Chapter 120. Partnership

Waking up in the morning, I yawned, the long legs of Gaynor curled all around me, pressing me tightly against her body. However, in yawning, I realized I could breathe much easier than with her exoskeleton blocking my chest from expanding. “Hmm…” A feminine groan startled me awake, snapping my eyes open to see what made it. The image of golden unkempt hair was what greeted me. Slowly an arm that had been draped over mine, moved up, and parted the glowing locks to showcase Luna’s slightly droopy eyes.

She blinked a few times, silently waking herself up before her mindful gaze landed onto mine. “Good Morning Lucas…” She spoke in her usual lighthearted tone, not a speck of anxiety at the situation both of us were in. She was so casual I stuttered, wondering for just a moment if I was the strange one. “W- I- Morning…?” I finally gathered myself enough to greet the strange girl who allowed me to sully her with my primal desires. I cringed just remembering last night, guilt for Pansy as well for Luna growing in my chest like a weed.

However, Luna’s soft hand resting atop my head brought my attention back to her unwavering eyes. “You never had this problem before… Have you…?” I gulped, avoiding her gaze while my face burned in shame. I could still vividly remember the night I pounced Luna in the grassy marsh near the lake. “Not… During the day…” I mumbled, unable to bring up that night I had lost control, nor the other times I was with Hermione or Chiara while my beast was awake.

Luna continued to scratch my head, gently tucking and folding my hair, calming my nerves with her silent care. After I finally felt able to match her gaze again did she talk. “It’s alright… Lots of creatures I’ve studied go into heat when they reach puberty…” I almost bit open my bottom lip in humiliation from her piercing words, squinting my eyes shut as I mumbled. “Please don’t call it that…” With my clenched eyes all I could hear was Luna’s hum of confusion. “It’s what you are going through, is it not…?”

I heaved a large sigh, knowing if I had not been in my right mind during so many recent occasions. I couldn’t cease my mind from such vile thoughts; especially when the beast was stirring. As time went on, those thoughts grew more often, and it finally exploded into reality with Luna. I was unable to control myself, her strange and comforting words lulling me into what I wanted. She hadn’t forced me into anything, not even my beast was truly awake to blame this time. I wasn’t in my right mind, but was of my whole mind. “I don’t know…” I mumbled while burying my head in my hands, unsure of my own feelings.

Luna placed her hand over my head once again, carefully scratching different parts of my scalp, her careful strokes easily quelling the torrents of confusion and worry in my mind. I found myself leaning my head into her hand, wanting her to continue and take away my anxiety. After a few moments of silence, as Luna continued to comfort me, she whispered in her aloof tone. “It doesn’t matter what you call it… I’ll still be here to help you when you need it…”

I took a deep breath, holding myself back from jumping at the idea. “That’s… I don’t want to use you like that.” Luna’s hand paused momentarily, continuing on as she pulled my head into her chest, almost as if she were trying to flare my lust. My face reddened in the warm cotton vest, I could feel her soft flesh depressing to make way for my cheek. I gulped, unable to pull away from her sweet embrace that smelled of butterbeer from her necklace. “You aren’t… Listen to my heart…”

I suddenly understood why she pulled me into her embrace, and focused my ears to listen past my own thumping heart. I stuttered hearing the racing of Luna’s, matching my own, perhaps even beating faster than mine. I glanced up, my ear still pressed firmly against her chest, her heart quickening at the sight of my upturned eyes matching her gaze. Her face was flush, her squinted glowing eyes glistening with incomprehensible thought, her mouth slightly agape.

“I want… To do this… Not only as a friend…” Her voice trembled, giving a sense of unease in her tone. She stared into me, her unblinking gaze studying every thought passing my spinning brain. ‘She doesn’t want me to leave Pansy… She wants to be more than friends…’ The term suddenly came to mind, and I sputtered the words without any thought. “You wish to be my mistress?” I scoffed in disbelief, waiting for her to denounce such a speculation, however no such thing came.

She instead hummed in thought, gazing deep into my eyes as if judging my own mind to check her answer before telling me. Her eyes finally left mine as she blinked a few times, finally nodding as her gaze relaxed. “I suppose that definition works… More than friends… All to aid you in what you need…” She then looked back at me, a tiny smirk growing in the sight of my agape expression. The previous moment of unease that appeared in her eyes now seemed all an illusion as I studied the brilliance of her miniature smile.

Luna was the girl I had most in common with when it came to my true passion. The love of magical creatures and desire to learn as much about them as possible. She was strange, but in a good way. Her mind worked in a way that I couldn’t comprehend, a way that I could never begin to imagine. With that manner of thinking, she had already pointed me in new directions. And in those ways I couldn’t fathom she still wanted to help me after knowing what I was. Beyond respecting me enough to keep my secret, she accepted and wanted to assist in caring for my most vile side.

“Oh dear…” Luna’s eyes slightly widened as I looked at her absentmindedly, and she lowered her head, moving it closer to mine. I could see her mouth slightly part, and her warm breath tickled my lips. “Luna…?” I whispered, noticing my head raised slightly to match hers, my hand slithering up her back to grasp her shoulder. “Yes Lucas…?” She breathlessly asked, studying my eyes intently. “Am… Are my eyes…?” I muttered between pants, feeling my own heart match with Luna’s, mirroring her every beat.

Luna nodded between quickened breaths of slight excitement. “I can help… If you need it…” She whispered, her lips brushing against mine with each syllable. “Proba- Probably not…” I responded through ragged pants, gulping to reduce the hunger growing within me. “I’m sorry… I think I may have done this…” Luna muttered, moving her head back, but I quickly caught the nape of her neck, stopping her from going any further away.

I slowly shook my head, if anything, I was mostly at fault. I had gotten lost in my mind with the best of Luna; perhaps finally allowing myself to see who she was in my eyes. All while she wanted me to… “You told me to follow my instincts…” I muttered, Luna slowly lowering her head once again with intrigue, nodding in agreement.

As her lips almost met mine, I finally spoke again. “I don’t think I need your help… But I want your help…” I whispered, my lips gently pressing against hers, my brain almost exploding in a sea of hazy happiness. I pulled away sitting up and away from her chest. Luna’s closed eyes took a moment to open and meet mine. “Are my eyes fine?” I asked, and she tilted her head in judgment for a moment before nodding. “Good.” I answered, gently leaning closer.

I pressed my lips against Luna’s cheek, ignoring her confused hum as I wrapped my arms around to cradle her body in a tight hug. I finally pulled away and watched Luna’s confused gaze for a moment, enjoying the sight of her unsure of my actions for once. “Now I know that one was just from me. Thank you.” I explained, unable to string her along as just a tool for me to remove my lust for.