CHAPTER 37: Moonlight
"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
Author's note: Serious smut is coming (don't tell me I didn't warn you)
Somewhere in the silent Fire Nation palace, Aang tossed and turned in his bed, his usually peaceful sleep eluding him.
The opulent room, decorated with intricate Fire Nation tapestries and flickering torchlights, seemed suffocating to him tonight.
He had tried everything.
Breathing, meditation, counting koala sheep.
Nothing helped.
His mind kept wandering back to his conversation with Zuko earlier, which would fill him with anxiety and ultimately lead his thoughts to wander to Nii, which caused him to imagine her laying in her bed in the room next to him, and all sorts of images and scenarios would play in his head, leading to a swirl of all sorts of sensations to rush through his body.
He thought about their night together at the pond.
He wondered what Zuko would have done if that had happened to him.
Aang imagined Zuko lying where he had by the edge of the pond, as Nii walked over to him and took hold of his hand…
He did not like that picture so he quickly pushed it away.
He also recalled what Zuko had said about Nii being 'all about riding Airbenders' and Aang could not help but to imagine her sitting on top of him, breathing out over him, kissing him, touching his chest, giggling.
It caused another surge of adrenaline and arousal to roll through him like electricity.
Urgh!
Aang sighed out in frustration and opened his eyes.
Curled up over in a cozy corner of the room, Momo lay sound asleep, and Aang could not help but to glare at him with jealousy.
The lemur's small form was nestled within a nest of soft blankets and cushions, and his tail was wrapped around his body, serving as both a pillow and a source of comfort.
Momo's breathing was gentle and rhythmic, while occasionally, a soft snore would escape his tiny nose, and once in a while his ears twitched ever so slightly as if he dreamed of playing around with other lemurs.
Aang sat up.
Restless, he slipped out from beneath the silk sheets, put on his clothes and padded barefoot across the polished marble floor, and he silently opened the door and made his way out into the corridor.
Moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows that danced across the wall.
Aang could not help but to let a furtive glance travel to Nii's door.
What if he just burst in there?
All confident, bold, mysterious, fearless, experienced, self-assured?
He sighed out and let his gaze wander back to the windows.
He was not any of those things.
As he took a look out of the window, the night sky stretched out in all its splendor, a tapestry of stars twinkling brightly against the velvety darkness.
The moon hung low in the horizon.
In the distance, he could see the silhouette of the Fire Nation capital stretching out beneath the palace, its buildings and streets illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns and torches.
The city did not seem to sleep either.
Despite the stillness of the night, there was a sense of quiet energy in the air, and Aang found himself drawn to the city below where other people were awake too.
He just wanted to feel the cool night air against his skin, see people laughing, and have a good time. Get his mind off of the images of Nii that kept flashing behind his eyelids every time he closed them.
He was just about to turn around to find his way out of the palace when he heard a familiar voice behind him that caused him to halt.
"Can't sleep either?"
His heart skipped a beat and he closed his eyes.
Another surge of electricity coursed through his veins, sending shivers of nerves and excitement through his body. His pulse quickened and his breath caught in his throat.
He could not believe that she was there.
Even though he had tossed and turned with a longing to be close to her, now that she stood there behind him, he felt nervous, the thrill of her presence sending his senses into overdrive.
What if she could sense his inner fire?
As he turned around to face her, a rush of emotions washed over him.
What he saw took his breath away - again.
She stood there before him, draped only in a swath of silk bedding, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the flickering candlelight behind her and the radiance of the moon coming from the windows in front of her.
Butterflies fluttered wildly in his stomach, his cheeks flushed with warmth, and he struggled to tear his gaze away.
Her presence was mesmerizing, and it captivated him in a way he could not explain.
Every curve of her body was accentuated by the delicate red and golden silk wrapped around her, and she seemed to glow with life as the candlelight danced across her skin, causing a surge of heat to rise within him, his nerves and excitement mingling with a sense of longing.
Desire.
He gulped down.
"No," left his lips without him even thinking about it, and his voice was barely above a whisper.
He sighed out deeply, and another shiver waved through him, when he saw the corner of her mouth curling shyly in a movement so subtle that it was barely perceptible.
Nii turned around to walk back into her room, leaving the door open.
Aang's heart raced as he stood there, completely spellbound.
Did she want him to follow her?
He hesitated for a moment, his entire body racing with a whirlwind of emotions.
But he found himself unable to resist the pull of her magnetic presence, and he could do nothing else but to follow her, the open door irresistible.
Aang took a deep breath to steady himself, when he stepped inside her room and closed the door softly behind him.
