She fucking bested him. Nyx wanted to kill Theia for how she acted last night; taunting him, making him fuck his fist while she watched. That dirty mouth had him over the edge, and he was going to pay her back. He heard her moans in her sleep, snuck into her mind. He saw her dreams, and he decided he would taunt her back.
Nyx never suspected Theia to use the power she holds against him. It had been centuries since he fell to his knees and vowed to worship her; she still held him by the throat. Nyx didn't think so, not until last night. He'd never been dominated by a female, yet Theia took her power and crushed him. He'd be disappointed, furious even, but Nyx was so fucking proud of her. She was no longer meek, broken, so tiny in the world around her. She was a force to be reckoned. He knew that but Theia had proven it to him.
They were on the beach, coarse sand under feet as they marched to the water. Nyx wanted to distract Theia, to have her lay on the towel and let him devour her. As she tore the linen clothes off and hurried into the water, Nyx couldn't stop her. He didn't want to. Theia was hesitant at first, dipping her toes beneath the surface and letting out a loud gasp as a wave cracked against her knees.
He saw her start to turn, the ghost of a smile on her lips, but she faced the open sea once more and began walking. He watched her. Not the plump rear that swayed with each step, but he tried to steal a glance of her face behind her wing and hair. Nyx wanted to see the raw joy of her feeling the sea.
Unable to contain himself, Nyx peeled the linen shirt from his body and followed her into the water. Mother, he'd follow her anywhere. To the depths of the sea, the highest point of the mountains, he'd follow. The water licked at his skin just as Theia dove beneath the waves. The clawed tips of her wings broke the surface as she swam.
In a trance, he followed. Nyx walked until the water was at his chest, and then he dipped beneath. The salt stung his eyes as he searched for her. It was so clear, the vision of Theia swimming deeper. Fish didn't flee in her wake. They swam with her, as though she was nothing more than an extension of the sea. Her fingers grazed the sand of the floor, picking at broken seashells as she grinned. His heart ached. Did she know he watched her?
Theia gathered two pieces in her hands and began swimming up, eyes locked on the sun that lit the surface. Nyx did the same, hoping to hear a sliver of a laugh when he broke through. Birds sounded as his head came through to air. Nyx wiped at his eyes, blinking to see Theia swimming to where she could stand. Her feet touched sand and she giggled, holding up the two pieces of seashells. They fit together perfectly.
Nyx let out a breathy chuckle. How fitting that the female he couldn't run from found pairs in the expanse of the sea. They were a pair, and she clung to him. Nyx spat the salty water from his tongue as he swam to her. Theia's eyes scanned the beach before she turned to look at him, that beautiful smile faltering. How Nyx wished her smile would grow at the sight of him. He didn't deserve it, but he wished nonetheless.
"What did you find?" He asked, though he already knew. He walked to her, standing at the same level. He stared down at the shells in her fingertips, seeing how Theia seemed to pull them
apart. Nyx's eyes lifted to hers. She was staring at him, lips parted, her chest heaving with heavy breaths. Did she lose her breath to the sea or to him?
He had spent so much time seeing her at his equal in the past months, Nyx had forgotten how small she was compared to him. The water danced at his hips, though it licked her ribcage. He wanted to laugh; Theia had made herself so big in this world, he'd forgotten she's just a female. She isn't is born enemy, a monster planning to take down his court. Theia is just a female, finding her place and wishing for what everyone wants.
"I found seashells," she whispered, no more than a breath. Did she feel it, too? Perhaps it wasn't love, but it wasn't nothing. His heart beat for her, his blood spilled for her, his soul sang for her. Maybe it was infatuation. She wasn't his mate- the bond had plenty of time to snap into place and he wouldn't have tried to kill her. She wouldn't have tried to kill him. Whatever it was, it was primal, ancient, breathtaking.
"Theia," Nyx murmured, his hand reaching to catch her wrist. He didn't understand how she manipulated his emotions. He hated her, wanted to use and ruin her, yet in this moment, he wanted to feel the soft caress of her lips against his skin. He wanted to feel the way her pulse jumped at his touch. He wanted to hear his name as a breath across the wind. Maybe Nyx was wrong- maybe Theia was a monster. Not one who wanted to crush his court, but him.
Theia gasped when his fingers closed around her wrist, jerking away. He let her go, watched as she stumbled back in the water and dropped her shells. Nyx let his hand fall, watched as she gave him a tight smile and leapt back into the water. He didn't deserve her softness, but Cauldron, he wanted it. She didn't come up for air for a long while.
Nyx sighed and dropped beneath the waves, choosing to lose himself in the sea. He watched the fish scatter as he swam down, crawling along the sea floor as he felt the kelp and coral beneath his palm. He found several seashells, though most held creatures within. He left them in the scattered sand as he swam up, breaking surface and sucking in air.
