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Disclaimer/Spoiler Alert:

Hello and welcome to the first part of 'The Renegade.'

This is a companion story to EXos's story, 'Legal Tension.' EXos and I have worked hard together on bringing 'Legal Tension' to you and there was so much more to tell about some of the characters, including my character, Nathan Fenn. So we decided to break up the story. 'The Renegade' follows the life and memories of Nathan Fenn, while 'Legal Tension' follows the main story arc.

FYI, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you read chapters 1 - 8 of 'Legal Tension' BEFORE reading 'The Renegade' (although chapters 1 - 4 are sufficient) to have an understanding of who the characters are and how they interact. There is a lot of character development in the stories as well as some awesome smut! A word of warning, The Renegade won't always be an easy read as it will deal with some dark topics and issues as the parts begin to take shape.

You can find EXos's 'Legal Tension' story, here: https://www.sofurry.com/browse/folder/stories?by=79720&folder=55109

With that, enjoy 'The Renegade' part 1!

The Renegade

Memories over the Sea

"WHERE IS HE?!"

The fragile peace on-board the salvage ship, Nemo's Spirit, was shattered as an ill-tempered wolf stormed on to the deck and dropped his bags as he continued to the bridge at a furious pace. Crew members recognised their shipmate and those who had seen him in his current state before wisely kept their heads down and out of his way. Younger crew members were suddenly on edge as the usually good-spirited wolf had turned into a raging monster. Calling out the captain's name and cursing him to the depths of hell, some of the phrases the wolf used made the crew concerned for their captain's safety. It was a justifiable concern.

Bursting through the bridge door, he caught sight of the captain and growled menacingly at him. "You..." Everyone froze; in the moment when the wolf's eyes and the old polar bears met, the tension was almost tangible.

"Now, Nathan..." The old bear started, but was cut off as the wolf roared and charged at him. There was a loud crack as his fist connected with the bear's cheek and sent him sprawling across a control panel. The wolf was about to follow through with a second blow when a huge pair of arms wrapped under his and massive hands locked behind his head and lifted him as he struggled and yelled out angrily. "Let me go! I'm gonna rip out his stinking guts an' piss on 'em! You bastard, Harry! You promised me more time!"

"Easy, Trouble." The huge bull grumbled as he put his friend in an uncomfortable headlock and moved him back towards the door.

The polar bear righted himself and shook away his daze. "Why didn't you stop him, Jackson?"

"Because you deserved that one." The bull huffed, shaking his head as his friend continued to rant and rail against the captain.

Twitching in annoyance, the bear pointed to the door. "Get him out of here."

"Turf me out yourself, ya bitch! I'm tired of you messing up my relationship because you can't stand being in the same city as your ex-wife!" The wolf struggled against the bull and nearly broke his headlock, but with a massive heave, the bull lifted his friend off his feet again and secured his hold.

"Come on, Trouble, time you cooled off. Matt, go grab Nathan's stuff and put it in his cabin and wait for me there." Jackson instructed a young otter. A second later, the youth left with a nervous expression on his face.

It took nearly fifteen minutes for Jackson to wrestle the wolf to his cabin. The shouting and swearing coming from the wolf was enough to make even the seasoned sailor's on-board blush or shake their heads in embarrassment. Holding the door to the wolf's cabin open, the young otter watched in disbelief as the two friends fought against each other while Jackson inched Nathan closer to his room. Finally in the doorway, Jackson flung his friend into the cabin and quickly shut the door, securing two heavy locking bolts as he did. Just as the last bolt slid into place, there was a massive bang on the door from the other side followed by barely understandable raving and thuds on the walls. "You can stay there until you've calmed down, Nathan." The bull shouted at the door.

"Is he okay, Jackson?" The otter asked cautiously.

Jackson chuckled and patted the small otter on the shoulder. "No, but he'll be fine. He just needs some time to calm down."

"Why's he like this? I've never seen Nathan flip out like that before."

A heavy sigh escaped Jackson's mouth. "The captain broke a promise he made Nathan when we docked just over a month ago." Glancing at the door, the bull shook his head. "Nathan isn't exactly the most forgiving person when it comes to broken deals or false promises.

Cowering a little, the otter listened to the unending string of insults and curses coming from the confined wolf. "What happened?"

Jackson turned and walked away and the otter scampered to keep up as he realized the bull was moving. "Let's just say it in lay terms. Nathan has a girlfriend in town, and every time the captain gets the final paperwork through for a new job, he has us ship out within an hour or two, just to stay ahead of our contract. I don't think Nathan's ever said a proper goodbye to her."

"Man, that sucks; but what did he mean about the captain's ex-wife?"

Jackson raised his hands in a stopping motion. "I'm not even going there. That's a whole mess of shit that's so far above what I get paid, I don't even want to know it exists."

The otter whined, barely understanding the complexity of the situation. "Will Nathan be alright?"

The bull snorted. "He'll be fine; he just needs a little while to cool off. I guarantee you; you'll see him on deck in the next two hours."

"Oh, are you going to let him out?"

Jackson chuckled and patted the otter on the shoulder as they headed back to the main deck. "Something like that... Maybe."

* * *

Weeks had passed aboard the Nemo's Spirit and a salty breeze crossed the deck. All around the ship calm waters prevailed as the morning sun rose above the horizon line. The dull thrum of the engine could be felt everywhere, a constant reminder that they were in motion. It was a good day for most on-board; except for one. Standing at the front of the bow, Nathan stood in deep contemplation. He was tall, standing a little over six feet in height, with pale and smoke grey fur. His attire was much like that of the others on deck. A warm shirt and life vest with khaki cargo pants and dark steel toe-capped boots. Unlike the others, he stood gazing out at the ocean; thumbing a photo he had recently taken.

"Nathan." A familiar gruff voice called out. The wolf turned and nodded at the large bull that approached him.

"Jackson, how are we doing for time?" The wolf's usual good humour was absent from his tone.

"Doing good, we should be off the southern coast of Peru in another day or so." The bull huffed and patted the wolf on the shoulder roughly. "How're you doing; home sick already? It's only been two weeks."

The wolf chuckled. "Need a home for that. Love sick would probably be more accurate."

Jackson leaned against the railing and glanced at the photo but couldn't quite see the image. "That your girl?"

"Yeah. She's going to be pissed when she sees me again."

The bull snorted a laugh. "Had to run out on her again, huh?"

"Well if we actually had a schedule rather than just shipping out as soon as we got the all clear, it would be easier."

"Didn't you call or leave a note?"

Nathan growled and dipped his head. "I always leave a note, but I think she just throws them in the trash or forgets about them."

"How upset could she get; I mean, she knows you travel for work, right?"

Nathan roared, throwing his head back and laughing like a musketeer. "Oh Jackson, you don't know Maria. My last 'welcome back' was her knee planted firmly in my balls." The bull winched at his statement. "Yeah, every bit as painful as it sounds."

"Why do you go back, Nate? I mean if she beats on you every time you go home, what's the point?"

Sighing heavily, Nathan turned his back on the ocean and rested against the rail. "Well, I'd say she fucks like a tiger in heat, but I don't think that would be very fair on the tiger."

Jackson snorted half a laugh. "Better or worse?"

Nathan raised a questioning eyebrow. "Seriously?"

Holding up his hands in defence, the bull shook his head and grumbled. "I wouldn't know; I've never slept with a tiger in heat."

"Better. Way better." He said with a grin.

The bull shoved his shoulder and grinned back. "Seriously though, Nate, why do you go back?"

