Who: Reagan and Caius When: evening/night, Tuesday, Oct 31st Where: on a boat, bitch Warnings: NSFW Status: Complete
Even in the midst of all this chaos, it was difficult to forget Reagan’s birthday. It was almost a cliche, her having been born on Halloween, but it had made for some fun celebrations. There were always a lot of parties happening around it, but Caius never failed to try and make her actual birthday something special. This year, it felt especially important. It was their first birthday as husband and wife, and they were on the edge of something so momentous, there was a lot to celebrate. Caius had made all the arrangements carefully and in advance, and he’d made sure the weather was cooperative. If it started to act up, he was intent on spending some energy to fix it.
While Reagan was in the shower getting ready, Caius had sneakily packed an overnight bag for them and run down to put it in the car. He’d told her they were going out to dinner, and that was true, but not all of the truth. They were going out for dinner. He knew his fire-aspected wife wasn’t a huge fan of being out on the water, but Caius had paid for a luxury yacht that he was sure she would appreciate. It was big enough that it felt more like a hotel suite than a boat. The moon was almost full, it was going to be lovely, and it would take them away from Point Pleasant for a while. He felt like they needed the isolation.
Once they were both ready, Caius escorted her to the car and hopped in himself to drive them down to the marina. As they got close to their destination, he reached over to take Reagan’s hand and give it a squeeze. “You look beautiful tonight, have I already said that?” he murmured with a little smile. He had, but it was worth repeating.
Reagan was feeling pretty good, given the bloodletting had gone smoothly as she knew it would, and now it was her birthday. She'd had plenty of amazing birthdays in the past, both with and without Caius, but this one felt special, not only because they were married, but because she was fairly confident that they were about to break the curse hanging over their heads, one that had been plaguing their families for centuries. Next year's birthday would be even better. Maybe there would be a baby on the way. Who knew.
As they drove to the marina, Reagan assumed they were having dinner at The Boathouse. She felt the squeeze at her hand and Reagan looked over at him, a smile playing at her lips. "You have, but you know I never get tired of hearing it." For the first time in weeks she felt lighter, like maybe the weight of everything their parents had kept from them was finally lifting. "And you look incredibly sexy," she told him, bringing his hand up to her lips to kiss his knuckles. "As usual."
“Why, thank you,” Caius said with a half-grin, like he was truly flattered. Really, he felt pretty sexy, and the night ahead of them would surely only enhance that feeling. The yacht was stocked with music, plenty of drinks, good food that should be set up and waiting for them once they arrived, a roomy bed ... and he’d rented it for all night and half the day tomorrow. He’d already told work that he probably wouldn’t be in until late, if at all. He kept holding her hand as he drove, and when he turned into the marina, he took the access road that led to the docks instead of the restaurants above, a little smirk crossing his face again. He’d wanted to surprise her, and he was pretty sure he was going to accomplish it. Caius pulled the car into the lot and parked, then looked over at his wife with a smile. “This is where I blindfold you,” he told her, only half-joking.
It actually took Reagan a moment to realize they weren't driving toward The Boathouse anymore and she looked over at Caius, confusion evident in her expression until he parked the car in the marina lot. Clearly they weren't going to a restaurant, which was fine with Reagan. Caius had always been pretty skilled at surprising her, and she loved it every time. She eyed him with mock suspicion before glancing out the window again. "Do you really think blindfolding me near a large body of water is in your best interest?" Reagan asked him, her tone playful before she moved to unbuckle her seat belt. "Is this going to be a surprise, or can I ask where we're going?"
“As if I wouldn’t guide you every step of the way,” Caius countered with a playful little grin of his own. He reached behind her seat to grab the overnight bag and pulled it free before he pushed his door open. “It’s a surprise. But we’re going that way.” He nodded down the docks. Caius climbed out of the car and circled around to get Reagan’s door, slinging the bag over his shoulder. He offered her his arm once she was out and they had locked up. She was wearing heels, after all, and walking the docks with those on could be tricky. Caius didn’t mind taking their time. “I thought about stealing you away somewhere tropical for a night or two,” he told her as they started walking. “But considering what we have coming up, this will have to do.”
He had what looked to be an overnight bag and Reagan's smile grew as she took his arm to let him help her walk toward the docks. It was all starting to come together, and while the elemental side of her shuddered a little at the thought of spending the night out on the water, she knew this wouldn't be some tiny sailboat Caius had prepared for them. Assuming that was the surprise, of course, but she couldn't imagine what else it could be, given where they were headed. "This is perfect," Reagan assured him. She squeezed his arm to her. "And you know, after everything is taken care of, we'll plan a trip somewhere tropical to celebrate. A tropical fuck you to our parents."
Caius laughed softly. “A tropical fuck you,” he echoed appreciatively. “Perfect.” He escorted Reagan to the slip where the yacht was docked. It was sizeable without being too huge, big enough for comfort both above and below deck. They certainly wouldn’t be feeling every tiny wave. Caius had paid someone to come out earlier to inspect it and make sure everything was in order, and leave their dinner ready for them in the cabin. “Here we are,” he murmured, looking over at Reagan with a smile. Caius helped her walk up the ramp onto the deck, then leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Happy birthday, love.”
Reagan smiled as she took in the sight of the yacht. It was the perfect size and the idea of getting away from town, even if it was on water, was so incredibly appealing in that moment. People would be out getting crazy for Halloween, and this felt like she and Caius would be completely removed from it. It felt like they needed that right now. "This is perfect. Thank you," Reagan murmured. She faced him and pressed a kiss to his lips before pulling away so she could explore and check out what amenities they had. "Are we having dinner or sailing out first?" she asked, because she was starting to feel overly eager to put some distance between them and the town.
“Sailing out,” Caius said with a little laugh. He was right there with her -- the sooner they put Point Pleasant behind them, the better. “Check out the hot tub in the front,” he added as he started to move away, flashing her a grin. Caius gave Reagan’s ass a squeeze before he got too far away, then ducked into the cabin to put their bag away and slip into the captain’s chair. In contrast to Reagan, he was pretty fond of boats. He heard about them plenty, running that marina, and he’d been out on so many in his life, he felt pretty at home on the water. The air was always so sweet over the water. Caius turned the engine on and checked a few things before he walked outside again to untie them and get ready to head out.
