Farah Dowling WRITOBER 2O22

I am the designer of my own catastrophe [FAKE MARRIAGE AU #2]

You and Farah left the small crowd on the panoramic spot and continued on the path to reach the waterfall.
You were going crazy. You could not calm your mind. Every time you stopped to breath or drink and you closed your eyes for a second, you were kissing Farah and Farah was kissing you back again. The feeling of her hand on your hip and the taste of her lips were still too vivid in your memory to allow you to brush them away from your mind.
You were worried Farah would notice. You were terrified that the Headmistress would call you out, all concerned eyes and perfectly professional words, “Whatever your feelings please remember why we’re here” or “Keep your mouth away from me unless it’s absolutely necessary” or even “That was uncalled for, never do it again.”
You were so deep in thought that you stumbled on a small rock left in the middle of the trail.
Miss Dowling caught you, her warm hands on your arms helping you regain your balance.
“Are you alright?” she murmured quietly. You could feel the heat of her hands through the fabric of your shirt. It felt heavenly.
“It’s fine. Thank you” you replied.
But it wasn’t fine.
Suddenly you weren’t feeling so well. And it wasn’t only because of your emotions. Your magic felt strange. You evoked a globe of light and were surprised to see it flickering.
“Farah?” you called. “Can you feel it too?”
“Yes” she answered somberly. “It’s because we are close.”
“To the prison, you mean?”
“Yes. They must have some sort of inhibitor for magic in the prisoners wing” she said, watching your light wobble. She shook her head and pointed ahead. “There. Just behind the water. Can you send the light there?”
You did. It showed what looked like a small cave, or perhaps just an entrance.
“It’s hollow.”
“Yes. Let’s get closer.”
You left the trail and climbed carefully towards the hole.
You moved the beam of light slowly from side to side, searching for a way in as you stepped closer.
“Here” said Farah, crouched under a large rock. “It will protect us from most of the water.”
She slipped inside the hollow and you heard a soft cry of triumph. You followed her.
There was a doorway hidden behind one of the smaller streams of the waterfall.
“It must be an emergency escape” you said, thrilled.
Farah hummed in agreement and started tracing the door with her fingers.
“Do you think you can open it with your mind magic despite the inhibitor?”
“Let’s find out” she smiled. Her eyes had barely begun to light up when you heard a sound behind you, on the trail.
You switched off the light and cursed softly under your breath. Farah froze.
“Did you see something?” asked a man’s voice. Behind the veil of the waterfall you could only make out two dark shapes.
“I though I saw a movement” answered another man.
“Where?”
“At the back door.”
“Let’s check, then.”
You didn’t know what to do. You could bend the light so that they would not see you, but the cavity was so small that if they came in they would stumble on you and discover the trick. You threw a desperate glance at Farah. She leaned back against the moist wall as she put an arm around your waist, pulling you towards her.
Cutting off a cry of surprise, you found yourself flush against her body. Farah’s hands were now resting on your hips as she lowered her head towards you.
“Who’s there?” the first voice asked.
“Play along” Farah murmured against your ear. Her lips brushed against the shell of it and you fought the urge to shudder at the sensation. You pressed her against the cave wall and let your head fall on her shoulder. She was right. If you were going to be caught you should at least put on a good show. The only problem was remembering that it was all a pretense.
It was easy to forget it when Farah’s skin was so hot against your cheek. Unable to help yourself you pushed your nose against her neck and inhaled the scent of myrrh, vanilla and black tea that always came from the Headmistress. You buried your hand in her glorious hair, softly kissing her jaw.
Her grip on your hips tightened, and she pulled you even closer, letting out a barely audible groan.
You felt a wave of panic. Had you gone too far? Had you overstepped-
“Don’t stop” she whispered, sending your head spinning in white flashes of arousal. “Or this won’t work.”
Right, you thought. Focus. The mission. This was all an act.
