Summary: The story so far: With Sucy and Lotte recovering from an accident Akko has been staying with Diana allowing them to connect as never before. Akko unexpectedly announced she would move back to her room, causing Diana to seek guidance from Ursula.
Chapter TextApart from Alcor's squawk there was no answer to Diana's knocks. Then a familiar voice floated up the spiral staircase.
"Hello, is someone there? I'm in my bedroom if you need me."
Diana turned and made her way down the steps to Ursula's bedroom situated directly below the room that served as her study and observatory.
"Hello Diana" Ursula said as more than a breezy smile greeted her visitor. Leaning against the open door her teacher wore a loosely tied bathrobe that travelled only a small distance down her thigh.
"I didn't disturb you from your bath did I, its nothing that can't wait" Diana said as she felt her cheeks turn a hue to match the long damp hair in front of her.
"Don't worry, I just got out so it's a happy coincidence, come on in. I'll brew some tea," Diana crossed the threshold and felt a hand on her shoulder ushering towards the homely sofa.
"You're so tense," Ursula said as she felt her visitor's shoulders, "I hope its not from our run?"
"Maybe a little and some other things"
"Tell you what, instead of tea why don't I give you a nice massage and you can tell me all about it at the same time, I've got some oil here somewhere"
"Oh I wouldn't want to put you to trouble and besides I've not had chance to freshen up since this morning"
"It's no trouble and you can have a shower while I find the oil. I learned it on a spiritual retreat years ago, it'll be good for me to have a practice."
While she awaited a towel Diana surveyed the room. It possessed a lived in feel missing from the room above, but shared the same circular shape with a sleeping section featuring a large bed, a living area, kitchenette, with a further subdivision for a little bathroom. There were several shelves with haphazard collection of books and memorabilia, somewhat mirrored around the bed with open draws and eclectic ornaments. If above was Ursula Callistis' room, this was Chariot du Nord's.
A towel was thrust into Diana's hands and a playful push sent her towards the bathroom. As the tepid water drizzled down, she recalled Avery once praising a massage at a spa. Maybe it was the thing to help her relax and take her mind off Akko. Five minutes later Diana emerged from the bathroom as Ursula crouched by a chest of draws picking up bottles to check their handwritten labels.
Diana stood nervously and listened to the clink of bottles being removed and returned. Without wanting to disturb the search she coughed a little and said "...I've finished in the shower"
"That's good, I thought the oil was somewhere else, but I think it must be in here, lie on the bed I'll just be a jiffy."
Diana dropped her wet towel into the half full washing basket and, with trepidatious glance at her soon to be masseuse, moved on to the bed.
"Ah ha, found it!" Ursula said in triumph.
No one could have fairly described Ursula as vain, nevertheless as she toured the world she was drawn to lovers with the same delicate feminine beauty that she possessed. The young woman that met her eyes was lovely beyond any she had seen. Soft pastel curves gave a radiance that chased away the room's melancholy loneliness. Ursula would have been happy to contemplate the sublime image, however there was a massage to perform.
Oil fell from the bottle in a roving waterfall up the delicate vale of Diana's back. Soon her skin felt the enchanted liquid's balmy warmth. The bottle placed on the bedside table, Ursula crawled on to the bed giving instructions to speak-up if the pressure was too hard. Ursula tucked the back of her robe under herself and sat astride Diana. Despite this barrier, Diana's breath paused when she felt the contact of the fabric on her cheeks and naked thighs pressed against virginal hips. A skating touch took oil to visit every part of the exposed back and shoulders, before stokes began to explore tension and focused here and there to give extra attention. As her body gradually relaxed Diana's mind fizzed with a cascade of thoughts. The pleasure of another woman's touch. How Akko had looked that morning and the longing she had felt for her all day. The looseness of the robe so very close to her. Akko's slender girlish figure like a personification of spring blossoms. Why Ursula hid her beautiful self away in a tower. If her own detachment from others would lead to the same fate. All these thoughts ricocheted through her mind.
"You're so tense, I can listen to your problem if you want" Ursula volunteered.
"Thank you I would like that, Akko moved back to her room and I'm not sure why"
"...and you miss her?"
