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“Soulara,” Autumn whispered, drawing her hand down Soulara’s chest to her breast, palming it and flicking her thumb over Soulara’s nipple.

“Autumn,” Soulara answered. “Not here.”

The need to be somewhere without any of the history clawed its way into Soulara’s chest. They needed someplace that was only for them. Somewhere no one could stumble upon them, or drag them back into the hellhole they were both trying to escape.

“Where?”

Soulara purposely walked backward into the oncoming waves. Autumn didn’t hesitate as her eyes lit on Soulara, and the full realization hit of what was happening. Autumn sat down and undid the ties on her boots before stripping out of all her clothes. Soulara walked into the water until it brushed against her waist.

Letting her magic flow through her, Soulara formed her legs back into her tail. She sank below the surface of the water, letting it cover her head completely. The water surrounding her was such a welcome presence. But being in Autumn’s arms had been even better.

Soulara’s heart ached.

How would they ever understand each other? How would they ever be able to have a relationship when they lived worlds apart?

Sure, Soulara had managed to leave home long enough to come up here, but time was limited. Someone would be looking for her. She still had negotiations to finalize. She had alliances to strengthen. She had a war and more battles to plan.

Autumn fell on top of her, completely covered by the water, and pushed their mouths and their bodies together. Soulara gasped. She ran her hands up Autumn’s sides, along her curves, over her ass, and held on. Without warning, Soulara moved her tail and propelled them into deeper waters.

Eventually, she rose to the surface so Autumn could breathe before dragging her back under again. Soulara swam as fast as she could, reaching her little island sanctuary. They sat in the waves, Autumn running her fingers over Soulara’s chest and down her hip, over the top part of her tail.

“I thought I was going to die today,” Autumn murmured.

Soulara had had the same thought one too many times, and despite her promises not to let Autumn drown, she knew she couldn’t always keep her promises. Soulara pulled Autumn closer. She wanted to forget today. She wanted to push it to the back of her mind and pretend the last few days had never happened.

“I don’t want to think about it.” Soulara spoke against Autumn’s mouth.

Autumn flipped them over, pressing Soulara against the sandy beach, the water still mostly covering of their bodies. “I was ready to die.”

“I’m not ready to let you,” Soulara answered, the words slipping off her tongue faster than she could pull them back. They were so very close to admitting things that would never work between them. “Take me, Autumn.”

“Like this?” Autumn’s eyes widened, and she raked her gaze down Soulara’s body, from her breasts to her tail.

Chuckling, Soulara nodded. “Oh yes, exactly like this. Here.”

Soulara snagged Autumn’s hand and moved it down to her slit. She gently used Autumn’s fingers to rub along the edge. Pleasure shot through her entire body, and her back arched unintentionally. Soulara’s hand fell away as Autumn continued to stroke her.

“I’m not that different from you in this form.”

Though having her legs wrapped around Autumn’s head had been pure bliss. Soulara didn’t want to change back and forth again. She wanted to be in her purest form, and that was the one she was born to. It was the one she was most familiar with, the one she’d grown up learning to navigate.

“You’re amazingly different.” Autumn swooped down, pressing her face into the oncoming water as she covered Soulara’s breast with her mouth. She teased Soulara’s nipple to a peak.

Soulara groaned. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she allowed the sensations to wash over her. As she used them to remind herself just how close they’d come to this never happening today, or ever again. That was the reality for them. At any point this could be the last moment they had together. The last moment they had alive. Soulara wasn’t going to let those moments pass by without taking full advantage of them.

“Slide your fingers in,” Soulara whispered.

Autumn fumbled at first, no doubt trying to figure out exactly what to do and what angle to work with. Soulara guided her again, taking two fingers and slipping them inside without preamble. Her voice was breathy when she answered, staring up directly into Autumn’s dark brown eyes.

“Make it hard.”

“Are you sure?” Autumn bit her lip.

“You can’t break me.” Soulara released Autumn’s wrist, hoping that the command was there and that Autumn would follow it.

Autumn started slowly, as if she was still getting her confidence up. Soulara moaned, writhing against the sand as Autumn straddled her tail. The sliding of their naked bodies against each other was exactly what Soulara wanted. It was what she needed.

Water moved from the ocean to the beach, covering Soulara’s chest and face. It pulled against her as it receded back into the deep behind Autumn. Soulara gasped. She wanted to tell Autumn everything. She wanted to spill everything she’d been holding back, tell Autumn all her worries and fears, all the things that were stressing her out. But she couldn’t.