But your mind lost the grip on reality again when Farah’s lips brushed against yours. She traced them with her tongue, inviting you to open them for her, and when you complied she kissed you deeply, slowly, with a voracity that made your heart stop. Clearly she was a better actress than you had thought. You kissed her back, your tongues battling, and you moaned when you felt her hands slide on your ass and press you more into her body. You could feel the softness of her breasts against yours and one of her legs between your thighs. You were so incredibly wet you would be surprised to discover you weren’t soaking her trousers.
“Who are you?” said the man’s voice, now closer. “We can see you!”
Farah pulled away from your kiss only for a second to shout “Go away!” before capturing your lips again.
A flashlight suddenly illuminated you.
“What are you doing here?”
Farah growled as she broke the kiss again and she all but barked: “What do you think? Leave us alone!”
A chuckle came from one of the two men. You couldn’t see them with your head resting in the crook of Farah’s neck.
“We’re sorry to interrupt, ladies, but this cave is a restricted area. You can’t stay here.”
Farah scoffed, as if she couldn’t believe they had walked on you for such a stupid reason, and then said, while taking your hand, “Alright, alright. We were only searching for little privacy. There’s a bloody crowd out there.”
One of the two men, who were dressed in a black uniform, laughed. You followed them under the large rock and out of the cave holding Farah’s hand.
“Honeymoon?”
“Obviously” snapped Farah, making a show of being still displeased by the interruption.
The guard who had just spoken was watching you with a look of appreciation. “You’re a lucky woman” he told Farah.
“I know” she smirked, tugging you closer and possessively tightening the hold on your hand.
“Enjoy your staying, but stay away from this side of the hill. There’s a security building over there, and civilians are not allowed in it. It’s for your own safety” said the other guard, throwing a reproachful glance at his colleague.
“Well, no one told us” Farah answered with haughtiness.
You pretended to be embarrassed by her rude pride and you left her hand to hug her, as if you were trying to placate her, saying: “We’re sorry, it won’t happen again.”
Both of the guards smiled. “No problem, madam. It happens from time to time.”
“Thank you” you said, looking down with fake shyness.
“Well, we’ll continue our round now. Congratulations on your marriage” they said before turning and walking away.
“Thank you!” you shouted after them.
You waited until they were out of sight and then you turned to Farah. Her hair was mussed and her lips swollen. You fought to contain your blush. She looked a mess, and you were the one responsible for that. Gods, you wanted to kiss her again.
You raised your hand and fixed her rebel locks instead, murmuring “Shall we go back to our room?” in a voice that sounded hoarse even to your ears.
“Yeah. Let’s” said Farah softly, and then she surprised you by taking your hand and leading you back.
 
You had gone back to the hotel and discussed the next steps.
Farah told you that she thought she could open the back door of the prison. After that it would be a matter of searching for Saul’s mind with her powers, discover where was his cell – from the pictures you had taken you presumed it was in the lowest level, the one who looked more secure… but also the closest to the emergency door behind the waterfall – and break him out trying to hurt as fewer man as possible.
You had gone back to the hidden door after lunch to create a miniature stone circle that would help you teleport away as soon as you were out with mister Silva.
Two new guards had passed next to the waterfall, but you had used your light magic to become invisible and they had not noticed a thing.
You had to wait until they were gone to finish, though, and when you went back to the hotel you found a worried Farah walking in circles in your room.
“It took you so long” she breathed out in relief when she saw you. She grabbed your arms, watching you closely. “I was starting to worry. Did something happen? Are you alright?”
You forced yourself to stop staring at her mouth. “I’m fine” you smiled, trying to reassure her.
But the worry for you must had left a sign, for that night you were awoken by a scream. You were instantly on your feet, ready to fight. But no one was there. There was only Farah, tossing and turning in the bed. You sat on the mattress and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Farah” you said in low voice. “Farah, wake up.”
She awoke with a gasp, her eyes immediately lighting up to attack. You quickly leaned in and told her in the calmer voice you could muster: “Farah, it’s me. It’s okay, it was just a dream…”
She called your name with a voice so small that it broke your heart.
“I thought… they had taken you.”
You took her trembling hand in yours and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Who?”
“Those two… the prison guards.”
“I’m here” you said, your thumb massaging the palm of her hand. “I’m safe. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“What happened?”
