Loathe to Love Ch. 05 - Sex Stories

Loathe to Love Ch. 05

... enthusiasm for our arrangement. I shifted my head to look up at her. "Have you done this before with anyone, ma'am? The rules and such?"

Natalia hesitated before speaking slowly and deliberately. "Yes. Somewhat. I'd do scouting runs with her. Long journeys, nights sleeping far from camp. We were the same rank, but she'd barely spent any time in the wilds. I tutored her, and eventually...well. Neither of us spoke to it directly, but we both saw how she idolized me. How she wanted to impress me, how she looked to me for direction."

"Did you love her?" I cut in, more curious than jealous or insecure. I felt as though I was catching a glimpse of Natalia in another time and place, and it fascinated me. For all we'd been through in the past few weeks, I still felt as though I knew surprisingly little about her.

She considered my question for a moment. "I suppose I did love her. Not romantically, but as one might love a close companion."

"And were the two of you, um, intimate?"

"No." She shook her head. "It occurred to me more than once but never came up. I suppose it didn't ever feel necessary? Soft touches and her sleeping in my arms were enough."

"What happened with the two of you?"

"I was promoted. She wasn't." Natalia said bluntly.

"Oh." I nuzzled her thigh, wanting to comfort her but lacking the right words. She scratched my scalp appreciatively. I gave a happy sigh. "What was her name?"

"Danica."

"Mm. Pretty." I trailed my fingers over Natalia's ...

... thigh, feeling the muscles beneath. I suddenly noticed I felt more present than I'd been all day. There was no crest of euphoria to ride nor any trough of doubt to wallow in. I was just talking to my wife as...not equals, but as whatever we were. I felt somewhat embarrassed I'd ever been so out of sorts to begin with. At least Natalia didn't have to know.

I glanced up at her. She was looking out the window, her intense brown eyes tinged with melancholy nostalgia. Somewhere along our tour of her past, she'd apparently gotten stuck.

It was my duty as her kitten to help bring her back.

I wriggled around until I was fully seated on her lap, sitting up just enough to pepper her chin and jaw with light kisses. Natalia blinked, then smiled warmly and squeezed me closer. "Hello, kitten."

"Hello, ma'am," I whispered. "Sad memories?"

"No, no." Natalia started giving me long, slow pets down my neck and back with both hands. I preened at the attention. "Not sad. Just appreciating what I had and what I've found since."

I hummed and pressed my face against her chest.

"Thank you for asking," Natalia added hastily after a brief pause. "Or...good kitten. For asking. And listening. You're very good."

A shudder worked through me as I made a light, happy squeak. Her approval brought relief and joy. It reassured me I was on the right path and that she didn't feel the need to grow harsher or colder. As long as I kept earning it, anyway.

"Thank you, ma'am."

I allowed ...