Chapter 9: The Rescue
“Déjà vu.” I mumbled as I opened my eyes and saw the pale blue velvet curtains of Lysandra’s room.
I closed my eyes again and rolled over, intending to go back to sleep, but my arm brushed against someone.
I opened my eyes again and for the first time in days, relaxed. Lysandra was there, asleep in bed next to me. The wounds on her face had all closed, though there were still angry scars where they had been. The dried blood had been wiped away.
“You panicked when we tried taking you to your room. Even unconscious, you did not want to be away from her.” Fiora said.
I sat up and saw the kindly Fae woman sitting in an armchair near the fireplace.
“Thank you.” She said, tears in her eyes. “Thank you for bringing her back to us.”
“I had to.” I said. “It was my fault she was taken, I had to get her back.”
I nearly jerked away as I felt a hand grasp mine.
“Not your fault.” Lysandra said, her eyes still closed. “Not at all your fault.”
She squeezed my hand, then seemed to fall back into sleep again.
“She’s right. It wasn't your fault at all. Elara made her choices. She may have blamed you. But she is responsible for her own actions.” Fiora said as she stood up. “I’ll bring you soup, you need it.”
Before I could say anything, she rushed out of the room, the door closing silently behind her.
I laid back down and curled up against Lysandra, hugging her.
“Thank you for still being alive.” I whispered as I saw her eyes open.
“You saved me.” She said, something like awe in her voice. “Thank you.”
It dawned on me that she never expected anyone to come for her. That no one would have, could have. The people that cared, like Fiora, were powerless to help. Those with power, had they known, were just as likely to claim her territories for their own as they were to help her.
“Of course I did.” I said as I hugged her tightly. “I love you.”
The words just came out, but as soon as I did, I realized I meant them, more than I had ever meant anything before.
Her eyes went wide as she realized what I said. It felt like she was staring into the depths of my soul.
“That was you wasn’t it? I felt you, days ago, felt you calling out to me, searching for me. You mean it don’t you?” She said, stumbling over herself.
“I don’t know how, but yes I found you, and yes, I mean it.” I said.
“I, I love you too.” She said, and seemed surprised at herself. “I really do. I gave up on love centuries ago, I didn’t think I’d ever feel it again.”
I pulled her tight against me and we held each other in silence until Fiora came back.
The door opened a few minutes later as Fiora backed in pulling a serving cart in with her.
“No need to get out of bed, I brought trays for each of you.” She said as she parked the cart next to the bed.
I sat up and helped Lysandra up. It wasn’t until the blanket fell down, exposing Lysandras unclothed body that I realized I wasn’t wearing anything either.
“Uh, Fiora, who undressed us?” I asked, uncertain I wanted to know the answer.
“I undressed Lysandra, but due to the cold iron you were wearing, I had to have one of the human staff undress you. We couldn’t leave you with her wearing it.” She said.
“H-human staff?” I asked, feeling my face heat up.
“Yes, we have a number of humans, and half humans, on staff here. Liam was the only one in this wing of the building at the time.” She said.
“I-in the future, if I’m unconscious, please don’t have any men undress me.” I said, wishing I could die of mortification.
Fiora just shook her head as she set the two trays over our laps and placed the large bowls of soup and cups of tea on them.
“How long were we out?” I asked.
“You were brought back around six this morning. It’s been most of the day. You woke twice in that time, just enough to use the facilities, then right back to bed. Make sure you both eat as much soup as you can, you both need it go get your energy back.” She said as she left.
We ate in contented silence until our bowls were empty.
“It looks like most of your injuries are healing, but your neck concerns me.” I said as I looked her over.” I said as I got up.
“There is probably bits of iron in it from the collar.” She said looking pained. “It would explain why I still feel as weak as I do.”
Her bathing room was a lot larger than mine, but was laid out the same. I knelt down next to the tub and turned on the taps, adjusting them till the water coming out of the walls was the right temperature. Her tub was a lot bigger that the one in my room, but filled at the same rate. I guessed I had at least ten minutes before it was full.
