Byleth settled back in the steam room as Sylvain ladled water over the hissing coals. Saunas were a pleasure she learned to enjoy with her students. She knew of the concept and understood its purpose, of course, but it was not something open to her, as public baths were more common in the Adrestian Empire, but they banned women and foreigners of them, and she was both.
When she arrived to Garreg Mach, her usual hygiene habits were now unavailable, as she would clean herself on the flowing waters of some nearby river, but that was not allowed in the rather scarce water sources of the monastery. Instead, the Church offered a bath, which also counted with a steam room in its facilities.
The bathmaster seems to have taken a liking to Byleth, and much nagged her until she tried the experience, offering to have it with some of her students. At first, she was rather resistant to the activity, and Felix's idea of a relaxing time being a preposterous competition to see who would last longer in the heat almost soured it definitively for her, but soon she began enjoying it for the social element.
Much of it was inspired by Sylvain. Not only she enjoyed his company, the redhead was also very partial to steam rooms, probably due to the opportunity to accost semi-nude women. Regardless, if Ferdinand understood anything about tea, the Gautier heir understood about baths.
Besides, it was a great couple's activity. It was private and relaxing, and those things do not come easy in the monastery.
"This feels so good." She said as she let the warmth envelop her. "Those Brigid essential oils of yours really hit the spot. What was the fruit again?"
"They call it coconut, and agreed. Remind me to send my regards to Petra's grandfather later." Sylvain said as he sat beside her. "Do you want some honey?"
"Yes, please." She responded.
Her boyfriend reached for the pot and a small porcelain container, which he filled generously. Surprisingly, he did not mention that she was "sweeter than honey" or smeared his lips or some other body part with it and offered to feed her. She was impressed, but almost disappointed.
Yet, Sylvain was still Sylvain, and she was soon reminded of it. He reached over and took her hand in his, rubbing the liquid on her right arm and exfoliating her skin before leaving a sweet kiss to the shoulder as she works her other limb.
"It is crazy to think about how much has changed since the last time we were here." He comments lazily, still resting his head against her shoulder.
"Indeed, it is." Byleth agreed. "Last time, I was sitting on that bench over there, daydreaming about what it would be like to be with you. I never thought you would seriously feel the same way."
"Are you kidding?" Sylvain asked with a jocose undertone. "I have been fighting feelings for you since I met you. 20th of the Great Tree Moon, you were standing against the sun on the door to the classroom. I thought, that is the most beautiful woman in the world."
"You are such a rake." Byleth said with a smile as she leaned over and kissed him gently. "But I am glad you stopped fighting. I am glad I can be with you like this."
The aristocrat cupped her face in his hands and deepened the kiss. Without breaking away, the former mercenary moved over to sit on his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist. His calloused fingers dug into the terrycloth of her towel as he pulled her tighter to him.
"If I am to be perfectly honest…" Sylvain murmured with a devilish grin. "The last time we were here, I was thinking about you, too."
"Oh, yeah?" The woman asked, gently kissing his earlobe. "What were you thinking?"
"I was picturing you in the sauna wearing only a towel." He admitted. "It was very distracting."
"I am surprised you included the towel." Byleth said.
She kissed his neck, his slick skin salty against her lips.
"Well, the towel may have only lasted for a minute." Sylvain said, his fingertips tracing along the seam of the fabric, held up precariously by a loosening knot and the generous bosom of his girlfriend.
She tilted his face towards hers and he kissed her hungrily. The woman felt breathless as she returned his embrace, like she had been searching for water in the desert and had finally found an oasis.
"I have an idea." Byleth finally said when they broke apart.
"What sort of an idea?" Sylvain asked, his hands tracing slow pathways up and down her back.
"Well, I would not want to be presumptuous or forward, and I want to respect your desire to handle things different in our relationship" Byleth said, while Sylvain smiled and brushed a lock of damp hair back from her forehead. "We have forever together and there is no need to rush anything, but… I mean, you said you thought about me last time we were here, so I was thinking maybe you might want sneak a peek."
"A peek, huh?" The redhead asked with a grin as he rested his hand against her heart. "What sort of a peek did you have in mind?"
"Strictly above the waist, but…" She said, emphatically. "Well, towels slip all the time."
"It is true, it is the wish of the Goddess." The man said, as he reached for where she had secured her towel and his fingers paused against her skin. "Are you sure about it?"
Byleth nodded and he gently tugged at her towel. It fell away from her body, puddling around her waist, and Sylvain sucked in a sharp breath as he took in the sight of her body.
"Do I live up to the fantasy?" The former mercenary felt a sudden pang of nervousness.
She might be fit, but she also carried old battle scars. Her body certainly looked nothing like a noble girl's, and the comparison hurts, especially if she was to come out on the losing side. She had fallen so hard for him and she could not believe he felt the same way.
"Byleth, you are better than any fantasy." Sylvain declared earnestly. He kissed her softly, his hands caressing the bare skin on her sides. "I still cannot believe this is really my life."
The lancebearer trailed his lips across her jaw and down her throat. The former mercenary sighed, running her fingers through his scarlet hair as he kissed his way across her slick skin to her breasts. He groaned softly as he took her nipple in his mouth, the vibrations from his mouth making her shudder under his touch.
She dropped her head back, consumed by the way he flicked his tongue over her nipple, sucking it into a hard peak before moving to the other one. She could feel his erection through the towel at his waist and she imagined taking him in her mouth, running her tongue along his length before sucking the glistening drops from his head.
He licked the sweet stickiness from her skin and Byleth imagined Sylvain inside of her, thrusting into her, filling her as she begged for more. He lifted his face to hers and brought her lips to his in a bruising kiss and the woman felt a warm, wet, ache inside of her that had nothing to do with the sauna.
His strong hands caressed her breasts as they kissed and she was so absorbed with the way he made her feel that she almost did not hear the banging on the sauna door.
"Get a room already!" Felix called through the door.
"We got one! Go get your own!" Sylvain yelled back.
Byleth laughed and her paramour joined her, dissolving the sexual tension in the room. The blue-haired swordsman banged on the door again and their former professor could faintly hear Ingrid admonishing him.
"We should get out." Byleth said.
Sylvain pulled her towel up from around her waist and wrapped it around her, securing it snugly.
"I loved this peek of yours." He said with a grin. "Almost as much as I love you."
"I love you, too." She said. He kissed her softly, his hands gentle in her hair. She slid off of his lap to sit beside him and he readjusted his own towel. "You know, there is a rumour running around maids and maidens alike about you."
"There is?" Sylvain asked as he took her hand in his. "What does the tongues have to say about my person?"
She chuckles. "Well, it is not about you as much as it is about what you own. They say that you keep a bath at your castle in Gautier, and how you capitalize on it for your nefarious ends."
"I cannot confirm nor deny the accusations, but whatever I do not have and the lady wants can be sourced." He responded.
"I thought so." Byleth said. "I was thinking that, maybe once the craziness is over, we could recreate this scene at Valtoria once we are wed."
Sylvain stood up and helped Byleth to her feet before wrapping his arms around her waist. "That could definitely be arranged."
"Plus, Felix will not be there to interrupt us." She added.
The man laughed and kissed her sweetly.
"Good, because I don't intend to share my time with you." he said.
Then he wound his fingers between hers and they left the sauna, steam still coursing through their veins.
