The Intricate Dance of Disparate Hearts (Patreon)

The party had been something else. She had never seen so many nobles in the Nest. Growing up in the Duchy of Llyrna, the white tigress had seen nobles all the time. The Lords of the Court spent a great deal of time in Waset, given its historical significance and the reverence it and it’s Duchess, Reyes Kingsgrave was shown. The nobility often wished important celebrations, meetings, and functions would be hosted at her castle. The young jungle cat had witnessed such events since the time she was a small cub.

That wasn’t so there in the Raven’s Nest, the Keep of Castle Ravenclaw, where the Sacred Order of Raven Knight’s made their home. The Keep was almost a castle in it’s own right, with it’s own defenses and fortifications. Some among the Order joked that the extra defenses were to keep the blue bloods out.

The Court's relationship with the Raven’s was regularly contentious. The aristocracy didn’t much care for any power within Lioncourt that was not subject to their control. Interactions between the two were usually a tumultuous affair, that inevitably led to posturing, politicking, and ultimately bad blood; even though the Order itself was littered with nobles. But the night's soiree was going well. Everyone was having a great time.

She never liked gatherings such as these, despite her mothers insistence that she attend.

“We must represent our lady well, my little Queen. In this and all things.” her mother would say.

It was something she’d been told all her life.

She was the daughter of Dame Ashoka Brahmin, Chosen Knight of House Kingsgrave and Captain of their House Guard. Queen had been named for her royal lineage, as she was of the line of the Caladin Raja’s of Stroud; though that didn’t mean much in the here and now. Stroud had been destroyed centuries ago and those of the Royal Line fared no better than the commonkin. Her grandmother had found herself in service to House Kingsgrave long ago, and her mother served in kind. Queen had always wished to follow in their footsteps.

She had been raised beside Duchess Reyes and owed everything to the lioness. For her Lady, the white tigress endured the whispers of the Court, the wandering hands of lordlings, and the uncomfortable dress of a proper Lady, and much more just to show her gratitude. She always represented her Lady well.

Though she was no longer in Llyrna at her Lady’s side, she was still to exemplify the values of House Kingsgrave. So when the time came to giggle and laugh, bow and curtsy for the self important cunts that’d been judging her all her life, Queen had been ready.

The nubile feline learned early that she would never go unnoticed anywhere she went, not looking the way she did. Firstly, she was a white tigress. Her kind was rare and exotic. Most instantly took notice when she was on the scene.

When Queen stepped into a room, all eyes would be on her. From her silvery hair, that was as long as she was tall, to her soft, white fur, with its unique smokey, stripe pattern, that set tails to wagging. Right to her bright argent eyes, that caught the light and glittered like silver kellings. Queen had a beauty that never went unnoticed. It also didn’t help that she was well over six feet tall and had an air of majesty that garnered attention. It was the reason why she could never be assigned clandestine missions.

As a maiden of the Knighthood she was constantly besieged by the attention of others. Lords and even ladies always wished for her recognition. Lady Reyes had once said she could warm the furnaces of her castle for a year with the amount of marriage proposals she received for Queen’s hand. As her Chosen Knight and vassal, the Duchess would need to approve of any such coupling. Thankfully, her Lady refused them all out of hand. Queen had never really fancied the presumptuous noblemen who came calling. Many failed to entice her to their beds and instead tried to claim her through politics and backroom dealings. She hated them all.

“Well, not all of them.” she thought as her eyes fell upon the one noble she was certain she would wed if asked. A soft smile came to her face as she watched the lovely young lion dance around the room. Unfortunately he was in the arms of another man.

His name was Cassius Assyrius and Queen found him to be singularly the most enchanting furkin she had ever met. As his family name implied, he was an Assyrian lion. Jasmine furred, with bicolored hair, from his head to the tuft of his tail. One half the color of golden sand, the other the deep burgundy of an aged opuntia wine. He had glittering gold eyes, a slender, petite face, with a cute pink nose and a lithe, feminine build. Queen could not deny he looked more womanly than most maidens she’d seen.

Femininity and androgyny was not a common trait in male lions. Sure, she’d seen a few adorable little fops mingling about parties in court, Prince Vandell and Mage Guy Eridanus came to mind. Both were blue bloods of the highest quality, and still there were whispers of disapproval of their unique appearances. Lions could be frustratingly traditional when it came to certain things, but Cassius didn’t seem to care. He was not afraid to stand out.

He’d arrived to the banquet in a outfit that was as fine and expensive looking as it was androgynous. A light green, sleeveless number, with a black sheer opening in the front, with a white button down that ended just above his navel. His back was completely exposed, and he wore fancy detached sleeves, with white and green ornate patterns near his hands, that traced down toward his knees like ribbons. His bottom was that of a long slight fabric, that freed one of his legs and ended just above his ankles. He wore sheer black stockings, with fashionable shoes that matched the outfit. He was dressed to impress.

