She came to herself seated at the long maple wood table, warm from the slow burning fire. Her body was warm but not only from the heat that bounced off walls and thick wooden furnishing but also because of the woman beside her, holding her close.
"Aurora - are you all right?"
"I'm...I'm alright, my lord. Just exhausted" She admitted, hearing the words escape her lips and quickly taking them back. "Ju...just a bit. Not a lot I mean"
Her tongue refused to dance with the ideas that moved through her mind, the more logical words she knew she needed and should be saying.
"I should go now." Aurora finally settled on the idea of just leaving.
"In a moment," Maleficent said. Still with her long arms around the petite girl. Maleficent looked at Aurora's face, frowning. The blonde believed that she looked a complete mess and blushed as the brunettes gaze moved down her frame. Skipping over the ruffled locks of blonde.
Maleficent touched the side of Aurora's face gently and felt the girl tremble.
She felt dizzy. Maleficent seemed to realize that, because her grip around the girl's frame tightened. Aurora shut her eyes, leaning against the soft woman. Perhaps, the maid thought, in a moment Maleficent might let her go up to bed. The blonde didn't want to think about how she was going to get that far.
A moment later she felt herself being swung up in strong arms and carried upstairs. The simple girl concluded that her master must be a mind reader for all the ideas and emotions that swirled underneath were easily read by the silent millionaire. Whispers and movement penetrated her haze only amplifying the throbbing against her skull. Maleficent's strong voice was heard ordering a bath to be drawn, cloths and warm water to be brought. Aurora sighed and felt too tired to resist he better judgment and resting her head onto the woman's strong shoulder.
Aurora roused as she was lowered with a soothing gentleness into a chair before the fire in her room.
"Here. Let me." Her voice was a soothing murmur, but blue sapphires snapped open as a warm, damp cloth touched her face. She was beyond protest as her own master bathed her face, then her arms and , caring touches that insensibly eased her and cleansed more from her than dirt and stabbing pains. It sponged away hurt and fear.
Behind them Diaval bustled about, directing the footmen where to place the bath. It didn't interest Aurora however. The strong hands cleansing her held the girl utterly spellbound. Closing her eyes with a low sigh, Aurora let herself surrender to the stunning brunette's care, and a powerful arm cradled her close. It felt so good to be cared for in this way. Not since Aurora had been a little girl and skinned her knee had anyone tended her like this.
The maid knew that it was not safe. Her master's warmth and strength seduced her senses-she could withstand Maleficent's tenderness tore at her heart. It would be much easier if the woman was the cold, arrogant aristocrat that everyone claimed her to be. But it all wasn't true, behind the pride and frost was a woman who could ravish the heart of any man and woman without even knowing, or wanting it.
She was being kind now because she felt guilty about hurting Aurora. Desperately the blonde reminded herself that the wealthy woman belonged to a dutiful husband, blessed with wealth and handsomeness, not a simple maid belonging to farmers. Maleficent enjoyed her passion and her body, but the emotions battering at her held no value to the stunning beauty.
It was silly to dream about this simple kindness, to imagine that Maleficent's hands had trembled as she sponged away dirt from her face, that the long fingers had grazed her throat on purpose. Aurora fought the urge to nestle closer, burrowing against the soft hand.
Diaval's voice broke into the maid's daze while not bothering the focused woman. "Mint salve, my lord. Best for those scratches."
"Thank you."
Salve was rubbed in with a feather-light touch that trickled electricity over face,hands, and arms. The girl tossed her head back, letting the movement of long fingers in her hair direct the movement of her head.
"Beg pardon,my lord. Wraps are prepared." Diaval spoke of a light cough to introduce his presence once more.
Maleficent looked around. Diaval stood at the door, a tall woman next to him dressed in similar clothing like Aurora when she comes to work.
The young girl was trustworthy, she was fairly close to Aurora and despite the abundance of other workers the two seemed to have formed a friendship.
Everything in Maleficent roared a protest, that she couldn't trust her control. She would come back when Aurora was safely in bed to make sure she was all right.
Aurora submitted to her friends ministrations, clumsily washing herself with her left hand, but allowing the maid to wash and rinse her hair. Her bandaged right wrist ached, but overlaying the pain was the memory of Maleficent's gentleness as she had cleaned and tended to her cuts.
When Aurora was asked, she stood to be rinsed with a bucket of warm water. Once dry, she pulled on a robe decorated in a soft silk that she had never felt before. She sat by the fire to rub her hair dry. Food was brought, not the kind that she was used to but rather dishes that were foreign to her. A hot, rich soup, breads which varied from texture to color and various cheeses. She ate hungrily.