I walked over to the counter where there was a stack of wash cloths and towels, next to the sink. I grabbed a basin off one shelf and filled it with hot water. Once it was full, I carried it, and a stack of cloths back into the bedroom and set them on the table.
In one corner was a backless stool. I carried it over and set it between the table and the fireplace.
“Come here.” I said patting the stool.
I watched her as she climbed out of bed and walked over to the stool. Her steps were faltering. It was obvious she was in pain, but from the look on her face, it was also clear she did not want to admit it.
“Really, you do not need to fuss over me.” Lysandra said as she sat down on the stool.
“Nonsense,” I said, shaking a finger at her. “After all that I went through to get you back, you are going to sit there and let me fuss.”
I dipped one of the soft clothes in the hot water. I squeezed most of the water out of it as I pulled it back out and turned to face Lysandra.
“You insolent human. I should have you flogged for your disrespect.” She said, her tone making it clear she wasn’t serious.
“If you want to flog me, you’ll have to do it yourself once you’re better.” I said giving her a wink. “Now hold still.”
I started wiping her down with the wet rag, gently wiping off her face. I kept dipping the rag in water as I cleaned her. Fiora had cleaned the blood and dirt off of her when we were brought back. This was more to soothe her pains and to try and wash away the sensations of what was done to her.
The wounds on her body gave some indication of the things that were done to her there. She would no doubt be too proud to talk about it, or even admit it bothered her. So I wanted the sensations her body remembered to be ones of gentleness and care.
She winced when I began cleaning her neck. She was already healing, but the iron collar hurt her the way a red hot poker would me. Each time she winced, I winced. I had to make sure there was no shavings of iron left on her skin.
I moved on to her arms, holding them out with one hand while I ran the rag down them with the other.
“This is rather mortifying. I’ll have you know.” She said.
“No more so than knowing Fiora had a man undress me.” I said with a laugh.
I started on her back, being careful of the bruises and half healed cuts. Letting the water’s heat soak into her skin to soothe her as I slowly, gently, wiped her down. As gentle as I was being, she still winced from time to time.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered when she flinched.
“Don’t be.” She said, placing her hand on mine. “You came for me.”
I walked around in front of her and leaned down till I was eye level with her. Gently, I brushed her cheek with my finger. She closed her eyes slightly as I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers.
She wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight, as the seconds passed, neither of us breathing, our lips pressed together, mouths open slightly. We held it as long as we could before I pulled away.
I went back to wiping down her body. By the time I was done, the giant tub had filled full of steaming hot water.
“Now lets take a relaxing soak, and let the pain be soothed away.” I said as I held my hand out to her.
Hand in hand, she followed me into her bathing room. The one in my chambers was large, but this one was huge. The tub could easily fit a dozen people. The lounge seat built into it was wide enough for two people.
I held her hand while she stepped down into the tub, moaning slightly as the hot water enveloped her body.
Fiora had given me a bottle of some mixture that she said would help soothe the aches and encourage the wounds to heal quickly. I poured it into the tub before turning on the water.
She let go of my hand once she was all the way in. I stepped down into the tub, savoring the heat of the water as it rose up my body. A few places I had scraped during the trip tingled when the water covered them, but within moments, the pain and tingling were both gone.
I sat down in the lounge seat next to Lysandra, and she raised her head long enough for me to put my arm under it as I laid down next to her.
“Aria,” she began.
“Don’t.” I said, reaching across and pressing a finger to her lips. “Nothing needs to be said right now, let’s just enjoy this. We can talk tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She said after a moment.
Under the water, she raised her right hand and placed it on my thigh and gave it a squeeze.
There were no clocks in either room, so I was unsure how long we soaked as I held her. But the water starting to cool was a timer enough for me.
She raised her head as I pulled my arm out from under it, then sat up with me.
Hand in hand, we ascended the steps out of the tub. There was a small bench next to the tub that had two blanket sized towels. I wrapped one around Lysandra before wrapping the other around myself.
