Ayre

“I’ve got you.” Cerya’s reassuring voice guides us through the receding waves of sensations that still cause us to cling to her for support.

It takes more than a moment to catch my breath as what feels like entire days of tension drain out of me through a part of my body long considered unwanted.

To think just minutes ago I considered Lenore's slit a wound that would never close. Even with Lenore’s memories, it has been hard to think of her parts of our body as anything other than inflicted upon me.

It is only in my more isolating thoughts that Lenore releases me to feel what I need to feel before casting old wounds aside. To have her rejoin in sharing my senses where I becomes we is always a welcome comfort. Figuring out how to enjoy this patchwork body that is changing on us faster than we can reclaim it has been a fretful process that has somehow remained... Largely enjoyable.

I've got Snapdragon and Cerya to thank for that.

Depths, and Cerya is still knuckle deep inside us. Her own satisfaction radiates ever brighter over the noises our throat makes in response to her withdrawing fingers. That our shudders only intensify as we grip at her for support earns us a nibble at our neck.

We can’t take it anymore. The intensity of stimulation is on par with some of the more grievous wounds we’ve received. Seeing as there is nothing to heal, the blood rushing throughout our body has had to constantly find new outlets or demand we calm ourselves. When the pleasure hits its peak, it is almost debilitating as we are reduced to an involuntary fit of writhing with need settling into unimaginable satisfaction.

“Oh. Depths that’s enough. That’s… I regret to admit that it is more than we can take.” We manage what words we can between hitched breaths and our heart thrumming. “For now at least.” Wanting to assure Cerya that we don’t intend for this to be a one time thing. We… Depths we’re a mess of sweat in spite of the bath.

It’s enough that we receive yet another brief scrubbing that doubles as a massage from Snapdragon. To have her find the knots of stress and rub at the delicate spaces where I end and Lenore begins is something we’ve never thought we would enjoy. So much so that we find ourselves purring with delight long before she is finished with us.

We spend the time reflecting on how good we feel despite being able to count the marks left by fingers, teeth, and bumping into the bath’s walls that we’ve accumulated. Thankfully both of them were mindful of the exposed neck and back of the dress we'll soon be wearing. We'll just have to wear our hair over our right shoulder to cover what remains visible.

When at last our breathing settles, Cerya closes the distance between us. With her fingers pinching at our chin and tilting us up to meet her gaze, our constant self reflection begins to slow.

“Is this too much?” Cerya whispers before sinking teeth into her lip in thought. “We can always try something… Less intense in the future.”

“No. Just… Unexpectedly intense.” I admit as my voice softens. Only having Cerya to focus on actually helps us calm down in a way I belatedly attribute to how she must handle Snapdragon.

My admission earns me a soft smile spreading across Cerya’s lips.

To think I did not even have to feed on Snapdragon to sympathize with how she needed to excuse herself from the exchange of pleasure lingers in my mind as a potential sign of improvement. Even as I struggle to imagine what this must have been like for her, her withdrawal from receiving pleasure did not mean declining to bite and nip at our body's many sensitive spots.

The last time I needed a rest, Snapdragon occupied Cerya by lowering her head between our Seer's legs. Which I could have understood if she began and ended with leg kisses. But the noises Cerya treated the both of us to as Snapdragon applied heated breaths, sensual lips, and a dedicated tongue to Cerya's folds is something I hope to never forget.

I very nervously declined having the same affections upon me as Cerya continued to convulse with a look of bewildered satisfaction on her face.

"Maybe another time." I offered Snapdragon, my own expression uncertain.

Ever the patient and understanding partner, Snapdragon did not press me.

To see the two of them be just as gentle and tender with each other as they are with me eases some lingering doubt I could not voice. But now? I take great comfort in knowing that I am not some scar ridden oddity of a creature who needs extra attention or accommodation. I can just exist in this space knowing I can partake in as much love and affection as I desire.

Besides, Cerya seems more than capable of withstanding enough pleasure for the three of us, having reached enough climaxes to incapacitate both Snapdragon and I. My eyes narrow at Cerya in the present as I wonder how she manages it. “I just don’t see how you recover in time to crave that… Experience a second time.” Let alone a third.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Her response is to preen while Snapdragon stifles a laugh.

Drying off is a prolonged affair where everyone receives help with their hair while towels soak up most of the remaining moisture on our bodies.

“I’m proud of you, actually.” Snapdragon turns from her stump to add her voice to the reassurances before taking the opportunity to help me towel off my back. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to get anything more out of you than warming you up to the idea.” She somehow manages to find yet another knot of tension to massage that she missed in the bath.

Lenore steals our voice to express her approval with another deep purr. “You two did great. Got my sister to go all the way on their first try!”

I… allow my shoulders to slump, only half from the massage robbing me of any remaining tension. If I intended to push through the rest of this day without a nap before, there is no way I'll manage now. “It’s one thing to sample the memories of others. It is another entirely to have you all convince me that I am worthwhile to include in the joy of making my own memories with the both of you.”

