ACT 10
For the first time in forever, when Katarina woke up, her whole body felt so loose and relaxed, not a single tensed muscle present to be felt. She's still lying on her stomach, most of her face snuggled up to a soft pillow that possessed the lingering scent of the owner of the bed she's on.
Katarina stayed in her position, eyes blinking. She brought a slightly fisted hand and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before slipping it back under the pillow.
Last night, she and Ashe only had two rounds of sex, one for each other's release. Katarina honestly didn't mean to fall asleep in the middle of Ashe's massage, but the tranquility and relaxation the blue-eyed female's touch had given her was just too much for her to not succumb to her slumber.
She blankly stared at the vacant space beside her, sheets mildly crumpled and wrinkled, which indicated that Ashe had indeed slept there. Katarina abandoned her pillow and rolled towards the other one, the one that Ashe had laid her head on overnight, messily tangling the blanket around her nude body.
Almost immediately, she sighed as she took in the refreshing fragrance the plush cushion offered. Katarina smiled unconsciously, eyes drifting close as she softly inhaled.
Ashe Winters, a woman with tresses that looks as pure and white as snow itself, eyes that possess the same hue of the sky itself, skin nearly as pale as a vampire's, light pink lips that looks ever so kissable...
She is a mystery.
A beautiful enigma.
Katarina rolled again until she was lying on her back, sitting up and grabbing Ashe's pillow from its place. She placed it on her lap, stroking the pillow case with a nail.
Ashe displayed unfiltered worry last night for her, which confused her. She hadn't expected the concern, and she certainly didn't expect the tender loving care it came with. The moment confused her immensely. No matter how hard she tried in ignoring it, she couldn't bring herself to disregard it.
Shaking her head, she placed the pillow back and decided to vacate the bed. When she did, she noticed a complete set of clothes on the loveseat at one of the corners of the room, neatly folded and waiting to be taken by hers truly. She approached the sofa, eyes landing on the folded paper on top of the clothes.
Your breakfast is in the kitchen. Lock the apartment before you leave.
- Ashe
"You're too thoughtful, Winters."
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Katarina exited the apartment's kitchen, ham and cheese sandwich in hand. She took a bite from the sandwich, chewing quietly as she walked around the living room. Her eyes distractedly darted from one furniture after another, taking in the minor details of the room with ease. In the end, her eyes landed on one of the tables against the wall, where framed pictures and an old ragdoll can be seen displayed.
She approached the table, her free hand reaching for one of the framed pictures. Bringing the frame up close, she curiously audited the image it encased. It showed a little girl and a boy, probably in the ages of six or seven, smiling as they played with a bunch of old toys laid out in front of them. Katarina didn't need to guess who the girl is. The hair color gave the identity away so easily.
She placed it back down and took the picture next to it. This one showed Ashe, who's probably in the age of eight when the photo was taken, in the arms of a woman that clearly looks to be her mother. The only difference they have is the eye and hair color. Other than those two, Ashe is practically the spitting image of her mother.
The next picture she took in her grasp is a rather bittersweet one. The framed image in her hand showed Ashe, who looks to be between sixteen to eighteen years old, sitting on a picnic mat, while she looks to be telling a story to the tombstone in front of her.
Katarina left the pictures alone, her gaze briefly lingering on the ragdoll before she fully walked away. While she made her way back to the kitchen, she found herself unable to stop in thinking about the photographs she had seen.
It feels like the moment she laid her eyes on those pictures, a door had opened within her.
An option, to be exact.
Should she explore and know Ashe's past, regardless of the nature of their relationship?
Or, should she just leave it at that?
Let the door close on its own?
Katarina washed her hands after she finished with her sandwich, eyes distractedly watching her hands move beneath the faucet's opening. Turning the water off, she decided to choose wordlessly.
'She's just my fuck buddy...'
She looked at the table where the pictures are through the doorway of the kitchen.
'Why should I care?'
At the back of her thoughts though, there's this part of her that refused to refer to Ashe with that label.
Deep inside, she knows.
Knows what, you wonder?
