Chapter Text
Change and flexibility were what kept relationships strong. Every asari who had a relationship over a decade learned the lesson at one point or another, avoiding the chance that stagnation would lead to misery. It was necessary when one could keep a partner for centuries, seeing a continuous shift in both body and mind.
These were truths Benezia knew well, but her train of thought was broken by a quickening in her pulse when Aethyta's lips brushed over her throat again. They had been enjoying each other’s company on the couch since dinner ended, exchanging kisses and caresses in between sips of traditional spring wine from a single silver cup. It was a simple pleasure, one she could rarely indulge in.
Janiris emptied out the house in a way most other holidays didn't. Her acolytes went out to the local shrines and celebrations of their own, content to have a day and night free from study and contemplation. Teaching gave her both purpose and vitality, but decorum meant presenting a certain image to her students and keeping Aethyta from ravishing her all over the house - at least, where they could be heard.
Her security detail was conspicuously absent as well, although that was by personal request. Benezia was used to the spike in smiles and chatter among the commandos when Janiris approached, ensuring a small bonus was added to their pay in the week so they could celebrate to their heart's content at the row of pleasure houses that lit up by the lakeshore of Serrice's capital. Those who had already taken lovers were granted the same leave, whether for a romantic evening or a proper ritual affirmation. Any concerns for safety were alleviated by the fact that Aethyta wouldn't leave her presence for the whole night; that and Shiala keeping a quiet vigil in the meditation room, despite Benezia encouraging the younger asari to take a break.
She could have made it an order, but that seemed counterintuitive.
"I'm not doing my job if you're getting that look." Aethyta murmured against her skin, breath warm.
The faint hint of the older asari's teeth against the curve of her shoulder, bared entirely by the dress she had chosen, made her shiver.
"I'm sorry." She turned her head to coax a kiss out of her bondmate. "And you've already been terribly patient with me."
"That's one word for it." Aethyta's smile was bright with a hint of mischief. It was the type of smile that led to her being seduced under the stars where anyone could see, or struggling to keep quiet in the back of a skycar while the older asari's fingers slid up her dress. "Maybe I was just waiting for the wine to do its dirty work."
"Oh?" Benezia put a teasing lilt into her tone. "Whatever for?"
"An idea." Aethyta's lips brushed her cheek, calloused fingertips seeking out her nape to massage along the spot right above her spine. A soft sound escaped Benezia's lips as her bondmate's fingers worked upward centimeter by centimeter.
"And what would that be?" There was a telling catch in her breath when Aethyta's thumb brushed along a particularly sensitive groove.
The older asari pulled back just enough for their eyes to meet, showing Benezia just how much darkness and desire was present. "Last year you mentioned bringing someone else to bed."
Benezia felt a rush of heat at the reminder, quietly clearing her throat. While she hadn't been terribly deep into her cups, the confession had followed a particular intense meld where the Aethyta caught a fraction of an image, an old fantasy about feeling two sets of hands on her skin. She had rushed to explain, trying to downplay the spike of lust that had surged through the connection before it finally ended.
Aethyta had offered a smile and a throaty laugh that eased most of her fears, but she still felt guilty for thinking of it. The older asari had satisfied all of her desires for decades, always willing to try something new, to edge against the boundaries they both shared. It was one of the things that made her love Aethyta so, driving her to explore, to experience more than she'd ever allowed herself in the past.
"I did." She said softly, unable to completely dispel her hesitation.
The warmth of Aethyta's mouth against hers again made a hint of the tension subtly trickle away. Benezia was surprised by how long the kiss lasted, the longing that they had both been deliberately enkindling the entire evening making her ache. Dinner had almost forced her to abandon the game entirely, unable to focus on even casual table conversation when she'd felt biotics caressing up her thighs, only to stop just shy of her lingerie. The teasing had lasted through both courses until Aethyta finally relented during dessert, if only to sit closer so they could share the same spoon.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of." Fingers gently cradled her jaw, keeping their gazes locked. "I got to thinking about it."
Benezia felt her pulse quicken for a different reason. "And what did you decide?"
"That I got the chance to do plenty - three in one bed isn't even my limit.” A soft chuckle left Aethyta's lips. “Hell of a thing. Couldn't tell which way was up and whose ass I was grabbing by the end of the night most of the time.”
Some of the mirth faded from Aethyta’s expression. “Not that it has to be about that. But there's no reason you shouldn't get a shot too."
"I don't want you to feel obligated bec-" She began.
"Nezzy." Aethyta's brow quirked. "It's not like I'm getting left out of the equation here."
