83. Athos

83. Athos
Maximus...
It tugged at the strings of my heart. It echoed inside my mind like a catchy tune, over and over again. I couldn't get enough of it. I yearned to listen to her utter that name, over and over again, for the rest of my days.
It was a miracle—an incredible gift from our Holy Mother. I never thought that I would ever have the honour of hearing it spelled out loud, since Jeminah was ripped from my arms before we could even share a kiss, let alone exchange our Goddess-given names.
And yet...here she was. My Queen. My miracle. My Callanthea. Lying beneath me like the temptress she was, bared and trembling with unbridled want. Consumed with passion.
Her round and full breasts heaved, her cherry-red lips parted. She stared at me from beneath her long lashes, her gaze misted with desire. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I couldn't look away. I was enchanted. Trapped under her spell.
I let my gaze trail over the rest of her like the weak and hungry animal that I was, feasting on the sight of her lush curves. Her arched waist. Her hips. Her small pussy, glistening with wetness. She smelled and looked amazing...and the wild side of me yearned for nothing more than to free myself and sink inside of her...make her cry out on my bed, tremble, and wet herself harder. I craved her. I wanted her so much that it hurt.
But I... I still felt like I didn't deserve her. There was a big part of me, that felt guilty for what I've done. Selfish. I couldn't help but feel like I had taken her choice away, even though I'd done it to save her life. I was finally realizing now, that I didn't do it for her. I'd done it to save Leo from that pain; from having to suffer the same way I did when I lost Jeminah. The sight of Calla lying lifeless between Leo's arms that day, it only reminded me of Jeminah. Of how powerless I felt when she died. And I... I thought that I was doing something good, that I was redeeming myself by using the power of my blood, after that failed attempt to convince Adalind to use it on herself and cure her illness. I wanted to stop it from happening, for once.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." Those words tumbled past my lips before I could even stop them, and I pushed myself away from her and sat back on my haunches, watching with blurry eyes as she rose quickly, drawing her body closer to mine.
"What?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Athos, what are you talking about? What's happening?"
I could hear that rising anguish in her voice, feel it inside her heart. I shuddered as that pain gripped me harder.
"Forgive me...please..." I uttered, choking on that lump that formed in my throat. I really didn't deserve her touch. Because I was nothing but a monster. A selfish, greedy monster.
"I didn't know...I was just trying to stop it...I swear...I didn't know..." I muttered lamely as a few tears slid down my face. I felt so fucking guilty. Disgusted with myself.
But she pressed closer yet, and her delicate hands cupped my face gently, gifting me with her special touch. I almost pulled away as that pain felt so raw, so real. The only thing that stopped me, was the sight of those tears filling her eyes. That fear and despair gripping at her very soul. It tore me apart, because I couldn't stand to see her suffer, watch her cry because of me.
"What? Know what? What are you talking about?" she asked despondently, peering between my eyes.
"Your wolf gene, Calla...I-I didn't know that it was there, I was only..." I let out a shaky breath, and she climbed onto my lap once again, as her body was starving for that contact between us. I could feel it through the tether. Her wolf was close to the surface, and she was trying so desperately to reach for us. She was rushing to comfort us, soothe our pain.
She buried her fingers in my hair and peered into my eyes, her own shifting to that glowing golden. I stared at her, lost for words. And before I even knew what was happening, I was falling into the pits of my own mind, exactly where those horrible memories were buried.
She held my hand and navigated through them with me, one by one. Watching. Listening. Seeing through my eyes what I had seen. Feeling that pain and loneliness with me. My helplessness, my desperation, as I held Jeminah's lifeless body in my arms. As I watched the humans bury Adalind's body, after months of ceaseless torment, tears, and begging for her not to let herself go. For her to accept my blood. And then, she finally saw that day too. The day of her mating ceremony with Leo. I could feel her fear flaring to life through our tether, as she watched herself lie limp in his arms, covered in blood. Watching him shed those tears, and beg for our Mother not to take her away from him. Watching me as I gathered her between my arms and offered her my blood. A chance. A drop of life.
The memory faded before my eyes, and I plunged back into reality with an air-deprived gasp, finding myself looking into her beautiful eyes once again.
"What...H-how did you..." It felt like I was seeing her for the very first time in my life once again. And I...
She peered right back into mine, her own filling with unshed tears. My brows drew together, placing a gentle hand on her bare hip. That's when I felt it.
"You...you saved my life..." she uttered quietly, and my heart started to beat faster, as that powerful feeling of adoration travelled through the tether, straight to me.
