Chapter 29: Lessons…Beginning Sessions…
A/N: Again, some instances of intimacy. Not intended trite (remember, this is how Lucifer most easily communicates on this plane and how she despite herself, surprisingly, responds best to this feral part of him; assuaging her responsibility for cogent remediation of logic). I'll leave markers before and aft as the rest is more of that 'mortar' that is important in relationship – building of any sort. The song in play is "Hey Wow" by The Connells.
[ ]
Since they had uncharacteristically fallen asleep so early, Canaan woke soon after dawn. It took her a moment to reorient herself in time and place: in Lucifer's bedroom, under his covers with one of his arms loose around her shoulders and her head tucked under his chin. Extricating one hand to rub her eyes she looked around. The huge expanse of windows here had no curtains, and the early glow indicated clearing cloud cover from last night's storm. The winds were still strong; gusts sending washes of riven snowy scuds over the high windows. From what little she could see it was a relatively spartan space. The huge bed they were lying in, recliner with a scatter of books by the windows, desk across the room. Several doorways on different walls, including the open double one to the landing where Cearrebus lay, head up, watching her. She smiled at him and he rested his massive jaw back down on his front legs, tip of his long tail twitching happily. She turned her head back to see another pair of eyes looking on through thick lashes half-lowered with sleep, corners crinkling as he smiled. Lucifer brushed his fingers over her forehead, sweeping tumbled locks of hair from the side of her face.
"Good morning. How do you feel?"
She smiled back at him as she thought of her answer. "A bit drained." His brow furrowed slightly. "No, no. Not drained like 'tired' – we must've slept for nearly seven hours." Good sleep was hard for her to come by between work, stress and her erratic schedule. This was a welcome treat. "Drained like 'absence of unknown malice'. It feels good." His expression relaxed, remembering the welcome emptiness he'd first felt during his long night on her balcony. His forehead wrinkled again at her slight wince.
"What?"
"Well, one other thing. Maybe a little…um…sticky."
He laughed. "Yes. I agree. Easy enough fix, that. Right, crack on." Unceremoniously tossing the covers off, he rose quickly, hoisting her over his shoulder on the way up. Punishing her surprised squeal with a small spank he walked them across the room.
"Consider yourself lucky I didn't do this last evening. As I saw you coming up the stairs in that dress I wanted to drag you away and leave the pots to burn."
Giggling like a kid, she spoke to him from upside-down over his back. "That would have been an awful waste – it was delicious. The dress is gorgeous. Certainly better than what I had to wear. Speaking of which, there's a pretty wide variety of clothing items on the bench downstairs. Know anything about that?"
"Perhaps." She could hear the tease in his voice. "First things first, though."
The door he'd pushed through led into a beautiful master bath with a high glass ceiling tapering toward the slanted point overhead. Big tub (of course), larger open shower and door to another greenhouse-style enclosure beyond. As he adjusted the water temp she ducked into the loo behind another door. Thanks goodness for construction that allowed privacy. As she came out her jaw dropped, really taking things in. His shower was incredible. The long side was the exterior glass, (again, she really hoped he didn't have near neighbors) and the high tiled sides of the front and back wall had brushed brass pipes which nearly looked like an abstract sculpture woven between them. Water poured from this intricate sieve in varying angles of silver ribbons. It must be like standing in a rainstorm – she couldn't wait to find out.
"Go on, get in. Be right back."
Canaan reached an upturned palm under the water – the hot side of warm and just perfect. Slipping in she felt the tingle and wash of the streams cover her completely. Amazing. Closing her eyes she raised her face to the 'rain', savoring the experience. She startled a little when she heard a close voice.
"Now that's a sight."
Lucifer was standing behind her, pulling gently at her long hair, running it over his hands. It felt good. It felt even better when he lathered it up, massaging her scalp and playing as he rinsed, the foamy suds streaming down her body.
"Mmmm…" It felt nice to be petted a bit; his hands were strong and gentle both, and she leaned to his touch. Well-washed, she turned to look up at him. "I'd return the favor but you're a little…inaccessible up there."
"Well that won't do, hey?" Smiling, he sat down in front of her on a tiled bench. Exactly eye level with her breasts. "Right, now this is ideal."
'Incorrigible, aren't you?"
"Practice makes perfect."
