Chapter 16
Kate woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed despite not having slept too much the previous night.
Her cheeks heated up, her heart beating faster when her eyes fell on the sleeping form of Nastya who was clinging to her, their limbs thoroughly tangled, making getting up impossible for the younger girl.
The blonde groaned softly, her eyes slowly fluttering open, the sky-blue gaze taking Kate's breath away.
Nastya smiled softly, muttering. “Good morning, Kate.”
Kate swallowed hard, her mouth feeling very dry which resulted in her voice sounding rather raspy. “Good morning, Nastya. Did you sleep well?”
The older girl nodded. “Very well. Better than in a long time actually. How about you, Kate? I hope my presence has not disturbed your sleep too much.
"You did not have nightmares. Did you?”
Nastya inwardly sighed in relief at the petite girl shaking her head. “I didn't have any nightmares, don't worry and your presence was very comforting actually, not disturbing at all.”
The two girls gazed at each other, both suddenly transfixed by the other's lips. It felt much like an invisible force was pulling them towards each other.
Kate was about to protest when Nastya's lips inched closer to her own, her ramblings about morning breath dying in her throat, the feeling of those impossibly soft, full lips tenderly caressing her own effectively shutting her up and making her forget all sense of rationality.
Their hands linked, the older girl soon having positioned on top of the younger, the tip of her tongue flicking over Kate's delicate bottom lip which caused the younger girl to moan softly.
Nastya used the chance of Kate's parted lips, slipping her tongue inside the redhead's mouth, tenderly caressing Kate's tongue with her own, a fact that made the younger, inexperienced girl shiver with anticipation and soon grow light-headed.
As they parted, both breathing heavily, Nastya blurted out. “I shall go to the bathroom and get ready first. I will be right back.”
Kate blinked, about to ask the blonde if she even knew the directions to the bathroom, but Nastya had already left the room.
Kate shook her head, thoroughly bewildered.
'What's gotten into her out of a sudden? Did I do something wrong? Maybe she didn't enjoy the kiss...'
Kate sighed, an adorable pout forming on her lips.
'It surely must be because of the kiss. She hated it and instead of telling me, she left the room with a nonsensical excuse.
'Getting ready, hu? More like running away from me...'
The redhead sank back onto her bed, pressing the pillow against her face, yelling into it. “Idiot! You should've prevented her from kissing you before you'd brushed your teeth.
"She must be so disgusted right now. She's probably busy rinsing her mouth, trying to get rid of the taste of my morning breath.
"Ugh, this is so frustrating!”
The frustrated redhead's eyes suddenly widened as a familiar smell hit her nostrils. “This... oh my God! The pillow smells like Nastya! Oh, heavens.”
The smitten young girl inhaled the scent of the older girl deeply, burying her nose into her pillow, her expression dazed, pleased coos and sighs of hers, fortunately for her, drowned by the thick material of the pillow accompanying her actions.
Nastya who re-entered the room was stupified to find Kate in this rather... odd position.
She much felt like she was intruding on something, carefully creeping up towards the bed, watching on in bemusement and fascination as Kate performed those strange actions, her head concealed by the pillow that oddly enough was lying on top of the younger girl's face, hiding it in the process.
She spoke up hesitantly, at last. “Kate...?
"I am finished getting ready. The bathroom is vacant now if you wish to use it.”
The younger girl felt mortified hearing the familiar voice of the blonde she'd just been daydreaming about, slowly removing the pillow from her by now positively red face.
Her voice sounded very hoarse when she answered Nastya. “I'll go get ready in a moment. You can go downstairs already.
"I'll join you for breakfast later once I'll be finished washing up and getting dressed.”
Nastya left the room, walking downstairs, all the while wondering what she'd walked into just now.
Either way, Kate had looked adorable with her hair sticking out in all directions, cheeks flushed and eyes wide.
Kate herself was crying out in frustration once she was sure Nastya was out of earshot. “Ahhhh, stupid, stupid, stupid! Why do you have to be so embarrassing?