Casting his eyes out over the glowing golden yellow horizon once more, the wolf turned his back on his friend. "I can't get her out of my head. I don't know what it is, if we made some deeper connection or something, but she's the first person I've ever gone back to for a serious relationship." Pausing for a moment to look at the photo in his paws again, a smile broke across his muzzle. "She makes me happy. I feel like I can forget some of the worst of my past when I'm with her."

"Sounds like a real perfect romance."

Nathan chuckled softly. "Hardly; we're not exactly what you'd call a perfect or ideal couple, but the more time we spend together the more we bring out the best in each other."

"You, bringing out the best in someone, Nate? That would be a first." Patting the wolf on the back, the bull stood up and turned to look at the ocean. "So, what do you think she'll do when you get back?"

Turning to his friend, Nathan made a humorous smirk. "Honestly? Pompeii had a better chance of survival when Vesuvius erupted than I'll have when I see her again."

"You certainly have a way with women."

Lowering himself to rest his arms and chest on the guard rail, Nathan huffed feeling tiredness grip his muscles. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just stay home with her for longer and give more than a minutes' notice that I have to leave." Standing and turning his back to the ocean, he looked at his friend with a sad smile forming on his face. "I know you'll probably think I'm a sap for saying it, but I love her, Jackson. I really do love her."

Jackson smiled back at the wolf reassuringly. "I get it, Nate. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks, it means a lot."

"How did you meet her again? I mean you've been seeing her for what, two or three years now?"

Nathan nodded. "Coming up on three years." He gazed off into the distance as the sky began to change from a blood orange to soft pinks and blues. "I'd just bought an apartment and was staying at a hotel until I could collect the keys. I had dinner with Alex while he was in town that night, but when he left, I decided to stay out for the night and maybe enjoy myself for a while. That's when I saw her..."

* * *

Nathan sat eyeing his whisky as he swirled it around the glass. His mind was heavy with decisions he had recently taken, but in spite of the burden he remained in good spirits. Sitting back in the booth, he glanced around the bar. The warm yellow and white lighting; heavily varnished pinewood tables and bar top created quite the atmosphere. All around groups of friends gathered and mingled as new customers came and went. In the corner of the bar he noticed a heated exchange begin to escalate between a Dalmatian and German Shepherdess.

Tipping his head to the side to see better, he watched as the shepherdess got up and moved towards the bar, all the while keeping the Dalmatian at arms-length. He could tell she was angry, if not outright furious. She bore her teeth several times and snarled as her agitation grew. When she was close enough to hear properly, Nathan listened closely, as other people in the bar gave them space, not wanting to get involved.

"Listen, shit for brains. I'm not interested," The shepherdess growled at the Dalmatian who had been hounding her, "now, fuck off before I give you a reason to go home cryin' to yer mama."

"Oh you're a bitch, but I like that." The Dalmatian smirked and moved closer. "Come on, It'll be a fun night, I promise."

Nathan could see her anger was growing by the second and began to wonder if the Dalmatian was simply stupid or just spoiling for some rough and tumble. Guessing she was ready to start a fight, he rose up and headed towards the argumentative pair. The shepherdess caught his eye as he got up and moved in her direction, pausing in her verbal assault. The moment of distraction was clearly seen by the canine hounding her. "Having second thoughts, Baby?"

"Hey, the lady said she wasn't interested." Nathan said as he stepped between the German Shepherd and Dalmatian and raised his paws to stop him advancing.

The Dalmatian growled. "Out of my way, wolf. Mind your own business."

The wolf sighed. "See, that won't do. You're in my new favorite bar, and you're making people uncomfortable. Not just her, and the others around you, but me too. And I'm not one who likes being uncomfortable, you know? You're starting to feel like tight pants; I really feel like you're constricting around my crotch and that's just not good for anyone."

The shepherdess made an involuntary giggle as she was about to speak up. He picked up on her amusement and kept it in mind. The Dalmatian made to move forward again, but Nathan pushed his paw to his chest, stopping him dead. "Move, wolf!"

The shepherdess saw the fur on the back of his neck visibly bristle as his species was mentioned again. "Take another step and I'm putting you on the floor." The wolf said flatly, his words were cold and his unwavering gaze showed his true intent.

The Dalmatian growled and huffed to the shepherd. "You'll never know what you missed, Baby." He locked eyes with the wolf once more, then shook his head and turned away.

"Yeah she will. Personally I always thought spotted dick was a terrible dish." He called out and watched the Dalmatian shudder with annoyance. Turning to the female shepherd, he smiled and nodded. "Sorry about that miss, he didn't hurt you did he?"

She shook her head and then locked him with a stern gaze. "No, and I didn't ask for your help, I could have handled him myself."

"I don't doubt it."

She gave the wolf a sarcastic smirk. "Well then, if you don't want the knee in the balls I was going to give to him, you can piss off too."

"Ah, you're a girl who means what she says. Some might say that's a rare thing."

"And what would you say?" She growled, looking him over, trying to take the measure of the wolf.

He took a moment to observe her in return. The German Shepherdess was almost as tall as him in her black high heeled pumps and her black cocktail dress that she wore matched her shoulder length hair. Her fur was typically coloured for her species, but her facial markings were more reminiscent of a husky or wolf, with a dark stripe running from the top of her nose, under her eyes and over the top of her face. It suited her, he thought as their eyes met briefly. They were a cold steel grey and paired well with her iron hard stare. Nathan suddenly felt a little under dressed standing next to her in tan boots, khaki pants and a thick blue shirt; he was scruffy but presentable.

Nathan raised an eyebrow and looked up idly. "Well, I wouldn't call you a thing for a start. I would say that you appear to be a rare woman with strong convictions though."

"Well, I'd have to say that you're quite a motor mouth." She sneered.

He shrugged. "Most people think that, but seriously; if you're going to knee me in the balls, can we at least have a drink first? You know something to numb the pain in advance, unless of course you want to rush into a thing."

The shepherdess laughed softly, barely containing a smile. He liked the sound of her laugh, and saw how it relaxed her. With her change in posture he saw her aggression ebb away and held up a paw in greeting. "Nathan."

The shepherdess shook his paw and smiled at him pleasantly. "Maria."

Taking seats at the booth he had previously occupied, the wolf and shepherd chatted for half an hour, swapping trivial life stories but never surrendering their full identities. For Maria, the wolf was an amusing curiosity; he was good humored but a little crude, polite when he addressed her personally and kept a comfortable distance which made her happy. Nathan was quickly enamored with the shepherdess. She was tickled by his stories and appreciated his quick wit and sometimes abstract sense of humor. As time pushed on, he saw her cold eyes soften every time she laughed. It was then he noticed just how beautiful she really was; not simply physically attractive, but a warm personality hidden under a steel clad visage that she clearly put a lot of effort into.

Filling their time with more idle chat, the wolf had started a game by taking two ping-pong balls that were part of a decorative display and tossing them into an empty glass on the adjacent table. Maria had joined in and was ahead by several rounds when Nathan took the balls and sat staring at them in his paw with his arm rested on the table. "There's a technique to it, I'm usually better than this."

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Do you say that to all the girls? Because it doesn't sound very encouraging."

