Chapter 9 #3
Fray laughed and broke the kiss. “Sorry. But it’s been, like, an hour. That’s too long.”
“We should go,” Tobin murmured, not taking his eyes off Fray. His eyes, his mouth, the strong line of his neck, his body.... He needed it all, and he needed it now.
Fray hummed an obscene sound, smiling as his tongue caught the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, we should.” He walked backward to the door, pulling Tobin with him.
“I want to test some theories I have about his gift,” he said to Ciaran and Sawyer.
“Get Tobin to let me feel what he’s feeling while we’re, you know. .. for science.”
Tobin snorted. “For science.”
“Pretty sure Bill Nye the Science Guy wouldn’t agree,” Sawyer yelled, and Fray laughed, but Tobin was in too much of a hurry. He spotted the three Norwegians getting out of the water at Fray’s place, and he had a brilliant idea. If they were out of the Cove, then he and Fray could get in.
He pulled his shirt off as they got to the jetty and dropped his shorts before going in headfirst. He melted into freeform as he descended, and Fray did the same right beside him.
Nothing in the world felt more right than this.
Fray’s blue was vibrant and shimmering, his eyes smiling as the water sparkled around him. Sure, this water was magical, but nothing, absolutely nothing, was more surreal than Fray in freeform.
So fucking beautiful.
Their arms twined together, writhing, feeling, each sucker tasting and holding. Their bodies melded together, Tobin’s green with Fray’s blue, it was hard to know where one of them ended and the other began.
Tobin never dreamed he’d have this. He never allowed himself to hope...
I am yours, Fray said. For always, Tobin.
Hearing Fray’s voice, sensing the love he felt, was almost too much. Tobin’s body thrummed, his hearts pounding, knocking out a rhythm in sync with Fray’s. Their bodies pulsed and writhed as one.
Oh fuck, Tobin. Fray closed his eyes. I can feel you. Every thought, every emotion.
Have you ever had sex in full freeform? Fray asked him.
No. Have you?
Never had sex with one of our kind, so no, Fray replied. He closed his eyes, body pulsing. By the gods, Tobin, I can feel it all. I can hear it all.
And I can feel you, hear you. It was all too much to contain, too much and not enough. He wanted more, he wanted it all. And as they tangled themselves, they shared their pleasure, reflected it back, doubling every sensation, every emotion.
The way Fray loved him was ethereal, pure perfection, and Tobin wanted to weep with the force of it. He was so loved, utterly and completely protected and strengthened.
He knew then that he could let Fray inside his walls and protect him too.
Keep him safe, keep him hidden from others as he’d kept himself hidden.
It was easy to do once he realised how. Keeping Fray safe was as easy as breathing.
As easy as extending an arm, but the arm was in his mind. It was no different, really.
Now that he knew how.
Now that he had a reason, and his reason was Fray.
Fray’s gentle laugh echoed through to him. I fucking love you.
I love you too.
It was so easy to think it, to tell him this way. Human words and his stupid human hearts often tripped him up, making honesty difficult. But like this, there was no hiding. All his thoughts, all his emotions, were shared.
As Fray’s were shared with him.
They stayed that way, in the depths of the Cove, where sunlight and time couldn’t reach them. Just swirling, glittery darkness, the water pressure sealing their connection, their bodies joined as one.
When they eventually surfaced, it was dark.
Clouds bruised the night sky, low and heavy.
The ground was wet, the smell of rain thick in the cold air.
Inside Tobin’s cabin, they each pulled on some sweatpants and T-shirts, and Fray held up his phone for the time and snorted out a laugh.
It was just after 8:00 p.m. “Well, we were gone most of the day,” he said. “And I’m not even sorry.”
Tobin laughed. “Me either.” He ran his hand down Fray’s back, then felt the swell of his arse. How it was possible to have had sex for hours and hours and still want more was inconceivable. But it still wasn’t enough. He wanted more, and he wanted it in human form this time. He wanted to—
Fray’s stomach growled, and he laughed. “Mood killer, huh?”
Tobin took Fray’s hand, kissed his knuckles, and led him to the door. “Come on, let’s get you fed.”
The Cove was dark and quiet except for the sound of chatter and lights coming from Otis’s place.
A burst of laughter punctuated the silence, so they headed in that direction.
Otis quite often hosted nights at his place.
It had a large open area with a big wooden table and chairs, and he always had more than ample food to satisfy eight hungry cephamorphs.
Tobin held the door for Fray and fully expected the jeers and cheers as they walked in. He wasn’t disappointed.
“Oh, look who decided to finally surface.”
“You guys trying to break The Guinness Book of Records for longest sex marathon?”
“Is the water okay to swim in, or will we need a shot of penicillin?” Hendrix mumbled.
