The little touches and trails of his toes over fur and skin caused shivers and little gasps. He was playing with her, but every drag caused a reaction. He was slowly unweaving the tapestry of her, revealing the hidden depths of her that even her husband had not been privy to. Had he ever even wanted to see? He said he had loved her, but now that she had seen what he was capable of, was that a lie too? The first kiss he placed on her cheek was a tender affection that meant so much more than just the manifestation of Maverick’s lust. This wasn’t just a rebellion from the cage of responsibility she was trapped within. His gentle touch made her believe that this was more than letting go of her propriety and getting laid. That was what she struggled with as the lines blurred between enjoying a good time and forgetting why she was forgetting. He tore down the walls and defenses she built up, he revealed the vulnerable soul inside, and Venom’s fears were revealed.

She was giving him everything, including a power over her she didn’t give to anyone. Maverick, a vagabond ruffian who had disrespected her title and her borders. A man who had no loyalties and was as predictable as the weather. Venom knew that this could be the biggest mistake of her life, and yet as she looked up into his brilliant gaze she felt safe and protected. As she uttered her fears his deep growl rumbled within her and he held her more carefully. She let him manipulate her form, rolling her gently to fully reveal her belly to him. She was already lost at that moment, Maverick possessed her fully. Now she needed reassurance that he hadn’t misled her, that she was really safe, that she could trust in him.

He gazed down at her, she could she the adoration there. His little smile, and lidded gaze projecting nothing but truth. Maverick cared about her. It wasn’t the words she needed as reassurance it was his actions. His rumbling voice uttered life’s truths, there were no guarantees. Maverick paused, and she could feel the ‘but’ coming even as he caressed the soft fur of her belly. His tender touch further eased the tension within as the intoxicants took stronger hold and replaced the anxiety.

If this was his last, he would have been glad to have spent it with her. "Maverick..” She whispered his name in return, obviously touched by his words as much as his wandering paws. Their eyes never left each other as he said it, and Venom felt herself warm at the conviction in his voice. He had been flirting with her since he brought her here, but every word was what he believed was the truth. He shifted again, bringing them closer as he held her protectively and hovered his muzzle above hers. He promised that he would keep her riding this high for as long as she needed. How long did she wish for this to last? How long did she need him to take her away and open her eyes.

She stiffened again as the thought of forever crossed her mind, and how badly she was burned when she last asked for such a thing. Her defenses lowered, the emotions were swift to take her, and tears welled in her crystalline gaze. "I don’t want to fall again.” Venom confessed softly, tasting his breath as she searched his chiseled features. It was foolish to believe that he had the power to undo what was done. Yet she felt him wield some kind of power over her. He deconstructed her defenses, revealed her weaknesses, but remained a shield to keep those secrets for himself. He sparked hope inside of her, and now that he’d gone through all of that Venom was reliant. Something she never wanted to admit again, only time would tell if she was making a mistake. But Venom wanted to let go and trust this man to catch her.

"Venom"

The more time he spent caressing and soothing the wounded empress, the more Maverick felt her svelte body relax beneath his touches and tender affections. Whether it was from his little ministrations or from the marijuana really taking ahold of her cognition he couldn't tell, but either way, she wasn't putting a stop to his advances yet. If she told him to stop, he would. But if she didn't, then he'd keep going and going until he found that limit or until they were both spent. Venom whispered his name, the lyrics husky beneath heated breaths while he leaned his body down over hers, their muzzles almost painfully close, yet still just far enough apart to feed the ache deep in his belly. He knew by now that she was his, lost to whatever desires and intentions he had. Luckily for the woman, all he desired was making sure they both ended this night feeling the best of all the carnal pleasures he could find and Venom had been healed and satisfied. How kind and thoughtful he was—if you ignored his full intentions of getting off himself as well. Altruistic, Maverick was not, but in this case he could make an exception when his own good time was something his partner also desperately needed for herself.

Beneath him, Venom looked almost shocked and scared, expressions that were a far cry from the refined and composed looks she gave him back at that seaside cliff, and the looks of violent aggravation she'd fixed him with when she'd chased him through the woods. It seemed the lovely lady of Ashen was much more emotionally turbulent than she let on. Venom did put on a good show of it he had to admit. It made him wonder just how long she'd been keeping herself walled off from the world, only showing the carefully crafted facade to everyone she met. Had her ex-husband even seen this side of her—this primal, aching, raw side of the dignified ruler? Venom tensed when he asked how long she wanted to ride this high with him for, hesitating in her response before finally confessing that she didn't want to fall again. Mav didn't know precisely what she meant—whether that meant fall in love again or fall from grace—but it didn't matter in this moment. Venom didn't want to fall, and so he wouldn't put her in a position to have to worry about that. This could be a casual fling, a satisfying of needs between two veritable strangers kept secret. He didn't need to become the empress' paramour for all the world to see and make her fear another public relationship, nor did they need to make it any emotional investments. He could give her what she needed without her falling in love and without falling from her high. He could be as temporary as the drugs in her system if she wished it or as permanent as the growing plants he'd taken them from.

Maverick didn't respond to her with words. Instead, he slowly closed that thin gap between their mouths and kissed Venom with a slow-burning passion that seared along his lips. He felt the fire curve through his blood, coming to settle low in his core and between his legs. Turquoise eyes leisurely drifted closed, savoring the taste of her on his lips. The kiss was far from chaste, but he didn't press too far just yet, giving Venom just enough of that hot desire and passion to remind her of what she had been missing without overwhelming her. He didn't want too care her off when she was in such a vulnerable state. His paw roaming her side slowly wound its way around her waist, tugging her body tight to his, toned form settling over the curves of her own body as if he had always meant to be there. He still wasn't quite covering her, but he had draped more of himself across her, letting more of their bodies touch and their fur coats mingle between them while he kissed her. It was a bold and brash move on the vagabond's part, but Venom was no longer the Empress of Ashen. Tonight, she was a beautiful woman who he was sharing his den with, and he would treat her as such. She would find no decorum, no call to stand upon ceremony or propriety. Tonight they were just two wolves, a brute and a fae, getting lost in the natural hungers and urges their instincts brought with them.

Maverick only parted from Venom's lips once he needed to breathe, taking in a couple short, ragged breaths of the cool air while pale turquoise eyes flickered open to peer down at the dark-furred fae with a small, sly grin. "Then don't," he purred quietly down to her, letting his pink tongue slip free of dark teal jaws to plant a slow lick across the smaller woman's lips and chin. Again Maverick moved in for another kiss, pausing with his lips just barely brushing over hers to tease and torment her in his game of lust, grinning to himself like the Cheshire Cat all the while. Then he pressed their mouths together again, kissing her in much the same way as before, but this time sinking deeper into their passion, a masculine growl of want rumbling in his chest while he parted his jaws to let his tongue slip into her maw. His paw around her waist pulled her in tighter, drifting lower from the small of her back to follow the curve of her rump over warm and supple flesh and muscle. He would go further, sink deeper into this sea of desire with Venom, do whatever she wished. As temporary or as consistent as she wanted this to be. He was serving her as much as he was helping himself to her. The only question was whether the Empress would indulge herself in him as well.

