Page 40 of The Last Hunt

Maeve guides his hand up to her breasts. Aethon can barely believe that this is real. He’s dreamed about touching Maeve again for years. He could never forget how it felt to kiss her - to be buried inside her - to feel her shatter beneath him. But that brief ecstasy had been marred by fear. This is different. They’re clean. Warm. And as safe as two bounty hunters on a small ship in the middle of the void of space can possibly be.

Aethon slides a delicate thumb over one of her nipples until it stiffens. “Maeve,” he whispers. “You feel like heaven.” He feels her chuckle and he smiles.

He tucks his knees behind hers and tangles their legs together. Maeve purrs with satisfaction and rubs her foot lightly up his shin.

Aethon wants to see her eyes - to gauge her reactions by her expressions. He wants his mouth on her. He wants so much more - but he savors what he has. Maeve’s skin is smooth and warm, and her breasts are soft - one filling the palm of his hand. He lightly dances his fingers over the swell of her breast, and then abruptly pinches her nipple. Maeve jerks and moans in response. The sound spurs him on.

“Aethon - ” she says, her voice stuttering.

“Mmm,” he hums, pleased with her reaction.

She continues to make tiny sounds of pleasure as he teases her breasts. Having this fierce woman allow him to touch her in this way - for her to relax enough to come apart under his hands - is such a gift. As he touches her, his cock grows hard. It presses against Maeve’s ass, and Aethon is sure she can feel it.

After a few minutes, Maeve grabs his wrist again and pulls his hand lower. Aethon holds his breath, letting her lead him where she wants. She puts her palm on the back of his hand, threading their fingers together as she slides his hand excruciatingly slowly over her stomach again. Her skin is soft but he can feel the firmness of the muscles beneath - and he closes his eyes, focusing on the sensation of her. When she reaches the band of her shorts, she makes a needy little sound that makes his cock twitch, and then she pushes his hand down her shorts. She guides him to the wet, silky warmth between her legs.

“Fuck,” Aethon groans. He breathes hard against the back of Maeve’s head. “God - you’re so wet -”

“I was dreaming of your hands on me,” Maeve whispers. “Please, touch me.” She releases his hand, sliding her fingers up his arm.

What has he ever done to deserve such fucking glorious words? Aethon slides his fingers through her folds. She arches back against him and her hands clasp his arm, holding him in place. The room is quiet but for their breathing and the purr of the Archer.

Aethon finds her clit and circles it with a finger, drawing a gasp from Maeve. She props her knee up to give him better access. Aethon’s cock is a hard bar between them, but he ignores it, focusing on Maeve.

“You dreamt of me?” he whispers. He continues circling her clit slowly with a finger, and then experiments by sliding two fingers down on either side of it. He teases at her entrance, feeling her tight, wet heat, wishing he could see all of her. Wishing she would let him taste her. Maybe she will.

“Yes,” she breathes.

“Mmm,” Aethon murmurs. “I hope I satisfied you.”

Maeve laughs quietly and then moans when Aethon starts sliding his fingers quickly back and forth across her clit. She’s soaking, and his fingers are slick with her. She’s this turned on just from dreaming about him? He feels a surge of satisfaction and presses a kiss behind her ear. Then he props himself up on his elbow so that he can have better access to her.

Aethon looks down at the side of her face. He can just make out her features in the dimness of the room - her eyes are closed, her mouth open. Her hands slide up and down his arm now, and her hips start jerking as he strokes her.

“God - Aethon - don’t stop -”

“I won’t stop,” he promises.

She’s so beautiful. More gorgeous than the glittering black sand beaches of Freehail at sunset. Her head arches back, tension coiling in her body. He leans down and kisses her just underneath her jaw as he presses two fingers inside her. She moans, and he feels her voice vibrate her throat where his lips are pressed.

“That’s it,” he murmurs against her skin. He wants so badly to call her chrissah - but he doesn’t want to jolt her out of the moment. But that’s truly what she is - vital. She’s like a star, and he’s a ship, unable to escape her gravity. How will he ever adjust to life without her when she leaves Two Roses? But he can’t think about that darkness now.

Aethon focuses on Maeve beneath him, panting and pliant, gloriously indulgent. Asking him to be the one to bring her release. Him. Pride fills his chest. He’s sure Maeve has had lovers over the years, but he can’t picture her like this with any of them. Giving up that control she keeps around herself like armor. Aethon’s not sure what he’s done to deserve this trust - but he never wants to break it.

He curls his fingers inside her, pumping into her, trying to hit that spot that will bring her a deeper kind of orgasm. He wants her to come. He wants it more than almost anything. She deserves safety and pleasure. She deserves that home she wants on a quiet planet far away from the violence of Two Roses. He suddenly realizes that he’ll do whatever it takes to get her there - regardless of how it might break his heart.

“Yes - yes - don’t stop - don’t stop -” she chants, her voice low. Maeve raises her arm and threads her fingers into the hair at the back of his head, grabbing on and pulling his mouth against her collarbone. Aethon’s cock is throbbing, pressed up against her, and as her hips jerk, she rubs against him making him clench his teeth, his own pleasure tight in his groin. He’s going to come, but he doesn’t care.

“Tell me what you need,” he says, pressing kiss after kiss to her neck.

“Aethon - please - my clit too -” Maeve stammers. She releases his hair and grips his forearm so hard her nails dig into his skin.

He angles his hand so that he can thrust his fingers inside her and hit her clit with the heel of his hand at the same time.

“Oh god - yes -” she moans.

Aethon can hear the wet sounds her body is making as he winds her up higher and higher. He doesn’t know if he’s ever heard anything as filthy and fucking amazing. His cock pulses and he grazes his teeth along Maeve’s neck, stifling a groan as he comes hard, his hips grinding against her. He’s not ashamed in the least. How could he resist while watching Maeve come undone?

“You’re close, aren’t you Bladesy?” he pants.