"Ruan."
The sound of his name spoken so softly, so lovingly, sent a shiver rippling down his spine. Her nose pressed to his shoulder as his breath slowly passed over her gems of ice. His hunter eyes brightened on her, but it wasn't until after his cool breath cleared the heat from her skin, until he placed a light kiss beside her jaw and settled there, that he greeted her back with a murmur of her name.
For a moment, he worried. She didn't seem to want to look at him, and he nuzzled into her, gently tilting her chin a little higher. When those warm honey eyes lifted, he shuttered his over the fierce light in the blue of his stare. He could feel it, didn't understand it. Something was changing in him, but he fought it down.
He dipped his head to hers, and she inched forward until they touched. Then they were both quiet, both still. Breathing evenly and soaking in each other's presence. She had a way of soothing him without even speaking. She'd never needed to speak with him. He was always aware of body language like the wolves of his once-home and it was a language she spoke so naturally. Primal communication, raw and real and instinctive.
After a time, she pulled back carefully. He watched her from behind half-lidded eyes until she ducked beneath his head and to his chest. He tucked his chin against her, holding her gently to him. He hated that they both seemed so troubled today. Wished he could make everything better for her and struggling to know how to. More than just her health and protection, her happiness was his to care for too.
She nuzzled into his shoulder and he almost hummed at the electricity shooting up his withers, almost caught his breath when her mouth nibbled at his neck. Nearly had to bite back a groan. His muscles tensed and he grit his teeth, eyes opening to stare straight ahead and ignore the quickening in his pulse. These were not changes in him he wanted. Definitely not now, not here. He would leave if it got worse. He would fight it til then.
She slipped away and tugged at his mane. His eyes followed her, a little too sharp, and his body followed too, a smooth prowl through the water. "I don't know how to swim," a voice of quiet dew drops on wild flowers, delicate and clear. He stepped further, deeper, blue eyes in the amber of hers. A warning inside him, but he was fighting it down. It would be okay. This was Polaris. "Teach me."
He didn't say anything, but he nodded, eyes on hers. She stepped in again and he could feel the smile of her lips against his neck. With a slow, deep breath in, he buried his nose in her hair, breathing in that scent he'd become so familiar with, had fallen asleep to it ever since he'd first found her. His mouth teased at her strands until he could feel her neck beneath his lips, and he kissed her softly.
Maybe he should leave, after all.
Soon. Not yet. He could handle this.
He glided forward, deeper, treading water easily as he passed her and turned. Come on, then, he gestured with a small jerk of his chin and a smile in his lips. Instinct would force her to kick, and he was ready with his magic if she needed it. All she had to do was come to him.