Who Cassius wanted to impress was always obvious. Queen’s eyebrows narrowed at the man who held the little lion in his grasp.

Count Adolyn Valenrow. He was Primus of the entire Order and a Champion of the Realm. A man who garnered nearly as much attention as she did, but for different reasons. Though she preferred the female form, even in her men, she understood that the Primus was traditionally handsome, just not excessively so. Not like the exotic palawan Riyo or the foreigner Reese. Those two white haired beauties were excessively handsome. Adolyn was simply good looking and in her opinion, not worth all the attention.

She was being biased, she knew. She’d had a bit of an issue with the caracal even before they’d met. Cassius, the kin she adored, had been enamored with the Dalishkin. Frustratingly so. Queen was not afraid of any rivals for the Assyrian Lord’s attention, she got along very well with Camden Eridanus, she just didn’t like the infatuation with Adolyn.

Everyone seemed to be all up in the guys arse. Even her own Lady, Duchess Reyes, had eyes for the elusive Count. She’d been disgusted to learn that Reyes and Queen Azalyn had welcomed the boy into his adulthood in a manner that would set the Court ablaze if they knew. A secret she was more than happy to bear. She didn’t like anyone else knowing just how enamored her Lady was with the irritating delinquent.

Queen did not approve of Adolyn, not at all. He carried himself like a kin without cares. Flippantly disregarding decorum and grace, spitting in the face of the aristocracy. Where she had been made to be prim and proper, subject to the whims of the Court; Adolyn was Dalish and used it as an excuse to be glib, dismissive, and insolent. She couldn’t imagine what her mother or Lady would say if she’d behaved in such a manner.

Most damning was that Adolyn was something of a confusing paramour. He had as many suitors as she, and was rumored to bed his fair share. She didn’t begrudge him his dalliances. It was common among noble bachelors to test the waters before settling down. Raven Knights in particular found solace wherever they could. It was a dangerous calling and death could come for you at any moment, so she wasn’t so prudish as to judge him for that. It was the quality of his partners that annoyed her.

What kinling would spurn the affection of Princesses to lay with a common sellsword. She knew for a fact that Paulina of Nemea, Ashina of Assyria, the beautiful Ashara of Aslan and even Crown Princess Megan, all have open invitations of engagement with the man, and he wanted none of them. She could forgive that if he wanted her Cassie, but he didn’t seem to want him either. That didn’t stop him from leading the lovely lion on and bedding him frequently. Cassie’s love for Adolyn was pure and absolute, and the jackass refused to see him as anything more than a paramour.

Cassie did not begrudge him either. No one did. None of those who held affection for the Primus ever had a bad word to say about him. It made her fur bristle. He was just so lackadistic with their love. Of course, she knew that it had much to do with the man's infatuation with the beautiful heir of Eridani Fields, Aritrea Eridanus. The older sister of her good friend and rival, Camden; Aritrea was the only woman Queen knew that Adolyn pursued. She felt bad at how happy she was that the Countess always summarily refused him.

“You can’t have everyone...” she thought. Even though she knew if her Lady willed it, he could have her. She shuddered at the thought and continued to glare from afar.

Unbeknownst to her, Adolyn caught that glare and was well aware of what and why. Looking down he whispered into Cassie’s ears;

“I think your admirer is getting jealous,” The smaller lion nuzzled up into Adolyn’s neck, his wet pink nose pushing past fur and into skin.

“Perhaps we should invite her for a romp. I’m certain she’d join if asked.” Adolyn rolled his eyes and laughed reluctantly.

“I’m certain she’d do anything you asked. That doesn’t mean she’d enjoy it.” chuckled the red haired caracal. Cassie looked up at him, gazing lovingly in his steel blue eyes.

“Perhaps, but, I’d do anything you’d ask.” His words' tone was sultry and teasing, but his words were true. It would take only a suggestion for Cassie to pursue nearly any whim Adolyn had. A responsibility that the caracal was uncomfortable with, but not unfamiliar. His sworn sword, Soven, was much the same.

Casually he stroked Cassius' head, causing the young lion to lean into his hand. He purred as he closed his eyes, inclining his body forward and deepening his embrace. The foppish feline was in heaven and felt only marginally bad that the lovely Queen did not hold his attention.

“She’s quite taken with you, you know.” Adolyn insisted.

“I know...” Cassie whispered asbently.

“She is an exceptional tigress with intelligence and skill to match her enchanting beauty.” Again Cassie replied that he knew. Pulling away Adolyn looked Cassie in the face.

“Cassie...” he admonished. The effeminate lord looked off put; unhappy to end their embrace.

“What...” he whined.

Adolyn’s face took on a sympathetic expression.

“I cannot be what you want me to be.” he informed, apologetically. Cassie shrugged, brushing his long ponytail over his shoulder.

“So you’ve said many times...” he grumbled.

“I understand.” Adolyn shook his head slowly. He didn’t think Cassie understood.

