The steam rising from the water made Akiseta's scales ache for the warmth of it. She gently pulled back on Arvak's chain as they approached the springs. No one else was around so late at night.
"What are we stopping here for?" Serana questioned.
"I thought you might like to see the hot spring. And, perhaps we could relax here for a bit?" Akiseta asked hopefully, looking over her shoulder.
She knew they needed to get the scrolls back to Dexion. She knew they had to find Auriel's bow. But this might be the last time they could really relax for a time. And, the idea of being alone in the spring with Serana was... very appealing.
Serana looked out over the spring. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
Akiseta smiled. They dismounted Arvak, who vanished in dim purple flash, and walked to the edge of the rocks. Warmth radiated from them, Akiseta could feel it through her boots, and it grazed the tip of her tail.
She set her backpack down, and stripped out of her coat, pants, and tunic. The cold struck at her previously protected scales, fighting with the heat from the steam. She then reached around for the strings of her bra.
"What are you taking that off for?" Serana asked.
"I want to feel the water on me entirely. I love the way it feels against my scales, and my skin, especially when it's this warm." Akiseta said wistfully. "And besides, wearing wet under garments isn't very comfortable." She set the bra along side her other clothes. Her underwear joined the little pile.
Serana turns her head. Akiseta swore she saw a flush of color in her pale cheeks.
"You don't need to be so embarrassed, beeko. We're both women."
"I know." Serana kept her head turned.
Akiseta wondered what was on her mind. She wondered if Serana was thinking about seeing her half-naked back in Winterhold. Akiseta knew she was thinking about Winterhold herself. Serana's hands gently gliding across the scales of her back and shoulders. The way Serana's hand felt on her cheek. The look in the vampire's eyes as she had begun to lean into her pale lips.
"You can relax around me, Serana. We're... friends." The word was hesitant. That's still all they were.
Serana let out a soft scoff. "Have all your friends seen you naked?"
"Lydia has a couple times, back when I'd turn back from being a werewolf. Aela has too, like after my first transformation, or when we both change back after a hunt."
"That's different."
It was. Akiseta hadn't felt these things for either of them. Or anyone else for that matter. Sure, there had been people who expressed interest in her. Like Brelyna. She was sweet, and she was pretty, and her magic had improved a lot since first coming to the College. Akiseta still remembered being turned into a horse, among other things. They had formed a nice friendship. Akiseta was always relieved to meet a Dark Elf who wasn't upset with her people about the events in Mournhold.
It was flattering to have someone think of her in that manner. But she just didn't feel that way about Brelyna. She was thankful Brelyna understood, and that they had remained friends. The Dunmer had seemed pretty close to a new apprentice at the College. Akiseta was happy for her.
Scouts-Many-Marshes was another Akiseta could think of. He'd never told her his Saxhleel name. He was a sweet man, and deserved better that the harshness of the Nords. At least she's gotten Torbjorn to pay the Argonians at the dock a fair wage. Scouts' interest in her was flattering as well, but she didn't have those feelings for him. Turning down another Argonian had been harder than she thought, but at least they were still friends. Last time she visited the Assemblage, she'd seen his tail entwined with Shavee's.
Akiseta hadn't had feelings like this for anyone but Thari-Na. She'd left Thari in Black Marsh, but the memories stayed. Working those feeling out of he heart had been hard, and Akiseta had assumed they were dead to her. But they were here, familiar and new. And Serana was at the center of them.
"I know. I'm just saying, I'm comfortable being like this with you. You can be comfortable around me, too." Akiseta swished her tail in a nonchalant manner. "But you're free to do as you wish, beeko."
She lowered herself chest deep into the water, groaning as it covered her skin and scales. She turned her head as Serana began to undress, but stole a glance from her periphery. The feelings stirred more than ever as she saw Serana reaching to remove her bra, and she snapped her eyes shut to fight the urge to look. Sure, she'd seen Aela naked. But this was Serana.
A sharp intake of breath pulled her eyes open, and she turned her head to Serana, who stood in the water, completely undressed.
"Something wrong, beeko?" She asked, forcing her eyes to look at Serana's face.
"No, it's fine. My skin isn't used to this much warmth. I just needed a second to get used to it."
Serana slowly lowered herself into the water. Akiseta couldn't help but stare. Her body was just as pale and lovely as her face, just as perfect. Akiseta bit her lip as the vampire's chest disappeared under the water, though the water didn't hide much.
The warmth of the water was only adding to the warmth Akiseta felt in her cheeks and chest. And in her stomach, and... elsewhere. Her head buzzed. Her mouth felt dry.
Serana pressed herself against the rock, tilting her head back and letting out a pleased sigh. "This feels really good. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed warm water. I think I will have my baths warmed up from now on."
Akiseta nodded. "A fine idea. Well, if you'll allow me to indulge myself." She completely submerged herself, turning so her back was to Serana.
Being underwater made her feel hidden, and gave her the illusion she was alone. It allowed her to think. She wanted to think about the scrolls, about the prophecy, anything other than Serana.
That wasn't true. She wanted to think about Serana. She was thinking about Serana. Was Serana thinking about her too? The vampire hadn't brought up their little moment either. Was she nervous too?
Akiseta could hear her heart thumping, even though the water muffled the sound. The air she was pulling in through her gills was shaky. She sat up, drawing in a deep breath through her throat as her gills sealed. She lay back in the water, resting her head against the rocks, and looked up at the night sky.
She'd felt so confident before. Why couldn't she be so now?
Serana looked over at the Argonian. Water droplets clung to her feathers. Her black scales shimmered in the dark, shades of purple rippling through them. Her tail rested over her lower region, but the rest of her wasn't well hidden by the water.
