Scene: The Lovers' Bath
Delathyia awakened to the sound of ruvari singing to the dawning day as they left their nests in search of food. She could smell sika brewing in the kitchen three floors below her window. Smiling, she rose from her bed and donned her bathing robe. After a cursory glance about the small but pleasant room, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
The hallway was modestly lit by crystal sconces along the walls, slightly dimmer than they had been the night before but still providing more than ample light for her. Delathyia turned and walked down the hallway a short distance to a set of beautifully carved double doors and opened them, entering the large room where the baths were. Inside, an older woman was just finishing her duties preparing the bath for the morning. She smiled, curtsied formally and greeted Delathyia.
“Good morning to you as well,” Delathyia smiled.
“I trust you slept well, Eika?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Delathyia replied. “Thank you.”
The older woman nodded and took Delathyia’s robe as the younger woman entered the water. The water was hot and felt good to her skin as she sank to her chin, slowly inhaling the fragrance of the bath. She leaned back against the ornate stone and smiled to herself as she reviewed the events of the night before. She knew without doubt, she was more in love with Aleshryia than she could have imagined anyone could be and felt a connection with her she couldn’t explain. Despite her age, Delathyia was certain Aleshryia was her soulmate. She knew the first day they met, felt it in their first eye contact, felt it hum in the core of her being. Hopefully, she thought, there would be more time to spend with her this day. Musing to herself, Delathyia let herself relax completely. As she laid her head back slightly, a familiar voice spoke quietly in her ear, combined with a calming sense that pervaded Delathyia’s consciousness.
“Good morning, she’ala,” Aleshryia said in her ear before kissing the side of her head.
“Good morning, kefaia,” Delathyia replied softly, turning her head in Aleshryia’s direction and tilting her chin up.
Aleshryia smiled then kissed Delathyia’s lips softly, lingering a moment, then breaking contact long enough to enter the bath beside her. As she sat on the ledge, Delathyia slid her hand into Aleshryia’s, their fingers becoming lovingly entwined. Reaching up with her other hand, Aleshryia turned Delathyia’s face more toward her and leaned forward, repeating the soft, lingering kiss this time responded to more amorously. After a few moments, the two pulled back gently from the kiss and smiled at one another.
“You slept well, my love,” Aleshryia smiled.
“Yes, I did, my heart,” Delathyia smiled back. “Did you?”
“Yes,” the other responded. “Though only as well as I might alone.”
“Awww,” the younger woman said, leaning over and kissing her lover softly. “I would have slept even better had I not been alone, too.”
“Well, let’s bathe and talk, my Delat,” Aleshryia smiled, her eyes full love.
Delathyia smiled and looked back to where the bath attendant had been not long before and noticed she was gone. Looking back at Aleshryia, she tilted her head slightly.
I asked her to leave so that we might have this bath alone…just us, Aleshryia said in Delathyia’s mind. I think we can bathe each other well enough without help, don’t you?
Delathyia smiled more broadly and felt a slight shiver run through her as her body responded to the deeper feelings of love and physical attraction. Quickly, she asserted self-restraint, allowing herself only the moment of arousal before containing her desires for Aleshryia. Such intimacy would have to wait until such time as they married. Sighing within, she turned around facing away from Aleshryia and laid her head back. Aleshryia smiled and grabbed the silver washing bowl and prepared to wash Delathyia’s hair.
Delathyia moved forward a bit, allowing Aleshryia to sit behind her on the ledge, without anymore contact than hands to hair. The younger Princess tilted her head back as Aleshryia poured a mixture of herbs and fragrant oils into the bowl and stirred then took Delathyia’s hair in one hand and draped it into the bowl.
“So, how are the translations coming along, my darling?” Aleshryia asked as she scooped out two handfuls of the mixture and began massaging it into Delathyia’s hair and scalp.
“Very well, considering I’ve never seen old Tzavoset before,” Delathyia said as Aleshryia worked her hair back from her forehead. “It’s a very interesting language to have come from Shanaset.”