The wolf chuckled and faced her, resting his elbow on the table and holding the balls up. "Now, you see, that kinda comment is gonna get you in trouble. It was quite an innocent..." Nathan paused as a patron of the bar passed him by and casually dropped another ball into his paw with a chuckle. The wolf looked on as the customer left, then back to his paw and then again to the customer as he exited the building. With a dead pan expression, he turned to Maria and spoke in a deep tone. "I have an extra ball." Maria covered her mouth, trying not to spit out the sip of her drink she had just taken. Her eyes were wide and she tried not to laugh as the wolf continued with the same expression and lowered voice. "It's a strange sensation having a third ball; one that's becoming oddly satisfying and has just made me realize, that I'm openly cupping my balls in public." It was too much for the shepherd as she finally managed to swallow her drink, she started laughing and gasping for air. "It's not as odd as it first seems." He rumbled and held out his paw with the ping-pong balls. "Would you like to cup my balls?" Maria waved his paw away while laughing uncontrollably. "No? Well, alright then. I wonder if having a third ball will improve my performance." Nathan looked back at the empty glass and then successively threw each ball into the glass. Turning back to his company, he grinned. "It seems a third ball does improve performance, because now; I'm amazing."

Maria reached out and covered his muzzle as she tried to calm herself, her ears burning with embarrassment. "You're so full of shit, Nathan. Are you always this insane?"

Smiling under her paws he nodded. "I'm not too much for you, am I?"

"You're just the break from reality I need."

Placing his paws over hers, he gently moved them from his muzzle and smiled. "Wanna go to the club down the street?"

"Hell yes! I've wanted to dance all night."

Nathan raised a curious eyebrow. "Why didn't you say?"

Maria sighed. "I was celebrating my new job with friends earlier, and I just don't think they can party anymore, so it kinda killed the need."

"Well, if you've gotta dance, let's go." He stood up and offered her his paw which she took graciously, then stood to leave with her new friend.

The walk to the night club had been short and the wait in line was mercifully short. Along the way, the wolf and shepherd had teased each other causing a little embarrassment and a lot of arousal. Inside the club, the atmosphere was electric and music almost deafening. They had barely been inside for a minute, when Maria grabbed Nathan's paw and dragged him onto the dance floor.

Finding a spot on the floor, they danced together energetically, each showing that they were quite skilled with their moves. On a few occasions someone tried to cut between them and steal one of them as a partner, but they quickly stepped and rolled around the unwanted arrivals. After several fast paced songs and an obvious growing sexual tension between them, the volume of the music lowered as a slower song began to play. They were tiring but their adrenaline kept them going. Nathan smiled and offered his paw again for a slower dance. Stepping close to him, she avoided his paw and instead wrapped her arms around his neck. The wolf gave a short chuckle of surprise and then wrapped his arms around the curvy shepherd's waist.

"Thank you." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

Nathan pulled away a little and gazed into her eyes. "What for?"

"Being out tonight, finding me, making me laugh and dancing with me; everything really."

He smiled and gently stroked a few stray strands of hair from her face. "You're welcome." Sliding her arms back to his chest, Maria gently cupped his cheeks and then pulled him close, kissing him deeply. Nathan was stunned for a second, but eased into the moment in spite of several male German Shepherds and other jealous males shooting the couple dirty glances. He embraced the shepherdess fully, lifting her off her feet for a moment.

Pulling away, Maria rested a paw on the wolf's chest and gazed back into his eyes. He could sense she had a need, and it was starting to overcome her. "Nathan, where are you staying tonight?"

He understood her meaning perfectly. "Hotel, about three blocks from here."

"I don't care for sleeping alone tonight; how about you?"

"Likewise." He growled softly.

She watched him carefully as he answered and picked up on a slight hesitation. "What's wrong?" her voice was full of concern.

"Nothing." He said reassuringly and rested his paws on her waist. "I don't usually go for fast women."

"So what makes me different?"

Nathan smiled and stroked her cheek. "I saw the real you tonight. Most girls I've dated hide themselves behind an act for weeks. Tonight I saw you open up to a stranger and laugh your heart out. That's never a bad thing in my book."

Maria smiled and lightly gripped his chin as she shook her head. "You don't know me."

"I'd like to."

"Good answer." She licked her lips in a sultry fashion then kissed the wolf again, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and pressing herself close to him as he gripped her hips and drew her deeper into the kiss.

* * *

"So, what happened? Did ya take her back to the hotel and fuck her brains out?" Jackson asked enthusiastically.

Nathan laughed. "I'll leave what happened up to your imagination. Suffice to say, it was good enough that we agreed to hook up for a second night."

The bull grunted as he moved away from the guard rail. "Well, you clearly did something for each other. Honestly, the way you keep running back to her, I'm surprised you don't get whiplash running off the boat." The bull playfully punched the wolf on the shoulder as he started to walk away.

"Hey, that's five bucks a hit, I know a good lawyer too; she'll rip the cash out of you."

Jackson snorted in amusement. "Only five bucks? You're a cheap date."

"Not as cheap as your sister." The wolf smirked.

"Oh, low blow, Nathan."

Nathan chuckled. "Nah, when she hit me in the guts for calling her a cheap date, that, was a low blow."

Jackson laugheded heartily and checked his watch. "Alright motor mouth, we got work to do. Wrap up your day dreamin' and meet me below in twenty minutes. Dave is finally gonna to fix that broken A.C. pipe and I figure he could use some help."

"Hey, Jackson." Nathan called out as the bull strode away. "Did the younger guys figure it out yet?"

"What, how you escaped from your cabin?"

"Yup."

A deep laugh rose from the bull. "No! And you better not tell either, some of us have a bet on guessing when they'll figure it out."

The wolf slipped the photo into his pocket and retrieved a pack of cards from another. Swiftly fanning them out then splitting and re-stacking the deck before making them vanish. "Really, Jackson... A magician never reveals his secrets."

"Too bad I know that one then."

Nathan chuckled. "Spoil sport."

"Show off." Jackson huffed in amusement. "Come on. Wrap it up; we've got work to do."

Nathan nodded and turned back to the sunrise. "Sure thing, Jackson; sure thing."

* * *

The cabin was quiet except for the sounds of his breathing and the lapping of water against the ship's hull. Nathan stared at the ceiling of his room. It was bare metal except for a small patch directly over his bed that he had decorated with a small collection of photos. They were all of the times he had spent with Maria. His eyes slowly drifted between each image and then came to rest on one in particular; their first night together.

The wolf reached out and stroked the photograph where Maria's image was and smiled. Telling the story of their meeting to Jackson had revitalized him, but in his usual way; he hadn't told him everything. The memory of their more intimate time together was his and he guarded those thoughts jealously as he did with every intimate encounter he ever had with a woman. He thought about those other women that had passed through his life briefly and chortled quietly to himself. Chasey, the cheetah who had taught him how to please a woman. Phillipa, the wolf who had been his first real love, but who had also tested his patience. Kirsty, the mouse who had taught him gentleness. Layla, the doe who had taught him patience, and Shilpa, the tigress who had made him a skilled lover. Then there was Maria.

The German Shepherdess, had been everything he had wanted in a lover, and so much more. On the surface she was aggressive, demanding, and a frightful tease, but he had seen more than the personality she wore day to day. Gradually her mental armour wore down as they spent more time together. Nathan smiled knowing that he was one of a rare few who ever saw Maria's softer side. It was never easy after he had been away, but even with every outburst against him, he still saw the kind shepherdess that just wanted to laugh and love that he had come to know that first night.

Closing his eyes, he cast his mind back to their first night together and smiled. It had been the start of something special for him, and ended up with him choosing a different path than the dark road he had set himself on so long ago.

* * *

The journey back to the hotel had been swift. The elevator doors had barely closed when Maria pounced on Nathan, kissing him passionately and savagely trying to unbutton his shirt. Unfazed by her actions, he returned the favor in kind, unzipping her dress and pulling her closer. They stumbled and bumped into the walls several times as they left the elevator, looking like a pair of wild animals. Gathering his wits, Nathan grabbed her paw and ran towards his room before someone decided to investigate the racket they were making. Maria squealed softly and seemed to be having more fun with the rogue wolf than she'd had in years.

