I kick away the clothes and step into the water before he has a chance to say anything. I make it to my knees and then mid-thighs before I remember how deep the water is.
You’re in control,I remind myself, and then push further until the fabric clings to my hips. It’s then that the memory of ourwedding night resurfaces—it’s not quite ruined, as Teo has shown me what passed between us in these caves time and time again, but it scalds the space behind my eyes.
When the glowing water coats my hands, my memory flickers and repairs itself.
I remember… wonder—delight—in these pools.
I take one of my hands out to see the sparkles moments before I close my eyes and dunk my entire head underwater.
A second later after reemerging, there’s a splash that crashes over me, dislodging me from my footing and pushing me deeper.
Teo’s tail wraps around me, hugging me close to his chest. I slap against his wet leathers, blinking away glowing sparkles. We are so close.
Glued together. My breath escapes me, and the outside world fades.
“I—“
He cuts me off with a gentle muzzle.
“It’s not so bad,” I say, realizing that my breath isn’t as restricted as before. It fills me with pride.
Then his hand trails down my body, cupping my buttocks, as he holds me impossibly closer.
I gasp.
“I’m sorry—forgive the instinct to pull you out of every dangerous situation,” he murmurs.
Sighing, I lean forward to kiss the mating mark on his neck. The rumble that buzzes between us wakes up something I thought I’d never feel in the water again.
The wet tip of his tail trails across my skin—slow, silky, and tantalizing. It isn’t until it brushes down the cleft of my ass that I gasp.
It moves lower.
“What are you doing?” I demand, grabbing the length in my hand.
He looks down at me with half-moon eyes and hooks his thumbs into either side of the silky fabric at my hips. “I’m helping you relax.” Then he pushes it down off of me. I let the undergarment float down around my ankles and then kick it away.
The thick weight of his tail is pleasant. It’s spent hours caressing me, comforting me, and holding me. Its feather-light touch has been delightful, but it isn’t until I have it in my hand that I realize I’ve never really touched it.
Curious, I slowly slide my hand up its suede length. Teo lets out a deep guttural noise in his throat.
It’s his turn to inquire.
“What are you doing?” as he places his hand over mine.
His grip loosens as my hand slides back down, and he shudders as I reach its tip. The tuft of fur at the end is covered in glittering water, and the hairs part to reveal a thick, blunt end.
Nothing like the pointed armor tip he wears. This tail has killed and comforted. All for me. I rub a finger over it, and he watches, unamused.
“See something you like?”
Clinging to the warmth spreading through my veins, I rub my finger through the hair. “Is the hair necessary?” I ask.
He furrows his brow. “What?”
I think of how easily Ra’Sa cut off his braid. I would never ask Teo to do something similar… but some fur on a tail…
I reach for his belt, where I know a knife is. “Do you trust me?” I ask.