“You were screaming in your sleep.”
“I’m sorry” she said, squeezing your hand, and then she repeated your name in such a desperate tone that you had no second thought.
You laid next to her on the bed and slipped your arms around her. She shivered. You hugged her tight and you started tracing geometrical patterns on her back, hoping to sooth her.
“I’m here “ you whispered into her hair. “I’m right here.”
Farah’s reply was so quiet that you almost thought you had imagined it.
“Please don’t leave me.”
You inhaled audibly. “Never” you said in a broken voice.
Farah stayed silent for a few seconds, then she murmured: “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
You froze. You wanted so badly to tell her that you would be glad to stay by her side and never leave her, but you knew you couldn’t. You slowly pulled away and stood up to go back to your carpet.
“Where are you-?” Farah whispered. She paused and then added: “Come back to bed.”
Automatically, you replied: “If you’re okay now I’m fine down here, really.”
“Stop being stubborn and get in here” she murmured in her best Headmistress tone. “You’ll sleep better.”
You did not know what to do for a moment. Then Farah said “Please” in the same desperate voice she had had when you had awakened her.
You took your pillow from the ground and climbed into the bed.
“I promise I won’t bite” she said. You stopped breathing for a second and then, shuddering with a shiver of pure recklessness, you whispered: “That’s a shame.”
A few heartbeats passed as Farah became perfectly still. Then her arms surrounded you, pulling you against her, and her nose briefly stroke your cheek.
“Don’t joke” she said.
“I’m not” you murmured, tired of pretending. You were sure she would forgive you if you confessed your love for her now. She would tell you it was okay, you could finish this thrice-damned mission without guilt and then you could take your different paths.
“Farah…”
She was up on one elbow, staring at you, her right hand still on your shoulder, an expression of deep sadness on her face.
“If you’re doing this out of compassion, please, don’t. It’s all my fault – I am the designer of my own catastrophe, after all-”
“Compassion?” you repeated. “Why would I do it out of-?”
“I know I have been less than subtle today when we kissed. I apologize” she sighed. “I had no right to put this on you. My feelings-”
“What do you mean, your feelings?” you whispered, stunned, your heart almost stopping in your chest.
“My feelings for you” she said in an obvious tone, looking away.
You didn’t answer. She searched again for your eyes and then asked: “Have I disgusted you?”
You were too amazed to speak. Farah started to look terrified. “Please, tell me what you think.”
“I think” you started slowly, getting closer to her, “that perhaps we’ve been stupid.”
You captured her mouth, kissing her without holding back, with all the pent-up passion of years of yearning.
It was not the first time you kissed, of course, during this mission; but this – the two of you, unwitnessed, intentional, real – filled your soul with joy and excitement.
You shivered as you tangled your fingers in Farah’s locks. When she licked your bottom lip you opened your mouth and drowned in the taste of her, the heat between your thighs becoming unbearable.
All your world narrowed to the feeling of Farah’s body in your arms.
Needing more contact, you slipped your hand under her shirt, your left hand brushing against her warm skin, inwardly groaning at the feeling of her surprising fit muscles under your fingertips.
Farah moaned against your mouth. Grinning, you used your magic to vanish her shirt, and when your hand roamed free against her bare back she moaned again, louder. You kissed your way down her throat, teasing her with skin and tongue.
Farah’s pulse quickened wildly under your ministrations, and she manged to utter, in the huskiest voice ever: “I can’t believe this is happening…”
“And yet” you replied, wrapping your arms around her and pulling her even closer.
“I don’t understand,” she murmured, “this was supposed to be a ruse…”
“It never was for me” you said, alternating your words with small, light kisses on her lips. “I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier…”
She took your face in her hands and stopped you, staring into your eyes.
“I cannot shake the feeling that this shouldn’t be happening, that I shouldn’t be here.”
“Farah,” you replied as your fingers plucked delicately at her right nipple, “I have loved you for years. Believe me” you continued, glorying in the sob she emitted from the back of her throat, “you are exactly where you need to be.”
