Here There be Dragons: Testing the Waters

They stood together for some time, holding each other, before Nereida needed to sit. Her muscles ached from too much swimming, too much magic. Aella helped her toward the bed, and together they sat. The Admiral lit a lamp so they could see each other as the light was fading outside.

“In the lamp light, your hair looks almost purple,” Aella observed softly. “Could I touch it?” Nereida sagged in relief, trying to keep the tears at bay.

“You still want to?” she asked, her voice cracking. She didn’t mean to let her beloved know how much she had feared rejection. Aella’s society cared so much about a woman’s hair. How could she not?

But Aella lifted her hand to Nereida’s head, looping some of her wayward hair behind her ear.

“Oh darling, I fell in love with you, not your hairstyle. Frankly, I’ve never known any woman as bad at braiding their own hair as you,” Aella said with a little chuckle. Nereida snickered.

“I had other things to learn,” she replied cheekily, feeling a little less overwhelmed. Aella ran her other hand through Nereida’s hair, combing out the few tangles that had formed since Evander had cut it. Nereida closed her eyes, enjoying the touch, partially wishing that Aella would close her fist and tug.

“Oh?” Aella kissed her cheek. “Other things like what, darling?” And before she could answer, Aella had leaned in and kissed her lips, a hungry, almost desperate kiss.

When they parted, Aella was smirking at her.

“What happened to not wanting to be a distraction?” Nereida asked breathlessly.

“I almost lost you today, and didn’t. That doesn’t require distraction, that requires celebration.” Aella gave her a coy smile, suddenly shy. “Besides, the boys are gone and Evander is on duty tonight. I want to…” she flushed now, some of her bravado disappearing in the reality of their situation. Nereida took her hand, squeezed it.

“What do you want to do?” she prodded softly.

“I want to do what we did last time… but in the lamplight. I want… I want to see you come undone. I want to see…” she motioned at Nereida. Nereida smiled softly.

The siren leaned toward her lover and gently nibbled her ear.

“Bar the door, Aella, and you can see anything you want.” Aella flushed to the roots of her hair, but stood with purpose. She sauntered over to the door, a slow, purposeful step, before sliding the bar down. It clunked into place. The Admiral made her way back across the cabin leisurely, as if she planned to drive Nereida to distraction without even touching her. Or perhaps she was gathering her courage. Nereida decided to make it easier on her lover, let her know in advance what she could and could not do, and let Aella take control.

Nereida stood when Aella got within arm’s reach. She could see how flushed Aella was in the flickering lamplight.

“Tell me, love,” she said softly, gently taking Aella’s long braid in one hand. “Tell me, do you want to take control?” Aella’s breath hitched as Nereida gently tugged the braid, and the pirate stepped closer. “Or do you want me to?” Nereida leaned in, kissing her lover’s cheek softly, gently touching their noses together. “What are the rules today, love?” Aella shivered, leaning into the gentle touches. She placed a gentle, soft kiss on Nereida’s cheek.

“I want…” she considered aloud, kissing the edge of Nereida’s jaw, “I want to take command… what if I… could I undress you?” Heat rushed through Nereida.

“You can,” she whispered. She leaned in as Aella pulled her into a tight embrace. “Not if you hold me that way you can’t,” she added with a little laugh. Aella smiled at her, a soft, truly happy expression. “You can do more than undress me, love. You can touch anything you’d like, taste anything you’d like.” Aella’s eyes snapped to hers, full of lust but also uncertainty. Nereida smiled softly, lifting Aella’s hand to her still clothed breast. “I have you,” Nereida whispered, “and I know you have me. Touch what you want, I won’t hold anything back.” She lifted the hand to her mouth, placed a gentle kiss on each finger.

Aella began to undo the laces to Nereida’s corset, her quick fingers slipping the laces free with very little difficulty. Slowly she slipped it open until Nereida felt the relief of being free from the pleasant pressure and control of the corset. She dropped it to the floor, and captured Nereida’s lips in a demanding kiss. Nereida pulled her in closer, enjoying the way her lover’s hands roamed her body, not quite sure where they belonged. Aella slipped Nereida’s underdress off her shoulders, and the grey cotton gathered on the ground like a puddle that Nereida stepped out of. Aella pulled out of their kiss. She took a moment to look at Nereida’s ample breasts, an appreciative smirk playing on her face. She left Nereida’s drawers in place. Without speaking, Aella placed her hand firmly on Nereida’s chest, pushing her toward the bed. Nereida went easily with her lover, and she let Aella push her down onto the bed.

