Chapter Text
Say My Name by ForeverFallen16
The maid brings another bucket of hot water and pours its content in the bathtub. “Thank you, that will be enough, I think.” The maid nods and leaves the room in quiet footsteps.
Élise unbuttons her coat and her waistcoat, and undoes her jump, breathing a sigh of relief as she is freeing herself from her constrictive clothes. “At least I’m not wearing one of those dreadful stays”, she thinks to herself. She folds her clothes neatly and lays them on the back of a chair. She sits at the foot of the bed to take off her boots and bracers. She then proceeds to unbutton and take off her breeches, followed by her stockings, who quickly join the pile of clothes on the chair. Wearing only her shirt, she walks to the fireplace, next to the bathtub. She unties and fluffs her hair by wiggling her fingers through it. Her hands slide down to her neck. She digs her finger in her flesh, in a desperate attempt to release some tension.
Arno quietly enters the room, and stares silently at the appearance in front of him. Standing by the light of the fireplace, her hair is a deep fiery red color, brighter than ever. Her usually pale skin took on a warm glow. Careful not to make a sound, he walks up to her and whispers softly in her ear: “Do you need help with that?” She jumps and turns around to face Arno, heart pounding, clutching her chest.
She punches him on the shoulder with a clenched fist. “Don’t you ever sneak up on me like that!”
He extends a gloved hand to affectionately caress her cheek. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. You looked so tense, so… preoccupied. Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes, of course. Just bit… tired, that’s all.”
He sees gloominess in her sea blue eyes, but he doesn’t insist. She takes a deep breath, and forces a broad smile. If the day ahead meant this was their last night together, she was going to make it count. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and, standing on her toes, locks her lips on his to kiss him tenderly, her hands sliding upwards to his neck. “I was about to take a bath. Want to join me?” Her right hand fingers twist and twirl his ponytail. A kiss, his mere presence in her arms, are enough to lift some of the weight off her shoulders. He plants a quick kiss on her forehead. “That sounds lovely. Let me get rid of all of this and I’ll be right with you.”
Regretfully leaving her embrace, he walks towards the bed while taking off his gloves. Sensing eyes behind him, he turns around and sees Élise staring at him, playing distractedly with one of the neckties of her shirt. “What are you staring at?”
“The man I love.”
He reaches down to untie his belt and discards it aside, followed by his blade and bracers. He sits on the bed to take off his boots, his coat, his waistcoat, and his stockings. He stands up to unbutton and take off his breeches. With his hands, he reaches between his shoulder blades, grabs his shirt, and pulls it over his head. He shivers as the cool air brushes his naked body. He steps towards the bathtub, savoring the warmth emanating from the fireplace on his skin. Élise is still standing in the warm glowing light, her eyes gazing up and down his body.
She turns her back to him, seizing her red mane, twisting it into a bun on the top of her head, fastening it in place with a lavishly decorated comb. He closes the distance between them, his hand reaching for her hips, gliding effortlessly over the thin fabric of her shirt around her waist and her tummy, while his lips leave butterfly kisses on her neck. She lets out a soft moan, relishing his touch. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world. Yet, you are the one wearing too many clothes, Mademoiselle de la Serre.”
“And what are you going to do about that, Monsieur Dorian?”
His hands slide back to her hips, tugging at her shirt, pulling it over her head. Then in one swift move, he spins her around to face him. She shrieks in surprise, but she is interrupted by Arno’s lips upon hers. Tongues collide and explore in a deep, passionate kiss, leaving them gasping for air. Her bare breasts brush his chest, sending shivers down his spine, settling at his groin. Her hands travel to the small of his back, down to his bum, giving it a gentle squeeze. She gives him a playful look. “Come on, you filthy boy, let’s get you washed up!”
Holding his hand, she steps in the tub. The water is still hot, but quite pleasant. He follows her and sits at the opposite end. They settle in comfortably, letting the hot water slowly ease away the tension in their muscles. Eyes closed, she lets out a deep sigh, content. He interrupts her reverie.
“Élise, I… I love you. I just want you to know it. You are everything to me. I can’t let anything happen to you, I...”