"No, of course not." Benezia felt that hint of a blush again. The older asari hadn't seen the full extent of the fantasy, just how thoroughly she indulged in the benefit of another partner present, especially when it came to pleasuring Aethyta in return. "Far from it."
Her bondmate's smile widened. "And it really is the season, isn't it?"
She felt Aethyta's fingers settle back at the base of her nape and barely concealed a shiver. Despite her doubts, it was difficult not to ask the question that burned at the forefront of her thoughts.
"Who would it be?"
The answer seemed fairly simple. On Janiris of all occasions, every brothel in the city had their doors flung wide open and the holiday was considered cause for blanket discretion; who shared a bed with who on such a night was Janiri's business and no one else's. However, there was something to the glint in Aethyta's eye that made her curious if there was more to the matter.
Part of her that wanted there to be more. While the fantasy hadn't included anyone in particular, the thought of sharing intimacy with another who knew her as well as Aethyta gave a certain charge to the image. Unfortunately, the list of those who would qualify was fairly short.
"Someone you can trust." Aethyta mulled over the words for a moment. “I'll bet my shotgun she's interested."
Despite her hopes, she couldn't help but be surprised. "Are you going to make me guess?"
Benezia noticed a faint flicker in her bondmate's expression, and realizing that Aethyta was a bit nervous as well had the odd effect of making her feel better. Maybe the concept of a threesome wasn't new to the older asari, but it would be an unfamiliar dynamic between them both.
"Shiala," Aethyta said softly.
Her eyes widened, stunned for a long moment.
Feeling her heart starting to pound in her chest, Benezia immediately protested. "Aethyta, I...we can't-"
"Nezzy, take a breath." The older asari's smile returned. "I've seen the way she watches you."
Benezia fumbled for a moment, trying to compose her thoughts. "She's supposed to watch me. She's a bodyguard."
The protest sounded weak even as she uttered it, which was embarrassing in and of itself. How had Aethyta gotten such an idea?
"She's supposed to watch your surroundings so you don't get hurt." Aethyta leaned back against the couch, fingers brushing against her bare shoulder. "That's not what I catch her looking at."
Making the senior soldier under her command into an object of fantasy shouldn’t have been so enticing. Even allowing herself to picture the younger asari in such a context seemed like it would cast shadows on her doubts, which was more than enough reason to refrain from doing so. Shiala had been in her service for decades and displayed a loyalty Benezia thought put the entire turian Hierarchy to shame, much less other asari. While she'd never had to snap an order at Shiala to see her wishes followed, there was a tightness in her chest at the idea that the matron would submit to her will without truly consenting.
"I'm her employer." Benezia finally managed. "She's contracted to serve me, and without question."
Aethyta's brow raised. "You do remember how she got herself hired, don't you?"
Dismay aside, the memory prompted a small smile.
"She broke into my hotel to prove my security hadn't been....up to par. But that doesn't change that she's bound to me now."
"She still tells you to shove it when she means it." Aethyta shrugged. "If you had it your way, the commandos wouldn't even be carrying sidearms in public."
"I-" She frowned. "You agreed with her. I don't like it, but it's-"
"Of course I agreed with her. But I didn't tell you that until the two of you sorted it out." Aethyta said wryly.
"I suppose that's true." Benezia's lips pursed in a tight line. "Although that's only one occasion."
Aethyta canted her head. "It was the first. She kept you from going to Cantara's birthday too, and you spent the entire weekend upset over it."
She opened her mouth to argue, but it was unfortunately true. The guildmistress was a very close friend, and the party had been celebrating nine centuries of life and five hundred years since Cantara had planted the first vine that eventually became some of the most beloved wines on Thessia. Benezia remembered all of the plans she had put together, including a few shamelessly lavish gifts, only for Shiala to make a vehement objection she had never expected.
The venue for the party, originally an incredibly exclusive restaurant on the Citadel, had been changed two days prior, moving to a resort planet that was a stone's throw from Illium. Cantara had found her guest list far exceeded the space at hand and rented out an entire beach, offering to compensate for any change in travel tickets that were necessary. Shiala's reaction had been grave, and it had only taken the matron a matter of hours to compile a report of potential threats and dangers. Neither of them - nor Aethyta - had ever been to the planet in question, and Benezia was shocked when Shiala told her the household wouldn't be going on the trip.
All her rebukes had fallen flat, with Shiala countering every point she could summon. The argument never became the snapping and shouting she and Aethyta had occasionally fallen to over certain political matters, but Benezia would never forget the younger asari offering to resign if the celebration was important enough to risk her safety. While it would have been taken as hyperbole from almost anyone else, the steel in Shiala's eyes barely masked the depth of the matron's concern, and she had finally relented, sending the gifts with an extensive apology to Cantara over her private terminal.
