Chapter 11

11

T here were four different ways for Laverna to get to her private chambers in the catacombs. It had always been for safety reasons, but now, with Romulus refusing to put her down, taking the back way in that no one else would be using was the only way to ensure no one witnessed her embarrassment.

"Go back to help the others. Roberto will call you and find safe lodgings for you all down in the catacombs tonight. Don't even think about arguing with me either because if anything happens to you guys, Romulus will bitch me out forever over it," she said to Claudius.

The old wolf just bowed to her. "I wouldn't dream of disobeying you. With Rom currently incapacitated, you are the alpha in the city."

Laverna shook her head. She didn't want to be looking after the wolves too. "You guys are so fucking weird. Just message me if you find anything. I'll take care of the fearless leader."

"I have every faith that you will." Claudius turned to go and paused mid-step. "Don't hurt him, Laverna. He's not as strong as he seems." With that, Claudius headed back to the Porshe, leaving her gaping after him.

"Hurt you . As if I have that kind of power," she huffed irritably.

Romulus didn't say anything. His eyes were glowing brightly as they looked around at the park they were standing in.

"You are going to have to put me down for this next bit, Rom," she said and pushed a little of her power into the command. He snarled softly but placed her on her feet. She held his hand, and that seemed to satisfy him.

The park had once been a cemetery, and tucked away behind a well-set illusion spell was an old mausoleum that archaeologists would have loved to get their grubby hands on.

Laverna placed her hand on the door, and it swung open. Magical locks were unbreakable, with the bonus of her never having to carry a key.

Romulus sniffed the marble room carefully before following her in. She pushed an engraving on the stone sarcophagus, and it slid back with a grinding of stone against stone. A dusty torch was hanging on the wall that she lit and went first down the stairs.

"I don't think I've come in from this way for five hundred years," she said, shifting the sarcophagus back into place with a brush of her magic.

Romulus's grip tightened on hers. Maybe he could sense how much she felt like running away. She had never brought anyone to her secret place, and the thought of showing it to Romulus made her all kinds of nervous and prickly. If their strange peace went to shit, she would have to find a whole new hideout.

Romulus's arm came around her waist, holding her up against him. "Safe," he said in his not-quite-human voice.

"Let's just figure out how to get this magic off you, okay?" Laverna said, not turning around to look at him. He loosened his hold only enough to let her walk.

They were silent for the rest of the way. Romulus had to lean down for most of it because the tunnels were too small to accommodate his height. They were both grubby from dust and cobwebs by the time she got him home.

Laverna opened the doors and turned on the lights. "Welcome to my hideout. If you say anything bad about it, I'll let the witches eat you."

Romulus's wolf eyes looked around at her horde and smiled, showing fang. "Den," he said. He sounded smug, and Laverna couldn't figure out why.

"Don't get distracted," she replied when he reached out to touch a marble statue. It was one of her naked that she had modeled for Antonio del Pollaiuolo. "I swear you men can't help but gawk at tits even if they are marble."

She dragged him along through another tight hallway and up a curved set of marble stairs. Her hand rested on the door, and she took a deep shuddering breath.

"Please don't make me regret showing you this place," she whispered and pushed open the door.

Inside was what remained of one of her temples. It was a large circular room, and on the floors was an elaborate mosaic of stories about her that matched the frescoes on the walls. Her magic and the resonant effects of her old worshippers filled the room with her power and made it thrum hot in her veins.

On a dias sat a throne of bones and wolf fur. In times long past, she would appear on the chair during feasts in her honor to please her mortal followers. A less elaborate replica had been made for when she passed judgments in the more public areas of the catacombs.

Romulus whined like a wounded dog, and Laverna could see the dark magic still clinging to him. It really didn't want him to go into the temple. Too bad .

Laverna grabbed his other hand and pulled him inside, the door slamming behind them. She dropped her human guise for the first time in centuries, her clothes changing to a sleeveless red stola that fell to her knees with a wide golden belt at her waist. Her braid unfurled into a wild tangle of curls, and she let him see the burning divinity inside of her.

" Laverna ," Romulus whispered, sounding almost normal before the writhing magic of the witch's spells swept over his face and mouth. He clawed helplessly at his skin as the wolf tried to push its way through again.

Laverna caught his hands, and he stilled as she pulled them away. "Stop it. You'll hurt yourself." The magic was trying to suffocate him as it traveled over his body like a snake.

Laverna wasn't a witch. She was a fucking goddess. Her power would always be stronger than Canidia's. Not knowing what else to do, Laverna pulled his face down and kissed him. Romulus stilled completely, and Laverna used his distraction to pour her power into him.

He groaned as golden power moved into him and over them until the whole room was filled with light. One of Romulus's arms moved to encircle her waist, his other hand resting on her neck. Laverna knew she should pull away, but she didn't. His mouth opened further, and she let her tongue tease against his.