"You brought me back..." she whispered softly. I stared at her, struggling to breathe as that powerful torrent of feelings poured through our bond, overwhelming me.
"I am still drawing breath thanks to you..." she whispered with a hitching sigh, bringing her lips closer to mine. I could feel it all. Her love for me, her desire...
"I am yours..." she declared, and I let out a shuddering breath as those words went right through me, branding themselves on my heart.
"I really am yours..." she repeated, and her eyelids grew heavier, her gaze misting with that heady want as she stole my breaths. Pressing her body closer to mine. And then, her lips descended upon mine, offering me the sweetest kiss that I have ever felt in my entire life. She wrapped her arms around the back of my neck, pressing her round and full breasts against my chest, as she moved her mouth against mine.
My beast growled with ravenous want, and before I could even try to stop him, she was already lying on her back on the mattress, underneath me.
She stared up at me, a little winded and surprised, but there was no fear in her eyes. Only need. A burning lust that matched my own.
I took that moment to look upon her once again and admire her beauty. Her soft and enticing curves. Her charming eyes. Her sinful mouth. That luscious hair that sprawled around her on my sheets like fine silk. I couldn't believe that she was here. Trembling beneath me. Dripping wet.
"Athos..." she mewled my name, meek and breathy. Her cheeks pinched with rosy heat, and the sight brought me back to the moment I first laid eyes on her that day. In that white and silky gown, standing before me, as she peered up at me from beneath her long lashes. Never had I ever witnessed something more beautiful. More pure. A goddess, in her own way. A temptress. A fabled nymph.
"Calla...my little flower..." I whispered in return, my fingers reaching out to touch her gently. I needed to make sure that she was real. That she was here, and that this wasn't just a dream.
I let them skim her cheek, lowering to the column of her throat. She shivered hard, her back arching. I went further, tracing them in the valley between her breasts. Her heart was beating so fast. And so was mine. It threatened to pump out of my chest. I'd yearned for this. So much. I'd dreamt about it often in secret. I'd dreamt of touching her like this, of tasting her skin.
My lips followed that path. I peppered soft kisses on her body. Her mouth. Her throat. I suckled at those breasts, playing with her rosy nipples. She cried and arched beneath me, seeking more of my touch. My tongue. My lips. My skin. And I gave it all to her. Every inch of me.
I made her shatter once, lapping at those delicate petals between her thighs. Tasting her greedily, drinking from her nectar. She squirmed and whimpered, tortured by her voracious need. She couldn't wait any longer, and neither could I. I was starving for her affection. Craving for the feel of her, like a hungry beast.
I rid myself of that single clothing article covering my body. Baring myself to her completely. She panted faster, peering into my eyes. I covered her body with mine once again. And then I positioned myself at her entrance, and breached inside. Slowly.
Her lips parted, and my body grew taut, with every inch added. Fuck. I could barely breathe. She stared at me, eyelids hooded. Panting faster and faster, as I continued to sink inside. Until there was no more space left.
"Sweet...Goddess..." My eyes nearly rolled to the back of my head. I shuddered as a delicious shiver crawled up my spine, and she moaned, long and loud. The feeling was indescribable. She felt...hot, incredibly wet, and constricting at the same time. Soft. Sweet. Decadent. I nearly gave in to that raw and savage side of me; the one that was thirsting to drive into her fast and rough. The one that was demanding that I take her brutally. Multiple times.
I breathed through my nostrils, forcing myself to remain in control. To pleasure her gently, as she deserved. I started to move, equally slow. Listening to the sounds of her laboured breath, her small mewls. Pushing in, and then pulling out of her.
"Holy...Mother..." My claws erupted, sinking into the mattress as I fought so hard not to move any faster. I could've risked hurting her, as I could feel that she could barely fit me. But the sensation of her, that firm grip that she had on me, and the slick and sensual caress of her walls, with every thrust that I gave, was more than I could handle. She was...dangerous. Lethal. And my control threatened to slip.
I rolled my hips, thrusting into her just a little faster. Deeper. Her moans increased in volume, and I let out a tortured groan, as my balls tightened. Fuck. I wasn't going to last. I was going to explode soon. She was...too...
I let out a desperate growl, fighting with all I had to keep my pace. Sweat broke off on my skin, and I trembled, panting audibly as I sank into her. Over, and over again, making her cry and moan harder, and drag her nails on my skin... Until she shattered so violently, and I followed too.
She screamed, and her walls clamped around me, taking all that I had to give.  And I gladly gave it all to her. My soul. My heart. My body. My sweat. My tears. My blood. My cum.