His senses were overwhelmed as he stood by the door with his back turned to her.
The air around him was heavy with a scent of jasmine and sandalwood, the flickering candlelight casting soft shadows that danced across the walls.
It was a moment he had dreamed of countless times before, yet now, he could not help but to feel a sense of disbelief.
He felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness pounding through him as he turned around to face her, and then, everything else faded away.
The world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them there together in the now.
She was sitting on the edge of her bed with an effortless grace, her posture relaxed yet poised, exuding an aura of quiet confidence and allure.
The silk bedding pooled around her, cascading in gentle waves over the smooth fabric of the bedspread. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, framing her delicate features like a halo, adding to her ethereal beauty.
When their eyes met, another rush of desire washed over him like a sudden gust of wind, stirring something deep within him that seemed to consume him from the inside out.
Her dark gaze held a magnetic pull, drawing him in with its warmth and intensity.
He could see the reflection of his own desire mirrored in her eyes.
It was as if a fire had been ignited within him, burning with a fierce intensity, and every fiber of his being ached to reach out and touch her, to pull her close and lose himself in the warmth of her embrace.
He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, his skin tingling with anticipation as he fought to maintain his composure.
With a subtle shift in her body, Nii sent him a coy smile, her eyes sparkling with invitation.
"Come," she said softly, her voice a melodious whisper that sent shivers down his spine.
Aang closed his eyes and gulped down yet again.
She actually wanted him closer to her, and it made his body react with a fiery intensity, excitement and arousal gathering between his legs, causing him to exhale deeply.
He opened his eyes again and found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her, captivated by the way the candlelight danced across her honey skin, casting her in a radiant and mesmerizing glow.
He could do nothing else but to comply.
He was completely under her spell.
As he approached her there on the bed, his heart pounded in his chest, and when he sat down beside her, the mattress dipped slightly under his weight, bringing them closer together.
He could feel the warmth of her body beside him.
When he heard her breathing and sensed the air moving slightly around her, the unfamiliar animal inside of him fully awakened as she reached her hand closer to him, their fingers brushing against each other's in a fleeting touch.
"Huh," he breathed absentmindedly, as he felt a wave of pleasure coursing from his fingers through his entire body, lighting every cell of his being on fire.
He was not prepared for the eyes that she was sending him, as he turned his gaze to meet with hers.
In her deep dark chocolate pools he saw vulnerability, warmth, affection, desire.
Raw honesty.
His breathing was deep as the rhythm of his pulse echoed in his ears, and he struggled to contain himself.
"Can I kiss you?" she asked in a soft voice filled with innocence, and he watched her eyes briefly drift down to his lips.
He nodded with a deep anticipation unlike anything he had ever experienced before, the thrill of the unknown mingled with a promise of something beautiful, something profound.
As their lips finally touched, a spark ignited between them, setting his senses ablaze yet again with a fiery and intoxicating passion that burned brighter than any flame, and he finally felt himself surrendering to her, to himself, to his body.
Flames licked through his entire body as he felt the delicate pressure of her lips against his, and when their tongues suddenly met, another surge of heat rose within him, a jolt of electricity coursing through his veins, leaving him breathless and exhilarated.
She tasted sweet on his tongue, like mango and moon peach, causing a sigh to escape him.
Their kiss deepened, and their tongues began to dance in a passionate tango, exploring each other with a newfound hunger and urgency.
He heard her whimper into his mouth, and he furrowed his brows as he felt a deep pounding inside of him that caused him to tremble in his seat, and his hands twitched as if they wanted to explore her, take her.
He needed to touch her, to feel her skin against his own, and with a trembling hand, he reached up to cup the back of her head, threading through the soft strands of her black smooth hair.
The delicious friction between their tongues left him growing more and more intoxicated by her, consumed by the fire that burned between them.
His touch was tender yet possessive, a silent declaration of his love and desire for her.
He could feel the warmth of her skin beneath his fingertips, the rapid beat of her pulse echoing in the space between them.
As one of his hands gently cradled her head, he let the other trail down the curve of her neck, and he felt his touch sending shivers down her spine.
He felt her melt into his embrace, her body responding to his touch with a fervent intensity that mirrored his own, and without thinking, he heard himself moan into their kiss.
Nii suddenly pulled away from him, and he felt breathless and dizzy with desire, when he saw the rawness and urgency in her eyes.
"This is…" she breathed deeply, before she let her eyes travel down to his body, as if they searched for something, as if they were hungry. "Can I touch you?"
Aang's brows knitted together slightly, a silent reflection of the deep yearning and need within him.
She actually wanted to touch him.
To touch his body.
