Kyoshi and Lek walked back to the campfire now that training was finally done for the day. Kirima and Wong could be seen in the fire light, readying their tents and bedrolls. Everyone pretty much kept to themselves but stayed within the circle of the light. Rangi was uncharacteristically missing.
"Where's Rangi?" Kyoshi asked, concerned for her firebender.
Kirima tilted her head to direct Kyoshi where to look. "She said she needed some space from us and that you and her needed to talk."
Kirima didn't seem worried as she delivered this information, but Kyoshi went still with panic. Even with all the upheaval and absolutely nothing going the way it should, the last week had been a much-needed respite. She trained hard each day with her sifus and each night she got to hold Rangi as they slept. If it weren't for the pending daofei job with the Autumn Bloom, and trying to plan a way to stop Jianzhu, Kyoshi could almost have let herself believe that the Avatar and her bodyguard were just on a training trip with the most eccentric Avatar companions in history. But Rangi needed to talk and Kyoshi was most afraid that the topic was about to break her heart.
Kyoshi trudged her way into the darkness. She headed in the direction of a glow lighting the shape of the tent that her and Rangi had shared ever since they left Yokoya. The small glow came from Rangi, lighting the way for Kyoshi. Up until now, their tent had been a place of comfort; a tiny space for only the two of them. Somehow, with everything that Kyoshi had lost in her life, she felt like this would be the loss that could truly break her.
Kyoshi took a deep breath and lowered her head to enter thru the tent flaps. She saw Rangi for a moment in the light of the fire she held in her hand. The tent had been prepared as usual for the two of them and Rangi had already put aside her armor for the night. Kyoshi looked into the bronze eyes she loved and but the fire in Rangi's eyes was new and unfamiliar.
Before Kyoshi finished lifting her head to speak, Rangi closed her hand to extinguish the flame. In the darkness, Kyoshi felt the warmth of Rangi's palms on her neck as she pulled her down into a smoldering kiss.
Kyoshi lost all thought as she felt Rangi's lips on hers, intense and hot. She grabbed the sides of the firebender to pull her close but remembered the last time she'd kissed Rangi like this and had hurt her from where she'd been injured on the lei tai. Kyoshi pulled back from the kiss but didn't make it far as Rangi held tight.
"What are you doing?" Rangi asked in frustration. "Why did you stop?"
"I-I don't want to hurt you again," Kyoshi stammered as panic returned from her confusion. "Kirima said that we needed to talk."
"This is exactly what we needed to talk about. This. You. You pulling away from me." Rangi pulled Kyoshi down to rub her cheek along the side of her face as she moved her lips to Kyoshi's ear. "You can kiss me anywhere because I'm not hurt anymore."
Rangi emphasized her words by kissing Kyoshi's ear and giving her lobe a tug with her teeth. Kyoshi's large hands squeezed Rangi's sides, an involuntary reaction as her mind raced with new information.
Rangi wasn't mad. Well, she was, but not about to leave. She wanted Kyoshi.
Rangi didn't give Kyoshi much time to process. As big as Kyoshi was, it was still all too easy for Rangi to bring Kyoshi to the ground with Rangi straddle on top of her.
Kyoshi blinked at the sudden disorientation. She was now flat on her back with Rangi's hand fisting the collar of her robes. Rangi locked eyes with Kyoshi, that same fire she'd glimpsed before, and leaned down to kiss her. This kiss was slow and deliberate. It concentrated all of Kyoshi's focus on the feel of Rangi's lips as they pushed against hers. She matched the pressure as they melded into each other. The tension in Rangi's tight body relaxed on top of Kyoshi, mirroring the kiss as she pressed herself downward against Kyoshi.
Kyoshi was eager to meet her as she wrapped her arms around Rangi.
They had to break the kiss to breathe, and Rangi spoke against Kyoshi's lips. "You've been so gentle with me since we first kissed, no matter how hard I push you in training. Every day I watch you. All day I watch your body as you train harder and harder. All day I just want to be closer to you even though I have to share you with others. And every night you hold me but it's not enough."
Rangi sounded almost pained as she pleaded with Kyoshi. "I want all of you and I want all the parts of you that I don't have to share with others."
Rangi kissed Kyoshi and parted their mouths to tease just a taste of their tongues together. "The world needs the Avatar, but I need Kyoshi."