She kissed you, and for a moment you didn’t understand why your cheeks suddenly felt wet.
“Why are you crying?” you murmured softly.
“I don’t know how can I deserve you…”
You used your thumbs to wipe the tears away from her face. “I could say the exact same thing.”
She traced your jaw with her fingertips, looking amazed and reverent, and then she looked down and tugged at your shirt. “Can I…?”
“Sure” you smiled. She vanished your whole sleeping ensemble and you were reminded of how stunning she looked when she practiced magic.
She stayed there, still, as if waiting for you to take control. You nibbled at her earlobe, whining, trying to convey how much you needed her. You needed more.
You slid your right leg up, brushing deliberately between Farah’s thighs, your hands crossing the hem of her sleeping pants and gently gripping her bum.
She started drawing a hot line of open-mouthed kisses against your collarbone, and your hips bucked upwards, seeking friction. Farah groaned, calling your name.
The way she said it, perfectly out of breath, made your heart swell.
She repeated your name again, and her hips pressed against you.
You run your fingers in her incredible hair, loosening the small braid that she wore at night.
“My love,” she said when she understood you weren’t going to stop anytime soon, “we need to slow down.”
You instantly went still and carefully lowered your hands.
She searched for your eyes. “It’s not because I don’t want this.”
“Why, then?” you asked, shaking like a leaf.
“We have a job to do. The mission…”
She didn’t finish the sentence and you tried to complete it for her.
“The mission comes first?”
She nodded.
“Fine” you said, your eyes alive with light as you magically removed her pants, leaving her as naked as you were.
You nudged her legs apart with one knee and your hand started tracing the inside of her thighs.
She moaned in frustration, closing her eyes.
Your fingers got closer and closer to her hot center, but you were touching her everywhere apart from where she wanted you the most.
“Tease” she gasped as your other hand resumed its touched on her breasts.
“We can stop if you want” you smirked, immensely enjoying watching her as she trembled under your hands. “You know, the mission…”
“Oh, shut up” she murmured, kissing you, tongue and teeth and an edge of loving desperation, her hands sliding in your hair.
You started pressing against her thigh with the same rhythm you were keeping with your hand on her.
Farah was seeing stars. You were stroking her, faster and faster, as you stole the air from her lungs with your kisses, and she couldn’t do anything but moan and keep an hand on your ass and help you move against her.
When you stopped abruptly she opened her eyes, confused, whispering a breathless “What…?”
“I want you to come while I suck you.”
“No” she said urgently. “No. There will be time for that… later. Don’t stop now. Come with me.”
You hissed against her ear upon hearing her words, and resumed your movements.
You both came shouting a few moments later.
You fell into each other arms. When, after a few minutes, you parted, she immediately pulled you against her to kiss you again.
“In case it wasn’t clear” she said when she pulled away, carefully, “This… this isn’t a whim for me.”
“Oh, Farah-” you started.
“No, wait, let me finish. When the mission is over… I won’t expect anything. But if you were willing to give this a try…”
“When the mission is over” you interrupted, stroking her back with your hands, “I will tell the Embassy that I quit and I’ll find a job somewhere near Alfea. This is not a whim for me, either. I told you that I love you, Farah.”
She kissed your forehead, her eyes teary again.
“I have missed you so much” she said. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“I don’t” you answered softly, stroking her cheek. “But you could show me.”
 
The following night you were in Saul’s house, safe and sound with Saul and Ben.
The mission had worked out perfectly.
Ben had asked to hear all about the rescue. You had tried to leave out personal details, but when Saul asked a direct question and Farah blushed there was little point in denying that something had happened between you two.
“You owe me a hundred bucks” said Ben, smirking at Saul, who was already walking towards a drawer and taking out some money.
You started laughing, while Farah had an outraged expression and was shouting: “Ben! You two made a bet about this?!”
You took her hand and squeezed, and she couldn’t help but think that, despite her amused indignation, she was exactly where she wanted, where she needed to be: with her two best friends in the world, next to a warm fire and with your hand clasped in her own.

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FAKE MARRIAGE AU - THE END