The tray was taken from her when she was finished, the close friend providing her a assuring smile as she made her way out.
"Bed, my lady?"
"It's Aurora ,Diaval" She told him as she had many times before. The man always seemed to ignore the vast differences in the two lovers social statuses.
With a smile Aurora obediently got into bed and the statue like butler drew the bed hangings, leaving a small gap so that she could reach the bedside table.
Slight sounds echoed through the large bed room, a chamber the size of her childhood home. She heard the hushed voices of two footmen as they removed the bath, Diaval tidying up.
"Will there be anything more,my la... Aurora?" Diaval asked a smile forming on his lips as he corrected himself.
"No. Thank you. I will ring in the morning." She felt as though she could sleep for days and still be tired. It wasn't just her body, although it ached in pain. Her very spirit felt weary, as though she had been confronted with something that she could neither walk away from nor ultimately win. She lay back against the pillows, listening as Diaval removed the snuffling candles. Bit by bit the room darkened.
She had to be sensible. Not moping because she...because she what? Had enough courage to let her desires drive her to someone out of reach? Because she thought that maybe she could find a way to love Maleficent? Because she thought that maybe she wouldn't have to suffer the pain of working for something she will never reach? Because she knew that the woman would follow an honorable course no matter what?
The darkness swelled as Diaval doused the lamp on the dressing table.
Aurora thought she had nothing to mope about. She had aimed at the moon and she had tripped. That was it. She hadn't hurt herself badly. Only broken a senseless dream, idea of a life where she could truly be happy with this woman, this being beyond her reach. Countless girls and woman, all gorgeous, worthy, were sleeping in doorways tonight, and, but for Aurora's little bit of honor, she might as well ended up among them.
She sat up, took off her spectacles, and leaned over to blow out the candle on her bedside table. Darkness poured over her. And with it, fear. Blind, unreasoning fear. Of the dark. Panic. Noir, choking, as the tree shifted, earth and stones sliding around her, pattering over her, and she heard their hungry growl, knew she had only instants, seconds to get out before the consuming dark took her...
She forced herself to breathe. Clean, free sir. She was safe. Safe in this...this bed that wasn't her own. The sense of safety quickly drained. Maleficent was in her room. Aurora knew that if she called Maleficent would come. Bur she would not call. Knowing that she could not be enough. Better if the master didn't have to tend to her servant, didn't have to see all of her weakness. A bright moon had been rising earlier. Moonlight was safer than falling asleep with a lamp or candle.
Fling back the covers and hangings, she got up and went to the windows. The curtains rattling as she pulled them back. The clear, bright sky drove panic into retreat.
She turned away from the window and cried out in terror as a shadow moved by the door.
"Aurora, darling!"
Maleficent was across the room and had the blonde in her arms before she could take another breath. Her heat infused Aurora, warming, comforting. Through the thick covering of her night robe, Aurora could hear her masters heart thudding. One hand held her close, the other traced her jaw, her lips, throat, and slid with a slight shaking into her golden locks, pressing the maid closer to the reassuring beat of her heart.
"Shh. It's me. I needed to see that you were all right. That you were all right. That you weren't...frightened."
Aurora tried to think up a lie. To tell maleficent that she hadn't been frightened. But her trembling frame betrayed her.
"You...you startled me. I wanted light...it was so dark. And I felt as If I couldn't breath-" She was babbling, unsure whether she meant the room or the attack. "I'm sorry about the diner I'm so...so clumsy-I didn't mean to drop it on her. Truly."
Maleficent's arms hardened instantly. "I thought I lost you to that crazy man." Her voice was rough. "The when you told me what had happened, and i knew how close you had been to-" She broke off, and the blonde felt a shudder rack the tall woman. Strangely, It steadied her. "The things I said- I'm sorry. The dinner wasn't important." Her ruby lips brushed clumsily over her temple, her eyes. The Maleficent released her and stepped back, the silver of the moon etching her face in hard silver and deep shadows. "Is there anything you need?"
She swallowed. Pride, she prayed for pride to help her. To allow her to assure Maleficent that she was very well. That she had only needed fresh air...that she hadn't been frightened...
"Just you."
Her voice was the merest of breaths, but she saw her words strike . Saw the shock in her , even she dared to say, lovers expression.
In the natural depths of her rich tone Maleficent spoke, "You wish me to remain with you for the night? Just hold you?"
It would be easy to let her believe that was all. Safer. And untrue.
"No." Aurora said. "I need to know that I am still alive. I need you."
