Chapter 36
Dominic pulled away, satisfied at his work as after-shocks quivered through me. His hand traced the bulge of his pants while he contemplated his next move.
The tension had released but the need for more still ached inside. My back arched and hips reached for where his hand touched at himself.
"Not yet," his voice resolute. "I want to savour you, now that your mine."
I sighed, my eyes fluttering as the feeling faded away. Getting up from the bed, he pulled my skirt down and I crossed my legs.
Waiting for him to release me, I wriggled in the bed, ready to be free. Dominic licked his lips and wiped me from his bottom lip while staring down at where I squirmed.
A wicked smile grew, and he turned to leave.
"Where are you going? Untie me," I demanded.
He pulled the rope from the door.
"I don’t want you going anywhere, " he said, amused.
I flipped around in the bed until I sat on my knees. The door closed behind him and I jerked at the ropes around my wrists.
My afterglow burned off fast, leaving raw fury in its place. I placed my feet against the bed frame where the other end of my bindings were tied and used the leverage to pull harder, the ropes biting into my skin.
I twisted my wrists with each pull, the wood of the bed frame creaking but neither the bed nor ropes gave way to my might. I bit into the corded twine, hoping my teeth would rip me free.
The material was too strong to gnaw through and I groaned in frustration. Damn Marek for being so good at his rope making craft.
A sound caught my attention. The whistling of a bird, only too near and frequently. When the whistles and chirps changed abruptly, I knew the unnatural sound wasn’t from a bird at all.
A light tapping on the door before it squeaked open. My smile grew as Jax peaked around the frame.
"You decent?" He whispered as his eyes adjusted to the dark.
I nodded as our eyes met and he took in my situation.
"You ok?" He asked carefully as he pulled a knife from his belt.
I nodded again only slower this time. I wasn’t sure how to tell him I had let my rival ravage my privates with his tongue only moments ago. The memory fluttering in my stomach.
I lifted my restraints to Jax, "punishment for my escape attempt."
He smiled at the flatness of my tone and met the blade with the rope. He began sawing through as he peaked beneath his brows at me.
I could tell what he was thinking. He might not know what happened but he knew something happened.
A guilty feeling washed over me and I looked away, ashamed. One hand fell free and he moved to the second. His attention returned to his efforts, an understanding judgment washing over him.
"He won’t be happy you’re freeing me." I warned, wanting to focus on something other than what Dominic had done with me.
"You think that would stop me? I’m hurt, Rebel. I thought you knew me better."
I chuckled at his joking nature. My other hand dropped as the rope gave way to his knife. I rubbed at my wrists, the scratchy fibers leaving reddened skin where I pulled.
Jax held a hand out, "ready to get out of here?"
Giddy, I grabbed on and hopped off the bed. There was a wetness on the bed where I had been trapped and I wondered if Jax could smell Dominic’s work in the air. If so, he made no mention as he cracked the door. Searching and listened deeply before swinging the door open.
We bolted for the trails behind the hut, running hand in hand. I giggled at our successful escape. Jax glanced back, a wild excitement in his smile.
We didn’t slow until we arrived at the bathing hole. A small waterfall trickled into the large pool of water and I jumped in, ready to wash away the memories of the day.
Jax stripped down to his underwear and jumped in with me. The place was a large pond with the flow of the creek keeping the water fresh amongst the smoothed rocks below.
I bobbed on my feet while enjoying the coolness of the current between my thighs. Jax dunked his head, shaking his hair like a dog after he resurfaced.
I laughed, shielding my face from the spray of water. "Thank you," I told him knowing he would understand how heavy my gratitude truly was.
He bounced on his feet while watching me, the water coming up above his navel.
"You sure you’re ok?"
I blinked rapidly at his question. Was I? I had been so stern on my resilience up until I was trapped by Dominic’s scent. He had seduced me and I gave in.
"I thought I was stronger," I admitted.
His head tilted and lips pressed with empathy. I dipped into the water and swam towards the bank. Sprawling out in the grass, I rested my hand on my chest to feel the rise and fall of my breath.