"I'd forgotten about that." Benezia muttered, nearly under her breath. It was rare for her to get truly angry, but when she was, it came on with all the strength of a summer storm, lasting until she'd exhausted herself with fury. Those nights hadn't been her proudest moments.
"But she's still here. No grudges, no growling." Aethyta leaned forward, claiming her lips in a firm kiss.
"She may be merely waiting for an opportunity then,” she replied tartly, feigning an irritation she didn’t feel.
"An opportunity for something.” Aethyta leaned forward, claiming her lips in a firm kiss. “She still watches you."
"One could inform the other,” She said against the older asari's mouth.
“It informs, alright.”
Benezia couldn’t refuse the second kiss that followed. Aethyta's tongue teased against her lower lip before there was a light tug of teeth, the sensation going straight between her thighs and earning a quiet gasp.
If she could convince Aethyta to have such a silver tongue on the podium as the elder matriarch did when trying to take her to bed, Thessia would have a revolution overnight.
"She'll say no if she means it." Aethyta murmured. "More than one matriarch at your speeches has tried to steal her away under your nose, even if it was just in a closet for an hour."
Benezia blinked. "You're kidding."
A soft chuckle rumbled in Aethyta's throat. "No, babe. Some people never give up tag-chasing. Even if Shiala isn't military anymore, she certainly looks like it."
There was no arguing that. Benezia bit her lip, trying to mull over the matter without plunging into fantasy. The matron was plainly obsessive about exercise, and she had interrupted more than one workout with important matters to discuss, silently impressed with how quickly Shiala could switch focus, even while dripping with sweat. She'd seen those slender fingers when they tightly gripped a steel bar, the well-worn calluses and scars on both hands from a life dedicated to combat. They were the same ones Aethyta shared.
"I don't want her to lose respect for me," she finally admitted, leaning forward so her brow gently touched Aethyta's.
"I'll ask her. I'm not her boss. Lucky to be bonded to the boss, but she's told me to get stuffed since day one."
Benezia let out a soft laugh. "She does, at that."
The older asari's eyes lit up again at the sound. "If she says no, I'll say sorry. And she'll know it was all my idea."
But it wasn't, entirely. Benezia bit the inside of her cheek, considering the right words. While she was fairly convinced Shiala's reaction would be demanding to know if Aethyta was a lunatic, that didn't change the fact that she’d appreciated the matron’s form in the past, even it had been for the sake of aesthetics. Never with as much intensity as tonight, but it seemed disingenuous to let Aethyta think otherwise.
"There has to be more than that." Her eyes flickered down. "Why would you pick Shiala when you two have...a distance?"
"Because I'm not blind, Nezzy." Aethyta seemed more amused than anything else. "She's young and built like an ad for a fitness vid. Your eyes wander sometimes too. Even I've looked once or twice out of professional curiosity."
"And what profession would that be?" Benezia asked.
"Soldier to soldier." The older asari's lips brushed against hers. "Possessive bondmate to attractive matron who likes to wear a tank top and shorts that leave nothing to the imagination. That sort of thing."
She could picture the very outfit in question, which Shiala always wore without a hint of self-consciousness. The younger asari had been a gymnast in her maiden years, more than accustomed to being on display. It was part of what had drawn Benezia’s eye, seeing such physicality lacking vanity or ego. How would Shiala respond to the first touch between them? Would the matron be gentle, or did she possess the same vigor Aethyta did?
"You're wicked." Benezia said breathlessly, tilting her head up to return the kiss. "I can't believe I'm considering this."
"If she says no, I'll make it up to both of you. Promise. Won’t be too hard to convince her that I'm a holiday drunk."
Benezia deliberately met Aethyta's eyes. "And you're not jealous?"
The older asari shook her head. "Not unless you plan on swapping bracelets with her and didn't tell me."
"Goddess, no." Benezia laughed. "Shiala seems quite content to keep up her singular mystique without a bondmate."
"Mystique, huh?" Aethyta's grin was infectious. "Maybe I should be worried."
She playfully slapped the older asari's shoulder. "You should ask before I decide to just content myself with the rest of the wine instead."
"Now that would be a tragedy." Aethyta slowly rose up from the couch, only letting the contact break between them at the last moment. "One night stands with wine always are."
Despite the teasing, Benezia reached for the glass resting in the center of the table, taking a long sip as she watched Aethyta make a path towards the door of the meditation room. Her heart started to race as she held to the cool comfort of the wine, unsure if she expected to hear a fight breaking out or see the older asari emerge ducking a statue of Janiri. Surely Shiala wouldn't say yes. If the matron did, then...
