35. Draven

I don't believe in any divine being.

Max, however, has become a Goddess to me, one that I will get on my knees for and do what any other devout religious man would do for their God. I'll praise everything from her annoying tendencies to talk when she shouldn't, to that perfect cunt of hers.

The moment that word, ‘ ditto' , came from her lips, she understood freedom from me was impossible and the only way she would be without me, was with my death.

She can read my silence, which is all I need for her to do—that, and listen to my words regarding the mazes she's about to face, stubborn Petit Mouton.

We've been laying naked for the past thirty minutes. I've been meticulously watching the clock on purpose, making the time before she has to enter Po's maze draw out longer. To say I'm not nervous about this one, would be a lie, but I know that Max is fully capable of beating it and making it to five.

Maze five… that's where the problem lies. I need to find a way to help her without taking away what she wants: to fight her own battle. She's here for a similar reason I was seven years ago, and as I fought like my life depended on it, she's going to do the same. I can't take the satisfaction of getting what she wants in the end away from her.

But… fuck, I am not sure I have the strength to allow for it.

"Are you listening to me?" A small pinch on my chest draws me from being deep in thought.

I hum in question, my chin dropping to my neck to look down at her. She's got an annoyed expression written on her flushed face.

In a deep, low voice, I murmur, "Again, please." She squirms in my arms, playfully—though some might disagree—punching my arm. Flustering someone like Max, who seems to rather cut her nipples off before blushing in front of anyone, will become my favorite activity.

"I was saying I should clean up, we have thirty minutes to get back." I'd rather her ass be full of my cum, but I understand. I give her a nod, and as she begins to slide down the bed, I grab her by the neck and pull her back to me.

She inhales sharply, "Draven! Don't start—"

I press a kiss to her cheek, earning a shocked expression in return. "Go, I have a comb in the cupboard behind the mirror, may not be the best, but it's something."

After she showered, dressed, and had a small bite to eat, I'm helping her put her socks on when she wiggles her toes.

I look up at her, and she has a coy smile across her delectable lips.

"What?" I ask, pausing placing her right sock on.

"You like feet?" I feel like it's a bit condescending the way she's asking me that question, but I'll bite.

"I do, especially yours."

The way she squirms is… cute. "I don't think I've been with someone that had a foot fetish."

My eyebrow cocks. "You're missing out. I'll treat your feet as good as your cunt."

She's the one that said we had to go, but when she draws her foot across my cock that is barriered behind my pants, I growl. "Max."

"Quickly show me, then we can go."

There is nothing quick about anything I do, but you know what, if she wants to play, then fine. I'll leave her underwear soaked before she goes into her next maze.

I push her leg back, her knee pressing against her chest. Brushing my lips across her ankle, she giggles and I roll my eyes.

"Just wait, Petit Mouton ."

It's the moment my lips wrap around her big toe that she gasps, and as my tongue slides between them, she lets out a soft moan. Purposefully, I rest my hand between her thighs, feeling the warmth that her cunt provided my cock not too long before.

When I bite down, she lifts her hips.

"O-Okay—Okay, I get it—please."

A soft pop comes as I release her, and spread her leg wide. My finger pushing right where her clit is. "It's even better when my cock is threatening your back wall, Petit Mouton ."

After she squirmed for several minutes, we are out the door and making our way toward the mazes.

Shade is sitting immediately outside waiting, and I'm really unsure of how I feel about his less than wolf attitude. He truly has fallen into the domesticated lifestyle with Max, and I feel I'm going to need to remind them both he is a wild animal.

Troy and Sasha are gone, but I'm not surprised, they probably went to get ready for the maze as well. Though, I kind of hope that Troy will convince that slice of innocence to not move forward.

Max is looking at my hand as the three of us begin walking.

"You don't want to hold hands right?"

She puts her hands in front of her, lacing her fingers together.

When her gaze meets mine, I'm unsure of what she sees—I'm simply looking at her—but her cheeks flush a stunning shade of red. "Never mind, I don't know why I asked that question. That was stupid. Of course not. I don't—you don't—that's weird."

" Petit Mouton. " I drape my arm over her shoulder and sigh, "Please be quiet."

"Got it." She says sheepishly, her tone making me shake my head and smile. Cute… so fucking cute.

Giving her a gentle squeeze, I tuck my opposite hand into my pocket. Shade, who had been walking behind us, now situates himself on the other side of Max. "Listen, I'm going to tell you about what I learned in regards to Pot-Belly's maze."

Her head shot in my direction, her pupils dilating as her stare intensifies. "You know what—"

I shake my head. "Not exactly, but Jun at least provided me with some insight."

The immediate drop of her jaw as she gapes up at me makes me chuckle. "And he just… provided that to you after killing Marcella?"

"He told me while scooping out her eyeballs."

"You made him…" I quite enjoy surprising her like this. "How did you do that?"

Pulling her closer, I lean down to her ear, "I told him if he didn't take them, I would take his—and make sure he lived." Her swallow was so hard I could hear it. "Plus, I reminded him of his fortune. Allowing him to live was a mercy I do not provide to all that fuck with what is mine."