Jax soon joined me, leaning back on his elbows beside me.
"He’s not doing anything you don’t want?"
I thought it over before answering.
"He’s not forcing himself on me, if that’s what you mean. But I never really wanted any of this."
I gave an exasperated sigh. "This bond will be the death of me."
"So break it," he offered and I turned my head to look up at him.
"How?" I didn’t even know that was possible.
"Well, the easiest way would be to not consummate before the next full moon."
My cheeks reddened, "how do you know we haven’t?"
His head slanted, "the scent of a virgin is very... unique to werewolves."
I averted my eyes, feeling the heat in my blush.
"But, how would that break his claim over me?"
"It’s part of the ritual, the ultimate bonding to seal the deal." His eyes rolled at the rules the Lunar Laws followed.
"If a werewolf changes during the full moon without having completed the ritual, then the bond is completely severed."
My back stiffened as I thought of Grayson. Had that been why I hadn’t felt him die? He had been in his werewolf form when he went over that ledge.
If he had known our bond would have been broken, why hadn’t he taken me before he turned?
I thought of that night, of his promise to protect me. He claimed I belonged to him, even though he was letting me go. Did he think we still had time? Or that we could try again before the next full moon?
Jax’s head snapped up as his senses caught something I couldn’t.
"Look, if Dom ever does anything.... unwanted, tell Marek first."
"You want me to confide in Dominic’s shadow? " I retorted, dryly.
"He won’t be loyal for that," Jax warned. "Its the reason he’s here."
My interest sharpened, "what do you mean?"
"When Marek became alpha of his pack, he promised his little sister to another pack’s alpha as an alliance contract. A few months after the Binding Rite, she returned so badly beaten that it sent Marek into a rage."
I could feel the pain Marek must have felt for his little sister. His heart was as big as he was and something like that would break him.
"That night, he went to his sister’s alpha and ripped his throat out."
I gasped, Marek’s anger forever a shock to me.
"Then he murdered every other male member of the pack. He said if the others allowed it, they were as bad as he was. By the end of the night only the women and children carried the packs memory."
I pictured the carnage Marek carried out, his bloodied body heaving in a blind fury.
"That’s why he was exiled. He was on his way, on the same boat as Julien, to face the Syndicate’s tribunal when he ended up here."
Reeling, my image of Marek had changed. He wasn’t so gentle after all. A ruthless killer in the name of justice, even if it took him from his beloved home.
A noise caught my attention and I pulled myself into a sitting position. Jax appeared unsurprised as Dominic barreled into view.
As his eyes rested on me, his whole body seemed to relax. It was as if he had been holding his breath since my disappearance. He slowed his charge and eyed Jax who looked bored and, having found a dandelion, was pulling each pedal off, flicking them in the air.
I had expected an attack for Jax’s insolence, but Dominic only joined us by the water, like he had planned my escape himself. A quiet stretched between us, allowing me time to let Jax’s revelations settle.
When it was decided to return to the village, no word was spoken about how Jax and I had ended up there. Jax joked with Dominic in his usual boyish tone and Dominic acted like he hadn’t tied me to his bed and left me stranded.
Julien and Marek were preparing dinner when we arrived and I hurriedly joined in, just in case Dominic wanted me back in his room.
I couldn’t help staring at Marek, picturing him ripping the throats out of screaming men. When he caught me watching him, his smile touched the sides of his eyes and I softened for him.
Readying the bowls with food, I felt a sense of peace around the men again. It was like balance had been restored and I was protected and safe once again.
I handed a serving to Jax and one to Julien while Marek stoked the fire. Returning to the prep table to prepare my own food, Dominic passed close behind me.
In a swift movement, his hand reached around my waste and beneath my skirt. A hot hand cupped my privates and I sucked in a sharp breath.
His lips were at my ear, his back blocking the view from the others behind us.
"Don’t think you won’t be punished later. I can’t wait to see what else you will do for me."
He was gone as fast as he had come, leaving me shuddering with a new craving.