A piece of Katarina herself knows that Ashe deserves more than what she has with her right now.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
It's been two weeks
ever since Katarina and Ashe's 'just sex' relationship had started. If not every night, every other night, Katarina would always go to Ashe's apartment to do the naughty, seemingly yearning for Ashe's touch and body.
She couldn't get enough of it. Every single time their bodies touched, she became more and more entranced with Ashe. Every kiss they shared, whether they be slow and sensual or wild and frenzied, it felt like she was gradually being poisoned with allure.
Being 'in a relationship' for a fair amount of time, Katarina still knows nothing personal about Ashe. The only thing she knows is that navy blue is Ashe's favorite color, due to the fact that the white-haired female mostly wore clothes with that specific color scheme.
Surprisingly, especially for her, Ashe has somehow discovered some of her likes and dislikes, not only of her body, but also of her usual everyday actions. Most of them are little things, to be honest.
Ashe seemed to have noticed how she prefers sunny-side up eggs instead of scrambled, how she wants her toast to be softer than usual, how she likes the scent of roses and many more.
The moments between her and Ashe are unforgettable, but what has her always thinking is how Ashe knows how to make her sleep with an exceptional massage. It's something Ashe gave her whenever she feels tired, stressed or tensed, and every session of it is absolutely blissful.
Also, Ashe has been applying the same healing ointment all over her body for the past few days, which made the bruises around her body disappear. The knowledge that Ashe is actually taking care of her somewhat scared Katarina, but she makes an effort in disregarding all of it.
She may now know what to make Ashe squirm and moan, but when it comes to non-sexual acts, she's as clueless as she can get, yet Ashe never did say a word about it. Katarina assumed that she's not asking anything about it mainly due to the fact that getting to know each other's interests and whatnots aren't included in their type of relationship.
But, why is she thinking about all of this now?
It's a question she can't answer.
For now, that is.
"Hey, Kata." Cassiopeia greeted as she walked inside the dining room to join her for breakfast.
She merely glanced at her sister, continuing in shoveling a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
"You've been sporting marks on that neck of yours rather often," Cassiopeia mentioned, eyeing the hickey found near Katarina's pulse. "Did that come from another one-night stand, or is that from the same girl you've been sleeping with lately?"
Katarina swallowed her food before questioning, "What's it to you?"
"Oh, nothing. Just curious."
"You're rarely curious about my personal business." She pointed out, narrowing her eyes at her sibling. "What're you getting at, Cass?"
"I'm just wondering if it's almost time for you to decide in bringing someone over to introduce as your girlfriend. After all, you have never been in a relationship with anyone ever since you were born. All you do is bang and run."
"Well, that is my usual way. I don't really like limiting myself to only one option."
Cassiopeia sighed, but nonetheless dismissed it. "Anyway, Father is currently at his study, arranging the paperworks for the business deal between the government and Winters Enterprise."
"And I should care why?"
"We don't expect you to, but Father did tell me to ask you to behave today."
"What am I, five? And why should I?"
"Alkove Winters and his daughter, Ashe, will personally be visiting today to speak with Father and I about the terms and the contract, so no funny business, Kata."
Katarina nearly dropped her spoon when excitement suddenly sprouted within her after hearing Cassiopeia's words. The endless possibilities that passed through her mind made her want to grin, all of them involving her and Ashe doing lewd things in her family's very own estate.
"Kata?" Cassiopeia called for her attention, since she uttered and showed no response to her warning.
"What time are they going to arrive?"
"Around four of five in the afternoon." Once again, her sister narrowed her eyes at her. "You seem excited."
Her grin finally broke out. "I am."
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Ashe and her father are always as silent as a mute whenever they're reading something, especially if that something is a contract, or maybe paperwork, that involves the family company. Just like right now, she and her father are currently reviewing the documents they're going to have signed later on by General Du Couteau, while they both sat at the backseat of a car.
Ashe spent most of the morning and early afternoon at Zaun Avenue, leaving Hearth's Store one hour before her father had a driver pick her up at her apartment. Even her father doesn't know where she spends most of her weeks. All he knows is that Ashe is always at her apartment during weekends and every Friday, she's at Fortune's Treasure, the well-known strip club for the rich. But, unlike those two, he knows nothing about her trips to the lower city.