"Aurora."
It was all Maleficent said before crimson lips claimed dull blossoms. Words were impossible , consumed in the fierce desperation of their kiss. Then she was swept up in her arms, being carried past the large bed and through the door to Maleficent's room and her bed and tumbled on to it. There was scarcely time to gasp before she was with Aurora, her weight, warm and soft, covering the petite girl, swift hands banishing the nightgown , her robe, until nothing remained between them. Nothing but fiery need, all restraint and distance incinerated.
Maleficent couldn't speak. There were words she needed to say, but her throat was hot and tight, choking her. Because Aurora was kissing the strong woman, her cheeks wet with tears. And her hands, hesitant and a little clumsy, were a burning, soul deep delight. Every bold touch made by Maleficent echoed the emotions in her heart, the ones trapped in her throat.
She wanted everything. She wanted to give her everything. Everything given and received. Everything taken and offered. Because it had nearly, almost, within mere minutes been too late.
She kissed her way down the pale throat, licking and caressing, finding the frantic pulse beating at the base. Adoring the high, sweet curve of her breast, coming to the taut nipple and drawing it into the dark heat of her mouth to suckle fiercely so that the beauties small frame arched wildly and she cried out, a strangled sound of pleasure. Pleasure stabbing deep in her own body, driven by her her response.
Maleficent shifted, burning, and reached between restless silken thighs. "Open." Her voice harsh, demanding. But she obeyed and she pressed shaking fingers to hot, liquid silk as she took her mouth again, kissing deeply in searing promise.
Everything.
She stroked and teased, finding the hidden nub, circling so that Aurora moaned and pushed against her, pleading for more. She slid one finger inside, felt the soft body clench wildly, and pressed with her thumb. Aurora convulsed, her cries spilling into Maleficent's mouth as release took her body, leaving her limp and trembling.
So easy, so tempting to take her now. But Maleficent had wanted to give everything.
She slide down her lovers hot, quivering body, kissing every slick inch. Breasts, sweetly curving waist, the gentle swell of her belly, flaring hips and finally the soft cream silk of her thighs, pushing them wild, wider, with her shoulders. Aurora gasped a high, shocked sound and tried to push the aristocrat away. Maleficent captured her hands gently.
"No. Don't fight me please. I know I wasn't there for you earlier but I will be here. Always. So let me love you."
The words stilled her startled resistance and Aurora's mind fractured at the hot, open-mouthed kisses on her inner thighs, at the harsh sound of her breath...the warm caress of Maleficent's breath...there-there where she was aching and burning again.
It terrified her...the intimacy, the emotions pouring through her.
Let me love you...
Oh, please,please...
Strong hands held Aurora's hips captive, tilting her for an impossible tender, shockingly silken caress,.
Her hips bucked as dark pleasure speared her and her throat burst with a raw, choked scream at the hot pressure of Maleficent's mouth. Her hands sought the tall woman, clutching, sliding through the silk of mahogany hair. It shattered her, terrified her. It was unbearable, it was wonderful. Aurora knew she would die if Maleficent didn't stop. She would die if she did stop.
She broke, crashing into oblivion as ecstasy poured through her again, consuming her in a fiery cataract. She hardly heard the woman's tender, loving words as her tears split. And she wanted more, she ached, felt empty.
"Please" her voice shook. "Please. I want you...all of you."
With a harsh sound Maleficent surged up Aurora's body and the girl opened fully to her, and felt the press of moist fingers against her entrance.
Shaking, on the brink of madness, bathed in her taste and scent, part of Maleficent clung to the sanity, to safety. She should be gentle with Aurora, take the girl carefully.
Aurora was having none of it. Even as the Aristocrat fought for restraint the blonde lifted against her, hot, wet, softness claiming the tips of fingers, long slender legs wrapping around her hips. Nails raked Maleficent's shoulders and her voice broke on her name.
Control exploded into ruin as she thrust into the girls soft welcoming body and buried herself to the hilt. Lost, Maleficent took her again and again, feeling Aurora's pleasure as her own, feeling her catch and match her rhythm so that their bodies sang together. Maleficent knew when the end was upon her, when she could let herself go and be swept along with Aurora through this wave. Consummation took her, all dark, fierce pleasure as she moved deep with the shaking body, blind and trembling.
With a husky groan Maleficent collapsed onto the blonde, and slid to one side, still holding the girl close, unwilling to let her go. Ever.
With her last remaining strength Maleficent pulled the bedclothes over them, sinking into a warm cocoon in a sweaty, sated tangle of limbs, Aurora safe in her arms.