“It is,” Aleshryia said. “But, knowing some Saeldanse makes it easier to learn Tzavoset, I would imagine.”
“Very much so, kefaia,” Delathyia replied. She closed her eyes a moment, enjoying the feel of her hair being washed by Aleshryia. “You learned Tzavoset first, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Aleshryia said softly, leaning forward to kiss Delathyia’s neck. “I learned Shanaset before that.”
“MMmm,” Delathyia smiled, eyes closed from the sensation of the kiss. “Perhaps I need to spend time learning that as well.”
“Perhaps,” Aleshryia whispered in Delathyia’s ear. “Would you like me to teach you?”
“Yes…” Delathyia said in voice barely above a whisper, feeling the soft touch of breath send tingles through her body. “I would like that very much.”
“Then,” Aleshryia said, returning to the washing of Delathyia’s hair. “I shall undertake to teach you Shanaset.”
Delathyia smiled and hummed while Aleshryia worked the cleansing mixture through her hair, enjoying the closeness more than anything. After a few minutes, Aleshryia rose up a little and leaned forward, kissed Delathyia’s forehead, then sat back down. Smiling, Delathyia turned and faced her lover then leaned forward and kissed her lips softly before grabbing the silver bowl while Aleshryia turned around.
Aleshryia’s hair was significantly shorter, unlike most Ta’Yiashi women, even a’tivani, hanging just to her shoulders and cut in a flyaway style. More often than not, she wore it pulled back in a ponytail tied with colored ribbon. The occasions she wore it down, Delathyia could see a glimpse of her beloved’s youthfulness in the way her hair framed her face. No matter what style she wore her hair in, Aleshryia would always be stunningly beautiful to her. Delathyia leaned over and kissed Aleshryia on the neck softly then applied the cleansing mixture to Aleshryia’s hair.
“So, when do you want to start with that, lover?” Delathyia asked, massaging Aleshryia’s scalp.
“I was thinking tomorrow would be good, my delight,” Aleshryia replied closing her eyes and allowing herself the sensation of her lover’s touch to ripple through her before asserting her will over it. “You still have to finish that translation and write the report.”
“True,” Delathyia said casually, smiling as she worked her fingers through Aleshryia’s hair. “I should be finished with it all this evening. Have any plans for that time?”
“In fact, I do, sweetheart,” Aleshryia said, here eyes closed as she too enjoyed the pleasure of her hair being washed.
“Oh?” Delathyia said, finishing the application. “Something interesting?”
“It will be very interesting,” Aleshryia smiled demurely, turning around to face Delathyia. “I think you’ll agree.”
Delathyia smiled and leaned forward, meeting Aleshryia in soft, sensuous kiss. After a few moments, she pulled back gently and smiled. Without speaking, she turned and slid forward so that she was barely sitting on the ledge with her feet flat on the bottom of the bath. Aleshryia slid over behind her, her back against the stone of the bath, and straddled Delathyia from behind with only her lower thighs touching her beloved’s hips. Reaching behind, she grabbed a bathing sponge and immersed it in the water.
“So, what is it you have planned, kefaia?” Delathyia asked, pulling her hair up with her hands.
“Well,” Aleshryia said as she raised the wet sponge to the nape of Delathyia’s neck. “I was thinking you’ve never seen the lake observatory and I thought it would be a nice place for us to be together awhile tonight.”
“The one beneath the water?” Delathyia asked, closing her eyes as Aleshryia caressingly washed down her back with the sponge.
“Mmhm,” Aleshryia replied, observing Delathyia’s response to the sponging.
“It sounds… like a wonderful idea,” Delathyia said softly. “When should I be ready for our date?”
“Oh,” Aleshryia said, leaning forward to kiss the back of Delathyia’s neck. “I’ll wait until you’ve finished your work. The observatory isn’t going to move before then.”
“Wonderful,” Delathyia whispered, allowing herself another brief surge of excitement at the touch of her lover’s lips. “What would you like me to wear?”