As she worked the lather he'd poured into her palm through his thick hair he picked up a clipper and leaned over to grasp one of her ankles and raise her foot to the bench beside him. "What are you doing?" "Just a little groundskeeping. Your turn first, me next." He'd always been so unpretentious about all aspects of both his body and hers that she wasn't as flustered as she'd have thought having him perform the little chore. It was such a strangely intimate experience to have him shave her. First each leg, then her underarms. Watching the careful attention in his eyes as he held her wrists high above her head to do so. He ran a hand down the front of her body, and in a huskier voice spoke, "What a pretty little pelt. Let's just whisk along the sides, yes?" The feel of the clipper vibrating on her sensitive skin, his gentleness as he swept one leg at a time over his knee to reach between, her hands balancing on his shoulders, feeling the muscles flex under them as he moved. She had never been so turned on by simple maintenance as she was now. He looked up at her, his dark eyes nearly black with desire. "Well, now…let me just check my work."
[ - ]
In one smooth motion he grasped her waist as he rose, turning her back to the wall. The contrast of cool tiles on her shoulderblades and the warmer water flooding over her nearly made her gasp. What happened next did. He lifted her high, her legs coming to rest on his arms. She was directly under the conduit, rivers of water sluicing over her body. When she felt him slide her thighs forward to his shoulders she quickly grabbed two of the thicker pipes. Knowing how strong he was, she had no fear of falling, but the feel of his hot mouth against her confluence made her head spin and she was in dire need of some stability. His tongue nearly rendered her insensate. Soft and undulant when licking at her with broad strokes, firmer when manipulating the sensitive node above. He kept her tortured, twisting above him, bringing her rushing to the brink repeatedly then backing off, closer each time. The combination of water flooding heat over her skin, the solid chill at her back, the strength she felt underneath as he held her easily and the extraordinary attentions paid to this most receptive part of her body became nearly unbearable. One of the few cogent thoughts crossing her mind was the appreciation of the noise of the pounding water, as she was grateful for anything to help mask the sort of sounds she was incapable of holding back. When he began to suck at her as well she let go with one hand to tangle it in his hair.
"You're destroying me, please. Please…." Begging him to let her come, please now, and well past the point of shy about needing it. She felt his lips and tongue work her harder, finally (finally!) releasing her from the lovely pain. As she began to tumble over the edge she felt him move quickly, sliding her down over his chest and belly to thrust himself deep inside. The feel of him there so solid. So good. His hold never let her break contact with his skin and the slick friction of his wet body was electrifying. Her orgasm drew out in long, pulsing arcs synced with his lunges. This sensation…incredible…The last rational part of her remaining was thankful for his firm grip as left to her own devices Canaan was sure she'd have collapsed in a boneless heap. Even so…
"Lucifer…it's so much…you're going to make me scream…"
"Do it, darling. Give me…something wonderful…to finish on…"
She bit him on the collarbone. Hard. Guttural sounds of surprised pleasure from both echoed off the tiles.
He shifted to hold one arm under her rear as his other braced against the wall, his final press even stronger as he joined her in release. She clung to him under the falling water, relishing the shudders rippling through his lean muscles. He still held her tightly and kept himself buried as he straightened up. Lucifer's beautiful voice was rough as he spoke, "Oh…how bloody good you feel to me." Hidden in his neck, placating the little welt she'd raised with softer fingertips she added, "Well, I highly recommend it from this end…rather the near side of pleasant." She felt the tremor run through his shoulders as he snorted in cheerful derision. Sudden splash of rascal in his voice.
[ - ]
"Hang on…"
"What are you doing?!"
Still holding her up from within and without, he swept them out of the shower with long strides, barging through the glass door at the end of the bath. Without slowing he took two quick paces and jumped. Suspended in the air and having no idea what to expect Canaan closed her eyes and crushed herself to him. If she was going to be thrown off a cliff by a crazy man, at least it was a great note to end on. What was waiting for them weren't jagged rocks but cool water. He had a lap pool in the greenhouse portion, four steps down from the short desk. They submerged together, the water refreshing to their hot skins. Surfacing, they separated. "You are…" Canaan's mind lurched through a varied trove of words, not finding anything even remotely appropriate to suit him. She settled for an old standby. "…just nuts." The mischievous light in his eyes flared brighter. "Come on, that's all you've got?"
"At the moment, yes. I'm feeling quite addled, thanks to you." Realizing the water tasted very un-gym-pool-like. Touching a finger to her tongue. "Salt?"