Rangi moved from Kyoshi's lips to kiss along the line of her jaw and down along her throat. She pressed her lips to Kyoshi's pulse point and felt her heart racing. Rangi smiled and continued her trail of kisses down the front of Kyoshi's robes as she pulled the opening and exposed her collarbone. Kyoshi sucked in a breath as she felt the hot, open kisses Rangi placed there. Kyoshi groaned Rangi's name in exhalation. "Rangi..."
Rangi pulled back to look in Kyoshi's eyes. She hoped that she wasn't the only one feeling this way. She'd loved Kyoshi for longer than she had admitted to her yet, but she understood that this might still be too new for Kyoshi. She had made her wants known but she needed Kyoshi to want her too.
Kyoshi's green eyes bored right back into hers. "Do you have any idea how hard it is not to touch you?"
Kyoshi grabbed Rangi by the hips to keep her locked in her lap as she sat up on the bedroll. Their height difference was so great that even in this position Kyoshi was above Rangi. As her thighs slipped into place around Kyoshi's hip, she couldn't help herself from rocking against her. Kyoshi hissed at the feel and squeezed Rangi's hips harder. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. You barely move near me or around me and I want to grab you. Hard."
The feel of Kyoshi's hands and the thick sound of that last word, hard, had Rangi's heart pumping. "Then why don't you?"
"Since that first night on the iceberg sleeping near you has been the most exhilarating thing of my life. I stayed awake most of that night afraid to move in case it would wake you and you'd roll away. I'll lose sleep before I'd risk you not being beside me. I'd risk more than that, but you've said it before, I'm a clumsy oaf. I won't risk hurting you anymore than I already have."
"Stupid," Rangi said but with a grin in her face. "It's hurting me now. The ache I feel can only heal if you touch me."
Rangi could see that as with everything with Kyoshi, direct was always the better approach. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, leaving her only in her bindings. She pushed Kyoshi back down on the bedroll but stayed upright on top of her. She squeezed her thighs against Kyoshi and watched her reaction intently.
Kyoshi shut her eyes briefly and lifted her chin in response. Now that they had been in the darkness for a while Kyoshi's eyes had time to adjust so she could see Rangi better. A well-timed breeze moved the tent flaps, so a beam of moonlight shown inside to barely light their private sanctuary. Kyoshi could feel the warmth of the firebender all around her and swallowed hard.
Rangi placed her hands on top of Kyoshi's and guided them to slide up her body until she placed them under the curve of her breasts. Her large hands could cover Rangi's breasts if she just moved them a little further. "I'm going to touch you now, Kyoshi. You can't neutral jing your way around this one. You're going to have to stop me or touch me back."
The idea of Rangi stopping panicked Kyoshi more than when she thought they needed to 'have a talk'. As Rangi's lips came crushing down on hers, she met her fervor. It was effortless to let her hands glide to cup Rangi's breasts and feel their full weight against her palms. Giving them a gentle squeeze was even better as Rangi gasped into their kiss. Against her palms, Kyoshi could feel Rangi's nipples harden through her bindings. Her hands itched to feel them without the barrier.
Rangi grabbed Kyoshi's chin and lifted to expose more of Kyoshi's neck as she moved her lips downward. Her kisses nearly burned but we're soothed by the feel of Rangi's tongue against the sensitive skin at her throat.
Rangi was quickly becoming obsessed with Kyoshi's neck and hands. As she felt Kyoshi's thumbs stroke her harden nipples, she couldn't stop herself from biting down right on the spot where Kyoshi's neck met her shoulder.
They both groaned.
Rangi pulled at the opening of Kyoshi's robes, continuing to expose more of Kyoshi's skin to her greedy mouth. Each kiss was like a brand, and she wanted to mark all of Kyoshi's body as hers. She had to move Kyoshi's hands in order to begin removing the garment. She worried this would discourage Kyoshi but was reassured when Kyoshi moved her hands to the back of Rangi's head. She felt fingers against her hair. She'd already allowed the intimacy of Kyoshi kissing the top of her head, but Kyoshi couldn't realize that touching her like that was about as intimate as they could become. She heard Kyoshi ask, "Can I take your topknot down?"
Rangi paused her kisses and undressing of Kyoshi to look up at her. She knew that Kyoshi didn't realize what she was asking, that allowing someone else to undo your topknot was something reserved for parents and spouses. To allow Kyoshi to do this would be like accepting a marriage proposal. She could just as easily undo it herself and put the question aside, but she already knew how completely committed to Kyoshi she was and offering this to hear was something she wanted more than anything.
