[Chapter Nineteen]
Elsa let go of Astrid's hand and slammed the door behind them. Astrid immediately missed the cool from her touch but didn't move to grab her. Elsa had already slipped past, closing the heavy curtains over her window. The room dimmed, but some light still filtered through, causing the dust that shook from the curtains to shimmer. Elsa opened a drawer in her bedside table, took something out, and closed it again.
Astrid almost asked her what it was, almost opened her mouth and let the words go, almost broke the moment, when Elsa grabbed her hand once more and guided her to the small writing desk, gesturing for her to sit. Astrid did.
Elsa sat across from her. The little table seemed to widen between them, and even though Astrid wanted to close the gap, she didn't. Elsa was leading up to something. Something important. And after Astrid had treated her before, she felt like Elsa should have the first move, the first words, the first shouts.
Elsa caught her gaze then set something on the table between them. Gulping down the questions bubbling inside her, Astrid looked down.
A gorgeous crown rested between them. Golden strands twisted together, forming the headrest, reaching up and cradling a stunning blue jewel that Astrid couldn't name. The jewel caught the little light in the room and gleamed. Beautiful.
Astrid tore her eyes from it and met two more blue jewels staring at her. That crown might be stunning, but it couldn't match the beauty before her. It could never surpass the blue depths of Elsa's eyes.
Still, Astrid remained quiet. Even though her stomach burned with guilt. Even though she wanted to explain herself. Even though she wanted to apologize. Anna's suggestion about the ball rose up in her mind, but even that seemed wrong now.
Elsa said she wanted to talk. So Astrid would let her.
Finally, after a few moments of silence, Elsa cleared her throat. "This is what scares you? This crown. This piece of jewelry? I don't believe it. Yes, I am a queen. Yes, I will rule my people. Yes, I will stay here for the foreseeable future because I have to. Because my people need me."
Astrid's throat tightened. She pursed her lips to keep the words from gushing out.
Elsa kept her gaze, captured it, didn't let it go. "But I'm also willing to talk about other options. I'm also willing to have a serious discussion about our future. I'm also willing to talk about our life as a couple, and how those responsibilities will—or won't—play into it."
Astrid let out a breath. "Our future?"
"If that's what you want." Elsa set her hands beside the crown, palms up. An invite.
Astrid's eyes flitted down to Elsa's hands. She needed to hear it. Not from her own imagination. Not from Anna. From Elsa herself. "Why?"
"Because I love you, Astrid." Elsa gave her a soft smile.
Astrid slipped her hands into Elsa's, accepting her wordless invitation. "I love you, too, Elsa." And because she couldn't stop herself—and honestly didn't want to—she decided against Anna's idea of the ball and instead the truth spilled from her lips. "Gods, I'm sorry for leaving you up there. I'm sorry for freaking out like that. For ruining the moment. I can't believe how much I freaked out when we kissed. I kept thinking how you're a queen and you'd never leave here and I was frightened to leave Berk and we'd never work and—"
"Astrid." Elsa interrupted, stilling Astrid's words. "Pretend you don't need to worry about those things."
Astrid tried that, pushing her responsibilities away, pushing her thoughts of home out of her mind. But she could only do that for a heartbeat, maybe less, before they came crashing back. "But we do need—"
"I know. I know we do." Elsa tightened her hold, again stilling Astrid's outburst. "Then pretend that's something we can talk about later, pretend we're just two women sitting here, talking." She spoke slowly, drawing out the words so they could really sink in.
They could talk about it later. As a couple like Anna said. If Astrid chose to stay. If Elsa let her stay. Astrid's gaze flitted around the room. Familiar, even though she had only been in here once. When she snuck into it by mistake. Two women talking. Like they were. Alone. Some of the worry drew back. She nodded.
"Good," Elsa's voice quieted. "Do you want to be with me?"
At those words, her imagination took hold of Astrid, of her and Elsa living together, working together, being together. Being a couple. Being one soul. And at this simple imaginative future, Astrid's worry dissipated and her heart sored.
"Yes," she said, grinning broadly.
Elsa returned the smile. "Then we can figure the rest out later."