"Maverick"

Everything was taking hold of her at the same time, the cannabis long had its hold on her, the alcohol warmed her belly and aided in the euphoric feeling, and Maverick’s arms were wrapped possessively around her. Venom was completely out of her element, intoxicated and submissive, the opposite of everything she had cultivated and promoted before. Had she any real sober thoughts left she would have chastised herself, but Mav’s voice was convincing, his touch was gentle, and there was a promise of her safety.

She didn’t want to fall again, she didn’t want the rug pulled out from under her, she didn’t want the crashing lows and life changing despair. She hid away most of it, forgot about some of it, but right now Maverick took away all of it. He grinned down at her warmly, his gaze sparkled with mirth and he blotted out the darkness beyond the den. He was a sudden lifehouse in the foggy night of her life. Or maybe he was just burying her in the mists and ignorance was bliss. He reassured her though, this wasn’t chasing a temporary high.

There was no verbal answer, Maverick silently promised to be whatever she wished of him. With great care, and the gentle touch she needed Maverick lowered his lips to hers. A soft purr of surprise and delight left her as sunset gaze closed and he made her forget everything. All she felt was the warmth of the alcohol, the euphoria of the herb, and the burning desire he filled her with. His paws never really stopped moving over her fur, learning every inch of her as he held her to him. She smiled into her kiss as he led her further, and Venom would not call a halt to his soft advances. Slowly he enveloped her, convincing her of the desire suppressed in her belly, and his own passions for her.

As much as a stranger could care for her Maverick would do just that. Their lips parted and they both gasped for breath. Venom’s chest heaved against his own as flickers of flame brushed up and down her skin where they touched. His turquoise gaze found her again, his eyes fiery as they reflected the smile on his features. Maverick told her not to fall. She wouldn’t fall from her high, from her pride, for him… As he kissed her again she couldn’t promise herself away from falling for him. Not when he was being given such a view into the window of her soul. She gave him this and it was giving him a part of herself, intentional or not.

He teased her for a moment, his lips brushing against her own as he gave her ample time to push him away, to make her decision. But Venom wasn’t going anywhere, she wanted his arms around her, his paws exploring her frame, his name on her lips. The Empress shed her propriety, her title, her worries, and her heartache as white gloved paws entwined around his neck. Maverick’s tongue slipped past her teeth and met with her forked tongue. His toes grabbed the flesh of her hip and pulled her tighter to his own. Venom let herself go, she let herself trust Maverick as she gave herself to him. Every soft movement, subtle sigh, and sharp gasp were all for him. She opened up mind, body, heart, and soul to him.

"Venom"

Maverick didn't know if it was because of the copious amounts of cannabis in his system combined with alcohol or what, but there was something deeply sensual about loving on Venom like this. Every strand of her fur felt softer than mink fur, the heat of her body against his was like a hot coal radiating warmth all around him, her scent in his nose was a fine and heady perfume, and her taste was extraordinary, as if she were a rare and exotic treat meant to be savored, enjoyed, and reveled in. Venom was an experience, tantric and euphoric. Whatever it was that made kissing and pleasing her different from the other ladies he'd enjoyed the company of in his lifetime, it was doing all the right things for him. Already Mav knew he was in for one hell of a night!

As their kiss deepened, Maverick felt Venom's alabaster paws loop around his neck and cling to him like he were a life preserver for her in a tumultuous sea. Her touch and the way she held onto him made him feel masculine, powerful and strong to have a woman of her prominence squirming beneath him like this, singing her praises to him with the sounds and cries he coaxed from her. Mav responded with husky groans and soft growls rumbling in the depths of his chest. A muffled sound of surprise escaped the dire brute when his tongue met hers between their maws, having not known about the Abraxas lady's forked tongue. He didn't mind it at all; in fact, his salacious mind might have already been wandering to what other things that forked tongue might be able to do. That was when he decided once and for all that Venom's ex-husband was by far and are the stupidest wolf he'd ever known for giving her up.

But his loss was Mav's gain, and to solidify that point, the white and navy brute made up his mind to go the extra mile to give Venom a little special taste of everything that she'd been missing out on. A treat, if you will. He wanted to blow the sensitive empress' mind so that by the time she finally fell asleep tonight, she'd have reached new heights of pleasure and satisfaction that she'd either never felt before or hadn't felt in a long time. Maverick groaned into their kiss while his tongue danced with Venom's, admiring her unique oral mutation in the throes of their passion. Only once he felt the aching need to breathe in his lungs did he separate their muzzles again, breathing heavily while he blinked his eyes open and peered down at Venom with a devilish grin and sparkling turquoise gaze. He lost himself in those sunset pools for a spell, reveling in the looks of utter bliss and need in those jewels.

"Gods, you're beautiful, Venom," he murmured in husky baritones between heavier breaths, reaching in to sensually brush the side of his muzzle against Venom's while he whispered to her. "Tell me to stop whenever you want." This was the last time Mav would leave the decision of advancing or halting in Venom's paws. From this moment on, he would do anything he wanted and proceed how he pleased unless she explicitly stopped him for any reason. Maverick stole one more quick kiss from the empress' lips like a thief, then shifted his head to trail slow kisses along the edge of her jaw and down her throat. This was the ultimate display of trust Venom was exhibiting; giving him, a veritable stranger, access to her most vulnerable parts, both physically and emotionally. If she still showed no signs of stopping him, he would reward her with slow and sensual kisses along her throat, following the thumping pulse of her carotid through the thin skin down to her collarbone. This was the next game they would play: how far would she let him go?

Never letting go of Venom, Maverick proceeded to slowly descend his new temporary lover's body. His muzzle moved over her chest, nibbling through silken fur to the pink skin beneath. His paw beneath her groped at her rump, massaging around the base of her tail where it connected to her body. His other paw blazed the trail for his mouth, brushing lightly over her stomach while he crept down over it, smothering her belly in heated kisses and licks. Gradually he worked his way down until he had positioned himself between the empress' thighs. There he paused, savoring the sight laid out before him of Venom on her back in his bed, legs spread, making all sorts of noises for him. It was more than enough to have the renegade grinning from ear to ear. With one last wink sent her way from down her body, Maverick's paws shifted to hold her hips steady while he moved his kissing and licking muzzle to his intended destination, claws teasing and tickling over her skin while he targeted her soft, heated flesh in her most intimate of areas and giving her the most gentle and leisurely kisses and licks, testing her reactions to see what noises she ended up making and what ways he could make her body dance and twitch with what he did to her. But most importantly, he was gauging to see what she liked the best, wondering if she'd ever had anyone do things like this to her, or if her ex-husband really was as dull as he sounded.

