The water coming from the pump was hotter than Clarke would have liked but there was little she could do to control the temperature. Whomever was warming it from below had let the fire heating the water burn too long. Clarke cracked open the only window in the room. A crisp breeze puffed out the cream colored curtain. Satisfied that that would help cool the bath water, Clarke rummaged through the vanity drawer until she found the oils that Lexa told her would be there. Clarke sniffed the first glass bottle, she recognized the pungent scent of sage but the sweeter oil was harder to place. Jasmine maybe. Gardenia? Clarke poured a couple of drops of each of the oils into the water and stirred it around with her hand. It was still too warm for her and she didn't want to burn Lexa's beautiful skin. But then, she remembered that she still needed to undress Heda. So, she walked into Lexa's bedroom and found her waiting patiently on her sofa.
"I'm ready for you, Lexa." Clarke called from the doorway.
Lexa gave her a pointed eyebrow.
Clarke felt ridiculous but she curtsied. "Apologies Majesty. I am ready for you, my Queen."
"Thank you, Clarke kom Skaikru," Lexa stood slowly and walked toward the blonde. Lexa felt awkward with Clarke calling her Majesty and Queen but she felt that it would add a layer of formality to the ordeal that she was going to need to get through it without ravishing Clarke. There had been a time that Lexa had thought that Clarke and she could have been lovers, maybe more, but Clarke had spurned her advances telling her that she wasn't ready. And then, when Lexa had tried again by asking her to come with her to Polis, Clarke responded that she couldn't really think about the future. Since Clarke had come to the capital as Wanheda, Lexa had been conscious not to make any bold overtures. Still, she'd dropped hints and hoped that Clarke could read her intentions, But Clarke seemed interested in no more than a political friendship between leaders. It was best, Lexa had decided, to keep up with the formality of the ritual that way she couldn't fool herself into thinking that Clarke's hands on her body was more than obligation.
Lexa followed Clarke into the bathroom. The aroma of the oils was strong but pleasant. Clarke had done a fine job blending them. Lexa watched as Clarke walked over to the tub and tested the water. The blonde's head bobbed up and down, "It's ready." Then she shut the window and made sure the curtain was drawn. Lexa wondered why she was concerned with the drapery, it wasn't as if anyone could see that many stories up but she didn't say so to Clarke. She just grinned to herself.
Clarke turned to the Commander and took in the sight of her in the blue robe and creamy gown. The moment of truth had come. She was about to take Lexa's clothes off. Clarke scraped her bottom teeth across her top lip preparing for the frustration that she knew was coming. "Would you like me to help you out of those, Majesty?"
"You may." Lexa stood still and waited for Clarke to come to her. Clarke took a deep breath, Lexa noticed the way it pushed her perfect breasts forward.
"Am I washing your hair Majesty or would you like me to put it in a bun for you?"
"I have to be cleaned everywhere, Ambassador. You can leave it down."
Clarke felt her lower belly clench and her center quiver. She was going to have to wash Lexa in her most secret space. She closed her eyes and pulled her lips into her mouth as she cast her head downward This was going to be impossible to get through.
Clarke's reaction worried Lexa. She couldn't quite read it. Clarke had closed her eyes which served as Lexa's window to Clarke's inner world. The way she was sucking in her lips made Lexa think that maybe the thought of cleaning her body somehow repulsed Clarke. She was beginning to wonder if she should have just let Agon attend to her. Maybe she should just dismiss Clarke and go through the motions of the ritual by herself.
Clarke finally regained her composure. She looked at Lexa and forced a smile. She owed it to the woman to try to get through this without getting all hot and bothered. Clarke moved in behind Heda and slowly slipped the blue robe from Lexa's shoulders and down her arms. Clarke's knuckles grazed Lexa's slender but toned arms as she removed the robe. Gooseflesh immediately pebbled along Lexa's arms. "Are you cold? Maybe I shouldn't have opened the window."
Clarke had forgot to call her Majesty. Lexa didn't bother to correct her. The effect of Clarke's skin against hers had her completely rattled. "It's not the air." was Lexa's only reply.
The goosebumps made Clarke wonder if Lexa was perhaps ticklish. She quickly hung the robe on a golden hook that was mounted near the tub. Then turned her attention back to Lexa. She admired how feminine the woman looked standing before her in the ankle length satiny gown. The spaghetti straps displayed Lexa's delicate collarbone and her sexy shoulders. She looked good enough to eat and Clarke's appetite grew more voracious. Clarke couldn't resist reaching out and fingering the black tattoo that ran down Lexa's right bicep.
Lexa inhaled sharply at the touch. Her heart raced as Clarke traced the swirling patterns with a light fingertip. "It's beautiful."
Lexa had to get her mind off of Clarke's gentle caress. "I got it on my first anniversary of becoming Heda. Do you have any tattoos?"
"No."
"You find them barbaric?" Lexa knew that Clarke had at one time thought her people to be savage. Maybe she still did.
"It's not that. I've just never had anything mean so much to me that I would want it permanently inked on my body." Clarke answered and then realized that she'd forgotten to address Lexa as Majesty. She bowed apologetically, "Sorry Majesty."
Lexa nodded silently. She was saddened that Clarke had chosen to return to a more formal tone but she knew it was for the best. Then as Clarke reached for the hem of her gown, she was beyond grateful for the switch.
Clarke had gone down on her haunches to grab Lexa's hem. She rose up, pulling the fabric with her. She tried not to look at the silky panties that covered the Commander's sex but her eyes fixated on the puffy patch at the top of her mound that pushed the fabric forward. Clarke tried not to imagine what Lexa's brown curls would look like at the apex of her pink flesh but her mind betrayed her. She kept moving up Lexa's body and literally gasped when she discovered that the brunette hadn't been wearing a bra.