A picture easily formed as she recalled Shiala caught in a struggle with another commando. It had been after a long day of training, the sparring bouts allowing each soldier to vent the last of their energy. Their captain had single-handedly defeated most of the unit, sweat making an already tight workout shirt cling to muscles fraught with exertion. When Shiala finally caught her lieutenant in a hold, Benezia had watched the younger asari keep her opponent pinned until there was a signal for surrender. The matron rose from the floor with the fire of Kurinth in her veins, daring the rest of the room to challenge her again. How easy it would it have been for her to goad Shiala into a match, eager to find herself overpowered?
The silence as she waited was maddening. She hated the way her breath caught again at the memory, and how quickly her hopes rose. Although it was impossible to eavesdrop, the faint murmur of conversation had been audible past the barrier of the walls of the meditation room for a few minutes, only to vanish without explanation.
The glass in her hand was almost empty by the the time the door slid open, revealing both Aethyta and Shiala. She forced her expression to stay neutral, even if her fingers instinctively tensed around the remnants of the wine.
The matron looked...mystified.
She was prepared to stand and apologize when she felt Shiala's eyes on her. The weight of the younger asari's gaze should have been familiar; she was guarded every day in close proximity, constantly examined to be sure nothing was amiss. Benezia felt herself go still as a hint of darkness flared in Shiala's bright green gaze, the display of lust restrained at the last second by a suddenly tense jaw.
"Aethyta asked-" Shiala hesitated. "She requested that I join you for the evening. Both of you."
Benezia couldn't quite read the younger asari's tone or expression, but she nodded, hoping the gesture would encourage Shiala to continue speaking.
"Is that truly what you desire?"
This time she caught a hitch in the matron's words, the same that rose in her own speech when Aethyta's fingers were a centimeter from her skin, not yet touching. It was forcibly concealed need, the sublime ache that came from denial. Benezia had never let herself imagine such a thing in Shiala's voice.
"As long as you come to bed as an equal, and not to please me." Benezia said softly.
Shiala closed the distance between them in a handful of steps, one familiar hand resting against the top of the couch. There was no touch, not even a whisper of contact, but a faint shiver traveled down Benezia's spine.
"With all respect," The matron leaned down, stopping just short of a kiss. Near enough that if she breathed, their lips would meet. "I have every intention of pleasing you."
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Aethyta smiling, but it was difficult to begrudge her bondmate for being smug. The kiss she offered Shiala was brief but firm, intent on reassuring both of them this was what she wanted. Would it that other contracts were so pleasant to seal.
"Here?" The younger asari asked, withdrawing just enough for their eyes to meet.
"Upstairs, I'd think."
Whether it was the wine or the weight of desire, Benezia felt a tremble through her thighs as she moved to stand. Two pairs of hands caught her before she could react, easing her up to her feet, offering to guide her up the flight of steps. Seeing Aethyta and Shiala react in tandem, even outside the bedroom, provoked a jolt of desire. How could it not?
Only then could she allow her thoughts to wander, to cling to the idea of being caught between two warriors, driven by passion and visceral need. While Aethyta had never said or implied anything of the sort, Benezia hoped the fantasy didn't come off as selfish. She cherished the bond between them, just as she honored Shiala's dedication. Allowing lust to come into play certainly complicated matters, but she prayed it wouldn't unbalance things.
Lost in her own musing, it was startling to come out of it just a few feet from the bedroom door, much less catching sight of the gaze Aethyta and Shiala had shared. There had been a flicker of curiosity, a fire that took her a moment to translate. It was the same she’d seen in the gym with the other commandos, the heat of competition driving them forward.
She urged both of them through the threshold with a hand on their backs, privately amused when Aethyta smiled and straightened up a bit. When the door slid shut, there was a muted exhale of relief, including her own. Shiala took a step back as if to gauge their surroundings; the matron had been in her bedroom on plenty of occasions, but it was usually due to an emergency.
The last time Shiala had been naked in her quarters, it was covered in blood and shattered glass, fighting off an would-be assassin who had broken through the skylight with bare hands. While Benezia had enjoyed her private view of the stars, she had seen the glass replaced with a digital display that ran in real time, not wanting to put herself or Shiala at risk again.
She wanted that memory replaced by a better one.
Turning to face Aethyta, she reached for the clasps holding her bondmate's dress together, feeling each metal piece give beneath her fingertips.
"Are there any boundaries I need to set?" Benezia’s question was barely above a whisper, only the press of her palms keeping the dress from falling to the whim of gravity.