Rangi tilted her head to offer the topknot to Kyoshi. She shyly said, "I told you already, you can touch any part of me. Nothing is off limits to you." To only you, she thought.
Kyoshi could sense the seriousness of the moment in the midst of their passion. As gentle as she could, she undid the ties that held Rangi's topknot and set them away from the bedroll. Rangi's hair fell down around her shoulders. Kyoshi laced her fingers into Rangi's hair, wrapping her hands around the back of Rangi's head, and pulled her into a promising kiss. This was for them, and no one else.
Rangi's hands slid around Kyoshi's neck. She continued to slide them down, but this time pushed her fingers inside Kyoshi's collar to keep her hands on Kyoshi's bare skin. When Rangi pushed the cloth away, Kyoshi let go of her to help her remove it from around her shoulders. Rangi continued her exploration of Kyoshi's body as the fabric fell away to tangle around Kyoshi's waist. Rangi kissed the swells of Kyoshi's breasts and Kyoshi lifted partially upright as Rangi began undoing the bindings. Unwrapping Kyoshi was like opening a gift and she couldn't wait to see it. She bit her lip as the last strap was tossed away leaving a half-naked Kyoshi.
Their breathing was ragged as they paused to take it all in. Kyoshi being naked before another person, her person, and Rangi staring at as much of Kyoshi as she could see in the moonlight. Kyoshi leaned back on her elbows with Rangi still straddled above her. It pushed her breasts forward towards Rangi, who's eyes remained transfixed. They had barely begun and Kyoshi was already panting.
"You know... It's not fair having me like this... while you're still covered." Kyoshi nodded towards Rangi's bindings still tightly wrapped. "I want to see you too."
Rangi broke her revery with Kyoshi's breasts to look her directly in the eyes. Rangi was so pleased that Kyoshi was finally expressing that she wanted her too.
"Seems only fair." She held eye contact with Kyoshi as she pushed her hair over her shoulders and began undoing her bindings. Rangi watched Kyoshi's eyes leave hers to stare as the bindings were removed. Undressing for Kyoshi was thrilling. The burn Rangi felt intensified under Kyoshi's watchful eyes. Rangi ground herself against Kyoshi, seeking some sense of relief, but only stoking the flame.
Once Rangi was free of the binding, Kyoshi stopped holding them upright to reach both hands to cup Rangi's breasts. Rangi fell forward holding herself up with a hand on either side of Kyoshi's head while Kyoshi fondled her breasts. The feel of Kyoshi's hands on her was overwhelming. The hands that she watched move into trained formations to practice her bending now moved against her. Her nipples slide against Kyoshi's thumb as her hands rolled to stroke the peaks between her thumbs and index finger. If this was how it felt with just Kyoshi's hands on her skin, Rangi needed more.
In a smooth maneuver, Rangi put her hands under Kyoshi's wrists and lift her arms above her head. Kyoshi pouted for a second at the loss of contact before she felt Rangi run her breasts against her skin from the bottom of her torso all the way up until their nipples touched. Rangi pressed their bodies together, for the first time feeling that skin-on-skin connection with no barriers between them.
Rangi released her hold on Kyoshi's arms to slide them down and stroke her fingers along Kyoshi's sides. Again, Rangi attack Kyoshi's neck with her hot mouth and began blazing a path downward. Kyoshi ran her hands up and down Rangi's back, feeling the soft skin over hard muscles that moved as Rangi worked her body on top of Kyoshi.
Rangi kissed between Kyoshi's breasts pausing over her heart to send a wave of hot air across the exposed skin. As the heat dissipated, the night air felt cooler on Kyoshi's skin, and her nipples harden until they ached. The ache was soothed when Rangi's mouth found its way around a peak.
Rangi rolled her tongue around Kyoshi's nipple and sucked hard, eliciting a moan from the woman. The sound of Kyoshi's pleasure spurred Rangi onward as she moved her attentions to the other nipple. She sucked this nipple into her mouth just as hard but pulled it between her teeth with just a little bit of pressure. Kyoshi's hands flew to back of Rangi's head to hold her in place. Rangi licked the captured nipple.
"Rangi!" Kyoshi gasped her name.
The firebender let Kyoshi's nipple pop from her mouth as she began to crawl downward. Rangi's hands slide back up to massage Kyoshi's breasts while her mouth moved to place kisses around Kyoshi's navel.