Reagan let Caius take care of the actual work getting the yacht ready to go, and she walked around the boat toward the front to get a look. The hot tub looked amazing and it took every ounce of willpower she had not to undress and climb in already. They had all night to relax. The air was cool and Reagan breathed in, closing her eyes for a moment. All she wanted to do was let go of the last few weeks and forget everything they were dealing with, if only for one night. After a moment, Reagan turned to find Caius. "What can I do to help?" she asked, though she was craving a glass of wine and she had a feeling Caius would recognize Reagan was only asking out of obligation rather than any real desire to help.
He looked up from untying the boat from the docks, letting out a little chuckle. Caius knew exactly what that meant, and he was fine with it. “You can come inside with me and pour us a couple glasses of wine,” he told her, quickly winding the ropes around their posts and straightening up again. “There’s not much to be done, really.” With a light hand in the small of Reagan’s back, he walked into the cabin with her, then moved ahead to get into the driver’s seat again. He pulled the boat out of the slip and got some distance from the dock before he turned them and slowly headed out of the marina. It handled like a dream, as advertised. There weren’t many other vessels out tonight, considering the time of year and the holiday, and he knew of a good spot to drop anchor and get some privacy, far enough out to make the town look quaint and twinkly and harmless. Once they were really underway, Caius turned some music on the speakers.
Reagan did exactly that, finding the bar and filling two glasses with red wine. She stepped out of her heels, sighing as her feet hit the plush carpet. As much as she loved Halloween, this was so much better than getting dressed up and making appearances at parties. She handed Caius his wine and then watched out the window as he began to maneuver the boat away from the dock. And then she began to watch him, sipping her wine and allowing herself to appreciate how handsome he was. There was so much power and confidence exuding from him. It was more palpable now than it had been in the past. It was arousing and inspiring, but at the same time, intimidating. Once the music started, Reagan walked over to him to kiss him again. "Let's do this often," she murmured. "Just... get away, no matter what's going on."
The wine was more than welcome, and Caius sipped on it as he piloted them further out. He glanced over at Reagan every so often, pleasantly aware of her eyes on him. He could feel the attraction there, through that almost-empathic connection they had, born out of being together for so many years. He tilted his head back to kiss her, then gave a soft hum and smiled a little. “Yes please,” Caius murmured, wrapping one arm around Reagan’s hips. It was easy to steer a boat with one hand, when there was nothing in front of them. As always, he felt some weight slipping off of his shoulders as they put Point Pleasant further behind them, and he hoped she did too. “I ought to just buy one of these,” he added, slowly rubbing his hand over Reagan’s hip. “Or a house in Hawaii or something.” Caius chuckled.
"Why not both?" Reagan asked with a smile. Sure, a yacht and a home in Hawaii was probably still a bit out of their reach financially, but they could get there someday. Once Caius took full control of his dad's company, at least. She was starting to feel as relaxed as she had when they flew to Anguilla, and Reagan truly believed it was the physical distance she was putting between herself and Point Pleasant. The town itself was as much of a problem as everything else trying to keep the two of them apart. Sometimes it felt like suffocation for months at a time, until they went away, like tonight, and could breathe again. Reagan placed another kiss on top of Caius's head. "Do you want me to get dinner ready?" She wasn't sure how far out they would be sailing, but she hoped it was far enough away that they couldn't see anything but the lights from the town in the distance.
A lot of things were going to happen once Caius took over the D’Onofrio businesses. Having a second home somewhere else was certainly going to be one of them. He felt just like Reagan did about it -- it was better from a distance. Leaving always took a weight off of him. Both of them. Even if it was temporary, like this. Caius glanced over his shoulder at the covered trays that were on the small kitchen’s countertops, then gave Reagan a smile. “Should mostly be ready, but some of it might need warming up. Have a look if you want. Should take about fifteen minutes to get where we’re going. I figured we could eat on the back deck once I drop anchor.” He could take care of the chill very easily, once they were settled, and some fine dinner and more wine in the hot tub was going to make for a wonderful evening.
Reagan pulled away to wander into the kitchen to check out the food. She could wait fifteen minutes or so to eat, but she would be more than happy to make sure everything was still hot. She took a little peek under the tray lids and realized whoever had delivered the food had kept them in insulated carriers, so there would be little she needed to do. Reagan sipped at her wine and proceeded to explore the rest of the yacht. Their overnight bag was on the luxurious looking bed and she was willing to bet Caius hadn’t packed her a swimsuit. Which was just fine with her, as she doubted either of them would need one for the hot tub. Smirking a bit, Reagan returned to the front of the boat. Since it seemed like they were getting close to their destination, Reagan set her wine glass down and began to carry the food outside to the back deck. She could be helpful when she wanted to be, and even though it was her birthday, she didn't want Caius to have to wait on her hand and foot.
The boat was beginning to slow down once she had the small table on the deck set and ready for them to eat, and Reagan had already refilled her wine glass again before sitting down and enjoying the night. The sky was clear and the stars were out. She could see Point Pleasant in the distance covered in what looked like soft twinkling lights. It wasn't that idyllic or romantic, but from where she was looking, Reagan could pretend like it was. She sighed and smiled at Caius once he was ready to join her. "Is everything taken care of?"
Caius had taken them to a spot up the coastline where a finger of land jutted out to create a sort of half-cove that protected the area from most of the waves, but didn’t require they stick too close to the shore. It was shallow enough to drop anchor, so that was what he did, then cut the boat engine off. He made sure everything was secure, then murmured a few words to enclose them in a nice magical bubble -- it bent the shadows around them to shield them from the view of anyone who might happen by, and it warmed the air around them to a more comfortable temperature for the nudity that would surely be happening tonight. It was Reagan’s birthday, she deserved to be warm. All that done, Caius walked to the back deck and shrugged out of his suit jacket before he settled in across from Reagan. Smiling at her faintly, he picked up his wine glass. “Seems to be in order,” he murmured. “Let me know if you get chilly.”
