Chapter Seven: Kestian

Kestian followed Cotton through the sun lit forest path. They were hiking above the city. Cotton had arrived early that morning with a picnic basket and said she had prepared for them a small to medium sized adventure. They had hiked up through the city first and then exited to one of the parks on the upper terraces, the park gave way to well kept forest and the path they climbed up now. The way was steep, and it was by no means an easy walk. Kestian could see Cotton’s growing excitement as they got further from the city and deeper into the sounds of the forest.

When they came around the bend in the trail Kestian saw where Cotton had been leading them. There was a dazzling blue pool of fresh clear water. The trees were lush and shady but still let in wide patches of sunlight. Standing some ten feet above the water was a slanting rock face of the same red stone from which the entire city of Corsaña was carved.

"It’s beautiful." They said.

"And it is going to be so refreshing." Cotton said. She dropped down and began taking off her boots.

"To put our feet in?" Kestian asked.

"No, to swim." Cotton said, a broad grin on her face. She pulled off her socks and stood back up to shimmy out of her pants. Kestian was quite enjoying watching her undress.

Cotton caught them looking and chuckled. "If I'd known you would be watching I would have given a better show."

"If you like but, I’m enjoying the view just fine." Kestian smiled at the grin and the blush that spread to Cotton's cheeks.

"But you still have all your clothes on, so unless you're planning on swimming in them, this seems a little unbalanced don't you think?"

"Well maybe," Kestian said, tugging Cotton closer by her shirt "I can help you finish getting undressed and then you can help me."

"I don’t think I need much help." Cotton said

"Put your arms up" Kestian whispered in her ear.

Cotton bit her lip and raised her arms above her head.

Kestian traced a finger up her bare thigh and then up and under Cotton's shirt feeling the outline of her slender curves beneath her thin combinations. They pulled her shirt up and over her head. Cotton took her shirt from them, folded it and tossed it with her other clothes.

"It’s your turn." Cotton said looking up at them, "or my turn I suppose." She began untying the lacing on their pants. Kestian smiled. They loved this. The place was beautiful, Cotton was beautiful, and she was taking their clothes off. They could not have dreamed of a better afternoon when they got up this morning. Cotton finished untying and pulled their wrap pants away. For once Kestian was not wearing any armor. Cotton unlaced their stays and then reached for their shirt.

“I might need a little help with this part” she said. Kestian obligingly got down on their knees. Cotton pulled their shirt over their head and they shuck out their hair and stood up.

"You should take your boots off." Cotton said

"Why?" Kestian asked.

"Because being in one's under things and one’s shoes is unseemly." Cotton said.

"That is entirely a matter of opinion.” Kestian replied.

"You can't swim with boots on." Cotton nudged them playfully.

Kestian sat to untie their boots. Cotton crouched next to them. They wondered exactly how deep the water was and how far they would have to go in. Cotton pulled off their boots and then their stockings. Kestian leaned forward and kissed her. Cotton giggled and pulled back.

"I'll race you" Cotton said.

"What?"

"Ready go!" She said and ran towards the water. She leapt at the edge and dove head first beneath the surface. She emerged a moment latter shaking water from her head.

"Come on!" She called "the water's great."

Kestian walked to the edge of the pool. They sat and dipped their legs in. They could see Cotton was treading water, not touching the bottom.

"How deep is it?" They asked.

Cotton took a breath and dropped beneath the surface. The water was clear and Kestian saw her swimming down towards the bottom and then back up.

"About that deep." She said. "Come on"

"So," Kestian said "here's the thing. This place is beautiful, and you are beautiful, and I can't swim."

Cotton smiled at her and swam over. She folded her arms and rested her chin on their knees. She looked up at them. "Well that’s a problem easily solved."

"How?" Kestian asked.

"I’m going to teach you how to swim." Cotton answered.

"Again, how?"

"Everything starts with floating." She pushed back off their knees. "Come in, you can hold on to the edge."

"You’re sure?"

"It’s the perfect place to learn, no waves, no tide, no current, come on." She beckoned with her hands.

Kestian kicked their legs tentatively in the water. They gripped the edge of the pool and lowered themself down into the water.

"You're in the water, great first step." Cotton said.

"Don’t tease." Kestian said

"I’m sorry, I’m not trying to, you just look so nervous." Cotton said

"I am nervous, I don't know how to swim and I can't touch the bottom."

"You have nothing to be nervous about, it’s easy I promise. We'll start with floating. All you do is relax lean back and be a star."

Cotton leaned back and spread her limbs out floating on top of the water.

"You make it look very easy."

"It is." She said, she turned and came back over to them. "Here, first just let your legs come up."

"Let my legs come up?"

"Yes"

"How?"

"You stop holding them down." Cotton laughed. "Floating is natural, just let your self be buoyant."

