Chapter Five:
Lycoris wandered through the library, wondering why the archives still had so many books in hard copy. It didn't make much sense. Any of them could be instantly delivered to an Omni-tool in any language the user desired. She thought it was a waste of precious space on the Citadel, but no one ever asked her, so she mostly kept her opinion to herself. However, she did understand why Athena enjoyed studying here. It was very quiet, probably the quietest public place on the station.
"That's probably because it's too boring for most people to come here," she muttered under her breath.
As she walked by a dense section housing traditional elcor literature, Lycoris berated herself for not asking Athena exactly where she would be. She had wanted to surprise her, walk her home, maybe convince her to come over so they could meld again, but none of that would happen if she got lost. She had been reliving every second of their first time for the past few days, but as wonderful as the memories were, they had left her physically uncomfortable. The seam of her pants kept rubbing against sensitive places, and her skin felt hotter than usual.
Eventually, she found Athena tucked away in a corner. She had surrounded herself with several stacks of books, and she was completely focused on her work. Lycoris leaned her hip against the edge of the table and waited, but Athena didn't even blink until she cleared her throat.
"Corrie?" Athena looked up, and a bright smile spread across her face.
Lycoris gave her an answering smirk. She loved that Athena was happy to see her. Unable to resist, she took a quick look around to make sure they were alone before leaning down and brushing their lips together in a kiss that was over far too fast. She was surprised when Athena stood up from the table and started dragging her down one of the rows. Before she could ask what they were doing, Athena pulled her into a study room, shut the door, and pushed her back up against the hard surface. Athena grabbed her crest and pulled her head down to claim her mouth in a hungry kiss so perfect that it left Lycoris gasping for breath.
"Now that's how you greet a girl." Athena slid her hands over Lycoris's sides, massaging the tight muscles of her stomach as they trembled. "You know what I've been thinking about all week?" Her mouth moved down to Lycoris's neck as her hands slid under the hem of her shirt to touch hot flesh.
"W-what?" Lycoris asked. Her voice shook as all of the warmth in her body pooled between her legs. Athena was tormenting her, but it was in such a good way that she couldn't complain.
"I've been thinking about that dungeon you've got hidden away in the basement of your apartment."
"Y-You want to go back?" She twitched almost painfully at the prospect. She had already been aroused, but Athena's suggestion was making her even more uncomfortable.
"That depends," Athena purred, leaning closer. Their noses brushed, and Lycoris had to swallow down a whimper. "Do you know if your parents will be out? I don't want to get caught this time."
"Technically, we didn't get caught last time," Lycoris said, trying to sound confident. She wasn't sure which frightened her more, the thought of bringing Athena back to the dungeon, or the thought of her parents catching them. Although the idea of strapping Athena back to the x-frame was incredibly appealing, she couldn't deny that she was nervous. Their first try had gone well before their interruption, but she wasn't entirely confident in her abilities.
"So?" Athena gazed up at her with hopeful eyes, lips still a breath away. "Can we?"
Lycoris couldn't resist that pleading look. She sighed, cupping Athena's cheek and resting their foreheads together. "Sure. My parents won't get home until late tonight. If we hurry, we'll have a few hours to ourselves."
A bright, beaming smile filled Athena's face, and her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of purple. "That sounds wonderful. I've been itching to spend more time with you for days."
"You have?" Lycoris asked hopefully. When she realized how obvious her efforts to seek approval were, she cleared her throat and tried again. "I mean, of course you have. Me too."
They stared at each other in silence, both remembering what they had shared. There was no need for words. The next time their lips met, it was soft and sweet. They lingered that way for several moments, and when they did pull apart, their hands remained linked. Once they left the private room and arrived back at the table, Lycoris helped Athena carry her books to the front desk, where the VI checked them out.
"I don't get why you can't just download these," Lycoris grumbled as they headed for rapid transit. "It'd be a lot easier on my back."
"It's just not the same," Athena protested. A small pout formed on her face, and her brow creased with a slight wrinkle. Lycoris's heart swelled in her chest. "Books are part of the past. Feeling the pages underneath your fingers is so visceral. You're touching history."
"I still don't get it, but the way you're talking about it makes reading seem almost seductive. I guess that's what I signed up for when I fell f- ... I mean... when I chose a brain for a best friend."
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought she saw Athena's face fall even further. The flash of sadness didn't last long, and Lycoris couldn't be sure if she had seen it at all. "I'll show you seductive once we get back to your apartment," Athena teased, bumping their hips playfully together. Lycoris nearly dropped the books. Athena's touch always threatened to undo her.
