Chapter Twenty-Three

“My beastie’s keen for a swim tonight,” Ness said, getting up from where they’d been lingering over their after-dinner coffee. At least, Cyrus was drinking coffee. Ness was drinking herbal tea. “I won’t be too long.”

“I’ll come for a swim as well, if that’s all right?” Cyrus got up too, stacking their plates – the containers left from Mrs. Hooper’s delicious food – and taking them over to the kitchen counter. “Unless you’d rather be alone…?”

“Er…no, my beast would love it if you came. I’m sure you can feel that through our bond.” Ness ducked his head. I can’t say no. “Just…er…it’s a full moon tonight.”

“It is darlin’. That will make it easier for us to see each other.” Leaning against the sink counter, Cyrus said, “Is the full moon significant for your beastie?”

“Not in a traditional way, or any way you might be thinking. But there could be dancing.” Ness couldn’t even meet Cyrus’s eyes – he was sure he’d die of embarrassment, although his beastie was so happy Cyrus wanted to come with them.

“Dancing? The townspeople come and dance around your lake under the full moon?”

Ness shook his head. “No, no one else around I hope. It would just be my beastie dancing in the water.” He sighed and tried to explain. “My beastie likes to move around in such a way that could only be described as dancing sometimes. Such as when they’re happy about things. We had the doctors today and got to actually see our peanut and…”

“We did see the peanut, we did. We have something to celebrate and there’s no way your precious beastie should be dancing alone.” Cyrus whipped off his shirt, chucking it over the back of a kitchen chair and collected his phone. “I’ll bring the music and a glass of wine for me and juice for you, shall I?”

“I’ll get us a couple of towels.” It was impossible not to get excited when his beastie and Cyrus were there already.

The walk down to the lake was always something Ness enjoyed. The trees surrounding the area gave the place an otherworldly feeling, especially at night. The moon gave everything a grayish silver glow, reflecting beautifully on the still lake.

Cyrus was quiet until they reached the shore. “You go and shift, darlin’,” he said, taking the towels from Ness’s arms. “I’ll set up here and join you in a minute.”

A month or so ago, Ness would never have allowed anyone to see him naked. But Cyrus made the whole idea of being naked before shifting, or when going to bed, or even when taking a nap in the afternoon seem so normal, Ness barely thought about it anymore. He stepped out of his shoes and dropped his pants, smiling as Cyrus wolf whistled.

Stepping into the water, his beastie waited until the water was up to his knees before coming forward. For Ness, it always felt as though his whole being expanded, which in a way it did. His animal side was so much bigger than he was, and he wasn’t a little man. He paddled his way out to where the water was deeper before looking around for his mate.

Cyrus was naked as well, waiting by the shore, his big smile illuminated by the moon. “I’ve got some music for us, beastie. What sort of music do you like? Listen and let me know.”

Ooh, beastie liked this game. He shook his head to classical music and shook it even harder when something else blasted out of Cyrus’s phone that sounded like a truck or a train rumbling down a track. There was some music that was people singing slowly with lovely acoustics, but that wasn’t the mood beastie was in. But then some bright, happy, electronic sounds with a strong beat rang out across the lake and beastie immediately started nodding his head. It wasn’t something he’d heard before, definitely not something Ness would listen to in his quiet moments, but beastie loved it.

“You like house music. I totally didn’t expect that, but if that’s what gets your body moving, let’s do this.” Cyrus’s laughter could be heard above the music. He rested his phone on the towels and came hurrying back down to the water’s edge. “Don’t you go laughing at me, beastie,” he said, splashing into the water. “I’m a useless dancer, but you should have a partner when you’re showing off your moves.”

Beastie was quick to agree. He was bobbing, his neck swaying his head from side to side, his whole body wiggling to the upbeat music. Waist deep in water, his skin shining under the moon, Cyrus was waving his arms around, his head moving from side to side, keeping time with beastie and the music.

