Disclaimer: I don't own any part of HZD. Warning: Rated M for sexual content. Warning! I don't use a beta reader!

Chapter Three

Aloy awoke in the same position she had fallen asleep in: The fur laden floor had served as their bed; she lay on her side with her left arm as her pillow and her right arm was still wrapped around Ikrie, who had fallen asleep with her head against her chest. The voice of the groundskeeper speaking to arriving hunters was the sign that it was now morning.

It had been an exciting yet strange night. Ikrie had many skills when it came to discovering her body, much to Aloy's benefit. The tension she had discovered in Petra's tub had met its natural conclusion several times, thanks to her lover's rhythmic hips, nimble fingers, and untiring tongue. The assault on her senses made it impossible to analyse the situation too hard as it was happening, but her feelings, she remembered the intense urge to reciprocate.

The Nora thoughts went to Ikrie's bravado when it came to giving, but she had become hesitant when it came to allowing Aloy to touch her back. In hindsight, the blonde almost seemed frightened when Aloy rolled her on her back and began kissing down her body. At the time, she hadn't put too much thought into why Ikrie covered her eyes with her hands when the redhead's tongue began caressing her most intimate place. The Banuk was struggling between holding her breath and gasping, but Aloy wasn't sure then how she should be interpreting it; maybe that was just how Ikrie sounded when she was enjoying something?

It hadn't lasted long. Ikrie pushed back Aloy's head and pulled her up to lay next to her under the furs.

Face to face, they stared into one another's eyes, Aloy could see Ikrie's brimming with tears. Alarmed by this sight, and also disarmed by her failure to please her partner she caressed the Banuk's freckled cheeks, thumbing away the wetness.

"I'm sorry, what did I do wrong?" The red head implored, desperate to make things right.

With fast, uneven breath, Ikrie shook her head as she closed her eyes. She was trying to not cry as she spoke.

"Please, I just want you to hold me." She then tucked her head against the other woman's chest. Stunned, Aloy pulled her close and began to stroke her back unsure of what she should be doing otherwise.

Ikrie fell asleep almost immediately leaving Aloy to think about the sequence of events that had just occurred- What she could have done to illicit this response? She was strong so maybe she had held her down too hard, maybe she accidently bit something she shouldn't have, maybe the girl was just too tired after a long day of fighting? She dwelled on it a short time before sleep claimed her too, but as she opened her eyes, all she wanted was answers.

Ikrie had woken up several moments before Aloy. She wasn't sure what she would say when they began getting ready for the day. She wasn't sure how to explain what was happening inside of her when they had gone from kissing side by side, to the redhead pushing her over gently and climbing on top. At first, she had tried to go along with it, she loved the taste of the woman's mouth and feel of her skin and strong body.

Aloy's fingers began caressing her sex and she wasn't ready for the release of the moan that came from her own throat; she wasn't even close to handling the look of desire from the Nora's face after she brought her fingers to her mouth and tasted Ikrie on them. An alarm rang in her head then. She recognized how good it felt to have her body kissed, but where that mouth was going, her brain screamed out "No!". It was wrong, she should not be touched like this.

She tried to get out of her own head and just feel it, she wanted to please Aloy badly.

She knew the redhead was awake when she felt fingertips begin to draw on her back. She wanted to pretend she was still asleep, to keep inhaling the scent of the Nora, to feel her warmth and protection. She also knew the inevitable was going to happen soon, that the woman was going to change her mind about travelling together and leave her behind. She was okay with this, Ikrie's destiny was to be alone after all. Their paths may diverge, but she would always keep an ear out for Aloy's songs of her further adventures in the voices of other Banuk.

With joyful resignation, she let the other woman know she was awake by rubbing her thumb against the Outlanders ribs.

Aloy wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the words to begin. She had been sincere when she had asked Ikrie to travel with her, but now she wonder that maybe the other woman wouldn't want to go. They could talk about that, she considered if they couldn't deal with the other events from the night before. It had occurred to her in all of her mulling that the source of Ikrie's hesitation had nothing to do with her. Maybe the Banuk woman was bearing the weight of something else and perhaps couldn't talk about it.

