Asami rolled onto her back and her head turned to the right as she looked at the ceiling. A metal vent was letting out a muted roar as hot air blew through its narrow slots. 'I guess we're far enough south that the heat has to kick on night. Won't be long before it's blowing twenty-four seven as we get closer to the South Pole. I should double check the engines and everything to make sure it's all up in good condition before getting underway. One more day of traveling and then I'll be back in the South Pole. Except this time I won't be looking for someone to marry. She'll be by my side.'

She turned her head towards the woman in question and a fond smile appeared on Asami's lips as she gazed at her slumbering lover. 'How did I get so lucky? I had no idea who I was going to find in the Southern Water Tribe or if I even would find them. Man, woman. Someone ten or twenty years older than me, possibly. They might have been cruel or a drunkard, a fool, ugly or all of the above. They could have been anything, really. Instead I got you. A strong, kind, brave, beautiful and above all, wonderful person. I'm glad it turned out to be you, Korra. I don't think I could have found a better person for this arranged marriage.'

Asami turned back onto her side and rested her cheek her bicep as she continued to gaze at Korra. The waterbender likely wouldn't be up for hours if the darkness outside their window was any indication. Under normal circumstances, staring at someone for hours on end wouldn't have been a very good way to pass the time. In this case though, she could make an exception since that person was Korra and Asami was always finding something new to admire every time she looked at the waterbender. Asami extracted her free arm from beneath the sheet then grabbed Korra's share of the blanket and moved it closer towards the other woman's neck. Once that was done she placed her arm back under the sheet and settled in to wait for Korra to wake.

Asami shot upright to a sitting position and her head swung from side to side as she looked around the room. Light was streaming in through the window and the bedroom door was cracked open just enough for a person to get through if they turned sideways. The spot on the bed next to her was empty, with only a faint depression remaining as a sign anyone had been there. 'I must have fallen asleep. Well, time to get up I guess.'

Korra's face peeped around the corner just as Asami was throwing the sheet and blanket off her legs. A goofy grin appeared on the waterbenders face. "Oh good, you're up. Stay right there." Korra pushed the door open wider and she stepped inside the room, with a food laden tray in her hands.

"What is this, Korra?"

"Breakfast." Korra cheerfully announced. "You were asleep when I woke up so I figured I'd surprise you with something to eat."

"What did you make?" Asami asked as she watched Korra set the tray down on the nightstand next to her then take a seat on the bed.

"Just some sandwiches and tea. I was by myself so I figured it was better to play it safe and not risk setting the ship on fire by making anything complicated. Still learning how to use the oven and all that." Korra said as she handed Asami a plate bearing sandwiches that had been diagonally cut.

Asami took the plate and pushed one of the halves to the side. In the middle of the pieces of sourdough was a fried egg, strips of blackened bacon and a slice of white cheese riddled with holes. "Thank you, Korra. This is really nice." Asami said with a grateful smile. "It's been a long time since anyone's served me breakfast in bed." She glanced at the porcelain pot and cups that Korra had brought. "What kind of tea did you make?"

"It's..." Korra picked up a torn paper packet from the tray and peered intently at it before finishing her sentence. "Lychee. Was the only kind of tea onboard that I haven't tried yet." She picked up the pot and poured some of the tea into a cup for Asami. "Not sure if it needs sugar or honey so I brought both to be safe."

"That was thoughtful of you, Korra. Lychee tea can be pretty sweet on its own so its not always necessary." Asami said before taking a sip and held the cup towards Korra. "Though it can also be bitter, like it is right now. Can I have some honey?" Once she had received the additive in question, Asami took another and smiled. "Better. Thank you, Korra."

Korra returned the smile for a few seconds before it faded as she looked at the sandwiches again. "Is this okay? I know it's not as fancy as what you're used to and all, but I'm getting better..."

"It's fine, Korra." Asami said with a soft laugh. "Honestly you're probably a better cook than I am by now. I suppose I should have learned at some point, but I've never needed to." She picked up one of the sandwiches and bit into it. After swallowing she gave Korra another smile. "This tastes great, Korra. Come on, let's eat then we can talk about what we're going to do tonight."