She stood, pulling Astrid to her feet as well, and closed the distance between them. Before Astrid could do or think anything else, Elsa pulled her in for a kiss. This time, the kiss felt wonderful. Elsa's touch radiated through Astrid, cooling the blush that started in her ears. The chill tingled down her neck, shoulders, back, arms. A familiar kick to the stomach. An ache deep in her core.
This time, the kiss left her wanting more.
Elsa broke the kiss and stared into Astrid's hazel eyes. The desire there mirrored her own. Astrid opened her mouth to speak again but Elsa was tired of the explanations, tired of apologies, tired even of words. Now was the time for action.
Before Astrid could get a word out, Elsa crushed her body against the barbarian, tangling one hand in Astrid's hair and grabbing the back of Astrid's neck with the other, and silenced her with another kiss. This one deeper. Longer. Hungry.
And Astrid, finally, reacted. Her hands, once resting on Elsa's sides, gripped her now. Tight. Tighter. Digging into her sides, her nails carving wrinkles into the soft fabric of Elsa's dress. A sigh escaped Elsa's lips. She broke the kiss. Broke the embrace. Astrid's eyes seemed to glow, desire burning in them.
Elsa slipped out of her shoes. She backed up, undid the ties on her dress, and let it slide to the ground. Astrid's eyes widened, her lips parted, and a muttered curse left her. The cool air drifted over Elsa's skin, and she manipulated it to freeze then shatter her underthings—just for effect because the shocked expression now painted on Astrid's face made Elsa chuckle. And she could always get another pair of underthings anyway.
Still, entirely exposed now a blush rose gently on her cheeks. A part of her wanted to cover herself, but the way Astrid's gaze drifted up and down her body—almost like a caress—caused a tingle to race over her skin and silenced that part. She remained still under Astrid's scrutiny.
"You're beautiful," Astrid whispered, a deep blush coloring her cheeks, ears, and neck bright red.
"Thank you," Elsa replied, warmth spreading inside her at the compliment. A burst of laughter bubbled up from her stomach. Nervous laughter. Yes, she was nervous to have this happen. Nervous, but ready. She backed up to her bed, sat on it, and beckoned Astrid forward. "I was tired of talking, Astrid. I still am, in fact."
Astrid chuckled. "Yes, I am, too."
Astrid moved forward, slowly unbuckling her outerwear as she did. That movement silenced Elsa, even the nervous laughter boiling in her stomach drifted away. The slight clunks of Astrid's buckles hitting each other filled the quiet room.
Astrid's leather outwear thumped onto the ground, boots included, trailing behind her. She removed her shirt—one quick motion up and over her head—but stumbled trying to get the ties on her pants undone. She ducked her head, the blush now reaching her forehead. Her knees hit the bedside, but she still hadn't gotten her pant ties free.
Elsa noticed her blush and her stumbling, but her eyes were trained on the soft curves of Astrid's breasts beneath her short under-tunic. The dark green under cloth gleamed against Astrid's skin, tan from working outdoors, rough-looking from working with dragons, and so close Elsa almost moved to touch.
When she finally realized the stream of curses Astrid muttered under her breath she reached out and stilled Astrid's shaking hands, still struggling with the ties. She guided Astrid's hands gently away from the unwieldy fabric. A tangled knot barred her way in, blocked her from making love to the woman she loved, and Elsa felt a smile tug at her lips. She slipped her fingers over the brown fabric, untying the knots quickly, and soon the fabric fell from Astrid's hips.
Now only the underthings stood in their way and judging from the light fabric, they wouldn't be a problem. Still, Elsa leaned back and lifted her eyes to Astrid, asking for permission first.
Astrid, seemingly shocked for words, merely nodded.
Elsa slipped the underthings from Astrid's body, the bottom half first, inching it over her hips and letting gravity do the rest, and the top next, slipping the green fabric up and over Astrid's head. Kneeling on the bed now, and the same height as the barbarian, she let her hands wander through Astrid's soft hair, down her neck, shoulders, and rested on her hips. Still waiting. Needing permission to go further.