He had his tattoo gun and gear out, halfway through inking a red octopus on Sawyer’s left pec.
Hendrix didn’t even look up as he spoke, but he still managed to dodge Ciaran’s hand when he tried to smack him up the back of the head.
“Behave,” Ciaran grumbled. Then he shot Fray a smile. “Nice of you two to join us, though. There’s enough food, so help yourselves.”
As usual, there was a tonne of food. Trays of fish and salad and Otis’s famous potato au gratin. Tobin led Fray over to the food and began serving him up a plate, then realising how hungry he was, he fixed himself a plate too.
They sat and watched the room.
Kellan was talking quietly with the three Norwegians. They stood along the wall, keeping half an eye on Sawyer getting his tattoo. Tobin had to wonder if they’d been informed that Sawyer had requested Ciaran’s ink.
They’d probably be appalled by it, even though Tobin was now very interested in having Fray’s ink permanently etched into his skin.
Nothing like Fray’s back tattoo that Hendrix had worked on for ages. The detail, which Tobin had now appreciated inch by inch, up close and very personal, wasn’t really Tobin’s style.
He’d want something smaller. Something just for him that reminded him of Fray.
Fray’s knee nudged Tobin’s under the table. “Hey,” he murmured, leaning in to keep his voice down. He let out a slow, stilted breath. “You’re gone again. I can’t feel you.”
Tobin slid his hand onto Fray’s thigh and squeezed. “Sorry. I was just...”
“Just what?”
“Thinking.”
“About?”
“Having your ink tattooed into my skin.”
Fray’s whole face lit up, blue eyes bright, smile breathtaking. It made Tobin’s hearts thump. “Really?”
“Fuck yes.”
Fray laughed and, sliding one hand around Tobin’s neck, pulled him in for a kiss. Which was kinda awkward because they were both grinning.
“Jesus,” Otis said with a laugh. “Enough with the cuteness already. It’s too much.”
“Just you wait,” Fray told him.
Otis did a doubletake. “For what?”
“Your turn.” Fray looked around the room and waggled his eyebrows. “Who’s it gonna be?”
Otis’s face did something close to horror, which made Fray snort. Which made Otis glare.
Which should have shut Fray up, but of course it didn’t. His eyes lit up. “Ooooh, we should take bets. Let’s do a pool. Twenty bucks a guess.”
Otis grumbled under his breath, and Tobin pulled on Fray’s arm. “Yeah, we won’t be doing that.”
Dylan laughed, and even Aurin giggled. He’d been sitting in the corner with Salem on his lap.
Tobin had forgotten about the cat....
He looked at him now, perched up on Aurin’s lap, far too comfortable and even more smug as he watched the room. His yellow eyes met Tobin’s and held his stare for a few seconds until the damn thing seemed to smile before putting his head down and closing his eyes.
Yeah. Something was most definitely up with Salem.
What the hell was he?
“Okay, you’re done,” Hendrix said. Tobin turned back to see Sawyer stand up from his chair, new ink on his chest. A red octopus over his human heart. It was a great resemblance.
Sawyer checked it out in the mirror. “Holy shit, I love it. It’s perfect. Hendrix, thank you so much.”
Ciaran very clearly approved, if the way his eyes changed when he looked at it was any indication. But Tobin got it now. If he’d not gone through the bond himself, Tobin would have probably rolled his eyes, but now he understood.
“Book me in, Hendrix,” Tobin said.
Hendrix shot him a raised eyebrow. “You want a tattoo?”
Tobin nodded. “Hell yes. Fray’s ink.”
Fray just about bounced in his seat. “What are you gonna get?”
“Something that reminds you of him?” Hendrix snorted. “Cool. I’ve never done a giant dick tattoo before.”
Tobin growled at him, but Fray laughed. “That was actually pretty funny.” Then he looked at Tobin. “If he gives you a dick tattoo, I will zap him so hard, we could use him as a glowstick.”
Hendrix chuckled as he changed out his tattoo gear. He nodded at Ciaran. “Okay, boss. You’re up next.”
“There will be no dick tattoos,” Ciaran said, taking the chair by Hendrix. Then he tried not to smile at Fray. “And no glowsticks.”
Fray shoved some salad in his mouth, then leaned against Tobin as he ate and laughed, and Tobin was struck, right there on this normal night—they’d had countless nights like this, sitting around someone’s place, sharing food and laughing—at just how utterly perfect this was.
He slung his arm around Fray’s shoulder, smiling at him as he shit-talked with Ciaran, and realised with the full force of all three hearts how happy he was.
Fray turned quickly to face him, eyes wide and starry, and Tobin knew had he’d felt that burst of emotion. Tobin hadn’t meant to share that—not deliberately anyway.
Maybe it’s so much love I can’t contain it.