A sequel to A Day at the Beach: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/48602290/

Artwork by  Zcorpionwulf and story written by  Grifterwolf (who also wrote the accompanying story for the artwork linked above) thank you both so much!

---

It was a beautiful summery night; the boardwalk still heavily populated with beachgoers as Malekai and Elena enjoyed the view of the sea of stars from their place on the beach. As she sat in an adirondack chair Kai was seated between her feat in the sand. His tail slowly shifting, brushing across the ground moving from one foot to the other as she looked into the sky.

“It’s such a beautiful night.” She said softly, putting her hands down and resting them on the lion’s collar bone.

“Indeed it is mein leib... The sky is quite radiant, the stars themselves twinkle like thine own eyes and I am just as enthralled with them as I am with you.”

Elena giggled slightly, causing him to look up at her. “I trust I didn’t offend you with my words, Ellie? I know I can come off as a bit... eccentric, in particular around maidens that are stunningly beautiful.

Elena smiled as she though through Kai’s question, as if pondering what to say next, but she simply kissed him on the forehead. “You are a very strange lion, I will admit... but I’m sure underneath it all you’re just a regular sweet guy.”

“Haha. Regular as in... “normal” eh?” He paused as Elena blushed, he touch lightening against his fur as she thought again how to respond, but instead Kai turned to her and smiled. He reached out his hand, holding it to her palm up. “Elena... I’d like to take a walk with you. Do... do you mind?”

With a blush under her fur, Elena reached out and took Malekai’s hand. The lion pulled gently and brought her to her feet, her fur brushing and drawing attention to his tight black speedo, which only made her all the warmer.

---

As the pair walked along the beach, the sounds of the crowds slowly began to fade into silence, being replaced by the sound of the night, the cool of the night air and the gentle splashing of waves across the more desolate beach. The calm of the air around them allowed Elena to grow more familiar with Kai and she began to walk a bit more confidently at his side. After several minutes of them talking and enjoying one another’s company, Elena took a step, and felt a sharp pain suddenly shoot through her leg, she gasped and fell, but was instantly caught before impact by Kai, who gently lifted her back to her feet. She moaned in pain as he attended her.

“My dear. Are you all right? Please tell me what it is you need? I am at your beck and call!”

Elena giggled slightly, the chivalrous nature of Kai’s speech was both endearing and strange at the same time. She placed the tips of her fingers against his lips, ushering a silent attempt to silence him and he did so immediately. “You are too sweet. Do you always talk like you’re from the fourteenth century, Kai?”

Kai’s eyes blinked and then glanced around perplexed. “I... I have always spoken in this manner, especially to damsels.” He breathed slightly. “But if you’d rather I talk in a less... measured pattern, I guess I can work with that.” He said before a brief pause, holding her in his arms, his fingers gently caressed the injury to her foot. “But are you alright Ellie?” As he asked this, he adjusted his hands to better carry her. As they crossed the beach and made their way toward another end of the strip, as they approached the soft glow of a small bar, Kai gently lowered Elena back to her feet and she began to walk normally. As they entered the bar, the soft roar of music played across their ears and gently taking her hand, Kai led Ellie through the crowd to a pair of empty seats at the bar. He gently lifted her up onto the seat and sat down next to him, with a whistle and a gesture of his hand, somehow he managed to summon a couple of beers from the bartender and the two of them sat and took in the atmosphere.

“I had no idea you could order without saying a word.”

“Yes, well. I have had a little experience.” He paused and off her look he snickered and sipped his drink. “I mean not using words to get my point across, not that I frequent bars enough to have the bartenders read my mind.”

“Right.” She smiled, admiring Kai’s body before taking her next sip. “So... Malekai, what is it you have in mind tonight, hm? How’d I get lucky enough to be in those big strong lion arms out there?

“Hmph... so many questions. You’re pretty cheeky as I remember.” He said mostly to himself before meeting her eyes with his. He smiled brighter, his heart racing. He’d never felt like this before. “Actually... I did have something I wanted to ask you, and I think now would be the perfect time to do so.”

“Oh god. You’re not going to ask me to...marry you are you?”

Kai blushed under his fur, careful to hide it from her. “What? N-no... I...”

“It’s worse. You’re married aren’t you? How dare you?!”

“WHAT?!”

A few of the patrons paused to look at them for a moment, both of them fiercely blushing, but after a moment’s silence the bar returned to normal, Ellie turned her attention back to him. “Though I guess that would be more of a confession than a question. What were you going to ask?”

“I don’t know. Now I’m afraid of what you’ll think’s next.” Kai smiled.

Elena smiled back returning to a soft demure position. “Sorry...”