Kyoshi sucked in a breath when Rangi's hands began pulling away the disheveled clothing covering the last of Kyoshi's body. Her hands fell to Rangi's shoulders, not wanting to break contact, but she began to hesitate as her last barrier was being removed.
"Rangi?" Kyoshi asked a question without saying the words.
"Shhh... Kyoshi. Let me..." Rangi grabbed Kyoshi's hand and kissed it, before guiding Kyoshi's hand back to hold her head as Rangi's lips grazed just above Kyoshi's mound.
Kyoshi's hesitations we're stripped away with her robes, offering herself completely to Rangi.
Rangi trailed her fire brand kisses down Kyoshi's hip, giving her another love bite. She coaxed Kyoshi to spread her legs so she could settle herself between them. Rangi listened for all the noises that Kyoshi made as she followed her path down the inside of Kyoshi's thigh.
"Kyoshi... You're so beautiful."
Kyoshi blushed from the praise but couldn't find the words to say anything. She was at the mercy of Rangi as she watched her bodyguard's head descend upon her.
Rangi was in bliss. She could scent Kyoshi's arousal and when her mouth opened on Kyoshi's mound, she tasted a sweetness she couldn't have imagined. She ran her tongue down Kyoshi's slit and then pushed it between her folds deep at her core. Her hands rubbed everywhere along Kyoshi's body that she could reach as she sank in to devour Kyoshi. Each lap of her tongue sparked new sensations for them both. She used the sounds coming from Kyoshi as a guide for where to be and how much to give. She felt Kyoshi's bud pulse against her tongue. She sucked it between her lips and heard the moan that came from her lover.
For a brief moment, Rangi wondered if the others would hear them. She had set up their tent away from camp to try to avoid that. But she never thought the quiet, former servant girl would be so vocal. Bringing Kyoshi pleasure in a way that made her express herself like this was too precious for her to try to silence. The sounds that she made were for Rangi, and she wanted to hear them.
She picked up her pace, licking at the swollen clit given to her. Kyoshi pulled at her hair at the base of her scalp, which felt amazing, as she held Rangi against her.
"Please, Rangi..." Kyoshi pleaded, and Rangi could deny her nothing. She quickened to bring Kyoshi over the edge. A wave of her juices flooded Rangi's mouth as Kyoshi came. Rangi relished the taste of Kyoshi and vowed that she would have it in her life always. Claim it for herself.
Kyoshi felt like her whole body was on fire as she shuddered from the orgasm Rangi had given her. It was something she had never felt in her life. Rangi's hair teased her over sensitive skin as she crawled back up Kyoshi's body. She looked pleased with herself as she moved closer. Kyoshi tried to kiss her, but Rangi pulled back.
Kyoshi furrowed her brow, "Why?"
Rangi smiled, "I still have your taste in my mouth."
Kyoshi grabbed the back of Rangi's head and pulled her down hard for a kiss, letting her know with her actions that she didn't care. She wasn't going to be stopped from her need for the bender.
Rangi knew it attracted her when Kyoshi showed strength, but the dominating kiss mixed with Kyoshi's taste, and the tongue that forced its way into her mouth were like a drug.
Kyoshi rolled them to their sides and her long arms reached to untie Rangi's pants and push them down. They made it to her knees before getting stuck. Kyoshi slide her hand up the back of Rangi's thigh until she reached her ass and squeezed, holding her there.
Their kissing was relentless. Rangi kicked the last of her pants away and hooked her leg around Kyoshi's body to pull her in closer. She could feel her own wetness dripping down her leg and didn't care if Kyoshi felt it. She needed her to feel it and know how desperately she wanted her.
Kyoshi tried to move down, but Rangi held onto her tightly, locking their bodies together, and refusing to let go. She sucked on Kyoshi's tongue as she ground against her.
Kyoshi couldn't release her mouth from Rangi's, but she needed to touch that hot wetness that pressed against her. She forced her right hand between their bodies, and between Rangi's legs. Rangi was so wet that two of Kyoshi's finger slipped easily into her folds and stroked against her clit.
Rangi moaned into Kyoshi's mouth and finally released the kiss, but not her arms that were coiled around her, one over Kyoshi's right shoulder and the other under her left arm, grasping her back. Rangi had wound her legs around Kyoshi, caging her in.
