Page 165 of To Fight and To Fold

"I know, baby," Thea cooed. "Let's get you out of these layers." Her skin was hot to the touch as Thea made quick work of her clothes, much easier now that she was awake, but tacky with blood. The sight of it smeared across Aaryn's skin was awful. It didn't belong there.

"The water will help," Thea told her, as much as she told herself.

"Get in with me."

Thea calmed with every inch of clean skin she revealed, but Aaryn was shifting this way and that, unable to settle.

The water turned murky and Thea drained the tub before filling it again, the Hoard tightening around her when she needed it. With a murmur of magic, water flowed cool enough to ease the burn of Aaryn's skin—temporarily, at least—while Thea cleaned them.

As if Aaryn could sense the magic Thea used, she groaned, and her nails dug into Thea's arms where they wrapped around her. Magic was burning beneath her skin and it needed an outlet.

"It's okay," Thea murmured, and dragged her hands up Aaryn's sides.

"Everyone said—" Aaryn panted, and reopened her wound, smearing blood on the side of the tub. Aaryn had spent the day wielding a staff in her palms, and yet she didn’t seem to feel it. She was preoccupied. "—This was gonna be magical. Where is the magic, Thea?"

She sounded so put out, so disappointed, that Thea chuckled into the back of her neck and slid her hands over her stomach, up to her breasts. Aaryn moaned, her head falling back against Thea's shoulder. "Oh."

"I know we had a different plan," Thea murmured, and squeezed the weight of her in each hand. "Moon blooms, and a little creek, and blankets."

"Picnic basket," Aaryn added on a gasp as Thea caught a nipple between two fingers. She writhed in the water, and each lap of the chilled depths against Thea made goosebumps break out on her own skin, whereas Aaryn seemed to find relief in it. Or maybe she was finding relief in Thea's touch.

"That too," she mused, and drew one of her hands lower. “I thought about taking you to Fleur’s Crossing, where the plants glow from the runes they’re grown upon. It would’ve been perfect. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” Aaryn’s breath caught in anticipation, thighs parting in welcome.

Thea flattened her palm against Aaryn's thigh, massaging. Her hips tilted up as if to urge Thea closer, faster. The clean water sloshed gently against the basin, and her flush had painted its way from her face to her neck and chest, breasts tipped in the prettiest pink.

"Magic looks good on you," Thea breathed. In you.

"Yeah?" Aaryn asked, but there was a bite to it. "Well, it feels—ah.” Her body jolted as Thea dragged her hand between her thighs. "Wait, wait, wait," Aaryn whined, arching.

Thea pulled her hand away, and Aaryn chased her touch.

"What are you doing?" Aaryn complained, hips curving up.

"Waiting," Thea told her.

Aaryn groaned, head falling back onto Thea's shoulder. "Don't do that! It felt good—do it again."

An affectionate chuckle bubbled up, but Thea kept it tucked behind her lips.

"Don't laugh at me," Aaryn scolded anyway. "Touch me. And don't stop unless I say… unless I say… ‘blooms.’"

"’Blooms.’ Alright," Thea murmured against her skin. "I'll stop if you say ‘blooms.’"

Thea kneaded her breast until Aaryn arched her chest into the touch before brushing a finger between her lips. She was slick, obvious even in the water that lapped at them, and hot to the touch.

Aaryn gasped at the sensation, each breath sounding louder to Thea in this quiet space where they existed outside of everything else. Or maybe inside of it all, as if Aaryn was the center.

Thea certainly felt drawn to her, melting together with her at every point of contact, the warmth dripping between them and pooling low in Thea's belly. A drop in a lake compared to Aaryn's need as the magic danced beneath her skin, pulsing beneath Thea's fingertips.

Thea dragged her fingers through Aaryn's arousal, dipping low, pressing just at her entrance to encourage the well of it, and back up, circling the heart of her. Aaryn moaned and clutched at Thea's arm still banded across her chest, holding her as she tried to curl into herself.

"It's okay," Thea cooed, and pressed her lips to Aaryn's shoulder.

Thea could practically feel the magic drawing tight at Aaryn's core, similar to the way the Hoard gathered when called. Thea wielded it just the same, pressing her fingers together to frame her heartbeat, tracing her middle digit over it slowly, achingly, spreading her arousal and coaxing it to pull tighter, tighter⁠—

Thea was mesmerized, needed to see the magic take Aaryn, like an ache within herself too, mirroring Aaryn's own.