Eyes burning, Nyx scanned the expanse. Theia was further out than he was, though they both were too far from the beach. He watched as she kicked her feet, leaning back until her wings were spread and she floated atop the rocking water. They were too far out for waves. He watched her, blowing air out as water hit his mouth.
Excitement filled him at a thought; a possible way he could be close to her. Nyx sucked in a breath and dropped beneath the surface. He swam to the sea floor, gathering empty or broken sea shells in his arm. His pulse thudded heavily in his ears at the pressure, his eyes burning from the salt. Finally, Nyx swam to the floating body he saw above himself.
He broke surface, heaving in a breath. Theia yelped and started to flail, but he pressed a hand to her lower back.
"Sorry, just me," he chuckled. Theia shot him a glare before laying her head back again, the sun glimmering against the water droplets on her skin. Nyx grinned as he began plucking the shells from his arm and laying them on her stomach. The muscles flexed as she lifted her head, trying to peer down at what he was doing.
"Why?" She asked, lifting one of the shells before laying it back down.
"Don't know, just thought they were pretty," he murmured, trailing few small shells between her breasts. Theia laid her head back in the water, her hair fanning out like a halo in the ripples. Nyx laid the final shell in the hollow of her throat, a small hum of approval.
"What do I do now?" She asked softly. Nyx gazed at her serene face, her cheeks pink beneath the sun. He grinned, brushing a strand of wet hair from her temple.
"Each one that falls from you is a kiss for me. Stay still and let the sea take you, or kiss me..." He trailed off, counting the shells across her body. "Thirty-four times."
Theia slid one eye open, looking at him from the side. He smiled at her, though he didn't think it was as cocky as he meant. It wasn't, because a wide smile spread across her face as she closed her eyes once more. A laugh took over, making several shells fall from her belly.
"That's four," Nyx whispered, watching the water glide across her skin. Her laugh ceased, her throat bobbing. He prayed she'd let them fall, roll in the water and cling to his body. She didn't, though.
"I guess the sea will take me. If you ever find me again, I owe you four kisses," Theia murmured, her body already drifting.
"You'll be a nice snack for whatever monsters lurk in the depths. I think I'll take my kisses now," Nyx responded, trying- and failing- to stop the smile from spreading across his face. Theia laughed again, two more dropping. "Six."
Nyx swam backwards, wishing to see her fully. Her beauty belonged in a place like this. Everything, as pretty as it was, was no match for her. Theia drifted across the blue water, the sun shimmering on her wet skin. Her arms were outstretched, gently moving beneath the water to keep herself afloat.
"You're beautiful," he called. Theia turned her head in the water, a smile widening as the water lapped at her face.
"I know that," she called back. Nyx smiled as he watched her drift away. He wondered how long it would take for her to let the shells fall and pay him with her lips. Theia drifted for a long while, so he decided to turn back to shore. She'd notice her solitude soon enough, and if she didn't, he'd come for her.
Despite the coolness of the water, he wanted to feel the sun on his skin. He loved the sun nearly as much as the moon. The moon was home, the sun was a gift. Nyx climbed onto the beach, trudging through the sand to his discarded towel. He laid it out, then dropped onto it.
His arms beneath his head, Nyx closed his eyes and soaked the warmth in. He had always loved the Summer Court and the Day Court. He always felt like his entire life was lived beneath the night sky, even if the sun came around. It wasn't as direct as this, not as soothing. There were clouds, snow, rain, but never here.
The red glow behind his eyelids went dark, water droplets hitting his skin. Nyx grinned, peeking one eye open. There she was, climbing over his body. Theia hovered over him on her hands and knees, wet hair slung over one shoulder as she smiled down at him. His breath caught as she dropped her face down, lips brushing his.
He wanted to sit up and take her mouth with his, but he treated her like a shy animal. Any movements too quick would scare her away. Theia didn't press her lips to his, but to his cheek. He felt her smile against his skin, tongue darting out to taste him.
"One," she whispered. Nyx grinned wider. She kissed closer to his eye. "Two."
"You're a cruel cheat," he murmured, closing his eyes again as she kissed his eyelid.
"Three. I'm no cheat. You're a fool for leaving the challenge so open."
He didn't mind. Fuck, he didn't care where her mouth was. He wanted Theia beside him, touching him, anything. Her lips scattered kisses across his cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead. She left a few on his temple, his ear, his jaw. Nyx resisted the urge to reach for her. Theia pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose.
"Thirty-three."
He peeked at her through one eye, a smile teasing his lips. She was smiling down at him, her eyes trailing the ghosts of her lips before. They landed on his lips, his heart skipped.
"Thirty-four," Theia murmured, before dropping her mouth to his.