Chapter 16 - A Warm Winter

Ana doesn't know why she says yes to Quinn a week ago, because it was certainly not out of insobriety. She has been immune to it since the day she was blessed by the Holy Fire.

Even if she wasn't, she has a week to change her mind and tell Quinn of the news, cancel the whole thing off. Yet, she didn't do so. She spends the week having supper and small talks with the woman, but never once mention tonight: the night they promised to meet in her room.

In fact, Ana believes she has been anticipating the day since she promises it, and are more concerned now about the possibility of Quinn changing her mind instead of the pertinence of this whole affair.

The only hope left here is for Quinn to have the common sense not to come, to realize how improper this relationship would be and simply cancel the entire thing off. Yes, that would be the best. It most definitely will. However, when she imagines such a scenario, she can't help but be disappointed in it.

Before she can wallow in them, though; a knock at her door stops her. It's rare for her colleague to pay her a visit this late into the night, but she's being careful still. Steadying her breath with one deep take. "Come in," she grants leave for the person on the other side to open the door.

And to her great shame and relief, she finds Quinn staring right at her with an almost sheepish smile. Ana can smell her soap mixing with her natural fragrance, truly making her smell like a rain forest.

"Ana," she greets, a drop of water falling to the floor from her hair as she gave a bow.

"Ms. Quinn," Ana replies, their tone both are tense. They each know what will happen here, yet none of them are willing to broach the silence, as if what they're about to do is forbidden by fate itself, maybe it was.

Ana couldn't care less, though. "Ms. Quinn."

Apparently, so does Quinn. "Ana."

Quinn chuckles at their nervous energy, granting Ana the push to relax, even just a tad. "Please! You go first, Ana. It was by your invitation that I came, after all." Before Quinn gave her the full control of the situation.

Used to it but still surprised, Ana's brows furrow for a moment before she took the wheel. "Yes, certainly," she begins, a little unsure of herself. "I invite you here because I want to—"—have sex with you—"—no, apologies." She shakes her head, blotting out the statement. "Please, allow me to retry. For reasons unknown, words escape me at the moment, Ms. Quinn."

"Of course, Ana," Quinn replies. "While I wait for you to gather your… bearings, though." Continuing as she walks closer towards Ana who sits straighter in her bed under her gaze, readying herself for something.

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if I sit with you on the bed?"

When nothing comes but an honest smile. "Oh." She relaxes. "By all means, Ms. Quinn."

With a quick word of thanks, Quinn takes her place not on the opposite side of the bed, but right beside Ana, close enough that they only need to lean in to erase all distance from them.

Yes, Ana whispers in her mind, all she needs to do is lean in and everything would be fine. She hoped it would be fine, at least. The literature on this kind of thing in the temple isn't exactly many in numbers, and the few she finds aren't really that helpful.

However, before she can move a muscle. "You know, Ana." Quinn spoke up, looking at her straight in the eyes with an almost innocent smile. "I wouldn't mind if we just talked tonight, if you changed your mind or are too nervous to proceed." Giving her an easy out should she wished it.

Unfortunately, Ana craved the opposite. "I didn't change my mind, Ms. Quinn," she says, defensive. "Nor am I too nervous to proceed."

"But you're nervous, yes?"

"I am."

"Is this your first time, then?"

"It is. Is it yours?"

"No," Quinn smiles became lopsided when she answers. "Do you want me to take the lead for now?" Whispering her offer impatiently to Ana's ears, her breathing grew quicker with every word spoken.

"Yes." Ana nods and Quinn stands back with the permission.

"Then!" As she does, she begins to unbuckle her belt. "With your leave, Ana." Dropping her equipment to the floor, then her leather armor. Each strap she releases, she does so with an elaborate lag to it, theatrical and inviting all at the same time. Ana knew she's giving her a show, which she guesses is also why she's wearing her armor and belt.

Whatever the reason, Ana can't deny the allure of her slowly being more exposed with every clothing removed from her body until only a shirt left covering the upper half of her physique.