"Oh yeah?" The spots on Lycoris's forehead lifted as she summoned a cab. "What did you have in mind?"
The blush on Athena's face grew even deeper. "I thought we could try picking up where we left off."
"So, you're finally ready to admit you like it when I restrain you?"
Athena's eyes darted to the ground as their car pulled up to the sidewalk. "Perhaps."
Lycoris felt her heart stutter. She spent the rest of the short ride in silence, unsure what to say. Luckily, Athena seemed content to snuggle against her side until they arrived at the apartment. Her exit from the cab wasn't particularly graceful, especially when she almost dropped Athena's books. She juggled them for a second before regaining control and fumbling to open the door. Athena brushed past her, hardly noticing her awkwardness . "Come on. Let's put this stuff down in your room."
Lycoris couldn't argue with that. She hurried to follow Athena through the apartment and into her bedroom. Once she set the books down, Athena turned to face her. "Are you okay, Corrie? You look nervous. We don't have to do this if you're not ready."
"I think I should be the one asking you that question," Lycoris answered. "You're the one getting tied up."
"So? That doesn't mean you can't be worried, too."
Lycoris breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried, but only because she didn't want to cross a line on accident. "I want to try," she said at last. "But please, promise to tell me if I do something wrong. The last thing I want to do is hurt you."
Athena reached up, and Lycoris shivered as soft fingers skimmed her cheek. "And that's why I chose you," she said with a smile that made Lycoris's heart flutter. It was a smile that was just for her, and she couldn't help but answer with one of her own.
Before Athena could lead her back to the hidden elevator, Lycoris remembered something. She eased out of Athena's arms, giving her a soft kiss in apology. "Hold on, I have a surprise for you." She went to her closet and pulled out a long, thin box. Athena stared at it with obvious curiosity, and Lycoris started to blush. "Um, I'll show you downstairs, okay?" Athena nodded and held out her hand. Lycoris happily took it, grateful for the trust Athena had placed in her.
It only took them a minute to sneak into the elevator and make their way down to the dungeon. Athena headed straight for the cross in the middle of the room, but Lycoris wasn't quite as comfortable just jumping in. She sat on the couch facing the frame, setting her package down on its plush arm. "Wanna make out here first?" she asked in a teasing voice. She patted the empty space next to her, hoping that Athena couldn't sense her nervousness.
Instead of answering, Athena walked over and settled into her lap. Lycoris's hands found her hips, and she smiled with newly discovered confidence. Kissing was something she could do. Something that wasn't so easy to mess up. She tilted her chin up, and Athena took the hint, dipping down to bring their lips together. Kissing Athena was even better than Lycoris remembered. She lost herself in the softness of Athena's mouth and the teasing heat of her tongue. Her hands shifted down to Athena's ass without conscious thought, and she couldn't resist squeezing.
The connection ended too soon, leaving both of them panting. "Why don't you show me what's in the box now?" Athena whispered against her lips, fingertips tracing between the dips of her crest.
Lycoris couldn't suppress a shiver of pleasure. She reached for the box and put it between them as Athena leaned back to give her room, pulling off the top off and tipping it over.
The soft gasp that spilled from Athena's lips as a black leather riding crop dropped into her hand was everything Lycoris could have hoped for. Even so, she hurried to explain. "You seemed to like this last time we were down here, so I bought one. We don't have to use it, but I wanted you to have one of your own in case you were interested."
"How long have you had this?" Athena reached out and touched the thin shaft of the crop, sliding her finger down to fondle the supple leather loop at the end.
"I ordered it the last day we were down here," Lycoris admitted. "It was more wishful thinking than anything else, but I couldn't resist. Call it an impulse buy. And, you know…" She gave a sheepish shrug of her shoulders. "The idea of using Dad's creeped me out." She waited, half expecting to be teased, but Athena's expression could only be described as hungry. Her teeth sank into her plump bottom lip as she held the crop in both hands, testing its give. The way she held it was almost reverent, and Lycoris grinned. She had hoped Athena would be into it, but she hadn't expected such an enthusiastic response, even if it was wordless.
At last, Athena looked up from the crop and into her eyes. "Are you sure you want to use this on me?"
Lycoris swallowed. She was definitely uncomfortable, but not for the reasons Athena was worried about. Gently, she shifted Athena off her lap and climbed to her feet. "Didn't it look like I wanted to last time?"