One song flowed into the next and the two of them danced, and finally as the music died down, Cyrus swam over, and beastie sank farther down in the water, so his mate could wrap his arms around his neck. “You have the best moves, beastie,” Cyrus said softly. “Thank you for the dance.” Beastie would’ve blushed, if he was able, when Cyrus pecked a quick kiss on his neck, but he knew it was time for Ness to come through again. Kissing was a human thing, although beastie was still glowing from the connection and the fun of the dance, as Ness’s form came through.

/~/~/~/~/

Cyrus felt as though he could fly. Dancing with no one watching him but his lovely beastie filled his heart, and for the first time in his life he felt like he belonged – he belonged with his beastie, he belonged in Arrowtown, despite what Blade might think, and more importantly he belonged with the man who was in his arms.

“I love you, darlin’,” he said roughly. “I’ve never said those words to another person, but you have got my heart in a vice, and…and…I just love you so much.”

“I love you too, Cy.” The response was immediate and if Cyrus thought he was flying before, now he was racing for the shiny moon. “My dashing gangster who dances under the moon…”

Ness might have wanted to say more, but Cyrus had to kiss those lips – those precious lips which spouted words Cyrus never realized he needed to hear. Their kisses got heated quickly, their naked bodies slipping and sliding against each other with the help of the water.

Cyrus had never had sex in the water. He rarely even swam in his human form. There wasn’t any need. But with his cock hard and his blood heating, the press of Ness’s body against his, he wished he’d thought to bring some lube down from the house with the wine.

But Ness was there with him, feeling his need through their bond, and before Cyrus had a moment to suggest they needed to get back to the house, he was flat on his back in the water, supported by Ness’s strong arms, with his cock being swallowed by his eager mate.

“Fuck, yes! Oh, darlin’ you’re spoiling me.” Cyrus was gripping Ness’s waist with one arm, the other one sweeping through the water, doing his part to try and float and keep his head above the water.

If I’m going to drown, this is the way I want to go. Ness had learned so much in their time together, and one of the things he enjoyed the most was using his mouth – as Ness called it. The man had no gag reflex, and Cyrus felt as though his cock was being sucked from his body – the enthusiasm, Ness’s breathy moans around his length… “Oh, darlin’. Oh, darlin’.” Cyrus’s hand slid down to Ness’s butt, his fingers seeking to tease Ness’s hole.

Ness widened his legs, just a fraction, but enough that Cyrus could get his fingers deep inside of Ness’s crack. Cyrus’s orgasm was brewing, he was doing his best to keep his nose out of the water, and yet he wanted to bring his mate pleasure, too. He could feel Ness’s cock bobbing against the side of his body, but he could feel so much more as well. The pleasure coming through their bond – Ness’s joy at sucking him, the pleasure Cyrus was feeling, Ness’s arousal heightened by Cyrus’s finger – round and round, it was like a loop – feeding each other’s arousal and love, because Cyrus could feel that, too.

No man could last long under an onslaught of pleasure. Cyrus clung to Ness as best he could as his orgasm rocked through his body, his cock pulsing deep inside Ness’s mouth. Ness moaned again as he slurped up Cyrus’s release and as he pulled off Cyrus’s cock with a pop, Cyrus felt his mate’s legs tremble and a warm splodge land against his water-cooled skin.

“Oh, gods, oh gods.” Ness let Cyrus’s legs drop and Cyrus wrapped his arms around his mate, his feet finding the ground so he could take his turn at supporting his mate’s weight. “I never thought of doing that in the lake before.”

“I think it’s fitting. Water’s our element and doing that was the perfect end to an incredible day.” Cyrus cupped Ness’s jaw with his hand. “I love you, darlin’.”

Turning his face slightly so he could kiss Cyrus’s hand, Ness said, “I love you too. But we need to head to the house.”

“Of course. Are you feeling queasy again, or getting chilly?”

Ness’s stomach answered for him. “I’m ravenous. Your spunk is barely an appetizer when I’m eating for two.”

“I’ll make us a fry-up,” Cyrus said as they splashed their way to the shore. “It’s the quickest meal to cook.”