The Crescent War

Chapter Nine

“Are you ready to go?” Daniel asked as he found a pair of shoes from our ever growing closet.

“More than.”

*

Our meal was going great. Daniel had ordered a starter and two main dishes whereas I had just settled on one. I looked down at my small bowl of ice cream and frowned at the mountain of chocolate cake my gorgeous husband was shoveling into his mouth.

“Where the hell do you put all that?!”

We were both pretty much made of muscle but Daniel was a little skinner than me so I really didn’t understand how the alpha could consume so much food.

“There’s a lot of me to feed, babe,” Daniel shrugged and patted his stomach proudly.

“You’re like four inches taller than me!” I laughed but it abruptly stopped when a lump of chocolate sauce landed on my nose.

“You talk too much,” Daniel grinned, wielding his spoon and threatening to throw more sauce over me.

“Oh, that’s how you want to do this?” I grabbed my own spoon and flung a clump of ice cream at my childish mate, who ducked at the last minute and allowed it to hit an old lady on the back of the head instead. “Oh, f**k…”

Daniel burst out laughing, clapping his hands together like it was the best thing he had ever seen in his life when the woman stood up and started yelling at me about being about as mature as a young child. I tried my best to let the floor swallow me whole but I had no such luck as the waiters asked us to leave and on the way out Daniel smashed his hand into his chocolate cake and wiped it all over my face.

I stood shell shocked as Daniel continued laughing and ran out of the restaurant before I could get my revenge. I apologized once more to the angry old lady before running out after him, laughing as I caught up to Daniel and wrapped my arms around him.

Daniel tried to avoid my revenge but it didn’t work as I wiped my face against my husband’s, covering us both in chocolate. Daniel had got me giggling as we wrestled on the pavement before he licked a strip across my face and hummed contentedly.

“Mm, you taste sweet, babe.” Daniel beamed, getting sauce on his finger to suck it into his mouth and flashing me a seductive look.

I returned the gesture, kissing Daniel deeply to share the taste of our long forgotten chocolate cake. I had gotten my wish. Our night was turning out to be pretty damn perfect.

“You know, we really shouldn’t be making out on the street,” Daniel rubbed his body against mine as he spoke, totally contradicting his own words.

“Hmm,” I grinned into another kiss. “You know how you said you wanted s*x on the beach?”

“Oh, you had me at s*x,” Daniel lifted me up on his shoulder and headed onto the darkened sand, our laughter the only sound to be heard over the crashing waves.

*

If you forget about the sand in your ass then s*x on the beach is actually pretty amazing. We moved in sync together to the wavering sounds of the ocean, slowly relearning each other. It wasn’t s*x and it may sound corny but to me it was making love because that was what we did, we loved each other dearly.

We laid together on the cool sand, barely clothed and sweaty while we regained some composure. I snuggled right into my husband’s embrace and allowed myself to drift in a peaceful daydream.

I was happy. Right then on a beach in Miami with sand in my ass and sticky chocolate sauce on my face, I was happy.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Daniel whispered softly against my temple, nuzzling me and sighing contentedly.

“Just thinking about how much I love you...” I admitted.

“Sap,” the alpha teased, but kissed me deeply regardless. “I’ll love you forever.”

“You’d better,” I kissed Daniel’s chest and rubbed my hand across the warm body I was cradled against. I would never be scared when I had Daniel’s love. I never was scared with Daniel’s love, not really.

“Let’s head home, baby,” Daniel rubbed his nose against mine in an eskimo kiss before moving to untangle us but I wouldn’t let him.

“Let’s just stay a little longer?” I asked, desperate for just a few more minutes in Daniel’s arms underneath a starry sky.

“Okay, alright,” Daniel smiled warmly and relaxed once more, allowing his arms to fall behind his head to gaze up at the bright sparkling lights above us.

*

It was almost sunrise when I finally forced myself to wrestle out of Daniel’s limbs and silently get dressed.

I took one last look at my mate’s peaceful form, he was curled up to my side of the bed and hugging my pillow as a replacement for the body that had been there. His lips were slightly parted as he let out soft snores and a tiny bit of drool was escaping those plush lips. He was adorable, even when he let out a soft burp in his sleep.

“I love you...” I whispered as I leaned down and pressed a kiss to Daniel’s forehead.

I left a note on my pillow and rushed out of the room, knowing that if I looked at Daniel any longer then I would change my mind.

I obviously couldn’t leave without first visiting the kids room. I crept in and watched them all sleep for a few moments, I was so so proud of them.

Alec and Grace had grown into such amazing young people and I made myself promise to try as hard as I could to get back to them, to see Alec become a man and to see my daughter walk down the aisle one day.

I then turned to Dakota. She was buried under the covers and I gently prised them off her, knowing how much of a heavy sleeper she was and would not wake. Dakota was sucking her thumb, drooling away and making soft noises in the back of her throat. I brushed a hand through her little blonde ringlets and kissed her cheek before leaving.

There was no way to stop the tears streaming down my face so I didn’t even bother wiping at them as I went downstairs, grabbed a small duffel, and shifted into my wolf form.

I was thankful that wolves can’t cry as I raced forwards into the night. There were no wolves in Miami but I was used to getting around without drawing attention, I masked my scent and began to head to the only place I knew I could go. Home.