. Your backside and cunt will both thank you for it.”

  Sloan started to say something else, but he cut her off. “Shh, mate. As long a day as you have had, mine has been longer and far more uncomfortable. Let me sleep.”

  Sloan snuggled back into his body, seeking his warmth and comfort.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, she awakened to find herself alone in their bed. She couldn’t help but smile. Gareth may have been tired upon their return, but he had awakened her several times during the night to ease his need for her. She had reveled in his lovemaking. When he wasn’t angry or trying to assert his dominance, he was a tender, yet still powerful lover. She had found herself clinging to him and biting down on his shoulder to keep from calling out and letting the entire camp know that their alpha had made use of her frequently.

  Sloan felt his presence before the tent flap opened.

  “So, my beloved mate is awake?”

  “She is, but she would have preferred to have awakened in your arms.”

  Gareth smiled at her. He crossed over and leaned down, kissing her with an intensity that stole her breath away even though it had been brief. “Fallon will be here momentarily to ensure you didn’t harm yourself yesterday...”

  “I’m fine, Gareth. Fallon has better things to do...”

  “There is nothing more important right now than examining you and making an assessment as to how much activity you will have for the next few days. And you, my mate, will apologize to Fallon for making her an unknowing part of your plans to escape me.”

  Before Sloan could make a comment, Fallon called from outside the tent and was told to enter.

  “Mistress?” she said, approaching Sloan.

  Sloan could see and feel her distress. She realized she had put Fallon in an untenable position. Gareth had elevated her to a unique position for a she-wolf and Sloan had made her jeopardize it based on a lie. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Fallon, Gareth is going to insist that I apologize for lying to you and drawing you into my plans to leave my mate. But I am not going to listen to him.”

  Fallon’s eyes grew very round as she glanced at Gareth, who growled as Sloan rose up out of the bed and crossed over to him. Sloan didn’t mind that she was nude. She figured Fallon had seen her plenty of times in that state of undress. She also thought it was only fair that Fallon see evidence of Gareth’s wrath blistered across her backside. Sloan wove her arms around Gareth and rubbed up against him before pulling his head down to hers so that she could kiss him as she purred her content and desire for him.

  “Don’t mind Sir Growls-A-Lot,” said Sloan to Fallon. “He’s pissed at me and has every right to be. He doesn’t need to make me apologize. What I did to you, how I made you unwittingly my accomplice, is all on me. You believed you were helping me give your alpha a gift. You had no way of knowing that I had an ulterior motive. I deceived you and I’m not proud of myself for having done that. Not very mistress-worthy behavior, I’m afraid. I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”

  “Of course, Mistress,” stammered Fallon.

  Gareth smiled and wrapped her in his embrace. “If you are playing me, little wolf,” he threatened.

  “Not at all,” she said seductively. “Why don’t you be a sweet alpha and let poor Fallon do her examination so that she can assure you that I am quite well and need not be coddled.” She turned back to Fallon and grinned mischievously. “Although he wasn’t in much of mood to use me gently last night. If you could just convince him to knot me, I’d be ever so grateful. I understand from Rowan that it is possibly the most amazingly exquisite experience of one’s life.”

  Fallon giggled. “I am sure our alpha knows what is best in that circumstance.”

  Gareth growled as he ran his hands down her back and gently caressed her red and swollen derriere. “If you aren’t careful, my beloved, when next I crawl between your legs, I will not allow you to bite my collarbone to keep from howling your pleasure so the whole camp can hear.”

  “Perhaps I should have our surgeon look to your wounds...” purred Sloan.

  “Are you injured, Alpha?” Fallon said in a worried tone.

  “No, Fallon, my mate is making a jest,” Gareth said.

  “I am not,” Sloan assured her. “If he were to remove his shirt, you would see his collarbones show evidence of my response to the carnal pleasure he inflicted on me last evening, as does his back, which bares my claw marks.”

  “Enough, Sloan. You are embarrassing Fallon. If you will behave, I will leave you two alone so that Fallon can assure me that if you should require it, your bottom could withstand additional correction.” He patted her rump affectionately. “Behave yourself, mate. I will go and fetch you something to eat. Then we can go and talk to our guests.”