Reagan began to take off the lids to their meals, already perfectly comfortable, even out there on the deck. She could feel the magic radiating around them, so she knew Caius had taken care of that bit already. They would be safe there, and she wasn't worried whatsoever about the weather. Still, his words reminded her of past winters in Point Pleasant - Reagan's least favorite season - when she and Caius would stay curled up together at his house, or hers, with his arms wrapped around her in front of fire. He had always kept her warm, even when they were teenagers. "Are you going to warm me up if I do?" she asked, setting the lids on top of each other out of the way. It looked like light pasta and chicken, and some garlic butter shrimp, which was one of Reagan's favorites. It looked and smelled delicious. Her foot slipped between his under the table where she nudged his ankle gently with her toes.
Caius shifted his feet to cradle Reagan’s, a little smirk crossing his face. “Don’t I always?” he asked before he took another swallow of wine. Caius didn’t mind the cold and never had; he’d always chalked that difference up to their elements. When he was affected by temperature, it was usually the humidity that got to him more than the heat. His element turning into water, more or less. His wife was fire all the way though, and he loved that about her. So he would keep them comfortable and warm tonight, then get her hot and bothered later. Caius helped her arrange the food a bit, then lifted his glass to toast. “To my beautiful queen on her birthday,” he said and smiled. “And to our impending freedom.”
Reagan lifted her glass to his and smiled. "That's all I want for my birthday. For all of this to be over so we can get on with our life together. I think we've waited long enough, and have been through enough. We deserve this." Happiness. Power. Everything they wanted. Reagan had let her mother guide her for so long, both in magic and in her relationship with Caius, and now she felt so misled. Even after they broke this curse, how were they supposed to ever trust their parents again? Reagan knew if she let her mind go down that path, it would sour her mood, so she refocused, her smile warming. "I love you," she murmured. "No matter what happens tomorrow, that will never change, I promise." Yes, there was still the possibility that the curse would break their bond somehow, or their relationship had been magically aligned this whole time, but deep in her gut, Reagan knew it to be otherwise. They loved each other, magic or no magic. They would prove that to their parents, and everyone involved in this.
They did deserve it. And more. They’d both been through more than most couples their age could’ve dreamed of, and they were still bonded so closely together. Caius didn’t think that was magic. It couldn’t be. He had no desire to escape their relationship, he just wanted out from under this curse. Something they were about to succeed in doing. They would prove everybody wrong and take their rightful places as superior witches. “I love you too, always,” Caius murmured back with a warm smile, clinking their glasses together softly before he took a drink. He hummed as he set his wine down, as though something had occurred to him, then moved to stand up, shooting Reagan a little smirk. “That might be all you want, but that’s not all you get,” he said. Caius ducked into the cabin for a moment to grab her actual gift out of the overnight bag, then returned. He set a long velvet jewelry box down beside her and kissed Reagan’s temple. “Happy birthday, my love,” he murmured.
Reagan watched as he stood and her gaze followed him until he disappeared from view. She drank more of her wine and had taken a small bite of dinner before Caius returned again, placing the jewelry box down in front of her. A smile formed on her lips and she lifted it as he sat back down. Reagan didn't bother saying he didn't have to, because they both knew he did. It was her birthday after all. Inside was a gorgeous white gold bracelet, lined with rubies to match her engagement ring. "It's beautiful," she murmured, lifting it gingerly out of the box to get a better look. It was definitely something she could wear whenever she wanted, and she planned to. Reagan had always loved showing off the things Caius bought for her. Without giving it any thought, Reagan slipped it around her wrist and deftly clasped it. She held it up to look at under the moonlight, her smile widening. Rubies had always been her favorite gem. It reminded her of heat and fire. She would leave it on all night, even when everything else came off. Reagan lowered her hand to the table and picked up her wine again. "Your birthday is in a few days," she pointed out. "I have a lot to live up to."
Reagan could tell him a million times that she didn’t want anything for her birthday or other holidays, but Caius never believed her. And he would continue not to believe her now that she was his wife, and she would keep being happy about that, Caius was sure. He sat back down as she took the bracelet out and put it on, glad that she seemed pleased with it. Reagan wasn’t always the easiest to please. He felt like he’d done a good job this round. Caius sipped his wine then gave a dismissive grunt and shook his head. He’d all but forgotten about his own birthday, right around the corner. “All I want is you,” he said. It might have sounded trite, but it was sincere. Especially right after breaking the curse, all Caius could imagine wanting was to spend alone time with Reagan. It didn’t even have to be anywhere fancy, just a little staycation at home sounded fantastic. Not that this wasn’t fun. He picked up his fork to eat some.
Just as Caius knew Reagan expected gifts on her birthday, Reagan knew Caius didn't, even though she still went out of her way to get him something meaningful and fabulous. "You have me," Reagan said after washing down her bite of food with some of the wine. "But... special occasions feel important this time around. I'm still going to do my best to surprise you, if I can." It might not be a yacht getaway, but Reagan had been giving it a little bit of thought over the past couple of weeks, when she wasn’t completely distracted by blood magic and curses. Reagan took another couple of bites of her food, enjoying the night breeze and the sound of water lapping up against the sides of the boat. The world seemed so far away from them in that moment and a part of wished they could stay there and let everything just run its course. It was a vague desire, one she didn't put a lot of thought into, as she knew it was impossible. "Nate came by today," Reagan said after a moment, her fork pushing through some of the shrimp. "He took my mother's journal to make a copy. Apparently he's afflicted with a curse as well."
Caius just gave her a little smile. She was right, they did feel important this time. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays ... besides each upcoming one being the first they were spending as a married couple, there was something extra precious about them. Like they might dissipate. Caius intended to relish all of these moments leading up to the ritual to break the curse. He couldn’t imagine looking back on this memory and not feeling like his chest was aching with love, but he knew the possibility existed that things could change. They were about to tread new ground, and it was exciting and terrifying at the same time. He ate along with her, his eyes lingering more on Reagan than his plate. Caius’s brows arched when she spoke again. “Oh really?” he said, forking up some more pasta. “What kind of curse?”
Reagan knew this hadn't been easy on either of them, emotionally. Even if they broke the curse successfully, there was probably going to be an abundance of backlash or pain involved. It was such intricate, dangerous magic that no one else had been able to break over centuries. And now they were so close, and while it had been frustrating and exhausting, Reagan harbored secret concerns that maybe it had been too easy for them, that they were setting themselves up for failure and it would hit back at them three fold. But... at the same time, Reagan also felt confident, like nothing could stop them. Maybe the curse had been unbreakable for all these years because Reagan and Caius were the ones destined to break it. It was probably far fetched, but she needed to cling to the optimism if they had any hope of fixing this. Reagan wiped her mouth with her napkin and couldn't help but feel her lips twitch in amusement as she picked up her wine. "A bad luck curse," she explained. "He was bit by a black cat on Friday the thirteenth, if you can believe it. Mom told him how to break it, but he has to go through a pretty complex ritual to do it."