They had barely entered Nathan's dimly lit room before his shirt was thrown on the floor and Maria's purse followed suit as her dress was falling off her shoulders. The shepherdess turned to face the wolf and gripped his crotch firmly and looked pleased to feel that he was excited as she was. "Come on; let me see what you've got."

Nathan quietly snorted a laugh, and shook his head. "Not yet." Maria shot him an indignant stare, but he just smiled and took her paw. "It's only polite that ladies should be served first."

Her mood softened as she slipped out of her dress and felt herself blush at his words. "Are you just acting like a gentleman, or is this normal for you?"

She climbed onto the bed and lay back then slowly parted her legs, she heard him lower his voice as he crawled over her almost naked body. "You'll have to get to know me to find out."

"Tease."

He winked at her playfully and then began kissing his way down her body. Maria writhed as his lips touched her body ever so lightly. The wolf unhooked the front clasp of her strapless bra and slid it out from under her body, and then with firm but gentle paws he cupped her large breasts and massaged them slowly, extracting a gasp of delight from her. The shepherdess moaned as he continued his southward journey on her body, kissing down her tummy and licking playfully at her navel, making her squirm at the ticklish sensations. Continuing on, his paws released her breasts and trailed down her flanks as his muzzle reached her crotch. The shepherdess was already wet and her panties soaked as his fingers hooked into the garment and playfully teased them off her hips and down her legs. Tossing her panties to the side he parted her legs again and lowered his head to her glistening folds that revealed a new surprise to him.

"Well hello. I didn't expect to see a piercing." He growled softly.

Maria giggled. "Do you like it?"

"It's perfect." He said as he glanced at the small barbell piercing in her clitoral hood then shifted to a more comfortable position. "You ready?"

"Shut up and eat me, wolf."

Nathan locked eyes with her for a moment, and for the briefest second, Maria was certain he was about to do something silly; she was wrong. A gasp escaped her as his tongue slowly trailed along her labia and brushed over her clitoral piercing. She moaned her approval and reached between her legs gripping his head. He moved a little more, sliding his arms under her legs then rested his paws on her tummy and gently held her down. Nathan heard her sigh with relief and guessed she had been having a hard week. She gasped suddenly as his tongue slipped inside her, then went wide-eyed as he started to lash his tongue around inside her pussy.

Time lost all meaning for Maria; there was only wave after wave of pulsing, electrifying, pleasure. She wanted to call out; to gasp or moan, but she found herself both paralyzed from her chest up, and jerking uncontrollably from her hips down. After almost a minute of constant attention, Nathan pulled back and looked at her with a little concern. "You alright?"

She shot him a wild stare, and panted heavily. "Don't you dare stop!" He didn't have time to argue before Maria tightened her grip on his head and brought him back to work. Picking up where he left off, the wolf worked his tongue over and into her slit feverishly. He moved his tongue in different ways, changing frequently, but returning to patterns and motions that extracted the biggest reactions from her. The wolf was relentless, deep breathing every time he ran his tongue over her labia and clit, then retuning his tongue for longer and longer intervals inside her slick pussy. From the noises and movements she made, he guessed she hadn't been subjected to such a bombardment of oral stimulation on and in her pussy before.

Maria was drowning in a sensory overload of pleasure; she had got more than she bargained for with the wolf and she soaked up every ounce of his attention as she lost control of her body. Her hips, legs and tummy all twitched as Nathan's tongue continued to deliver intense pleasure to her sensitive flesh. Feeling close to an explosive release, Maria finally got her breathing under control but felt her arms and paws locked in position. She hoped she wasn't hurting her new lover and managed to gasp his name as he continued to take her to new heights of ecstasy.

Hearing his name, Nathan slid his tongue from her insides and thrashed the tip of it against her clit and piercing in a pulsing motion. Maria wanted to scream, to call out, to make any sound above a light squeak, but she was being held on a knife's edge. Feeling her leg and stomach muscles become ridged, Nathan slipped his tongue back into her slowly. The sudden drop in pace let the shepherd catch her breath for a second as she wondered what he was playing at. Coiling his tongue slowly and feeling her inner muscles in mild spasm; Nathan rubbed the tip of his tongue into a particularly sensitive area of her vagina. The result of the contact was instantaneous.

The final touch of his tongue sent the shepherdess into orgasmic convulsions. Becoming almost fetal as her body rode out perhaps the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced. Maria gave a high pitched moan of satisfaction as the waves of pleasure gradually stopped. After a moment, her grip loosened and her body went limp. She tried to say something, but could barely form two words; then she felt Nathan move. With the greatest effort, she tried to lift her head and see her lover, but instead only felt a short blast of cold air from his mouth over her clit; then her second orgasm hit.

The German Shepherdess lay on the bed convulsing for almost a minute as her body tried to cope with the second wave of orgasm. After the first, she had felt drained and foggy, but the second made her feel both awake and alert. As her breathing steadied and control of her body gradually returned, she found herself staring at the ceiling of the hotel room, with eye floaters occasionally dotting her vision. "What... The... Fuck... Did you do... To me?"

Nathan chuckled and slowly crawled over her, filling her vision. "Serving the lady first."

Still panting, she managed to wrap her arms around the wolf's neck and pulled him close. "You can serve me any time you like if you can do that again."

"Any time you want, Maria." She heard him say in a low growl that soothed her aching body.

"Will the sex be that good too?"

"I guess we'll find out." He stood up and removed the rest of his clothes and then quickly retrieved and put on a canine condom from a box in the nightstand. "Gotta stay protected." He chuckled and watched her smile with approval. When he crawled back on top of her, the shepherdess' body seemed weak as she moved beneath her lover, locking her ankles behind his thighs and wrapping her arms around his neck. They stared at each other in the weak light that hazed in through the window, silently daring each other to make the first move. Nathan took the plunge. Levelling the tip of his cock with her slick folds, he pushed forward gently, gradually opening her slit to his member. The shepherdess hadn't taken the opportunity to watch him undress as she lay on the bed. It only added to the surprise when she felt him open the slick folds of her vagina.

A sharp gasp left her as Maria felt Nathan's shaft open her honey pot. He had more girth than she had expected and every inch that entered her made the shepherdess feel a little fuller than she had been in the past. When he was finally hilted inside of her warm, moist depths, she groaned and chortled deeply. Nathan was pleased he was bringing the shepherdess so much enjoyment, but was caught off guard when her paw slammed into his shoulder and she kicked out behind him, flipping him onto his back while still being buried deep inside her. The wolf blinked several times, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. "Well, that was different."

Now perched atop Nathan; Maria gently ran her claws through the fur on his chest. "Sorry, Babe, but I'm on top tonight."

Grinning wildly, Nathan nodded. "Anything the lady wants."

Maria murred softly to herself as she gazed at him though half-lidded eyes. "Careful what you offer; I might just take you up on it."

"I hope you do."

The shepherdess grinned back at her lover and began making slow circular motions with her hips. She struggled to control the vocalization of her satisfaction; moaning, groaning and even howling at the sensations she experienced. It was almost what she imagined her first time should have been like. Adding to the range of motion, Maria began to raise and lower her hips as she continued her aggressive ride of the wolf's shaft. Sharp pulses flooded the nerves throughout her pussy as she rode his long thick member. The slightest raising or lowering while he remained inside her drove her wild as she tossed her hair, called out and groped at her own body as well as his.