“Look around you...” whispered Adolyn. Cassie did. As always, he could see that they had the attention of a great many people. The sneers of some noblemen, the jealous gazes of some ladies, and the admiring eye of great many inbetween. Cassie could tell who was jealous of him and who was jealous of Adolyn. It made him giggle. In particular he liked the envious eyes of some of the highborn Ladies. He liked to watch those bitches stew in their envy. Especially Lionesses from traditional Prides and Houses.

“Aww... mad he doesn’t want your snobbish cunny.” he teased looking the Lady of House Dressen right in the eye. The sandy lion had always been cruel to him growing up.

“24 and still a maiden...” he thought. Holding out for something better he supposed. If she were holding out for the Primus, she would wait forever. His Adolyn had no interest in a stuffy cunt like her.

“Focus...” admonished Adolyn. Cassie sighed.

“Yes, yes, we are both of us fabulous and wanted, with a great many admirers of stations both great and small.” Cassie huffed.

“You miss my point...” Adolyn pestered. Cassie rolled his eyes.

“I do not miss your point, dear Primus. I am ignoring it.” he huffed. Cassie’s gaze then fell upon Queen and his expression softened.

“She is to me as I am to you. I am aware and humbled by her adoration and on any other night, I’d indulge it. She is a fine woman with a lot of offers, whom I care for deeply, but she is not you, as I am not Aritrea.” Cassie reminded. He then placed a hand on Adolyn’s cheek.

“Would you leave Ari’s embrace to come fall into my own. Even knowing that it is fleeting?” he asked. Adolyn did not answer at first, though he knew the truth.

“It depends on how long it’s been since I’ve seen you...” he teased. Cassie smiled and leaned up kissing him on the lips.

“You know what I mean.” he chided him. Of course Adolyn did, but the Primus was not ready to concede the matter.

“Aye, but you aren’t me Cassie. You’re better than that.”

Cassie grumbled. He knew that Adolyn just wanted him to be happy. He just didn’t agree that happiness could be found in the arms of another. The Assyrian lion had love for a modest amount of people. Adolyn obviously, and Camden, his little daylily as well. He was especially fond of her, possibly because her love came with the caveat that she too had intentions for Adolyn and often suggested they worked together to claim him. He cared deeply for Aridatha, his pandorican friend whom he saw less of than he cared to say, and finally Queen, whose beauty and grace was a step above the rest. He had known of her feelings for quite some time. He loved them all and hated himself because he knew that not one of them held the same place in his heart as his dear Adolyn. A man who just would not have him. Not completely.

There was just so much standing in the way of them being together officially. Like Queen, he was in love with someone desperately in love with another. That never made for happy endings. He would not settle if he did not have to and didn’t expect Queen or Adolyn to either.

The politics involved were also an obstacle. Homosexual pairings were not uncommon in Lioncourt. Even traditional lions cared not for whom a Courtian welcomed into their bed, as long as the males were both ‘Males’ with a capital ‘M’; but it was different for heirs and firstborn sons like Adolyn.

As the heir to an important duchy like Evandale, Adolyn would himself need to sire heirs. Sure, he could sire a son or daughter with his sworn sword, it was so uncommon in their culture, as to be expected among Dalish lords; but those children would be bastards. And a bastard would need to be legitimized, which would mean a vote by the ‘Great Houses of the Valley’. Houses who would not only expect that the child show merit and accomplishment through service, but could also demand the child's marriage be arranged to prevent a repeat of Adolyn’s actions. It would be complicated. Too complicated.

He could be a second. Forgo his own station and titles to play second fiddle to whomever Adolyn married. A prospect that he would welcome gladly, as long as Adolyn married a woman that would accept such a thing. Camden would of course. It was her best case scenario, for she had love for them both, but her sister, Aritrea, certainly would not. She and Cassie did not have an amicable relationship and he doubted one could be built. It wasn’t that she would not share, for she was well aware of the role a sworn sword like Soven played in Dalish culture; she just would not share with him.

“Selfish molly...”

Nodding, Cassie took Adolyn’s meaning.

“And thus our time together ends...” he comeserated.

“She truly is lovely,” Adolyn encouraged. Cassie bit his lip and stepped away.

“I know, lovelier than you are anyway.” he teased. Adolyn just smiled and bowed formerly, ending their dance. Cassie did the same and to thunderous sounds of applause all around him. The nobility had for the most part enjoyed the show. Certainly he had. For the briefest of moments he had forestalled reality and basked in his own truth. Now reality reasserted itself and Adolyn would go dance with another. It was after all a party to honor him. With all the work that went into getting him to agree to the ball and then show up, Cassie was not so selfish as to deny others their time to posture with the Primus. He just had to assert his claim first.

