Pure Physical

Three days. Just three days since the icy scythe of death had brushed her. Though physically healed, no visible scars remained to betray the encounter. Callista swallowed, the dryness a stark contrast to the clammy sweat clinging to her palms. With a resolute inhale, she slammed open the oak door, the heavy thud echoing through the unnatural stillness of the crimson chamber.

Silence. A silence that screamed of the missing orchestra of moans and gasps, the usual soundtrack to this macabre chamber. A lone figure, bathed in the blood-red glow, snapped her gaze upwards. Golden eyes, molten pools of unsettling allure, pinned Callista with a stare that sent a tremor through her bones.

A flicker of concern, fleeting as a dying ember, crossed the beautiful face before extinguishing. "Astra," Athena murmured, a mere rustle of breath escaped her lips. Her gaze darted away, unable to meet Callista's for more than a heartbeat.

A cold dread settled in Callista's gut. Had Eydis revealed everything? Was her fabricated cover story shattered?

"Just... looking for a bite to eat," Callista stammered, her voice betraying her unease.

Athena rose, her gaze unreadable. She gestured for Callista to follow, leading her deeper into her private chamber. They settled into an uneasy silence, Athena fiddling with a ruby ring, her eyes distant.

As a perfectly cooked ribeye materialised before Callista, her stomach rumbled with a mix of hunger and nervous tension. 

Maybe the hunger wasn't entirely a lie.

The princess blinked, a flicker of amusement momentarily chasing away the shadows in her eyes. A genuine chuckle, soft and unexpected, broke the ice. "Seems the 'hunger' wasn't entirely fabricated."

A blush crept up Callista's cheeks. "Who says it was?" she retorted, her voice betraying a hint of defiance.

Athena leaned back, her gaze flickering with a hint of something akin to... vulnerability? Then, in a swift, unexpected movement, she reached out, wiping a smudge of oil from the corner of Callista's mouth.

The gesture, seemingly innocent, sent a jolt through Callista. Athena, however, seemed oblivious, absentmindedly licking the stain from her finger.

Callista swallowed, the sudden dryness in her throat a stark contrast to the turmoil within. "Playing one of your games again, Princess?" she accused, a raw edge to her voice.

One eyebrow arched in surprise. "What game, Astra?" Athena murmured, her tone deceptively neutral.

"One minute you're all over me, the next..." Callista's voice trailed off, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "... You're distant. But even then, your actions contradict your words. So, what is it, Athena? What... are you playing at?"

Callista's words hung heavy in the air. A pang of regret shot through her as she realised the unintended harshness. Perhaps the encounter with Death had stirred emotions she wasn't ready to face. Ignoring the unfamiliar ache in her chest, she pushed herself up from the table.

Just what was she hoping for? A genuine connection with a creature of the night? As she turned to leave, a strong hand clamped around her wrist, anchoring her in place. Athena's golden eyes, usually cold and assessing, held a hint of... sadness?

"Never trust us, Astra," Athena murmured, her voice laced with something akin to remorse. "Trust is a path veiled in thorns. As for affection..." her tone dropped to a melancholy husk, "...it's a luxury we don't possess."

Anger flared in Callista's chest, laced with a surprising undercurrent of hurt. This, she knew, was Athena's way of pushing her away. Blinking back the traitorous tears that welled in her eyes, she forced her voice into a steely tone. "Who spoke of affection? Don't flatter yourself."

"Then enlighten me, Astra," Athena countered, a hint of challenge flickering in her eyes. "What is it you truly seek?"

Callista's throat constricted. A lie, a flimsy shield against the storm of emotions, rose to her lips. "Mere curiosity. What's it like being with a woman, that's all. And you're… convenient." The lie tasted like ash, a desperate attempt to lash out, to mask the vulnerability she refused to acknowledge. Yet the raw, wounded look in Athena's eyes caused a pang of guilt.