"Yes, yes I do...I thought she was happy and I don't know if I did anything to upset her?"
"I doubt you'd miss it if you had done, she isn't one for hiding her feelings! My guess is she's visited Lotte and Sucy, seen they're on the mend and probably feels more settled and not so worried about being alone"
"Amanda...Amanda O'Neill is going to stay with her"
"Ah, I see," Ursula said as her fists kneaded a troublesome knot, "how is the massage so far, how does it compare to others you've had?"
"I've never had one before."
"Really? Touch is very important...I have a theory that our hands took their shape so we could show our affection...and hold each other...and and massage each other, so giving and receiving touch is the most natural desire we have...is that silly?
"It's not in the textbooks, but perhaps it should be...your touch...is – is very pleasant"
"Pleasant! J'espère que je méritais plus qu'agréable!" Ursula said in a mock fit of dismay over the faint praise. On impulse she tucked her fingers into Diana's exposed armpits and began to tickle. The reaction was immediate. Diana began to squeal and wriggle unable to escape from the torment.
"Je me rends! Je me rends!," Diana pleaded in an attempt for mercy.
Suspending her assault and seeking a worthy complement Ursula asked, "Alors comment aimez-vous le massage?
"Je suis désolé, je suis désolé, j'adore le massage" Diana fawned in hopes her apology and professed love for the massage would signal the suspension of hostilities, for in truth she would welcome the laughter it brought a thousand times.
"That's better! Remember Lady Cavendish you are at my mercy"
"Indee..uhhhhh" Diana's polite prose were cut off as a palm slid strongly up her back forcing her to exhale. As the pressure was applied Ursula lowered her hips against the pert backside beneath.
"Feel alright?" Ursula asked as she lowered her weight more on to the silky bum and moved her hands to focus on Diana's lower back, Only a consenting murmur came from underneath the blonde shroud as the stokes grew longer and more relaxing.
A short time later, Ursula's abrupt dismounting from her peachy saddle returned Diana from her dreamy state. Placid locks were disturbed by Diana turning her head to where she heard the sound of movement and saw the bottle of oil in Ursula's hand. If Akko's body held the promise of the dawn light, Diana thought as she saw the loose robe and the treasures beneath, Ursula's radiated the majesty of the noonday sun.
"Have you finished?" Diana asked anxiously.
Ursula smiled and replied tenderly, "I'd like to massage all of you and start on your legs, would you like that too?"
"Yes, but I – I've never...I..." Diana stuttered.
"Its your first massage, yes I know, just relax...I will listen to your body"
Ursula had long believed nature would never rival the triumph achieved when it created the female form, as she knelt by Diana's feet that philosophy achieved its ultimate proof. Long generous strokes explored elegant calf muscles, and slowly rose further and further up long inviting legs. Like a ship-wrecked soul offered a glass of the purest water, no one could blame Ursula's fingers gradually forgetting to heal and beginning to caress. She was ready for any subtle signal to stop her hands from sailing ever upwards. All that met her senses were the old familiar murmurs. Ursula through experience and Diana through instinct understood the path they were on even if the destination was unknown. The pace was steady and the massaging caresses began to merge with light teases. Diana, so long in need of release, could endure the silence no longer.
"Chariot..." Diana exhaled the word that vented the vast depth of connotations cradled within. The knot so valiantly holding Ursula's robe chose that moment to unravel.
"Professooor...Professooor" Akko's voice thundered into the bedroom from the stairwell like a rebuke from the gods.
Ursula jumped to her feet and wrapt her robe about her like it was mid-winter. Diana rolled the bedsheets over her as if she felt the same sudden chill. A look of equal parts guilt and regret lingered between them before Ursula turned off the lights and opened the door ajar, after a short conversation she disappeared up to the study with Akko. There was no point staying as Ursula would no doubt be with Akko some time and the mood had categorically been extinguished, guilt raging in its place. After dressing, a note gave Diana's apology for her departure and confirmation she would enjoy shopping for clothes on Saturday.
Diana's bed was very lonely that night and the world a much more complicated place than it had seemed in the morning.