"Yes…" Athena stood beside her and headed back for the x-frame, stopping to press the hard leather tab into the center of her chest. Lycoris's heartbeat thudded out to meet it. "You also looked like you were about to ruin your pants. You might want to take them off before we get started."
With a show of confidence, Lycoris grabbed the crop and flipped it around. She took a moment to select her target, folding her fingers around the leather grip. The bare skin beneath Athena's shirt was too tempting to resist. She trailed the edge of the loop along the naked strip of flesh, enjoying the slight shudder she earned in response. "I'll decide whose clothes come off and when," she said, testing her new authority.
Athena lowered her lashes in assent, and a soft purple blush spread across her cheeks. She almost seemed like she was waiting, and it took Lycoris a moment to realize that it was for an order. She slid the tip of the crop beneath the hem of Athena's shirt, flicking it up over her navel. "Get rid of this. I don't want anything in my way when I put your wrists up."
That earned her a soft whimper, and the ache between her legs started pounding harder. She began to regret her earlier statement. If she took her pants off now, it would look like she couldn't control herself. She shifted subtly, making sure the seam wasn't rubbing directly over her clit as Athena pulled up her shirt. Her stomach muscles flexed as she tugged it off, and it was Lycoris's turn to stifle a groan when she realized Athena wasn't wearing anything else underneath. How hadn't she noticed before? Obviously the shirt had some kind of built-in support, because she spent a lot of time staring at Athena's breasts. Probably more than was appropriate in public.
The shirt fell to the floor, and Lycoris's heart leapt into her throat. She stared in dumbfounded silence for several seconds until she remembered that she was supposed to continue giving orders. With what was left of her coordination, she trailed the crop around to the small of Athena's back, giving her a small nudge toward the x-frame. "Same as last time. Face out, hands up top."
Athena lowered her eyes and walked the few steps to the Doublebar, turning around to put her back against it and lifting her hands into the air. Lycoris felt another twinge in her clit when she saw how hard Athena's nipples were, the little jewels puckered and begging for attention. It was nice to know Athena was enjoying this at least as much as she was without having to break the moment and ask her.
Lycoris took her time, looking her fill before she stepped forward. She purposely crowded into Athena's space, letting her shirt chafe against her lover's nipples as she secured her wrists to the frame. Athena rubbed against her, searching for more contact. Lycoris knew that she should probably punish her for being so forward, but she couldn't deny that she loved the needy reaction. Once she tested the bonds to make sure they wouldn't cut off Athena's circulation, she leaned down to drop a quick kiss on her lips. Athena whimpered at the lose of her mouth, but Lycoris didn't linger. "How do they feel?" she asked once she found her voice.
Athena tested the give of her restraints and wiggled her fingers. "They feel fine. Not too tight."
Lycoris gave a quick nod of acknowledgement. A mischievous smile curled her lips as she trailed the crop down the center of Athena's torso, from just below her neck to the waistband of her pants. The move was slow and deliberate, and Lycoris could see Athena's muscles quivering and bunching beneath the crop even as she tried to be good and stay still. Lycoris rewarded her by dragging the tip over her straining right nipple on the next pass.
It wasn't long before Athena was letting out little whimpers that she couldn't stifle and straining toward the whispering touch of leather. A light sheen of sweat had broken out over her skin, making it glow softly in the muted lighting and tempting Lycoris to trace her tongue across the glistening surface. The promise of eternity had already begun to blacken Athena's eyes, and she had to look away before she was pulled in. There was so much more she wanted to give Athena before succumbing to the embrace…
Athena's teeth split the curve of her plump lower lip, and her eyes grew even wider and darker than Lycoris had imagined possible. "Corrie, please?"
Lycoris already knew exactly what Athena was asking for. More sensations. More pleasure. Maybe even a little pain. Anything but teasing. And as much as she enjoyed the sweet little noises she earned each time she traced the crop along Athena's skin, she couldn't say no. She had never been able to deny Athena anything. She dragged the leather tab along the underside of Athena's breast, where there was enough soft flesh to absorb most of the sting, and gave the crop a swift flick.
Athena cried out, but it was mostly in surprise. She flinched as far as she could in her bonds, but after a few shaking breaths, her body stilled. Lycoris waited, listening for a 'Stop' or 'No', but all she could hear was their shared heavy breathing and her own pulse hammering in her head. Her eyes dropped down to the place she had struck. A purple flush had already rushed in to fill the patch of skin, and the contrast was surprisingly beautiful.