"Maverick"

Maverick promised and was giving her experiences that she had never indulged in before. Her life had always been focused on her position and title. As a young girl her childhood had been stolen away by the eruption and her father’s death. Her whole life had been devoted to her title, to the Empire, to appearances, and to her family. Everything that would trample her personal goals, desires, and wants. Maverick was slowly showing her everything she had been missing. Venom thought that Hattori was her perfect partner, he was as devoted to the Empire as she was, he worked so hard for her and the betterment of what they built, it was part of the reason she had been taken by surprise. She would never understand why it was he left.

But then again Venom didn’t have to understand. What was done was done, and now she was in another’s arms. Maverick couldn’t have been more different from Hattori. He revealed the dark underbelly that she had always avoided. The desires of the flesh were nothing to the needs of the Kingdom, and yet here and now she could forget about her responsibilities and drown herself in him. Their tongues danced together as their mouths met in a passionate kiss. Sheleaned into him until her lungs screamed for breath, and she echoed his soft groan as they finally parted and gasped for breath.

Venom lay her head back as his bright blue eyes gazed into her sunset colored eyes and his words washed over her. Had Hattori ever appreciated her in this way? Had he ever called her beautiful, or looked at her like Maverick was? How was it she felt more love from this near stranger than a man she had vowed to share her life with? "Don’t stop,” she whispered to him desperately as he held her. Maverick erased the past, he obscured the future, and he intensified the present in ways she had never known possible.

The Empress gave herself to him of her own volition, he coaxed her and led her gently, and with great care. He showed her more love in the small amount of time in this den than Hattori had in the whole time they were together. As the words left her lips he returned to hers in a stolen kiss before he began to trail down her neck. She could feel his breath against the most vulnerable parts of her, from her neck and down her soft belly. Her eyes met his whenever he lifted his features, and she felt her belly coil like a spring the lower down her form he got.

Strong pale paws grasped her hips in a decided hold as he trailed kisses and nibbles down her body. He slid himself over her, and lingered as he stopped between her legs. All the way down he elicited small gasps and quiet whines as he teased and tormented his next move. She could see the way he appreciated her form laid out before him. The predatory look on his features caused a thrill in her chest, and the build up he created brought a gasping moan from her lips as he finally brought his tongue to her body again. With minimal efforts he made her eyes roll to the back of her head and he introduced her to pleasure she hadn’t ever believed before.

"Venom"

Don't stop. Those two perfect little words were the last coherent things Maverick heard fall from Venom's lips while he trailed his mouth down over her perfect body, teasing and tempting her with what would only be an inevitability by now. He had told Venom to tell him when to stop, and then she had given herself wholly over to him. Not one to disappoint a lady or refuse a request of a lover, the renegade wolf had no intentions of stopping now. The breathless desperation in her voice was like music to his ears and it had the dire brute practically purring with delight. He reveled in Venom's sensual need, craved her pleasure and satisfaction almost as much as she did. Maverick was the kind of man to get off on his lover's enjoyment, but even more so he was the kind of man to get off on a successful conquest. Venom had been his challenge; someone so uptight and wound up within the decorum and expectations of her station that she had literally starved herself of everything that made her a wolf, a woman, a living being. But it wasn't a cage she'd trapped herself in, but a chrysalis, and now he was helping her to emerge as a beautiful creature of raw sexual energy, born anew from the ashes of her old life like a radiant phoenix.

All the while he teased and pleased her, Maverick held Venom's inebriated gaze, loving the looks on her face and the ravenous gleam in her eyes that spurred him on as he placed his mouth upon parts of the empress no other wolf likely had before. There was an element of risqué and taboo to it that he quite enjoyed. Watching this monarch come undone for him was a high unlike any other! Oh, but he wasn't done yet—far from it! Until he had Venom writhing and crying out her passion to the star-filled heavens, Maverick would not be content. That first moment when his tongue touched warm and supple flesh and he heard the gasping moans Venom made, he knew he was in for the greatest night of his life. The corners of his lips curled up into a roguish grin while he held her gaze, letting her watch while he began to ravage her with tongue and mouth as he took his first true taste of Venom—and then proceeded to devour her.

Guttural growls of primal delight rumbled deep within the brute's chest while he worked on bringing Venom the most exquisite ecstasy a man could provide to a woman. He was gentle, he was slow, letting Venom adjust to his touches and motions. He was also eager, ferocious as he sought out spots that made the fae in his grasp squirm and kick and twitch and moan for him, committing those spots to memory and repeating the actions that had caused such a response from her body to bring her to higher and higher peaks of pleasure. Large paws flexed over her waist to readjust his grip on her hips, giving her total autonomy to move about and writhe as she pleased on the bed, but giving her no inch to try and slip away from him. She was his now, and he wasn't going to let her go until they were both spent and thoroughly satisfied.

Delighted murrs purred in the brute's throat while he watched Venom's sunset eyes roll back in her head, losing herself to him. He flexed his claws, letting their points dance and rake across her waist while he probed deeper yet with an enthusiastic tongue, savoring the flavor of Venom and the experience that she was. This was but the appetizer to the main course; in due time he would have the Ashen empress, but not before he had her breathless and shaking, moaning his name for all the world to hear. Then he would gladly introduce his twilight-eyed lover to even deeper pleasures and euphorias for the rest of the night until they collapsed in a heap together. A fitting way to spend an evening for the pair. But first he would hear her sing.

"Maverick"

She let herself go, there were no boundaries left, no propriety, no hindrance. Maverick took her with no hesitation and she became putty in his paws. Her crown had fallen, her boundaries were torn down, and Venom trusted all that she was to the near stranger above her now. She could see his own desire in his fiery blue gaze as he caught her sunset eyes. There was no malicious intent, along with his passion she could feel the protection. He would allow nothing but pleasure to happen within this den tonight. Venom was safe to release, she was safe in his arms, she could relinquish her control and herself, and he would reward her in every conceivable way.

He wanted her to feel good, he wanted her to accept and embrace everything she had been repressing. Maverick encouraged feelings within her that had never truly been embraced or acknowledged. The thoughts of her past and the heaviness on her heart was lifted as he indulged in her, everything but Maverick disappeared. The results were obvious immediately, as her inhibitions were crushed he was given a reaction that was raw and pristine. Every touch was gentle, however eager and ferocious he was Maverick didn’t forget about the state her body was in. Any hesitation in her was noted, but every gasp was recorded. He took no time to learn her most intimate parts, he played her body as if he had done so a thousand times before.

His own vocal pleasures could be heard in reaction to her own, his chest rumbling with the deep sounds. She shouldn’t have been as comfortable as she was in his grasp, but he gave her enough freedom to move and adjust to every new sensation. He moved with purpose and care. Venom found no moment where pain flared or she wanted him to stop. As she begged, he would continue to free her from every restraint she had ever put upon herself.