Caius couldn’t stop his chuckle. It wasn’t exactly at Nate’s expense, that was just an amusing sort of curse to fall under. “That’s ... definitely something that would happen to Nate,” he murmured with a little smirk. Caius wasn’t going to rag on him too hard when he wasn’t around, and he did feel some gratitude toward the guy, since he’d helped them dig up Baron’s remains and all. He knew Nate had done it to help Reagan and not him, but still, he was grateful. “Hope he gets it taken care of, but if he needs any extra juice ... I do owe him a big favor.” Caius took another bite of pasta, then washed it down with some wine. They had enough problems, but favors were favors. Caius gave Reagan’s foot a little squeeze with his ankles under the table. “After tomorrow, anyway. We don’t want to risk getting any bad luck on ourselves.”
"I think he'll be all right," Reagan said, because she couldn't imagine Nate wanting to ask Caius for help. That didn't mean her brother wouldn't, since he had gone to their mother, but Nate was a talented witch. He just liked to steer clear of darker magic, which she couldn't understand. "There's a curse breaking spell in the journal that my mother directed him to. It's a bit complex and there's some waiting involved, but he's capable. I think he knows the two of us have our plates full right now, but... when we get rid of our problem, if his is still giving him trouble, I'll offer to help." Reagan rubbed her ankle against his in response, enjoying the physical contact under the table. "I would say we already have a black cloud hanging over us, so I agree that we shouldn't risk conjuring any more until it's taken care of." Reagan paused for a brief moment. "I know what we're planning to do is complicated, and potentially dangerous. I suppose the nerves are starting to kick in. I don't want you to get hurt."
Caius nodded -- Nate was a grown witch, he could handle himself. And if he couldn’t, surely Veronica could really assist one of her children, instead of prattling on about how it simply couldn’t be done. That was an uncharitable thought, Caius knew there was a lot of ego involved with both of their parents surrounding this, but the defeatist attitude they’d both had still irritated him. He was going to solve this problem for the whole of both goddamn families, and they had better be grateful afterward. After another long swallow of wine, he tilted a soft smile at his wife, and reached over to stroke his fingers against her hand. The bracelet looked lovely on her, he was looking forward to stripping her down to nothing but. “I know. I don’t want to get hurt either,” he told her with a faint chuckle. “But nothing’s gained without some risk. And we would end up getting hurt in either case, right? We’ll take as many precautions as we can ... but I would die to save you. I hope you know that.” He paused briefly and huffed. “I know that probably doesn’t help your nerves, but it’s true.”
Reagan knew that was true. If they did nothing, they could both get hurt, or worse. No matter what they did, there was some risk, so they had to take the risk that could potentially save them, and their relationship. She turned her hand over beneath his and gripped him tight with her fingers. "I know that," Reagan murmured. "I would die for you too. We've never shied away from doing things that scared us, and I do feel confident in our abilities. The unknown has always intrigued me, but right now I just feel apprehension. I'm not saying it's a sign of something ominous on the horizon, but... I can't remember the last time magic frightened me," she admitted with a faint smile. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
Caius wanted to assure her that she would be fine, but he knew that wasn’t true. Just like he wouldn’t be fine if he lost her. Who was fine after they lost someone they loved? He squeezed her hand back, putting his fork down to cover their joined fingers with his other palm. “You would be strong, and carry on,” he said softly, his dark gaze serious and sincere. “Because that’s who you are. But you won’t have to. We’re going to beat this thing, okay? We’ve got all the pieces in place now, more than any of our ancestors ever did. Apprehension is normal, I feel it too, but we’re going to be okay. Better than okay, we’re going to be freer than we’ve ever been.” They both had to believe that, deep down. Caius pulled Reagan’s hand up and bowed his head to kiss her knuckles.
She wanted to believe that was true, that she would be able to eventually move on if she lost Caius, but deep, deep down Reagan didn't think that was possible. They were so intricately tied together that even when they had been broken up, Reagan had been able to heal because she knew he was still hers, and the end of their relationship wasn't really the end. But if he was gone? That was different, and the mere thought of it stole her breath in the most painful way. But she needed to have faith that this would work. If she didn't truly believe it, they would likely fail. "We'll be okay," Reagan agreed in a murmur. She cupped the side of his face briefly with the hand he just kissed. When she pulled back, Reagan reached for her wine to finish it off. "I think we should finish up here and make good use of that hot tub." She wanted to enjoy every single second of this evening that she should, given what was coming.
“Agreed,” Caius murmured, giving her a another faint smile. They could talk about the unknowable all night, or they could actually enjoy themselves. Caius had been intent on the latter when he’d arranged all this, so he promised himself not to let them go down that road again tonight. This was for them, a way to celebrate Reagan’s birthday and strengthen their bond even further. He had a feeling they were going to need that tomorrow. Caius poured them another round, then picked up his fork to finish off his food. Once they were done eating, Caius took it upon himself to clean up, leaning over to kiss Reagan’s temple as he cleared the dishes away and took them back to the tiny galley kitchen in the cabin. That done, he ambled back outside, fingers unbuttoning his shirt as he gazed at his wife. It was something he never got tired of doing -- she was just so heartrendingly beautiful. “I didn’t pack you a bathing suit,” he told her, though he was sure she’d already guessed that.
The food was delicious and Reagan felt herself more than a little relaxed by the time they finished. It truly did feel like a normal evening for them, as normal as things could be anyway, and Reagan was happy to talk about anything and everything that didn't have to do with their plight. As soon as Caius had taken the dishes into the cabin, Reagan stood and stretched a little while breathing in the salty, sea air. She was not a fan of large bodies of water at all, but tonight it seemed almost comforting to her. Reagan could hear the lapping of the water up against the boat, and the moon illuminated the ripples, but beyond that, it was nothing but darkness. It was as if she and Caius were the only two people left in the world, and Reagan was able to let go of most of the tension she had been feeling over the past couple of weeks.