“You’re beautiful,” Aella said softly. She climbed into the bed next to her siren, still fully clothed. She brought her mouth to Nereida’s breast, no hesitation in her movement this time. She kissed the underside, then moved slowly up the peak until she wrapped her mouth around the nipple and licked it. Nereida arched her back, reaching for her lover. Aella gave her a quick, gentle nibble, causing her to gasp, and then brought her face up to Nereida’s. “What if I… can I play with you until you beg again?” she asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “I liked it when you begged.” Nereida smiled softly and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

“I like begging,” she replied softly. She rubbed her hand down Aella’s sleeve. “Can I tell you something else I like? Something I’ve never really admitted to anyone before?” She felt Aella’s shiver at her words.

“Yes,” the Admiral nearly hissed out. “Tell me, my love.”

“I liked it when you held my hands above me, last time… but if you wanted to make me desperate, make me need beyond reason, you’d use your silk scarves and tie me to the bed.”

The sound that Aella made was almost musical as she leaned into Nereida.

“Is that a yes,” Nereida whispered breathlessly. “Please?”

“Yes.” Aella moaned, leaning in to kiss her.

“The code to stop is winter,” Nereida reminded her. She kissed Aella along her jaw. “I want this. Want you. Trust you. Need you.” Each sentence was accompanied by another kiss. Aella sat up, went to retrieve her scarves. The siren moved to the middle of the bed, watched as the Admiral did a fancy knot to tie the silk scarves to each bed post. Aella brought the other end of the scarves to Nereida’s wrists, dragging the fabric along the inside of Nereida’s wrists with a deliberate and slow pace. The siren moaned, the touch of the fabric enough to send a shiver of need through her whole body.

“You really want this,” Aella observed with quiet reverence. She smirked playfully, and moved the fabric again, until Nereida made a little mewling sound. “Tell me again, my witch, tell me you want me to tie you up.”

“Please,” Nereida whimpered. “Tie me up, love. Tie me up, and play with me.” Blood rushed through her body and she felt pleasantly warm everywhere as Aella tied her left arm, then her right. She could feel that it was loosely tied, not meant to tighten, but would not slip off either.

“You are perfect,” Aella said softly, each word paired with a kiss that she trailed down Nereida’s bound arm. She began to kiss Nereida’s neck with slow, languid kisses. “And I,” she continued, “I am going to learn how to undo you.” Nereida squeaked at the words, her heart speeding up and blood rushing down to her loins.

Aella continued to slowly caress Nereida’s breasts, touching her, squeezing her, placing kisses in unexpected places. She became more bold as she went, at one point she trailed little biting kisses from Nereida’s collarbone to her navel, causing the siren to shudder beneath her touch.

“More,” she whimpered. “Please, Aella.”

“Not yet, love,” Aella whispered back. “I’m still at the helm, and it's not time for you yet.” Nereida moaned in frustration, the need building. “Where should I touch next?” Aella pondered aloud, her tone playful. She kissed just beneath Nereida’s navel, trailing kisses until she reached Nereida’s drawers.

“Aella! Please!” Nereida writhed beneath her lover’s slow, gentle, teasing touches. She was half mad with need for her lover,with the need to be undone. Aella trailed a single finger across the edge of the last piece of clothing the siren wore, her nail just slightly scratching her. Nereida whimpered in need, no longer able to think, but just able to feel.

“This,” the Admiral said softly, tugging on the drawers but not hard enough to undo the string that held them in place, “this stays on until the full moon. We won’t begin anything new until then. But…” she straddled Nereida, still clothed, and placed her hands on the siren’s breasts. Nereida moaned, the agony of unresolved pleasure coursing through her. “I think I will help you come undone now, my love.” She lay on Nereida, placing her mouth on one breast while fondling the other. She bit down, harder than she had in the past, sending a ripple of pleasure and a pinch of pain through all of Nereida’s being. Nereida cried out in ecstasy, finally coming apart. Aella trailed nibbling kisses to the other breast, her tongue flicking over the nipple.