She lifted the crop again, inspired by the lovely sight. This time, she tapped a few blows in quick succession, pausing only long enough to wait for a response. Although Athena tugged at the cuffs around her wrists, she seemed to shudder and relax every time the brief spike of discomfort melted to bliss. Lycoris could see the cycle of tension and release in her body, and it reassured her that she wasn't striking too hard or pushing past any limits.
After another minute, she finished the pattern she had been making and lowered the crop to her side. Although it was a little messy around the edges, the shape was unmistakable: A large circle with a slash through the middle. Her lips twitched up in a grin. For tonight, at least, she had marked Athena as hers. "Very nice," she said, adding a purr to her voice. She couldn't resist running her fingertips along Athena's side, stopping just beneath the burning hot flesh of her breast. "It would have looked better on your ass, though. I should have thought it through."
Athena squirmed harder at that suggestion, and Lycoris suddenly realized that she had forgotten to bind her ankles. She set the crop on the small stand next to the frame and leaned in, hovering a breath away from Athena's lips. The thought of taking them was so tempting, but she held back. She wasn't making a fool of herself for once, and she wanted to enjoy her confident role as long as possible before she inevitably embarrassed herself. Instead, she slid one hand down to the front of Athena's pants, unlooping the button and tugging down the zipper. She worked one hand beneath the hem without bothering to pull them off, gasping near the side of Athena's crest when her fingertips found wetness.
"Fuck, The, so wet..." She groaned, her whole arm trembling as she resisted the urge to plunge directly into Athena's waiting heat. As much as they both wanted it, Lycoris knew their orgasm would be that much better if she drew it out. When Athena spread her legs as far as her pants would allow, inviting her inside, she didn't comply. Instead, she traced her fingers along the outside of Athena's lips, making her whimper with need.
"Please, Corrie," Athena begged, shifting her hips as she tried for a better angle. But every time she moved, Lycoris moved with her, denying her the touch she wanted so desperately.
"When I'm ready," Lycoris said, following her instincts and biting down on Athena's shoulder just hard enough to leave a mark that would take a couple hours to fade. At the hitch in Athena's breath, she decided to take it one step further. "When you've earned it."
Lycoris knew that her instincts had led her true when Athena released a short sob and even more wetness flowed over her fingertips. "How can I earn it… Mistress?" Athena asked quietly. Lycoris couldn't tell if Athena had averted her eyes because she was playing a role, or if she was uncertain about the new title. She had to admit that her clit had twitched pleasantly at the way Athena had addressed her. Never had she thought to demand that Athena call her Mistress, but she did like the way it sounded.
"Keep still," she said, testing out a voice that held a bit more command. Athena complied, but it wasn't long before her hips started pushing forward again. "If you can't do it on your own, I'll have to tie down your legs, too."
Lycoris finally removed her hand from Athena's pants, not allowing herself to be swayed by her lover's look of disappointment. She put her hands on Athena's waist, forcing her to hold still. "You want me to tie you, don't you?" she demanded when she trusted herself to speak. Her fingers tightened on Athena's waist, stopping the rocking motion that was driving them both insane, and looked down, waiting for Athena to meet her gaze.
It was several moments before Athena lifted her glossy eyes, but her softly spoken "Yes" was anything but uncertain.
That one simple word was enough to erase every thought from Lycoris's mind. It took her a minute to figure out what to do next. She lowered her head and trailed her lips along Athena's neck, reveling in the way her head tilted back to allow more access. "Tell me why, sweetheart," she asked, using a gentler tone instead of the demanding one she'd been trying out earlier. "Why do you want me to tie you down?"
She continued to kiss and nuzzle against Athena's neck, giving her time to form an answer. But when it seemed as though it might never come, Lycoris nipped just hard enough on Athena's sensitive pulse point to remind her that she was waiting for an answer. "I like it," Athena said. She took a long breath before continuing. "I like being exposed for you. Laid out for your pleasure. Naked while you're still fully clothed."
The breath stilled in Lycoris's chest while she processed Athena's confession. She was honored and humbled that Athena had confided something so personal, so intimate, in her. And this time, she couldn't deny her want. She took Athena's mouth in a kiss that hid nothing of her feelings, nearly dropping the crop in her effort to shove down Athena's pants.