Kai’s smile widened, his fingers gently stroking her cheek. “I... I wonder if you’d be willing to meet my father.”

“Your father?”

Kai nodded. “Alrik Grünwald. He had actually requested I meet with him next week at his company Headquarters and well... I thought it might be good for you two to get to know one another.”
“You mean the Alrik Grünwald of Grünwald Inc? That great big white lion...is your father?”

“That would be him.” He said softly. “So... Ellie would you do me the honor of meeting him with me next week? I promise that it’ll be a memorable trip. It isn’t far and I can call us a luxurious limo to give us a marvelous trip. Have you had the pleasure of riding in one before?” His fingers gently tightened around hers as she looked in his eyes.

“Well... I...” Elena paused, genuinely thinking about it and she chuckled a bit. “I may have ridden in one before like for my High School prom, but that may just be the memory of a movie I watched. I can’t remember ever riding in one.” Her voice faded, she was rambling and she knew it. “But... I’d like to experience that someday.”

Kai laughed a bit in spite of himself. “Well good, then please allow me to show you the experiences you’ve been missing out on.”

“But, wouldn’t your father be upset? He doesn’t know who I am, does he?”

Kai shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Dad is a bit of a softie, no matter how rugged or angry his outward appearance is, he’s probably the friendliest lion you’ll ever meet. He’s just your average business man, but at the end of the day he’s also a family man.”

“Well then.” Elena said, squeezing Kai’s fingers now. “I couldn’t possibly say no.”

A wave of relief washed over Kai’s face as he smiled and took another sip from his beer. “Oh good, I was hoping you’d say that.” He said. “You’ll like him, I promise.”

“If he’s anything like you, that’s a sure bet.” Ellie said sweetly. “And...what about your mother? I know that mom impressions are usually just as important, are we going to meet her?”

Instantly, she saw it; a sudden souring of Kai’s expression as he put his beer bottle down, as though he’d tasted a cigarette butt in the drink. He coughed a bit and cleared his throat. “I--er...”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“N-no... no Ellie, you didn’t.” Kai said stammering trying to recollect his thoughts. “It’s just that... my mother and I have not really seen eye to eye in...” He paused, his expression turning vague. “In a very long time...” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, looking up to Elena’s face, then slipping past to look somewhere behind her.

Elena noticed this. “What’s wrong?” She asked as she turned her head, but Kai put his hands on hers.

“Nothing. Listen, why don’t you step out to the beach? It’s a beautiful night and I’ll be out in a moment. I just... happened to notice someone I needed to meet with for just a couple minutes.”

“Are you okay? You got so cryptic all of a sudden.”

“I’m fine, if we’re looking to meet my father, there’s definitely someone I’d need to run it by first. I’ll be right out okay?”

---

Elena nodded and started toward the door, as she headed out, Kai’s eyes drifted through the crowd, having lost the dragon he’d spotted just a few seconds before. As he turned he realized that she had taken a seat beside him and he jumped in spite of himself. Eva Köhler’s gold colored eyes peered at him. Despite a good amount of her purple, scaled skin exposed from the golden bikini top and the light skirt-like appendage hanging from her lower bikini she had a very practiced, a very specific look and it was far from casual.

“Eva. You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me like that. You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on me right? Not living on my hip.”

“Apologies, Meister. I didn’t want to interfere with your... date?”

“Yes. My date. How much did you hear?”

Eva sighed slightly, cradling the glass of champagne in her fingers like a balancing act. “I heard enough, you seem to have a fondness for her.” She glanced in the direction that Elena had disappeared and swallowed a growl of contempt.

“You would do better than to test my temper, wouldn’t you Eva?”

Eva returned her gaze to Kai and her face grew rigid at the sight of the serious look in his eyes. “Oh not at all sir. Please don’t take my appearance as anything but professional, it’s just my task to keep you safe, you know that. I wouldn’t be much of a guardian if I let you stumble into harm’s way.”

“Speaking of...” He said as he turned and rested his elbows on the bar behind him. "She’s agreed to making the arrangements for us to meet with him in a few weeks.”

Eva’s expression didn’t change. “Is that wise, Meister?”

“No doubts. I can only assume the Shadryn are equipped well enough for this task, are they not?”

“Well... of course, Meister, it’s just that your mother...”

“She will know nothing, and she will not harm her in any way.” For a moment, a faint green witchfire flickered in his eyes, not directed at Eva but at the very mention of his mother. He turned to look at Elena, barely a shape on the sands glowing under the moonlight. “I really like her, and I want to be sure that her safety is top priority.” He looked back at Eva. “It is of the utmost importance that not only we see that happen, but we do so under the radar. Safely in and safely out, no detection. No chance of discovery, and it has to happen soon. Can I count on you?”