We walked over to the fireplace and stood there, arms around each other, as the fire dried us the rest of the way. It didnt take long before we let the towels fall to the floor, savoring the flames heat as it caressed our bodies.
“Are you tired?” I asked after a few minutes.
“Exhausted.” She said after thinking about it.
“Would you like me to return to my rooms?” I asked, uncertain what she would say.
“Please stay.” She said after a moment.
We climbed under the covers of her bed, and this time, I held her as she fell asleep in my arms.
She was still there when I woke this time. She wasn’t in my arms anymore, but when I opened my eyes, she was only a foot away from me, facing me. I laid there watching her until she woke up.
When she opened her eyes, she tensed for a moment until her vision focused on me, then she smiled.
“Good morning.” She whispered as she reached her hand out, searching for mine under the covers.
I took her hand and brought it up to my face and pressed my lips against it, kissing it.
“Now this is more like it.” I said, “When someone takes me to bed, I expect them to still be there in the morning.”
She laughed.
“How I wish I had stayed in bed that morning.” She said.
“Do you think you are up to continuing what we started that night?” I asked as I squeezed her hand.
“What? Oh.” She said, blushing.
“We don’t have to, if you’re not ready.” I said.
“No, it’s, are you sure you want to?” She asked, flustered.
Instead of answering her, I pushed her over onto her back and climbed on top of her, straddling her. My hair fell down around her head as I looked her in the eyes. I leaned down and pressed my mouth to hers, sliding my tongue between her lips.
She opened her mouth to the kiss and my tongue found hers. She ran her hands up my body and cupped them around my breasts as we made out.
I pulled away from the kiss and kissed my way down her neck, inching lower and lower with each kiss. Her collar bone, her breast bone, each of her nipples.
She moaned as I sucked her nipple into my mouth, running my tongue around it and over it.
I continued kissing my way south, kissing each of her ribs, then her belly. I shifted my legs so they were between hers instead of straddling her. It didn’t take any encouragement to get her to spread her legs for me as I kissed my way down, stopping when I got to her mound. I pressed my lips to the patch of emerald green hair growing there, inhaling her scent, as the soft hair brushed against my lips.
She yelped when I lightly bit her inner thigh. I inched closer and closer to my goal.
I stopped when my lips were barely an inch away and looked up at her.
“You know, I’ve never eaten Fae before.” I said with a bemused chuckle.
She was about to say something in response, but it was cut off by a moan as I licked her lips, savoring the taste of her.
Gently, I licked her, not penetrating her, just enjoying the taste of her, and warming her up. She moaned with each lick, quiet, soft moans of pleasure.
Slowly, I parted her lips with my tongue, taking my time, savoring her as I worked my tongue deeper inside her. She shifted her hips, pressing herself against my face.
I backed away and slid my middle two fingers into my mouth, getting them nice and wet.
I watched her as I slid my fingers inside of her, her chest was heaving as her breathing got harder.
I worked my fingers in and out of her as I leaned in and teased her clit with my tongue, gently licking around it, occasionally flicking my tongue over it.
Her moans grew louder and louder, and she began bucking her hips against my face.
I crooked my fingers inside of her, pressing them to the soft spongy area over her pubic bone, at the same time I pressed my lips around her clit and began sucking on it, flicking my tongue over it.
Her legs squeezed around my head and she began bucking against me as her moans grew louder and louder. I could feel her squeezing my fingers as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her, my mouth and hand getting soaked by her juices as she came hard. Her entire body was shuddering.
Finally, she collapsed, her legs letting go of my head. She lay there panting.
I sat up, pulling my fingers out of her. I looked down at myself, her juices were dripping off my chin onto my breasts.
I climbed back on top of her and kissed her, my tongue caressing hers. Finally, I broke away from the kiss and laid my head down on her shoulder.
“You are delicious.” I said after a couple of minutes.
“So are you.” She said. “I’m glad we continued what we started that night.”
“So am I.” I said as I kissed her shoulder.