"All right Griffin, let's show these grounders how it's done."
Octavia was smiling brightly as she tugged at Clarke's hand, excitedly leading them onto the square. The victory song had made way for a rhythmic, tribal beat and there even seemed to be a traditional dance pattern to it. Even though Clarke was sure Octavia must have been taught the dance moves from Lincoln at some point (and that she could probably execute them well), Octavia paid no attention to the others around them as she started her own odd but intriguing mixture of the classic sway of hips and firm, tribal steps that were similar to those dancing around them. Clarke was hesitant at first, but the people around them were cheering and soon enough she, too, was swept up in the dance.
Lexa watched from where she still sat at the table, struggling frantically against the urge to join Clarke at the dance area and wrap her arms around her middle so Clarke's hips could move against her as her breath ghosted over the back of the sky girl's neck.
But she couldn't, she told herself.
She shouldn't.
She clenched her teeth together against the warm sensation in her stomach and hoped everyone was too distracted by the feast's activities to notice the way her eyes stayed glued to Clarke's swaying figure.
Two more songs had passed when the crowd made way for a group of sparsely clothed, handsome young men and beautiful young women. Their steps were in line with the beat of the drums as the exotic looking group moved through the crowd, who had started a loud cheer at their appearance.
Hips swayed, bellies danced and arms moved seductively through the air.
Clarke watched intently as the dancers made their way to the center of the area, starting a synchronized dance. It was quite an impressive performance, the precise and fluid movements of their exposed bodies moving in sync.
The dancers' movements eventually became more individual, still sharing similarities but moving out of formation and merging with the crowd around them. She barely noticed how Lincoln had come up behind Octavia, wrapping one of his arms around her middle, giving the dancing young men close to them an intimidating stare.
Clarke felt a blush creep over her cheeks as a few of the dancers made eye contact, gradually moving closer. Her own movements became simpler as her focus moved to the smooth motions of the tanned bodies in front of her. Something flipped in her stomach, and she turned her head to search for Lexa, her body suddenly flushed.
To her amusement she found one of the dancers giving Raven a rather impressive lap dance, but her mouth fell open when her eyes fell on Lexa. She was still in the same spot Clarke had left her, only now three young women surrounded their Commander. Two of them flanked her, laying the touches of lingering fingers through the ends of her hair, the side of her face and the top of her hands that rested on the chair.
Lexa's jaw was tense and her eyes focused on the movement of the girl in front of her, the dancer's breasts remarkably exposed as she swayed expertly in front of Lexa. When the girl lowered herself from where she had been hovering over Lexa, settling inches above Lexa's thighs and still moving her hips sensually, Clarke pushed her way harshly towards them.
Her steps were firm and determined as she strode over to them, Lexa's eyes suddenly flicking from the dancer's to that of Clarke's who appeared behind the girl.
"Clarke."
Clarke squared her shoulders as she came up beside them and fixed her eyes in a dangerous stare on the dancer in Lexa's lap, who paid her no mind. Lexa's eyes were wide and she moved to get up, but Clarke held her back. She moved a hand to the top of the dancing girl's chest, just below her neck, and pushed her off Lexa's lap. As the girl stepped back with a defiant look, Clarke's hand slipped upwards to the curve of her neck and she had to restrain herself from choking the girl altogether.
It ran through her mind but she kept herself from saying it out loud - The Commander is mine.
The girl seemed to get the message and relented, moving back into the crowd. Clarke turned back to Lexa, and Lexa's breath escaped at the intensity of her blue eyes. The other women that had been lingering near Lexa's side had reluctantly stepped back as well and when Clarke leaned forward to whisper in her ear, Lexa tried her best to keep her face stoic.
"You're coming with me."
The moment they entered the bedroom, Clarke slammed her into the door.
"When you said it wasn't like our parties, I didn't realize you meant practically naked women would be lining up to give you lap dances," she growled, face close to Lexa's.
"Clarke, I'm the Commander. They were only-"
"What? Showing their appreciation?"
Lexa swallowed, because yes, that is what her people would call it. She was about to tell her she had nothing to worry about, when Clarke leaned in and took Lexa's bottom lip carefully between her teeth. She pulled it slightly and Lexa let out a soft growl at the sting.
"Do I not show you enough appreciation, Commander?" Clarke breathed huskily against her lips. "Are you so soon to forget how my fingers make you feel the moment they lay theirs on you?"
There was something primal in her voice, and Lexa wasn't quite sure if it was anger, but it was passionate and for some reason it made her breathe a little harder, made her skin flush with heat.