Walking over to the hot tub, Reagan got it turned on, waiting until the bubbles and steam started to rise from the water before she straightened again. Caius reappeared and Reagan smiled as she crossed the short distance toward him. "Of course not. It would have taken up much needed space in the overnight bag." Reagan's hair was already tied up away from her face and neck, so she turned around, her back to her husband so he could unzip her dress. She could get it, of course, but being undressed by Caius was a hell of a lot more fun.
Caius shrugged out of his shirt and let it drop, then obediently moved to help Reagan. He traced his fingers up the backs of her arms and shoulders to the zipper, then slowly started to pull it down. He was in agreement -- being the one to undress her was always more enjoyable than just watching her strip herself. Unless she was putting on a show for him, but that was different. This was her birthday, and he was there to pamper her, not the other way around. He dipped his head in to gently kiss the back of her neck and the top of her shoulder as he slid his hands under the fabric of her dress to guide it off of her. Almost subconsciously, he made the air in their little bubble slightly warmer, just to accommodate the lack of clothes. Not that he was feeling anything but warm at the moment, but he was always aware of his love’s comfort. Caius let the dress drop, then undid the clasp on her bra and slid those straps down as well.
Despite the warmth, Reagan shivered at the feel of Caius's lips against her skin and she wondered if they would even get to the hot tub. Her lips twitched into a small smile, and as soon as her bra straps were at her elbows, Reagan helped pulled it off. Her nipples were hard already, aching for attention, and Reagan turned around to face Caius, her hands moving instinctively to his pants to help get them off so they could join his shirt and her dress on the floor of the boat. Reagan kissed him, parting her lips almost immediately to taste him properly. Everything had felt so intense lately, even their love making, but Reagan didn't care. They were alone now, and in her mind, they had all the time in the world. No one was around for miles, their phones were turned off, and no one was going to bother them. Reagan managed to get his pants unbuttoned and unzipped, and she moved to push them down his hips while nibbling gently on his lower lip.
Since Reagan was so helpful with his pants, Caius’s hands were free to slide up the curves her sides to her chest. He cupped the sides of her breasts, thumbs moving to stroke over the firm nubs of her nipples, teasing them in the way he knew she liked while he kissed her back. It did feel like they had all the time in the world, and Caius kind of wished he had enough magic to make time stop altogether for them. Not permanently, of course, but enough to feel like they’d actually gotten their fill of one another. If such a thing was possible. It rarely felt like they even came close. Caius stroked his tongue against hers, letting out a soft hum as his pants rubbed against his growing erection as they came down. He slid his palms down Reagan’s body again to hook his thumbs into her panties -- lovely, no doubt, but he wanted them off -- to nudge those down as well. Once they were both actually naked, he pulled back to flash her a grin and pushed lightly against the front of her hips. “Hot tub?” he murmured.
Oh, it felt like her entire body was humming with anticipation, and she felt those delicious sparks of arousal overwhelming everything else. Her body was impatient and wanted Caius inside of her now, but Reagan knew they had time. It was early yet, and they had all night and probably quite a bit of the morning. It was doubtful either of them got fully dressed again until they had to take the boat back to the dock. "Hot tub," Reagan agreed, her lips curving into a small smile. She took his hand to lead him there. If she'd had any desire to maintain it, Reagan probably would have gotten a hot tub for her backyard. Being able to soak in the hot water under the stars every night sounded divine. Of course, she could always hire someone to maintain it for her. Reagan let go of Caius long enough to step into the water. She sighed happily as she sunk down into it. "This is perfect," Reagan murmured, lifting one hand out of the water to reach for him again. She doubted he would blame her for wanting to be close to him, tonight of all nights.
Caius made her wait for just a brief moment to grab their bottle of wine and glasses, then came back and stepped down into the hot tub with her. He let out a little groan as he sank into the water, flashing her a smile that felt more relaxed than most of his had been for quite a while. He refilled their glasses and handed one over to Reagan, scooting in close to put his free arm around her shoulders. They might not finish the whole glasses, but he wanted this to feel as luxurious as possible. The night was beautiful, he felt perfectly secure in their privacy, and they had hours stretching out in front of them to enjoy one another. Multiple times, he hoped. “You’re perfect,” he murmured in a belated answer, leaning over to kiss and nuzzle at the side of Reagan’s face. He took a swallow of wine then and tilted his head to look up at the stars.
Reagan took the wine offered and smiled as Caius nuzzled her. It certainly felt luxurious, and like something they absolutely deserved. "I am pretty perfect, aren't I?" Reagan said playfully before she sipped her own wine, her free hand slipping under the water to brush against his thigh. It reminded her a little of Anguilla, when they were alone, away from Point Pleasant and able to just lounge around together, naked and relaxed and happy. They weren't as far from Point Pleasant as Reagan wished, but this was pretty damn close to perfect. Reagan turned her face to press soft kiss against Caius's jaw and just below his ear. She kept her hand where it was on his thigh, but let her fingertips press a bit more firmly into his skin. Reagan was in no hurry, but it was impossible to be so close to him and not touch.
She was. And Caius was perfect for her, and vice versa. They fit together like puzzle pieces, and he honestly couldn’t imagine life without her. He didn’t want to. He let his eyes slip shut at the press of Reagan’s lips against his skin, a nice tingle running down the front of his body. He had his free hand around Reagan’s shoulders, so that obviously meant he needed to free up the other one. He tipped his wine glass up to drink it down in one go, then set the glass aside on the edge of the hot tub. Caius turned back toward his wife, now-freed hand moving to touch her jaw and tilt her face in toward his. He kissed her again, slow and indulgent, and let his fingers trail down her neck and over her collarbone. Her skin always felt so perfect and flawless, and the steam from the hot water around them just made it even more soft. Caius kept trailing until he was cupping one of her breasts, his tongue moving to stroke against hers, and he gently pulled at her nipple.
Reagan parted her lips for his, shivering as those all too familiar tingles began to surface and race through her body. She remembered feeling this way the first time Caius had ever kissed her, the intoxicating combination of lust and hormones taking hold of her at once. Even now, over a decade later, he still invoked the same feelings, only now there was deep seated love as well. It never got old, or stale. It never would. Reagan moaned softly, moving to blindly place her wine glass on the edge of the hot tub. Somehow she managed it without knocking it over or spilling it and once her other hand was free, Reagan cupped Caius's cheek as her hand slid further up his thigh until she could feel his erection. Reagan continued to kiss him as her fingertips stroked his skin slowly. Everything about this evening felt luxurious and indulgent, and she wanted that feeling to continue.