"Any woman will suffice, then?" A cold, humourless chuckle escaped Athena's lips as she rose. With a lighting speed, Callista found herself pinned to the bed, Athena's body hovering above her.

The princess's voice was a purr, laced with danger. "Perhaps I can offer a more... practical lesson. What do you say, Astra?"

In a heartbeat, Athena bridged the gap. Their lips met in a kiss that crackled with withheld heat. A tremor pulsed through Athena, a flicker of uncertainty warring with a surge of unexpected yearning in her golden eyes.

The kiss deepened, not a power struggle but a delicate exploration, ignited a spark within Callista. Athena savoured the encounter, mapping Callista's lips with a slow, deliberate sensuality. It was a stark contrast to her earlier hurtful words, a walking paradox embodied.

Caught off guard by the sudden intimacy, Callista found herself responding in kind. A low sound, a primal echo deep within, escaped her throat. Her fingers, as if by instinct, reached out, tangling in the golden strands of Athena's hair.

Logic surrendered to the overwhelming intensity of the moment. Despite the web of secrets and simmering anger, a powerful connection undeniably thrummed between them. An echo of a potent yearning, a rekindling of the spark ignited the first time they touched, flared anew.

Just as before, it felt... inevitable.

Athena broke the kiss, her breath ragged. A strange vulnerability flickered in her eyes, a stark contrast to her earlier bravado. Emboldened, Callista leaned in, chasing her lips, her desire overriding reason.

"There's no turning back now," Callista murmured, her voice husky. "Not after that talk."

A strangled moan escaped Athena as Callista trailed wet, feverish kisses down her neck. Fingernails dug into Callista's back in a fleeting moment of hesitation before giving way to a surge of heat. Athena's voice, laced with a hint of breathless amusement, rasped, "Are you certain a lesson is truly necessary?"

Callista's response was immediate, her desire for Athena consuming her every thought. With a firm and possessive squeeze of Athena's breast, she elicited a gasp from the vampire, which soon transformed into an intoxicating moan as Callista teased her firm nipples through the fabric of her clothing. 

Callista's voice dripped with desire as she whispered, "Eager, are we?" A gasp of arousal escaped Athena's lips as Callista's fingertips flicked the hardened flesh playfully.

But Athena, a flicker of defiance replacing the vulnerability in her eyes, wasn't about to relinquish control entirely. With a low growl that rumbled in her chest, a mix of raw desire and steely resolve, she swiftly pinned Callista's wrists above her head.

"Let's not get carried away, shall we?" Athena murmured. With a flick of her wrist, Athena unclasped her own silky dress, the material whispering against her smooth porcelain skin as it cascaded down her waist.

Callista's breath hitched in anticipation as her darkened gaze hungrily drank in the sight before her. The supple swell of Athena's breasts, barely concealed by the thin lace of her bra, teased her senses. The thought of exploring the smooth planes of Athena's bare curves, the delicate press of skin against skin, sent a surge of heat through Callista. A yearning, a desire to trace the contours of Athena's taut stomach with her tongue, danced on the edge of her awareness.

The princess's fingers trembled slightly as they fumbled with a button on Callista's shirt. An impatient hiss escaped her lips before her gaze flickered with a mix of desire and something akin to... frustration. In one swift movement, she undressed Callista, leaving her exposed and vulnerable.

"Forgive my manners."

Before Callista could respond, a wave of heat washed over her toned midriff as Athena lowered her touch. A shudder ran through her as the princess's kisses blazed a fiery path. Athena's searing tongue traced every contour of her abdomen, dipping in her belly button sensually before slowly trailing upwards. A soft gasp escaped Callista's lips, caught between surprise and a surge of unexpected pleasure.

With a firm tug, the lace of Callista's bra gave way, mirroring the discarded shirt. Heat flooded her cheeks as a primal instinct urged her to shield herself. But Athena's hands were already at her wrists, a steely grip that held her captive.