Astrid wrapped her arms around Elsa, tangling her fingers into Elsa's hair and inching closer, their bodies still a few inches away. Closer, their bodies nearly touching. Closer. Finally, Astrid moved so they touched, skin on skin, warm hesitantly meeting cold. The tingles racing through Elsa's body solidified at this touch and raced lower. Still, Elsa waited.
They held each other for a moment, a heartbeat, before Astrid took a deep breath and pulled Elsa in for a kiss. The desire swirled in Elsa now, spiraling closer to her core, then lower. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and even though she wanted to do more, she rested her hands on Astrid's shoulders. Astrid pulled away, breaking their contact and cold air rushed over Elsa's skin. Astrid tangled her fingers in with Elsa's and settled down on the bed, pulling her down, too.
Still, Astrid trembled. Not just her hands, either, her entire body trembled beneath Elsa's weight. "Are you sure?" Elsa whispered.
"Yes. I'm just…nervous," Astrid replied, her voice deeper than usual.
"You've tamed dragons—huge dangerous beasts—and this makes your nervous?" Elsa eyed Astrid's face, wanting her to rise to the challenge. Still, Astrid bit her lip and her gaze skittered to the curve of Elsa's breast resting gently on hers.
"I'm not used to taming my own heart," she finally replied.
Smiling softly, Elsa raised herself off Astrid slightly, balancing on one elbow and placed a hand over Astrid's heart. It thumped rapidly against her palm. "I'll tame it, then," she whispered. "As long as you're sure—"
"I'm sure!" Astrid interrupted, giving her a shaky smile that caused Elsa's own heart to skip. The blush had receded a bit, now just coloring the tips of her cheeks. A lock of hair had escaped from her braid and rested on her forehead.
Elsa tucked it behind one ear, caressing Astrid's cheek before whispering, "Okay, then. Lay still."
She moved, shifted slightly, to gain better access to Astrid's trembling form. Her hands wandered. First resting on Astrid's neck, feeling the quickened pulse even there, then sliding down her body and cupping her breasts. When Elsa rubbed Astrid's nipple, the barbarian's form tightened beneath her, and she gasped. Elsa did it again, and again, and again, playing with her, toying with her until the trembling wasn't from nerves and Astrid squirmed beneath her.
She lowered her mouth to one supple breast, pulling the bead with her lips, licking it, swirling. The heat of her skin turned Elsa on even more. Astrid moaned and instinctively rocked up. Elsa met that movement with the palm of her hand, the bush crumpled, her palm meeting warm folds already wet.
That sudden contact caused Astrid to shudder. She pushed her hands into Elsa's hair, pulling, tugging, pushing.
Elsa laughed against the nipple still in her mouth and drew back. She eyed Astrid, her love's eyes glazed over and staring at the ceiling, her body writhing, rocking up to find nothing there. Elsa had removed her hand. Astrid's legs had fallen slightly open, one leg arched out, the other straight. The sight caused the desire in Elsa to coil and burn. The place between her legs throbbed.
Still, Elsa wanted to make Astrid happy, wanted the barbarian to completely open to her. She moved to the other breast, taking the nipple into her mouth, swirling with her tongue, biting slightly. As soon as her teeth grazed that soft skin, Astrid's moans doubled. Elsa's own agony doubled.
Apparently the barbarian liked it rough. Elsa grinned. She could do that.
Astrid's breathing was too fast, too much. The sensations in her body nearly took her to the edge but she held it in. Tried to anyway. But when Elsa bit, gently, on Astrid's breast again, moved her hand to the other breast and pinched Astrid, Astrid's back arched, a guttural moan—louder than all the rest—piercing the air. She rocked her body up, needing something, anything, to release this pressure coiling inside her. She found Elsa's leg there, pressing down, and Astrid rocked onto it, smearing wetness onto her skin.
When Elsa removed her tongue from Astrid's breast, a shot of disappointment speared through Astrid, but then Elsa was on her again, kissing her. Kissing her hard. Elsa squeezed Astrid's breast and a kick went through her, her muscles tensing. She rocked against Elsa's leg, needing release, needing to be set free, her moans filling Elsa's mouth. Her eyes widened. Almost there. Suddenly Elsa's leg, and the needed pressure it provided, disappeared and the ache between Astrid's legs redoubled. Astrid broke the kiss.