For a moment there was no response from Korra as she gazed mutely at Asami. Then she turned to the side and proceeded to snatch up the first sandwich on her own plate. She took a large bite and chewed hurriedly before taking another. By the time Asami had finished her first half, Korra was well into her second sandwich. 'I guess she doesn't want to waste any time.'

Korra might have been eager to get to that conversation, but Asami refused to rush. She took her time with each bite, making sure to chew it thoroughly before swallowing and moving onto the next. By the time Asami finished eating, Korra was impatiently vibrating on the spot as if ready to erupt. "So... I have an idea of what I want to do tonight, but I don't know if you'll be comfortable with it or not. You've told me that you're not interested in pain, which is completely fine, but I'm not certain how far that limit goes, however. Is it just receiving that you're uncomfortable with or are you uncomfortable with giving as well?"

Silence descended on the room and Korra looked away at the wall to her right. She fidgeted and tugged at the bedsheet, no doubt thinking the question over. Eventually she exhaled softly and looked back at Asami. "What exactly do you have in mind? I'm not agreeing to anything, but I want to know what we're talking about here."

Asami scooted out from underneath the blanket and moved to sit next to Korra. "Nothing too drastic. I want you to spank me while... you go at me with a strap-on? Maybe one of my other anal toys. I haven't really decided, yet. But spanking is what I was hoping for, but only if you're comfortable with it. If you're not then we can do something else or just have vanilla sex or even nothing if you want. I don't want to pressure you into anything you don't want to do." Asami took Korra's hand in hers and squeezed it for emphasis.

"So I know the book talks about this, but I'd like to hear it from you, Asami. What exactly do you get out of being spanked or flogged or whatever. It doesn't make any sense to me." Korra grumbled. "I've been wounded on more than one occasion and I know what pain is. Why someone would want to experience that during sex is beyond me."

"I can't speak for anyone else, just myself. For me, pain sort of 'shocks' my system. Everything feels a little more intense with each stroke and it can even give me a bit of an adrenaline rush if I'm really into it. What I really hope for is that it'll push me further into subspace. That said, I'm actually a bit of a wuss and I only like a little bit of pain. Just enough to redden my cheeks a bit. Nothing that would make me bruise or anything like that."

Korra slowly nodded once Asami had finished her explanation then glanced at the wall again. "I guess I can understand that. Sorta. I'll think about what you said today and make a decision by tonight. I'm not promising anything, just thinking."

Asami leaned over and pecked Korra on the cheek. "That's all I could ask for. Thanks for being willing to consider it. I know this is a gray area for you. If you decide against doing it then that's completely okay and I won't be mad. I want both of us to be happy with whatever we do. Anyways, now that this is over with, I wanna say thanks again for breakfast. This was really sweet." She kissed Korra on the cheek once again then stood up. "I'll see you tonight."

Her first destination was back into her room and over to the closet that held her every day outfits. She pulled it open and grabbed the canvas outfit she had been wearing the first time she had traveled to the South Pole. She would need that later today. For now, she threw on a pair of blue jeans and a black tee-shirt. 'Moving on.'

The engine room was much as Asami had expected to find it. Mostly silent. If the craft had been moving then she would heard the low pitched whirring of the electric engines that powered the ships propellers. As it was, the only sound was a muted roar coming from the furnace at the far end of the room as it pushed and pulled air to and from the living quarters she had just vacated. There was a second furnace, but it was located a deck above and nearer to the bow of the vessel. Asami stretched her arms up into the air before she grabbed a stick with feathers glued to one end. 'Time for some dusting.'

She took a few steps forward and swept the duster along a white box that rose to her waist and ran half the length of the room. Once she got to the other end Asami turned around towards a dial gauge mounted on top. On the inside of the glass cover a red arrow pointed towards a small black number. 'Sixty percent left on the batteries. We're doing better than I was expecting.' She tapped the dial and suddenly the arrow dropped to a lower value. 'Or not. Forty percent should be enough to get us to the rendezvous point though we might be running low. I'll have to turn the heat down to be safe. Break out some extra blankets. I'll have to radio the freighter once they get to the rendezvous and have them send a lightning bender over to charge the batteries. Course that means I'll have to hide all the sex toys and lock up the crew quarters to be safe. Speaking of sex toys, I have to decide which one I want Korra to use on me.'