"Only if you need them, babe." Aethyta's hands slid to her back, finding the zipper hidden under a stylized pattern in the fabric, displaying a tree in full summer bloom. "I roll with the punches."
Benezia’s eyes flickered to the matron, who seemed caught between expectation and concern. "You can always change your mind, Shiala. There's no obligation."
"I was about to say the same thing." Shiala remarked breathlessly, offering a disbelieving smile. "Although admittedly, I found myself distracted."
Aethyta chuckled and began easing Benezia's dress down around the flare of her hips, letting it fall in a pool of embroidered fabric at her feet. She was left in nothing but her bra and panties, as well as a fairly conservative set of heels, the latter of which were carefully stepped out of. It meant she was an inch or two shorter than the older asari, but still of a height compared to Shiala, who never wore anything but regulation military boots.
"If you like what you see, you'll have to lose the leather." Aethyta commented, entirely at ease with being stripped by Benezia's hand. The older asari didn't skip a beat. "It's only fair."
Shiala immediately reached back over one shoulder, seeking out the zipper that would undo the uniform in a single piece. The leather was already form-fitting, but not quite tight enough to show every fine detail until the matron tugged it downward. Both arms were sculpted with strength from shoulder to wrist, bearing the same understated markings as Shiala's face. Another sharp pull of the leather showed the subtle curve of each breast, the smooth length of the younger asari's abdomen, taut lines delineating one muscle from the next. When the uniform was abandoned entirely to the floor, Benezia's breath caught in her throat.
She didn't even take a step, but the look in her eyes must have bid Shiala to approach, because suddenly she was pressed between a pair of bodies, both frames composed of the harsher angles she'd never developed. Aethyta had complained more than once about the matriarchal stage chipping at the figure a lot of hard years had been put into, but she loved the older asari's soft places as well as the rougher edges, and choosing which she enjoyed more would be arduous.
With Shiala at her back and Aethyta facing her, it took a moment for Benezia to discern just who was removing her bra, only to stiffen when a second set of hands hooked on the edge of her panties and started to draw them downward. The reaction wasn't out of protest, simply disbelief. Without any direction, she had become the central focus, and found herself being eased onto the bed.
She was immediately drawn into a heated kiss as she felt Shiala's breath whisper against her nape, the warm pressure of the matron's mouth starting to tease the sensitive ridges there. Benezia let out a sharp gasp against Aethyta's lips, the sound cut off by the older asari prompting a more forceful kiss. In the moments when she allowed herself to imagine this, she'd always been stricken by the logistics, wondering how to direct the dynamics, what was fair to offer. Feeling it now, the insistent press of Shiala's hips and Aethyta's hands seeking out her breasts to roughly cup them, Benezia found herself robbed of speech, much less any semblance of control.
It was clear Aethyta had more presence of mind, as she found the words “on your back” growled against her lips. She gave in without question, feeling Shiala shift to allow for the movement. The matron's sculpted frame pressed flush against her side, tense with arousal. Trying to decide where to look was dizzying; Benezia ached for both hands and mouths to return, to sate their shared lust on every inch of her body.
"Do you think you can keep up?" Aethyta asked, the words directed towards Shiala.
Benezia opened her mouth to summon a rebuke, but Shiala's pitch black gaze, the way the younger asari was trembling with barely restrained energy, left her breathless.
"Always," Shiala smirked, fingertips brushing over the hollow of one hip. “I’ll let you lead the way.”
There was no obeisance in the matron's tone, but the aggression of a challenge. Before she could react to the threat of a bruised ego, Aethyta's fingers had cupped her chin and pulled her into a deep kiss. The older asari's tongue parted her lips, providing a suitable distraction until she felt a roughened palm against one breast, firmly squeezing until a moan was forced from her throat. Aethyta knew just how much pressure she liked.
When the kiss finally broke, Benezia had just a second to breathe before Shiala's lips took possession of hers. The gesture was surprisingly gentle, keen on exploration than ravishment, but feeling the matron's hand on her other breast giving the same brusque treatment erased all notions of kindness. She was the flashpoint for their desire, exchanging kisses with them both in between quickened breaths, the peaks of her breasts being teased to hardened points, toyed with by calloused fingers.
A whimper caught in Benezia's throat when Aethyta's hand moved, but a second later it was grasped her thigh, intent on parting her legs. When Shiala's grip shifted to assist, she let out a helpless moan; the younger asari's strength would have been intimidating if it hadn't made her ache for more. With her thighs spread, Aethyta's fingers delved between them, seeking out slick folds. Her gasp was silenced by Shiala's mouth, although there was no quieting a louder moan when the older asari's fingers thrust past her entrance.