"What does she think of me now?”
The kitchen on the Janeway farm slowly filled with people, almost everyone awake by now. Unlike Nastya and Gretchen had suspected the other day, Dee and Beverly were nowhere to be seen so far.
The blonde frowned upon realizing this but decided to give it some time. Her friend would surely show up here eventually.
The tall girl was currently lost in thought when a familiar voice snapped her out of her stupor.
Her eyes went wide, her breath catching in her throat at the vision entering the kitchen. Kate, unlike the other day, was wearing a dress that hugged her body in all the right ways.
'Pervert. Such thoughts are uncouth! You should be ashamed of yourself.
'Oh, how am I supposed to keep my composure if she dresses in such a manner? That kiss earlier was almost too much already.
'I know that she is not ready to take the next step yet, but my own body keeps on betraying me.
'Oh, to run my tongue over her neck and then farther down to her collarbone and then to her b-'
Kate's concerned voice snapped her out of it. “Nastya? Is everything alright? You look quite flushed. Are you having a fever?”
Nastya felt her cheeks heat up, even more, wishing the ground beneath her feet could swallow her whole.
She dared not look up at the object of her affections and, admittedly, desires, muttering embarrassingly. “I am... well, Kate. Do not worry about me. My state of health is optimal.”
Kate frowned, but nodded slowly, deciding to accept the older girl's answer for the time being, despite sensing that something was terribly wrong, Nastya clearly hiding things from her, a fact that upset the redhead.
Quickly glancing around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation, she asked, all the while making sure to keep her voice low. “Is it because of the kiss? I'm sorry.
"I'd been about to warn you of my morning breath, but you effectively prevented me from saying anything...”
Nastya blinked hard at the redhead's words, the gears behind her forehead visibly turning.
She bit her lip and mumbled, her tone shy, her voice soft. “The kiss is not the reason for my behavior.
"No, that is incorrect. The kiss is the reason, however, not because it was unpleasant, or your taste repulsed me.
"On the contrary, Kate. The kiss was mind-blowing and your taste, as always... nothing short of intoxicating.
"So much so in fact that... I can not seem to stop thinking about it.”
Kate felt herself blush, a flutter starting in the pit of her stomach.
She licked her lips, her voice dark and sensual, whispering into the older girl's ear. “I can't stop thinking about the kiss either, your scent and your taste are making me crave more.
"The sight of you dressed in my nightgown and the memory of the weight of your body on top of mine.
"My mind's all fuzzy and my body feels like it's tingling all over. I want more...”
Nastya gasped, her eyes turning wide, the heat pooling between her legs which caused her to shift in her seat uncomfortably. “Y-you want more?
"Kate...
"Do you know what you are saying there?
"I do not wish to rush things and force you to do something that you are not ready for yet.”
Kate blushed even more at the older girl's words, her voice had turned almost inaudible, feeling deeply humiliated. “I know what I'm saying, Nastya. I'm not as innocent and pure as you give me credit for.
"It's sweet that you're being so considerate, but I...
"I'd love to take this to the next level if that's acceptable to you.”
Nastya felt her heart flutter at the younger girl's words, the fact that Kate seemed to have adapted to her way of speaking already, melting her heart.
The two girls once more linked their hands, Nastya gently tucked at the redhead's earlobe with her teeth before whispering, her voice even deeper than usual, sending a jolt to Kate's nethers. “That is very acceptable to me, my love, but for now I believe we should focus on 'breakfast'.
"Do you not wish to drink your 'morning coffee'?”
Kate almost squealed, the flutters in her stomach going wild at Nastya's pet name for her.
'Oh, my Gods! She called me her love! Sigh, I feel like I'm in heaven. She's so dreamy.'
She quickly nodded, licking her lips. “Coffee sounds great, my love.”
Nastya gasped, her cheeks turning redder than Kate had ever seen them before, the redhead having topped her statement off with a wink that was bordering on seductive.