"Do you want to help with this one or would you rather continue watching from all the way over there?" Quinn's voice is teasing yet impatient all at the same time, clear in its honesty that she just wants an answer quick.

"The latter, if you don't mind."

"Not at all, Matriarch." There's lust at the end of her sentence. "I love giving you a show." As she finally proceeds to strip down until only a binder cover her chest.

For the second time now, Ana sees her skin vulnerable in front of her. Only this time, they were alone, with no judging eyes. And Ana can't help but appreciate all the things she didn't admire the first time.

The woman has muscles, certainly. Her figure was toned and defined, but thin still, with curves that perfectly complement her face. If there are no scars in her body, Ana could easily believe her a noblewoman, untouched by the world's cruelty.

Definitely feeling Ana's gaze on her body, and are clearly enjoying it. "Liking what you see so far, Ana?" Quinn's mockery lacks bite as she walks closer.

"Yes," Ana answer.

"Good." Forcing Quinn smile to widen as she finally frees her breasts from the confines of the binder, allowing Ana to view them completely. They were round and full, far more sizable than she expected.

How Quinn manages to hide it under her binder was a question soon dismissed when Quinn quickly reaches her, bending down towards Ana with her bosom pushed forwards. "Do you want to touch it?"

With her nipples perking up and hardening, Quinn's offer was a release for them both the moment Ana accepts and stroke her. Slowly, she pulls her towards the bed as Ana lay down while enjoying the tenderness of her mound alongside the soft moans that escapes her lips.

The very same lips that quickly seek Ana for a kiss. It was chaste at first, but grew in its intensity as Ana continue clawing at Quinn's chest with a desperate yet deliberate move, hoping she would somehow know enough to satisfy the woman in that fashion.

And by the way Quinn whines into her mouth. "Matriarch." And whispers into her neck, Ana likes to believe that she half succeeded as the woman tries to return the favor by also touching her breast through her clothes.

With the little protection her chemise offers, it was easy for Quinn to feel Ana and realizes she's experiencing the exact same thing as her. A discovery that for some reason causes Quinn to quicken her pace, exploring all parts of Ana's figure in the hope of finding something.

As Quinn's tempo accelerates, Ana's grew slower instead. She counts the woman ribs, caressing her cheeks, every so often forgetting the world when her partner manages to make her audibly moan.

It took her a moment to realize that the next time she cries out in pleasure; her upper body has lost clothing in the process, as bare as Quinn's. Their chest touches with no barrier now, the closeness of their body unimpeded as the both of them knew what will happen afterwards.

There's no going back, none of them wants to go back. Ana wrestles the controls from Quinn, positioning herself on top before continuing their kiss, her hands busy struggling to get the woman's pants out of the way.

Between their shallow kisses. "Relax—" Quinn chuckles. "—Matriarch." Trying to calm her down to no avail.

Ana moves in haste, as if afraid that this was a dream and morning will soon come for her; the light of the sun erasing all of Quinn's warmth from the memory of her body.

Reassuring herself, she strokes the woman's private area the moment it was accessible, discovering it hot and damp, easily swallowing her finger.

Clearly not one to take things for granted, Quinn replied in kind, and she's much better at it than Ana. So rather than trying to fight her, Ana attempts to mimic her motion instead. All that she finds pleasurable she puts right back to work with Quinn.

And she succeeds. As the night grew darker and colder, their body grew brighter and warmer. The sounds that escape their lips are made of nothing but carnal desire, each kiss they made are an intake of fresh air.

There are no more Quinn and Ana, not that night. That night, they're one entity, connected by limbs and passion, reaching the height of ecstasy over and over, one after another.

Until finally their chests are too heavy to continue, their limbs aching from repeated movement, their body too sweaty to be separated from the other. Dawn is outside, delivering the dreaming from their fantasy.

To her great embarrassment, Ana felt tremendous relief when the woman in her embrace doesn't disappear. Feeling safe and sound with Quinn beside her, Ana can't help but believe Quinn's words to be no trickery.

For at this moment, as drowsiness threatens to drag her into the welcoming embrace of the void, she has never felt more comfortable anywhere but right here, in the arms of her guardian.