“Well,” Aleshryia said softly as she moved the sponge below Delathyia’s waist, “we will be walking so, whatever you think would be comfortable later tonight when we walk back.” She leaned forward and kisses Delathyia’s neck again. “A long skirt or dress would be nice.”
Delathyia nodded slightly, gasping at the touch of Aleshryia’s lips to her neck again, coupled with the feel of the sponge caressing her skin just above her buttocks. It was becoming more difficult for her to assert control over her responses to the sensuous bathing. Delathyia, though very disciplined for one of her age, was significantly less trained in mental discipline of the body than Aleshryia. The bath was proving to be nearly unbearably arousing to the young woman. Forcing herself to calm, she nodded again.
“My turn,” Aleshryia said gently, helping to ease Delathyia into greater control over her body and emotions. “I’m sorry if that was difficult, she’ala. Sometimes, it’s almost as if we’re more bonded than we are.”
“I know, my love,” Delathyia smiled somewhat shyly. “I’m getting better at control but…” She paused, her eyes meeting Aleshryia’s searchingly. “I love you so much and feel you so deeply inside me it makes self-restraint a lot more challenging since we aren’t…”
“Married,” Aleshryia finished, her own eyes seeking answers in Delathyia’s eyes as well. It was there, in her lover’s soul, and she felt it. Though she too knew they were soulmates, Aleshryia became aware of something more than she had before and it made certain for her there could be no one else for her. Delathyia was truly her perfect compliment. Regaining her sense of the moment, Aleshryia eased back and spread her legs slightly as Delathyia stood. She may not be the warrior Kabryia was, but the physical strength and grace of her ancestry was evident in her form and movement. To Aleshryia, there was no woman more beautiful in any respect. Not even the Kaera Arzou.
Delathyia smiled and sat on the ledge as Aleshryia had, legs spread allowing the other to sit in front of her to be bathed. As Aleshryia sat down, Delathyia wetted the sponge, admiring even more the sensuous form of her lover’s body. Though not as muscular as Delathyia, Aleshryia was certainly not out of shape. She had the slender, curvaceous form of a dancer and moved with like grace. Every movement, a thing of beauty to the young princess. She also loved the rich, dusky cinnamon hue of Aleshryia’s skin, slightly darker than Delathyia’s, and certainly softer. In Delathyia’s mind, Aleshryia was as beautiful as the Ka’Arzou and even then, more sensuous.
Delathyia washed Aleshryia’s back in the same manner, neither woman speaking either aloud or between minds. Neither one felt strained or unable to exert self-restraint at the closeness or prolonged physical contact. It was if the world around them had stopped and only this one moment continued. Deep inside both women was a growing sense of unity, neither had ever felt before.
As she finished washing her lover’s back, Delathyia eased back and lifted her leg over the still sitting Aleshryia. After a slight shift sideways, Aleshryia slid back and grabbed another sponge to complete her bathing with. When they were finished, they rose and stepped out of the hot bath and over to the cooling bath. After sliding into the cooler water, the two lovers sat beside each other, their fingers once again entwined.
“I will wear a skirt and blouse,” Delathyia said after several minutes. “And my low boots.”
“Oh, I like that outfit very much,” Aleshryia said, smiling. “You may want to bring a jacket, though. It can get a bit cool at night near the lake.”
“I’ll bring the short jacket I like with that skirt,” Delathyia said, smiling at Aleshryia. “You know, this will be our first date away from the immediate grounds.”
“Yes,” Aleshryia said, her eyes sparkling merrily in the brightly light chamber. “I do.”
Delathyia smiled, her eyes alight with a sustained sense of euphoria from their time in the hot bath. Aleshryia seemed to smile even broader than she had, her beautiful white teeth contrasting the naturally vivid red of her lips. Without further words, the two women leaned toward one another and met midway in a soft, lingering kiss. After a few moments, Delathyia eased back slightly and paused, locking gazes with Aleshryia. Then, filled with soulful affection and love, both women closed their eyes as they came together again in a long, slow, sensuous kiss.