His breath got caught in his throat, and his heart pounded with a mixture of awe and reverence.
"Yeah," he croaked in something between a whimper and a whisper.
He felt her push him slightly over his chest, and he simply complied the request of her hands by leaning backwards to rest against the mattress below, before scooting himself a bit further up so his entire body rested on her bed.
As she stood up from the bed, she let the silk bedding wrapped around her body fall to the ground, and he felt heat flushing his cheeks as he watched her eyes hungrily travel all over him with urgency.
There she stood, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, her form shimmering like a vision, illuminated like a work of art.
Every curve of her body was a masterpiece, every line and contour a testament to her beauty and grace. Her skin glowed with a radiant and mesmerizing warmth, inviting and alluring, and he let his eyes satisfy their hunger for her as she came closer.
There was a softness to her expression, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips, welcoming him.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered as he felt both his voice and body trembling.
From his reclined position, he admired her, as she sat on the bed next to him, and he took in every detail of her delicate features, the way her hair fell in soft waves, the curve of her lips as they formed a smile just for him.
With delicate fingers, she reached out to him, her touch sending shivers of excitement down his spine as she began to slowly undo the ties of his robes.
Each knot unraveled with a tantalizing slowness, revealing slivers of his skin beneath the fabric.
As the robes fell away, Aang felt a rush of vulnerability wash over him, his heart continuously pounding in his chest as he lay exposed before her.
But there was no judgment in her gaze, only hunger and excitement and a deep sense of love and acceptance that made him feel safe and cherished.
It was as if she liked what she saw.
He closed his eyes, and with each layer of clothing removed, Aang felt himself growing more and more intoxicated by her touch, his senses overwhelmed by the heady scent of jasmine and sandalwood that clung to her skin.
As Nii finally slipped the last piece of fabric from his body, he lay before her completely bare, his heart laid bare along with him.
He opened his eyes to see her gaze travel over his naked body, and he heard a whispered hiss escape his lips when her eyes briefly licked over the arousal between his legs, before she bit her lower lip, returning her gaze to his eyes.
She sighed out.
"You're so beautiful, Aang," she sighed out in a whisper, before she leaned over to kiss him.
When she pulled slightly away, she paused with her face only inches from his, and he felt his body shiver from the sensation of her breath on his skin, while his hips involuntarily moved slightly upwards.
It was like his body had a life on its own, and he could do nothing but to surrender to it.
Surrender to her.
"I wanna…" she purred over him, her eyes traveling down his body. "Can I… Uh…"
"Yeah," he whispered at her while nodding his head slowly, not knowing what she was asking.
All he knew was that yes.
Yes she could.
Nii straightened herself a little next to him, and she lifted a hand to let one of her fingers rest on his lips.
He kissed it softly, his breathing deep and urgent.
She started tracing her finger downwards, down over the arc of his chin, barely grazing over his throat, his collarbones, his chest.
His breathing deepened even more, and he felt his hips thrusting again in a slow movement.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her finger sliding further down, from his chest and over his stomach and his lower abdomen, sending shivers over his entire body, causing him to undulate from pleasure underneath her touch.
His breathing came out staggered.
Just as she was about to reach the hardened arousal between his legs, and his hips thrusted at her again, he felt her finger leaving his skin, only to feel her grab his wrist and guide his hand closer to her.
He clasped his eyes even tighter together and felt his jaw tensing, when he felt her place his hand between her legs, and his fingers were met by something he had never experienced in his life.
A warm, soft, magical, silky wetness licked over his fingers.
A low, unfamiliar and deep growl escaped from his lips, surprising him with its intensity, and he opened his eyes to take in the sight of her.
His hand between her legs seemed to please her, and Nii whimpered softly into the silence of the night, earning his fingers to twitch slightly, which then caused her lips to part, leaving the most beautiful sound to escape her lips.
He closed his eyes as a wave of deep euphoric tingling pleasure rolled over him.
He heard himself utter another growl, when he felt her swaying her hips a little over his hands, as if she was leaning herself even more into the touch of his fingers.
She was like a beautiful, sacred lotus flower that was slowly opening herself to him.
"Mh," she breathed while nodding her head with a subtle bite on her lower lip when his fingers started exploring her more confidently.
He felt one of his fingers slip over a particularly tight spot, which seemed to cause her to tilt her pelvis a little, and he was surprised to feel just the tip of his finger entering her.
His finger was welcomed by her, lovingly, as if she wrapped herself around him with a wet, magical softness and tightness, causing him to buck his hips upwards again.
She moaned again, and to his ears it felt like the most beautiful melody that he had ever heard.
