Body   *THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR #2*   *SAMHAIN*   *By GILDA LILY*   

* 

This story is the second installment in THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR series. Two
companion poems, "SAMHAIN, BENNY" and "SAMHAIN: RAY" should be read before
reading this, as the story begins where those poems left off. 

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Alliance does, more's the pity. 

NC-17 for hot, sweaty m/m sex. Season 3-Free Zone. 

  (c) September 27, 1997   

  *I*	

  *HARVEST MOON*  

*Sweat stung Benny's eyes as he gasped, Ray's flesh filling him. His head
spun as the circle's chanting grew louder, roaring in his ears as climax
came with a shuddering jolt. Leaves were sprinkled down on top of them as
the moon glowed. His chest heaved as his seed spilled into the earth, Ray
spurting deep and hard and hot within him... 

He collapsed onto the ground, Ray right on top of him.	

  * * * * * *  

Benny closed his eyes as he registered Ray's breathing in his ear, his
body heavy upon him. The revelers of the Samhain circle were still
chanting, their robes whispering on the ground. His body trembled as the
cool night air caressed it. He felt Ray kiss his ear. 

"My Beautiful Benny." 

The whisper went down to his very soul, and he could smell fresh apples as
his senses were heightened. He kept his eyes closed, suddenly a little
self-conscious about being naked in front of all these people, but the
celebrants seemed utterly unperturbed. 

Ray's arms were banded around his chest, his long leanness wrapped around
him. They were still joined, and Benny whimpered softly. 

"What is it, love?" the delicious voice whispered in his ear. 

Tear began to fall down cold-reddened cheeks. Ray must have noticed, and
he gently kissed the nape of Benny's neck. 

"*Feel* the magic in the air tonight!" shouted Selena, the Priestess of
the coven. Benny opened his eyes and saw her arms stretched out, reaching
toward the star-filled sky. Smoke began to obscure some of the brightness,
and Benny blinked. 

"We who have witnessed the bounty of Your love are honored, Great Mother,"
she intoned, blue eyes shining with joy. Murmurs of agreement skittered
along the circle. "Honor these two children of Thine, who have freely give
of their bounty." Selena bowed her head, her crystal pendant winking in
the moonlight. "May we all be granted the grace of such love in our
earthly lives and beyond." 

A great, joyous shout went up from the circle, and they began rotating
again as they chanted. 

"Rise up, Benny," Ray whispered into his lover's ear. "Slow 'n' easy, that
does it." Ray was still inside him, Benny noted with pleasure. Leaves
skittered down to the ground as they rose to a kneeling position. He
blushed as his manhood became clearly visible. "Be proud, Benny-love."
Ray's arms still encircled his chest, and Benny reached up to grasp them,
eyes closing as Ray nibbled an ear. Benny's left hand slid down to rest on
his own thigh, his heartbeat in perfect sync with Ray's. Ray's left hand
slid down his Benny's cock. Benny gasped, his body trembling as Ray merely
held him. 

"You're mine, Benny," Ray said. "This may not be Beltane, but we just
performed the Great Rite. You don't need two different genders to make
love." 

"I *am* yours, Ray," Benny breathed, and he turned his head so that Ray's
lips brushed his cheek. 

They were sculpted in gold as the bonfire blazed, and Benny felt his heart
swell with pride as all knew that he was Ray's.* 

  *II*	

  *OOKY*   

*Minutes later, someone threw their robes over Benny and Ray, and they
reluctantly parted. They joined the circle and clasped hands as Selena
began to wind up the ritual. 

"O, Great Goddess, on this night of magic, bless Your children. May Your
face shine upon us, and Your children twinkle and shine." 

The moon blazed brilliantly as if in answer, and the last chants drifted
upward to touch the orb and its sister stars. 

Benny suddenly felt exhausted, and he was grateful for the robe that
covered his body. It was a clear, crisp October night, and the temperature
reflected that. Despite his ability to withstand extreme cold, he was
shaking. 

*Probably just an aftermath of everything.* 

The circle was carefully closed and the bonfire extinguished, and the
celebrants began to drift back toward the farmhouse, scooping up apples
from the offering. Ray picked up two apples and put his arm around Benny's
waist, leading him back. 

He offered an apple to his lover, who gratefully took it. Its sweet
crunchiness was just what he needed. 

The celebrants laughed and talked, their voices carrying on the wind as
the clouds drifted across the moon. The trees seemed to whisper their
secrets, and Benny shivered. 

"Cold?" asked Ray in an amused tone. The Man From The North *cold*? 

Benny merely grinned, and he felt incredibly happy as he walked towards
the farmhouse with his lover's arm wrapped around him. 

  * * * * * *  

Inside the warm house that smelled of freshly-baked apple pie, the two
lovers ascended the stairs and quickly showered, dressing in casual jeans
and a turtleneck sweater for Ray and a ski sweater and jeans for Benny.
They went downstairs where the other members of Circle Farm were dressed
and busy sampling the food that had been laid out. There was pumpkin and
apple pies, and warm pumpkin bread. There were various fruits and
vegetables that had been specially harvested for this night, and there
were cookies in the shapes of ghosts and Witches, which had been set out
for the children who had trick-or-treated earlier in the evening. Candy
corn and chocolate lollipops had also been popular, and the adult
celebrants were just as happy to see the sweets as the children had been. 