"Goddess-" Her back arched as Aethyta pressed to the knuckle, fingers curving against a particular spot that sent a pulse of pleasure through her entire body.
"Is it too much?" Shiala murmured, kissing down the length of her throat.
"No. Don't you dare stop." Benezia said hastily.
She could feel the matron's smile against her skin, then the subtle rasp of teeth. Shiala's hand traced the same path as Aethyta's but halted at the swell of her clitoris, fingers starting to move in circles against the sensitive bud. Benezia trembled as she tightened around Aethyta's fingers, the rhythm of the thrusts quickening to a familar and vigorous pace. Desperate for contact, she reached out to them both, feeling the ripple of tension every time their shoulders flexed, hands deliberately moving in unison.
Benezia couldn't form either name on her lips; she was lost to the overwhelming sensation of feeling two hot mouths against her throat, a more aggressive graze of teeth as strong hands reclaimed her breasts. She could only surrender as her hips jerked forward, a litany of gasps and moans escaping her. Each time Aethyta roughly thrust forward, Shiala matched it with quick, precise strokes against her clitoris, never deviating no matter how much she squirmed and wordlessly begged.
Any testament to endurance had long since been exhausted, not after Aethyta had spent the entire night driving her mad. This release would be a first of many, if it was like every other Janiris, leaving little reason to hold back. Crying out made Benezia cling tighter to both of them, fingers squeezing almost hard enough to bruise until she was simply gasping for breath and collapsed back against the bed. There was no other word for it but ecstasy, her eyes fluttering closed as her nerves sang.
When Benezia finally went still, she could hear the quiet panting from her partners, the barely caged need. Shiala's fingers slowed and Aethyta's withdrew with obvious reluctance, leaving a line of slick heat down her thigh. A kiss was all she could give to either until she found her thoughts, but it was matched with an indulgent smile.
"And what can I possibly do to repay such passion?" she murmured against Aethyta's lips.
"I have a few ideas." The older asari sat up, turning to face her completely. "If Shiala doesn't mind being patient."
"Not particularly." Shiala remarked, dark eyes traveling down the length of Benezia's body. "As long as I can indulge otherwise."
"Just don't rile her up so much she can't concentrate." Aethyta chuckled.
Benezia felt the shift in weight across the bed, but Shiala's descent was blocked from view when Aethyta straddled her chest. She tilted her head up to place a kiss against the older asari's pubic bone, hands finding their familiar resting place against Aethyta's hips. A rough pull drew her bondmate down and against her mouth, wanting the taste of her lover to fill her senses.
The gesture earned a low growl from Aethyta's throat. Benezia wondered if Shiala would be the same, demanding and primal, only to have a sharp reminder of the matron’s presence when that powerful grip pinned her hips down against the bed. She moaned at the forceful contact, trying to keep her focus on the older asari, her tongue parting swollen folds before she drew Aethyta's clitoris between her lips and sucked. A glance upward proved what she had suspected; both lovely, scarred hands were grasping for purchase against the carved headboard as Aethyta let out a groan of pleasure.
Shiala's attentions were in torturous contrast to the firm hold, lips and tongue teasing against her entrance, delving inside for a single brief stroke before retreating with a pleased hum. Benezia was somewhat sensitive from the first orgasm, which Shiala seemed remarkably aware of, focusing around the tight hood of her clitoris rather than making direct contact.
Taking a breath to steady herself, she summoned the first threads of energy from her skin, feeling the flare of warmth in her nape. Aethyta deserved to be sated just as much as she had, although she was loathe to distract Shiala from her task. There were other ways to compensate.
Her biotics traveled like a caress up both thighs, along the remnants of pale pink markings, until they joined in a measured pulse against Aethyta's folds, shifting into a semblance of phantom fingers right below her tongue. When the energy slid past her bondmate's tight entrance, Benezia moaned in sympathy, the sound echoed by Aethyta as the older asari tensed and shuddered.
She had long since memorized the primal rhythm between them, exactly how much pressure and haste Aethyta needed to find release. There were more than a share of gentle nights, ones she cherished, but it was that ravenous spark that had brought them together in the first place. Her bondmate would have her anywhere, even with others around, driven to sate them both even if it left a bruise or torn pair of panties behind. Aethyta never allowed her to hesitate, providing the goad she needed to take that breathless plunge into the full extent of her desires.
The energy moved out of instinct, each quick thrust paired with her tongue lavishing attention on the small bud beneath it. Aethyta's breath was ragged with exertion, legs tensing against Benezia's shoulders as the older asari's hips jerked forward, encouraging her biotics even deeper.