Nathan reached out and gripped the top of her thighs firmly. The sudden extra pressure made the shepherdess straddling him whine in pleasure. Watching as she moved, Nathan found her rhythm and began to thrust in time with her. They reacted to the extra stimulus immediately. Nathan growled as Maria's pussy gripped and trembled around his shaft; she was perfectly in sync with him and he felt as if they could make love for hours. Maria reached forward, grasping at Nathan's chest as he moved with her. Arching her back and finding new angles for his cock to penetrate her; she panted heavily. The shepherdess had a prize tonight that she was reluctant to let go of and would have been happy if the night didn't have to end.

Releasing her thighs and grasping her paws, Nathan interlaced his fingers with hers. The new grip let Maria shift her weight and move differently. Their position changes were subtle but everyone brought about colossal sensation shifts and raising the bar of future expectation higher and higher.

Thoughts of joy and desire raced through Nathan's mind at a breathtaking pace. Was she the one? Could the idea that there was someone for everyone be true, and had he found his someone? Every moment of eye contact that he earned pushed him closer towards that conclusion. Maria was precious, more so than gold or diamonds, art or jewelry. What he saw in her could not be bought, only offered, and he had taken that offer and felt as if he were giving this shepherdess his soul in return. Every moan they made together was exquisite music, every movement a fine tuning of their physical intimacy. As the seconds turned into minutes, Nathan was certain the woman joining with him was worth every ounce of his effort to be with, to keep him on the right track. To keep him sane.

Maria shifted her position, bringing her feet up so that she squatted over the wolf beneath her. With more control she set a new faster pace that made her pant heavily and make more demands of her lover. "Come on, Wolf, fuck me harder!"

Bucking a little slower but making deeper thrusts, Nathan growled in response. "Turn around."

"Ooooo, want me to reverse cowgirl you, hmmm?"

"Yeah. Show me what you got!"

Pulling her paws away from his, Maria sat back then slowly turned while keeping the wolf's cock firmly buried inside her. "Now I hope you're ready for, HEY!" She was cut off as she was shoved forward.

Nathan quickly scrambled over her and gripped her hair. Lowering his voice he rumbled a warning to her. "Don't call me, Wolf. I have a name, use it."

The sudden turn of events had caught the shepherdess off guard and she quickly remembered seeing Nathan bristle earlier in the evening when he had confronted the Dalmatian that had been bothering her called him by his species. In spite of the hold he had on her and the position of power he now held, she realized she wasn't in any harm. He was making a point, plain and simple. Glancing back over her shoulder she locked him with her iron hard gaze again. "Nathan..."

"Again."

"Nathan."

Sitting back, Nathan tugged on her hair gently and got her to rise on all fours. "Once more."

Maria was done with his game, but was eager to continue their sexual adventure and played along, dropping her voice to a husky purr. "Nathan."

He chuckled and released her hair, then teasingly brushed his short claws through the fur on her back. "I've given you my respect, Maria, give me the same and I'll do anything you want."

Maria turned and prowled towards him on all fours with a mischievous look in her eye. "Anything, huh? I told you already, careful what you offer."

"Afraid I won't pay up?" Nathan smirked.

"I didn't say that, but I can make some demands that would make you blush."

The smirk on Nathan's face broke into a wide toothy grin. "Do tell."

Maria giggled and pushed the wolf back on the bed. "Later, right now I just want to finish what we started, Nathan." Straddling him once more, she lowered herself back onto his member and shuddered with bliss as he penetrated her once more.

A groan escaped his lips as she sank over him once more. "Maria..."

She brought her head to his and kissed him softly, tasting her own juices still on his muzzle. "Nathan..."

Starting slowly once more, the couple built up their pace and rhythm. Keeping their bodies closer as they moved, they groped and pinched each other with careful precision, learning more about each other with each passing moment. Nathan could feel something wasn't right, and hoped he hadn't put the shepherdess off of him. She was holding back; she was keen, but suddenly it dawned on him, that he was seeing and feeling an act of some kind. He wondered if this was what she did for fun; pick up a stranger, have her fun and leave. If it was, he hoped to change her mind.

Gripping her backside firmly, Nathan started to pick up the pace. Maria slammed herself against him again and again as tremors of pleasure rippled through her; he was likewise affected as his knot began to swell. Every painstaking second was a passionate and joyful agony for him as her pussy slowly stretched to accommodate his additional girth.

Every fiber of her body screamed with pleasure as each stroke her pussy made down his shaft cracked her will a little more. Finally stretching enough to allow her lover full access to her, Maria cried out and tossed her hair back as she sat up and reveled in such a complete feeling of fullness. Her vison blurred as she continued to ride the wolf that was now locked in her depths.

Reaching up, Nathan cupped and massaged the shepherdess' large breasts with slow rhythmic motions and occasional teasing of her nipples that made her squeal softly. She had taken him fully, a mark of trust in most cases, but he suspected one of satisfaction for her. He was in too deep to care at that moment and instead growled lustfully at her, a gesture which she repeated in kind and clawed passionately at his chest.

Final satisfaction hit them both suddenly and ferociously. It had been almost twenty-five minutes since he had first penetrated her depths and yet, neither seemed to want to succumb to the growing ache of tiredness that was slowly growing in their bodies. A fierce rush of emotions flooded Nathan as he came inside his new lover, filling the tip of the condom with a long pent up load of his seed. Ideas he had long pushed from his mind flooded back, changes and possibilities were reforming before him, and at every turn in his mind's eye, he could see her.

Riding out her own orgasm, Maria felt dizzy. She had slept with many males over the years, but this time she had found someone who fulfilled everything she wanted. There was just one problem; she wasn't one given to change of habit without good reason, and this wolf had left her mind reeling in turmoil as she enjoyed another truly satisfying climax because of him.

As the final spasms of exhilaration died away from the lovers, she forced his knot out of her and then they collapsed onto the bed lying next to each other and staring at the dark ceiling. As his breathing leveled out; Nathan removed the condom he had worn and tied a knot in it before throwing it in the trashcan, then closed his eyes and let his mind wander and skirt on the edge of dreaming. Maria lay still staring wide-eyed into nothingness. Her mind was a rush of confused and conflicting arguments. She had never been one to stay the night with a one-night stand, but this wolf had proven to be something far beyond her expectations.

Rising from the bed she headed to the bathroom to clean herself and make a decision. After taking care of her post coitus ablutions, she stared at herself in the mirror; weighing up her options to stay or go. She began to convince herself that the wolf was just another one night stand, like so many others. Deciding to leave, the shepherdess crept quietly to where she had left her dress and as she reached for the garment, she hesitated; her fingers closing and her paw pulled away from the dress. Drawing a trembling breath, Maria bit her bottom lip; unsure if she was about to make a decision she might regret.

There was a soft rustle from the bed and then Nathan's voice froze her to the spot. "Do you have to leave?"

"I thought you were asleep."

Nathan sat up and sighed. "Sorry, I was just lying here thinking." Covering her chest with her arm, Maria half turned and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came. "Do you have to leave?" He asked again, watching her closely. He saw her expression change to one of mental anguish.

"I do; I mean I should go. I should go home. I have important meetings to attend tomorrow."

Sliding his legs out of the bed, he stood and then stepped behind the shepherdess, gently resting his paws at the sides of her elbows. "You could stay. I can get you up in the morning if you need me too?"

In her mind, Maria's thoughts roiled against her. Any other night she would have been dressed and waiting for her usual taxi ride home. Yet here she stood, internal conflict holding her in place as her usual reasoning tried to unbind her confusion. "I have things to prepare, to get dressed," her voice wavered for a moment and Nathan felt a tremor ripple through her "So much, so much to do..."

