Chapter 18 When Wind Meets Sea
Riley
Warmth.
It tugged at the edge of her awareness. It was at her back, a solid, unyielding presence, breathing soft and deep.
Through the haze of sleep, Riley realized what it was.
Calla, her arm draped tight around her middle.
The warmth spread through Riley's body, from her skin to somewhere deep inside her gut and the tips of her ears.
Calla tightened her grip on her, pressing more firmly against her back. “You know,” she said, soft voice laced with sleep. The cool breath against her ear made Riley shiver. “I can sense just the moment when you wake up.”
Something small and content stirred in Riley’s chest, and she didn’t open her eyes. Didn’t move. She was perfectly happy like this, in Calla’s arms. “How?” she asked, her own voice rough with sleep.
The press of Calla’s lips against her neck made Riley’s breath hitch in her throat.
It was the softest kiss. “Your breathing is lighter,” she said.
She pressed another kiss, this one just under her ear, and the curling warmth in Riley’s stomach flared to a flame, licking at her insides.
“Your heart rate picks up.” Riley felt her smile against her skin as her heart did just that.
“You can hear my heartbeat?” Riley asked in a breath.
Calla hummed in confirmation, and her arm unfurled from around her waist. Riley’s noise of protest cut off in a strangled sound as Calla’s hand slid under her shirt in the next breath, palm settling firmly against her bare stomach.
Calla’s body was warm at her back, but her fingers were cool, and it only made Riley’s skin run hotter.
Her thighs pressed tightly together, and just now she felt the slickness of her own desire.
She must’ve woken up like this after spending the night in Calla’s arms.
It had been cycles since Sable, and Riley hadn’t as much as touched herself. Now, after Calla had undressed her twice, and last night’s swimming lesson, and every instant when Calla had touched her just to show her care and nothing else, even this much teasing felt like torture.
She didn’t want it to stop.
“My senses have improved since the change,” Calla said, her breath caressing her ear. Riley could say nothing to that, because her thoughts went all haywire as Calla’s cool hand trailed up her stomach, pausing at her ribs. “Do you like this?”
Riley would’ve laughed if she weren’t so out of breath. She was throbbing, and Calla was barely doing anything to her. It should’ve been embarrassing, but it felt too good for Riley to bother. She just wanted more. “Yes,” she managed, and it came out pleading.
A single finger grazed the underside of her breast, and Calla shifted against her back, lips brushing Riley’s ear as she said, low and teasing, “I can smell it.”
Her entire body flushed. “You mean–”
“Your scent often changes when I’m near you,” Calla said, voice light with amusement. The heat in Riley’s belly clenched into a tight, needy thing. “I wasn’t sure why that was, but I think I’ve figured it out now.”
Riley swallowed, and she licked her lips. “And why is that?”
Calla half-propped herself up on her elbow.
Her hand slipped from under Riley’s shirt to grab her chin, turning her head to make her meet her gaze.
Her blue eyes were deep and hungry, just like last night, just like in the water.
“You want me,” Calla said. It was not a question as much as a statement, as sure and confident as Calla always was when she was up on deck, wearing her captain’s coat.
Riley couldn’t stop herself. She smirked. “Yes, captain.”
Calla’s eyebrows pinched. “Riley. It’s too early in the morning for you to needle me like–”
Riley half-turned in her hold and cut her off with a kiss.
For a breath, Calla froze in surprise. And then, she melted.
When Calla kissed her back, it was nothing short of a claim.
Her hand slipped from her chin to cup the side of her neck, and before she knew it, Riley was opening up for her and tangling her fingers in the soft silk of Calla’s hair, drawing her in closer with a tug.
There was a soft catch in Calla’s breath as their tongues met.
Riley had once wondered what it would feel like when the wind met the sea, and she had her answer now–gentle at first, then swelling, shaping her into something new with every move of Calla’s mouth against hers.
Calla tasted of the sea. She was salt and depth and warmth, like sunlight filtering through the depths of the ocean.
When Riley tried to take control of the kiss, it was as successful as battling the deep currents would’ve been.
She had no choice but to surrender to Calla’s lead, and the softest, most satisfied moan was her reward for that.
Riley forgot all about teasing her at that sound.
More. She needed more, right now, or she was going to burst.
“Touch me,” she pleaded against Calla’s lips. “Please.”
Calla smiled against her lips, her thumb rubbing along her jaw.
