The start of something new | Alice & Ash

Ash smiled, her hand moving up from the fenix' breast, touching her warm cheek, caressing it with her thumb. Anything she wanted? Well she knew she wanted Alice, but she wasn't sure she was ready to go too far either. They were still getting to know one another, and even if kissing her felt like the only thing that made sense in this world, she also couldn't take her for granted. "I want," she muttered, leaning down to her face, being mere centimeters from the other, feeling their hasty breaths mix, "to take my shirt off." A teasing smile on her lips as she gave her a quick peck. She wasn't kidding when she said she felt warm.
Letting go of where she had been pinning her down, she got up and off of her. Standing for a bit, she just looked at the fenix on the bed. Her dress had been crinkled a bit from where Ash had been sitting, her hair sprawled out line a crown beneath her head and her cheeks so red that if she hadn't been a fenix, she would've worried about her overheating. With two hands she grabbed her shirt, pulling it over her head, but it only seemed to aid in making her hair a bit more frizzy, the turtleneck a bit awkward to pull over her face, but she wasn't too worried about her makeup. In fact she felt like she had to rush this to get back to being on the bed.
She was wearing a simple black bra, nothing too fancy just one of those that were made for comfort rather than looks. "Are you alright in your dress?" she asked, mostly because she could already see the poor fabric being bunched, and she didn't want to be the reason it got ruined. "If you're not comfortable being that naked with me, I probably have a shirt you can borrow?" a suggest that was rather pure in intention. While of course she was dying to see and feel more of the fenix' warm skin, it wouldn't be without her accept. The music was adding a bit to the atmosphere. Bedroom pop flowing from the small speakers of the laptop, making her feel a bit more giddy.

Goosebumps appeared on her bare skin as Alice touched her stomach. It felt a little otherworldly. The music playing in the background only adding to the atmosphere as if they were in some teen-show and an explicit scene was coming on. Taking it off for her? Swallowing some spit, and yet feeling her mouth so dry she just nodded as the fenix began to plea. Leaning in she placed a gentle kiss against the other's lips, humming softly at the taste, kissing her once more as she couldn't help but smile once more. It was hard ignoring the giddy feeling that Alice provided her body with, as if she was truly walking on a cloud. And then again she had never felt so grounded.
Taking her hand, she pulled away, looking in to her eyes for a little while before pulling her arm carefully making her turn around so she could have access to the zipper. Moving the pale white hair to the side, she grabbed the fabric delicately, unzipping the back and revealing more of the skin that was beneath. Her breath shuddered slightly, a finger moving down along the exposed spine before she couldn't help herself, leaning in to kiss her bare shoulder. Scoffing at herself, she chuckled, helping her further out of the dress until it was basically on the floor for the other to just step out of. If Alice moved away from the dress, Ash would bow down to pick it up, placing it neatly over a chair, her eyes glued to the back of the fenix. "Turn around for me," she said, reaching down to take her hand once more. Was she starting to sound more demanding? She couldn't tell, but it seemed that the other so gladly handed over her autonomy. Power had never really been a currency that she had considered, but she also knew that it was a statement, a clear sign that Alice trusted her. And the last thing the daring red-head wanted to do was betray that trust.
What a sight to behold. Holding her breath for a while not to gasp in pure adoration, she let her free hand trace the curves of the other, her fingertips barely gracing her skin. The fenix mark not disrupted by the dress made her look at the flame-like branding. "You're beautiful," words she didn't use lightly. Would it be wrong to call her a masterpiece?

