Rose & Thorn: Liv/Rhea

Chapter 3

Looking at the selection of toys spread across the bed, Liv felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland. There wasn't quite enough to call it an array—though she guessed if Rhea had picked out everything she had wanted, there would be—but there was definitely enough to start the night out right. She had played with blindfolds before and the nipple clamps didn't look too bad; she enjoyed spanking, both giving and receiving, so the paddle was probably going to be her first choice. I might have to wear different gear, she thought, running a finger along the handle of the paddle.

But what was drawing her attention most of all wasn't anything she and Rhea had picked out from the store but Rhea herself. After spreading the toys out on the bed, Rhea had kicked off her boots and peeled off her jeans as casually as if they were having a sleepover, and now she was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed. When she noticed Liv eyeing her tattoos, she stretched her legs out. "Which one do you like?"

"All of them." Liv reached out and traced a few. "Do they have markers at the shop? I could have added some colour...." She bit down on her lip and cursed herself. If Rhea wanted colour in her tattoos, after all, she would have had them done that way.

Luckily Rhea didn't seem to take offence. She scooted a bit closer, draping her legs over Liv's thighs. "One of my friend's kids likes doing that," she replied easily, leaning back on her elbows. "I'm sure the shop has some washable markers. Maybe they're down the edibles aisle?" She gave a small shrug. "I don't tend to go down that one often, but we can go back if you want...."

Liv shook her head, tracing some of Rhea's tattoos for a moment longer before grabbing the strap-on harness and looking at the two dildos. The more she looked at the one Rhea chose, the less daunting it seemed, but it was still big. "Maybe later." She picked up the dildo she had picked and then grabbed the harness, trying to figure out how they fit together. "So is there a snap or something....?"

Rhea sat up and pulled Liv into a kiss that was surprisingly soft. "Nah. It works a little different than some," she said as she moved back a bit and took the smaller dildo from Liv, "but I like this harness because it's sturdy." She grinned wickedly as she attached the dildo to the harness, making sure to position her hands so Liv could watch how it was done. "You want the first go or shall I?"

Liv's first instinct was to volunteer, but uncertainty was gnawing away at her. She didn't have a lot of experience with strap-ons, especially as the wearer, and she'd never used a harness like the one Rhea had picked. She knew it shouldn't be that difficult, but she also didn't want to look like a complete newbie either. "Well, since the night is your treat," she hedged, "you should have the honours."

Rhea, of course, saw right through Liv's deflection, but she didn't laugh or chide; even her wicked grin was warm, almost welcoming. She set the harness aside and grabbed Liv's hands. "If you don't want to, that's fine. We don't have to do anything." Pointing to the door, she added, "Or if you'd feel more comfortable with... someone else, that's fine too. We could pick a time to leave and—"

"No. No, I want to. I just...." Liv scrunched up her nose. "I don't want to screw up." There were no cameras recording them—she remembered that much of the legalese in the Rose & Thorn literature—but she still felt like she was under observation. Someone like Rhea had probably already used every toy in the shop, so how could she possibly keep up?

"Liv. Don't be...." Rhea caught herself and leaned forward, kissing Liv rather than finishing her admonishment. She kept pushing gently until Liv was on her back. "We're here to enjoy ourselves. All the toys have a learning curve. That's half the fun, honestly. Before I figured out how to secure those harnesses properly," she added, kissing her way down Liv's neck, "I used to get the worst rashes and strap marks. That was part of the reason I always wore pants for my gear."