She really did lose herself to him, that fact meaning nothing in the moment but it would linger in the morning. Venom existed nowhere but the present moment, Maverick gave her a gift in many ways. She detached from everything but the way he manipulated the waves of pleasure across her body. They brought forth breathless gasps and soft whines from her clenched teeth as he coiled the spring in her core and brought her to heights she had never known. The euphoria of the intoxicants and his practiced touch turned her world upside down. Maverick’s goals were not difficult to achieve with the state he had her in, but even she realized how slow he was taking things, and that despite this crazy high she was at there was more to come.

"Venom"

Maverick watched Venom with intense fascination as she body writhed and danced for him beneath the pleasure he was bestowing her with. Every flick or roll of his tongue brought new or intensifying reactions from the monochrome-coated monarch. His pleasing of the lady became something of a game to him, trying to find every spot on and in Venom's body that made her make those wonderful responses. With the focus of a monk, Mav brought Venom through a riptide of ecstasy, his large paws flexing over her shapely hips to press his claws into her tender flesh, not enough to break the skin but enough for her to feel the points gripping her in a possessive, protective hold. The dire brute wanted the svelte fae to know that she belonged to him for the night. Come the morning, things would likely be different. There may be regrets on her end, they may go back to the way they were before they entered this den of hedonism tonight, Mav couldn't be certain. Would the Empress want to keep him as a dirty little secret? A once-and-done deal to make herself feel good? To be honest, he hadn't put any thought towards what the dawn might hold in store for them or what this meant to her or to him. There would be plenty of time for reflection during the quiet post-coital moments they would no doubt be sharing a number of times tonight.

Mismatched ears flicked and stood at attention while the star-speckled man listened to the rapid breathing of his lover punctuated by heady gasps and quiet whines for more. Her sounds of pleasure aroused him, bringing him eagerly along with her and spurring him on to push her past that wondrous edge. He felt Venom's body tense in his hold and knew she would be drawing close to her finish. The corners of his lips curled up in a wolfish grin; good, the Empress needed her release. Maverick was ravenous, devouring Venom as if it were the last thing he would do in this life. Impassioned, yet ever careful with her, not wanting to exacerbate her injury while bringing her the greatest amount of euphoria he could. Venom was beautiful in this moment, a wild animal of feminine lust and delight enjoying the pleasures of her flesh. He wondered if she ever saw herself this way? Was she always the uptight Empress in her mind, or did she fantasize while she lay in bed at night of being a primal creature of female sexuality? Well, she certainly would now! Maverick was relentless, pleasing Venom with practiced motions to find exactly what she liked best, then targeting those reactions nonstop. The dire wolf wanted to see and feel Venom come undone for him, and he would get what he wanted.

When his efforts finally did bring Venom crashing into her quivering climax, only the did Maverick begin to slow, gradually lightening up but never stopping his actions to let the Abraxas woman ride her pleasure through to the afterglow at the end. As her body settled in the throes of her orgasm, then Maverick would withdraw himself from between her thighs with a lick of his lips, slowly crawling his way back up to cover her body with his own, his larger masculine bulk settling carefully atop her curves as if they were meant to fit together. As he settled over her, he leaned his muzzle in to playfully nip at one of her paws, eyes flashing mischievously as he teased her previous biting of his toes. One paw continued to caress her hips and waist, keeping her held tight to him and carefully adjusting her body to work with her injury. The other dipped beneath her and slid up Venom's back, following the curve of her spine until he was cradling her head and gazing down into those pleasure-glazed sunset eyes, meeting her gaze with a grin while he enjoyed the look on her face. His hips pressed gently to hers, feeling their intimate parts meet, but not taking her just yet.

"You ready, Venom?" he asked in a husky purr, leaning in close enough to just barely brush his lips against hers, not quite kissing her yet, but giving Venom all the opportunity to do as she wished with him. His question didn't leave an option for declining. They were both too far gone past that point, he knew. Neither would say no to the other. The only question that remained was whether Venom was ready to take that plunge with him.

"Maverick"

Maverick had her fully in his grasp, she’d already been lost to him the moment she accepted his offer of alcohol. When she leaned into his side she had accepted his dominance over her, and relinquished the control she so carefully cultivated. He found her when she was vulnerable, and he delivered her drugs to forget the troubles beyond these walls. All that mattered now was the warmth of their bodies upon his makeshift bed. There was a heta between them that Maverick very carefully tended to within her, building and feeding into her pleasures. All while he found the coil within her to the point of untamable release.

Venom was led to a place she hadn’t ever been before, pleasure for the sake of it. She indulged in drink, herb, and this man all because she could. This handsome brute that brought her to heights previously unimaginable. Venom was mostly blind to this side of life, she was loyal to Hattori and their time alone together was infrequent at best. In their time together she hadn’t ever been made to feel quite like this. Like making her feel this good was Maverick’s sole life purpose.

His movements were practiced and gentle, but tailored specifically to Venom and her unique body, With every gasp he learned her better, and with a ravenous appetite he led her over the edge of the vast high he gave her. As he so desired she squirmed in his grasp as her body released, all of its tension from before, everything he had created in her, again and again, wave after wave. Maverick never left her, and held her tightly until she stilled and gasped for breath in recovery.

Maverick drew closer to her, smirking as he nipped at her white toes playfully. It was a subtle sign of affection that went deeper than just this intimate encounter. He cared about her beyond this, he wasn’t just a stranger off the street. He held her head and hips with care, he made her feel like a precious jewel to behold. As requested, there was no stopping and even though positioned perfectly together Maverick hesitated, with his lips brushing against hers.

Venoms pale paws wove through the fur of his neck and chest as she was lulled by his soft clearwater gaze. "Yes, Maverick.” She whispered in return, still breathless against his lips as he pressed against her. He metaphorically held out his paw for her to leap with him. She let go, threw caution to the wind, clung to him, and gave herself over to the three primal pleasures he brought her. She put her trust in him for the night, and more importantly he was given a part of her heart.

"Venom"

As the vagabond nestled his body over the empress' like a blanket, he felt those slender white-gloves forelegs slide up over his chest, looping his neck to grab ahold of him while she held his gaze, losing herself equally into his aquatic eyes as he was into those twilit jewels. Venom looked positively intoxicated in every way—high, drunk, and hungry. No doubt Maverick wore a similar expression of base contentment himself, though he would soon join her in the sexual bliss she'd just enjoyed. Something in Venom's eyes was sparkling with a life that hadn't been there before. He only noticed it now, after he'd brought her to climax, after he'd teased her and poked fun at her and nipped at her paws. It was a sort of attraction he couldn't put his paw on, but he was in no state of mind to be trying to reason out what he was seeing. Venom whispered in husky, heated breaths that she was ready, and he could feel the eagerness in her body pressed so tightly to his own.

