Page 173 of To Fight and To Fold

Thea knew the truth, and still loved her.

Aaryn tangled her fingers in Thea's hair and rose up above her. They rearranged, shifted, until Thea was leaning against the wall and Aaryn was in her lap with a thigh between her legs and she was aching and wet and⁠—

Aaryn moaned at the pressure against her cunt and chased it against the smooth surface of Thea's thigh, perfectly placed and grinding up as Aaryn rolled her hips down.

She wedged her own thigh between Thea's. It was tricky and required a little too much coordination for their tired bodies just then, but in messy, staggered movements, they managed.

Thea cupped her breasts and Aaryn rolled one of her nipples between thumb and forefinger, cherishing the moan she earned from it.

Pleasure crested, and Aaryn pressed a hand into the wall behind Thea's head, her fingers losing their dexterity as the edge drew closer.

Thea clutched her waist and dragged her against her thigh, her hips arching and hunching in their own rhythm.

They were not in sync at all. They hunted the pleasure together anyway. It was delicious perfection.

The grind was slick and smooth and their bodies made all the right noises and Aaryn’s core tightened with desire at every breath, every shift of movement, every flick or press or tease of fingers.

The climax came gently, no more desperate haste. She moaned into Thea's mouth and twitched in overstimulation when Thea continued to pull her against her thigh as her own heights loomed.

Aaryn leaned down, an impulse taking over her, and she bit down on her shoulder. What was one more bruise compared to the ones already littering Thea's skin? Her own?

The difference was all the world to Thea, who came in an instant with no lips to muffle her cry, and Aaryn found it all the sweeter in its full volume.

They stilled, hands barely skating against the other's skin in uncoordinated affection. The sweat and slickness cooled between them in the meantime.

Aaryn… giggled.

"We're so different than we were six months ago," she said, sighing softly, amusement playing on her lips. Was it normal to go through this many emotions so suddenly?

"Why do you say that?"

"I'm pretty sure we've exchanged every bodily fluid possible," Aaryn told her. "I bled on you. Cried on you. Then came on your thigh." She checked them off on her fingers as she counted.

"You came more places than that. Eventful few days," Thea said, a chuckle in her voice as she dodged a playful smack.

Aaryn sat up, gripping her face and turning it up to her own. "We survived that. And I love you."

"I love you too," Thea said. "How do you feel?"

"Awake."

Fever-free, magic-filled, and feeling a thousand years old—or perhaps if she could sleep for that long, things might be alright—Aaryn gathered with Thea and the other druids by the fire.

A new fire, smaller and more private and still bright in the dark of night. The barriers glimmered and Aaryn was too aware of Vaelen's presence, somehow fearing the woman would see right through her.

"Now, all we have to do is find Carissa, and everything will be back in order," Vaelen said.

Aaryn swallowed down her remorse, twisting her fingers together. "Do you think she's alright?"

"I've got people looking for her. I don't want her out there alone."

Aaryn was mad with grief and guilt because⁠—

She saw a flash of Carissa, laughing, head tilted back by the fire, with no idea of what was to come. With no idea that in a few days time she'd obliterate twelve people with her magic.

Aaryn had put her own weapon to use. She'd awakened her own magic in the middle of a battle after watching a sword go through Thea's torso. She'd shifted time so she could choose an outcome favorable to her.

Her chest hurt at the idea of Carissa all alone out there. "I can search with Starspark," she offered.