Chapter 5: Early Morning Glow
The small fire bathes the bedroom in a soft, warm orange glow. Triss sits up in bed, a leg pulled up to her chest, facing the fire. Yennefer lays on her side, facing the other woman, trailing a lone finger along the pale skin just above Triss' hip. It's more exploratory than sexual, something Yennefer does absentmindedly as she fights off sleep. The leather phallus stands on a nightstand, waiting to be used again.
After they caught their breath, Yennefer wore the phallus and brought Triss to orgasm. It was powerful, overwhelming the young sorceress so much that some of her magic spilled out as small flames on her fingers, scorching Yennefer's skin.
The covers pools around Yennefer's waist, exposing the rest of her body to the air. Triss looks at the small, maroon mark on the otherwise flawless skin and frowns. Yennefer noticed and lays her hand flat on the woman's hip.
"I'm fine," Yennefer says. "It doesn't hurt at all."
Triss looks away. "Still, I hate that it happened."
"It was an accident."
Triss doesn't say anything and balls her hand into a fist. "I've never had that happen before," she whispers.
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment."
The younger woman smiles, though it's small. But it was the effect Yennefer wanted. She sits up and throws her arms around Triss, hugging them close and kisses the top of her head. Triss melts into the embrace, resting her head under Yennefer's chin.
"And it just means we'll have to work to control your responses," Yennefer adds.
"Hm…I think I'd enjoy that."
"Good."
They sit in silence for a while, watching the flames in the fireplace. Eventually Yennefer shifts to slide down further and Triss curls into her, wrapping a leg over her waist. Yennefer feels herself start to drift off. She's exhausted, completely spent from the hours of making love. She yawns and Triss pulls the covers up on their bodies.
Yennefer wonders what will come after. What will she say to Triss? What will the other woman say in return? Could they make a life here in Vengerberg? Would Triss be willing to stay here? This city was certainly safer than Novigrad, even if the Church's influence was waning after the death of Radovid. But would it be to far to ask Triss to completely uproot her life after their night of passion?
She looks down, hearing soft snoring. Triss' eyes are shut, her face relaxed, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. Whatever conversation they need to have would wait until the morning. She hugs the other woman closer to her, smiling as she murmurs in her sleep.
This was dangerous, Yennefer tells herself and yet she can't help but let her guard down. She has grown so tired over the years. Always being suspicious. Always suspecting the worse in people, even if she was proven right more times than not. It drained her and she couldn't bring herself to rebuild her walls.
Plus, like she told Triss, Yennefer was sometimes lonely. Sometimes missed the sound of someone greeting her in the morning or peeking over her shoulder while she worked. She missed feeling a fondness for another. And she certainly missed passionate love under the covers at night. Triss could give her these things and there was a part of her that wanted that.
Now that she had come down from the high of experiencing the warmth and passion of another, Yennefer's mind was clear to wander. She fell asleep, turning over and tucking herself under Triss' arms. When she felt the other woman stir behind her, she smiled in her sleep. And in the morning, when the first of the sunlight shone through the window, touching half of Triss' face, Yennefer feels she had come to a decision.
Careful as to not wake the other woman, Yennefer climbed out of bed and slipped into her room to dress in a long chemise.
It would be a lazy day, she decides as she descends the stairs and goes into the kitchen to begin breakfast. Nearly an hour passes before Triss appeares, dragging herself into the room.
"Morning Yennefer," she said, her voice still laced with sleep.
"Morning."
Triss is dressed too, donning simple shorts and a shirt. Yennefer notices she has forgone a bra. The younger woman seems uncertain of what to do, watching from the doorway as Yennefer finishes their breakfast. She even seems embarrassed, her cheeks tinged with a light shade of pink. She rubs her hands together, then brings one to the back of her neck, lifting her shirt and giving Yennefer a glimpse of her toned stomach.