Giving her a lurid stare he ran a thumb over his lower lip. "The only taste in my mouth is sweet…"
Oh, how freaking filthy could he be? The man was in clear need of recompense. She gave him a tremendous splash and he closed his hands over his eyes, laughing at her. Fool. Water was her element. Giving herself an enormous shove off the bottom of the pool, she leapt at him, knocking him off balance and dragging them both under. Twisting herself around him she grabbed a lean hip from the back and sank her teeth - none too gently – into one firm cheek. She could hear his yelp of surprise bubble out through the water, and Canaan promptly snorted some up her nose as she started to laugh while still under. The both broke the surface, sputtering.
"Serves you right, saucy." Rubbing his backside and trying (and failing) to look put-out. "Is this going to be a…thing…now? I should warn you, I'm all about equal opportunity." Wickedly delicious grin.
"Well, you did ask for that yesterday. Didn't want you to think I forgot a special request." He looked perplexed for a second, then gave her a droll grimace remembering his 'bit behind' comment on the time of her departure. "Yes well, I'm about play of all kinds," the lecherous look was back "…but we should probably think on a safeword first." She rolled her eyes back at him. Realized she was starving and said so.
"I've already had a little something, so…ouch!" He shook off her quick pinch and tried to look appropriately penitent (failing again) as Canaan informed him that safeword or no, his other cheek was in serious jeopardy.
"All right then, come on." They walked up together to rinse the saltwater off. Canaan stood on the tiled bench to use the clippers to pare down the stubble on his face. Again, she was struck by the different slant of intimacy in the moment, his eyes closed against the water, her fingers on his jaw, allowing her to tilt him to reach where she needed. He opened his eyes, running a hand over his chin. "How'd I look?"
"Just beautiful." He was.
He said nothing, simply ran his palm down the side of her face, and looked at her reflectively. She closed her eyes and turned to kiss it. She felt his arms draw her in, holding her close for a few moments under the fall of water. Until her stomach growled loud enough for him to feel it vibrate against his skin.
Chuckling, he turned off the shower and tied on a bathrobe, quickly toweling his hair. Handing her a few from a fluffy stack. He looked absolutely adorable (and would likely die of indignant shame if she ever used that word out loud to him). Fresh, clean, satisfied and slightly disheveled. Mmmm.
"What?"
"Nothing…" she could only just smile at him.
"You fussy about breakie?" Huh? Oh. UK slang.
"Nope. As long as there's…"
"…a lot?" He quipped, laughing as she threw one of her towels at him and retorted, "Hey, I seem to burn a lot of calories around you. Can't be helped. I meant coffee. Or is that too non-continental for you?"
"Certainly not, aim to please."
"Well good on ya then, bloody brilliant show here mate, even if you are a bit mental." He snorted at her imitation of his accent and some low-rent argot. It was a decent take, intonations and all. He was tickled by the attention to detail the little tease required.
"Come down when you're finished. Hey. Then. Wot." Teasing her back in caricature. He beat a quick exit back through the door to the bedroom before she could throw something else, and she heard him talking to Cearrebus on the landing. She took the time to dry off well, and to try to coax one of his combs through her hair. A few tangles: a completely acceptable consequence of bedhead and enthusiastic hairwashing. Reluctant to parade down several flights of stairs clad only in a towel, she tried some of the doors, hoping for a closet. The first two were locked, which she found a little strange as this house seemed fairly impenetrable – especially with the guard dog it harbored. Third one was the charm, and she walked through a large closet, brushing her hands over his clothes. His scent lingered here, but she was sure it wasn't cologne; just him. She reached up to pull a white shirt from a hanger; she could at least feign purity. Her small frame swimming in the fabric she buttoned up the front (well, mostly; why not give him a little thrill?) and rolled the cuffs as she walked out to the landing. Cearrebus was waiting for her, tongue lolling out of his wolfish smile. "Hello escort. Is this neighborhood too much for me alone, you think?" Small sigh. "I'm not entirely sure myself."
She began to follow her nose down the curved stairway, one hand skimming the beautiful wood of the bannister and the other ruffling the flex of the dog's shoulders as he walked with her. Her comfort with the huge animal surprised her considering how ferocious he looked, but she'd always loved wild things. And for apparently not meeting many others he seemed pretty happy with her as well. Once again the gorgeous room was captivating; even more from this higher angle now that the early light of day was breaking through stronger as the storm cover receded. She stopped halfway down, spellbound. The west-facing wall of glass was starting to flush with the first reflections of the sun rising behind the house and the breathtaking promise of the view beyond. The snow cover glowed with the colors of sunrise on tiers of frosted dark evergreens near and far, huge slashes of rockfall and crag close by and as far as she could see into the distance, the mountains frozen in tectonic heave and crash. Fading away where darkness still lay. The sun was just beginning to catch the highest peaks, flaming them like ripples from a skipped stone. Juxtaposition of light and dark. Both beautiful. More so close together. As he had last night, Lucifer watched her from the kitchen, entranced as she drank in the beauty of the early morning. She was too focused to hear him approach, but felt the dog move under her hand to greet his master. She turned to him with a smile.