Riley felt her pulse beat strongly against her palm, and she tugged on Calla’s hair again, closer.
“You’re very impatient,” Calla said, pressing her forehead against hers.
They were both breathing hard, and their breaths mingled together in the most delicious mix.
Riley could get high off that scent alone, the air thick with salt and want.
“I’ll allow it.” Calla’s voice dropped lower, and she looked just as hungry as Riley felt. “This time.”
“Please,” Riley whispered again, with another tug, because she might cry if Calla didn’t touch her right now.
With a wanton sound, Calla pulled Riley to her again, back flush against her front.
Both her hands found their way under Riley’s clothes this time.
One went to cup her breast, and Riley threw her head back against Calla’s shoulder as those cool fingers pinched her nipple.
Everything was so fucking sensitive by now that one gesture was enough to make her clench around nothing.
Calla’s lips pressed against her bared throat, and at Riley’s moan, her other hand moved.
Into her pants. Riley cursed softly when Calla’s fingers slipped between the slick wetness of her folds.
Riley whimpered. She hadn’t realized how–
“You’re soaked,” Calla said against her neck, voice thick with want.
Riley gasped in a ragged breath as Calla’s fingers pressed against her heat.
“No shit,” she managed, and then her thoughts cut off, because Calla’s fingers were moving, drawing out soft, pleading moans out of Riley’s throat, and this was just another kind of torture, because she was already there–she’d been since waking up in Calla’s arms, since last night when Calla was looking at her like she wanted nothing more than to consume her.
“Please, Calla,” Riley pleaded again, and she was whimpering. “Please, I can’t take it.”
“Please, what, Riley?” Calla murmured against her skin, and oh, she sounded so pleased with herself.
If Riley weren’t already so close–
“Please stop teasing.” Riley gasped, trying to grind against Calla’s fingers, chasing the high of her cresting pleasure.
“Just because you asked so nicely.”
And then, suddenly, Calla was everywhere.
Against Riley’s back, lips at her neck, hand massaging her breasts and teasing her nipples, and her fingers, sliding into Riley’s heat, the heel of her palm grinding against her clit.
She wasn’t teasing anymore. Every thrust of her fingers made Riley’s muscles tense with build-up, every move of her palm drew deeper moans out of her throat, until finally, finally–
“Fuck, Calla,” Riley gasped out, her back arching against Calla. The ragged moan of her climax sounded almost like a sob.
Her whole body shuddered as Calla pulled her closer, holding her. Her fingers coaxed her through the orgasm, drawing it out until Riley slumped against her and caught a weak grip of her wrist. Calla stopped then, and she pulled out gently, but her hand remained there between Riley’s thighs.
Her fingers drew slow, lazy circles against her clit as she kissed the skin under Riley’s ear and asked, voice full of mirth, “You’re not already done, are you?”
In answer, the flare of heat ran even hotter than before.
No, she was not done. And something told her she wouldn’t escape Calla’s teasing so easily this time.
***
Riley picked through her meal at the mess hall, deep in thought. So deep in thought she was barely eating. This morning had been circling her the entire day, giving her no peace. Her skin warmed at the thought of it, and a deep, pleasant sensation stirred in her stomach.
Calla hadn’t fucked her. She’d made love to her until Riley was left a gasping, shivering mess in her arms, and Riley hadn’t known her body could take so much pleasure at once. But it didn’t erase the ache of Sable’s absence in her chest. It made it worse. Sable belonged with them–
Something hit her face. Riley blinked down at the table to see a single raisin rolling over the wood. With a frown, she looked at the seats across from her.
Pip was snickering at her. Eryx was sitting at his side, looking amused.
Riley reached for the raisin, but Pip was faster. He snatched it from right under her fingers and shoved it in his mouth, chewing with a barely suppressed grin.
“What was that for?” she asked.
Pip waited until he was finished swallowing. “We tried saying hi, but you were in your own world there,” Pip said. “What got you so busy thinking?”
Riley’s face warmed up, and Pip and Eryx exchanged knowing glances. Pip leaned in, whispering, “Was it the captain? Did you kiss?” His whisper was louder than his normal voice, and Riley’s face grew hotter.
Eryx shot Pip an admonishing look. “I thought we said we weren’t going to ask.”
Pip grinned guiltily. “I know, but, like, it’s right there! On her face! She’s making it so obvious!”
Riley groused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”