Not saying it didn't make my love for him any less strong, so I didn't care. Just knowing I loved him was enough, and just because I couldn't tell him didn't mean I couldn'tshowhim.
We separated with soft, gasping breaths, holding each other as the waves moved around us.
An idea popped into my head, and I released my hold on Zephyr, prompting him to do the same. I took a few steps back, putting some distance between us as he watched me with a confused frown, clearly disliking the space I'd put between us.
Before he could question it or come closer, I dipped my hand into the water and jerked it toward him.
Splash!
Zephyr stared at me, wide-eyed, as water dripped from his hair, and I laughed loudly. His eyes narrowed, and his hand went under.
I tried to duck, but couldn't avoid the giant splash he sent my way. Another laugh spilled from my lips as I splashed him again, and we devolved into a bunch of kids as we splashed and threw water at each other until we were both soaked.
Zephyr
Gasping for breath, I grinned at Keoni as we finally tired ourselves out, and he shook his head, releasing water from hishair like a puppy. An adorable, blue-eyed puppy.
"Come on, I'm hungry. Let's dry off and see what Jacinta packed for us," Keoni said, and my stomach growled in answer, making him chuckle. He took my hand in his, as always uncaring about which hand he held, and we waded back toward the beach.
The sand stuck to my feet as I walked toward the blanket, and Keoni's hooves didn't seem to be doing much better. I waited until we were seated on the blanket before removing every grain of sand from our bodies and the blanket, and Keoni shot me an appreciative smile.
I'd realized that Keoni always noticed when I used my magic to make something easier for us, no matter how small the action was. For me, my magic was like another limb, and I didn't think twice about using it. But I still liked it when Keoni noticed the things I did, and I felt embarrassed by just how much.
"Okay, let's see," Keoni mumbled as he opened the basket and peered inside. "We have sandwiches, veggie wraps, some pasta, and for dessert-slash-drinks, we have juice boxes!"
Chuckling at his enthusiasm, I helped him take out the food, and split it between us, giving him the larger share since I didn't eat as much. Centaur appetite was on a whole other level.
We ate in companionable silence for the most part, though Keoni paused between bites to wax poetic about Jacinta's cooking, which I had to admit was better than any I'd tasted in the last two centuries.
Once we'd demolished most of the food, Keoni packed the rest away—the basket was spelled to keep the food inside fresh—and I moved closer to him, leaning into his side as I stuck the straw into my juice box. He was already sucking away on his, and I'd gotten distracted by the sight of his lips wrapped around the slim straw.
While we had slept in my bed every night since the nipple-play night—I'd started calling it that in my head at some point, andnow I was just hoping I wouldn't accidentally say it out loud—something or the other had kept us from getting intimate.
My gaze slid to Keoni's nipples as I drew in a mouthful of the fruit juice, and my cheeks heated as I imagined sucking on them again. I knew nipple play could be fun, but I'd never thought it could be fun for the player and not just the playee.
Shaking my head, I pushed that thought to the back of my mind for the time being. We were in a public space, and while Keoni had assured me we'd have privacy, I didn't want to test it.
Searching my mind for a different topic, I remembered the thought I'd had yesterday. I'd meant to talk to Keoni about it, but it'd slipped my mind.
"I was thinking..." I started, and Keoni turned to look at me, giving me his full attention.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think it's time to invite a new member into the Sanctuary?" I asked, chewing on the straw as I thought about it. "It's been almost a year since a new supe joined us. The last was Alaric."
"Has it really been that long?" Keoni asked, giving me a surprised look.
"Yeah. I mean, we've had new members since, but they've all been human. And with all the problems, I'd figured it wasn't the best time to add new members. But now that the place is fixed..."
"We can help someone!" Keoni finished my sentence, and I nodded.
"What do you think?"
"It's a great idea."
"I'll talk to the others at dinner today, and if everyone agrees, I'll get to it tomorrow."
Keoni's eyes lit up, and he took my free hand in his. "Can I help in any way?"