"'Hey, wow' is wholly insufficient, but it's all I've got."
"What do you think you could do with that?" Nodding at the view through the glass. Slightly knowing tone with less slightly raised eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Quizzical look and head tilt at him. He just kept looking at her, one corner of his mouth pursed and waited for realization to dawn. Oh. Right. She had put it out of her mind that he'd spent time alone in her house. He must have seen her workspace. For all her love of language in books, she found her art difficult to talk about as it came from a place without words. Like her feelings for him.
The tacit admission was enough for Lucifer and he handed her a steaming mug of coffee. She curled her hands around the warmth and sniffed gratefully. "Mmmm…perfect."
"Look here, I'm going to just finish up. Play me something as I do. Something…apposite." He watched a thoughtful look cross her face, then saw a flush of resolve flicker over her brow. He turned to cross back to the kitchen. This should be interesting…
Lucifer heard a few cascades of notes fall together, the phrases at first seemingly as separate from one another as the snowflakes outside blown on the wind. Moving in similar directions, but independent. She developed the melody, the rills of harmony flickering through under her light touch as he heard the song rise from her hands. A little wistful, a little sad…but with a freshening lean. It suited. She sang, not loudly, but he could hear her clean voice complementing the washes of music.
"Is the sun out, has the wind died?
Or is the stillness here, the calm between my ears?
And I know now, why they put me here."
Resignation. Difficulty with acquiescence on her face.
"Things were clear once, 'till the clouds came.
Now I don't know when they'll fall
No, I couldn't say at all
And I know now, why they've kept me here."
Jaw setting. Steeling herself for what came next. Stronger voice.
"I've been paralyzed, by a choice that lies well inside of me.
Which world to hold me now?
And I believe I'm drifting…"
He began to walk to her, drawn in.
"Hey, the mist surrounds me more and more; it swirls and it rains here.
And I have known this all before, but nothing's very clear."
He came to sit at the bench as he had last evening. Listening attentively.
"Are the stars out, is the sun down?
Or is the darkness here, the calm between my ears?
And I know now, why they left me here.
I've been mesmerized, by a voice that cries well inside of me.
She continued to face the keys as she played, but canted her eyes at him, little smile at the corner of her mouth.
Too loud to hold it down.
And I believe I'm drifting…"
She let her voice go silent, but developed the melody stronger through the chorus, picking up the tempo throughout. Singing the bridge.
"I've been paralyzed, by a choice that lies well inside of me.
Which world to hold me down?"
Letting the words drift away and allowing the strands of melody and harmony to unravel and scatter into the same wafts of phrase as when she began. Pausing as the last notes rang away, fingers still stroking the keys lightly.
"Interesting…don't think I'm familiar with that."
"Yeah, me either." Resigned expression on her face, but he was heartened to see it wasn't overly pensive.
"Hmm, perhaps something a little more..."
She interrupted. "Ah…he wants a little more. What a surprise. Well, how about..." Her hands hit the upper keys with a crash, startling him. Hearing Three Dog Night's 'Joy' erupt from under her fingers absolutely jiggered him with delight. He joined her enthusiastically, elegant fingers jamming over the lower keys to complement her fun at the top. He belted this one out, and some of his suggestive facial expressions over the more lascivious lines made her laugh so hard she was breathless. He hadn't had this good a time playing with someone since Father Frank years ago and remembering that loss gave him an unexpected pang. He'd been a real friend even though their time together was brief. The priest was missed. The man was his polar opposite yet had accepted this fallen son as all he was, so easily. And nothing Lucifer could do would force anyone else to do the same. Canaan saw a sudden indrawn look hollow his eyes. Understanding the feeling without knowing his reasons and not wanting him to get stuck as she had last night, she asked, "Didn't you have something on the stove?" The distraction worked. "Oh, bloody hell!" Lucifer rushed to avert a major kitchen disaster. They wound up enjoying lukewarm coffee and a slightly crispy frittata straight from the pan while lounging in front of the fire.