"What is it?" Lexa looked down at her chest when Clarke gasped.
"Nothing, Majesty."
"Well, it's something. You have seen breasts before, I mean you have a pair yourself."
"I guess I just thought you'd be wearing a bra, or something."
"I see. Usually, I just tape them. It's more practical when I'm fighting but sometimes I do wear a bra. But not generally here in my quarters."
"I wasn't judging. I was just . . ." Clarke was finding it difficult to form words with Lexa standing in front of her wearing nothing but silky white panties. "They're beautiful." Clarke couldn't believe the words had left her mouth but they had and they hung there awkwardly between them as if they had an actual physical presence.
Lexa had been waiting for any indication that Clarke was interested in more than friendship. Clarke's comment gave her a ray of hope but she didn't want to give too much weight to mere words. Still, she'd never wanted Clarke more than she did in that moment, standing nearly exposed in front of her. "Mochof."
"You're welcome," Clarke answered on reflex. It was all she had left. She wanted Lexa so bad her chest physically hurt. And she still had to take the damn panties off. As Clarke considered that fact, her eyes drifted back down to the white silk.
Lexa followed Clarke's eyes. The blue eyes on her was doing delicious things to her center and she felt a fresh wave rush over her lips. She blushed hoping that Clarke couldn't see the wetness through the undergarment.
"Let me help you out of those, Majesty." Clarke looked back up at Lexa's face. She was surprised to find the Commander's face flush.
"I can't do this, Clarke. I'm sorry." Lexa stepped away from her Skygirl.
Clarke pulled her hand back from where she'd been reaching for Lexa's panties. She felt as if she'd been slapped. "Did I do something wrong?" The last thing she'd wanted to do was disappoint Lexa.
"No, no, it's not that at all. You're doing everything right."
"It's Costia, isn't it?" Clarke had been afraid that she wouldn't meet Lexa's expectations. After all, Heda had spent the past few years doing this with her lover. A woman who knew all her intimate needs.
"Costia? No." Lexa shook her head. She realized that she hadn't even thought once about her lost lover. Her focus had been trained solely on the beauty before her. How did she tell Clarke that all she wanted was her? She couldn't. She'd vowed to herself that the ball was in Clarke's court.
"Then what?" Frustration was heavy in Clarke's voice as she put a hand on Lexa's shoulder to turn her. She was surprised that Lexa looked as frustrated as she felt.
"Let's just get this over with." Lexa ripped her panties off and brushed by Clarke as she hurried to the tub.
Clarke turned to follow her, now as confused as she was frustrated. And, more than a little disappointed that she hadn't got a peek at Lexa's pussy. Although she did get a nice view of the Commander's ass before Lexa lowered herself into the tub and started sloshing the soap around to create bubbles.
"Lexa, what's going on? Just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it. I can't read your mind." Clarke sat on the edge of the tub and waited.
Lexa dipped her head under the water and came back up. "Shampoo."
"Fine," Clarke decide if all Lexa was going to give her was one word answers, she'd respond in kind. Clarke filled her palm with the yellowish liquid and started working it through Lexa's long hair. She was surprised to find that the thick mane had very few tangles. She was able to work up a lather rather easily. As she scrubbed the soap into Lexa's hair, she took the time to massage Lexa's head. Clarke was happy to see that the action had a calming effect on Lexa. Her neck relaxed and she let herself enjoy the sensations. Clarke loved vulnerable she looked with her head lolled back and her eyes closed to the world. Clarke took the opportunity to look at Lexa's perfect face unabashedly. She ached to push her own lips against Lexa's plump pink mouth and then to nibble along the chiseled jawline down to her slender throat.
Lexa opened her eyes to find Clarke devouring her with hers. If Lexa had wondered before, Clarke's ravenous look now left no doubt that the blonde wanted her too, and desperately if the need in her face was any indication. Still, Lexa couldn't be sure if it was just sex that Clarke was interested in or if she wanted more as Lexa herself did.
"Clarke," Lexa whispered huskily.
"Sorry, I got distracted," Clarke tore her eyes away from Lexa's chest. Lexa's rosy nipples peeked above the bubbles making Clarke want to lap at them as the water did.
"Need to rinse." Lexa dipped her head back in the water and ran her fingers through her own hair trying to get all the soap out. The arching of her back, brought more than her nipples up out of the water and Clarke nearly choked on her own spittle watching the suds stream over Lexa's fine breasts. Clarke closed her thighs and flexed her center trying to fight the throbbing that demanded satisfaction.
Lexa finished rinsing and sat back up. "Conditioner."
All finesse gone, Clarke dumped a massive glob in her hand and started creaming it through the dark strands. "What's next?" Clarke needed to know how much more torture she was going to have to endure without relieving herself.
"After the bath, you have to massage me with the proper oils from head to toe and then you'll dress me in the ritual outfit."
Clarke bit at the flesh where her lip met her inner cheek. No way she was going to get through this without embarrassing herself. "Lexa. . . I. . . ."
"Yes," Lexa leaned forward hopeful that Clarke was about to reach her breaking point.
Clarke shook her frustration off. Lexa had asked her to help her and it truly was a great honor and all Clarke had been able to do was act like a horny middle grader. "I'm honored that you chose me. Skaikru is honored. I'd like to thank you on behalf of my people."
Her people! Lexa licked her lips and then clenched them in frustration. She dipped under the water to rinse the conditioner. She considered drowning herself, after all, she was already drowning in desire for a woman she might never be able to have!