Alkove never did approve of Ashe's choice in entering that kind of employment, but he knows that he has no right to make Ashe's decisions for her. If what Ashe wants is to work as some special stripper, then he could only stay quiet and not mention to anyone about such knowledge.
"Thank you for accompanying me again, Ashe." Alkove thanked, taking his eyes off the folder he has in hand and directing them to his daughter. "This deal will benefit our company greatly, and I'm thankful that you're willing to assist me in closing it."
"It's not a problem, Father." Ashe replied, gaze remaining stuck on the document she has in hand.
Ashe knew that her father doesn't know what to say to her to make her somehow open up to him. She and her father aren't really the closest in the family, regardless of him being the main reason why she officially has the name 'Winters'. Alkove is her father, yes, but he never really knew her the way Avarosa did.
"It's your mother's birthday next week." Alkove mentioned, awaiting her reaction to his words.
"I know."
"It'll also be your birthday."
It's true. She has the same birthday as her mother, which is why it's an impossibility for her to forget about such occasion.
"I don't think this is the appropriate time to discuss personal matters." She said, turning to look at her father briefly. "I think we should focus on the task at hand, instead of burning time with casual chatter."
Her father sighed, but relented in the end. Once he refocused back to the folder in his hand, Ashe copied his actions immediately after. She knows her father is trying as much as he can to build their father-daughter relationship, but Ashe couldn't bring herself to just let that happen.
She felt the car halt, followed by the driver's notification to them that they have finally arrived at the Du Couteau residence. She gave her father the document she was reviewing and waited until the driver opened the door before she stepped out of the vehicle, Alkove following after her.
A butler stood at the bottom of the staircase at the front of the entrance of the mansion, bowing in greeting and speaking only when they approached.
"Mister Winters, Miss Winters," The butler greeted. "General Du Couteau is expecting you both. Please, this way."
As they walked through the front doors of the manor, the first thing that caught Ashe's eye, instead of the beautiful and grand chandelier, was the carpeted staircase that she assumed where Katarina had tumbled down two weeks ago.
"Follow me please." The butler led them into a room, where they found three of the mansion's residents situated around a rectangular table.
The patriarch of the Du Couteau family sat at one end of the table, the chairs at the right vacant, probably reserved for Ashe and her father. Across those vacant seats is where the two Du Couteau sisters can be found seated at.
She and Katarina instantly met each other's gazes, but she quickly broke her stare away, not wanting to trigger any suspicions of any sort. They all exchanged greetings and formalities, and after those were finished, the talk about business started immediately.
Ashe spoke first for her and her father. She began listing out the possible outcomes if the General were to agree on their terms and accept the deal, all the while she answered Cassiopeia's questions. The moment she finished her part in the introduction, Alkove took over from there.
As she watched her father take Marcus and Cassiopeia's undivided attention, she felt something rub against her legs, which are currently crossed. She didn't have to look under the table to know who's responsible for it. She ignored it, paying it not an inch of attention.
Katarina, the perpetrator of the act, used one foot to uncross her legs. Ashe felt her left foot be pushed up until the heel of her shoe quietly made contact with the floor. Nobody minded the quiet click of the heel, except for a certain pair.
Ashe finally gave Katarina the attention she sought for, eyeing the redhead with a narrowed look. Under the table, Katarina slipped her right slipper off before she stretched her leg out again.
Nearly jumping in surprise at the contact, Ashe felt Katarina slide her foot past her fitted pencil skirt and between her legs. She attempted closing her thighs to deny Katarina her plans, but the green-eyed female already anticipated that action from her.
Ashe stiffened on her seat once she felt Katarina suddenly thrust her foot forward, toe pushing against her clit above her thong.
She regretted sitting across Katarina.
With immense difficulty, she prevented herself from squirming on her seat as Katarina began teasing her with one foot, toe moving up and down against her covered heat, which slowly began to make her aroused as seconds passed.
