The Sanctuary's beginning (book II)

Exploring Pt II

                                  Arachne
"...and then Lepple has a room where he runs his business from. I haven't asked him what it is yet, I'll have to do that. Ares stayed up with me till the others began waking. He offered to make me breakfast, but I declined."
"Why'd you do that?" Ash's hand stills on my leg that's over his lap. He's changing the bandages of wounds that have not healed yet. Lepple advised us to let him change our bandages and look over our healing, but we aren't used to anyone helping us like that. So he gave us a basket of stuff we'd need.
"Well, I wanted to see you after being away so long. Plus I feel that would be unfair to you." He shakes his head and resumes,
"Don't do that please. If you're having a good time out there with them then stay. I want you to bond with them."
"But you can't... I feel that is unfair."
"Arch..." he grabs my hand that has fallen to my lap. "I know that I have not come out of our room. I am nervous of how my body will react. I do not want to accidentally stress too much and force my body into a shed or heat. I will come out with you when I know I can handle it. But please do not let that stop you from enjoying our new life, new family." He pulls me onto his lap and my hands naturally fall to his shoulders. His rub up to my hips before setting on my thighs and squeezing. My stomach flips at that, but I ignore it. "I want you to enjoy all the things we can have now. I want you to find out what new things you like to do and sleep in a bed with someone who loves you."
"You love me...." I whisper and his eyes soften, "they will not when they see-,"
"Arch," his voice cracks and he cups my face, "do you think they don't have scare of their own? That there aren't things they don't want the others to see. But that's the things about love. There's trust there and a bond and feeling that they can reveal such things and not be judged for." I inhale and cup his hands with mine. I take them away from my face and lean in to kiss him. He hums and presses back into me. I hear his scales rubbing together before his tail moves under me. His hands grip my hips and pull me closer to him. I shudder as I feel his forked tongue run over my lips and open with a gasp. A growl rumbles in his chest as his tongue wraps around mine. My hips roll into his waist and I pull back with a huff. A line of spit hits my chin before he licks it off.
"That was...." He smiles and I rub my thumb over a fang,
"It was nice. We haven't been able to do that in a while." My smile falters a images of our cell come to mind. Ash must notice because his hands tighten on my hips,
"Want to do it again?" His smirk is dangerous. I tighten my legs around him and lean back in. His hand tilts my head as our kiss deepens. I hum as he flips us over and run my hands under his shirt. He pulls back and sits up to pull it over his head. My hands are immediately drawn to his abs. They flex as he throws his sweatshirt to the side and cups my hands. He brings them up to his collarbones and holds them there. His eyes close with a shudder,
"Touch me," His eyes open and his pupils are blown wide. My hands slowly move as I map out his torso with my fingertips. I've never touched him so sensationally. Any time he had his shirt off was when I was tending to a wound. Seeing old scars is a much better view than seeing open wounds and blood. A few bruises still color his tan skin and I lean in to press a few kisses to them. My fingers skim over a nipple and he jolts with a moan. I center in on that reaction and pinch one. His whole body twitches forward,
"Oh, that's different." He smiles at me and nods, "keep going." I lean in and wrap my lips around the nub and softly flick it with my tongue. He groans and holds my head there as his tail flexes around us. I pull back and he runs his fingers through my hair.
"I like that it's gotten so long." I smile as he pulls on the ends. It's only a little past my ears in white, thin strands. People of my kind treasure their long hair. Often putting it up with their silk and using beautiful jewels as head pieces. The longer ones hair the more they could do with it. Young often cling to the strands. But they would always cut it to my scalp whenever they needed a punishment for me. They took notice how I tried to take care of it more than the rest of me. I bring a hand up to it and test it's silky-ness.
"I like that your scales are looking healthier." Ash smiles as me and looks at his tail. The green scales no longer looking so brown. They have a nice healthy green glow. "A shed would do you nicely." Ash frowns and rolls his shoulder,
"Don't remind me. I can already feel the itch." I laugh softly,
"Perhaps it won't be so bad this time. Not with that huge bath." His smile is bright. The bathroom connected to his room has a huge marble underground pool where he can soak his whole body from head to tail-tip. Shelves adorn many bottles of soaps, oils, and salts.
"I have yet to use it. Would you like to...?" I stare into his eyes at the question. I have only showered twice being here. Still afraid it is a trick I suppose.
"Sure, Ash." I succumb to his presence, his warmth. He leans off me and pulls me up from his nest of blankets. He leads us to the door and pushes it open. We both stare in awe for a moment before coming inside. "Do you know how to work it?" He hesitates,
"Maybe we should get Venus or...."
"Well Venus is gone right now, remember?" I answer referring to explanation of my night with Ares. "Who should we...?"
"Go see if someone is home?" He turns to me with a quirked brow.
"Sure." I nod and walk towards the door to his room. I shut the door quietly and begin walking through the home. I hear a sound and walk to the living room. Entering the room I see the tv is on and there are a few boys on the couches. The boy with mismatched hair is sleeping on the floor, covered in a few different blankets and a laptop next to him still open. On one of the couches is Ares, the boy with red hair. He sleeps on his side with a pillow under his bent arm that cradles his head. Sitting in the cradle of his hips is the deer boy. He's sitting cross crossed and staring at the tv. On his hip is one of Ares's hands, like he's making sure he's still there. Attlus notices me and turns his head to me.
"Oh hello," he greets, "sorry I didn't see you at first, you're awfully quiet." His hand reaches for something before the movie stops. "Can I help with something?" He smiles softly,
"I was looking for someone to help with the bath?" I point over my shoulder, "but you seem busy, I am sorry to intrude." I turn with a dip of my head,
"Wait!" I stop and turn back to the room. Phoebe groans before coming quiet again. Attlus looks at him for a second before standing. He leans down to whisper something to Ares who opens tired red eyes to look at me. He gives a small smile and says something back before his eyes fall shut once again. Attlus smiles and walks over to me with a smile adoring his face. "Lead the way."

"Ash," I call softly and enter the bathroom with Attlus behind me.
"In here still." Comes his reply. He's sat down while waiting and looked over some bottles. There are a few bottles sitting beside him. Attlus moves ahead of me and looks at the bottles with interest.
"This one is okay, but this conditioner wouldn't work for your hair type. We were not sure what to get so we got a lot of different things." He turns to me still standing in the doorway. "But it would work for you." He walks back over to the shelf and grabs a few different things. He explains how to work the water pipes before adding things to the water.
"If you are shedding, Ash, the things on the bottom shelf are what you should use. They will soften your skin and scales more and make it much more tolerable." Ash smiles,
"That would be great. Thank you for all of this. I barely had anything to help back at the center." I stiffen but Ash does not.
"That's terrible. I'm very sorry. I'm glad you two are here now." He makes a small cooing sound and his ears flatten. "Why don't you go ahead and get in and I'll grab a washcloth." Ash smiles and slowly slithers into the water. He hums as he sinks in.
"This is lovely." He sighs before looking at me, "join me?" I feel heat in my face as I look at Attlus. He smiles and moves over to me.
"Come find me if you need anything else. We'd all love to help with whatever you need." His wink goes straight to my groin as I watch him walk away. I don't turn back around till I hear the click of the outside door.
"Well? Come on...."