Clarke's hands came up to Lexa's sides, holding her in place while she pressed a few forceful, hungry kisses to Lexa's lips. She nipped down her jaw line, soon enough reaching Lexa's neck and sucking violently on the skin there. Her hands pulled at the front of Lexa's clothes, dragging her away from the door, through the room, and pushing her against the opposite wall so the guards wouldn't be able to hear everything so explicitly. For a moment Lexa considered fighting back, knowing she could easily overpower Clarke, but instead she let her have her way.
Soon enough, Lexa's clothes were off, her delicately made dress now lying crumpled on the floor. Clarke was insistent, her mouth claiming Lexa's in the most urgent ways. She marked Lexa's neck, her shoulders, the top of her breasts and every inch below that, whispering words of possession until Lexa panted in the heat of the moment, that yes - she was Clarke's, and no one else's.
Clarke's jaw tensed, because she knew that Lexa would always belong to her people; but still she took every opportunity to claim her that night, taking every sound from the Commander's lips as her own, because she had created them.
"I don't care for them, Clarke."
Lexa tried to say more, tried to explain that the girls had meant nothing to her and that she only wanted her, but Clarke was taking her roughly and something was blocking Lexa's throat, something that forced her to breathe heavily.
Clarke's fingers were persistent and her mouth forceful until Lexa's head flew back and her chest heaved and Clarke knew that she had claimed her in every way she could.
"Clarke." Lexa's breathing had only barely calmed down as she entwined her tired legs with those of the other girl, sinking into the bed and reaching out for the warm body beside her. Clarke moved to lie beside her, her arms around Lexa as she nuzzled herself into the sky girl's neck for comfort and ran a hand over the smooth plane of Clarke's stomach.
For a moment, they quietly listened to the sounds of the ongoing celebration outside. Clarke frowned as she thought things over.
"Are you doing this on purpose?" she suddenly asked Lexa.
"Hm?" Lexa hummed into her skin.
"Were you trying to make me jealous?" Clarke clarified, her frown still in place as her eyes slightly widened at the realization.
Lexa moved to look at her. "You were jealous?"
Clarke almost rolled her eyes. "Like that wasn't sort of obvious."
A corner of Lexa's mouth lifted. "No, I wasn't doing it on purpose." She leaned her head back against Clarke. "I have to say I don't mind the outcome, though."
The sounds of celebrations continued long into the night, the people finding entertainment in a great many things. Raven walked past a group of jugglers and fire breathers, where she stopped momentarily to inspect how they did it, and eventually walked up to the area where a fighting contest had started. Like expected, she found Octavia watching with great interest, standing ready to participate herself.
"Hey O, have you seen Clarke?"
Octavia reluctantly looked away from the match in front of her.
"No, not since those fancy dancers appeared." She glanced towards the empty throne and then towards the table they had been sitting at earlier before looking back at Raven.
"The Commander isn't here either. Maybe they're having their own private celebration," she chuckled carelessly with a raise of her eyebrow before moving her attention back to the wrestling warriors rolling in the dirt.
Raven rolled her eyes and smiled, nudging Octavia in the side before taking a seat next to Echo and Lincoln, not too far away.
"I know what we need to liven up those parties at Arkadia. Fire breathers."
Clarke grumbled that it was way too early when Lexa urged her to get up.
"The morning is the best time for training, Clarke. We will not have many onlookers and the air is still nice and cool," Lexa explained as she threw on a thin shirt and pulled on a pair of deerskin trousers.
"It's not going to be the best time if I am barely awake," Clarke objected. Lexa watched her for a moment, contemplating her next move. She jumped back onto the bed, causing Clarke to squeal out at the unexpected move, and positioned herself to straddle her. Lexa leaned down to place a kiss on Clarke's neck, moving up to teasingly nibble below her ear.
Gradually, she pulled back the bed sheets, exposing Clarke's skin to the cool air. Lexa's warm hands glided down Clarke's sides, and she pulled back to hover over blue eyes. Clarke nudged her chin upwards, trying to connect their lips, but Lexa pulled away further until she completely sat up again.
Clarke sighed at the denial, but wasn't going to make an effort to chase after her. When that became apparent to the Commander, she decided on a different tactic.
Her fingers started moving fast in quick, short motions against Clarke's sides, causing her to squirm and giggle beneath her.
"Lexa, what the-" Clarke tried to roll out from underneath her without success, and Lexa didn't stop her tickle attack. "Okay, okay, I'm coming with you! Stop it!" Clarke chuckled while swatting Lexa's hands away, and only then did Lexa move off her, a bright smile on her own face.
And Clarke pulled on her clothes in a daze, because the last thing she had ever expected was for Lexa to tickle her.
But oh, she loved this side of her.