Ashe clenched her teeth before forcing her thighs close, shooting Katarina a pointed look that demanded her to stop her ministrations. Instead of stopping immediately, Katarina flicked her gaze to the right and towards the door, hinting to Ashe what she wants to do.
Being as inconspicuous as she can, Ashe withdrew her phone from her skirt's lone pocket. She turned and kept her gaze on Cassiopeia, who seems to be asking a question to her father, before using only her peripherals to type up a message, which she sent to the mischievous redhead.
Katarina thankfully retracted her foot away from her, but the damage is done. Ashe can already feel the wetness that will surely stain her underwear. The red-haired female took out her phone from her jacket's pocket, taking her lustful gaze away from her only to read the text she sent.
Ashe: Not now.
The silent scoff Katarina let out made Ashe want to give herself a slap. Of course Katarina won't just stop. There's always a catch if she wants her to stop completely.
Katarina: One round, at the bathroom down the hall.
Ashe: No.
Katarina: I won't stop until you say yes.
To make a point, Ashe felt Katarina slither her foot between her thighs again before she could even do anything about it. Katarina's movements are more aggressive, her thong becoming damper with each minute that passed.
Obviously, Katarina's stubbornness isn't easily subdued.
Inside, Ashe wanted nothing more but to moan, but outside, her composure remained, only her eyes giving away the struggle she's currently feeling.
Katarina: I won't stop until you say yes.
The re-sent message popped below the first one, emphasizing the point Katarina wants to get across. Damning everything to Hell in that moment, Ashe decided to put an end to the madness she's becoming sexually frustrated with.
"Excuse me," Ashe abruptly spoke, capturing everyone's attention. "May I use the bathroom?"
Without even directly looking, she took notice of the twitch Katarina's lips had done, probably wanting to curve up into a triumphant smirk. Thankfully, Ashe's request is reasonable, so it didn't trigger any suspicions whatsoever.
"Of course," Marcus nodded, turning to Katarina after. "Katarina, if you will."
Successfully, Katarina concealed her smirk with a casual expression. "With pleasure, Father."
Ashe walked towards the door first, Katarina trailing closely behind her. The redhead opened the door forher though. As she walked through the doorway and past Katarina, a low murmur reached her ears.
"With pleasure indeed."
The two of them headed down the hall, passing by a couple of house staff, which prevented Katarina from doing anything with her. She can feel the heated gaze from her companion, knowing Katarina's as aroused, or maybe more, as she is.
Arriving at the bathroom, again, Katarina pulled the door open for her. She saw Katarina lick her lips before she walked inside. The door was closed and locked, and next thing Ashe knew, she was pushed against the nearest tiled wall and her lips were taken by Katarina's eager ones.
"You just couldn't wait, could you?" Ashe questioned once she pushed Katarina back and began undoing the buttons of her blouse.
Katarina chuckled as she tugged her shirt off of her head and started to unbutton her jeans. "Waiting doesn't exist when I'm with you."
Ashe had only completed in unfastening the buttons of her top when Katarina decided that removing her pants can wait. She could merely stare in a daze as she responded to the kiss Katarina instigated.
Katarina's words somehow affected her. She had never heard anyone say that to her, especially with the amount of lust and passion the redhead had embedded it with. She felt her heart thump audibly in her ears once she heard the statement. It took quite an effort in her part to focus back to the main act in hand.
She couldn't figure out why she felt like she does right now, but once Katarina abandoned her lips and decided to show her interest to her neck by the act of sucking, she forced herself to shut out her rational side and let her own consciousness succumb to lust.
xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Author's Note: Hey, everyone! Sorry for not updating sooner. School just started two days ago and I've been busy for the past few weeks in arranging a few things, sooo, yeah, that's why the update was delayed. :3
I know, it's shorter than the others, but like I said, school has started. Hopefully, all of you understand the struggle. :P
To make it up to you all, I'll put their bathroom scene in the next chapter. Oh, and the jealousy will be shown in the next chapter as well. :)
Anyway, any thoughts you'd like to say? Feel free to do so. I'll make sure to read them all. :D