Thorns of Arrangement (f/f arranged marriage / enemies to lovers)

Undoing

Heavy steps padded the oak floors and stopped in front of the bathroom door. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"Brin? Are you in there?" Thick words spewed out of Alvena's mouth. I let the air in my lungs back out, refusing to reply. I was livid and hurt. Mostly hurt. "Brin?" She pleaded again. No response came forth. Knocks rapped against the door.

I filled the bath with bubbles, covering everything up to my neck. "What do you want?" I spat. I could practically see her intense blue eyes through the door.

A sigh. "What you saw was not what it seemed." She said. I rolled my eyes, tears of anger threatening to spill.

"What I saw was you getting felt up by your pretty little council member, or should I say mistress," I hissed. "I could see where it was headed, and I'm not sure what I would have done if things went further when I found you. I see you already have a 'toy'. Why don't you unite with her instead?" I was seething, the bath bubbles beginning to rise as power radiated through my veins. I put my face in my hands, willing to let the power dissipate. I breathed in a few shallow breaths.

Alvena pressed against the door. "Please let me in, Brin," she begged. "I can explain."

"I'm not sure I want to hear excuses," I responded, quieter than before. I felt drained.

"Just let me in," she said, her voice strained.

I didn't have much left to lose and I felt my stubbornness dwindling. I flicked the door open an inch.

Her hand grasped the door before it shut again and I was tempted to smash her fingers with it. But I didn't, I just pulled my knees up to my chest.

Alvena paused at the tub, her throat bobbed as she saw me in the bath, covered up to my neck. I rolled my eyes, heat wafting up from the water. She decidedly kneeled next to the tub, far too close for my comfort and I moved back against the far side. Her eyes flashed with what could be hurt. Served her right.

"Brin, Sara is nothing to me. Her sole purpose is to help negotiate with nobles in our kingdom. She is not my mistress," she emphasized.

My shoulders were tense like a viper before strike. "She looked as though you were a lot more to her... and you didn't stop it." My voice was beginning to lose its edge but I was still livid.

Alvena sighed and rubbed her face. "Sara and I have slept together before. I'm sure you can understand how lonely being royal can be and how hard it is to trust. Perhaps I let it get too far in the past, but we stopped messing around when I was arranged to be married to you, Brin. I may have scared you on the first day we met, but my parents have proved to me what loyalty is. I never saw her as a partner. I don't even see her as a lover anymore. I have no interest in pursuing her for sexual gratification."

The bubbles were beginning to die down as my temper did but my body remained hidden. I couldn't help but feel jealous still. "Why didn't you stop her then?" I asked weakly.

Alvena looked heated then. "I did not want her advances. I told her so, and she pushed me against the wall to take what she wanted. It was not reciprocated, although I'm sure it didn't look good. You charged through only a moment later, saving me."

Her eyes were so intense looking into mine. I realized I had moved closer. Our faces were inches away from each other and I could still make out her vanilla aroma through the bath scent. I took a deep breath, savoring it. She breathed in too, though more shaky.

"You are nothing that I expected Brin... but I've been pleasantly surprised on multiple occasions. I will banish Sara from here tonight. Just please forgive me," she whispered.

My lips were almost touching hers, as though something magnetic continued to pull us closer. I had no words. I was no longer angry with her. I was consumed by her.

She closed the distance between us. Gentle and confident. Our lips touched and I felt all of my resolve dissipate. She placed her strong hands on either side of my face and deepened the kiss, so soft against my own. I leaned over the tub further and kissed her with more fever. Her tongue slid into my mouth and I couldn't help the soft moan that escaped me, my body melting against the tub that held too much porcelain between us. Our mouths continued to join together and I felt heat collect between my legs. I suddenly felt very desperate for her touch. Not because it had been long since the last time I'd been intimate, but because my body seemed to crave her. I pulled her closer by her collar and she matched my energy, our bodies begging to be together. I pulled back, gasping for air I didn't think I needed.

"Take your clothes off," I demanded.

She looked baffled but obliged and pulled her trousers off, then her white linen shirt, leaving her thoroughly exposed. Her breasts were perfectly full and pert and I trailed down to see her soft apex between two toned and tanned thighs. I could feel my breathing intensify and took her hand to pull her into the large tub. By then the heat had died down to a comfortable temperature and Alvena sighed as she settled down in front of me. I looked at her through my thick eyelashes, my eyes heavy with want. "Touch me Alvena, please," I said. I didn't care that a celebration was in progress in this very same estate. I didn't care that she might have once hated me. I only cared that she ravish me. And she did.

Her arms circled around my waist as she pulled me to her and kissed me hard and soft at the same time. Her tongue made love to mine and I rested my arms around her neck, one of her thighs between mine. She began to rub against my core and I arched my back in response, needing the friction to curb my craving. She pressed harder and I moaned in response, the room creating more noise. She seemed to find pleasure in this and continued to rub until I was slick against her and crying out softly against her lips. I pulled my arm between us until I found one of her perfect dark nipples and rubbed one between my fingers. Her pace quickened as our breathing became labored and our foreheads rested against each other. She watched me with those piercing blue eyes as she lowered her hand between my legs and started rubbing my clit. My thighs closed around her hand but she didn't stop as I shook and watched her staring straight into me. My hand left her breast to extend lower until I had her between my fingers and she took a sharp intake of breath.

"I know I said you would be the toy, but I'm beginning to regret saying I wouldn't be yours," she whispered between breaths. Then she pressed her two fingers into me. Her fingers were long and strong as she pressed up into my walls and I became a moaning mess as she pumped in and out of me. Actual tears sprouted from my eyes as I closed them and experienced pure ecstasy. She didn't slow down and I grabbed her shoulders in response, on the precipice of climax. "Say my name," She said between breaths. I had a hard time getting a hold of my tongue. "Be a good toy and say it," she repeated.

"Alvena," I cried. And that was my undoing. Her strokes quickened and I cried her name three more times before my muscles clenched around her fingers and I screamed. She kissed me as her fingers moved slower and I leaned my head against her shoulder while she pulled out. Her arms circled my waist again and held me as I came down from the high. I let out a few shaky breaths before I wanted to push her over and show her how she had just made me feel. But a knock rapped against the bedroom door. We both froze.

I held a finger to my lips. She nodded. "Who is it?" I rasped out, knowing it showed in my voice.

"I was worried for you," Crynthan called. "You disappeared. Then I couldn't find Alvena and one of her council members went missing."

I stifled my laugh. "I'm good Crynthan, so is Alvena."

Alvena seemed to consider a choice and ignored my heading, saying, "If you see Sara, see her out."

Crynthan's voice changed an octave. "Oookay," he drew out. I was sure he was smiling. "I'll leave you two be then." Steps retreated.

I sighed and looked back to Alvena. Her smile was telling, but instead she said, "We have to go before more come looking."

I frowned but understood and we left the bath stealing kisses as we dressed.