Mirana 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, likely 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. Mirana 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 and curtsied formally and greeted Kabryia.

“Good morning to you as well,” Mirana smiled.

“I trust you slept well, my love?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Mirana replied. “Thank you.”

The older woman nodded and took Mirana’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 Shelayia than she could have imagined anyone could be and felt a connection with her she couldn’t explain. Despite her age, Mirana was certain Shelayia 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, Mirana 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 Mirana’s consciousness.

“Good morning, she’ala,” Shelayia said in her ear before kissing the side of her head.

“Good morning, kefaia,” Mirana replied softly, turning her head in Shelayia’s direction and tilting her chin up.

Shelayia smiled then kissed Mirana’s lips softly, lingering a moment, then breaking contact long enough to enter the bath beside her. As she sat on the ledge, Kabryia slid her hand into Shelayia’s, their fingers becoming lovingly entwined. Reaching up with her other hand, Shelayia turned Mirana’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,” Shelayia smiled.

“Yes, I did, my heart,” Mirana 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 Mira,” Shelayia smiled, her eyes full love.

Mirana smiled and looked back to where the bath attendant had been not long before and noticed she was gone. Looking back at Shelayia, she tilted her head slightly.

I asked her to leave so that we might have this bath alone…just us, Shelayia said in Mirana’s mind. I think we can bathe each other well enough without help, don’t you?

Mirana 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 Shelayia. Such intimacy would have to wait until such time as they married. Sighing within, she turned around facing away from Shelayia and laid her head back. Shelayia smiled and grabbed the silver washing bowl and prepared to wash Mirana’s hair.

Mirana moved forward a bit, allowing Shelayia to sit behind her on the ledge, without anymore contact than hands to hair. The young Saina tilted her head back as Shelayia poured a mixture of herbs and fragrant oils into the bowl and stirred then took Mirana’s hair in one hand and draped it into the bowl.

“So, how are the translations coming along, my darling?” Shelayia asked as she scooped out two handfuls of the mixture and began massaging it into Mirana’s hair and scalp.

“Very well, considering I’ve never seen old Tzavoset before,” Mirana said as Shelayia worked her hair back from her forehead. “It’s a very interesting language to have come from Shanaset.”

“It is,” Shelayia said. “But, knowing some Saeldassed makes it easier to learn Tzavoset, I would imagine.”

“Very much so, kefaia,” Mirana replied. She closed her eyes a moment, enjoying the feel of her hair being washed by Shelayia. “You learned Tzavoset first, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Shelayia said softly, leaning forward to kiss Mirana’s neck. “I learned Shanaset before that.”

“MMmm,” Kabryia smiled, eyes closed from the sensation of the kiss. “Perhaps I need to spend time learning that as well.”

“Perhaps,” Shelayia whispered in Mirana’s ear. “Would you like me to teach you?”

“Yes…” Mirana 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,” Shelayia said, returning to the washing of Mirana’s hair. “I shall undertake to teach you Shanaset.”

Mirana smiled and hummed while Shelayia worked the cleansing mixture through her hair, enjoying the closeness more than anything. After a few minutes, Shelayia rose up a little and leaned forward, kissed Mirana’s forehead, then sat back down. Smiling, Mirana turned and faced her lover then leaned forward and kissed her lips softly before grabbing the silver bowl while Shelayia turned around.

Shelayia’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, Mirana 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, Shelayia would always be stunningly beautiful to her. Mirana leaned over and kissed Shelayia on the neck softly then applied the cleansing mixture to Shelayia’s hair.

“So, when do you want to start with that, lover?” Mirana asked, massaging Shelayia’s scalp.

“I was thinking tomorrow would be good, my delight,” Shelayia 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,” Mirana said casually, smiling as she worked her fingers through Shelayia’s hair. “I should be finished with it all this evening. Have any plans for that time?”

“In fact, I do, sweetheart,” Shelayia said, here eyes closed as she too enjoyed the pleasure of her hair being washed.

“Oh?” Mirana said, finishing the application. “Something interesting?”

“It will be very interesting,” Shelayia smiled demurely, turning around to face Mirana. “I think you’ll agree.”

Mirana smiled and leaned forward, meeting Shelayia 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. Shelayia slid over behind her, her back against the stone of the bath, and straddled Mirana 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?” Mirana asked, pulling her hair up with her hands.

“Well,” Shelayia said as she raised the wet sponge to the nape of Mirana’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?” Mirana asked, closing her eyes as Shelayia caressingly washed down her back with the sponge.

“Mmhm,” Shelayia replied, observing Mirana’s response to the sponging.

“It sounds… like a wonderful idea,” Mirana said softly. “When should I be ready for our date?”

“Oh,” Shelayia said, leaning forward to kiss the back of Mirana’s neck. “I’ll wait until you’ve finished your work. The observatory isn’t going to move before then.”

“Wonderful,” Mirana whispered, allowing herself another brief surge of excitement at the touch of her lover’s lips. “What would you like me to wear?”

“Well,” Shelayia said softly as she moved the sponge below Mirana’s waist, “we will be walking so, whatever you think would be comfortable later tonight when we walk back.” She leaned forward and kisses Mirana’s neck again. “A long skirt or dress would be nice.”

Mirana nodded slightly, gasping at the touch of Shelayia’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. Mirana, though very disciplined for one of her age, was significantly less trained in mental discipline of the body than Shelayia. The bath was proving to be nearly unbearably arousing to the young woman. Forcing herself to calm, she nodded again.

“My turn,” Shelayia said gently, helping to ease Mirana 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,” Mirana smiled somewhat shyly. “I’m getting better at control but…” She paused, her eyes meeting Shelayia’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,” Shelayia finished, her own eyes seeking answers in Mirana’s eyes as well. It was there, in her lover’s soul, and she felt it. Though she too knew they were soulmates, Shelayia became aware of something more than she had before and it made certain for her there could be no one else for her. Mirana was truly her perfect compliment. Regaining her sense of the moment, Shelayia eased back and spread her legs slightly as Mirana stood. She may not be the warrior her sister was, but the physical strength and grace of her Kalderi bloodline was evident in her form and movement. To Shelayia, there was no woman more beautiful in any respect. Not even Dobaryia.

Mirana smiled and sat on the ledge as Shelayia had, legs spread allowing the other to sit in front of her to be bathed. As Shelayia sat down, Mirana wetted the sponge, admiring even more the sensuous form of her lover’s body. Though not as muscular as she was, Shelayia 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 Duchess. She also loved the rich, dusky cinnamon hue of Shelayia’s skin, slightly darker than Mirana’s father, and certainly softer. In Mirana’s mind, Shelayia was as beautiful as the Ka’Arzou and even then, more sensuous.

Kabryia washed Shelayia’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, Mirana eased back and lifted her leg over the still sitting Shelayia. After a slight shift sideways, Shelayia 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,” Mirana said after several minutes. “And my low boots.”

“Oh, I like that outfit very much,” Shelayia 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,” Kabryia said, smiling at Shelayia. “You know, this will be our first date away from the immediate grounds.”

“Yes,” Shelayia said, her eyes sparkling merrily in the brightly light chamber. “I do.”

Mirana smiled, her eyes alight with a sustained sense of euphoria from their time in the hot bath. Shelayia 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, Mirana eased back slightly and paused, locking gazes with Shelayia. Then, filled with soulful affection and love, both women closed their eyes as they came together again in a long, slow, sensuous kiss.