She managed to tear them off with surprising speed. Perhaps it was desperation, or maybe luck, but they landed on the floor around Athena's ankles in a matter of seconds. She helped Athena kick the pile of fabric aside, not caring where it ended up as her hand cupped back over the slick, swollen lips of Athena's azure. Even more wetness painted her palm, and she groaned into the hot mouth beneath hers. Secretly, she was relieved to be kissing instead of talking. She couldn't come up with words worthy enough to describe what her fingers were feeling. Athena was so wet. So vulnerable. So open to her. The only thing in the galaxy she wanted was to angle two of her fingers up and push inside.
But Athena had called her Mistress. Athena was trusting her to carry them through this scene. She had watched enough porn on the extranet to know that giving in so soon would be a cop-out. Summoning every ounce of willpower in her body, she stepped back, although she couldn't resist slipping her fingers over the swollen ridge of Athena's clit. It throbbed under her touch before she could pull away, and she nearly felt herself tumble headlong into the dark waters of the meld.
'Corrie...'
Lycoris shut off her mind, ignoring the pleading way her name had slipped through the cracks. She looked around for the crop, relieved to see that it had fallen on top of Athena's pants. She bent down to pick it up, flicking the loop against her own palm. That got Athena's attention. Her dark eyes cleared for a moment, and although her breath caught, her hips stopped pumping against the empty air. When Lycoris noticed that she had once again forgotten to tie Athena's ankles, she solved the problem with a small singularity, shooting the dark ball of energy at her feet. They floated even further apart, and Athena lifted a few more inches off the ground.
"Comfortable?" Lycoris asked, relieved to discover that her voice still worked. The release of biotic energy had felt good, and it eased the slight ache that had started in the back of her head.
Athena gave her a trembling nod. "Yes. Well, no..." Her dark eyes darted down along her stomach, gazing between her legs. A heavy throb pounded between Lycoris's own thighs as she resumed staring at the pretty violet ridge of Athena's clit. It was already exposed and hard, glistening with wetness from her brief touches, and she swallowed as she imagined pulling it between her lips...
But she wanted to give Athena at least one orgasm like this first. Not just because her lover clearly wanted to be controlled, but because Lycoris wanted to prove to herself that she could do this. She trailed the crop down Athena's naked stomach, grazing its edge back and forth between her hipbones. "It's about to get worse before it gets better," she teased. A purple flush spread everywhere the crop moved, and even though she desperately wanted to touch Athena's skin with her hands instead, Lycoris couldn't deny that the contrast of color was beautiful. She wanted to see how far the blush would go. After giving a swift tap just beneath Athena's navel, she moved the crop down in a straight, purposeful line.
The reaction Athena gave as the leather tab finally touched the edge of her clit was beyond description. She cried out, trembling and writhing in her bonds. But the cuffs and the singularity held, and she could barely find enough give to grind against the crop. Lycoris felt her heart swell to bursting, and a huge grin spread across her face.
"Please, more," Athena panted breathlessly. Lycoris could see the muscles all over Athena's body quivering as they desperately tried to find a way to force more contact between her clit and the crop. She had never seen Athena so desperate, and her pride swelled with the knowledge that she was the cause. There was an ache inside of her that demanded she fulfill Athena's needs, but she pushed it down, wanting to bring Athena higher first.
Lycoris moved the looped end of the crop across Athena's straining clit, varying the pressure between fluttering lightness that pulled out desperate whimpers and bolder strokes that elicited needy moans. She knew that if she were using her hand, all she would have to do was wrap her fingers around that beautifully tempting ridge and strip it from base to tip, and Athena would burst in her hand. The thought almost made her throw the crop away and do just that, but she forced herself to make them both wait.
It wasn't long before Lycoris felt a familiar but still slightly strange pressure against the edges of her consciousness, one that she identified as Athena trying to initiate a meld. Her first instinct was to let it happen and allow Athena into her mind, but she thought better of it and quickly brought up her defensive walls, ignoring the almost pained whimper that her actions drew.
Lycoris didn't let Athena dwell on the rejection. She pulled the crop away from Athena's clit and flicked her wrist, landing a soft, careful tap across her azure. A sharp cry escaped Athena's lips, but Lycoris knew it was from surprise, not pain. Athena had jerked into the contact as though she wanted more instead of trying to get away. Lycoris's mouth went dry with that discovery, but was still able to get her voice back enough to say, "Not without permission, sweetheart," in a voice made gravelly by her almost painful desire. She was unable to hold back the endearment even though she was admonishing her lover.