The raven-haired woman pours a cup of coffee and hands it to Triss, kissing her square on the lips as she passes the cup. "Come sit," she said. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"R-right." She takes a sit at the central counter while Yennefer puts the final touches on their meal. The older woman feels eyes on her while she works and she smiles. Seems there's an innocence to this crush, she thinks as she plates their food.
Triss touches Yennefer's wrist as the plate is set before her. "Yen, I…" She looks everywhere but those lilac eyes. "Last night was incredible and more than I deserved. I don't want to make this awkward. But I…I'll understand if last night was a one-time affair."
Yennefer bites back a smile. They would need to work on this, she thinks. This insecurity the younger woman possesses. "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear," she says. She hates that Triss starts to deflate before her. Hates that the younger woman believes one night with Yennefer was all she deserved. She caresses Triss' cheek, then kisses her, this time with more passion, until they're both in need of air.
"Is that clearer?" she asks.
Triss touches her own lips and nods. "Y-yeah."
"Good. Now eat before your food gets cold." She goes back to the other plate on the counter, adding an extra sway to her hips as she walks.
When they finish, Triss clears away their dishes and starts to wash them. Yennefer takes a sip from her coffee and rests her cheek in her palm, watching.
"Why so bashful this morning?"
Triss jumps, dropping the plate in her hand and brings a hand to her chest. "I'm not bashful," she says, turning away. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"Nothing important."
"It's important to me," Yennefer says.
Triss faces her now, biting her bottom lip, before looking out the window. Her hand wraps around the counter. She opens her mouth, then closes it again. Yennefer stands and comes over, sweeping a hand down Triss' back, smiling as the woman shivers in response.
"I don't want you to go back to Novigrad," she whispers. She gives Triss an opening.
"For now or…"
"I don't know," Yennefer says. "We can figure it out." She reaches for Triss' hand, loosening her hold on the counter and lacing their fingers together. "But if you have any doubts about my feelings this morning, I want to dispel them."
Yennefer cups the back of Triss' neck and pulls her in. Their lips brush together before connecting in a deep kiss. Their tongues explore each other's mouths and Triss holds the other woman by the waist, pushing her into the counter behind them. When they break apart, Yennefer brings their foreheads together, smiling wide.
"And you have things to tell me Triss Merigold," she teases.
Triss ducks her head and smiles. "I'm nervous to say them."
"Don't be," Yennefer whispers. She brushes her nose against Triss' and leans away when the other woman goes in for the kiss. "It's just me and you around. And I'm ready to listen."
Her heart beats wildly in her chest as Triss stares into her eyes. Yennefer understands how difficult this, whatever it is, will be for them. They're bringing baggage, emotional pain from past relationships, some they've even inflicted on the other as they sought to keep Geralt's attention. It would be messy, unpacking everything, laying their feelings and vulnerabilities out to examine together.
But, as Triss tucks a strand of raven hair behind her ear, Yennefer realizes she wants to give this a shot. It may last for a few days or a few weeks. Maybe even decades. She doesn't know. But she knows she doesn't want to let the younger woman go just yet.
"I'll tell you everything," Triss says, a smile spreading across her face. "But first, can you do something for me?"
Yennefer raises an eyebrow. "Depends," she says. Then adds, "What do you need?"
Triss kisses her neck, biting the skin and says, "Let me see what you look like in the daylight."
They go to the library, laughing and kissing and peeling what little clothes they wear off each other, leaving a trail in the hallway. Yennefer doesn't frown at the mess. She barely notices. Instead she focuses on the woman in her arms, the feel of her warm breath on her skin, the kisses that both satisfy and make her crave more. She looks at the fiery red hair that's like a waterfall on Triss' shoulder and the faint scars that run and curve along her breast. She closes her eyes as they kiss, a million questions and promises running silently between them as their lips meet.
Then she hears it. The softest moan. The sound that led them here, that forced them to acknowledge the thing between them, the sound that tore at Yennefer's sense of loneliness.
"Yenna…"
It's sweet, she thinks.
AN: Welp that's the end! It's been a fun ride and I'm glad you read it! I'm going to start on the sequel soon and upload when I can!