Nastya stammered, her heart hammering wildly in her chest, her vital functions concerningly elevated, a fact that worried the blonde. “I... I am going to get you a cup of c... coffee, Kate.
"Give me just a moment please.”
Kate smirked to herself, mentally rubbing her hands in glee, the sight of the usually calm and collected girl acting so nervous and shy filling her with an odd sense of satisfaction.
'I think teasing her could become one of my new favorite activities.'
While Nastya was busy preparing coffee for Kate and tea for herself, the missing two ladies entered the kitchen. All eyes, except for Nastya's, turned their direction, a fact that caused the duo to blush.
Gretchen smirked knowingly, asking her younger sister teasingly. “Did ya find your way out of bed, after all, Bev? Am I right thinking you've found yourself a new 'friend' there?”
Both Beverly and Dee ended up in a coughing fit, Nastya's cheeks once more heating up, having involuntarily overheard the conversation, thanks to her enhanced hearing, wishing sincerely that she hadn't.
Beverly shrugged nonchalantly and declared. “Diamantina is a great woman, MOM.
"We were sitting here, having philosophical debates until the wee hours, and then we went to sleep in the spare bedroom together cause there was no other bed and I couldn't have her sleep on the sofa.”
Everyone was in awe and Nastya suddenly blurted out. “Diamantina? Dee, am I correct thinking that is your actual name?
"The one you stated was impossible to pronounce for people who are not originating from Greece?”
Dee blushed profusely and nodded slowly in confirmation. “Well, yes, sweetie. That's my full name. I know it's quite a mouthful, but you pronounced it perfectly.
"I apologize that you had to find out like this. In all honesty, I'd been ashamed to tell anyone my real name.
"It might sound strange to foreigners and its meaning is. Well, kinda embarrassing...”
Nastya browsed her cortical node before stating matter-of-factly. “Diamantina translates to diamond.
"I do not think that the meaning of your name is 'embarrassing' at all, Dee. In fact, it suits you perfectly.
"You are a true gem of a person with a heart of gold, a rare treasure among so many monsters and shallow-minded people in this world.
"Had you not found and saved me back then and Natascha as well, I would have never gotten to come to Ireland and met Kate and her family.
"I owe my life to you.”
The room had grown silent, apart from sniffles and sobs.
Everyone was touched by Nastya's words, but, most of all, Dee herself, who quickly rushed over to her younger friend, who was much like a little sister to her, wrapping her arms around her in a fierce hug that almost knocked the wind out of the unsuspecting blonde.
Only thanks to her enhanced physique, was she able to recover from the initial shock, returning the embrace in kind.
Tears ran down both women's cheeks and for once Nastya allowed herself to cry even if she did feel worried for her highly empathic friend's well-being and mentally scolded herself for causing her to break down like this, despite her intensive self-care regime.
Dee diminished all of Nastya's worries, however, reassuring her that she'd be fine and that sometimes crying could have a cleansing effect on both body and soul.
Kate asked Nastya once she sat back next to her, her voice laced in concern. “Are you alright, Nastya? That was quite intense...”
The blonde smiled and nodded slowly. “I am fine, Kate. In fact, I feel better now that I have finally said those words.
"I had meant to relay my gratitude to Dee for a long time, but somehow there never seemed to have been a proper opportunity to do so and I have your aunt to thank for somehow having Dee reveal her real name to her.
"Beverly seems to have a way of persuading people.”
Kate smirked and whispered in Nastya's ear. “I think we both know what she did to her, my love.
"There is a certain situation that demands for people to know each other's names, even if the said people have only just met.”
Nastya's cheeks once more turned crimson at Kate's suggestive remark, one more look at the two older women telling her everything she needed to know, a gasp leaving her lips. “Kate, I think you are correct! How did you know?”
Kate snickered. “Oh, well. I know my aunt Bev and also those love bites on both of their necks are a dead giveaway...”
Nastya filed the word love bites into her English vocabulary folder under favorite words and expressions, deciding at that moment to give Kate a lot of those herself once they'd be undisturbed again...