Crimson Bonds

Chapter 21: Bound by Moonlight

The tension of the night hung heavy in the air, the weight of the Blood Moon's power still pressing down on them. But for now, the immediate threat had subsided, and the rogue witches had retreated into the shadows. The clearing was eerily quiet, the crackling of the fire now a faint whisper compared to the chaos of moments before.

Babe sat on a large rock, catching his breath, his body still tingling with the aftershock of the ritual. His mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything-Thanom's words, the Blood Moon's pull, the power he had felt coursing through his veins. But even as his thoughts whirled, there was one constant that grounded him-Billy.

Billy stood a few feet away, his eyes fixed on the sky, where the Blood Moon still loomed ominously. His expression was unreadable, but Babe could see the tension in his posture, the way his hands clenched into fists and then relaxed, as if he was wrestling with his own thoughts.

Babe felt a strange pull in his chest-something deeper than magic, something more personal. He and Billy had been through so much together already, and now, standing here in the aftermath of another life-threatening ordeal, all he could think about was how much Billy meant to him.

Without a word, Babe stood up and walked over to him, his footsteps silent on the soft earth. He stopped just behind Billy, feeling the warmth of his presence, and for a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Billy must have sensed him, because he turned, his eyes meeting Babe's with an intensity that made Babe's heart skip a beat. The moonlight cast a soft glow on Billy's face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the depth of his eyes. There was something in his gaze-something raw, unspoken, and powerful.

"You okay?" Billy asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Babe nodded, but the truth was, he wasn't sure. His body felt like it had been pushed to its limits, his magic still buzzing under his skin. But more than that, he felt... connected. Not just to the magic, but to Billy. And that connection felt overwhelming in a way he hadn't expected.

"I think so," Babe replied softly. He glanced up at the Blood Moon, then back at Billy. "But it's still out there. The Blood Moon, Thanom... everything. It's not over."

Billy stepped closer, his gaze softening. "I know. But right now, we're safe. We'll deal with the rest when the time comes."

There was a pause, a beat of silence that seemed to stretch out between them. Babe's heart raced as Billy's eyes locked on his, the distance between them shrinking until they were standing just inches apart.

"Babe," Billy said, his voice even lower now, almost intimate. "You don't have to carry this all by yourself. I'm with you. Always."

Babe swallowed hard, his chest tightening at the weight of Billy's words. He had always been so independent, so used to relying on himself. But Billy-Billy had been there every step of the way, protecting him, guiding him, challenging him.

And now, as they stood under the blood-red sky, that connection between them felt stronger than ever.

"I know," Babe whispered, his voice barely audible. He could feel the heat radiating from Billy's body, the steady beat of his heart so close. His own pulse quickened, a mix of nervousness and something else-something that had been building between them for a long time.

Billy's hand moved, slow and deliberate, until his fingers brushed against Babe's arm. The touch was light, but it sent a jolt of electricity through Babe, making his breath catch.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Billy asked again, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable.

Babe met his gaze, and in that moment, everything else faded away-the Blood Moon, the witches, the danger. All that mattered was Billy. His steady presence, his unwavering support. And something deeper-something Babe had been trying to ignore for too long.

"I am now," Babe said, his voice shaking slightly. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them until he could feel the warmth of Billy's breath on his skin.

Billy's eyes darkened, his hand sliding up Babe's arm to rest on his shoulder. The touch was gentle, but there was a tension there-a tension that had been simmering between them for weeks, maybe even longer.

"You know," Billy murmured, his voice low and teasing, "you drive me crazy."

Babe felt a smile tug at his lips, despite the intensity of the moment. "Good," he replied, his voice playful. "I like keeping you on your toes."

Billy's smile was brief, but it was there, lighting up his face for a split second before his expression turned serious again. "I'm not joking, Babe," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You have no idea what you do to me."

Babe's breath hitched, his pulse racing as Billy's words sunk in. His heart was pounding in his chest, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness bubbling up inside him. He had always known there was something between them-something more than just the playful banter and teasing-but now, standing here, it felt like the dam was about to break.

And then, Billy leaned in.

It was slow at first, almost tentative, as if he was giving Babe the chance to pull away. But Babe didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into the kiss, his eyes fluttering closed as their lips met.

The world around them seemed to dissolve, the only thing that mattered was the feel of Billy's lips against his, soft yet demanding, sweet yet filled with a hunger that matched his own.

Babe's hands found their way to Billy's chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt as he deepened the kiss. Billy responded in kind, his arms wrapping around Babe's waist, pulling him closer, until there was no space left between them.

For a moment, it was just them-nothing else mattered. The chaos, the danger, the magic-all of it faded away in the heat of the moment.

Billy's hands moved lower, his touch sending shivers down Babe's spine. There was a sense of urgency in the way Billy held him, as if he had been holding back for too long, and now, under the light of the Blood Moon, he couldn't hold back any longer.

Babe's mind was a blur, his body reacting on instinct as he pressed closer to Billy, his heart racing. Every touch, every kiss, felt electric, like a spark that had been waiting to ignite.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, Billy pulled back, his breathing heavy as he rested his forehead against Babe's. His eyes were dark, filled with a mixture of desire and restraint.

"I don't want to rush this," Billy said, his voice low and rough. "But damn, Babe, you make it hard."

Babe's lips were swollen from the kiss, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His mind was spinning, his body still buzzing with the aftershock of the moment, but he managed a small, teasing smile. "Who says we have to rush?"

Billy chuckled, his hand cupping Babe's cheek. "We'll take our time, then."

Babe nodded, his heart still racing, but for the first time in a long while, he felt completely at peace. Billy was here, with him, and for this moment, nothing else mattered.

The Blood Moon still loomed above them, and the danger was far from over. But for now-for just this moment-they had each other.

And that was enough.