Maverick grinned and gave a slow roll of his hips against Venom's, grinding their bodies together in a delightful way that stole his breath away. His paws flexed on reflex, gripping tighter to his evening lover while he teased and tormented her for just a moment longer. He wanted that buildup, that anxious waiting. It would make Venom appreciate the moment he finally had her even more satisfying. While he pressed himself too her and ground his arousal to her more sensitive areas, Maverick closed the gap between their lips once more, locking their muzzles in a slow and sensual kiss. His breathing deepened, his muscles quivering with an anxious need while he teased himself as well in the process and tasted the empress once more. Then he slid his hips back, aligning himself to Venom, and broke their kiss the moment he pressed forward into her. He wanted to see the look on her face at that first moment of joining them together as one.

Pleasure in the form of velveteen softness and unbelievable warmth hit him like a truck, and Mav bit his lip to stifle a throaty groan. Pale turquoise eyes disappeared behind heavy lids that fluttered from the rush of ecstasy the union of their bodies created. Venom felt incredible! Her ex-husband most certainly had to have been gay if he was willing to give this up! "Fuck, Venom...!" he gasped out while he sank into her bit by bit. Claws raked against Venom's back, leaving thin pink lines of scratches beneath her dark fur where he gripped her and helped hold her hips steady while he moved. Maverick grit his teeth and grunted through their initial connection, then let out a heavy exhale, his breath quivering along with his body, savoring the pleasure of bedding the Ashen alphess. Though part of Maverick wanted to let go and enjoy his time with Venom to the fullest, he was ever mindful of her body's state and just how much she could take; he would not push his luck tonight.

The dire brute gave her a few moments to adjust and settle in, watching for any show of discomfort while he began to build a rhythm with his thrusting hips, watching for any signs of discomfort or pain from his lover. Together their bodies entwined and slid across the makeshift bedding, Mav losing himself to the point where he was seeing stars it all felt so good! Hind paws braced against the furs while he took Venom in a manner somewhere between lovemaking and fucking, not quite tender and gentle yet also not rough. It was a kind of sex tailored especially to her needs tonight. Maverick was a great number of things, but a generous lover was among the top of that list. He'd be sure Venom was in for a treat tonight.

"Maverick"

He made her smile, it was an expression that was for that moment, carefree and easy. He eliminated the stress she carried in her, she relaxed beneath him, she let go. Venom put a lot of trust in him, but as their eyes met and her arms wrapped around his neck she felt different. Like there was more than the lustful spark in his gaze. There were no more deeper thoughts than that however, she was not her own in that instant together. Venom needed him in ways she never would have admitted or sought out before he’d saved her from the fall. But that moment was so far removed from the one they were in now.

All she knew was the sparkle in his brilliant eyes and the feeling of his body against hers. The feeling of his paws grasping tightly against her, and claws against her skin. There was no halting what was to come, and Venom felt the tension build as he teased her with every carefully placed roll of his hips. Her own sharp claws were revealed as he made her curl her toes. They extended into Maverick’s thick fur but wouldn’t break any skin just yet.

He kissed her again, holding her tight as she pressed herself against him, ignoring the protests of her sore body. With the herb, with the liquor, all she wanted was him. She returned his kiss, deep and needy, whining softly as he pulled away just enough to catch her gaze again. Then he stopped teasing her and as she gave of herself Maverick took her. Venom gasped for breath as her paws pressed against him and he overwhelmed her. Her chest heaves, her eyes closed and rolled in her head. Nothing existed but her partner as he made one from the two of them. He filled her body, her heart, her needs, Maverick was everything she needed in every way.

Maverick gasped as groaned along with her as their bodies moved together. "Maverick,” she whispered his name in a gasping reply, unable to form anything more intelligible than his name. His claws dug into her flesh as hers did to his own, and he pressed into her sharp claws extended to his kin. Even through the intensity there was part of her that knew he was being careful with her. As she was, there wasn’t much roughness she could tolerate, but he didn’t act as if she were a breakable flower either. He played her like he’d known her the whole of their lives, Venom gave herself up to him, and didn’t regret a moment as he revealed deep pleasures and sensations she’d never known before.

"Venom"

Of all the reactions and responses Maverick had been able to elicit from Venom, the smile that stretched across her face while they made passionate love in the small, cozy den was hands down his favorite so far. He hadn't know her for long, but in that time, he could only recall seeing the Empress smile twice: once when she was airborne on his swing and now. It was a look that definitely suited her far better than that austere scowl, and a damn sight better than the tears he'd seen her shed when he'd left her after their first meeting. In this moment, Venom made him feel like he was king of the world, no matter how temporary that high was. There was nothing in life more important that the beautiful woman in his arms—which wasn't far from the truth for the vagabond who had nothing else in life but his freedom and his life. It was all he had ever really needed, though he could not deny the pleasures of favorable company.

The rest of the world had faded away entirely, leaving the two wolves to bask and revel in one another freely for the duration of the night. Nothing existed outside these den walls to Mav. All he saw was Venom's pleasure-hazy twilit eyes and enraptured smile on her face, all he could smell was her scent filling his nose and intoxicating him like a bump of cocaine, and all he felt was her, both inside and out, as she was wrapped around him in every conceivable way. There was something tantric and almost spiritual about the way their bodies moved, collided, worked together and against one another in the most pleasant of ways. It was as if the combination of their physical needs and intoxicated states had their souls entwined in passionate mating as well. Venom had opened herself up to him in ways that Maverick still hadn't to her, but the white and navy brute hadn't been that guarded to begin with. He'd welcomed Venom into his world with open arms, showed her how to embrace this side of her and explore her sexuality to grow and heal. It was more than he'd done for any other woman he'd flirted with or wooed on his travels, and if tonight was to be a temporary experience for them both, it would definitely remain a memory tattooed on his mind and soul for all eternity.

Though Maverick didn't believe in love at first sight or any of that romantic bullshit, he couldn't deny feeling a well of emotions as he watched Venom delight in their shared pleasures together. Or maybe that was just the euphoric effects of the drugs playing tricks on him. He couldn't be sure—but right now he didn't care to be sure. Rational thought was so far gone thanks to the substances he'd taken and he was content to just enjoy the ride and the high for however long it lasted. At some point it would end and they would both need to come down, but that was a worry for future Maverick, and that guy was a lonely prick who was apathetic and jaded with the world. He could deal with it later. Excited eyes watched while Venom's rolled back in her head and closed with heaving breaths, watching the ecstasy flitter across her expression with every roll of her hips and each thrust of his. She whispered his name and Mav trembled in the fae's hold, groaning deep in his chest. He pressed his muzzle to the hollow of her throat, nuzzling up along her collarbone while drinking in deep breaths of her scent. A prick of Venom's unique feline claws along his back sent thrills rushing down his spine and coaxing another guttural groan from the man. He hadn't noticed these mutations of Venom's before now, though he was swiftly becoming intimately familiar with them.