Queen watched the entire display wishing desperately to know what the two had been discussing. Adolyn was a clever cat though, he never spoke without Cassius' head to block his muzzle, but she was still certain they were talking about her. Adolyn had looked in her direction twice. He’d been discrete, but she’d been trained. She knew what to look for. Still, she was surprised to see the two of them part after the dance, and was more surprised still to see Cassius coming her way.

There was no ambiguity in his stride. He’d locked eyes on her like a feral and moved gracefully across the marbled floor. She’d almost forgotten that several lords had been talking to her before she’d become distracted by their gamboling.

She felt flushed to suddenly have his full attention. The other noblemen around her were talking, but their words did not reach her. When her eyes met his, she was fixed. Nothing in the world mattered. Not the ball, not the other nobles, not the fevered beating of her heart.

Her tail waggled as Cassie approached, thumping against the ground so audibly it was impossible not to notice. Her suitors picked up on her interest instantly and turned to see just who had been able to charm the tigress where they had failed. When they saw the foppish lion approach in his beautiful, but eccentric outfit and finery, more than a few audibly groaned. The sound must have been music to Cassius’ ears, because he smiled broadly as he gestured for the crowd to part.

“If none of you will ask the Lady to dance, then I certainly will...” he said comfortably in that interesting accent that most Assyrian’s from around the capitol have. They speak Therian with a flatter pitch than most. Not as many ‘ups’ or ‘downs’ as the southern speakers, and with a lot of variation in his word emphasis. It was, like him, feminine and pleasant to listen to. Though Queen could easily tell that he was not in fact female, though she knew the males had a harder time figuring that out.

He reached his hand out to her and she was embarrassed by how quickly she accepted. In truth, she was happy that’d he’d come to save her from her current gaggle of suitors. She stepped quickly through the parted crowd and followed him onto the marbled dance floor. He beamed invitingly when he said;

“My apologies, my lady. I would have arrived sooner, but I had to do my daily exercises in futility.” There was mirth in his voice, but Queen could also see pain. Her gaze wandered off to find the object of her scorn and she shot Adolyn a withering look.

The Primus was on the other end of the floor being led in a dance by Princess Megan. He didn’t look happy. The pink haired lioness looked quite amused to have him in her arms; he resembled a caught fish. He smiled, but his face looked panicked. The Princess would want more than just a dance.

“Serves you right!” Queen thought, turning her attention back to Cassie.

“It’s alright, m’lord. I am just happy you’ve not forgotten about me” she teased. Cassie grinned up at her, his arms wrapping around her waist and meeting just above her tail. His lean pushed their bodies together and emphasized the height difference between them. He was barely five-eight and she towered over him.

“In what world could anyone forget about you...” he joked. Queen laughed.

“In none, I guess...” she demurred, modestly.

Queen rested her arms around Cassie’s neck and the two began to step slowly in tune to the music. It was a slow melodic song, violins and soft wood wind instruments. Something particularly romantic. She suspected that to be the Princess’ doing. She’d want her amorous moment with Adolyn. Queen was thankful. It would help in her efforts as well. She enjoyed any chance to be intimately close with the lovely lion she adored. Blushing profusely under her fur, she admitted to herself that if she had the opportunity, she’d certainly shoot for more too.

“Your dress is rather lovely, Madam Penelope’s fashion’s suit you.” complimented Cassie, taking a look at her gown. Queen’s blushing intensified as she nodded and thanked him for the adulation. She’d not been certain that the rather audacious outfit was to her taste, but her Lady had it crafted for Queen when she’d heard of the ball. So she was expected to wear it.

It was an elegant silk dress that wrapped around her neck with gold and jewels, but left her shoulders and arms bear. It fell down, draped mostly to the right, exposing her left leg a bit and the uncomfortable, but pretty shoes she wore. Around her waist was a belt of jewels. Lady Reyes always wished her vassal to project the majesty and wealth of House Kingsgrave. Queen was just happy the Duchess was not able to make it to the party, It’d ruin her night to watch her Lady fawning over the Primus.

“Don’t look at him... look at me.” Cassie playfully chastised.  Queen looked admonished and nodded. She apologized with a bow of her head, but Cassie dismissed it easily.

“It's okay, I know how you feel. You've been quite verbal about it.”  he sighed, unable to keep the disappointment out of his tone. His dancing partner picked up on that, but tried not to show it. Instead she nodded and leaned down, kissing him and again repeated her apology. She didn’t want  ‘that man’ to ruin their time together. Pulling Cassius closer, Queen picked up step and let her dance do all the talking for her.

Queen and Cassie danced through two more songs. Once the slow dance ended, a jaunty tune common in the Crownlands played. The tigress was familiar with the song and the dance that accompanied it. It was a vigorous number with a lot of stepping and high leg lifting. The kind of dance that works up a sweat and gets hearts beating.

Queen led here as the songs' later steps required the larger partner to execute a few maneuvers she was certain that Cassie couldn’t enact. He didn’t mind and wasn’t offended when she got carried away and lifted him in the air, with a twirl. The tigress had performed the dance many times in Court with her Lady, so she was pretty confident in her moves.