Fates, his lips were so soft and fit perfectly to hers. She rose up on her tiptoes and pushed her hands through his hair before wrapping her arms around his neck.

Laverna's power thrummed, and she pulled back from him. He was glowing with an inner illumination of her magic. The dark magic had burned off him until nothing remained.

"Ha! Take that, witches!" she said triumphantly.

Romulus was looking down at her, wide-eyed, his hair messy and clothes torn in places. She was about to ask him if he was himself again when he took her by the face and kissed her again. It wasn't like her kiss. It was hard and frantic, teeth scraping against her lips with an aggressive nip that sent lust straight through her. It was desperate, and the full force of his own divinity filled the room to join with hers. Laverna was melting underneath it, and she didn't want it to stop. She pulled away to catch her breath.

"Rom? Look at me. This is an effect from all the magic, right?" she asked, even as her whole body burned and longed to strip him bare. They were both panting and shaking a little. "Or have we lost our minds?"

Romulus's eyes flickered, both wolf and man present. "Does it matter?" he growled.

Laverna didn't know who had moved first, but she was suddenly in his arms. She grabbed one of the rips in his shirt and tore it wider so she could lick her way over the curve of his pec. He had always had an incredible body with just the right amount of chest hair, and if this were the one time she got to touch it, she would make the most of it.

Romulus carried her over to the throne, pulled the fur covering off it, and tossed it on the mosaic floor.

"Is this all made of fucking wolf fur?" he demanded.

She fluttered her lashes at him. "Maybe?"

"You're in so much trouble," he snarled and lay her down on it.

"I'm trembling with fear," she replied, pulling his ruined shirt the rest of the way off.

Romulus's grin turned feral. "That's not why you're trembling, goddess."

"Fates, I hate you."

Romulus pushed her dress up, exposing her pussy to him. "I can see all that hate leaking out of you to ruin your fur."

Laverna blushed hotly for the first time she could remember. "Hurry up before I change my mind."

Romulus's large hand gripped her thigh tight. "You aren't going anywhere."

He unbuckled his belt and jeans with his other hand, and Laverna got to see a tantalizing flash of dick before he was on top of her. He brushed his fingers along the curve of her cheek. "Last chance to say no."

Laverna didn't want foreplay. They were both too far gone for that. She dragged her nails down his back. "Get inside of me. Don't make me ask again."

Romulus's eyes shone gold, and he grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the fur above her head. He devastated her with another searing kiss and thrust into her. The air went from her body in a shuddering gasp of surprise. He let her take a breath before he kissed her again and pushed the rest of his way in. Fuck, he was big and thick and perfect, and Laverna had to take a moment to adjust.

Romulus swore in Latin and rolled his hips against hers. "You are so tight, I'm seeing stars."

"Goddess pussy," Laverna said with a wink.

Romulus just laughed against her lips and then thrust hard into her, making her groan.

"God dick," he replied and did it again before she could formulate a witty comeback.

Laverna wrapped her legs around his hips and rose up to meet him, her whole body singing with the heat and weight of him on top of her. She twisted her fingers in his dark hair and dragged him down to kiss her again, losing herself in the feel of him taking her.

Romulus pulled her up into his arms until he was on his knees, his hands gripping Laverna's hips and dragging her up and down on his cock until she could barely breathe. He stopped long enough to tear her dress up in the middle, freeing her breasts. Romulus cupped one in his hands and ran his thumb over her nipple.

"The statues didn't do them justice," he said, lifting her up and sucking on her other one.

" Fuck ," Laverna gasped. Her nails were leaving marks all over his broad shoulders, and she was too far gone to care.

She pushed her fingers against his mouth. "Suck." Romulus did, his tongue flicking against her fingers before she pulled them free.

Laverna dropped her soaked fingers to her clit, and she started to ride him. Romulus laughed, deep and dangerous, right before he slammed into her until he hit her limit. Laverna was breaking apart as he did it again and again, his eyes watching her fingers circle her clit as he moved in and out of her.

"Let me see you come for me," he whispered in her ear.

"I only come for me , asshole, not you," Laverna managed to stammer in defiance before electricity tore down her spine, her orgasm shattering her. " Rom ."

"Fucking hell, Laverna," Romulus growled against her neck. "Your pussy is going to choke my dick to death."

Romulus pushed her back down onto the fur, slung her legs over his shoulders, and pounded into her, crashing her through another orgasm before he stared into her eyes and came with her name on his lips.

Afterward, he kissed her cheeks softly and then her lips before rolling so she was lying on top of him, his dick still inside of her. It didn't matter. Her prized wolf fur was definitely ruined, and she didn't have the strength to care.

Romulus's heart was pounding under her ear, his fingers stroking up her back. The pesky lump was back in Laverna's throat, but she only ignored it and kissed a bead of sweat off his gorgeous chest.