Time meant nothing in here, and as it slipped by without notice to him, Maverick felt the heat between him and Venom grow. He wanted to relish in the Empress' magnificent body in every way he knew how to. He wanted to bring her to peaks of pleasure she hadn't ever imagined before. But he couldn't tonight—not in the state she was in. It was fine; if anything, it helped him take things nice and easy for his lover. She could enjoy all of the passions they shared without risk of injury, while still being treated as the powerful woman she was and not like some porcelain trophy to be kept on a shelf. White toes flexed against the ground and curled as his pleasure mounted, the tension in his belly growing to unbearable levels. How long had they been coupled? A few minutes? An hour? More? He'd lost track of time being enveloped in Venom. His grunts and groans deepened and became more frequent, his movements shorter and growing erratic as he neared his plateau.

Clutching tight to Venom as if she might disappear otherwise, Maverick parted panting jaws to gingerly nip at the base of the fae's throat, burying his face into her chest as his body tensed and then exploded with a loud, breathless moan. He pressed hard into Venom, body quivering from tip to tail, muscles tensing and flexing with his climax. Once more he moaned Venom's name for all the world to hear, refusing to let her go or cease his movements until he'd brought her crashing into blissful satisfaction along with him.

"Maverick"

Too much time had passed since Venom felt like she was someone’s priority. Hattori’s duty was to her as an Empress, that never included the physical and emotional needs of the woman behind the title. Shehad thought herself happy, or at the least content, with her lot in life. The Empire and its reaches were most important. Her own deeper desires and requirements were inconsequential. Then her husband left her and she realized just how lonely her heart really felt. She had no partner, no wolf that was on her side exclusively. She had her brothers, she had her children, and however much she was questioning the loyalty of her subjects she knew those bonds would never falter. They gave her comfort and propped her up, but there was no substitute.

Having Maverick now chased all of her loneliness and sorrows away. He made her feel like she belonged here in his arms, like she was the only woman in the world, like she was important in ways that were beyond her lofty title. The way he looked into her eyes as he made love to her sparked a fire in her heart that had never truly been ignited. There had been whispers and sparks,but nothing like the way he lit her up right now. Her smile was as easy as the gentle moans and soft whines he brought from her lips. Maverick made his mark, it was a permanent symbol on her heart and soul no matter his future position in her life. This was the high she feared to fall from.

He showed her how special she was in this euphoric moment of bliss, he pushed her higher and higher. Each moment Venom felt couldn’t be better than the last he proved her wrong. He had her writhing beneath him, losing her mind and senses in each pleasure filled motion. All that existed was the fiery passion built between them Venom could finally be wholly present in the present moment. Maverick made her feel alive again, he brought her soul from the shadows and reminded her of the world she was allowing herself to miss. Her needs were at the forefront of his mind, she could see everything in his sparkling blue eyes as they created and built this connection to one another through these intimate acts.

Venom didn’t know how long he had her here, time meant nothing as he carried her away to higher heights. She could tell they were both reaching the zenith of the cliff they climbed, The desperate movements were more primal and he made her feel feral as any control over herself was lost. The coil tightened and then broke, releasing all of the tension built within her core in an unyielding eruption. She cried out just as he did as the both of them held tighter and came crashing down together. Any discomfort at the intensity of their finish was covered by the waves of pleasure that washed over her from the inside out.

Her toes curled into his thick fur and she pressed herself against him as hard as he pressed to her. Venom clung to Maverick like the whole world would disappear around her if she didn't. He made her gasp for breath and tremble as tingles raced up her skin and she slowly returned to reality from their trip to the heavens. "Mav… Maverick.” She whimpered through the throes of passion as she buried her features into his soft warm fur. She let him overwhelm her, the feelings of ecstasy mixed with desire. He made her feel wanted and needed most importantly of all.

"Venom"

Venom came crashing with him right into that climactic finish, both of their bodies writhing and grinding against one another's as they hit their peak, then fell from heavenly heights into an endless sea of warm euphoria. Every part of Maverick's body felt tingly and light, like he was floating amongst gentle waves in total bliss and satisfaction. He listened to Venom's cries of ecstasy, felt her body tense and quiver all around him as she clung tight to his body just as he was holding onto her. He felt her toes curl through his thick fur, felt her body rise up into his to keep every single inch of them pressed tightly together. It was like Venom never wanted to let go of him, and he didn't want to let go of her yet either. He felt her every hot breath wash over his cheek when she buried her face into his fur, whimpering out his name between heavy breaths. The sound sent wonderful shivers running down his spine, and though they'd both just found their releases with one another, it still turned the dire brute on. "Venom..." he whispered back between throaty hums and murrs of delight.

Once he had regained a small amount of control over his faculties, Maverick blinked open his eyes, which had screwed shut against the rush of his release. Pleasure-drunk turquoise peered glanced around the room, drinking in the moment to commit it to memory. He was holding Venom while she clung to him, still wrapped in her as he rested inside her, both of their short breaths filling the small and dark den with the aftermath sounds of passion. A satisfied grin had grown across his face, and while still holding Venom in his arms, the renegade brute gently shifted and rolled them so he was flat on his back and had the empress resting atop his prone body, still tangled up in one another's limbs. He grunted and sighed as he settled into place with his lover over him, that floaty and spent grin plastered on his face with heavy-lidded eyes looking over Venom with a sense of pride and accomplishment. One large paw roamed idly up and down her back, careful to avoid her hidden quills while spreading his digits to trail his claws gingerly through her fur and over her skin where he'd been gripping at her just moments before. Hopefully he hadn't been too vigorous and hurt her.

For a while, Mav just let the quiet surround them while they caught their breaths and basked in their post-coital afterglow together. As his breathing began to settle, Maverick turned his head to nuzzle a cheek against Venom's crown. She could remain buried in his fur for as long as he pleased if she wanted. He was quite enjoying their cuddle session and seeing Venom in this state of bliss, the beautiful fae was practically glowing with bliss. "I think someone needed that bad," he teased her with a husky chuckle, still letting his paw roam and claws dance over her back. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" As much fun as they'd just had, if he'd exacerbated Venom's injury, he would've felt awful, and already was trying to remember the remedial healing lessons he'd learned from his mother about dealing with basic first aid just in case.

"Maverick"

Nothing existed around her but Maverick, there were no memories and no plans, no past no future. Only right now as Venom lost herself with the man who held her tight. They both lost their breath together, they cascaded downwards, and lost themselves in one another. He never let her go, as her voice murmured his name he whispered her own back to her. She felt like for a tiny moment that he was never going to let her go. He made her smile, in an airy euphoric way, but also because they were sharing similar feelings. All she wanted right now was him. There were no responsibilities, no pain, nothing but this blissful moment and it was all for Maverick.

She gasped for breath, pressed against him as tight as she could. Both of them panting and struggling to regain a hint of composure. Before Venom could Maverick shifted both of their forms on the bed, rolling her over to sprawl over his chest and stomach. He settled quietly beneath her as she clung to him, smiling into his fur as her skin tingled and her heart fluttered. He rubbed her back gently, avoiding her quills almost instinctively, getting an intimate look at her attributes. For a long time he let her lay like that, recovering as he held and touched her gently.