The shepherd reached for her dress again, but stopped as she felt Nathan's paw lightly stroke down her spine, making her shiver again. "You said that you didn't want to sleep alone tonight. Was that the truth?"

She wanted to face him and say something he would want to hear, but her mind threw another defense in his way, though she knew it was weak. "I just wanted... I just wanted to have sex with you."

There was suddenly warmth against her back and strong arms carefully wrapping around her waist and shoulders. His soft growl cut through the last of her doubt as he whispered in her ear. "Stay with me tonight. I'll take care of everything in the morning."

Resistance left her as her paws came to rest over his and squeezed gently. They stood barely making a sound for several minutes, just enjoying feeling close to someone. Turning in his arms, Maria placed her paws on the wolf's chest and looked up into his moonlit face. The mischief she had seen in his eyes earlier was gone, replaced by something warmer and more endearing to her. It was a feeling she wasn't used to. "Alright." Nathan smiled and lowered his head, kissing the shepherdess, tenderly. Their hold on each other changed slowly, as her arms moved around his neck and he shifted his grip to accommodate her. Feeling another more obvious physical sensation, Maria broke their kiss and locked eyes with him again. "Are you hard again?"

He nodded. "Yeah, it's not often a lady like you steps into my life."

Maria blushed at his sentimentality. "Are you... Are you up for round two?"

"I'll go all night if you want me to." He growled softly, without missing a beat. Her desire flared again and she pushed herself closer to the wolf. She couldn't remember the last time she had a lover as skilled as Nathan, or if she had even had one; but the opportunity of a second chance to feel him inside her excited her. His large paws slid down her body and gripped her backside, lifting her into his embrace. "Just one thing."

"Hmmm?"

"I'm on top this time." He growled seductively.

Maria murred softly to herself and stroked his shoulders idly. "Take me then."

Walking back to the bed, Nathan felt truly calm for the first time in years. She was more than a simple release; the shepherd already felt like a companion to him, even though he could sense some apprehension from her. He had to tread carefully, but for now he was content to satisfy her sexual needs as well as his own. Laying her back on the bed, he reached back to the night stand and pulled another condom from the box inside and opened the packet. "I'm guessing you want me protected again?"

Maria nodded and smiled. "Normally I have to remind guys about that."

"Glad I can improve on the standard then." He chuckled.

Giggling softly to herself, Maria wrapped her arms around her waist as Nathan slid the condom on. She stretched out a leg and brushed the fur on his stomach with her toes. The wolf stopped and stared playfully at the shepherdess with a smile building on one side of his muzzle. "Don't give yourself too much credit. The bar isn't exactly set to the highest level."

The ring of the condom settled just above where Nathan's knot would form as he moved towards her, slowly and purposefully. His fingers lightly trailed up her outstretched leg as he lowered himself over the prone shepherdess. The sensation of his claws running through her fur made her shiver and bite her lip as his eyes drew level with hers. They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity; in her eyes, Nathan saw her doubt slowly washing away, and in his, Maria saw a heart suddenly open to limitless possibilities. Their eyes closed as Nathan brought his muzzle to hers and their lips met. It was slow, deep, and passionate. The kiss they shared wasn't just an accepting of each other, it carried so much more meaning for both of them; a release. For Maria, the wolf above her had done the unthinkable and somehow broken through all of her defenses to find a more vulnerable part of her. Nathan felt a burden lift from his shoulders and suddenly with this shepherdess he could see a brighter future for himself.

As their kiss broke, Maria gasped and stretched her arms above her head. "So, you really want to work on resetting my standards?"

A soft chuckle rose from Nathan's chest. "Nope, just giving you a new set to work with."

"Well, come on then. Take me!"

With definite purpose, Nathan moved his paws to hers and locked their fingers together. Raising himself and looking down on her, he watched a little panic rise in his new lover as her pupils narrowed. "Relax," he growled reassuringly "I won't hurt you, but I'll take you in my own time."

A smile broke across Maria's muzzle; his words had once again shown confidence and control of the situation, as well as honesty in his intentions. For the first time in years Maria found herself drawing on a phrase she never thought she'd use again. "Please, take me."

Nathan felt her legs carefully lock behind his thighs as her breathing deepened. Leaning close enough to hear her heart thundering in her chest, he whispered seductively to her. "Anything for you." With that said he aimed his throbbing cock at her dampening pussy and thrust into her with a slow, gentle force until he was fully inside her depths once more. She struggled and moaned with delight as he moved through her quivering tunnel and finally whimpered in satisfaction as he hilted himself inside her.

Maria goaned as her body welcomed the wolf back inside her. Feeling his lover tense, he simply stayed still, the throb of his pulse the only motion in his cock. The shepherdess was about to complain, when he began tenderly kissing her cheek, then down her neck and across her chest. Along the way he made soft affectionate nips and bites, exciting his lover as she gasped and murred her approval. With a grace that seemed to defy his physique, his hold on her paws relaxed as he began to trail his fingers down her arms one at a time, lightly drawing his short claws through her fur and leaving shallow furrows in his wake.

Resting his paws at her flanks, Nathan propped himself up a little further and watched Maria writhe beneath him for a moment. He smiled at her though her eyes were shut as she enjoyed the sensations she was feeling. Guessing she wasn't used to the pace he was setting, he decided to make their time together as intimate as possible. If she truly just wanted a companion for a one night stand, he'd make sure she'd never forget him. Lowering his head once more, he lightly teased each of her nipples with the tip of his tongue in turn. The shepherdess cried out softly, arching her back and trying to thrust her breast into the wolf's mouth, but he kept just out of reach. Whining softly at the teasing he was providing, Maria gripped and squirmed at the bedding, trying to make him do more.

As if answering her demands, he placed a paw on her tummy and gingerly guided it over her fur until he cupped one of her large breasts in his paw. With slow and careful application of pressure, Nathan massaged the fleshy orb in his grasp, much to the further delight and minor frustration of the shepherdess. "You're... you're so... so bad at... at this..." She whimpered.

Nathan raised an eyebrow and decided to taunt her a little more. "Really?"

"Yes... really!" She moaned, while trying to growl.

"Really?" He whispered as he firmly gripped her breast and gently pinched her nipple between his thumb and forefinger while also taking her other nipple fully in his mouth and slowly swirling his tongue around it and gripping it between his teeth.

Maria gasped at the sudden extra attention. "Oh Gods, no! I take it back."

Releasing her from his ministrations, he came face to face with her once more with a lovers smile on his muzzle. "Just relax. We're not going anywhere, so just enjoy it. I've got so much more to show you."

The shepherdess gripped his head and kissed him passionately but slowly. She felt his arms glide around her torso and hold her securely without crushing her under the weight of his body. It was unusual for her; swift satisfaction had usually been her aim, but now, the wolf she lay with brought her a comfort she hadn't known from any of her previous lovers. Safety. He wasn't with her to have his way and be gone or forget; he cared. He cared not only for her physically, but through his words and now his actions she realized that he wanted to care for her as a person. Emotionally, the idea was overloading her reason and she felt tears well up at the corners of her eyes, but refused to let them roll.

Finally succumbing to his bodies desire, Nathan began a slow and deliberate thrusting into Maria's soaking pussy. He grunted and growled his affection as she gripped him inside her and hugged him closer, burying her head in his shoulder as she cried out and moaned softly. Every thrust and rolling of his hips against hers rose their heartbeats and deepened their breathing. He could feel every twinge she made as her feet pressed to the back of his thighs and curled her toes, gripping his fur.

