Teddy was checked out. He was quiet and he was aloof. He was…off. There was a stale, quiet quality to their relationship that James had no idea how to fix. If it was even something he was supposed to be fixing…. If it was even something he had broken in the first place.

Whether it was his fault or not, James had hatched a plan. They needed a jolt, a push, to get them back on track. It needed to be rash and jarring and it needed to be a shock. A passionate and memorable shock.

And that led James to this very moment. To the cold breath of early autumn covering his bare legs in gooseflesh as he stood in wait. Naked and bared to the world, a grand gesture to his slack-jawed boyfriend. A stunning surprise that needed no explanation and no words. Just a single finger crooked towards Teddy to summon him closer.

"Is there a reason you're starkers on a Spanish beach?" Teddy chuckled, soft and confused.

"You know why."

That seemed to be enough. Teddy followed James' insistent eyebrow raise with too much pleasure. His grin was the widest it'd been in weeks and he wasted no time in shedding his own clothes. His arms were gentle when they circled around James and his voice was husky when he whispered the dangerous things he wanted to do. "Pretty ballsy," Teddy ended with, so perfectly palming James' bollocks. "Luring me here…to the villa where I spent my honeymoon with my wife…. To the beach where I rejected you."

"Are you gonna reject me tonight?" James whispered back. "Would you reject me if I asked you to fuck me? Really fuck me…." He nudged Teddy's hand backwards to affirm his suggestion, shivering as a mere fingertip grazed his asshole.

"I promised myself some time ago that I would never reject you again." Teddy pressed ever so slightly inside of James. "You've slicked yourself up for me, haven't you? You're rather gagging for it."

James wasn't sure he would describe it so vividly. It was more of a necessity. It was a rare, calculated move made to ensure their relationship continued to thrive. It was Teddy's deepest wish, growled into darkness during the stranglehold between orgasm and sleep. Although James might not be 'gagging' for this, he knew Teddy was and he would oblige this desire if it meant reigning Teddy back in where he belonged. "Just for you," he whispered. "Only ever for you…so, go on then. Take me."

Only too happy to oblige, Teddy pushed in further and pulled a stunted gasp from James' lungs. "I just want to make you happy." His words tickled James' ear, putting him on absolute edge. "I just want to make you feel. I just want to make you mine…."

"I'm yours for as long as you want me." James couldn't keep his words from breaking, especially not with a second finger filling him. Equal parts pleasure and discomfort were settled into his nerves. He didn't know if he wanted to moan or cry. Which had him wrestling quite uncomfortably with the motives behind this endeavor. "I just hope that ends up being forever because I love you more than my own happiness or safety. Now fuck me before I change my mind."

The wet sand was glaringly cold against James' back. The chill bit into his skin, feeling like thousands of tiny needles digging in at once. Feeling like just punishment for the deception of this moment. Not that it wasn't the exact magic Christoph had promised it would be. James would swear he'd never felt more whole or more real than in the moment Teddy took him. But he couldn't help how wrong it felt in his gut. He couldn't help but to feel slimy even in his afterglow.

"I'm never leaving you," Teddy whispered and it was a definite promise even as he pulled out and left James empty. Leaving behind nothing but phantom sensations and oozing spunk. "We are forever. I promise you."

James bit his lip, trying to hold back his concerns. Trying and failing. "Lately it doesn't exactly feel that way. Lately…it feels like I might be temporary? Like maybe you've checked out."

The cold of the night sunk into their bones as silence stretched out between them. As a gust of wind carried the chill of the sea closer, Teddy burrowed his nose into James' neck. Kissing him gently, likely as a means of distraction. "I promise you we're okay."

"Then what's the matter? Why is this the first time we've had a real conversation in weeks?"

"Victoire is pregnant."

James frowned but beneath that he was angry. He was no longer cold, not with the promise of uncontrolled violence looming in his fingers. "What?" he snapped and sat up quickly.

Following him at a more reasonable pace, Teddy reached for James' hand. An advance he deftly avoided. "It's not mine. It's no one's. She's up the duff all on her own, apparently. She didn't need me, even though we had planned for this since we were kids."

"Is this regret, then?"

Teddy's shrug was exactly the opposite of reassuring. "In a way? I guess." He groaned, head falling into his hands. "A year ago, all I wanted was to get pregnant with the love of my life. Now, I guess, I don't know what I want. Aside from you," he rescued. "I know I want you for the rest of my life. In whatever way you'll have me." He didn't give James the time to reject him this time, pulling him into a lip-splitting kiss. "I shouldn't be grieving a child who was never mine. I know that and I'll get over it. This helps." Teddy gestured between them. "Talking and…and being together. I'm starting to feel better already."

The Spanish moon bathed Teddy in a haunting glow and James had to stop himself from seeing an ending looming in the shadows.