Kestian tucked their legs up to their chest.

"Not quite like that."

"But it feels...floaty."

"Thats good. We can work with that. We can be more floaty." She reached down, "here, bring your hips up."

Kestian began to bring their hips up but stopped when they felt their head tilting back into the water.

"It’s alright," Cotton said. "What you’re going to do is bring your hips up, and as you’re doing that arch your back and tilt your chin up, then let your arms and legs spread out. And then just breath."

"Relax and be a star?"

"Relax and be a star." Cotton repeated. She smiled. Her smile was so sweet and encouraging. Kestian took a breath and closed their eyes. They brought up their hips and arched their back pushing slightly away from the edge of the pool as they did so. They felt the water at their back and they weren't sinking. They tilted their chin up and felt the warm sun on their face. They breathed deeply completely relaxed. "See, you’re doing perfectly," Cotton said.

Kestian opened their eyes and looked at her. "Thank you" they said.

The smile Cotton had seemed so easy, so relaxed and sweet, and yet Kestian did not think they had seen it before.

"Now do you want to learn how to actually swim or is just floating enough?"

"I think I'd like to save learning more for another day, so we can come back here." They said. "If that is something you would like." They reached and touched her arm.

Her gaze followed their touch, "I think I would like that a lot." She said. Cotton took their hand and towed them back to the edge of the pool. "Come on, I packed a lunch for us.

Cotton climbed out of the pool and shook the water from her limbs. She knelt over the basket she had brought and withdrew a blanket which she unfurled and spread out on the ground. She stretched out on her belly like a cat in the sun. "Are you coming?" She asked.

Kestian realized they had been staring. "Yes, of course." They said and pushed up out of the pool and walked over. The sun was gloriously warm on their wet skin.

They laid down next to Cotton on the blanket. Her wet underclothes clung to her skin and her short hair slicked to her neck. They kissed her shoulder. "I think you said something about lunch."

Cotton looked up at them, "I did" she said.

Kestian ran a finger from Cotton's shoulder down her back to her bottom. They nudged the wet fabric of her under clothes just barely to the side. "Are you very hungry?" They asked.

"No, not very." She said

"Then may I suggest a different activi—”

Cotton cut off their words with her mouth upon theirs. Kestian held the back of her head and leaned into the kiss. They had wanted this, been longing for it, to join their bodies together in worship. Cotton pulled away and looked at them with delight and excitement. She threw her leg over their waist and Kestian fell lightly on their back. They put their hands on Cotton's waist as she kissed them. Kestian parted their lips and took Cotton's lower lip between theirs. They gently sucked and pulled her in. Cotton sighed softly and parted her lips and began to tentatively probe their mouth with her tongue. Kestian let their tongue slide against hers. They felt Cotton arch her back and slide a leg between theirs. She pulled back from their mouth and began to trail kisses down their chin and throat, stopping between their breasts. She cupped a breast and tugged gently at their nipple. Kestian sighed arching their chest up towards her. Cotton flicked their nipple with her tongue before taking it in her mouth and gently sucking. Kestian felt their arousal blooming between their legs.

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"Cotton," they whispered. Her mouth was on theirs again, sweet and inviting. They felt her hand reaching down between her thighs. Kestian closed their eyes and gave themself over to the enjoyment of her touch. Her mouth left theirs again trailing kisses down their neck and chest her fingers eagerly stroked and explored between their thighs. Kestian moaned and rocked their hips up into her touch. They felt Cotton's satisfied hum against their skin as she continued to kiss their breasts. Her every touch was sweet and gentle, every caress was kind and soft. Kestian thought of the night sleeping together in the temple. They had wanted this then and they were eager now to give in return.

They ran their fingers in Cotton's short hair gently massaging her scalp.

They gasped as Cotton began to make slow circles with their clitoris.

"Yes?" Cotton asked.

"Yes." They moaned. Cotton continued, tenderly kissing their breasts, and circling their clitoris. Kestian felt their breath go shallow as desire and pleasure pulsed through them. Cotton responded to them with persistent intensity. Kestian focused on their building pleasure. They could feel the closeness of their climax and reached out towards it. They dove into each sensation of their body and the feeling of the touch of the woman making love you them. Their orgasm was gentle like the delight of a warm bath. They were not shattered or overcome but they none the less arrived at a moment of perfect bliss. They felt the gentle presence of their goddess like seeing someone across a room. They shuddered and smiled. They reached down and took Cotton's hand and brought it up to their mouth to kiss her fingers. "Thank you," they whispered into her wrist and kissed her there. Cotton's smile was cute, a little surprised, and entirely satisfied. "You're welcome," she said. With their arms around her they pulled her in for another kiss. She returned it tenderly and laid her head peacefully on Kestian's shoulder.

