Moonlight

9. Breakfast

Milia buttered the fourth piece of toast. She laid it on the plate and double-checked the tea. Then she took the breakfast tray and started up the stairs. Tomorrow, she thought, is the full moon. The world shifted around her as her beast rose, entering her eyes. She crept up the stairs to the second floor.

The warm, wildflower meadow scent of the pack grew cloyingly thick around her. A whine built up in her throat. I need him! She closed her eyes and steadied herself just outside his door. Milia took several deep breaths before slowly opening it.

Remus lay asleep in the early morning gloom. The curtains of the four-poster bed framed him in deep blue gossamer. His breathing came fast and shallow, panting as his body readied for the change. Milia set the tray down on a table near the door and closed it softly behind her.

She breathed in the scent of her pack. It filled the room; caressing her, drawing her forward. She crossed to the bed and crawled up onto it. Remus’ breath hitched and he moved slightly, awake. His amber eyes found her golden ones, boring into her.

Challenge, growled through the space between them. Milia froze, dropping her eyes, lowering herself to her elbows, laying flat beside his legs.

Submissive, she replied. He sat up stiffly, a pained look on his face. His eyes swam, the colors mixing, blurring, amber to blue. “No, Remus,” she whispered, watching him out of the corner of her eye. “Let your beast go. Give over to it and know peace.”

“I can’t,” he said, pained; closing his eyes. Fear blanketed him. Milia whimpered.

Please,” she whispered. “Please.” Lying down beside him, she crawled forward on her belly, rolling to face him; the hot line of his body pulling away from her, trying not to touch her. A thick vanilla drifted from him, coating her senses. Fear and Need! Milia moved with him, pressing hard against him. He whimpered and tried to pull back. But there was no where else to go. He had pressed as far into the mattress as he could.

She lay down on top of him, face to face, chest to chest, thigh to thigh, breathing together. A heated wave pulsed along her body as she settled against him. Her lips touched his and fire poured between them. He gasped and broke away. Surprised amber eyes looked up into hers. Home, he sent to her. She stared down into his face for nearly a full minute; frozen. Then she blinked slowly and looked away.

Submissive, she tried again. Remus moved slowly, deliberately, beneath her. She moved off of him as he sat up. Her golden eyes slid closed and she lay flat on her belly beside him, face tu awa away. His hand rested between her shoulder blades. Milia stopped breathing. Her heart pounded in her chest. His touch, tentative, thrilled through her. His hand traveled up her spine, to her neck. Where his skin touched hers, a fiery warmth spread outwards, downwards. She gasped, growing tight low in her body.

His fingers ran through her soft, black hair, brushing her scalp, sending a chill shiver down her spine. She felt him shift position beside her. His other hand caressed her neck, joining the first, moving over her shoulders, under her shirt. She released a breath she didn’t remember taking.

Fear laced the sweet vanilla coming from him. He pulled on her shoulder, turning her over to face him. His eyes, still wolf-amber, traveled over her body. He smiled, snarling silently. Milia arched her neck, tilting her head away from him.

“I am yours,” she breathed. Her pulse quickened as he bent over her throat. His lips brushed along the hollow of her throat. She moved her hands up, seeking his head, burying her hands in his fine, brown hair just as his mouth opened over her skin.

His teeth sank deep and hot into her flesh. Milia gasped and struggled against the pain. Remus growled around the bite. Pleasure thrilling through hshe she went still until he released her. He moved to stare down into her eyes. Pain, fear, guilt! All flew from him. He doesn’t understand! she thought. His eyes swam back towards blue, horror etching his face.

“No, Remus,” she whispered. “Stay wolf with me.” She reached up, seeking his lips again.

He pulled back, “Sirius--” he breathed as she pulled him downward to meet her. He tried to pull back and, though he was strong enough to do so, he let her hold him. Milia nibbled at his lips, running her tongue over them. With a ragged cry, he opened to her, fell on her. Shelorelored inside his mouth; the sweet tang of oranges coating her tongue, pouring into her. He broke the kiss, amber wolf-eyes challenging her.

Her golden eyes slid closed and she whispered, “Yes.” He threw the blankets aside, revealing his lean, nude body. As he moved over her, his body pressing against her, her eyes traveled along his length. Lightly tanned skin rippled with muscle. He paused while she surveyed him. Her fingers left his hair and traced the swell of his chest, the ripples of his stomach, the hard, silky, softness that waited eagerly for her. He snarled as she rubbed him lightly. She fingered the wet tip, tracing circles with the moisture she found there. “Don’t,” he growled in her ear. She hesitated before moving away from him. Then she moved her hand back up to trace along his ribs and over his back. She closed her eyes, envisioning him over her, inside of her, moving in rhythm.