Benny suddenly realized that he was *ravenous*. He followed Ray to the
table and took more food that he would ever have dreamed of. Ray noticed
and his green eyes twinkled. 

Benny felt a little self-conscious in front of the people who'd actually
seen him and Ray making love, but no one leered or made snide remarks. In
fact, he would have been hard-pressed to believe it had happened at all if
Chris had not given him a wink and squeezed his arm. Chris was a free-love
advocate, and he'd said if Benny had not been so firmly attached to Ray...


Selena checked her watch. "Hey, you know what time it is!" 

"The Witching Hour?" Ray guessed, and he received good-natured groans and
yelps. 

"No, time for *The Addams Family* Marathon!" 

"*The Addams Family*?" Benny asked in a puzzled voice. 

"Yeah, Benny. It's a classic. C'mon!" 

Ray pulled his lover into the living room, where everyone was busy taking
seats in front of the television. A bemused Benny sat beside Ray in front
of the couch, putting his plate on the coffee table in front of him. He
felt further bewilderment when the show came on and everyone started
snapping their fingers to the theme song while they sang along, the word
'ooky' having a place in there somewhere. 

"C'mon, Benny. I know you're culturally-deprived, but join in. No one here
but us chickens," Ray whispered. 

So Benny joined in, and he discovered that a campy '60s TV show *could* be
fun, especially taken in the spirit of the evening. 

Part of the fun was the food and drink and the various comments thrown out
at the screen. People quoted certain bits of dialogue verbatim, and a few
risque comments were added, especially when Gomez and Morticia started
'speaking French'. 

Benny felt wonderfully content. He was by his cherished mate's side,
surrounded by friends that accepted them wholeheartedly, and he was
feeling the magic of a very special night. He reached for another witch
cookie and Ray beat him to it, offering it to him with wide, luminous
eyes. Benny bit into it, chewing slowly... 

A few hours later, Ray caught Benny's eye, and he felt a little thrill of
excitement. A few people had already gone upstairs, and now the two lovers
left as the Witching Hour approached...* 

  *III*  

  *THE WITCHING HOUR*	

*Moonlight streamed in through the windows of their bedroom as Benny and
Ray entered, Ray watching his lover with avid eyes. He felt nearly
overwhelmed at the sight of his lover in that silvery glow, and his heart
began to pound painfully. Benny's blue eyes widened slightly, and then as
if on cue, he began to undress. 

Ray watched, staying still, pulse quickening as Benny slowly removed his
sweater up over his head, exposing the pale chest, and then easily slid
down his pants. The Canadian removed his socks and then hesitated briefly
at the waistband of his boxers. He began a slow removal, and Ray bit his
lip. 

His Benny was now silvered by the light of the moon, standing like some
ancient Celtic god. He was perfection itself, and Ray knew that he was
blessed. He moved forward and touched his lover's shoulder, gratified at
the strength he felt there, and he gently brushed his lips across Benny's.
The Mountie sighed and closed his eyes, and Ray brushed up against his
penis. Shivering slightly, Benny leaned into his mate, his hand resting on
Ray's hip. 

Ray realized that he was a bit overdressed, though the sensation of being
fully clothed while Benny was completely naked was exciting. He lightly
nipped an ear, then rubbed his cheek aginst Benny's. 

It was highly erotic, Ray thought, this slow dance with the varying states
of dress/undress. He wanted to eat Benny up, he was so in love with him. 

The wind blew and the tree branches whispered against the house, Benny
melting into Ray's embrace. He seemed perfectly happy to keep things as
they were, and Ray slid his hands down the broad, naked back, firmly
cupping smooth buttocks. He squeezed lightly, and Benny pushed against him
with a little moan. Ray smiled and lightly bit his partner's shoulder,
then rubbed the back of his thighs as he ground forward. 

As he rubbed himself against Benny, the friction of the cloth against his
lover's unclothed erection made the Mountie groan. He began to tremble as
Ray increased his pace, then Ray began to dance him around the room. He
whispered sweet nothings into Benny's ear, still keeping him highly
aroused. Benny opened his mouth to plead but Ray quickly covered it with
his own, his tongue demanding silence. Benny obeyed, then Ray stopped the
movement and slid to his knees, Benny's penis dancing its own dance in
front of his face. With a supremely satisfied smile, Ray took Benny whole.


The Mountie gasped, bucking his hips as he grasped Ray's shoulder, and he
moaned and cried as Ray sucked him into ecstasy. Murmurs of voices could
be heard drifting up from the living room downstairs, and a few other
noises in the bedroom down the hall were joining in, but what Benny
concentrated on were the sounds of magic from the world outside, Ray knew.
His man was a sensualist, and the night's powers were strong. Ray had a
bruising grip on his lover's thighs, his own head spinning. 

Celtic met Roman, and the night's magic exploded. 

  * * * * * *  

They lay entwined in the bed, and the clock struck midnight. A great cheer
went up from downstairs, and Benny snuggled closer to the now-naked Ray. 

"The Witching Hour," he breathed. 

Ray stroked his beloved's cheek. 

"Yes." 

They fell asleep, wrapped in magic.* 

  THE END  

  (Until Yule!)