If a casual observer had passed by, the soft grunts growls and moans the lovers made might have been mistaken for a beast in pain. The truth of the matter was very different. Pleasure, joy, excitement and happiness; were just a few of the emotional rushes that both wolf and shepherdess experienced with every slow minute that passed in each other's embrace.

His paws began to roam her body. Every simple touch burning a new memory into the wolf as he explored her. Each stroke down her neck and grasp of her thighs, hips or backside bringing new information about how his lover liked to be touched. His gliding fingers returned to her stomach, tickling her lightly as he brushed a claw tip around her naval and traced her gently contoured tummy muscles. All the while they moved against each other with a slow and determined rhythm; his throbbing member spreading her warm pussy wide with each thrust and finding a new angle or sensitive spot within her that made her grip him all the tighter.

Feeling her fingers and claws dig into his back as she breathlessly called out his name, he gradually peeled Maria off of him and pinned her once more with his paws locked to hers. Rising to gaze down at her again, he smiled affectionately at the female beneath him as the soft light from outside danced across their bodies. Without prompting, she wrapped her legs around his waist and tried weakly to free her paws from his so that she could pull herself closer into his embrace. Maria smiled back at him, not playfully, but trusting. In that moment, Nathan knew there really was something between them.

Releasing her paws, Nathan sat up, and pulled Maria into his lap and then stretched his legs out behind her. They sat for a moment as Nathan's shaft sank deeper into Maria's pulsing vagina. Caressing each other with curious fingers the lovers stayed silent save for their deep breathing until Maria asked a question she had done earlier in the evening. "Are you just acting like a gentleman, or is this normal for you?"

Nathan brushed his fingertips over her cheeks and then kissed her softly, drawing her emotionally closer with each passing second. As their kiss broke he whispered a slightly different answer than he had previously. "Will you get to know me and find out?"

"Yes!" Her words were breathy and nearly lost as she launched into another kiss with the wolf. The shepherdess' paws cradled his head for a moment before lovingly stroking and teasing his short spiky hair. The closeness, the genuine passion, the thundering in her heart was finally consuming her and she let her mind ask the question for the first time ever. Could he be the one?

Guiding a paw up her back to her neck he took a firm but gentle hold of the shepherdess that made her sigh with relief. He guessed she wasn't usually one to give up control, yet yearned to, though he doubted that she'd ever admit it. His other paw slid lower and covered one of her ass cheeks. Squeezing firmly and teasing more moans and murmurs of delight from his lover, Nathan growled at her affectionately and decided to make one final gesture as Maria slowly rolled her hips against him in earnest.

Locking eyes with her for a moment, the wolf smiled warmly; a gesture mimicked by the shepherdess in his lap. Slowly he closed his eyes and lifted his head, bearing his throat to her in an act of acceptance and submission. It was a declaration that wasn't lost on her. The meaning was profound and if she accepted, would mean a very definite change for both of them. Maria hesitated. Knowing she was in emotional flux, the shepherdess placed her paws on his chest and watched carefully. Still he left his throat exposed. It was a flattering thought, that he trusted her so much so quickly. The question ran through her mind once more; could he be the one? She didn't know, but something about him gave her hope for her own future. Throwing caution to the wind, she leaned in close then licked and nuzzled the base of his neck. He worked his lower muscles harder as she accepted, thrusting up into her and finding several sensitive spots inside her slick tunnel as his paws came back to her chest and firmly but gently massaged her warm, soft breasts. Maria sat back and lightly pushed her fingers to the top of Nathan's nose, and brought his head down so she could look him in the eyes again. They smiled at each other again as she mirrored the gesture, exposing her throat slowly. There was only the briefest hesitation from wolf before he buried his head against her neck, nuzzling and kissing her with controlled passion so as not to overwhelm her.

The rush of emotions quickly took control of their bodies as Nathan leaned back, bracing his arms behind him and planting his feet firmly on the bed as he made longer harder thrusts into his lover. Likewise, Maria shifted her position, her legs unfurling from the wolf's back to a kneeling position. She reacted to his motions, breathing heavily and moving her stomach like a belly dancer to get the most out of every sensation. Nathan grunted as he sped up, blood pumping around his veins carrying his fiery desire and unbound passion for the shepherdess he shared his bed with. At last, he felt his knot swelling again, and with a little more ease than their previous act of love making, he joined with her, locking them together once more. She cried out from the brief period of being stretched again, but murred her satisfaction deeply to her lover. The noises of their love making mingled more and more as they finally reached the peak of their ecstasy.

What started as a loud squeal from the shepherdess became a breathy gasp as she was rewarded with another orgasm. Gripping her own breasts and teasing her nipples to get as much out of the experience as possible, Maria shuddered heavily as her muscles went into overdrive and rippled around the wolf inside her. Nathan was similarly affected. His limbs locked with trembling tension as his torso and groin spasmed with his release. A flood of his seed filled the new condom, the extra heat and pressure driving the shepherdess impaled upon his shaft into more uncontrollable tremors of delight.

When the rush of orgasm was over, Maria collapsed on his chest panting hard and feeling comfortably numb. As the burn in his muscles died away, Nathan lay back and wrapped his arms around the Shepherdess. Time fell away for both of them as they collected their thoughts and emotions. A giggle rose from the shepherdess and Nathan glanced at her, to see what had tickled her. They smiled at each other and then Maria spoke with a hoarse whisper. "I can't feel my legs."

Tightening his arms around her, Nathan nuzzled her affectionately. "Me too."

"I'm not sure I'll be able to clean up again tonight."

Nathan shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I'll take care of the condom in a little bit. You rest just now."

"Thank you." She murmured and let tiredness finally take her as she began to drift to sleep on the wolf's chest.

He lay awake for a while watching her sleep and lightly stroking her back and luscious tail. When he felt himself finally slip free of his lover's slit, Nathan carefully slipped out of bed, cleaned himself up and took care of the newly filled condom before sliding back into bed behind his lover and spooning with her while whispering in her ear. "You might never know what you did for me and I can never repay you, but I'll gladly be in debt to you for life. Thank you."

& & &

Soft morning light warmed the lover's bodies as the sun rose. Nathan had been awake for almost twenty minutes, just watching and listening to Maria as she lay in his arms. When he felt her stir, he stayed quiet and smiled to himself as she pressed herself closer to him and interlocked her fingers with his. Glancing at the mirror on the night stand he saw her smile. It wasn't a simple one either and he guessed she felt some greater comfort by waking and being held. He wasn't surprised; waking to find her still in his arms had been an intense relief and deep reward. As Maria shifted her body a little, she lay her head down and tried to drift back to sleep again. Shaking her gently, Nathan stirred her back to a form of wakefulness. "Hey, wanna share a memory of the night?"

Still drowsy, Maria turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. "What did you have in mind?" she mumbled softly.

"Just this." Nathan reached off the bed and found his trousers and then removed his phone from the pocket. Tapping a few buttons and then holding the phone at arm's length; he snapped a shot of them in each other's embrace, then set the device on the nightstand.

"That'll do then." Maria yawned, and laid her head back on his chest. Within minutes her breathing deepened and Nathan smiled lovingly at her and then lightly kissed her cheek and slid out of bed, carefully so as not to disturb his new friend.

Waking again sometime later, Maria pushed herself upright and forced her eyes open when she felt no warmth at her back or arms wrapped around her. There was no sign of Nathan, just her dress, purse and shoes neatly folded on a chair near the bed. She shook her head and sighed heavily. "So, that's what it feels like." She lay back on the bed and felt a tear form in the corner of her eye. Cursing herself, she shook her head knowing it was too good to be true and like every male she had tried to have a relationship with, he had betrayed her and left her alone.