She sat up then and stretched her arms and back; her muscles were not as tight as usual thanks to the hot bath earlier. She examined her skin, checking to see if it had changed hues after sitting in red water and was surprised to find that she was not. Aloy decided she would investigate fire kiln root someday for other properties it held, but her curious thoughts returned to the present moment as Ikrie too sat up and also stretched. The arching of her back pushed her breasts forward and Aloy fought back the urge to playfully reach out and touch them. She wasn't certain she would be welcome.

The silence was awkward as they sat and considered one another. Ikrie had the same smile on her face when she told Aloy she was happy for Mailen who was moving on without her; this informed the redhead that perhaps she was wearing a mask. Was it something she wore just when she was sad, or did she also wear it when she was angry?

"Ikrie..." she spoke softly, hoping that as she did the right thing to say would naturally just fall out. Instead, she smirked shyly and in response, the blonde's beatific smile fell into a more thoughtful pose. There was a piece of loose hair fallen down Aloy's face. She reached out and used her fingertips to place it behind the Nora's ear then let them become entwined within her locks.

"Aloy, you're beautiful. Can I kiss you again?"

The red head released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Any questions in her hazel eyes faded and she smiled widely. She nodded.

"Come here,"

Aloy pulled the other woman to her so she sat astride her own legs. Their mouths came together gently at first, but the fever that had taken them the night before promptly returned. Their kisses became hungry.

Ikrie tried to use her weight to push Aloy back, but the move was resisted as the other woman used an arm to keep herself upright. Ikrie turned her lips to Aloy's face, up to her ear and neck and using her breath to send shocks down familiar nerves, the ones that had driven the Nora crazy only a few hours earlier.

A sharp pitch broke from the Nora's throat; shocks surged down her spine causing her to arch into Ikrie's body; she gripped the back of the blonde's hair to keep herself from falling backwards.

"Ikrie, aah!" Aloy gasped. She hadn't been ready to feel as turned on as she was so quickly. It wasn't that she didn't want Ikrie to throw her back and do whatever she wanted to her body; She truly believed Ikrie could probably make her climax just by the attention she was giving to her neck. Lips found her pulse point and located sensitive nerves, "Oh, Gaia, yes!"

Ikrie needed to have control Aloy realized; she hadn't been without pleasure the evening past and she wasn't quiet about it. She shared many encouraging words of both sweet and obscene nature at key moments. There had been a time when she remembered Ikrie grinding up against her leg, her breath was hot and loud against Aloys ear which was when she discovered this area in particular could drive the redhead to a state of madness with desire.

Before she completely lost any ability to stop what was happening, Aloy used her fingers to pull back on those blonde locks, pulling her off her neck and mashed their lips back together; Aloy sucked in air through her nostrils trying to stay in her own head and slow down her pounding heart. Instead of calm, she began to feel light headed and the releasing sounds from her throat came out as high and needy.

The Banuk woman gripped Aloy's face and used her kneeling position to raise her own body. Their lips never parted as their heights became different; the blonde attempted to use this to her advantage and used her pelvis to push against the base of the other woman's sternum.

Aloy could feel the wetness and heat of Ikrie's sex against her skin, taking a chanch, she used one hand to grip behind the blonde's buttocks, and used her other hand to slide in between them to cup the mound before her and added pressure.

"Oh-oh! Ikrie moaned. She tried to pull backwards but because of the way she was being held it pulled the other woman back with her. She pushed forwards back again and rubbed against Aloys open palm. This time her voice choked like she was supressing sounds in response to the intimate touch. Aloy tried to get a sense of where Ikrie was, at the risk of seeing anger or pain, she held her eyes to the other set of hazel ones which were directed behind her; perhaps she was emotionally removing herself from the present. Aloy wanted to bring her back to wherever that haunted mind may be taking her.

"Ikrie, look at me." She commanded gently. She curled her fingers so she could begin lightly stroking the soft pubic mound she held. The Banuk woman took a few long blinks before meeting Aloy's admiring gaze. "I'm not hurting you...right?"