Remus whimpered and kissed her hard, biting into her lips. He moved to her neck up to her ear. His hand trembled as he moved inside her shirt, over her skin. She had left her bra in the room; uncomfortable wearing tight clothes when her beast moved forward.

Unhindered, Remus found her breasts. He caressed each in turn then moved to her right nipple. He played with it, pinching, pulling, twisting. Milia’s heart sped up, her breath coming in hot little pants. “Will you cry out for me?” he breathed against her neck. He dug his nails into her nipple and she did cry out; a sharp yelp, half pleasure, half pain. “Will you find pleasure in my attentions? Please me so that I add my cry to yours?” A wave of pain and sadness drifted through the vanilla. Milia opened her eyes. Remus pulled away from her. His blue eyes held unshed tears.

Oh, Goddess. He has lain over here listening to us! She blushed, staring up at him. She tried to ignore his hand, to look him in the eye and apologize for the pain she’d helped cause. But he had left her nipple, traveled down her stomach and into her pants. She caught her breath as he rubbed against her. He moved hard and fast, almost as if he was trying to hurt her, trying to cause her pain. A coherent thought? Milia searched her head. The embarrassment had sent her beast into hiding.

Her beast surged forward as she gave herself over to the feel of him working her. She moaned and tried to move with his hand. He kissed her deeply, slowing his movements, penetrating her. He ate the small sounds of pleasure as they issued from her. She moved with his hand, his slow caressing, pressure in just the right spot, sending waves of fire through her. He didn’t leave her mouth and, as she panted and moaned, he took the sound in. She cried out as the tension built, low in her body. He moved out of her and started on her clitoris again, a rhythm to match her breathing then slowing. She cried into his mouth. He broke the kiss at last, “Shh,” he whispered against her lips.

She opened her eyes, gold meeting amber. A feral smile crossed Milia’s features, mirrored upon Remus’ face as well. He fell to her throat, licking at the bite, nibbling along her collar bone. She went quiet and still beneath him. Submissive. Her hands rested lightly on his shoulder blades, softly circling. He moved back to her mouth, parting her legs with his knee. Eager! He sent to her. She opened for him, the incredible heat of him prodding between her thighs.

She hissed in surprise and bucked against him as the hot head found her. His finger had left her wanting, needing, sensitive. He moved along her, smiling down at her, not entering her. She whimpered and writhed around him. Closing her eyes, arching into him. He took her breast in his mouth and bit down slow and deep. She felt his beast shift. Milia opened her eyes in surprise. She felt his fangs growing inside her! She sobbed with fear. Panic! He rolled his eyes up at her as he finally slid inside her. She gasped around the pain and fear. Pleasure at the warm fire spilling upward from her groin, chasing the sight of her own blood, dripping from the corner of Remus’ mouth, from her wolf mind.

He thrust deep inside her, working his way in as he pulled away from her wound. Defend! She snarled at him. Startled he stopped mid-thrust.

Challenge! He replied followed by his own snarl. She slapped him hard across the face. Time froze. The deep pain in her chest stood counter-point to the fire between her legs. She sobbed and tried to push him off her before he could react to the blow. His control gone, the great wolf rose against Remus’ skin. He bared his teeth, the human canines replaced by two inch daggers. He moved to catch her hands as she tried to roll away. He ground down hard into her, pulling a gasp of pleasure from her and sending out a ripple of heat.

Milia tried for another slap, fingers curling, trying to scratch and gouge with her nails. He caught her hand and pinned it down over her head. Fangs bared, his breath hot against her cheek and eye, he rumbled, “Mine.” She lay still, waiting for the tension to leave him. She watched the fangs sink away as Remus regained control of the beast. Soon his so-blue eyes were looking down at her. “Oh, God, Milia,” he breathed as he studied her ravaged breast, releasing her hand in horror. Sitting back and pulling out of her at the same time, he gaped at her.

“No, Remus,” she whispered. “The Goddess looks after her children.” He tilted his head, obviously puzzled. She ate the laugh. “There is no guilt here, Wolf. I have misjudged your strength. Let me on top.”

“What?”

“Trade places.” She sat up slowly, kissing him, moving him off of her. He ran a hand through her hair as she turned him over. “Now, Great Wolf,” she began, straddling his hips, pushing him down onto the bed. She sighed deeply and moved over him. The interruption had left him soft.

She wriggled over him, pulling a sigh from his lips. Leaning over, she kissed him; a soft, gentle kiss, as soft as his blue eyes. She moved back to his ear and took his earlobe, sucking gently. He sighed into her ear. His hands cupped her breasts, massaging. She moved her hips over him, felt him growing stiff again. She sat up enough to look down into his face. His eyes gleamed with heat as he looked up at her. She smiled and lowered herself onto him. She moved slowly, teasing him back to fullness. When he had hardened, she took him in slowly, working his entire length in before slowly raising up, rocking forward. He gasped, moving his hands to her hips, directing her motion. She moved in a slow, circular motion, all her attention on the hot shaft inside her; eyes closed, head back. She tightened inside and Remus groaned. She looked down at him. His breathing quickened and she rocked faster to match it. A look of deep concentration crossed his face. His hips bucked beneath her. Amber eyes flew open and he snarled up at her, his fingers digging harshly into her skin.