Shiala sensed the urgency between them, abandoning the teasing for firmer strokes, still keeping Benezia's hips pinned. Her heels dug helplessly into the sheets, the flex of muscle in her thighs not enough to break the matron's grip. She didn't truly want to escape, but feeling such an ache inside her again was just shy of overwhelming. There was little to do but gasp and pray Aethyta found release first, before she was forced to plead for mercy once more.
It was her luck that she had tried her bondmate's patience earlier in the evening. A breathless curse leaving Aethyta's lips was the only warning before the older asari cried out, hips bucking against her mouth, the insistent push of her biotics. Benezia thrust the energy to the edge of Aethyta's limits, her tongue circling the stiffening bud until she felt all the strength leave the thighs on either side of her. Aethyta's eyes were squeezed shut when her own flickered upward, watching the langour settle in.
The distraction served for a matter of seconds until the tight suction of Shiala's lips resumed around her clitoris, relenting for just a moment to press that skilled tongue back against sensitive flesh. Benezia reached down, only to find one of the matron's hands had long since released its grip. She clasped the one still holding her down, but it wasn't until Aethyta moved to lay down that she saw the path of the other, pressed between the matron's own thighs. Darkness had banished the green from Shiala's eyes, leaving nothing but a hunger she'd never expected to see.
She clung to the matron's fingers like an anchor, uttering Athame's name as she was struck by the same wave of bliss as the first time. Shiala indulged in each stroke, drawing out every possible echo of pleasure until she gently tugged at the younger asari's hand as a signal to stop. Shiala's lips were visibly slick with her arousal, and she caught a white flash of teeth as the matron's jaw tensed, attempting to mute another sound.
"Come here." Benezia said breathlessly.
Her request was met with a brusque kiss, and tasting both herself and Aethyta on Shiala's lips was a heady reminder of all they had done, all that was yet to come. She cupped Shiala’s breasts, wanting to offer the same affection that had been bestowed upon her, to learn the body that had been forbidden for so long. The matron went stiff above her, the only motion in calloused fingers between sculpted thighs, a gasp for breath cutting off a more vulnerable moan. Running her hands down Shiala's back, she was mesmerized by the energy radiating from every muscle as the younger asari rode out a quiet but clearly intense orgasm.
When Shiala finally relaxed, a self-conscious smile followed. "I hope you don't mind that I handled that myself."
"Not after the pleasure of watching it." Benezia murmured, one hand cupping the matron's nape. "Although the evening's still quite young."
"It is." Aethyta smirked, leaning over to steal a kiss of her own. "Think you can last until the sun?"
"Try me, lover." Benezia purred.
When she felt Shiala's hands seize her wrists, she realized the challenge may have been somewhat hasty, but nothing in her had the will to withdraw it. There was still too much of them both to explore.
---
While the sun had only begun to peek over the horizon by the time their vigorous celebration had ended, it was perched atop the sky when Benezia's eyes opened again. The day after Janiris was a late start for all of Thessia.
Aethyta's head was resting against her breasts, one arm thrown across her abdomen, and wouldn't be roused until cold water was liberally applied if it was like any other year. The weight there was familiar, but it was a surprise to turn and see Shiala curled up against her side, head heavy on her shoulder in the depths of sleep. The matron was the earliest riser she'd ever met, always showered and dressed by the time the rest of the house began to stir.
The temptation to watch Shiala sleep came laden with guilt, although her curiosity eventually won out over any misgivings. There was still time left to indulge. Her acolytes wouldn't be likely to return until the final rites of spring were held in the temples, and Benezia knew every other commando in her retinue was nursing a hangover somewhere in the city.
Shiala looked peaceful, the body that had fought - and even killed - for her softened in slumber. Benezia hadn't realized how accustomed she was to the firm set of Shiala's jaw, the unbending steel of a soldier's spine, until it was absent. There was almost a hint of a smile in its place, the only sign of aggression visible in the scars decorating a toned back, almost all of them healed smooth. She traced one of them with her fingertips, wondering its origin. Aethyta had similar markings on one shoulder from grenade shrapnel.
The touch was enough to make Shiala stir to consciousness. Benezia let her hand fall, eyes half-lidded as she watched the shift into a full stretch, putting the commando's body in glorious, unknowing display. Dark marks and grazes were shown in the sunlight on the matron's skin, mostly from her mouth, but a few from Aethyta's nails and teeth as well. When Shiala put both feet on the floor to stand, Benezia opened her mouth to speak.
