“As a city guy, it’s eerie being the only people for miles around, but it’s also magical. I imagine this is what the world was like centuries ago.”
Not wanting to ruin the mood, I didn’t point out that most humans hadn’t lived beyond forty for the majority of human existence.
“The magic is here beside me.” I blew him a kiss and aimed another at his belly for our little one.
Despite not being a fan of the seaside, my beast was itching to shift. Not because he was hungry, as I’d allowed him to hunt last night behind the house, but there was no one else around, and he asked to spend time with our mate.
“My panther has a request.”
“He wants to hunt, I get it.” The moonlight on Bronson’s face couldn’t hide his disappointment at the thought of me disappearing for hours.
But I explained what he wanted. Though Bronson had settled into the space that hovered between the human and shifter worlds, he didn’t consider my panther his mate. Even though he understood that intellectually I was present inside my beast, he viewed us as separate entities.
“Is this a test? It’s a little late because we’re mated, marked, and pregnant.”
“Nope. He adores you.”
He agreed, and my panther acted like a cub, jumping up and down and clawing at my insides. Bronson and I walked hand in hand onto the beach, and my feet sank into the cool wet sand. The constant rolling of the waves provided a rhythmic background, and I removed my clothes. Sniffing the air to make sure there were no humans nearby, I allowed my beast to take his fur.
He backed away from the water, but Bronson brushed his hand over my beast’s back and he purred.
I like that.
“It’s just you and me.” My mate put his head close to my panther. “Shall we run away and leave Lincoln behind?”
Is he kidding?
I assured him our mate was doing exactly that.
Bronson strolled toward the point while keeping his hand on my beast. The gentle splashing of the waves almost put me to sleep, and if we’d been inside the house, I might have.
When we reached the point, Bronson sat cross-legged on the sand, but my panther hesitated, complaining about not wanting to get sandy. I explained the sand would be on me when we shifted and I’d shower it off. My panther lived a rarified life which was very different to a wild beast.
The breeze picked up, and the salty aroma intensified. My beast commented on it, saying it was different but didn’t insist we move further inland. When Bronson yawned, he lay on my beast’s flank and put one hand on his chest. It was as natural as climbing into bed and signaled he was comfortable about my beast and felt safe.
My mate closed his eyes. “I can feel his heart, but I suppose it’s your combined heartbeat.”
The wind ruffled the leaves on the trees that lined the foreshore while Bronson brushed his hand over my beast’s fur. His other hand was on his belly, and my panther purred, and we both imagined the baby cradled inside.
“I’m so excited to be pregnant, but I’m a little scared too. What if I don’t know how to be a dad or if I’m no good at it?”
Oh my darling Bronson. Neither of us had been parents before, and we’d learn on the job. My beast purred again and licked Bronson’s face. He giggled and said our beast would make an excellent babysitter.
I would.
Bronson’s breathing slowed until he was asleep, but my beast and I kept watch. He didn’t wake until it was close to dawn, and he got up and stretched, saying he wanted to go for a swim.
I’m giving you your skin because our mate should not be in the water by himself.
Bronson stripped off his clothes and asked how long he’d been asleep, and when I told him almost the whole night, he said he was so refreshed.
“Maybe I should sleep with your beast every night.”
Pretty sure that’s a joke too, though I can’t be certain.
We held hands as we splashed into the water. My mate squealed, yelling that the water was cold, and my beast curled up inside me.
I don’t like water except to drink.