She was about to curse his name, when the door to the large room opened and Nathan walked in fully dressed and pushing a breakfast trolley while on his cell phone. "Just a sec. Good morning; sleep well?"

Maria blinked and sat bolt upright, pulling the bedcovers tight around her body. "Morning! I thought you'd..." She couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.

Smiling to himself, Nathan shook his head. "Thought I left and dropped the hotel bill on you?" He chuckled deeply. "I'm not that kind of guy. I told you I'd take care of everything in the morning and that's what I've been doing."

"Like how?" She asked quizzically and tilting her head to the side.

"Well, first off, do you want an English or American breakfast?"

Maria grinned. "American, so long as it has bagels."

Nathan lifted a tray off the trolley and handed it to the shepherdess. "There you go, breakfast in bed," he reached back to the trolley and picked up a tall paper cup with a cardboard heat guard around it "and one strong coffee as a pick-me-up."

Her smile lengthened into a toothy smirk. "You really do impress. I might just keep you around if you keep behaving like this."

"Well now, there's a thought." Nathan growled softly, before retrieving his own breakfast and placing it on the table near the bed before wheeling the trolley back out to the hall and tipping the room-service Squirrel who had been waiting. He returned to the room closing the door and picking up his cell phone again. "Yeah still here, sorry about that; fixing breakfast... Sort of. No, I've got a few errands to run today and something came up so I need to cancel and call Alex back. Yeah, change of plans. You know how it is. Alright, talk to you later; bye."

As the wolf hung up, Maria's curiosity grew. "I didn't ruin your day did I?"

Nathan shook his head. "Not in the slightest. Actually, you might just have made it a little better."

"Really, how so?"

Nathan took as seat on the bed next to her as she tucked into a slice of bacon and scrambled eggs. "Well, I know you said you had meetings today and the sort, but I was curious about what you're doing afterwards?"

Maria blushed. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Kinda; I actually wondered if you wanted to meet up this afternoon for coffee. After that we can decide what to do."

"You really were serious when you said you wanted to get to know me, weren't you?" She smiled happily when she saw his ears start to turn red with embarrassment.

"Very much so. If you don't want to, it's okay, but if you do want to you can call me. I wrote my number down and put it in your purse."

"You went through my purse?" Maria growled, her stern gaze returning.

Holding up his paws, Nathan shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I just wrote the note and slipped it into the front pocket. That's all, I promise you."

Easing off, Maria nodded. "So long as that's it, that's okay."

Nathan placed a paw over his heart and bowed slightly. "I want to get to know you, Maria, but I don't want to find out by rummaging through your personal effects. I'd rather we learned about each other together."

She blushed at his sentimentality. "Good answer."

Relaxing as her mood improved, the wolf rose from the bed to go and eat his breakfast. "Listen, it's just after eight o'clock and I figured you'd want a little time to get ready, so the shower's yours. There's a washbag I picked up from the room-service desk for you if you want to freshen up, and I can call a cab to take you wherever you need to go when you're ready."

"You're being too kind. I need to pay for some of this." Maria sighed.

Nathan raised a paw in defiance of her offer. "No, it's my treat. I just hope you'll come and meet me for coffee later today."

Maria giggled and seductively batted her eyelashes at him. "Alright."

Breakfast passed quickly and Maria took Nathan's offer of a shower. When she was done, dry and dressed, Nathan called her a taxi as he had promised and walked her to the front of the hotel, where they received numerous questioning glances.

"Well, it was a lovely night, Nathan. Maybe we'll have another go sometime after we've had coffee." Maria smiled and hugged the wolf, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"It was. I just hope it won't be too long." He held the shepherdess tightly as her taxi pulled up and honked to get their attention. "I think this is yours."

"I know, how rude, right?"

"Indeed. Be safe; I'll see you later today. And it's Nathan Fenn." He said with a smile and kissed Maria softly on the cheek.

"Same to you. It's Maria for now, you can find out the rest over coffee." She grinned and stepped away to get in the taxi.

Nathan chortled to himself as she stepped into the taxi and drove away. He stayed standing where he was, waving her off until her cab was out of sight, then from out of his other paw, he flicked out a business card he had palmed from her purse while they had hugged. "Sorry, Maria. I need to know who I'm dealing with before it gets too serious. I don't want you to get hurt because of my past." He muttered to himself quietly before turning and heading back to his hotel room. Pulling out his phone as he walked he dialed a number well known to him and waited for an answer. He wasn't kept waiting long. "Alex, its Nathan. You got your miracle; we'll find another way. I'll explain everything later; just meet me at eleven at the Pelican Café. You're gonna love this..."

* * *

Nathan woke slowly, the dull thrumming of the ships engine becoming sharper as his senses returned to him. Looking up at the photos above his bed, he smiled happily and chuckled to himself. "Don't kill me when I get back, Sweetheart. Better times will come soon." Taking a deep breath and stretching his body, then carefully rolling out of bed; he dressed himself quickly and headed towards the bridge. From the sounds around him he gathered they had arrived early and the night shift had started setting up before the crew change over.

Arriving on the bridge, Nathan strolled towards the coffee pot that the captain always kept full and poured himself a mug of the strong scented liquid, much to the displeasure of the captain. "Morning, Harry. We on track to get this job done quickly?"

The older polar bear rolled his eyes and looked away from the wolf. "Mornin'," he grumbled "and yes, once you and the divers check these things out and we start liftin' we should be outta here in a few days."

Taking a small mouthful of the coffee, Nathan swirled the liquid around his mouth enjoying the flavor before swallowing. "Texas pecan roast, nice. The guys and I should be ready to go in about an hour. Jeff said he was having a problem with his tanks, so we'll check and re-fill them but if it keeps up, he'll be deck-side for the remainder of the job."

"Fair enough."

Nathan watched the polar bear for a moment then snorted a quiet laugh. "Still not ready to apologize?"

"You first."

"Nope, you got what you deserved. Exactly what your hollow promise was worth."

"Nathan, you know..."

"Heard it, not interested." The wolf growled as he stalked out of the cabin. "You're a good captain, Harry, but you're a shit friend." Heading to the bow of the ship, Nathan said his good mornings to several crew as he passed them and found out what had been happening. At the tip of the bow, he found Jackson with a wary eye on the horizon as he cleaned his binoculars. "Hookers on the starboard side." He called out with a chuckle, but was disappointed when his friend didn't react. "Come on, Jackson, lighten up."

"Not this time, Nate." The bull said sternly.

Taken aback by his friends tone, Nathan began scanning the horizon, feeling something was amiss. "What is it?"

"Can't be sure yet, but I've seen several small boats this morning."

"Range?"

Jackson shook his head. "About two miles. They've been keeping their distance?"

"Think it might be something to worry about?"

The bull shrugged. "Don't know; let Harry know there might be trouble."

"Sure thing."

Nathan turned and quickly strode back to the bridge, knocking respectfully on the door before entering this time. "Harry."

"What is it?"

"Jackson thinks we might have a situation."

Nathan's humorless tone suddenly caught the polar bears ear and he looked at the wolf seeking some clarity. "What kind of situation?" The words had barely left his mouth when the all hands on deck alarm sounded. They both glanced out of the window to see Jackson pounding towards the bridge waving his arms.

"Not a good one..." Nathan quickly stepped out of the bridge and ran up the walkway that circled around the bridge until he could see Jackson clearly. "What is it?" He yelled. Jackson's response was a single word that chilled Nathan's blood in a heartbeat...

To be continued...