Eva said nothing. She looked back once again, catching a glimpse of Elena and narrowed her eyes, thinking she could come in and steal her boss’ attention like this... but her gaze didn’t linger long and she returned her look to Kai before giving a curt nod to her head.

“You have my word, Meister,” she said finally, her tone clipped but firm. “She will be safe, and no one will see us coming or going. You’ll have nothing to fear.”

Kai’s lips curled into a sly smile at her assurance. “You’ve proven yourself more times than I can count. I value that, Eva. Don’t ever forget it.”

For just a breath, her gaze softened at the words, but she quickly masked it behind her usual professional stoicism.

A clattering bottle and a breaking glass turned Kai’s attention for a split second, but as he looked back he saw that Eva had vanished from her spot. He smiled softly and slid from his seat.

---

Elena had wandered for several feet, simply waiting for Kai to return as she approached one of the large walking piers that lined the beach. She had avoided the stairs up to the main board walk, and instead made her way further down to where the support pillars were. She approached one of the columns and placed her back to the rough wood, closing her eyes as if to soak in the moonlight like most patrons would soak in the sunlight during the day. The sound of waves crashing around her, tide flowing in and washing over her ankles and feet with a soothing coolness that prompted her to curl her toes and enjoy the sensation.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Kai’s voice prompted Elena to open her eyes and she watched admiring him as he approached still dressed in that tantalizing speedo. She smiled for a split second, but didn’t want to appear desperate to him. She cleared her throat. “So... your friend?”

“She works for my father.” Kai lied. “She is often assigned to keep an eye on me, to make sure I stay out of trouble.” He said as he approached her.

Ellie smiled and allowed him to place a hand around her hip as he drew her in with a simple gesture. “Is that so?” She asked, looking into his eyes. “Are you saying you’re a troublemaker Malekai?”

Kai shrugged, then smiled smugly. “Oh here and there... but it’s never anything serious.”

“Perish the thought.” She whispered as they drew closer.

A wave crashed at their feet as they kissed, their lips touching as soon as a big wave hit the pillar she had been leaning against, sending a spray of water around them. Elena inhaled through her nose, taking in Kai’s warmth against her skin, the electricity of his fur, his touch they didn’t take much time before she rested her hands against his hips and pressed into his lips and he took the initiative, placing his hands on the small of her back and drawing her in closer as their kiss intensified, their bodies illuminated under the beautiful moon.

Before the pair could get carried away however, a bright spot of light broke their intimate moment, prompting Kai to raise a hand and shield them from whatever it was. As they looked they saw a beach patrol officer who had been riding along the sands having come to a stop just off the beach area. The bright light prompting them ot put their hands over their eyes to block the light as they realized:

“What are you kids doing down there?” The man’s gruff voice could be heard just past the pier. “Hey! You!”

Ellie giggled a bit, blushing as Kai took her hand and waved. “Do not worry, officer!” He announced, briefly returning to his more formal way of speaking. “Milady and I were just...uniting under the stars of this most... glorious night!” He winked at Ellie and subtly brought her closer to him, extracting a small silver object from his belt. “And I wish you one too sir.”

“You’re another pair of those drunks from next door are you?” He said with a growl as he got up from his ATV and approached them. “Perhaps I should run you two in, just so you have some place to sleep off this...strange behavior.”

With the flick of his wrist, Kai tossed the silver ball to the ground and with a loud pop and a bang, a wall of smoke erupted from the ground, causing the guard to jump back in surprise. Kai’s fingers tightened around Elena’s wrist and with a snap of movement, the pair were making their way through the darkened, foggy beach and by the time they exited the fog, she couldn’t recognize where he had taken them, only that they were now heading back in the direction they came from initially.

Elena’s heart was racing; her eyes widened as she glanced back at the rolling smoke still lingering behind them.

“H-how did you even do that...?” she asked, her voice hushed with shock, though beneath it a note of amazement crept in. “You looked like some kind of magician... or assassin.”

Kai glanced at her with a sly glimmer in his eyes. “Maybe I’m a little of both,” he said smoothly, tightening his grip just slightly as if to anchor her in his world. Then he laughed a bit as he slowed down. “Come on Elena. I think it’s high time we hit the road here, soon we will meet my father and you’ll see exactly where I got my... stubborn streak.” He said winking at her.

“I... I’d like that.” Ellie said softly, still catching her breath as she followed Kai toward the sun rising off in the distance. “I’d love to have you take me on an adventure.”