Asami turned away from the gauge and moved to another part of the room as she continued dusting anywhere she saw a speck of gray. Once she finished Asami hung the duster back up on its hook and grabbed a pair of rubber gloves that had been hanging beside it. She pulled them on then headed back over to the battery compartment and lifted the lid. Her gaze swept over the black and white rectangles for any signs of leaks or corrosion. After a minute she lowered the lid back into place and retrieved her canvas jacket before heading out of the engine room.

As she climbed the stairs, Asami shivered and moved faster to dispel the chill soaking into her. 'So what toy should I go for? A hook would be fun. I could show Korra a knot and have her tie it to my hair before putting it in. That might be too much, though. I shouldn't push her any further than I already have by asking her to spank me. What else is there? Vibrator's a possibility, but Korra did that yesterday and I don't want to repeat what she did. It'd be a different toy, but still. Maybe I should stick to the basics tonight. Of course that's assuming she's even still interested in a session tonight. My request might have put her off it entirely.'

When she got to the pilots cabin, Asami threw the jacket on and turned the thermometer up. There was a brief pause then the vent in the flower began to growl as hot air rose into the room. She sat down in one of the chairs and flipped the switch to retract the anchor. Once the anchors signal light turned green Asami pushed forward on the throttle. 'Guess I'll find out tonight. I really should take Korra up on her offer to pilot the ship. Because. This. Is. So. Boring.'

Eight hours later she pulled back on the throttle and re-deployed the airbag. Asami adjusted the thermometer back to where it had been before pulling on the canvas jacket and pants that she had brought with her. A glacial eddy washed over her and Asami gasped involuntarily, drawing a bitter cold into her lungs. She bent over, coughing before pulling the door shut behind her. Asami shoved her hands into her pockets as she hurried down the stairs. The clock in the pilots cabin was indicating that it was late in the afternoon, but the sun didn't seem to have gotten the message. It hung low over the horizon at almost the same angle as it had the last time Asami was here. Despite that, the suns light did little to warm Asami as she hurried through the desiccated air towards the living quarters. Upon arriving she slammed the door shut behind her and bent over again, sucking in breaths of air far more pleasant than the ones outside had been. 'I wasn't ready for that. Forgot just how cold it is down here. These next few days are going to be rough until I get used to it again.'

She climbed down the stairs and headed down the hallway. When Asami got to Korra's room, she leaned forward to peer around the doorframe only to find the room empty. Asami glanced towards the bathroom, but its light was off. She pursed her lips before backing up and heading towards her own room. Korra was waiting inside, dressed in a bathrobe the same color as the white couch she was sitting on.

The waterbender looked up as Asami kicked off her boots before entering the room. "So, I've thought about it and here's what I've decided. I can't promise that I'll enjoy this or that I won't change my mind once we get going, but I'll give spanking you a try." Korra glanced towards the open closet where the impact toys were hanging. "I'll only be using my hands for this. Nothing with a handle. It feels too much like I'm holding a weapon when I pick one of those up." Her gaze swung back to Asami. "What kind of toy do you want to use? You mentioned that earlier, but you weren't sure at the time."

Asami strode over to another one of the closets and wrapped her fingers around the item in question and picked up a jar of lubricant with the other. She moved to stand in front of Korra and uncurled them to reveal a metal cone with red glass inlaid on the end of its flared base. "I think a plug is enough for tonight. Are you sure you're okay with this?" She tentatively asked after a few seconds of silence.

Korra gave Asami a faltering smile as she took the plug and jar, setting them to the side on the couch. "I'm nervous about this, but I'll give it a try. Can you do something to help get me in the mood?"

"Of course." Asami cheerfully replied, hoping it would lighten the unease on Korra's face. "I do want to say one last thing before we get started. You're really strong, Korra. It's not a bad thing by any means, but that makes it easy for you to hit too hard without realizing it. Let's start light and work our way up until I tell you that we're in the sweet spot. I'll let you know with a thumbs up or a thumbs down if you should go harder or lighter."

"Okay, Asami. Is there anything else to go over?"

"Not for me. How about you?"

Korra shook her head. "Green."