The next was an Assyrian tune; something slow and seductive. There were a few Assyrian Ravens and Ladies attending the ball. There was Countess Nasrin and Lady Fariba of the Astralla Flats. They were two stunning leopards of House Salari who were certainly eager to dance. With them was a young Raven named Lyndaria, a common kin from Shirat, as well as the Duchess Ashurina Semiramis, Cassie’s older cousin; and two of her attendants, both marbled polecats whose names Queen did not know.

The large lioness walked up to Cassie as the cords of the song began, and she asked if he would lead.  He nodded up at her and they hugged. The Duchess was little older than Queen, but was a monster of a woman. Beautiful, but muscular, with the same gold fur and bicolored hair as her cousin, but worn neat and tied in a braided bun on her head. She fell behind him and the kin of Assyrian birth spread out and cleared the dancefloor of all others.

What followed was a dance of seduction. It was called ‘The summer heat of the shadow cat’ or something like that. Her Assyrian was not the best, so she wasn’t sure of the translation. What she was sure of, was that there was a reason that only women tended to perform the dance. It was erotic in an exclusively feminine way, and Queen was impressed by how well Cassie knew the step. It was the second most impressive thing about the display, the first being how limber the amazonian Ashurina was.

Cassie did not take his eye off of Queen as he moved; and as the lead, the other women dancing took their cues from him. It looked perfectly choreographed, but was a cultural dance that most Assyrian ladykin learned when they reached estrus. It was performed at birthday parties where potential suitors submitted gifts and tribute as a sign of their intention to court. The dueling ouds and intense sounds of the whirling flutes was accompanied by the feverish strikes of the naqareh drums, and the raw and primal bass sounds of the large percussion in the back. Together they created a sound that quickened the pulse and spoke of intense need and urgency. The movement of the dancers mirrored that sound. It was all incredibly erotic.

By the end of the dance Queen needed a drink. She’d been standing, staring with her mouth agape, watching Cassie move his body in ways that lured and enticed. She could tell quite a few of the ladykin had been impressed, but the males had absolutely been enthralled. Even those who she had seen sneer or make comments about Cassie’s size and form, could not take their eyes off of him. She could smell their arousal. She hoped they could not smell hers.

Cassius said nothing as he walked up, his breathing labored. The crowd parted; mostly because no one wanted to be close enough for Cassie to pick up on their ‘excitement’. He paid them no attention. Instead, when Queen shyly placed her large paw in his, he squeezed it and led her to him.

“Will you join me for a walk, m’lady. I seem to have unduly heated myself and I think a little cold air would do me good.”

His words were like silvervine candy. Sweet and narcotic. The tigress fairly jumped at the opportunity. No words were spoken as she let the little lion lead her across the room and out the door. She caught a wink from Adolyn that made her blush. She thought to protest his obvious assertion, but only flushed when she realized he was right. Instead she looked away and followed Cassie, praying for more than just a walk across the courtyard.

Cassie had his walk. The two wandered the courtyard and around the monument of Queen Alanzia. They watched the moon rise over the mountains and talked of simple things at first. The job, each other, Queen’s recent trip out to the Central Dominance. It seemed they talked about everything except what was really on their minds.

They decided to walk the halls of the keep then, passing by the foyer and having a servant hand them a bit of Tatarian Wine. The wine had a hint of honeysuckle, that wasn’t really good for most kin, but gave felines a certain heady tingle that they all enjoyed. Cassie had at first refused the drink, but finally relented when he realized Queen did not wish to drink alone.  A woman should never let a woman drink alone.

Eventually, with a little of the wine in his system and an easy comfortability reached between him and the tall beauty, Cassie asked the question he’d been dying to all night.

“Why me?” he asked, smiling easily. A question that caught his companion completely off guard. She stumbled with her words a bit before asking him to clarify his question.

“You are the single most beautiful kinling in this city tonight. Perhaps in all the Province. No one, male, female, or anything in between could ever refute that truth. And yet you waste your beauty on me. One they would say is barely a man, barely worthy of a woman of your exceptional quality. A kin who himself is obviously in love with another. Why would you wish for the attention of such a kin.” Cassie wondered aloud, almost as if he was talking to himself. It was a question she'd been asked before and she didn’t really have a good answer. Queen simply felt the way she did. She didn’t think she needed to explain it.

Queen stood there for a time pondering a reasonable answer. She appreciated his question and wanted to give it all the seriousness it deserved, but for the life of her she could not find a acceptable reply. She thought of words both rosey and romantic. Of bold declarations of her adoration for him. How to explain that his unique situation with Adolyn Valenrow was less a deterrent and more an obstacle, one she didn’t even consider much of an hindrance. If having Cassie meant accepting Adolyn, she’d gladly do it. She doubted the man would make a poor lover. It would be a small penance to pay to have Cassius as her own.

