Chapter 11: What Shouldn't be Said
Tessarie wrung her hands warily as she watched the kobold and human's hands. They held their touch for several moments before Keiter finally eased back, clasping both of his little claws around Leslie's hand in a show of friendship. The older woman ran her thumb across the back of that top hand, maybe memorizing the features of it, since she couldn't see she seemed to spend a great deal of time touching things. Tess could only guess at that point but she was fairly sure they'd formed some kind of bond in that moment so she didn't dare interrupt.
Leslie was fairly plain looking by human standards of beauty- which themselves were hugely out of place compared to reality in Tess's eyes- but she had a certain charm to her that Tess found herself drawn to. She wasn't 'old' but she was definitely mature, easing her way into her forties with little to show of it. The anger and pity in her voice was masked by a snarky wit that'd found a way to tickle Tess's curiosity as to who this person was and who she
had
been before she lost her sight, but even without it. . . She was alluring in some nonspecific way. Her brown locks framed gracefully aging features and the slight roundness to her cheeks hinted at some kind of eastern heritage that always seemed exotic to Tess, but the way her mouth formed words was by far her most attractive feature to the young elf.
The woman had a way of forming her 'o's that pouted her lower lip just slightly more than the top one and gave her a vaguely teasing expression most of the time; add those nuanced features to an appreciable bust, feminine tummy and the 'just right' curve of her hips and Tess was left to wonder how she'd not found a husband yet. That was what humans went for, wasn't it? They seemed to fall over themselves with Sarah or that low lands girl, Felicia. . . How was Leslie any different?
Maybe she didn't want that. Or maybe she was entranced by women instead. The thought sent a shiver through Tess's back- would she be offended if Tess asked? The elf gnawed her lower lip as she watched the two lapse into another awkward silence. "M- Miss?"
Leslie looked to her with closed eyes, "Hm?"
"W- Would you um, I mean, can you-"
"Words are like chocolate sometimes, they're bitter as hell until you sweeten them with some sugar and then you wind up with something you want to gorge yourself with." She lofted a brow and cant her head slightly in a theatrical show of thinking. "Come to think of it, they're like booze too."
Tess tried to smile, "Except alcohol can lead to morning afters with regrets, right?"
"Yeah, so like I said; they're very similar!"
Keiter scoffed lightly, Leslie grinned.
Tess couldn't help but smile at that. "If I can say, I don't think you're the type who. . . drinks too much."
"I suppose not. Drinking's kind of boring when there's no one to drink with." Leslie scooted the kobold out of the way gently so she could kick her feet out. She smoothed the pleats of her long skirt by reflex but her demeanor was somehow more casual than it had been earlier. "But what about you, Copper Tongue? You don't seem a stranger to the drink yourself-"
"Um. That depends, are we talking about alcohol or just talking?"
"I've never been one to let a metaphor die gracefully; torture that thing until it screams, I say." She flashed a smile that lit up the room.
Tess fidgeted under the woman's attention and she drew in a breath, a blush warmed her flawless features as she mustered her courage. "Would you like to dance?"
Keiter and Leslie both looked to her oddly and the elf shrunk away, blushing deeper. Her skin bristled with a touch of defensive magic as she backed away- Keiter was beside her with his hand on her knee and a slightly worried expression. He tried to be reassuring but the elf was too quick: she jumped up and away.
"S- Sorry, that was a dumb-"
"Now hold on," Leslie leaned forward. "You're going to make an offer like that and try to back out? Oh no, I might be human but I've heard stories!" She braced her hand on the arm of the couch and started to rise with a soft groan. "I know the secrets of fey dancing, for I am well traveled and not at all a shut in." She launched her hand with a playful grin. "Besides!" She added. "If you two are going to be leaving first thing, I'm sure as hell going to take the opportunity to do something I've always wanted to try." In that moment Tess imagined how she must have looked when she was younger, happier.
Tess took her hand gingerly, unsure what she'd attempt with the woman. "I- I don't understand-" Before she could even attempt to utter another word Leslie brought her in close, chest to chest and led her through a few slow steps; side to side and around a tiny circle. Tess caught up swiftly and began to sing a soft tune to match the woman's pace and before she realized it she was losing herself in the ease with which Leslie moved- her song came more naturally and even Keiter joined in with a clapping beat.
Time seemed to blur as she lost herself in the song and in Leslie's movements: they flowed smoothly from one dance to the next once they found their rhythm and Tess only became aware of the change when she found herself adjusting her tone subconsciously to match the new flavor she was being shown. Leslie's range of expression with her body was an endless source of fascination to the little elf. As they wound down the end of a dance Leslie started to pull back but Tess held her close and looked up, whispering so only they could hear. "Maybe you should come with us."
Leslie balked, "You're too cute, you know that?" A blush warmed her cheeks. "Well, I think so anyway. . . You sound cute, but you could be a bridge troll for all I know."
"Oh, right."
"She is cute." Keiter said helpfully. "Very elf. . . ish? Elfin? She has very elf-like features."
Leslie bit her lower lip, she reached up. "Ah, can I?" Her hands came up to Tess's shoulders and it became clear what she intended to do.
"Oh, oh- will that help?" Without thinking about it Tess took the woman's hands and cupped them to her cheeks. She was trembling slightly as her hands followed the lines of Tess's sharp cheeks, under her eyes and, without so much as a hint she knew where to aim, Leslie tapped her nose perfectly.
"Mmm. . . You really are cute." Her blush deepened a little. "C- Can I touch your ears?"
Tess swallowed, "S- Sure. Just be careful, they're sensitive."
To say Leslie was gentle would have been an understatement; her fingers barely caressed the skin around her neck, up her throat and then up the back of her ear to the very tip. Once found, she brushed the sensitive spot with her forefinger and thumb, causing the girl to suck in a breath. It wasn't the only reaction, though. . . Tess's body arched to meet the attention and she felt a familiar ache hanging between her legs start to harden. She turned her blue eyes up to Leslie, watching the woman through her own bangs as she continued her exploration.
Something about it was intentional.
It didn't occur to the young elf until she felt Leslie's fingertips trace new lines down the backs of her ears and her hands came to cup her cheeks. By that point she was trembling in the older human's hands with a mix of arousal and fear muddying her thoughts. By the gods Leslie was beautiful. . . She almost uttered the words but when her cock caught in the hem of her skirt the elf pulled back suddenly so she didn't scare the human.
Apparently it had the opposite effect, though. Leslie drew her hands back as if she'd been burnt. "I'm sorry- I- I didn't mean to scare you. I. . ." She blushed a bit deeper. "I've never met a real elf." She glanced at where Keiter had been earlier. "No kobolds either, I'm afraid."
"N- No, it's okay." Tess said weakly as she tried to adjust her dress, to tuck her fully erect cock under the belt so it wouldn't be obvious. She adjusted herself a few times, turning away from the others in the room. How did men deal with this nonsense?
"Not many do," Keiter said lightly. "Not those they don't want to kill anyway." After a few moments he leaned forward turning his head up to her. "If you would like, I would not turn away your touch either."
"My touch, huh? It's how I 'see', kind of. . ."