She'd seen the way Akiseta stared at her as she lowered herself into the water. She usually didn't like being stared at. Cold red eyes watched all the time at the court. And the first time her exposed body had been gazed at, the look was beyond predatory. It was a terror engraved in her entirety.
But the way Akiseta looked at her, like she was something to be admired. The look in the Argonian's violet-red orbs had made her heart jump.
She remembered their little moment in the College, before the old man ruined it. The look in those eyes had been similar. And the way Akiseta had wrapped her tail around her waist, the way she'd leaned in.. Gods, Serana had wanted her to lean in.
And she knew Akiseta wanted it too. Why was she holding back now? There was no one else here, no cold eyes, no battles to fight, no intrusive old men. Just the two of them. And Serana was sick of waiting.
Serana moved closer to Akiseta. She could hear the Argonian's heartbeat, elevated, like her own.
"Aki, remember how you said my life was my own?"
"Of course."
"I've been thinking. Since my life is my own, I want to take more charge of things."
"That's wonderful, beeko." Akiseta sat up. "You've been doing so already, like helping stop your father, and standing up to your mother."
"True. But, I want to do a little more."
Akiseta tilted her head, swishing her tail in the water. "Like what?"
Maybe this was a stupid idea. Maybe she shouldn't do this. But she wasn't backing out now.
"This." Serana purred. She leaned up, pressing her lips against Akiseta's.
It was barely a moment before she felt Akiseta's lips move against her own. Her lips were warm, and slightly damp from the water, but they felt so good. Serana liked the way the scales brushed against her own lips.
A scaly hand threaded its fingers through her own. Akiseta's lips became more urgent, and Serana relented, letting out a soft moan as she felt a narrow tongue glide across her own. Akiseta tasted faintly of wine, and something sweet Serana couldn't name, but she wanted more of it.
Akiseta was the one to pull away, breathing hard. Serana sat up on her knees to grasp Akiseta's shoulders, and kissed her again. It caught Akiseta by surprise, and she fell back, pulling Serana down onto her. Warm water splashed around them.
Serana reveled in the taste of Akiseta's mouth. A please groan rumbled from Akiseta's throat, and she ran her hands along Serana's side. A small shiver ran through the vampire as the claws lightly grazed her skin.
Serana pulled away this time. A thin thread of saliva briefly connected them before it broke. She could feel Akiseta's chest pressing against her own, warm, wet, rising and falling as the Argonian panted.
Serana moved to kiss the fleshy part of Akiseta's neck, enjoying the groan she felt the Argonian let out. Claws gripped her skin harder, and a wet tail wrapped around her waist. She enjoyed the feeling of the scales sliding across her skin.
Serana felt her fangs slip out, and she drew them across Akiseta's neck, one of them grazing the line where skin melded into scales.
"Serana..." Akiseta murmured, tightening the grip her tail had on Serana's waist.
Serana drew her fangs up Akiseta's neck again in the same motion, applying a bit more pressure. The deep groan she received in response was music to her ears.
"Serana.." Akiseta hissed out, her voice soft and airy. Her claws grazed up Serana's back and neck, her fingers finding Serana's raven hair as the Argonian pulled her closer.
The way Akiseta's body felt against her own was maddening to Serana. The feel of her skin and scales, the lingering taste of her mouth on Serana's tongue, and her mixed scent were a new kind of intoxicating.
She felt a throbbing in her fangs, and a need to do something with them. She drew them along Akiseta's neck again, slower this time, pressing as hard as she could without puncturing, and she heard Akiseta let out a breathless gasp. She adjusted her head so the tips of her fangs were at Akiseta's throat. Akiseta was all hers now, and she wanted to let the Argonian, and everyone else, know it.
Her chin was grabbed, and her head was moved upward, away from Akiseta's throat. Serana's irritation was short lived when the Argonian kissed her, and she retracted her fangs so she didn't hurt those perfect scaly lips.
She felt a palm against her upper chest, and a small bit of space was between them as the kiss broke. Akiseta swallowed, panting hard. If her scales were lighter, Serana was sure her face would be as flushed as she felt her own was. Akiseta trailed a finger along her neck, where Serana had drawn her fangs.
"Sorry..." Serana breathed. She hadn't realized how out of breath she was.
"Don't be. It's just... this isn't really the place for... you know... that."
A part of Serana wanted to argue, since it was dark, and they were alone. But, they were still out in the open, and they weren't the only people in the world that traveled at night. It would get really awkward if someone stumbled upon them in an... intimate scenario. Despite her disappointment, Serana figured it was a good thing Akiseta had stopped her from making the claiming bite. Neither of them would have had enough willpower to stop things from going further after that.
"You're right." Serana said. She adjusted herself off Akiseta, laying in the water next to her. She idly played with the fangs of Akiseta's necklace, the only article of clothing the Argonian had kept on. "It's fine. I can wait." She purred.
Akiseta turned her head away, and Serana was sure she was blushing. They stayed like that for a time, letting the water warm their bodies, listening to their heartbeats mix with the sounds of night.
They eventually got up and dried off with linens, and got dressed. Serana saw the Argonian steal glances at her, and she couldn't help but steal a few of her own. Akiseta gave her a kiss after they were dressed. It was soft, sweet, and a little too short for Serana's liking, but they had to go.
She sat behind Akiseta on their fiery skeletal steed. She held onto Akiseta's waist, and smiled as she felt the Argonian's tail wrap around her own waist, before urging Arvak forward.
She leaned in, filling her lungs with Akiseta's scent.