“Do you want more,” she asked Nereida. “Do you want to see how many times I can undo you?”

“Please!” Nereida gasped out, and Aella obliged, pinching the nipple she had just bit before licking the other.

Aella explored the siren’s curves with her mouth, her tongue and her fingers until Nereida was left breathless. When Nereida shuddered in pleasure again, Aella finally brought her face to Nereida’s, her fingers playing in the siren’s blue hair. She gave a gentle tug and Nereida made a mewling noise.

“You are so reactive,” Aella whispered. “I could spend hours doing this… but I … I want you to touch me now. So I’m going to untie you.”

“Can I undress you,” Nereida asked softly. “Same rules? I leave your drawers, but anything else?”

“Anything else,” Aella agreed, her face flushed. “I’m not sure about the tying.”

“Not yet,” Nereida said. She felt Aella’s fingers undo the knots, and dropped her hands to caress her lover’s face now that they were free. “Not everyone likes the same thing. But, if you are willing, I want to find out what you like.”

Aella had more clothing on than Nereida had, with her jacket, her blouse, her corset and her shift. Nereida felt like a child on their birthing day celebration, unwrapping a present. When she finally, finally got to the final piece of clothing, she dropped it unceremoniously to the ground. She carefully, slowly, drew circles with her fingers around Aella’s pert breasts, getting ever closer to her nipples. Aella moaned at the touch, her back arching.

“Seems I’m not the only one who is reactive,” Nereida said with a grin. She looked down at her beloved. “Can I take your braid out?”

“Yes!”

Nereida made sure to take her time undoing the strands of the simple braid, kissing her beloved as she did so, until Aella’s beautiful hair was spread all about the bed.

“I like it when your hair is wild,” Nereida whispered. “When you are wild.” She threaded her fingers through the hair closest to Aella’s head, and closed her fist. Aella buckled beneath her, whimpering and pleading for more. “Can I take control?” she asked, looking down at the Admiral. When her beloved moaned her assent, Nereida began to kiss, to touch, to lick. She placed her mouth at the base of Aella’s breast, and kissed it, sucked it, until Aella was crying her name, begging, pleading for more, more, more. “Can I leave a lover’s bite here, where no one can see?” Nereida asked softly, gently caressing the soft flesh of her lover’s breast. “I want to claim you.” Aella shuddered apart beneath her at just the words.

“Yes! Claim me, my siren. Make me yours.” She managed as she caught her breath. Nereida smiled, playing her tongue and then her lips on the base of the breast before she caught it and gently bit while sucking. Aella cried out Nereida’s name again.

“Mine,” Nereida growled, kissing Aella’s other breast. “Say it.”

“Yours,” Aella managed, her back arching. “Please, love.”

“Mine,” Nereida repeated softly, reaching up to weave her hands into Aella’s hair as she took the unmarked breast in her mouth and played her tongue across it. She gave a gentle tug again, and Aella buckled, coming undone once again.

Once they were both finally spent, Nereida curled up next to her Aella, resting her head on the Admiral’s shoulder.

“I love you,” Nereida whispered. “My perfect Aella.” Aella gently stroked her face, the need finally satiated for them both.

“My gorgeous siren, my princess, my heart. I love you.” She placed a gentle kiss on Nereida’s forehead. “We should sleep. I’m suddenly exhausted.”

“I wonder why?” Nereida teased, a yawn stealing into her words. She placed her hand on Aella’s marked breast tenderly. “Too much?”

“No it was…” Aella struggled a moment with her words. “I liked it,” she settled on. “It aches now, but… I wanted it. Might want it again. But not all the time.”

“Next time,” Nereida whispered, exhaustion creeping over her. “Next time you can mark me. Next time you can claim me like that.”

“Is that a promise?” Aella asked, her tone caught between teasing and a resurgence of need.

“It’s a promise.”