She began to catch her breath when his cheek brushed against her head, he held her a little tighter as he spoke up quietly. He teased her warmly noting how much he thought she needed everything they just shared. She curled into him a little tighter in answer as he went on to ask after her well being. There was plenty of potential to have worsened any of her injuries but she shook her head. She would be sore no matter what, there wasn’t much extra burden. She was glad he already expected her to be limping home.

"No,” Venom assured him with a breathless word. "Anything but.” The Empress lifted her head from his chest, finally returning her gaze to his, their noses nearly touching. Her smile was easy and carefree, a rare gift to be given. "It’s hard to believe we’re strangers after all of that.” She didn’t want to inflate his ego too heavily, but the way he touched her like he’d done it a thousand times before was unbelievable. There was much brewing uncertainty in the future but he was right, she had needed him to take her away.

"Venom"

The same blissful, almost dopey grin that was on Venom’s face was also plastered on Maverick’s countenance as well. Although he was starting to get familiar with Venom and her unique anatomy more and more with every passing moment spent in one another's company, there were still surprises to the Ashen alphess that he hadn't discovered yet. His avoidance of her quills in her scruff hadn't been out of insight, but sheer dumb luck, a dumb luck that ran out only a moment later when he ran his paw a little too high and pressed a little too deep into her neck fur. A sharp prick to his paw made Maverick pull his paw back with a sharp hiss of breath through his teeth, shaking his paw to dispel the sting left behind in his unfortunate digit. What the fuck was that?! Cocked a brow in confusion and curiosity, the dire brute carefully placed his paw back over Venom's scruff and began to comb through her coat with much more cautious movements until he felt the firm spines of her quills hidden in her plush fur. He chuckled under his breath and returned to stroking up and down the lady's back, being more mindful of her hidden defensive mutation. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" he whispered with a bit of affection and adoration in his voice for the rare creature that Venom was. As a wolf of normality save for his fur pattern and massive size, mutations were something new to Maverick, and Venom had them in spades it seemed.

Venom assured him through breathy whispers that she was better than fine, and anything but hurt by their vigorous lovemaking. She tilted her head up and those sunset eyes gazed up into his again, their muzzles so close he could feel her every warm exhale against his nose. It made Maverick smile in his floaty daze while he just lost himself in her twilight eyes. She wore a look of total satisfaction that worked wonders on Mav's ego—not that it needed to be inflated more than it already was—that he could put an alpha in such a state of bliss. Venom made a comment about them still being strangers after their night, to which he responded with a short laugh that gently jostled her on top of his chest. "Are you saying you actually want to get to know the scruffy vandal poking around your front lawn now, Miss Empress?" he teased her, leaning in to flick his pink tongue across the end of her nose. "Better be careful with me, Ven, you never know what a ruffian like me could be up to." Maverick gave the fae a wink and squeezed her gently in his embrace, teasing her with the words she'd used on him during their first meeting. He was savoring the sensations of her body touching his for as long as it would last, as he knew this would all be temporary. It always was and always would be.

Shifting just a bit so he could lean his muzzle up to brush Venom's brow and forehead with tender little kisses, Maverick released a deeply contented sigh, his tail giving a lazy wag beneath him on the furs while he basked in the post-coital pleasure and heady high he was still floating in. It felt a lot like drifting away in a calm and endless sea, his body going wherever the tide carried him. Yesterday he had been a vagabond and nobody. Tonight he was the lover of the Empress. Who knew what he would be tomorrow? "This is how you should always be, Venom—happy," he murmured under his breath while he watched Venom enjoying the same afterglow he was, his paws never stopping their roaming over her body while they rested.

"Maverick"

They were both intoxicated on far more than the substances they consumed earlier, and the silly care free grins they shared showed that. His pale paws roved her frame as they lay there together, and eventually his luck ran out as he stroked her scruff. He jumped when he discovered her natural defenses. Before she could explain his toes were exploring the fur there, she could feel him grasp hold of one hidden quill. She smiled up at him sheepishly as he whispered his amazement, revealing a deeper affection and adoration in his deep voice. The moment was so sweet and fulfilling in ways she never knew she was missing. "You have no idea,” Venom returned softly with a little kiss to his nose. She really had completely lowered her defenses for him. Every thought and desire could and would be done as she desired. It was an incredibly freeing and intoxicating feeling to someone so stiff and disciplined.

She couldn’t help her sleepy gaze looking up at him from beneath her dark lashes. After what they experienced together there was a part of her that didn’t want the night to end. The high was too sweet and the euphoria addictive. More than that was the feeling of completeness she was missing. Opposed to the creeping feeling of loneliness when the thought of morning disturbed her blissful mind. It was easier to more fully indulge and push the thoughts away because they might hurt. Right now Maverick was wrapped up in her as much as she was him, and there was no risk of him letting go tonight.

He chuckled at her observation, teasing her further and hinting at the foundation they were already building of vagabond and monarch. It was a lovely fantasy that Venom was diving head first into just so she could ignore what would happen when it was over. She grinned through his teasing and as he licked the end of her snout. It was a tingling feeling, silly and sweet at the same time. She tried not to feed the darker thoughts that arose as he warned her off him. He joked, but that was exactly what she was afraid of. He snuck in past all of her defenses and was given a glimpse at her most closely guarded secrets. Conquered the mighty Ashen Empress. He could walk away richer and leave her broken. She couldn’t’ let herself believe that though, no matter how real a possibility it might be. Eventuality.

"Maybe I do,” she voiced quietly, more to herself as the trepidation seeped in. There was a connection between them now, something deep and instinctual that couldn’t be denied.

She didn’t voice her fears, but they were brushed away as he shifted slightly, lifting his muzzle to brush gentle affections over her brow. This was more than some lusty courtship, this was as genuine affection as she had ever felt. It was special and had more meaning than Maverick would ever know. He nuzzled next to her ear and she held onto him a little tighter as he whispered to her again. He’d seen many facets of her, this the most rare, but the one he could most clearly see. She should always be happy, just like this. "That’s a bold assertion, Mr. Ruffian.” Venom teased him, but at the same time she’d possessed her serious nature. "Would someone like you stay around to make sure that remained true?” She didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that he would leave her in the morning. But maybe the solution really was as simple as a request for his lingering presence. Her fear of rejection lingered in her voice though, and no amount of liquor could disguise it.

"Venom"

"You have no idea.” No, Maverick truly had no idea just how unique and special Venom was, but he had a feeling he was well on his way to learning firsthand. He'd seen wolves with mutations before in rare instances, but Venom was the first he had met to have so many unique attributes to her physiology. Cat claws, quills, a serpent's tongue... perhaps more that he just hadn't encountered yet? She was this rare and beautiful creature, one of a kind in the world, and handling her above or below him had been a life changing treat. Maverick had had a number of lovers in the past—none more than short flings wherever he chose to hang his hat for the time—but his experience with Venom had been something so much more. There had been sexual gratification on both ends, yes, but even in the wake of their passion, cuddling in repose in the aftermath of their mating, it felt different. Mad enjoyed the company of lovely ladies. He'd bedded a number and could remember none of their names. They'd been good lays for the time, but after each one, he'd simply felt complacent. It was like having a snack when you were ravenous, or scratching an itch that always came back—it took the edge off a need, but it never truly satisfied. That's why it had been so easy for him to love and leave, to pack up and move on with his life without any regrets.