"Oh Goddess," Athena moaned, opening her lids and looking at Lycoris through eyes that were black as the deepness of space. "Please, let me meld. Let me come."
The words weren't anything Lycoris hadn't heard from Athena before, but the desperation in them broke her resolve. She pushed the tab of the riding crop back to Athena's clit, circling roughly over the hard ridge until Athena was thrashing against her bonds, incoherent pleas flowing constantly from her lips. It was only then, when Lycoris felt Athena pushing insistently against her mental barriers, that she let her in. "Meld with me." She rested her free hand on Athena's shoulder and giving her the skin contact they so desperately needed. "Come..." ...For me...
They reached out, falling into each other and clinging tight. Lycoris tumbled headlong into Athena's mind, and her need doubled as she shared every pulse of pleasure rippling through her lover's body… her body… it became harder and harder to tell the difference. But enough of her remained to feel a powerful surge of pride when Athena cried out, covering the crop and her inner thighs with a flood of wetness. Lycoris gritted her teeth, groaning as her clit twitched in sympathy. She exploded in her leather pants, rubbing against Athena's hip to try and cope with the powerful release of pressure.
Athena had just crested her peak and was on her way down when Lycoris pulled the crop away and tossed it aside. She didn't care where it landed as she surged forward, sliding between Athena's spread thighs and pumping two fingers into the slick, pulsing heat of her azure. Lycoris needed to be near Athena, needed to be connected to her, needed to really be the one touching her this time.
There was nothing soft and gentle about this joining. Lycoris's mouth crashed down on Athena's, bruising her lips as she claimed them with a hungry kiss. Her fingers pushed further, gaining more speed and power as she used her hips to increase the force and depth. She curled them at the top of each stroke, dragging them roughly against the secret spot that made Athena gasp and cry out.
That touch was enough to shatter the last barriers between them. Athena's thoughts spilled into hers, filling her head, vibrating through her body. Pictures blurred together, and sounds that weren't really there rushed through her ears. 'Inside! Please, Corrie, I need…' She could already feel exactly what Athena needed. She folded her hands even tighter around Athena's hips, driving forward, pumping deeper until she was wrapped in tight, shivering silk…
Lycoris nearly pulled back from the meld when she realized exactly what she was witnessing. These were Athena's thoughts, her deepest fantasies, and in them, she wasn't just using her fingers.
Her meld-darkened eyes glanced down between her legs. Instead of her hand, she saw a slick, glistening purple shaft splitting apart the swollen lips of Athena's azure. She knew it wasn't real, knew it was only the thoughts running through Athena's head bleeding over into hers, but she didn't care. The want, the need pouring into her through the union was more powerful than anything she had ever felt before. Real or not, she couldn't bear to let the moment slip away.
'Is this what you want?' she thought, thrusting even harder. 'To have me inside you?' The surge of arousal she received in response was more than enough to encourage her. She tried again, even more explicitly. 'To have my cock inside you?'
Athena stiffened against her, throwing her head back against the frame. She screamed, and her entire body went rigid as she tipped over the edge. There was nothing Lycoris could do but fall with her. She tumbled through wave after wave of Athena's desire, unable to tell where one image stopped and the next started. Athena, bent forward over the bed, thighs kicked apart, glistening and open for her… Rocking above her, sliding down to take her in, rubbing furiously over the violet ridge of her clit… Writhing beneath her, nails scoring down her back, hips lifting to meet every thrust…
By the time the images stopped, her pants were soaked, her hand was dripping, and her head was still spinning. The meld splintered apart, too intense to sustain itself for long, and Lycoris stared down at Athena in shock. "Goddess, The, what was that?"
To her surprise, Athena blushed and averted her eyes without answering. Lycoris's first instinct was to soothe her. She hurried to unfasten Athena's wrists, helping to ease her arms down from their bound position. She massaged her lover's stiff shoulders, pressing a few kisses to her crest as she helped her over to the nearest couch. "Hey, it's okay," she whispered, stroking up and down Athena's back. "Here. Lie down for a minute."
Athena let out a soft whimper and collapsed onto the cushions, looking equal parts terrified and exhausted. "Lycoris, I…"
"You don't have to explain right now. Just breathe."
Athena sighed with relief and closed her cloudy green eyes, draping one arm over her face. Lycoris curled up beside her, folding an arm around her waist and cuddling close. When Athena wanted to talk, she would be there, ready to offer whatever reassurance she needed.