“That’s it...” she then whispered, coming to her conclusion. She then grinned at Cassie. An expression as predatory as it was seductive.

“Because I simply must have you.” she declared taking him into her arms. Without another word Queen kissed her effeminate little crush. Kissed him mightily. Her body engulfed his as she pulled him from his feet and held him in a lover's embrace. It was an affirmation of her feelings and intentions. Not just for Cassie, but for the night. She would have him; now, and for however long she could.

The trek from the halls to the Officer’s Quarters were a blur. She’d made the turn toward the secondary stairs and took them two at a time. She never released Cassie from her grip. Somewhere in the back of her mind she was afraid she might lose him. When they reached the hall that led to his bedchamber, she knew just where to go. On the way she alternated between stripping his clothes and kissing him all over.

Luckily the doors to the Chambers on this level were magical. They locked with the use of specific runes. When Queen pushed his back against the hatchway and began undressing him in earnest, all Cassie needed to do was place a hand behind him and the glowing runes subsided and the entrance opened. The two fell away onto the carpeted floor of the sitting room, but even this did not stop Queen’s advance.

Clumsily they rolled around on the floor, bodys all a tangle. Queen’s hands feverishly reaching behind her, trying to remove the fancy fasten that kept her dress on. Her body pressed down on Cassie, holding him square, as her modest breasts pressed dangerously across his now bear chest.

When freed of her attire, Queen continued to grope wildly at Cassie. Tossing away every item of clothing she laid a paw on. His shirt was removed. His sleeves tossed aside. She hooked her fingers into his waistline and pulled down, removing his bottom completely, panties in all.

Cassie started to speak. To try and slow down the current pace of their coupling, but Queen would have none of it. As soon as his thin supple body was exposed to her, she hungrily pulled him to her, gripping him by his thighs.

“M’lady!” he managed to giggle, amused at the situation.

Queen said nothing. Inside, she felt that if she were to slow down enough to think about what she was doing, she may just stop; and she didn’t want that. She wanted to continue. The white tigress wanted to take Cassius’ cute, pink, little cock into her mouth and enjoy the tastes and smells of his unique manhood. The mere thought of it excited her and with a yearning too powerful to ignore, she did just that.

Swallowing the lordlings cock, the young tigress wrapped her meaty tongue around the flesh. Rolling it around in her mouth and enjoying his taste. Though he had been dancing, sweating, and active, he still smelled so good. So clean. It was a luxurious, bitter-sweet, soft, smell that was amazingly delicate. Not too sweet, not like a vanilla. Something like almonds with a hint of jasmine. It was an inviting scent that enticed her to continue with gorging herself on his lance. The experience was most enjoyable.

As the slender lion squirmed in her grasp, his cock stiffened in her mouth. Encouraged, Queen started to bob her head more deliberately, running her mouth and tongue up and down the length of his penis. Cassie was bigger than one might have expected. She remembered being pleasantly surprised by it during her ranger training. She had chosen Cassie specifically to teach her the ‘Art of Seduction’, that was a tool in every ranger’s repertoire. Though those moments of eroticism had been fun and exciting, the fact that they were mostly instructional robbed them of any intimacy. She was determined that this time be different.

She growled playfully when he bucked into her mouth. She welcomed his slender fingers as they ran through her hair, tracing to the back of her head. Cassius took a strong grasp of her locks and pulled forward, forcing his dick down her eager throat, causing her to gag a bit. She obeyed his lustful enthusiasm by adjusting her jaw and working to accept every inch he was happy to give.

Slurping and suckling on his member was a delightful affair that sent tingles throughout her body. The warm feeling rushed through her like a wave of fire and gathered down between her legs, causing her hips to shimmy as she moistened just thinking about everything. With Cassie asserting his dominance, she removed a hand from his body and reached down to attend to herself. Her pussy was dripping with desire. There was so much of her passion flowing out, that the matted fur of her inner thighs felt as if she’d been splashed with water. Slowly, she rubbed her padded finger around the sensitive edges of her pussy and fairly cooed into Cassie’s cock. It all felt amazing.

The effeminate lion lasted longer than most. She’d seduced maybe three or four targets in her time, and was confident in her technique; even when the man was getting all rough with her. She pressed her lips together and rolled her tongue as if she were singing a trill song. Queen made sure to push against the tip of his head and massage the crown whenever Cassie reared back for another thrust. She could tell when his resolve began to fade, because he let out a small cry like a wounded babe, and then shrilled as he tried to contain it. It was adorable to hear hmm purr as he tried desperately to keep it together, but she knew what he liked. It only took a little bit of prodding from her thick finger to his inviting tailhole to make him blow his load.