Ikrie breathed in deeply, but she allowed herself to be captured in that stare. This outlander, Aloy, was so much more than just any other person; she was strong, but she was like a force of nature. Still, she was capable of showing such kindess, especially to wounded beasts such as herself. In line with these thoughts, Ikrie realized how weak she must be appearing. The things that hurt her had nothing to do with her generous companion. She shook her head trying to force out the cruel voices that held her back. She would find her courage in Aloy.

"No" she said at first with uncertainty. Aloy's fingers began to spread her lower lips and caress their soft edges. With her hands wrapped around the back of the Outlander's neck as a support for her weight, she pressed into the touches and allowed herself to enjoy the sensations. She gasped softly but her eyes never left the patient Nora's.

"No" she said again, this time with more conviction.

Aloy smiled blissfully and tenderly kissed Ikrie once again. Her thumb found the small swollen nub and began to make large swirls on the outside of it and was rewarded with a deep sigh in her mouth.

"Oh, Aloy" Ikrie breathed, gazing deeply again into the Nora's. It was there, she could see it, the source of her fearlessness. It was in the dark orbs that was focusing on her now, it was in the heat of her skin, the fire of her kiss. Ikrie could not and would not know fear, she would be strong with her.

"Aloy" she spoke again as a question, her fingers caressed the frame of the redheads face.

"What do you need?" was the husky voiced reply. Aloy was utterly enchanted by the change in Ikrie's response to her; the flush in her pale, freckled skin, the rocking of her hips, the silken warmth that welcomed her fingers. Anything wished of her, would be granted if it was within her ability.

"I don't know" the Banuk replied honestly, she took in another gulp of air and continued "just be close to me"

Aloy nodded and moved forward to capture those bright lips again found herself being pulled entirely down and atop Ikrie. She used her knees to keep the entirety of her weight from crushing down the Banuk whose hands were cupping the sides of her breasts and caressing her ribs. The flame haired womans hand used her new freedom of movement to allow her dominant fingers to lead the pattern on and around Ikrie's swollen clit.

"Oh Aloy" she moaned loudly finding it hard to keep her eyes from falling into her head as her back arched forward off the ground. "Oh!"

The Nora quickened her pace to keep with Ikrie's breathing which was faster and didn't take those nails digging into her back as a sign that she should be doing anything but this despite the pain sending a surge of pleasure down to her own sex.

"Ikrie, yes" she hissed "That's it let it happen!"

Ikrie's eyes were wide and focussed completely on her face as their pace became steady. Her mouth was open and became wider and louder as tension mets its apex-

"Oh-Oh...Ahhh" her back arched violently and her hips shook and when it seemed like all the tension had passed, Ikrie found herself blanketed by the body of her saviour who was covering her face with sweet kisses.

She wrapped her legs around Aloy and pressed her head down to listen to her heart which was beginning to calm. Her fingers entwined in those thick red locks which were so messily braided, but they were perfect. She longed then again to gaze upon that face which was more freckled than her own. She had a faint scar above her right eyebrow and many others decorating her body. Scars were tools to begin or end stories. They were symbols of wisdom in the Banuk culture because they taught about lessons learned and healing after a terrible event. Ikrie too had scars, but not all of them were visible. As sadness threatened again to overtake her thoughts, they were interrupted by Aloy turning her face up to look at her, she seemed contemplative.

"So, do you still want to travel with me?" She asked with a hopeful smirk.

Ikrie smile broadly. It was the question she had hoped would be asked. Without hesitation, she nodded, but she wasn't ready to leave yet. Where they would rest next was unknown and she wanted to care for her lover at least once more today.

She used her hips and legs to rolled them over so that Aloy again was on her back against the furs.

"Ikrie?" Aloy asked, feigning ignorance as to what the other woman was upto. There really was no rush to get out of The Cut, she surmised. If they left a little later they could still walk in some daylight.

Ikrie began a trail of kisses down her chest, stopping at her breasts briefly to swirl each nipple with her tongue; it was a sample of what was soon to come and all thoughts of travel abandoned her.

That's not the planned ending, I'm currently working on chapter four. If you're interested in reading more, leave a review, especially if you didn't hate it.

I know a lot of stories end after the sex, but I'm interest in getting Aloy back to Meridian, or at least to the border of the Cut. Petra, Avad, Erend and Talanah are still on her path. Is Ikrie going? Let me know if you want that answered