Fitting Back Together

The Afterglow

Magna's heart, beating away like a hummingbird against her cheek, still had yet to calm. Yumiko's mouth formed a languid smile at the erratic thump. Without a thought, she turned into the sensation, pressing her lips to Magna's chest, to the left, where her heart resided.

A faint murmer sounded above her head, followed by an exhale. . . lazy fingers gliding through her hair.

It still made Yumiko freeze sometimes, to think how close she had come to hearing this heart's final beat. Losing everything.

Months had passed but she suspected the terror that had gripped her during the cave would take years to fully abate. If it ever did.

Yumiko closed her eyes, fighting away those thoughts with the sensation of Magna's fingers, the gentle massage of her scalp, the urgent th-thump against her skin.

She's okay.

As if sensing her thoughts, Magna shifted, ever so slightly, and Yumiko felt the firm press of lips against her head. The kiss lingered and she breathed easier under the pressure, living in the feeling for the time it took for it to cease. For Magna to pull away.

Yumiko exhaled.

Despite the iciness of the room, her body felt like it was on fire. It was almost too much to be held by Magna like this, to feel the overwhelming combination of both their heat, engulfing her.

Almost.

Yumiko was in no way prepared to move away just yet. To let go.

Besides, once she recovered, she'd be feeling that cold all too well. Best to take advantage of this furnace whilst she could.

And risk of hyperthermia aside, she felt good. Her muscles deliciously loose and relaxed. Released of the tension they'd hung on to so tightly for months.

There was a massage therapist in the Commonwealth that she'd been debating whether or not to go to for the past couple of weeks but this. . . was much better.

And she knew it wasn't just the sex. It was the conversation they'd had. The many conversations. Before tonight, Yumiko had believed that she'd only feel worse for talking about what had happened before the cave, worse still for letting slip any hints about Nicole in the process.

She was both pleasantly surprised and relieved to find that wasn't the case. Instead, it felt like the anvil that had been bearing down on her chest had finally been lifted. She could breathe again.

Even better, she could run her fingers over Magna's skin without any conflicting emotions or buried resentment. She could simply enjoy this moment, enjoy her.

Still, their previous activities couldn't be completely disregarded. She'd never been someone who particularly needed sexual intimacy. She enjoyed it, even craved it at times, but she could just as easily get by without it. Magna, however, had always existed as an exception to this rule. Yumiko craved her in ways she had never craved anyone else. Wanted her like she had never wanted anyone.

And, in the last months, Yumiko had somehow forgotten just how good sex between them could feel. How much she missed it. Had convinced herself that it was inconsequential, that she could get by without it. And she could.

But God.

She certainly wasn't about to be in any hurry to again.

Ever so gradually, the heart against her ear began to slow, returning to its steady, even thump.

A hummingbird finally at rest.

"So. . ." Magna's voice overpowered the steady beat of her heart. "Fun night?"