Queen did not hesitate to swallow the salty cream as it shot out of penis. She was sure she’d done a decent job because it took quite a few spurts before he was done emptying his love into her mouth. She got a healthy mouthful, and felt the sticky, viscous flood swish around her maw. She didn’t mind the salty, yet bland taste. It was warm and agreeable, at least to her. She took two mighty gulps to get it all down and still she needed a little tongue work to clean things up.

After taking the time to enjoy the small jerks and cries as her prickly tongue did it’s work, Queen crawled up Cassie’s body to meet him face to face.

“You are beautiful...” she whispered, gazing into his eyes. She ran her tongue over his nose once, then twice, before nuzzling him with her own. Cassie could barely catch his breath before the large tigress pushed up at his muzzle with her nose, indication she wished him to open his mouth. He wouldn’t get another word in before her passionate kissing continued.

The kissing lasted only until the fire in Queen’s loins threatened to burn out of control. All of the touching, fondling, kissing, and groping had left her as horny as a feral in heat, and she knew just the release she wanted. She said nothing as she lifted herself up, her toned arms trapping Cassie’s head between them. Pulling herself forward, she presented her femininity to him. The folds of her perfectly pink pussy, moist with her arousal. Squatting she made no secret of what she expected her lover to do, and Cassie would oblige. His tongue meeting her pussy with a long, slow, lick that caused her to cry out loud; mewing like a kitten.

Snickers and giggles from beneath her did nothing to ease the tigress’ embarrassment. Her expression was at first one of intense bashfulness, distressed by the awkward sound of Cassie’s chuckling while licking her. Then her face twisted into something akin to indignity, before she settled on something mischievous.

Without word or warning she gripped Cassie by his silky, soft hair and squatted down deeper, thrusting her womanhood into his mouth. She let her weight fall slightly, straddling his head and sitting on his face. She could feel him jerk under her, trying to adjust, but she simply pushed harder, grinding her pussy into his mouth. Her next moan was decisively womanly and with a strong hint of aggression. She was a tigress afterall. If Cassie had forgotten, she’d be sure to remind him.

For his part, Cassie refused to be bullied or beaten. Instead of giving in to any discomfort or surprise, he set about achieving his task of keeping control of this sexual encounter. Even from a position of submission Cassie could always control the rendezvous. It was his speciality. Women, men, they always underestimated him. They always saw him as a delicate little beau that could be dominated and manhandled. He didn’t mind, he did his best work from the bottom.

Breathing deeply of her womanly scent, Cassie licked in a wide circle around her vulva, making sure to keep the back of his tongue pressed against the bud of her flower. While he lightly tended to her petals, he made sure the pressure popped and suckled on her sensitive pearl by folding and gyrating his tongue. He then bcvbc while licking out and sucking in. He could tell his efforts were having the desired effect when he felt Queens claws extend into his scalp.

The pain was not enough to distract him from the satisfaction of hearing Queen’s breathy cries, or the satisfying taste of her love’s nectar as she drenched his maw with her womanly essence. Having been trained in the pleasures of the flesh by some of the most accomplished courtesans in lioncourt, he was confident in his abilities. His victory would come when she screamed out ‘Fuck!’ or its equivalent in Stroudi, as she came hard above him.

Queen lost control of herself briefly as her passion reached a crescendo. She could not help herself from gripping her love tighter, squatting, and holding his head with both hands. Her claws definitely drawing a little blood, but she couldn’t help herself. All she could do was grind away and ride the wave of pleasure.

Cassie did not relent. He continued to probe and caress her tinder area with his dexterous tongue. She almost collapsed when he decided to wrap his taster around her clit and press his lips closed, sucking mightily.

“OKAY!” she cried out, vaulting forward almost face planting on the ground. She at least had the wherewithal to lead with her chest and control her equilibrium, but she still ended up cheek to the carpet squirming and shimmying, but Cassie refused to let her escape.

“Wait... WAIT!” she cried as she tried to scoot away. Her hand darted down to protect the now tender flesh of her pussy. Cassie however had other plans. He turned on the ground and grabbed hold of her tail, pressing his muzzle between the twin mounds of her perfectly tot little ass and continued to slurp away, causing her to cry out more and more.

“I CAN’T! I CAN’T!” she moan squirming and crawling forward trying to run from the intense pleasure. The heat between her legs had burned out of control and the physical gratification she was getting from Cassie’s talented tongue was more than she could bear. It hazed her mind and weakened her limbs. She could not fully articulate why she wanted him to stop, because a big part of her wanted him to continue. She’d crawled halfway across the stone floor of the living room before Cassie relented and stood down from his oral assault. Or rather stood up, she could hear him doing something behind her.

She was barely aware that she’d come to rest on the furred rug he kept near the fireplace. Her eyes fixed on the strange spherical fire that burned in the firebox. Queen panted as her fingers ran through the fur of the rug and she absently wandered what kind of feral monster had been killed to create it. It was not white so it could not be Yeti fur, and owlbear’s was not this soft. Her mind pondered the random thought a great bit in the seconds before she felt something warm and firm fill her nethers and send lightning up her spine.