It never took much fooling around with Reagan to get Caius hard, especially in hot tubs, it seemed like. Something about all the heat, both inside and out, and his cock was rock solid when her fingers found it. He didn’t want to rush anything either, so he just kept kissing her, letting out soft little moans as she touched him, his hand massaging her breast. They’d had such strong chemistry for so long. They’d lost their virginities to each other, and even though that had come with the awkwardness of inexperience, it had still been mind-blowing for both of them. Some couples went stale, but Caius knew in his heart that would never happen to them. Everything had just gotten better over time. He slipped off of the hot tub seat and turned himself to face her, guiding her legs apart and dropping to his knees between them. Caius pulled away from Reagan’s mouth to start trailing kisses down her neck, both hands running up her smooth thighs and hips. He nuzzled against her chest, tongue darting out to flick against her nipple. He was going to indulge her, all right, as much as she could take it.
Reagan watched Caius under heavy lidded eyes, her hands moving to brush through his dark hair now as he settled in front of her. He'd always had such an uncanny ability to make her feel worshiped during sex, and even in other aspects of their lives. There was a lot of history between them, and some of it wasn't very pleasant, but those moments had since faded to the background of Reagan's memory, nearly forgotten now that they were together and truly committed. Her body was flush and hot, both from arousal and the water, but it didn't bother Reagan in the least. She reveled in it, actually, surrounded by heat and the one person who mattered more to her than anyone else. With her lower lip pulled gently between her teeth, Reagan stroked Caius's hair slowly, watching his tongue tease and lick at her hardened nipple. Arousal pooled between her legs, but she didn't give in to the urge to touch herself, more than willing to accept the teasing until she couldn't stand it any longer.
Caius did worship her, in his own fucked up way. Sometimes that intensity of feeling came out in negative ways, sometimes positive. But his feelings were always strong. Reagan was the main emotional pillar in his life, and so much of what he felt revolved around her. He relished the way her fingers felt in his hair, and he let out a soft moan as he sucked her nipple into his mouth to toy with, licking and biting on it gently. His hands kept stroking her sides and hips, then up to her ribs and back down again, just enjoying the feel of her. After a moment he moved his mouth over to tease her other breast. There was currently a jet blowing water between his legs and that felt pretty nice for the moment, enough to make it easier to squelch the urge to shove his cock into Reagan. There was no need to rush. Tossing a dark glance up at her face, Caius took a couple of deep breaths and held one as he slipped under the bubbling water. He had incredible breath control, even underwater, and tonight he wanted to use it to his advantage. He moved down to put his face between her thighs, kissing her mound before he slipped his tongue out to tease her folds.
Even if it wasn't always as evident, the worship went both ways. Caius was the only person in her life that Reagan allowed herself to be vulnerable with, and he was the only man she would ever submit to on any level. She would do anything for him, and she knew he would do anything for her. Reagan breathed softly, her fingers clenching and unclenching in his hair as he expertly worked her nipples with his tongue and teeth. A surprised sort of smile crossed her face when Caius sunk beneath the water and she laughed for a brief moment when he felt his tongue. It tickled for only a moment before the amusement died away on a moan and she placed her hands on the back of his head. She didn't hold him there for obvious reasons, but she needed to be touching him in some manner. He was crazy, but she loved it.
It was kind of nice under the surface of the water, with nothing but the constant roar of the hot tub in his ears and his eyes closed. His lungs were doing just fine, he could stay down there a while, just focusing on feeling Reagan’s body against his mouth. Like his only current bodily purpose was to please her. Caius slipped his hands under her ass to lift her just a bit, closing his lips around her clit to suckle and tease it with the tip of his tongue. He liked the feeling of her hands against the back of his head, even without pressure behind them; she wanted him down there, worshipping her more directly, at playful ‘risk’ to himself. He wasn’t going to drown in a hot tub, they both knew that, but it felt good to value Reagan’s pleasure over air for a little while.
Reagan's head fell back against her neck and she didn't bother trying to stifle the moans escaping her lips now. There was no one around to hear them, and even if there was, Reagan doubted she would have been able to stay quiet. Caius knew her body almost as well as she did and he knew exactly how to pleasure her to get her writhing with need. Leaving one hand on the back of his dark head, Reagan brought her other hand up from the water to cup her breast. She played with one nipple, breathing heavily now as the stimulation began to become a bit more intense. He would have to resurface soon for air, but Reagan pressed her fingertips a bit more firmly against the back of his head, her hips starting to grow a bit restless beneath the water.
Caius couldn’t hear her, but he could feel what was happening in her body, and he knew her well enough to know that she was enjoying what he was doing. It was all in the tension in her muscles under his hands, the pressure of her grip on his head, and those little movements of her hips. His groin gave a sweet throb when her hand pressed more firmly against him, and Caius slid his tongue against her with even more hunger. His lungs were starting to feel it, giving him warning that he needed air soon, but it was still tolerable. Caius loved feeling his wife start get carried away with pleasure. A moan quite literally bubbled out of Caius’s mouth, his hands kneading a bit at her ass.
Gods, his tongue felt so good and Reagan wished they were sprawled out on a lounge chair somewhere so he could stay down there between her legs all night. She knew he would have, if she told him to. But Reagan wanted him inside of her too, so she was more than happy to let him pleasure her for the time being, even if she didn't orgasm before he had to come up for a breather. Pinching her nipple lightly, Reagan bit into her lower lip as a fresh wave of those acute sensations shivered down her spine. Her core was hot and aching and she dropped her hand from his head to his shoulder, gripping him tightly and giving one short tug. Reagan was feeling desperate for him now, and she didn't think Caius would make her wait. It was her birthday, after all.