  * * *

  Fallon had proclaimed her none the worse for her misadventure the day before but did suggest to Gareth that Sloan be allowed to do little to exert herself outside of his bed. Sloan had laughed uproariously at the embarrassment that statement had seemed to cause both Gareth and Fallon. After eating, Fallon helped Sloan dress so that she could go with him to greet the women they had rescued the night before.

  “I am allowing you to accompany me as I think the women may take some comfort in your being there. But you will not overdo and then you will return to our tent and spend the remainder of the day resting,” Gareth grumbled.

  “You just want to think of me lying in bed waiting for you,” she teased.

  Gareth shook his head and growled at her, although the sound was more seduction than warning. Gareth had set up a makeshift meeting area by the large bonfire and the women joined them there. Several of their men-at-arms had provided additional seating so they would be comfortable.

  “Milord and Milady,” said one of the women, stepping forward. “I am Mira. My companions and I are most grateful for your assistance last evening.”

  “How did you find yourself captive to the dam-builders?”

  “My companions are human women and lived on one of the farms that was abandoned. I was... making my way north to see friends.”

  Sloan watched as Gareth narrowed his eyes. Mira was lying and he knew it.

  “A she-wolf without an escort?”

  “My pack is small and cannot afford to indulge an unimportant member’s need to see an old friend.”

  “Mira,” said Sloan gently. “No one here wants to harm you. We’re only trying to help.”

  “My mate speaks the truth,” added Gareth. “We are only concerned for your well-being. We can return you to those who would care for you or you may accompany us to Ravenscar.”

  “We can make our own way...” said Mira.

  Gareth shook his head. “That I will not allow. You would be in danger out on your own. You will be safe with us at Ravenscar. Mira, where might you belong? You do not carry the mark of a mate that I can see so you are not mated to an alpha. Are you mated to another?”

  “That is not your concern. I will be on my way with my thanks to you for your assistance.”

  “I am making it my concern. I am not in the habit of allowing unattended females to wander around in the wilderness with no protection. Where is your pack?”

  “I did not ask for your help...”

  “No, clearly you were doing fine without it,” Gareth said sarcastically. “If you will not answer my question, I will make inquiries once we have reached Ravenscar. Surely, someone is looking for you.”

  “Maybe she doesn’t want to be found. Is that it, Mira? If so, we can offer you sanctuary at Ravenscar, can’t we, Gareth?” said Sloan.

  “We can...” he said slowly. “But I will have the truth of why you were in a position to be captured by dam-builders. They aren’t overly clever nor are they particularly swift. Were you ba
nished by your pack?”

  Mira raised her chin. “In a manner of speaking. I was to be given to the alpha of a rival pack. My alpha wished to have peace and believed sacrificing me was a small price to pay. My parents believed it to be a good match, but I wanted no part of it... so I left.”

  Sloan feared that Gareth would return her to her original pack and began trying to figure out how she could help Mira.

  “Then you have something in common with my mate. But you need only ask for my protection, little wolf, and it will be yours. You can become pack at Ravenscar,” offered Gareth quietly.

  Sloan looked at him in shock. “Let me get this straight, you claim and turn me without my consent and without a second thought, but offer Mira your protection? If you recall, I wasn’t in favor of being mated to you.”

  Gareth chuckled and rumbled at her lovingly. “I haven’t forgotten your obstinance in denying that we are fated mates. Was the alpha that you were to be paired with a fated mate, Mira?” he asked, watching Sloan’s face.

  Out of the corner of her eye Sloan saw Mira shake her head.

  “And therein lies the difference,” said Gareth. “You knew we were fated. You forget that I too was once part of a pairing made for the sake of an alliance. It was not successful, and Eloise died trying to give me the child I put in her belly. I would not condemn another she-wolf to that fate.”

  Sloan could feel the tears welling in her eyes and leaned down to kiss him. “Of course you wouldn’t. I am a bitch to have suggested otherwise.”

  Gareth smiled. “As you are now wolf, the title is appropriate.”

  Sloan laughed. “Then the three of you will join us at Ravenscar?”