She slowed, laying a hand on his chest. She dragged her nails over the swell of muscle, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. The pain brought him back and he eased up on her waist. With a smile, she leaned forward and licked along the scratch, tasting him. A coppery citrus coated her tongue.

“Remus!” the door flew open behind them. Milia froze, the bottom falling out of everything. Remus’ eyes shifted to blue. Pain! Fear! Betrayal! Flooded him, chased around the room.

Sirius closed the door, slamming it against its frame. Milia jumped. Flee! Panic! She sent outward. Sirius’ anger ran before him, drowning all; chasing away the vanilla and wildflower scent of the pack. Milia swallowed hard against it, trying hard to keep breathing as it suffocated her. She sat back up, pulling Remus from her, but not moving from his hips. She felt him grow limp beneath her. The beast cowered inside, leaving her to deal with Sirius.

Sirius’ heavy, deliberate footsteps closed on them. He stopped beside the bed. Hatred! Ripped through them. Milia and Remus flinched. Remus’ eyes filled with tears. She lowered her head, afraid of his anger, of what he would do. No! Not like this! she screamed in her mind. She watched Sirius out of the corner of her eye. His hands were balled into fists at his side. He shook with rage, every inch of him shimmering with emotion. The tears trickled from Remus’ eyes.

“Sirius,” he croaked. Sirius grabbed him, a lightning fast movement. Remus sobbed as Sirius took hold of his hair, pulled his head back. They stared eye to eye for a long minute. Milia gasped and shuddered at the chasing emotions and scents that surrounded them. Fear! Loyalty! Love! Betrayal! Hatred! The flood overwhelmed her and she drew away from the pair, huddling in the corner of the bed, as far as she could go without leaving the scene of the crime. Pain! Loss! Sirius had one hand pulled back, ready to strike. Remus sobbed again. “Do it, Sirius,” he hissed. Sirius stood frozen, shaking with anger. Pain twisted his handsome face.

Then he cried out in rage. Remus and Milia jumped. He dropped to his knees beside Remus. “I can’t,” he cried, “I can’t.” Shaking his head, he hugged Remus close, his hands running through the grey-flecked hair. Relief! Remus returned the hug. Milia let out a breath she'd been holding. She laughed in relief. The two men held each other, silent tears kept between them.

Emotions swirled again. The flood from before remained, tickling along her nose. Hazy warmth pressed against it. Love! Sirius and Remus pulled away from each other slightly, tear-stained faces smiling sadly. Remus cupped his hand along the side of Sirius’ face. Sirius leaned into his touch. This could work out, Milia thought briefly. A bright hope spilled from her.

Remus pulled away from Sirius. He smiled down at her. His lined face crinkling, full of a warm light. He motioned for her to come to him. She started forward, and then hesitated. Her eyes fell on Sirius. He climbed up on the bed next to Remus; their bodies pressed side to side. He smiled and nodded at her. Milia crawled forward, lying down beside Remus. He pulled her into a one-armed hug. The three of them sighed in unison. Then chuckled about it.

Milia laid her head on Remus’ chest, listening to his heartbeat. Her eyes met Sirius’. He smiled and laid a hand on her cheek. A resignation engulfed him, his eyes brimming with sadness. It smacked her in the face. She reached out for him, laying a hand on his thin face. He smiled and turned enough to kiss her hand. His touch thrilled through her, stealing her breath away for a moment. Remus kissed the top of her head.

“Wait,” Remus whispered, “You wanted something right?” He turned to Sirius.

A startled fear crossed the thin face as Milia watched. Sirius pulled away from her and sat up on his elbow. “Do you know what tomorrow is?” he asked.

Remus and Milia exchanged a glance and then looked back at Sirius. “The full moon,” Remus answered. Distrust! Floated around them.

“And?” Sirius prodded.

Remus stared at him, shaking his head, “I give up.”

“The meeting!” Sirius hissed. Remus froze. Panic! “Maybe we should cancel it,” he whispered.

“We can’t cancel it!” He bit down on the words; as if there was more to say, but no need to say it.

Remus lay in thought, “I . . . I have enough potion for both of us. We’ll be okay.”

“I’m not taking any Wizard brew!” Milia interjected.

“Yes you are,” the two men chorused.

She glared at them. No I’m not.


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Favorite song on playlist while writing this: Figured you out by Nickelback.