“OH GODDESS!!” she lustfully cried. Her body stiffened as she instinctively pushed her ass back into Cassie as he sheathed his sword inside of her. She felt his hands grip the sides of her waist as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. Queen had to push up on her elbows to lean back to hear him. He nibbled her ear and cooing;

“No more running, my pet! It is I who will have you!” With that he pulled back readying for a mighty thrust. Queen could only look back in anticipation, her tongue slightly hanging from her mouth agape. A pool of drool collecting on the rug beneath her. She wanted to scream out. She wanted to shout;

“YES! BREED ME! MAKE ME YOUR BITCH!” but she was not so bold as to say those things. Instead she simply whimpered. Quietly begging for Cassie to take what he wanted from her. The Assyrian lion would not disappoint.

Cassie fucked like he walked. With grace and purpose. He pushed down and pulled up, gyrating his hips and making sure to lean forward to give every thrust that much more ‘umph’. He was not slow or quick in his pace, simply steady and methodical. He paid close attention to her moans of pleasure and changed his angle whenever he heard her getting comfortable or relaxed. He wanted to keep her on edge.

His glossy, rose, rod was covered in the signs of her sexual elation. He could hear the subtle sloshing as her wetness made forcing himself deeper and deeper a breeze. When his efforts had robbed Queen of her strength and she could no longer rest on all fours, he pulled her down, laying her on her side and straddling her wide hips. He lifted one thick leg over his shoulder and hugged it as if it were a long lost friend.

Being far smaller than Queen, Cassie was not worried about his weight harming the fit young ranger. He’d trained her afterall, he knew just how limber and resilient she could be. He didn’t mind pressing his body against hers and putting pressure on her pelvic girdle to get the best angle. It was a good position that allowed him to conserve his stamina while he continued to pound deep inside her crevice. It felt incredible. A high better than any drug.

Cassie gave their coitous every bit of effort he had. He held on until he felt Queen buck and shake beneath him, her free hand gripping his thigh, while the other clawed the ground. She clawed and gouged at the stone, trying again to get away from the intensity brewing inside of her, but she could not. With a thunderous roar she cried out into the night as her climax overtook sense and reason, leaving her with only the strong sense of sexual satisfaction that came with it. Cassie was pleased.

The foppish lion held out for maybe three or four more thrust before he too felt ecstasy’s hand push him over the edge. His muscles tightened as his head shot back and he matched her roar with one of his own. Though admittedly his was a little less intimidating than hers. It was actually quite cute, and Queen would have commented on it if she could get control of her own cries of passion. Instead, she just lay there, breathing heavily.

Cassie laid down atop of her, his member still inside, and her body shivered as he pulled up and kissed her. She tried to mouth ‘no more’, but couldn’t get the words out before his lips pressed into hers.

“I know... I know...” he giggled. Holding her in his arms. Gingerly, he nestled his head in between her breasts and lay comfortably on his side.

With arms wrapped tight around her, fatigue began to set in and the warmth of the magical ball burning in the fireplace behind her, gave her a sense of ease that threatened to lull her to sleep. She almost did fall asleep. Sharing a cozy embrace her eyes fluttered, threatening to close for the night as she casually took a look around. This was everything she wanted. To be here together with him. She couldn’t think of anything that could ruin the moment. That was, until her eyes traced back toward the entrance and she looked at the trail of their clothes leading to the open door.

Groaning, she reached out with her senses and felt the disturbing presence of several kinlings outside in the hall. The flush that threatened to ease from the flesh beneath her fur returned with a vengeance. She was blushing so bright red it made her fur look light pink to the untrained eye. Covering her face she called out.

“Please close the door.” After a moment, a large gloved hand reached past the entryway and the door began to close. Before it did, a head appeared in the frame, one she’d seen earlier. It was Ashurina, and Queen could sense someone with her. Another Raven, possibly Ajuna or Riyo, because she couldn’t readily sense who it was, and those two were good at hiding themselves from her ranger’s sight.

“It was a lovely dance...” Ashurina remarked with a knowing smirk. Queen hid her face in her hands and said nothing, as giggling erupted in the hallway.

“Good night!” she called out, closing the door. Queen shivered in embarrassment.

“Well it was...” she thought, thinking about all the gossip she would be hearing tomorrow.

As she worried, she felt Cassie’s shallow breath on her chest. She’d been distracted and hadn’t heard the light mewing of his sleep sounds until just then. He didn’t have a care in the world. He’d wear the situation like a badge of honor.

“You’re so awesome...” she whispered, kissing his forehead. If he was unbothered, then she would be unbothered. Or at least that’s what she told herself. Smiling she let her mind drift back to the thoughts and sensations of their time together, letting the imagery play across her mind's eye. It would be a good memory. A good dream. One she knew would not last forever. With that thought firmly in mind she held her lover close and wished for no more than that very moment, and fell asleep.