She opens her eyes. His brows are frowned, he looks genuinely worried. With a reassuring smile, she sits up on her knees, leaning forward to be closer to him, and delicately brushes his cheek with the back of her fingers. “Shhh my love. I know. You don’t need to do anything for me. I love you. With all my heart.”
She reaches for a sponge, plunges it in the water and rubs a bit of a soap on it to produce a rich and creamy lather. In long, sensual motions of her right hand, she glides the sponge over his arms, his shoulders, and his chest, reaching down underwater to his abdomen, his groin, over his thighs and his calves. Her left hand follows the same path, insisting, rubbing the lather on his skin. He closes his eyes, humming in pleasure, savoring her lascivious touch on his body. “I could get used to his.”
She chuckles. “I bet. Turn around, let me wash your back.”
He half-stands up, turning around to face the opposite direction. She scoots back to the end of the tub, giving him some room. As he settles in the tub, tilting his head back, bracing his knees with his hands, she kneels behind him, her soapy hands traveling up and down his back in smooth movements. She leans forward, bringing her hands to his shoulders for balance and resting her chest against his back. Her nipples harden on contact with his skin. Her lips leave a trail soft kisses in the crook of his neck. He lays his hand on hers, fingers interlocking. “Your turn.”
They switch positions again, giggling at the awkwardness of their tangled limbs, water splashing on the floor, finally sitting down facing in the same direction. He takes the sponge and soap, foaming it up, and begins washing her back in gentle strokes. Seizing her shoulders, he invites her to recline, laying her back on his chest and her head on his shoulder. She can feel his erection touching her back. “I take it this isn’t the hilt of your sword...”
He kisses the top of her head. “What can I say, you really have a bad influence on me.”
She hums in delectation at their close skin-on-skin contact, and at the heat pooling in her center. Holding the soapy sponge, he washes her arms, her chest and her abdomen. Tentatively, he ventures lower, between her legs. He takes her muffled moans as a sign of approval. Putting the sponge aside, he glides his hands over her perky breasts, cupping and massaging them delicately, rolling her nipples between his thumb and index, while leaving wet kisses on her shoulder, her neck and her ear. His right hand slides down her abdomen towards her center. Instinctively, she spreads her legs a little, granting him permission to touch her in the most intimate ways. His fingertips explore her delicate folds, ending their course on her little bundle of nerves, caressing it gingerly in circular motions. She bites her lower lip, letting out a quiet moan. He can sense her tension easing away, but she’s not giving in completely yet. “Let go, Élise. Give yourself to me.”
She takes a deep breath and tilts her hips upwards, legs spreading further, taking hold on the edges of the tub. With his free hand, he takes her chin to turn her head towards him, so he could ravish her mouth, his tongue darting to meet hers, insisting. Meanwhile, he continues his exploration of her folds, finding her entrance. He carefully slips a finger in her slick wetness, then a second, while flicking her clit with his thumb. Breaking the kiss, she gasps at the new sensations, her hips moving against his fingers, her back arching, feeling her pleasure build up rapidly. His free hand travels back to her plump breasts, brushing and caressing her nipples. The faster he pumps his fingers and flicks her clit, the more ragged her breathing becomes. “That’s it. Come for me.” And she does, letting out a cry. He feels her walls clenching around his fingers, her whole body shuddering. As she rides her orgasm, he bites her in the crook of her neck, leaving his mark. “Mine.” She gradually comes back to her senses, her breathing easing down, her body going limp in his arms. He cups her chin to bring her lips to his own for a long, passionate kiss. She purrs in satisfaction. “I am yours.”
She rests her head on his shoulder, eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips. “The water is getting cold,” he remarks, after a long moment. She chuckles. “I guess we better go to bed.” They both stand up and step out of the tub, dripping water on the wooden floor. He reaches for the plush linen towels left by the maid, and wraps one around her shoulders. It smelled of lavender and vanilla. He wraps his towel around his waist. She points at his groin. “And we better do something about… this.”
He bends his head down to stare at his throbbing cock, blushing. “You have plans, mademoiselle?”
She gives him her naughtiest look. “You will have to wait and see, monsieur!
He sweeps her off her feet and into his arms and she wraps her arms around his neck. Lips locked, he carries her to the bed.