“Well said.” Lenore is the first to reply, urging our body to stretch before saying her goodbyes. “Right, I don’t wanna push my presence here. Our blood reserves aren’t infinite.”

Cerya looks up at us, gently reaching out to stroke at our chin. “Are you sure about that? We could arrange for any number of sources for you to feed upon.”

I want to lean into the touch. Lenore takes it a step further, taking Cerya’s finger between our teeth with a growl. “I worry Ayre will take you up on that offer.”

Our Seer moans ever so softly before replying with a delighted lilt to her voice. “Would that be so bad?”

We taste flesh with a playful stroke of the tongue before considering it best to withdraw. “We… Genuinely don’t know. Feeding has always been something that demands careful consideration." Unlike so much of our experiences honed in the depths, the blood hunger still remains new to manage. Would it be a mistake to swing wildly from depriving ourselves to being overly indulgent? "We think we want to keep taking it slow."

Snapdragon rests her head on our shoulder, sliding arms gently around us. “That the two of you are in agreement is all that matters. Know that whatever you conclude, you have the support of loved ones who will accept you no matter what.”

“We know. We’re not alone.” We intone, leaning into Snapdragon’s embrace while pulling Cerya closer. “There’s a part of us that hopes there is a way to give back as much as we take. That, and we hope it gets easier for us to open up in the future.”

“If there is, we’ll figure it out together. Besides, now that you are mine, we’ll have plenty of time.” Cerya reaches around me, nuzzling deeper into my chest while aiming affectionate touches at Snapdragon.

“It would mean a lot.” We confirm.

Snapdragon’s voice comes out strained. “Yeah. I don’t know if I’d want to go full dragon. But I don’t not want it, if that makes sense.”

We laugh. It is a nervous thing brought on by hearing our thoughts voiced by another.

To admit such aloud comes far easier to Lenore. “Ayre has been harboring much the same feelings.”

I hiss in response, but not too harshly. Just because Lenore and I are overly familiar doesn’t mean I… No. I find myself really not minding all that much.

It is just going to take me time to drop the defensive instincts.

Lenore says her goodbyes in earnest, voicing one final request that has long been little more than an unaddressed observation. “Oh, and if any of you get the chance, figure out how Astraea got our blood flowing without hurting us.”

Cerya’s eyes widen. The implication of calling Lenore without demanding we be hurt or hurt ourselves registering with clear interest. “Of course!”

I roll my eyes. “Lenore just signed me up for being poked and prodded, didn’t she?”

Cerya withdraws her arms, only to hook them around our neck while flashing a playful smile. “We’re already going to be squeezing you into a dress that was picked out before you started growing breasts. Although I could be persuaded to be gentle, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Oh, right. I have that to look forward to as well. Everyone here has done so much for me.

Snapdragon stifles a laugh. “We should probably be giving up the bath.”

Our Seer does not hide an impish smile. “Theriya is rather used to me hogging this space.” She takes a long moment preen under the affectionate touches of both of her loves before pulling away to help the rest of us to our feet now that we’re all mostly died off.

I shake my head with a sigh. “It’s alright. At this point I half expect Fia to have given herself a wet towel bath to minimize her needs conflicting with others she deems more important.” There is more remorse in my words than I intend. My dolls have gone long enough without receiving my attention. It is long overdue for me to address them.

“What a sweetheart.” Snapdragon whispers with a pinch of her own concern.

Right as Cerya titters. “Remind me to spoil her later, would you?”

Snapdragon nods immediately. “After she helped us fend of a drake? I’ll do more than remind you.”

I stare long and hard at these two girls. Long enough that they both give me a playful tug to get along with our day. “I really am unsure if I have the words to express how immensely I appreciate the two of you. Fia, Selescia, and Lenore all mean the world to me. I just… I’ve always wanted to do better by them.”

“It will be much easier to do that if we take care of you.” Cerya says with what I can only describe as a hopeful smile.

“Don’t worry so much. You’ll have ample time to show your appreciation later.” Snapdragon aims a confident wink in my direction as she moves to fetch a pile of gowns to serve until we’re all dressed up for today’s binding ceremony. “If you need time with your girls, I’ll keep Theriya distracted long enough to save the fussing for later.”

All the words that immediately spring to mind are either a refrain or inadequate. After a moment’s thought, I reach for words I never thought I’d consider.

Every interaction up until now has been a calculated risk.

It is no small relief to feel like I no longer need worry. Not here. Not with them.

“I need the both of you to know that I appreciate everything you do and the reasons you have given for doing so. I’ve never allowed myself to love anyone since…” My vision turns blurry, but I don’t let it stop me. I can’t. I need to put this into words. “Losing Lenore. It… I just...”

I run out of words.

Neither Cerya nor Snapdragon run out of affection and reassurance that they are willing to share with me.