Bath time

Ash took off his cloth, tossing the robe across to a near by rock. He then took a deep breath, filling himself up with what could only be described as premium cool air before his eyes glanced around the lake. The sunlight scattered across the water, each ripple of water catching and fracturing sunbeams into rainbow fragments.

Ash stood waist-deep in the cool water, his heart thundering in his chest as he caught his first real glimpse of himself in the mirror-like surface.

'I'm...'

The face staring back at him stirred something deep within – wonder, perhaps, or disbelief. Delicate features arranged with impossible perfection created a beauty that transcended gender – high cheekbones softened by gentle curves, a small nose that turned up ever so slightly at the tip, and lips that seemed perpetually poised to share a secret. Wet strands of platinum blonde hair clung to his neck and shoulders, so pale they appeared almost silver in the dappled sunlight.

With trembling fingers, he reached up to touch his face, watching his reflection mimic the movement. His skin felt impossibly smooth beneath his fingertips, like polished marble warmed by the sun. The sensation was foreign yet fascinating, each touch bringing new discoveries.

'So soft,' he thought, mesmerized by the way light seemed to dance across his skin.

His eyes captured his attention next. They were the color of summer skies reflected in mountain lakes – a blue so pure and bright it seemed to glow from within. Long, pale lashes framed them like frost, making the color even more striking. He found himself leaning closer to the water's surface, captivated by their unusual brightness.

Moving methodically, exploring this form that felt both familiar and strange, his fingers traced the elegant sweep of his ears. They tapered to delicate points that peeked through his wet hair, sensitive enough that even his own touch sent tiny shivers down his spine. Each new discovery brought more questions than answers.

The water beaded on his chest as he rose slightly higher in the lake, and that's when he noticed it. Just below his sternum, a slight protrusion beneath the skin caught the light strangely. It wasn't obvious – more like the gentle rise of a hill than a sharp bump – but something about it drew his attention completely.

'What is...' His fingers pressed gently against the area, feeling something solid beneath. Not quite bone, not quite crystal, but something in between. The touch sent an odd warmth spreading through his chest.

"That's your core."

Aria's voice startled him. He'd almost forgotten she was there, so lost in his exploration. She glided through the water toward him, moving with an ethereal grace that made the lake seem almost solid beneath her. Her earlier bashfulness seemed forgotten in light of his obvious confusion.

"Every elf has one," she continued, stopping just arm's length away. Water droplets glinted in her silver hair like tiny stars. "Though yours is more... pronounced than most I've seen."

Her hand rose, hesitated for permission, then at his slight nod, traced a gentle circle around the protrusion. Her touch was clinical, educational, but it still sent another wave of warmth through him.

"Usually, as we mature, it becomes less visible," she explained, withdrawing her hand. "The development of..." she gestured vaguely at her own chest, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, "tends to obscure it. But yours..."

She tilted her head, studying him with genuine curiosity rather than judgment. "It's strange, but not in a bad way. Just different. Like you."

The last word hung in the air between them, heavy with unasked questions. Ash could see them swimming in her amber eyes, but the questions in his own mind were just as numerous, just as pressing.

But instead of asking, she simply smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Whatever brought you here, whatever makes you different – you're here now.

Aria's smile lingered a moment longer before she turned, her silver hair gliding over her bare shoulders as she moved. "We came here to bathe, Ash," she called over her shoulder, her voice lilting with amusement. "It's best we get to it before the sun dips too low."

She waded through the water with an effortless grace, each step revealing more of her smooth, glistening skin as the lake shallowed. When she reached a cluster of rocks near the shore, she leaned forward to retrieve something from the basket she had brought. The motion arched her back, accentuating the lush, round swell of her ass, barely hidden beneath the water's shimmering surface. The way the lake caressed her curves, refracting sunlight over her skin, felt almost obscene in its beauty.

Ash swallowed hard, feeling heat rush through him, his earlier confusion drowned by the surge of something far more primal. His body betrayed him, hardening with startling intensity as he watched her. He clenched his jaw, trying to will himself to calm down, but it was no use. Every subtle sway of her hips as she shifted, every droplet sliding down her back and pooling at the small of her spine, only fueled the fire inside him.

She straightened, a bar of soap in her hand, and began to turn back toward him. Ash's breath hitched, and he quickly waded deeper into the water, hoping to conceal the evidence of his arousal. The coolness lapped against him, but it did little to quell the heat building in his core.

Aria's gaze flicked to him as she approached, her lips quirking into a knowing smile. She had always been perceptive, and Ash cursed himself for being so obvious. Still, she said nothing of his state, her focus instead on the task at hand.