"Elsa," Astrid gasped. "Elsa, please."
Elsa smiled, kissed her once more, and moved down between Astrid's legs. Astrid let them fall open for her, waiting and ready. Still, she went slowly. Licking Astrid's folds. Running her teeth over the jewel hidden in the folds, sucking it. Darting her tongue in and out of Astrid's core, going deeper each time but not deep enough. Astrid writhed under her touch, hands grasping the bed covers. A spasm went through her, and Elsa grabbed her knees and kept them apart. The force, the sheer power of Elsa, the woman between her legs, almost brought Astrid to the edge.
Finally Astrid yelled, "Elsa, if you don't do this, I will." She moved her hand, two fingers outstretched, toward herself.
Elsa slapped Astrid's hand away and dove three fingers deep into her love and curled them forward. Astrid gasped, the sudden fullness stretching her. She moaned, rocked into the movement, her eyes wide. Elsa rocked, too, going deeper with each motion, curling her fingers each time.
Astrid, unable to take any more, glanced down at Elsa. At the woman she loved. Their eyes met and with one more push, Astrid's back arched, her muscles tensed, and wetness spilled from her. Elsa waited a few heartbeats and then brought Astrid to the edge again and again. Astrid saw stars, her energy sapped, body trembling hard, before pushing her love away. She didn't have any more to give.
Elsa complied, removing her hand in one gentle motion, and settling down next to Astrid. Slowly Astrid's breathing normalized, the trembling stopped, the aftershocks lessened. Her heartbeat slowed.
Finally, she was able to look Elsa and grin. "That was way more exciting than any dragon."
Elsa kissed her cheek and laughed, a soft musical sound. "I'm glad for that. And now I can say I tamed a fearsome Astrid Hofferson."
Astrid chuckled. Fearsome she wasn't. Not at this moment, at least. She stared at Elsa, taking in the flush on her cheeks. "I can return the favor."
Elsa shook her head. "Not today.
"But you're so…" Astrid gestured to the sweat beading on Elsa's pale skin. Elsa twirled her fingers and a cool breeze drifted almost lazily over them, caressing and cooling them. The redness on her skin and the sweat disappeared.
Elsa sighed, a smile spreading on her lips. "Not anymore. This is my gift to you, love."
Love. Astrid beamed. She wrapped her arm around Elsa and drew her close. Elsa snuggled close, an arm and leg draping over Astrid's body as if that was the most normal thing in the world.
"Okay, love," Astrid replied, mirroring Elsa's language, "But I'm going to return the favor soon. Like you tamed my heart, I'm going to fetch yours."
Elsa chuckled. Astrid's eyelids drifted close. Before she could fall asleep, though, Elsa whispered, "What did Anna tell you to say to me…before I dragged you away?"
Astrid thought back. "That I had expressed interest in throwing her a ball. As an apology for upsetting her engagement." Astrid paused, wondering what kind of dress Elsa would wear to a formal ball. Probably one with some slink. Then, to her surprise, she thought about Hiccup and how the ball would be a perfect place to seal the deal between the two lands. And Anna would be thrilled. It seemed like a win-win-win situation. Astrid kissed Elsa's forehead. "And I want to."
SQ: FINALLY I UPDATED THIS STORY. Life and grad school and all. Thanks for sticking with me and the lovely comments! I'm nearly done with this story, maybe two more chapters. Or one really long one. What did you think?
1) Two small chapters
2) One long one
Also, what did you think of the steamy scene?
ALSO ALSO, my book Finding Hekate came out from Desert Palm Press! I have a link to it on my profile page or you could just go to the Desert Palm Press website! Finding Hekate is about a spaceship captain who's being hunted and she has to decide whether to kill her crew and run like she's done many times before or stick with her crew and fight. But the problem is, her time as herself is running out. It also features two badass lesbians as the main characters!
I'll try to update this soonish, but you know how it goes. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Until next time!
SerenityQuill