Callista's breath caught in her throat. Athena's golden eyes smouldered with a dark intensity. The hunger in her gaze was a silent demand that sent a jolt through Callista.

The chamber's dim orange glow, filtered through the stained glass, cast an intimate light. Callista felt a flicker of self-consciousness under its soft luminescence. But then, a surprising shift in Athena's gaze. The coldness that usually resided there softened, replaced by a hint of something akin to... affection? 

"You..." Athena's voice dropped to a husky murmur, "you captivate me."

A strangled sound escaped Callista's lips, caught between surprise and a surge of unexpected emotion. "You're ... unpredictable," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Unpredictable?" Athena echoed, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. A playful glint flickered in her gaze, momentarily breaking the intensity. "Then let me be clear, I…" she murmured, her voice a husky whisper.

Athena's touch lingered on Callista's hand. A slow, deliberate movement followed, guiding Callista's hand suggestive path down the princess's abdomen.

"Want…" Athena's voice hitched.

Callista's crimson eyes dilated. A storm of emotions warred within her as her fingertips felt the slick wetness between Athena's thighs.

"You."

Callista's voice, barely audible above the frantic rhythm of her own heart, rasped, "You're dripping..."

"Is the message received?" Athena purred, a hint of amusement lingering in her eyes. However, the smirk was fleeting, replaced by a sharp intake of breath as Callista's touch took an unexpected turn.

"Crystal," the hunter rasped, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. A sly grin, unexpected yet undeniably captivating, stretched across her face.

A tremor ran through Athena as the outline of her desire was teased through the delicate underwear. A flicker of something akin to surprise, perhaps even a hint of vulnerability, crossed her features.

Callista, her own breath quickening, traced a sensual path beneath the silken barrier, her fingertip coated with Athena's slick essence. Before she could delve deeper, Athena's lips were upon hers once more. 

The kiss, this time, held a desperate urgency, a silent plea for a return to the previous dynamic. Callista's hand, still tingling from the touch of Athena's wetness, instinctively moved up to cup the back of her head, deepening the kiss as their bare bodies pressed together in a fervent embrace.

The world seemed to shrink, their focus narrowing to the press of warmth against warmth. Intoxicating scents filled the air, a mix of sophisticated sandalwood and the delicate sweetness of lavender. The atmosphere crackled with a charged energy, sending shivers of anticipation through them. A primal growl rumbled deep within Athena's chest, her golden eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. Her touch was electric as she cupped Callista's breasts with a possessive grip.

A helpless gasp escaped Callista's lips as Athena's touch tightened, the firm flesh fitting perfectly in her palms. The hunter's back involuntarily arched against the bed as Athena's touch ignited a fire within her. Each caress, every flick of the princess's fingers a deliberate exploration, sent a jolt of heat through Callista's core. A firm pull, a pinch, Callista trembled with pleasure.

Breaking the kiss, Athena's lips blazed a fiery trail down Callista's neck, leaving possessive marks in their wake before finally descending upon the rosy nipples. She closed in, her warmth breath ghosting over the sensitive flesh. Her tongue flicked out, teasing and licking the hardened bud, tracing small circles around it before applying gentle suction.

Callista's moans of uninhibited arousal filled the chamber. Each pull of Athena's mouth pushed the hunter closer to the edge. And then, with a powerful suck, Astra shuddered beneath Athena's touch, surrendering to the overwhelming waves of ecstasy that consumed her.

Athena pulled back, surprise flickering in her golden eyes. A hint of something akin to admiration lingered in her gaze as she met Callista's flushed face. Her lips quivered slightly as she rasped, "Did you just…"

Callista, caught between the aftershock of the touch and a surge of overwhelming desire, managed a husky whisper, "Don't you dare stop."

A genuine smile, devoid of amusement this time, curved Athena's lips. She leaned in once more, her teeth teasingly grazed against Callista's, her voice a low murmur. "As you command, My Lady."