Ash was just taking her time, studying every little bit of Alice that was visible now that the dress was off. The small twirl made her smile, feeling that rush in her stomach once again. It was special, wasn't it? Feeling so connected to someone, and not just because the fenix started to run her hands through her red hair. The compliment made her scoff softly, mostly because she thought that right now she might've looked the messiest she ever had. But she felt beautiful, especially when she was being watched by those brown eyes.
Her breath felt like it was haltering a bit, especially as the beautiful woman in front of her leaned in closer asking something so simple and yet Ash wasn't quite sure what she wanted besides just being close. Her hands moved down, resting on her hips, her fingers digging lightly in to her skin as she just felt this almost primal need to feel her up. "I guess what happens next is up to us," she pondered, letting one of her fingers hook on to the waistband of the other's tights, "and my mind keeps telling me to taste more of your skin." Ash had never spoken like this before. Where was all of this coming from? She guessed she could keep asking herself that, but what she wanted to focus on was Alice. Leaning in, she dragged her lips over the other's chest, breathing in her scent, placing a few sporadic kisses.
Oh she could just eat her up. Her tongue moving out between her lips, licking her delicate skin, smiling as she pulled away. "I don't want us to go too far today," she then said, looking at her with a more serious look in her eyes, lifting her hand to cup her face with her palm. "But I'd be damned if I didn't make out with you some more," she chuckled, leaning in to connect their lips once again, pushing her backwards until they reached the bed. Guiding her down to sit on the edge of the bed she placed a finger under the fenix' chin, making her look up at her. Her green eyes studying every part of her features, from her hooded eyes to her soft plumb lips. "But please tell me ... What would you like to happen next?"

Ash watched as the fenix followed her every lead. It was like they moved so simply and yet so filled with intricacy that couldn't be place completely. Alice spoke, and hearing of her desires it was all Ash wanted to fulfill. Feeling the soft hands grabbing at her sides made her want to roll her eyes in to the back of her head with the pure ecstasy that she felt from a mere touch. The kiss made her giggle, looking down at those pleading brown eyes that she had come to associate with all her needs and wants. Were they moving unnaturally fast? Yes. But Ash was young and foolish like that, and everyone knew how a fenix always marched to the sound of their own drum. She watched as Alice moved back, and she had barely given an invitation to join her before she laid down on the bed beside her, her hands reaching out to grab at the other's hips. It was a needy touch, wanting her closer, "it's getting late, huh?" she muttered, eyeing how it was slowly getting dark outside. It didn't matter much to her. She would want Alice to stay here forever if it was possible.
Leaning her head closer she placed her lips against her chest, the smell of roses surrounding her in seconds, making her stomach churn with delight. Her hand moved from the other's hip and down to her thigh, grasping softly at the stretchy fabric covered flesh, moaning softly against her skin. Was she starting to sense some impatience with how slow they were taking it? "Patience," she muttered, just as much for her own sake as for the other's. Her kisses moved down between her breasts, kissing every part of the exposed skin, feeling how her cheeks were heating up quite quickly. Ash wondered. Her hand moved up and behind the fenix, grabbing at her behind, pulling her closer, entangling their legs as she kept kissing and sucking on the soft skin of her chest. "I don't think I've ever been this turned on," she giggled, having to adjust herself a little, trying to stifle her own excitement, but would it ever work when she was almost devouring Alice? The fenix was like a pure drug to her, intoxicating her and drawing her in for more and more. "Touch me more," almost a needy plead, moving her kisses over the fenix' chest, biting down on the soft flesh, feeling like if she bit too hard she would break. She didn't want to hurt her, or at least she didn't think she was. But then again why was she thinking of that?
Looking up at the fenix, she couldn't help but grin as she moved her face over the soft pink laced bra, locating the nipple beneath. Drooling a bit, she soaked the fabric right over, letting her feel the warm saliva and not really caring that she was perhaps ruining the nice underwear. It didn't matter, because she was on a hunt to make Alice squirm more than she already was. Once Ash was satisfied with the amount of soaking, she started to blow cold air on the wet spot, gritting her teeth a little as she could only imagine how it was looking beneath the fabric.