The timing was fairly perfect, Caius’s need for air had started to distract him from what his mouth was doing. The pull on his shoulder amused him a bit, and after one more lick, he straightened up enough to emerge from the water. Caius shook his head to toss dark hair out of his eyes, getting a deep inhale before he moved in close enough to Reagan to kiss her. His nostrils flared with heavier breathing as he slipped his tongue past her lips so she could taste herself. Caius shifted his hands to Reagan’s hips, pulling her in close until his cock rubbed against her pussy, caught between them. “I want you so bad, baby,” he murmured into the kiss before nipping lightly at Reagan’s full bottom lip. He knew she wanted him too, but he also knew that she loved hearing his desire.
The sight of Caius emerging from between her legs, water dripping from his skin and dark hair, had Reagan's heart racing even harder. He was incredibly sexy on a normal day, but goddamn. And he was all hers .Her fingers raked through his wet hair as her lips parted for his and she moaned at the taste of herself on his tongue. Shivering at the feel of his cock brushing against her clit, Reagan all but purred as she writhed her hips a bit for the extra friction it created. "Then take me," Reagan murmured before kissing him long and deep, her fingers tightening a bit around the dark strands of his hair. As much as Reagan enjoyed sex with Caius just about anywhere, there was something magical about being outside, surrounded by nature. Even if it was water, she still felt connected to it on some level, and she knew Caius felt the same way. It just heightened her sense of arousal and seemed to draw her magic to the surface. She felt everything more acutely, including the way Caius touched and kissed her.
Caius moaned into the kiss, his hands squeezing her hips under the water. He loved it when Reagan gave herself to him, even just verbally. They belonged to each other, from top to bottom, but it always gave him an intoxicating little rush of power. Reagan felt buoyant and easy to move -- not that she was ever difficult to move, but it was fun to defy gravity a bit -- as he pulled her body tighter against his. In spite of the water in the hot tub, his cock was sliding nicely against her folds, so he knew she was wet enough for their bodies to stay submerged. He rolled his hips in just the right way to change the angle of his cock, catching the tip against her opening, and pushed forward. Caius made the first thrust quick, his breath catching as her body enveloped him so deliciously. He smothered another groan against Reagan’s mouth, going right back to kissing her like he was starving for it.
Reagan's body gripped him tight and she exhaled softly before her mouth was occupied again by Caius's. One arm wrapped around his shoulders, her nails pressing into his damp skin. Her heels pressed into the back of his legs. Since they were in the water, she was light enough that she woudn't need to cling too tightly. Instinctively, Reagan began to rock her hips, her tongue stroking against his, savoring the taste of him. There was nothing quite like having Caius buried inside of her. It was a feeling she never tired of, one she had missed desperately anytime they were apart, and she was seeing someone new. It was an indescribable feeling, knowing that they would never be apart again, that this time would stick. Reagan slid her free hand around to the small of his back, wanting to touch him anywhere and everywhere that she could.
She was never idle while they were fucking, and Caius adored that about her. He didn’t even have to thrust yet, just enjoy the sensations of Reagan’s body working around his cock like that. As much as he liked to dominate her in the bedroom -- or wherever they happened to be having sex -- sometimes he just liked to worshipfully let her use him for her pleasure. At least until that restlessness in his body, the one urging him to move, got to be too much to bear. Caius groaned into her mouth, his hands squeezing her flesh, and he started to rock his hips, keeping the thrusts short and deep for the moment, just relishing the tight grip of her body around him. He wanted to make this last, to make Reagan come more times than she could count and put even more strength into the bond they had. They would need it for the ritual the next day, and Caius wanted nothing more for them to come out even stronger on the other side.
Reagan moaned into Caius's mouth as soon as he began to move with her and she had to turn her face to breathe as her heart picked up speed. She knew this was going to be a multi-orgasm kind of night. They had all the time in the world, and no one around to interrupt them. Reagan wanted to drive him crazy and blow his mind as much as he wanted to do the same to her. Despite their ups and downs over the years, their sex life was probably the one thing that never suffered. It had always been intense, their attraction to one another never wavering, even at their lowest points. But when things were good, the sex was insanely fantastic. If they didn't have this annoyingly inconvenient curse hanging over their heads, she probably would have kept Caius on this boat for the next couple of days where they could lounge around naked and just enjoy one another until it wasn't physically possible anymore. Reagan's perfectly manicured nails dig into the small of his back and she tried to resist tightening her legs around him. But she moved with him as best she could in the water, nipping and biting gently at his lower lip. "I love how you feel inside me," Reagan murmured, aware that she had said it many times before, but it was the gods’ honest truth. No one else had ever filled her so perfectly, or made her this desperate for more.
Without the looming curse, Reagan’s birthday would have definitely been more of a trip than just up the coast from Point Pleasant. Caius had thought probably too much about what he wished he could’ve done for her this year, but he fully intended to make her next birthday an absolute blowout. And their one-year anniversary, because they were going to make it there, come hell or high water. Tingly pleasure licked up Caius’s spine from where Reagan dug her fingernails in, and he moved his hips in longer thrusts, getting further engrossed in it all. Her words drew another breathy groan out of him, his lips still brushing hers as he stole a few deeper breaths. “I want to be here all the time,” he whispered back. Caius had never quite believed all those jokes about marriage killing a couple’s sex life, and how men got bored of their women and blah blah ... he was still obsessed with Reagan, almost as much as he’d been as a teenager. He daydreamed and fantasized about her all the time, and having the real thing never got old. Caius crushed their mouths together again as he pumped his hips under the water harder.
Reagan sometimes wondered if getting married would dampen the spark they felt for one another, but deep down she knew if it hadn't gone out in the ten plus years they had been sleeping together, was a ring on her finger really going to make the difference? It felt like they had something the average couple didn't, and Reagan didn't know, or care, if that was because of the magic inside of them or not. How often were two soulmates born so close together, in the same town? She and Caius were special and she pitied anyone who didn't get to experience what they did. Reagan matched his intensity, rocking her hips harder to meet his thrusts. She loved tasting him on her tongue, feeling his hot breath against her, hearing those groans deep in his throat. The fire inside of her was surfacing, magic simmering just beneath her skin. "Caius," Reagan breathed, her body moving with a touch more desperation as she began to climb toward that delicious peak.
