Page 32 of Tossing the Caber

Beacon laughs warmly, squeezing Laurel’s hand in his. The prosthesis groans; Laurel hasn’t taken it off to clean and adjust in more days than ideal. He’s been focusing on other things. More important ones.

“You’ll look wonderful in leggings,” Beacon assures him as they come up on the workshop.

Laurel rushes ahead to unlock the door, slipping the tiny thread of magic through the keyhole so the latch will fully unlock—a precaution against potential meddling from his father. He throws the door open wide so his much larger husband can duck through the narrow doorway.

Last time they were here, it ended poorly, with Beacon startling and running away. This time, Laurel has planned for a much differentconclusion.

“I’ve been working on something,” he begins, slipping in behind Beacon.

“So you said.”

Instead of pointing out that at least half the workshop’s contents are very obviously unpacked, Beacon’s gaze slides to the workbench where they were the day he startled and ran. Laurel doesn’t have his creations there for that reason, but also…

“Sit down, please.” Laurel gestures to a table he cleared, then pulls out a small chair, which groans under Beacon’s weight. “It didn’t escape my notice that I neglected to get you a wedding present,” Laurel begins.

Beacon raises his eyebrows. “I didn’t get you one, either.”

“We both had much going on. But I wanted to show you…” Here, Laurel falters. He props himself against the table, tail curling around his ankle. “I accept every part of you as my husband. Your successes, like today, and…”

“My failures?” Beacon guesses.

“No! Your weaknesses, insecurities… I accept those, too.”

Beacon considers Laurel for a moment, before reaching out to cup his cheek. He draws him in for a soft kiss, murmuring against his lips, “Thank you.” When he leans back, he doesn’t remove his hand, instead brushing a flyway lock of raven hair behind Laurel’s ear. He traces the long edge up to the point, smiling when Laurel shudders.

“You’re distracting me!” Laurel complains even though he doesn’t actually mind.

Laughing, Beacon withdraws. “Alright then. Tell me your secret.”

“I made you a wedding gift.” Laurel runs his freshly ink-stained fingertips across the boundary of the table, dropping the illusion hiding a fine wooden case. “Open it.”

Beacon looks unsure, but doesn’t hold himselfback, raw curiosity in the way he thumbs the latch without hesitation. He opens the lid, and his hazel eyes widen. “Laurel…”

Laurel catches the lid before it can slam closed. “Just hear me out.”

Lips pressed together, Beacon leans back in the chair.

“You struggled with intimacy between us, and even though I told you it wasn’t necessary, I realized that’s something that saves my own feelings, no? Not yours.”

Beacon looks perplexed now, which is better than panic.

Laurel continues, “I wasn’t considering that maybe your insecurities laid more in your perception of yourself rather than my perception of you. Self-centered of me, I know. But I’m rectifying that now.” Laurel gestures to the three figures in the satin-lined box.

“Laurel, these are… I don’t need a dildo,” Beacon finally gets out.

“They aren’t dildos!”

“This is the second time you’ve told me that, but I don’t believe you.”

Rapping his knuckles on the edge of the box, Laurel says, “These are prosthetic phalluses.”

It takes a moment, but finally, understanding dawns. “You?—”

“Any of these can be installed onto your body for sexual purposes.” Laurel sketches his fingers through the air above his three creations. “It won’t feel like wearing something inanimate. It’ll be a part of your body until you take it off, and if you’d like a more permanent installation, I’m good at those too.” Laurel waves his tail at Beacon.

“You’re good at many things.”

“I don’t know your tastes, so I guessed for now.” Laurel gestures to the first in the box. It’s a normal looking penis with no embellishments. He matched it to Beacon’s skin tone and the color of his hair, which Laurel had become very familiarwith while kneeling for Beacon on their wedding night. “Normal, obviously. I guessed size for what seemed proportional for your frame, but all dimensions can be customized to your desire. The next one is crystal; it’s capable of warming and vibrating, but it doesn’t look natural. That makes it a tough sell for some.”