"No," she replied. The last thing she wanted was for Alice to leave now. In fact if she wanted to stay longer she would in fact love it very much. However in the end it was up to the fenix to decide what she wanted to do. Sure, Ash had plans the next day, but it wasn't like that excluded the other's presence right now. She could worry about that later.
Feeling how the fenix was scraping her nails against her skin made her groan softly, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering rather violently when she heard her own name be moaned. Had she ever heard more beautiful tones? She didn't think so, but it was also clear that Alice felt perhaps a bit embarrassed. Maybe she wasn't completely ready to let loose just yet. The suggestion made Ash pull away from her chest, moving up to lay her head on the pillow next to the fenix, looking at her with care to her gaze. "Whatever you want," she assured her. There was no use in forcing her to be with her, so Ash was happy to stop if the other had had enough. Of course she wanted to continue, but if only one of them were in to it, it wouldn't be as meaningful, and certainly it wouldn't feel as good.
The way Alice was beginning to voice her wants made Ash smile, chuckling as she nodded in agreement. "I'd like that too," she admitted. It was good to hear that the beautiful woman on the bed wasn't scared, or trying to distance herself. Ash's hand moved up, cupping her face, her thumb carefully caressing her cheek as she studied her soft features in the dim lighting. "I want you to know ... That I've had the biggest crush on you since we started writing," she whispered, leaning in to place a few kisses down the other's forehead, down her nose until she reached her lips. They were full and sweet to the taste. Was it a lip gloss or did she really just taste this amazing? Frankly she wouldn't put it past her. She moved more slowly now, taking her time savoring her lips, shifting between gentle pecks and more longing kisses.

Was it wrong for her to admit it? She knew it wasn't conventional to start crushing on someone the minute you started writing, but there had just always been something about Alice. Maybe it was her looks to begin with, but it fanned out to her whole personality. "The voice message you sent me ..." she whispered, feeling like she was telling some deep down secret, but it was to her. Back home it was harder to just say what she had been up to, and to talk to her mother about this kind of stuff was hard enough. "I would listen to it when I had had a rough day; Of course the message words never changed, but just hearing your voice made me hope for better days." Ash was generally more of a realist, but Alice made her wish she was more of an optimist. And on those days, she would listen to the brief voice message the fenix had sent a while back. It didn't bother her that the words weren't reciprocated, she knew she was a person that moved fast, but who could blame her when she was still young and naïve. Still so untouched by the hardships of life and the future that was ahead.
The small make out session they had going on was helping her feel grounded. The giggle made her smile, lifting a hand to move some of the pale strands away from the fenix mark, studying her skin a little before they seemed to get closer - if that was even possible at this point. Kissing her nose she smiled, "there's something I've noticed about you," she sighed, hoping Alice wouldn't take offense to what she was about to say. "When you walk, it's like your feet barely touches the ground, like you're floating and rising up to the sky," she said, adjusting her head on the pillow, looking at the beautiful girl she was so closely intertwined with at this point. It was truly a wonder that they were able to be together right now. "But I think it's a good thing, you belong up there amongst the clouds and close to the sun," her eyes studying her face, her hand moving up and down her sides in slow movements, feeling her underneath her fingertips, trying to imprint everything about her and commit her to memory for when she would be gone.
"Being here with you, it's like you can pull me with you up there to the light, just for a little while," she said, her hand moving down along the other's arm, "I feel lucky, just to have met you and have you share your light with me." Was she laying it on too thick? But then again who was she kidding, she needed to let Alice know that what she was feeling wasn't just some small crush anymore. "I ... I guess I'll always have to return to the ground for a reason," her eyes looked down, looking at the fenix mark on her collarbone, breathing out in a small sigh before looking back at her, "and I suppose it's because I want to be there if one day you'll fall ... I want to be there to catch you, even if you'll never fall I would want to stay close to the ground just to make sure, make you feel safe."

Looking at a painting? Well she was looking at a masterpiece, that was for certain, but saying that out loud might be smearing it on too thick. There was no need for schmoozing, when it was clear they both were on the same page regarding one another.
It seemed that Alice wanted to return the nice words, but Ash had never asked for that. However it felt good to be seen like this, through the eyes of a tender woman who only seemed to have her best intentions in mind. Hearing the fenix describe her in such manners was new to her. It was a bit weird, but it also felt rather good, at least to hear that what she felt was somewhat reciprocated. Either way, she just laid there, wrapped up with Alice, feeling her up slowly, just letting her hands do the light exploring of her skin. The words about not being allowed to leave made her chuckle, finding it almost absurd how close they both seemed to feel towards one another. Maybe it was true that once you found your soulmate, you could just bare yourself with no real fear. While it was a bit too early to call Alice her soulmate, it was real that she felt a connection. And as the fenix had put it, it truly felt like nothing that either of them had seemingly felt before.
The notion of missing her however made her frown slightly because it reminded her that they had limited time together. Was it stupid of them to draw things out when they knew it had to come to an end - or at least a pause - once Ash had to return home? Instead of worrying too much about the heartache to come, she leaned in, connecting their lips tenderly. Her eyes falling shut as she sighed against the other's mouth, pressing their chests together. Her hands grabbing softly at the fenix' hips, sorta grinding herself against her, but not really. It was more of a small frequent pulls rather than active dry humping. "I'm going to miss you once I go home," she admitted in a soft murmur, resting her forehead against the other's, breathing in and out in small shudders, still feeling the attraction so strong. "But I would love it if you came to visit me ... Maybe in the summertime?" she suggested, giggling softly as she looked at Alice with half lidded eyes. "I mean, we could be outside for a lot of it if the weather's nice, and I wouldn't have to worry about you getting cold." Ash wondered if being a fenix made the winter months almost unbearable. She had seen first hand today how Alice reacted to the cold, and it made her worry.