Their breathing was deep and synchronized.
Aang soon felt something wet on his abdomen too, and he tore his gaze away from her briefly to see only but a few drops of something that had left his hardened arousal, as if his body was preparing himself to enter her there.
He clasped his eyes shut.
Just the thought of it had another wave of pleasure roll over his body.
Even though he had no idea what he was doing, it was like his body knew, and for the first time ever in his life, he felt like he could trust it.
"You're so beautiful, Nii… You're, huh…" he whispered again as he opened his eyes, while his finger entered her just a slight inch more, and her body responded with slow, languid, rolling motions.
Each of her movements was fluid and graceful, a symphony of curves and contours that undulated in perfect harmony with the rhythm of her apparent pleasure.
He watched her in amazement as her eyes fluttered shut, lashes brushing against her flushed cheeks when she arched her back, welcoming his finger to fully enter her now, and he heard himself whimper at the oncoming rolls of her body and the sensation of her warmth around his finger.
She was like the waves of the ocean.
She seemed to lose herself more and more deeply in the ecstasy of the moment, and Aang felt his hips roll with her, as Nii continued to flow her body with abandon, her pace soon quickening a little.
"This feels…" she whimpered softly, her breathing staggered. "Aang, huh, you feel…"
A sense of liberation washed over him, as he watched her surrender to the primal, unbridled joy of her pleasure.
She was a creature of pure sensation, and he loved it.
"You feel amazing, Nii," he murmured as he watched her, completely spellbound and bewildered, and without thinking he slowly started moving his finger gently with her, tracing his hand in small, circular and tender motions that reminded him of bending the air into delicate twirls.
"Oh my… Aang… Oh wow... Oh, huh, what are you…" she hissed from his motion, and even though she stopped rolling her hips, he continued the circular motion, eyeing her intently, tensing his jaw.
"Mh," he voiced.
The expression on her face almost looked like she was in a state between pleasure and pain, as if she was trying to fight against the overwhelming tide of sensation, trying to hold on to the last shreds of control as she teetered on the brink of surrendering completely to him.
"I can't…" she whimpered with furrowed brows while drawing in shallow breaths that came quickly and left her lips in small gasps. "I'm, it's... I'm gonna…"
And then, as she gave in, Nii made the most beautiful sound in the entire world.
He widened his eyes at her, when he saw her body tremble wildly with waves of pleasure as she came undone right there in front of him, her mouth shaped like a small o while she lifted her hands to cup her own breasts, her nails digging slightly at her honey skin.
He felt her tightness undulate and convulse around his finger, as if massaging him, and he could not help but to whimper out with her, seeing her surrendering into her pleasure and feeling the release.
And then, it was like her face underwent a profound transformation, a symphony of sensation playing out across her features.
Her brows, once furrowed, relaxed and smoothed out, the tension melting away like snow under the warmth of the sun. As if a weight was lifted from her shoulders, leaving her with a sense of lightness and freedom.
A soft smile soon blushed out over her lips, curving upwards in an arc of pure contentment, of satisfaction, as if she had finally found the peace and fulfillment that she had been searching for.
A rosy blush colored her cheeks, and her jaw slackened, as a deep, contented sigh escaped her lips, and it was like the sound of pure bliss, a melody that echoed through the room like a gentle breeze.
Aang could not help but to smile and sigh out with her, and before long, she opened her eyes to look at him.
Once filled with burning desire and determination, now her dark chocolate pools were as glazed with a blissful haze.
He basked himself in the afterglow of her appearance, as her face transformed into a portrait of serenity, a reflection of the profound sense of fulfillment that seemed to wash over her like a warm embrace.
Aang's finger soon left her, and Nii laid down next to him.
A tranquil atmosphere enveloped them like a soft blanket in the room that was bathed in the warm glow of the still flickering candles.
Their bodies, intertwined in a loving embrace, fit perfectly together there like two pieces of a puzzle, creating a sense of closeness and intimacy that transcended words.
The gentle rise and fall of their chests synchronized again in a rhythm of contentment, a silent testament to the deep connection they shared.
Their fingers lazily traced patterns along each other's skin, like a tender caress, a wordless expression of love and affection that spoke volumes more than any spoken language ever could.
In the quiet moments between their breaths, they exchanged lingering glances of love and adoration.
"Thank you," they both whispered at the same time, causing them to giggle breathlessly into the silence of the night.
And as they lay there together, wrapped in each other's arms, a newfound sense of peace settled over them. In this moment, they were the only two people in the world, their connection a beacon of light in the darkness that soon guided them both into a deep and peaceful slumber.
PS. I hope you're okay.