But after his toe-curling release, Dess wanted Kelski to stay close. Her insistent nudging to press against him was more welcomed than she may have known. But she would know, she would feel the internal sigh of discovered peace. They had opened a proverbial can of worms by giving opportunity for the bond to form, setting before them a new path unfamiliar. Yet Dess didn't feel anxiety or a stitch of concern, he simply felt...complete.
As he felt Kelski's arms lace around his waist, her body pressed against him so that they could be as much skin on skin as was possible. The soft kisses and nipping the kelvic applied to his skin were like strokes of assurance and acceptance from the sea eagle. Dess wrapped his arms loosely around Kelsi, not constraining her arms, so that he could smooth his hands up and down the muscled harp of her back. They were comfortably silent, together probing the scope of their new dimension. Dess could sense not only Kelski's awareness, but her exploring his own.
Kelski's carefully worded statement drew the focus of her bondmate. She felt his happiness. A warm wave of happiness had indeed suffused his mind and body, in multiple layers for many reasons. He was biologically happy, Kelski having brought him a deeply felt climax that had no rival. He was happy for himself, still unable to fully comprehend that Kelski was his, a desire that had grown more intense through the seasons and had become a truth. And Dess was so very happy for the kelvic, who discovered that she was not broken, she was not in some way less than worthy, but that she was a kelvic whole and strong. His joy for her was pervasive.
Dess's crisp azure gaze met her silvery eyes as Kelski drew back enough for their glances to meet. He was hungry, but that small matter held little significance for him at the moment. They wanted to, needed to take their time to understand what had happened, to cope with the shift in paradigms they now faced. He could feel Kelski sifting, plucking, all while she found some difficulty believing it all, just like Dess. But it was true and real, he simply knew it.
"Yeah," Dess replied, unable to keep a small smile from tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I've never felt it of course, and all the words I have heard about it couldn't begin to describe it, really." Description still failed him, the sensation of the bond was so foreign, so marvelous, yet so integral to them that if it suddenly vanished, he knew it would be like part of him was lost.
They continued to touch, idle caresses that were like tangible expressions of their new bond. Dess allowed a calloused hand to pass over the curve of Kelski's rear and up along the subtle swell of her up. It continued over her ribs and across her breast, until the fingers glided over her collarbone. She shamelessly touched him intimately with a gentle stroke of his shaft and the careful fingering of his stones. So soon after release, the caresses did not stir arousal, but a deep, visceral endearment, and it made Dess want to melt into his bondmate. He hummed with content pleasure.
Emotion now drifted freely between them, as they gave their bond no resistance, but coaxed it to find new ground and take root. Dess sensed, with great humility, Kelski's gratitude. Like he, the kelvic hadn't known pleasure like that which they had shared. He felt a sudden trickle of amusement bubble in Kelski, and Dess's grin stretched to a broad smile when she compared him to a plump salmon. "No, not at all, I kind of feel as if I have captured the attention of a beautiful, noble..." Dess paused, trying to think of an appropriate animal to compare her too, then realized how silly that was, "...an eagle!"
The strongly physical dynamic of the bond was evident to their cores. They could not stop touching one another, eyeing each other, or thinking of the intense pleasure of their intimacy. Kelski voiced the question both were asking. When could they have more of each other again? "I don't want to be filled, I always want to be hungry for you." He agreed in a softer tone. Some things would change, neither would deny, and even as the thoughts drifted quickly through Kelski's mind, Dess was on a parallel journey. His nights would be restless if he could not feel her against him. They would no longer feel the longing ache for intimacy. The deep needs Dess knew would not subside, but he didn't see them as bondage to Kelski. No, there was a freedom in needing each other, for it allowed for so much they had both been missing.
When Kelski's forehead rested against his chest, Dess leaned down to press a kiss to the crown of her damp hair. Dess knew the kelvic was a deep thinker, but with the bond he could feel it, the many emotions, and he felt her thoughts list from joy to uncertainty and concern. His arms instinctively surrounded her again, a bit firmer than before, to provide a sense of security. "This is for us to figure out together, Kel." Dess affirmed. He had sensed her concerns when it came to her fulfillment of some unspoken expectations. Kelski would feel Dess's assurance. There were no expectations laid upon her, other than for her to be herself.
"This kind of thing, it's one day at a time. We take each day and we learn something new, refine something, or learn from a mistake and better ourselves for it." Dess answered. He didn't know how else to do it. His hands moved up and down her back again, dipping below the small of her back to rub the roundness of her bottom and then up again, ceaselessly enamored with the way her contours felt beneath his fingers.
As her fingers continued to tenderly touch him below the water, Dess lowered his head to rest lightly on Kelski's. "I want to walk. I know we need to return, but I don't want to rush." He answered, knowing the kelvic wanted it too. Dess selfishly wanting to stretch out his time with Kelski as much as he could before they returned to their duties.
They reached the shore together, allowing the sea breeze to dry them off. The couple dressed and, hand in hand, made their way towards home. Dess would know before she asked, and Kelski would sense his answer before he replied. Her mate was more than willing to move into the fourth floor of the tower. His pride was not the sort that insisted he hold some male status over Kelski, to insist his bed was where she belonged. Their bond was equal, and when it came to the Meraki, Kelski was the Guildmaster. Her bed would suit them best.