"Here," she said, holding out the soap. Her voice was calm, steady, but there was a slight blush to her cheeks that told him she wasn't entirely unaffected by their proximity. "This will help."

She stepped closer, closing the distance between them until they were almost chest to chest. The faint lavender scent of the soap mingled with the earthy freshness of the lake, a strangely intoxicating combination. Her amber eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

"You might as well let me," she said softly, her voice dipping into something more intimate. Without waiting for a reply, she reached for his arm, lathering her hands before running them over his skin.

Her touch was firm yet gentle, each stroke purposeful and unhurried. Ash's breath hitched as her fingers trailed across his chest, lingering over the hard planes of muscle before sliding lower, teasingly close to his abdomen. The soap left a slick, glistening sheen in its wake, making every inch of contact feel electric.

"You're tense," she murmured, her eyes flicking up to meet his. Her lips curved into a faint, teasing smile. "Relax. This is supposed to be enjoyable."

To her, this seemed routine, almost ceremonial, a bonding ritual.

"Turn around," she said, her voice soft but firm, as though this were the most natural thing in the world.

Ash hesitated but obeyed, his back facing her now. He could hear the faint splashes as she waded closer, feel the gentle ripple of the water as she moved into his space. Her hands, slick with soap, began at his shoulders, the lather building quickly beneath her touch.

"You're so tense," she murmured, her fingers kneading the taut muscles beneath his skin. "Relax. This is supposed to be calming."

The cool water and her warm, soapy touch created a contrast that sent shivers down his spine. Her fingers moved with deliberate care, tracing the lines of his back and shoulders, spreading the lather evenly. When her hands slid lower, working along his spine, she paused briefly.

"Step closer to the edge," she instructed, her tone light, as though unaware of how her every movement affected him.

Ash moved toward the rocky outcropping as directed, the water around his waist growing shallower. Aria followed. She knelt slightly, her hands now moving over the curve of his lower back, her fingers brushing dangerously close to where the waterline met his hips.

"Turn and face me," she said softly, her tone calm and composed, as though this were nothing out of the ordinary.

Ash hesitated but complied, slowly turning to face her. Aria met his gaze briefly, her amber eyes warm and unreadable, before focusing on her task. Her hands, still slick with soap, moved to his chest, spreading the lather with deliberate care. Her touch was firm yet gentle, her palms gliding over his skin as though she were sculpting him anew.

As she worked, her body leaned closer, her bare chest brushing against his. Ash felt the soft, warm weight of her breasts against his skin, the sensation sending a jolt through him that he struggled to suppress. Her nipples, hardened by the cool air and water, grazed his chest with each movement, their touch impossible to ignore.

Aria seemed entirely unaware of the effect she was having on him. Her focus remained on her task, her hands moving lower to his abdomen, tracing the defined lines of his muscles. She knelt further in the shallow water, her hair clinging to her back as she worked, the sunlight catching on the droplets that adorned her skin.

"You've been through a lot," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's important to take care of yourself, even in small ways like this."

Her hands dipped lower, skimming the edge of his hips before she finally drew back, rinsing her hands in the lake. She looked up at him then, her expression serene. "There. All done."

Ash's mind raced as he felt her soapy hands withdraw. He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of her as she rinsed the soap from her hands. Gravity played tricks with her form, her silver hair fell in damp strands over her shoulders, framing her chest. Her breasts swayed slightly as she moved, the water cascading over her skin in rivulets. The faintest hint of pink from her nipples peeked through as they caught the sunlight, her skin gleaming like polished alabaster.

"Now it's your turn," Ash said suddenly, surprising even himself.

Aria blinked, her amber eyes meeting his in curiosity. "My turn?"

"To bathe. It's only fair," he added, hoping his tone sounded casual.

Her lips curved into a small smile. "Alright, then. If you insist."

Aria handed him the soap and turned away, her long hair falling over her back as she reached up to pull it aside, exposing the elegant curve of her neck and shoulders. Ash felt his pulse quicken as he stepped closer, the soap slippery in his hand.

He started at her shoulders, mirroring her earlier movements, his hands tentative at first but growing bolder as he worked the lather into her skin. Her back was smooth and firm, her muscles tense beneath his touch but gradually relaxing.

"You're good at this," she said, her voice softer now, almost drowsy.

Encouraged, Ash let his hands move lower, following the curve of her spine to the small of her back. He hesitated when his hands reached the dip above her hips, but Aria made no move to stop him.

"You can go lower," she murmured. "It's fine."