It was nice to think about the upcoming summer. Ash could only imagine what it would be like. Days at the beach together maybe? Or perhaps just taking a stroll, hand in hand, through the city and watching the bustling life around them? The possibilities were truly endless, but right now she wanted to focus on the presence. Focus on the fenix right here beneath her fingertips. It felt so comforting. Maybe because she was so used to being around other people and traveling here alone had felt scary. Now, with this connection she felt towards Alice.
But yes, it was getting late, and the hostel here didn't really approve of guests sleeping in a room that wasn't paid for - even if they planned on sleeping in the same bed. "I know," she sighed softly, closing her eyes, nuzzling her nose against the other's. "And I need to sleep before that meeting tomorrow," chuckling a bit as she opened her eyes to look at the fenix, placing a few kisses against her face, "but I'm really looking forward to our second date tomorrow."
When Alice got up to get dressed she turned off her computer while she watched the fenix get dressed. One last kiss, and then Ash said goodbye in the door.

The next day was moving both too fast and too slow. She felt nervous for the interview with the school, but also found herself excited for the plans she had with the fenix later that night. Luckily for her, she felt that the interview went relatively well, though some of her papers were a bit out of order, it seemed that the teachers there were interested in what she had already created without formal training. The understanding of shadow and pencil markings being complimented, which meant a lot to an aspiring artist.
Getting out of that meeting she could feel how sweaty she had gotten from all of the nerves as she headed back towards the hostel. She felt smelly too, the first thing she did was hopping in the shower, cleaning off all of her sweat and nerves. Immerging she felt much better, putting on some music as she felt it was time to start planning what she wanted to wear tonight. Being truly happy for her earlier self for having packed quite the wardrobe to choose from. Picking a pair of black jeans and a top that was a bit more revealing, she looked at herself in the mirror. Smiling a bit she felt giddy at the thought of seeing Alice tonight. They were going out for real this time, and to be honest, she already missed her lips.
When she closed her eyes she could still recall the feeling of her warm lips against her own skin, feeling how soft they both were entangled up with one another. Opening her eyes she huffed out, wondering what she could do to fix her frizzy hair. She hadn't packed a lot of hair styling products, and going out to buy them when she had them at home seemed wasteful.
Deciding to braid her hair in a single braid, she applied her makeup, keeping it simple like yesterday before leaning back in one of the chairs, taking out her phone to check her messages. Of course there was one from her mom. And then several from Vinnie. Biting the inside of her cheek a bit, she decided to text Alice, just telling her that she was really looking forward to later.

Ash felt her cheeks warm up as she saw the picture that now showed on her screen. That soft skin so bare, and she could remember just how it felt. What it tasted like against her own lips. Smiling she leaned back in her seat, looking at the screen and the cheeky message that was along with it. Replying back with something along the lines of "that depends ... Is it easy to remove?" Pressing send she had to throw her phone to the bed, feeling giddy and nervous. Was that too risky of a text to send? It wasn't that she had any specific plans for when they were going to be together later, but she also felt like such a tease deserved a bit of counter-teasing.
And yet she couldn't stay away from the screen for long, getting up from her seat, walking over to sit down on the mattress. Tapping lightly on the screen to make it light up there wasn't a reply yet. It made her feel more nervous. Her heart in her throat as she swallowed some spit. Had she taken it a tad too far? Oh, now she was starting to worry, a worry that would disappear or increase depending on the reply.