Whatever lure she was to offer in order to draw the younger asari back to bed was silenced by the disarming sorrow in Shiala's expression. She watched as the same hands that had brought her pleasure lingered over the bruises left behind, hesitating for just a few seconds longer before gathering up the uniform long since abandoned on the floor and leaving the bedroom with soundless steps.
Brow knit with concern, Benezia slipped out of bed, letting out a surprised groan as her body protested with aches from head to toe. Some she could blame on the wear of age, but the others were courtesy of Aethtya and Shiala's attentions.
It took a moment for her to find a suitable robe in her closet, loosely tying the belt around her waist. While she didn't like to leave Aethyta unconscious and unaware on the bed, the matron's sudden exit took priority. She'd never seen Shiala look so openly wounded.
She found the younger asari in her own room, the leathers abandoned on a bed untouched by sleep. Shiala was facing a mirror, fingers traveling across a deep bruise before the matron was startled and turned.
"Auma-"
Hearing the title on the matron's lips made her hesitate, but she still closed the distance between them, albeit without raising her hands to offer a touch. She couldn't be sure whether or not it was desired.
"There's no need for formality yet, Shiala," She said softly. "What's wrong?"
"I wished only to return the morning to you two." Shiala shifted, crossing her arms over her chest. "And not interfere."
"You wouldn't have interfered." Benezia frowned. "You were invited."
"When Aethyta asked me, she told me to show confidence so you wouldn't decide it was a poor idea." A weary smile curved Shiala's lips. "But it seems like a lie to her as well, to pretend that was the only time I wished to share your bed."
"And now?" she asked.
Shiala's gaze flickered downward. "Always. For longer than I've let myself admit."
Benezia felt a tightness in her chest, although it was paired with a subtle warmth. It hadn't been a lack of consent, then, but an abundance of desire.
"That's no source for shame." Her fingers cupped the matron's chin, tilting it upwards so their eyes met again. "Aethyta knows. It was why we agreed in the first place."
"You're bondmates." Shiala bit her lip. "Bound for life."
"Wasn't your oath for life as well?" Benezia leaned forward, claiming a gentle kiss. "You honored me. You still do. Athame herself couldn't make you stray."
That earned a smile, however small. "Thank you...Benezia."
She slowly let her hand fall back to her side, returning the smile. "There may be more than once if you keep your vigil."
A blush was an unfamiliar sight on Shiala's face, but something she treasured despite the initially tense circumstances.
"So noted." The matron murmured, clearing her throat softly.
"Shower and get dressed. I expect the house will be bustling by lunch again."
Shiala nodded, pressing her brow to Benezia's for a brief second before stepping back and turning towards the bathroom door. Before it opened, the younger asari quietly remarked, "There are a few markings on your neck you may need to cover."
Feeling a faint flush of her own, Benezia ran a pair of fingers along her throat, quickly losing count of the abrasions there. Thankfully a life with Aethyta had left her make-up kit well-prepared for such a circumstance.
The sound of water was her cue to return to the bedroom, where the matriarch in question was still asleep. Benezia stripped away her robe, leaving it atop the dress from the previous evening before slipping back beneath the covers. Aethyta had ended up sprawled even further across the center of the mattress, tightly gripping a pillow in her absence.
"My love." Benezia roused the older asari as carefully as she could, caressing across bare skin to soothe the ache of fatigue.
"Mm?" Aethyta's eyes slowly opened. "Did she run off already?"
She frowned again, shifting onto her side. "How did you know she would?"
"Because the first thing she asked me last night was if I would be jealous." Aethyta smiled. "I asked her if she would be staying the night or the whole weekend."
"Aethyta!" Benezia's lips pursed. "She was terrified that she had somehow ruined our relationship."
"Goddess." Aethyta rolled her eyes and then sat up. "I can go talk to her if you want."
"No, I think I consoled her." Her head canted a little. "Although I may have implied that she could be welcomed back...in another circumstance."
"Oh?" The older asari raised a brow, bemused.
"If that's alright with you." Benezia quickly amended. "It does seem like a shame for such pleasures to be once in a lifetime."
The back of Aethyta's fingers brushed gently against her cheek. "I have to admit, I'm kind of curious what she actually sounds like. There's no way she's always that quiet."
A laugh escaped her lips before she could stop herself. "Her attentions were rather...focused on me."
"My point exactly." Aethyta said, pushing away the sheets. "Maybe we can figure out the right time to turn the tables."
Leaning up for a kiss, Benezia cupped one of Aethyta's breasts, teasing across the soft skin. "Are you leaving me already?"
"Only for the shower." The older asari whispered. "But I seem to be needed here."
"Always." Benezia replied and drew her bondmate back down to the bed.