Her head tilts upward. "That's hot."

The corner of my lip turns upward and I gave her a wink. "Only for you." I stand straight, rolling my head before continuing. "Pot-Belly, or Po, his maze is all about choice. It's the shortest maze, but the hardest because he gives you an impossible choice."

I sigh, rolling my lips together, the pause makes her ask, "What could that be? If the prize at the end is as grand as you say it is…"

"No, Max, it's not pick a million dollars or a yacht. From what Jun says, he will use something against you. Like, your freedom or your darkest secrets exposed to the public. That is what this is. "

Sensing her tense beneath my grip, I tighten my hold. "I need you to listen to me, and I fucking mean it Max."

"I know what you are—"

"No, you do not know," I say with force, her chin dropping completely to her chest, her eyes finding anything but me to look at. "You will prioritize yourself. The choice, the only choice—ONLY CHOICE—Max, is you. Do you hear me?"

"Jeez, so brutish!" The anger lacing her tone doesn't affect me, and as she attempts to pull away, I only hold her tighter.

"I will erase whatever he threatens you with, tell me you understand." We are walking, but even still, I move the arm wrapped around her up to her neck, gently grasping her chin and lifting her gaze to meet mine. "Say yes."

"Yes…" My grip draws to her throat, nearly consuming it from ear to ear. "I understand, really." Her voice lowers, but I can hear the underlining fight. She doesn't want to be told what to do, but I could give as many fucks as Marcella has eyes.

I nod, and release her neck, but put my hand back onto her shoulder. "Good."

"What about five?"

Her question is laced with an undertone of anxiety. "Let's just focus on four for now, okay baby? I'll give details on five once you are out."

"Two things, Big Guy—" she was so quick to respond I didn't even register her arm wrap around my back. "One, when you call me baby, my pussy gets wet so can you not do that before I go into a maze?" A thick, snort like, laugh slips from my throat. "Two, your confidence in me might be hotter than your body. "

"You aren't wet from me sucking your toes?" I croon.

She gasps and tries to swat me, but I grab her wrist.

In a graceful move, I bring my arm down and slip it between her legs. She instinctively grips them tightly together and I lift her up off the ground. As if afraid I'd drop her, she wraps both arms around my head.

"Don't tell me what to do, Little Sheep."

Several workers are walking about, conversing and, yes, staring at us.

"D—I mean—Grim! Put me down!" I place my hand onto her stomach and shake my head. Her warm cunt is pressed against the crease between my forearm and bicep, and I definitely can feel it growing hotter.

"Call me Draven, the staff know who I am. It's the guests that should only know me as Grim." I give her a bounce and she swats the back of my neck.

I'm doing my best to ease her nerves, but I know the moment she steps into the maze, they'll come rushing back—along with mine.

"There is one last thing."

I lift my head to see her looking down at me. "Then you'll put me down?"

"Yes."

"Okay, what is it?"

"I want to teach you how to make Shade attack on command." Her eyes round. "It's easy, and extremely important. If I am, for some reason, unable to be with you, Shade will be by your side. He will kill for you, as I have."

Her heart pounds against her chest, and I can almost hear it coursing through her veins. "You'll always be there though, right?"

"Unless you shoot me dead," I confirm. "Now, this whistle is very precise. Very strong, high pitch and quick." The intensity of her eyes as she stares down into mine tells me she is paying attention. "Shade—" I command gruffly, "Attention."

I come to a stop about ten feet from the safe zone, right at maze four, when Shade rounds in front of me and sits. A low whistle follows, and he bows his head to the floor, his rear straight in the air. "I've put him into his training stance, meaning, when I do this—" A quick, piercing whistle comes from between my teeth, causing Max to cover her ears quickly.

Shade tenses, his eyes round while his lips slowly pull back, exposing all of his canines. The once cuddly wolf to my Little Sheep, is now the fierce beast I've trained for years. Though he remains still, his claws extend, digging into the dirt and hay beneath his massive paws.

"If there are multiple assailants, all you need to do, is say the number. Count from left to right always."

I slowly move her down to her feet, and she draws her gaze up to me. "Will he attack anyone?"

"Anyone," I respond quickly.

"You?"

I shake my head, "The only way he would hurt me, is if I was hurting him or, I didn't feed him. Then I deserve it."

Her gaze turns down to Shade, but his gaze fixes on me. "He is loyal, and will take care of you." I place my hand onto her shoulder closest to me. "I'll teach you more, but calling him to you, and having him attack for you, are the essential to know."

"Thank you." She reaches her hand out to Shade, and I give the same low whistle command, and he immediately moves to brush his head against her. "Good boy. "

Time is running short, so I move in front of her. Shade steps back to give me the space I need.

"Call for me…"

Her brows pull together. "Huh?"

"Only… if you need me. I'll come for you. Always. Without question." It isn't a request, and my tone emulates that.

"I thought you couldn't go into the—"

"When it comes to you—" I take a deep breath, but I shake my head. "I'll take whatever comes my way. Okay? Don't hesitate, Max. Promise me."

I'm not just pleading—I'm begging her to listen to me for once. Please, Max…