Asami reached up to the collar of her jacket and unfastened the button there. Her hands dropped to the one below it and so until she had undone all of them. Asami's upper body began to twist from side to side as she pulled the zipper down and removed the jacket. She flung it to the side and her hips started to sway. Korra shifted on the couch as she sat up straighter and her eye grew more focused. Asami brushed her hair back over her shoulders before rotating on the spot, her hips continuing their back and forth motions all the while. When the revolution was complete Asami took hold of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. She playfully tossed the shirt at Korra and the waterbender caught it with hints of a grin appearing on her face. 'Looks like this is working.'

Feeling encouraged by the response, Asami's hands glided over the pale skin of her midriff from crimson bra to crimson panties. Asami continued to sway as she rotated a second time, but stopped once faced away from Korra. She unsnapped the button on the front then hooked a thumb into her waistband. As she pushed it down, Asami's rear shimmied in one direction then the other, making her thighs jiggle as she bent forward at the waist. She glanced back over her shoulder to see that Korra's eyes were aimed exactly where she had expected them to be. Asami smiled to herself as she straightened up and turned back around. Her hands roamed even more freely than before with hints of pushing her fingers beneath her panties. Asami's hips swung back and forth as she leaned forwards and squeezed her breasts together. Korra's tongue appeared for the briefest of instances as she licked her lips and swallowed. Asami planted a hand on Korra's knees and pushed them further apart. Asami then turned around then lowered her rear into the gap that had created. Her hips rocked backwards and forwards as she ground against the waterbenders pelvis.

Korra placed a hand on Asami's back and eased her forward. "Wait." Asami glanced back in confusion only to see Korra removing the sash of her bathrobe. Underneath the white garment was nothing except bare skin. Korra tossed it aside, then grabbed Asami's shoulders and pulled until Asami's back was pressed tight against Korra's breasts. "Keep going." She stated, her voice bearing an unmistakable note of desire.

Asami took advantage of the pause to undo the clasps of her bra and drop it on the floor. White cheeks rubbed on brown thighs and more as Asami started back up. This time it wasn't just back and forth. Asami rolled her hips from side to side then forward and back and combining all of them into a circular motion. By now there was no longer any thought of getting Korra or herself into the mood. Both of them had crossed that threshold and the only thing either of them wanted was pleasure. She leaned her head against Korra's shoulder while continuing to gyrate against Korra's groin. "Kiss me. Touch me. Stick that plug where it belongs. Do whatever else you want. My body is yours." She whispered fervently.

"Good."

Korra placed a hand on Asami's shoulder and gave a gentle but insistent push. As Asami yielded to the prompting, she found herself being guided until she was lying on her side. Korra undid the topmost string of Asami's panties and tossed them towards the clothes Asami had stripped off minutes ago. Asami then felt herself being urged to move once again and she soon found herself lying face down, her bottom over Korra's lap. "Let's get you warmed up, shall we?"

Five fingers bent into hooks indented Asami's skin ever so briefly as they glided along her flank from shoulder to hip then back up the other side. At the same the fingers on Korra's other hand kneaded the muscles at the back of Asami's neck. Asami sighed contentedly and folded her arms beneath her as she surrendered. Her little striptease and dance might have gotten them going, but now any further advances were solely in Korra's hands. As was she. Korra's hands broadened their range down along Asami's sides and eventually underneath to cup her breasts. Asami closed her eyes and spread her feet further apart. Korra accepted the invitation at once, her hand diving in-between Asami's parted legs. A thrill of pleasure shot through her and Asami let out a quiet moan as those fingers stroked her dewy folds. An even louder moan came out as a finger brushed against another hole nearby. A second joined the first and they swirled around the rim non-stop while two fingers delved into her sex. Asami shuddered and she opened her eyes while turning her head to look at Korra. "I'm ready for the plug now."

The fingers withdrew for a brief spell before returning to smear a thick gel on Asami's hole. They vanished again for several more seconds then smooth metal bumped against her cheek. Asami looked past her shoulder to see Korra's brow furrowing as she aimed the toy. Once it was just right she pushed on the base and the rounded metal tip nudged against her entrance. Asami exhaled slowly as she looked straight ahead and let her body go slack. She was as relaxed as she could be, but a certain ring of muscles still made a token show of resistance before permitting the toy to pass through them. "Let's do a few test spanks to figure this out then you can do ten on each cheek."