Venom was breaking that convention in him. Gazing down into glistening sunset eyes, Maverick didn't just feel complacent. He felt satisfied. He felt happy. Looking at the girly smile on Venom's lips while she kissed his nose and looked up at him as if he were the most important wolf in the world to her made him feel manly, masculine, and powerful. It was a primal feeling that he quite enjoyed and worried it could become addictive to him. He could have no idea the invasion he'd led on Venom's heart, mind, and soul—had no inkling of just how thoroughly he'd conquered the Ashen Empress. To him, this was all fun and games. The possibility of anything more serious forming between them felt as radical as the sun reaching its peak at midnight. Their lifestyles were oil and water. Venom could never want a man like him for anything more than a fix of her particular brand of painkiller, but he didn't mind. He quite liked being her painkiller if it meant he got to bury himself within her like that and see all those cute faces she made when he was inside her. He'd be whatever she needed him to be—no matter how temporary it may be.

Yet even as he considered their short-lived affair, Venom took him by surprise by claiming that maybe she did want to get to know him. A curious brow quirked over a skeptical turquoise eye. She claimed his decree that she should always be happy was a bold assertion, and that just made him feel bad for her all over again. Happiness shouldn't have been a bold assertion for anyone—it should have been a given. He knew that hadn't been the case for Venom, however. She had lived through turmoil and heartbreak and become so used to it that she just repressed it down along with all her other emotions and thoughts. But Venom surprised him yet again by playfully asking if he would stay around to make sure she remained happy. Maverick didn't know how to respond at first. Was she fucking with him right now? Was she playing a prank or teasing him? Sure, desperate women had begged him to stay with them before, but never had an alpha asked him to stay. Yet in her voice was a thinly veiled fear—a fear that he would say no and leave. Really, that's what he should do, right? Cut ties, continue on about his life, just as he always did. It was easier that way.

...But what if he didn't want to keep running? What if he didn't want a sad and easy existence anymore? Just as he had offered Venom an escape to another life, she was offering him the same, but with stability and consistency. After scrutinizing her expression for a moment to try and deign whether she was being serious or not, Maverick asked, "You don't really mean that, do you?" If she was fucking with him right now, then she was getting him good and he wasn't even aware! "You actually want me to stay? Me? The guy who flaunted your borders and gave you hell." He paused for a moment to let his words sink in and for her to answer him when another question came to his mind, making him smirk a little at the alphess still draped across him, her languid body oh so alluring and unable to keep his eyes off of her shape. "Does this mean you want me to be one of your subjects? Does Ashen have a 'sex slave' rank, or are you just making an exception for me?"

"Maverick"

She shouldn’t have been entertaining the thought of more than what they had right now, she shouldn’t have ever let herself this close to him. Venom never should have slept with him. Even through the should not haves she couldn’t bring herself to regret this moment. His arms wrapped protectively and possessively around her, their lips nearly touching as they whispered quietly to one another. The length of her body pressed to his as she lay languidly down his belly. Maverick gazed down at her with an adoration she wasn’t sure she had ever felt like she belonged like she did in his arms right now. It was yet to be seen if this was some fluke to behold. She didn’t know if this kind of contentment, this happiness, would be recreated.

She didn’t know what she was doing, giving herself to him like this when there was only one logical outcome. They were too different, their lives were incompatible. She was a free spirit, she was tied to her responsibilities. Yes her heart ached for him. It wasn’t just the loneliness, she felt the connection between them as her sunset gaze lingered on his vibrant blue eyes. She spoke, but she wasn’t sure he believed or really understood what she was saying. Why should he? It was nonsense thinking she could just cart him back to Ashen and pretend she had a husband again?

Even as she said it she regretted it, all the liquor and cannabis in the world couldn’t cover that feeling. She buried her features into the thick fur of his neck as he questioned her deeply. As he should. She just wasn’t thinking straight, that had to be the root of it. His voice was incredulous, and her cheeks flushed as she tried to take it back. Their time together would be ruined with her errant thoughts. She didn’t know how to answer him, she had meant it but she felt foolish for it now.

Before she could do anything he questioned her again and she peeked up at him. He amusement in his voice was infectious as he asked about what kind of position he’d take in Ashen. If she would be bringing him home for a rather specific purpose. She couldn’t help the chuckle he brought from her. After her preposterous notion it was a completely acceptable answer. "You don’t seem too disappointed in that outcome.” Venom tried to tease him enough that they could just forget she had said anything. Even if the thought of returning to her cold palace rooms alone chilled her. "I am the Empress, I can make accommodations.” She went on, even when she knew she’d already gone too far. Maybe she was desperate, and this was just her cry for help.

"Venom"

It was all so very amusing to Maverick to consider the situations he found himself in. Having a woman fawning over him and asking him to stay with her wasn't anything new per se, but this was the first time he'd had an alpha ask it of him. Damn, he must've been good in bed if Venom was borderline decreeing it as the Empress! He snickered and flashed her a wily grin, eyes still glassy and heavy with his intoxication of multiple substances, yet equally lively and entertained by her. She commented on him not being disappointed with such an appointment to her, then pointed out that as the ruler of Ashen she could make whatever changes and accommodations she desired. "What's there to be disappointed about? Should I be more upset about being whisked away to a life of hot sex with a monarch with the body of a goddess?" he asked, that rakish grin growing as his paw gave a daring dip down to squeeze some very womanly curves of the Empress with appreciation. "Nah, I'm more thinking you'll get buyer's remorse after you spend enough time with me, and I'd really like to not lose any toes, thank you very much."

Really, that was the matter of it. Maverick was too used to his rambler lifestyle, and Venom didn't know what she was asking for by getting involved with him. Really, she was still just riding the high of good drugs, good booze, and a good fuck. No doubt the morning would bring her clarity that she wasn't thinking with right now. Still, he was greatly enjoying his time with Empress Venom and would continue to do so for as long as she stayed conscious, though judging by her heavy eyelids, he didn't suspect that would be for much longer. The fae didn't have much tolerance for the lifestyle he lived and was already starting to reach her limits. "I'm touched that I rocked your world thoroughly enough that you'd wanna keep me," he said with a chuckle after a moment, stroking the back of Venom's head and gently scratching behind her ears while he leaned in to plant another lick to the side of her snout. "If you feel like a round two, I'm happy to let the Empress show me just what it's like to be under your power." He chuckled deep in his throat as he brushed soft paw pads across the side of Venom's cheek. "Although you look comfy enough to fall asleep at any moment."

"Maverick"