Not distract her? Well it wasn't helping that Ash kept going back to the picture to look at the gorgeous fenix. She just eventually ended up getting ready, texting her when she was on her way out of the door. She had a more simple shoulder bag hanging by her side, holding her phone and wallet and hopefully making her look a little more dressed up even if she was wearing black jeans. Ash liked trying different styles, and while her normal style was much more like what she was wearing tonight, what she had worn yesterday was also part of her getup. She was hard to place in a box, that was for sure.
Arriving at the restaurant, she took out her phone, making sure she was at the right spot. Korinthia's capital felt easy to get lost in, but luckily most people around here seemed rather nice and friendly - at least open to help point her in the right direction. Wrapping her arms around herself she looked at the time, breathing out and seeing the mist form as her warm breath clashed with the cold evening air.

Maybe Alice was just the type to arrive fashionately late, and Ash was sure if the weather had been any worse, she would've gone inside, but she also felt it was nice to wait outside. As the fenix appeared she felt relief and the butterflies returned, fluttering and making her feel rather giddy. Inside, once their coats were off, Ash couldn't help herself from stealing look, seeing just how lovely the other had dressed up. In fact, she felt almost a bit underdressed, but this was what she was comfortable in.
Sitting at the table she smiled, looking over the menu, peaking over it at the pale haired woman in front of her as she seemed to be occupied with her own papers. Why did she feel so nervous again? Perhaps because she knew how much she was beginning to care about her, and maybe it was moving a bit too fast. But it was alright, she told herself, her and Alice were just taking advantage of finally being able to be around one another.
In the end she ordered the crawfish soup with some crispy bread on the side along with a glass of white wine. She wasn't much for starters and would rather spend money on a nice dessert. "You look really pretty," she finally broke her silence, realizing she had barely spoken since the other had arrived. "I thought I was going to see you in the other dress from earlier?" not that she was let down, more curious as to why she had opted to change.

The promise made her perk up a bit, her face hopeful as she had clearly liked the picture. Though she was far from disappointed when she could spend her time with the fenix as much as she could right now. "Oh, right," she muttered, lifting her glass as well to gently touch the other's, producing a soft high-pitched clink sound. Taking a sip of her wine, she felt a bit more relaxed. Ash liked wine, but she was mostly for the sweeter kinds of white wine or even a rosé, but this wasn't too bad. The returned compliment made her shake her head, "it's nothing special," no, she had kinda worn her best outfit yesterday, but no matter, she was going to look besides her own clothing and focus on this lovely evening that was about to unfold.
Then came the question of the hour, and she sighed, swirling her drink around, the white wine coating the insides with soft curtains. "It went alright," she shrugged, she was trying not to get her hopes up, "they did freak out about some of my doodles rather than the assigned pieces." That was a good sign, right? That they liked her art for what it was and not just what they wanted her to produce. Ash took out her phone, showing some of her doodles. They were more like creatures taken out of a fantasy horror world, rather detailed and shaded in nicely. Along with it were scribbles of symbols that decorated the page as well. "It's just something I draw when I have nothing really to draw," she explained, letting Alice have a final look before packing her phone away. It wasn't nice to have your phone out at such a nice restaurant, right?

"I'm pretty sure you have a big bias," she chuckled, shaking her head a little as it would be silly to even think in those lanes. Taking another sip, matching it with Alice's she thought about it for a while. Maybe she did have a fair chance, but it was really hard to say as things were right now. The fenix of course tried to encourage her, and that was exactly what she needed right about now. Hearing about the other's application process made it feel less scary, that was for sure. "Well regardless if I get in or not, I'm going to be proud of the fact that they even considered me," she told herself out loud, but it wouldn't take away from how devastating it would be to get declined entry. "I know it's pretty pretentious to try and get in, but I don't know ... I've always felt like I've been meant to do more, you know?" a smile as warm as a summer day spreading on her face.
"Alright, enough about schools and future worries; What did you do today?" she wanted to know how Alice's day had been. It wasn't a new concept that she wanted to hear about it, but actually hearing her talk about it was new and in that regard exciting.