The hold was strong, but Kyoshi wasn't about to let this stop her. She rolled Rangi beneath her and used her left forearm next to Rangi's head to hold most of her weight so as not to squish the smaller woman. She stroked Rangi's clit again and felt another assault of Rangi's mouth on her throat. She might have marks tomorrow, but she didn't care. She was going to make Rangi feel the fire just as she had.
Kyoshi stroked the length of her fingers against Rangi's clit, but this time the tips of her fingers found Rangi's opening. Rangi was so wet, and they were squeezed so tightly together. With a thrust of her hips, Kyoshi sank two fingers inside Rangi.
Rangi was having an out of body experience. She was in her body, not in the Spirit World, but her body was feeling too much for her to process. She felt Kyoshi sink into her, and she squeezed every grip she had on the love of her life as if she could take more than just those two fingers inside her. There was pain at first, Kyoshi's hands were so big and her fingers long, but the pleasure of the fullness was greater. She relaxed under the weight of Kyoshi and move her hand to pull Kyoshi's mouth back to hers.
"Did I hurt you?" Kyoshi huffed, forcing herself to be still inside of Rangi though a part of her screamed to move.
"No, Kyoshi, you didn't hurt me," she kissed her love and undulated her hips to slide Kyoshi out and back into her again. "You complete me."
"You just winced a bit."
Rangi hadn't realized that she did. "There was a little pain but that's normal. Your fingers feel so good inside me. Don't stop."
Rangi kissed Kyoshi and dug her heels into Kyoshi's ass to spur her on. Their movements mirrored one another as Rangi pushed and Kyoshi gave; as Kyoshi thrust and Rangi yielded to it. Rangi felt Kyoshi thumb circle and slide around her clit with each thrust. That same thumb that had rolled to caress her nipple now was bringing her to the brink of ecstasy. She was definitely developing an obsession with Kyoshi's hands.
Kyoshi marveled at the feeling of oneness as she was inside Rangi and her lover was wrapped around her like a vice. She increased the pace of her thrusts and could feel Rangi getting closer.
"Kyoshi," Rangi looked into the Kyoshi's eyes as she thrust above her. "You're mine now. Do you understand? I'm never letting you go."
Rangi clutched Kyoshi tight to emphasize her words. Kyoshi pushed harder so Rangi could feel the pound in her whole body as Kyoshi said, "I'll never let anyone touch you but me."
The absolute certainty in Kyoshi's voice as she claimed Rangi for her own was the last straw for Rangi.
"Kyoshi!" Rangi cried as she came. She dragged her nails down Kyoshi's back.
Kyoshi would definitely have marks tomorrow, but it was worth it. She could feel Rangi clamping down on the fingers inside her so Kyoshi kept circling her clit with thumb as she rode out Rangi's orgasm.
Kyoshi kissed Rangi softly as she shifted to pull herself from the woman. Rangi felt empty now without Kyoshi inside her, like a piece of herself was missing. Kyoshi rolled to her back but brought Rangi with her to curl beside her. Rangi flung a leg over Kyoshi, possessively.
They laid together staring into the darkness as their breathing calmed from their exertions. Kyoshi played with Rangi's hair while Rangi traced circles on Kyoshi's chest.
"That's starting to tickle."
"Can't be helped. I'm not done touching you."
Kyoshi chuckled. "You don't have to, but we should probably get some sleep. My firebending sifu likes to wake up early and put me through some rigorous stance training."
Rangi gave an exhausted laughed. "You have no idea what is coming to you tomorrow for that."
"Worth it," Kyoshi said smugly.
Rangi grabbed their blanket to cover them but refused clothes. She wasn't ready to give up their skin on skin contact just yet. She knew they couldn't be like this every night. With everything coming, there was only so much time that they would have alone, but for now they could enjoy this.
After putting their tent away, Kyoshi and Rangi made their way back to the camp where the members of the Flying Opera Company were preparing the first meal. They shared a last intimate kiss before joining the others.
"Oh good, you're safe," Kirima deadpanned. "We heard some animals last night and wondered if you two were ok."
Kyoshi blushed while Rangi hit her palm against her forehead. Wong and Lek looked up confused. Lao Ge was nowhere to be seen. Kirima laughed.
"Relax, you two. They sleep like the dead," Kirima gestured over to the still confused Wong and Lek. "Though next time maybe build an earth tent. Just an idea."