Kestian gently stroked the tips of her fingers up and down her back. They felt Cotton relax and nuzzle against them. They wrapped their arm around her waist and turned so they were planking over her.

Cotton flinched and every muscle in her body tensed.

"What’s wrong?" Kestian asked

"I—it’s nothing. You just surprised me a little." Cotton said.

"I’m sorry for startling you." Kestian said as they laid down on their side next to her. Kestian rested their hand on her hip. She didn't flinch. She looked down at their hand and back to their eyes and smiled. Kestian leaned in and kissed her, first on her lips then trailing gently down her jaw to her shoulder. Kestian brought up their hand and slid the strap of her combinations over her shoulder. They tilted their head and smiled at her, "may I finish undressing you?" They asked. Cotton nodded her head. Kestian began to unfasten the closures of her combinations kissing each new inch of revealed skin as she did so. Cotton pulled out her arms from the opened garment . As Kestian kissed the skin beneath her belly button Cotton hooked her hand into their hair and guided their face back up to hers. She wrapped her arms around them and kissed them. They were on their knees and Cotton was pressing her naked torso against Kestian's. Kestian returned her kiss and ran her hands down their back and rested cupping her bottom. They moved their hand under the fabric to her bare skin and began to reach under her.

"No!" she said suddenly pulling away.

Kestian drew back their hands. "Cotton, what’s wrong?"

"I'm sorry" she said. She looked away with her arms clasped tightly around herself.

"You don't have to apologize Cotton, what is it?" they asked.

"I just I can't-- don't know--" she took a deep breath. "I'm not usually able to...enjoy myself, with other people."

Kestian let out a sigh of relief "oh Cotton that’s fine" they offered their hand and Cotton leaned back into their embrace. "It’s nothing you have to feel bad about." They gently rubbed her back. They looked down into her eyes. "Do you enjoy yourself when you are on your own?"

She blushed a little "well, yes."

Kestian smiled. "Would you like to show me how you enjoy yourself?"

"You'd be alright with that? With just looking." Cotton asked.

"If that is all you want, that is all I'll do." Kestian said.

Cotton took a breath and nodded. "Alright." She said. With another deep breath she pushed her combinations down over her hips and to her knees before taking first one leg out and then the other.

"May I kiss you?" Kestian asked. Cotton nodded and reached for them. Kestian wrapped their arms around her and kissed her softly. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You know that right?" They asked.

"I know" Cotton said and kissed them again. Kestian was not sure that she did know. "What do you want Cotton?" They asked "in this moment, with us together, what do you desire?" Kestian fought the urge to cast the pull of truth into their words. Compelling the truth from her in this way when there was no danger and she had not agreed to it would be a violation. Even if it was only to have her make plain what she wanted.

Cotton sighed "I want to be able to be with you, but I think what I can do is show you like you asked."

"You're sure?" Kestian asked.

"You're not forcing me, Kestian." She said.

Kestian slipped their hand behind Cotton’s neck and tenderly pulled her close for a kiss. "Show me please," they whispered in her ear.

Cotton ran a hand down her body to between her legs and began stroking gentle lines back and forth along her opening. Kestian kissed along her neck and shoulders as they made their way around and behind her so they could better see how she touched herself. She continued. Cotton stroked first back and forth along her folds and brushing gently against her clitoris. Kestian kissed along her neck as Cotton let out a quiet shudder. She arched her neck and leaned back into them. Kestian circled an arm around her waist. Cotton continued stroking herself and plunged into herself with her fingers. Kestian could feel her body going tense with arousal and pleasure. They watched her intently. This is what Cotton had shared with them and they were savoring it.

Kestian held her up as she reached her climax and leaned back into them. Kestian adjusted and sat back so that Cotton was laying in their lap.

"Thank you," Cotton said as she recovered her breath.

"I think you accomplished that very well on your own." Kestian said with a smile.

"Thank you for letting me I mean; for not joining."

"Cotton, you asked me not to, of course I didn't."

"Still" she said cuddling into them "thank you."

Cotton and Kestian were quite together a moment beside the lovely spring. They basked together in the sunshine and the peace of the intimate silence between them.

"Kestian Cere Thaedra" Cotton whispered as she made lazy lines with her finger up and down Kestian's chest.

Kestian closed her hand in theirs. "You really should call me Kest."

"Why?"

"It’s what my family call me, and friends, and lovers"

"Is that what we are? Lovers?"

"I would call you my lover, if you would let me."

"And I would call you, my lover?"

"I would very much like to be known as your lover, Cotton."

"Lovers," Cotton smiled, "I think I could like that." She kissed Kestian softly on the lips. The two of them stayed there by the spring in the cradle of the sun’s rays until the indecent pull of time and obligation made them redress themselves and head, holding hands, back into the city.