It rarely felt like just fucking to Caius. He’d fucked other girls, and it was dull and colorless in comparison. Their magic was so in tune, having grown up together and been so intimate over the years ... Caius could feel his responding to Reagan’s. He could’ve sworn her body temperature got hotter around his cock, and he felt that buzzy sensation under the surface of his skin. Their little private yacht was enclosed in a bubble to maintain the temperature, but Caius still felt a sudden breeze ruffle his hair. He thrust into Reagan harder and faster, getting a little breathless in spite of his elemental bent. He let go of her hip with one hand, bringing it up to her neck with a brief stop to tug on one nipple. Caius pressed his fingers into Reagan’s throat, his dark eyes cracked to stare into hers. “I know you like that, but don’t you dare come yet,” he murmured to her. “Ask permission first.”
Reagan opened her eyes to look into his, mesmerized by the color of them, dark and clouded with arousal. It was as if she were teetering on the precipice and how she managed to keep from falling over was beyond her. She was so dangerously close that she nearly ignored him and took what she wanted. His fingers at her throat certainly didn't help because the feel of them pressing against her flesh seemed to trigger a fresh pool of heat between her legs and she squeezed around his cock before exhaling sharply, a soft, pleading whine forming in her throat. "Can I come?" Reagan was still moving her hips, not wanting to lose the intensity of the sensations pulsing through her. She knew what he wanted to hear, and she wanted to give it to him. Reagan was not above begging when they were fucking. Caius was the only man Reagan would ever submit to, both in bed and out, and that gave him a sense of power over her that no one else in her life would ever have. "Please, Caius."
She was beautiful all the time, in all situations, but Caius had a particular fondness for this version of Reagan’s beauty. Flushed and needy, completely his to toy with however he wanted. She was so strong-willed in everyday life, bucking up to him whenever she felt the urge ... Caius loved his hard-headed woman. He wouldn’t have her any other way. But when his cock was plunging deep into her body and she looked so desperate for release, a completely different appreciation for her took over. He wanted her small and soft and needy, looking to him to fulfill those needs, to take control for the both of them. He loved that whiny tone in her voice in those moments, and knowing he could deny her and there wasn’t much she could do about it. “Not yet ...” Caius kissed her hard again, his thumb pressed in where he could feel her heart pounding, and just kept fucking her for another few moments. Finally he pulled away from her mouth, putting his lips close to her ear. “Now,” he breathed. “Come hard on this cock, baby.”
The only man who could ever fulfill her needs was the man currently fucking her brains out. Caius knew exactly what to do, and how to do it, and it always gave her a thrill when he bossed her around in bed. Yes, a small stubborn part of her wanted to resist sometimes, but somehow that only made it better, knowing she wouldn't. Well, sometimes she did, depending on her mood, but the sex never suffered for it. A little push and pull in bed was a good thing, if you asked Reagan. She parted her lips for his, a loud moan of protest escaping her as he thrust against her harder. With his fingers pressing into her neck, pleasure began to build rapidly again and Reagan was helpless to stop it now. Relief flooded her as soon as she heard his voice in her ear and Reagan cried out before ducking her face against his neck and biting hard against his pulse point. Stars exploded behind her eyes and she trembled violently, completely losing herself for those few, delicious moments.
They were intense people who generally lived intense lives, and that suited Caius just fine. Why wouldn’t that translate over into the bedroom? It sure kept things interesting, and he knew in his heart they were never going to be one of those couples who got bored of one another and practically stopped having sex. He couldn’t imagine this passion ever burning out. Caius grunted as the pain from Reagan’s teeth just made everything feel sharper and better, his hands tightening on her briefly. He eased up his speed while Reagan’s body throbbed around him, but kept rocking into her to draw her pleasure out as long as possible. It was immensely satisfying and so fucking hot to feel her explode, it pushed Caius closer to his own edge. But he was going to make tonight last, and he wasn’t done with her yet, not by far.
Reagan's body seemed to slacken against Caius's as she moaned softly with the aftershocks of her orgasm, intensified only by the way he still moved inside of her. She felt overheated in the best kind of way, her skin damp and sweaty from the hot tub and their own exertions. Wrapped around Caius, Reagan began to press soft kisses against his neck where she had bit him. She could see the marks from her teeth and while she hadn't wanted to really hurt him, Reagan still felt a bit of satisfaction that she had marked him physically. What a shame that it wasn’t permanent. Cupping his face, Reagan drew his mouth to hers, kissing him deep, her hunger for him not yet sated.
The soft press of her lips against the lingering sting from her teeth felt sublime. Caius didn’t mind the pain at all. Pain was useful to him, and sometimes when he was in the right mood, it felt downright indulgent. He hummed deep in his throat as they kissed again, finally releasing her throat to grope one of her breasts instead. Caius rubbed his thumb over her nipple as he nipped at her tongue, then pulled back. Flashing Reagan a wicked little smile, Caius pulled his body away from hers, his cock slipping out of her, and pushed at her hips to get her to turn over. It was her birthday, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get some of his favorite positions too, and Reagan on her knees for him was exquisite in multiple ways. “Get that beautiful ass up out of the water,” he murmured.
It might have been her birthday, but this was for both of them. Reagan always wanted Caius to enjoy sex as much as she did, and she couldn't really recall a time where that hadn't happened. They had been together off and on for so long that their bodies were as in tune with one another as everything else. Shivering at the feel of his hand on her breast, Reagan nearly whined in protest when Caius pulled away from her. She felt the loss instantly, but he didn't move far and Reagan smirked softly before she turned at his urging. She settled her knees on the bench under the water, rising out of the water and arching her back just enough to create a pleasant visual for him. Reagan could feel his gaze on her body and she peered back at him over her shoulder. "Like this?" she said, not quite wiggling her hips, but swaying them in a languid manner.
“Just like that,” Caius breathed, staring at her with open hunger. Reagan was gorgeous, her skin practically glowing in the moonlight, that wanton dip in her back, the curves of her. The hot water was still bubbling around Caius’s legs where he stood in front of the ledge she was kneeling on, and the cooler air around his damp skin felt invigorating. And gods, the way she moved her hips ... if he didn’t get to see her all the time already, he would’ve wanted pictures. After just looking for a moment, Caius moved in closer and ran his hands up the backs of her thighs and over her ass, just stroking the curves, enjoying how well she fit into his hands. He bent over to trail some kisses up her back to her shoulder blades, his cock pressed against her damp skin. It only took a shift or two of his hips until she was slowly pushing it into her again, hands slipping around to cup both breasts, his body still close against hers. “You’re my goddess,” he whispered to her.