Korra's palm came down on one of Asami's cheeks in response. Asami slowly swiveled her head to look at Korra with a carefully neutral expression. "Okay, I know I said go light, but that was a pat, not a spank." Asami turned her wrist and jabbed her thumb up into the air. A palm came down on her for the second time, harder than before. "Better, but you can do... twenty percent more than that." The third slap was even harder and Asami involuntarily clenched tighter around the plug in response. "Right there is good."

"Right. If I'm spanking then you're counting." It was a statement, not a question.

"Okay." Asami smiled to herself in the brief interval before the stinging slap came. She wasn't sure whether Korra had gotten that idea from the book or not, but it was a sign of progress. Korra was learning how to be a better top. "One. Two. Three. Four." Further claps came, each bringing more or less the same force. Each leaving her rear a fraction redder and each driving her body to clench around the metal intruder of its own accord. "Ten. Eleven." Asami shoved one arm between her and Korra's lap as she reached between her legs. Her fingers found their way to her clit and began to swirl in circles, desperate to relieve the ache these slaps were feeding. Despite that, she kept the number in her mind even as it grew higher. "Seventeen. Eighteen. Nineteen."

After the last number was spoken, Korra's slaps came to a stop and her hand snaked into the gaps between their legs. Two fingers pushed into Asami's sex then withdrew before thrusting back in and curling upwards. Korra soon settled into a steady rhythm, but she wasn't done yet. Her other hand prodded against the base of the plug, pushing it to one side. Asami gasped as the plug shifted inside of her and it brushed against one wall. Seconds later the finger did it again, but from a different direction. She let out a desperate moan and redoubled her efforts as Korra continued along the same path. There were no more slaps coming, but that did nothing to soothe the ache in her cheeks. Even so the light stings had done their purpose and now both women were committed to the same goal. Her pleasure. Asami whimpered with need and soon trembles ran through her as strangled cries filled the air.

Asami let out shallow gasps as she lay on the couch afterwards while staring up at the ceiling. Korra rustled through one of the drawers beneath the bed before returning with a red blanket, a bar of chocolate and a hand-carved wooden comb. She pulled Asami to a sitting position before draping the blanket over her shoulders and handing her the chocolate. Asami turned to face towards the end of the couch as she tore at the paper wrapping, heedless of the scraps falling free. Korra took hold of Asami's hair and began to draw the comb through the tresses. "Are you feeling all right, Asami? Do you need me to heal your bottom at all?"

Asami shook her head as she took a bite. "I'm fine. A tiny bit sore, but that'll go away before long. Really all I need to do is wait until my system settles down then I'll be ready for bed."

Korra let the locks in her hand fall free before grabbing another handful. "Okay. So about tonight. I didn't think I was going to like this, but I kinda did. Watching your cute butt jiggle was fun. Spanking's not high on my list of favorite things, but I wouldn't object to doing it again in the future. I'm still against using a toy though. Just my hands."

"I can live with that. For me though, I think spanking all on its own is a little underwhelming. I need some roleplaying to go with it. Maybe I've been bad and you need to teach me a lesson. Something like that."

Korra dragged the comb through one more time before putting it down. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Asami. "Like dirty talk? I can handle that. Honestly it should have occurred to me today, but I was too nervous about spanking you to think of it. I'll try to work it in the next time I top you."

Asami laughed and snuck a quick peek back over her shoulder. "Oh? I thought you preferred being the bottom."

Korra shrugged non-committedly. "Bottom's been more fun for me so far, but I'm starting to understand what people like about being the top. I'm nowhere near as good as you, but we have a lifetime together for me to get better and who knows, maybe someday we'll take turns calling each other Mistress."

Asami smiled and she placed a hand on Korra's wrist while dropping her head back to rest on her fiancée's shoulder. "I'm looking forward to it."

'This has been a great week, but now it's all but over, unfortunately.'

Icy plains were waiting for them, but not until tomorrow. Tonight she still had a warm bed to sleep in and a woman to share it with.