Behind the Mask - Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Possession
Bai Ning dismissed Nuan Hua, who was waiting outside.
In the bathing room, they took off their clothes, leaving only their innermost layer of undergarments. They were thin, outlining the contours of their bodies.
Although they had shared even more intimate contact before, Chu Ye still subconsciously averted her gaze, too shy to look at Bai Ning's body.
Whenever Bai Ning saw Chu Ye's pure and shy demeanor, which was such a contrast to her usual self, she wanted to laugh. She stepped into the bathtub first, then said softly to Chu Ye, "You come in too."
Chu Ye followed her into the water and sat down carefully.
The bathtub was spacious, more than enough for two people. Steam rose from the water's surface, creating a hazy mist between them.
Bai Ning had always been frail, so she had a habit of taking regular medicinal baths. They could dispel the cold and were excellent for relieving fatigue. The water was on the hotter side, and after soaking for just a short while, her skin took on a rosy flush.
Stimulated by the hot water, she seemed even more soft and boneless. Chu Ye, afraid she wouldn't be able to sit steadily, proactively moved closer to Bai Ning so she could lean on her.
Bai Ning's body had already gone soft from the hot water. As soon as Chu Ye came over, she leaned against her.
"Are you alright?" Chu Ye asked in a low voice. Seeing just how weak she was, it was no wonder she wanted her to accompany her. She quickly wrapped her arms around Bai Ning's waist in the water to hold her steady.
When Chu Ye touched her waist in the scalding water, Bai Ning lowered her eyes and pressed even more weakly into Chu Ye's embrace.
Chu Ye's mind began to race. They were already scantily clad, and now their thin bodices were soaked through, as if they weren't there at all. It was just… a bit uncomfortably sticky.
"Ye'er."
"Mm?" Chu Ye's hum sounded a little unnatural. She looked at Bai Ning through the hazy mist. They were close, and even with the enveloping steam, they could see each other's faces clearly.
Bai Ning asked with a low laugh, "Is this comfortable?"
"It is," Chu Ye replied. A hot bath was naturally relaxing and pleasant, but the calming medicinal herbs were having no effect on her heart. When she saw Bai Ning's soft and alluring appearance, like water itself, her body began to burn fiercely, and she knew it wasn't because of the hot bath.
"Then let's do this together from now on."
Together... Chu Ye felt even hotter.
Bai Ning moved closer to look at her. "You don't want to?"
"No." Chu Ye stared at the face so close to hers, her voice growing dry and hoarse.
Bai Ning saw her cheeks flush even redder and found it adorable. She smiled and raised a hand, tidying the stray hairs at Chu Ye's temples before cupping her damp, hot face with her palm.
Seeing that Bai Ning wanted to touch her cheek, Chu Ye nuzzled her face against her palm. Usually so arrogant, she seemed exceptionally docile in front of the person she liked.
The room was utterly silent.
There was only them.
They were quiet, yet they gazed at each other with ambiguous, unconcealed desire… Irresistibly, they drew closer and closer to kiss the other's lips.
Just like yesterday, Chu Ye clumsily brushed her own lips against Bai Ning's, kissing her delicately. The moment their lips touched, her heart began to pound like a drum again.
Bai Ning closed her eyes, savoring the warmth on her lips again and again. Only Chu Ye, she thought, can make my heart race, and so effortlessly at that.
The two kissed with mutual longing, holding each other tighter and tighter in the water. Their ragged breaths stirred the air, making the heat even more scorching.
They had already kissed many times. Chu Ye felt she had been clinging to Bai Ning's lips for too long, so she restrained herself and shyly pulled away.
But Bai Ning asked her, "What's wrong?"
Does she mean she hasn't had enough? Chu Ye glanced at Bai Ning, didn't answer, and hurriedly kissed her again. When it was just the two of them, she couldn't control herself at all; she just wanted to hold her and kiss her lips.
Bai Ning smiled and returned the kiss. When she spoke again, she was slightly breathless. "After you left the Bai Manor, did you miss me?"
"I did..." Chu Ye felt a pang of heartache and grievance. She kissed the corner of Bai Ning's mouth and sighed, "I thought of you every day."
Bai Ning caressed her face again, then pressed her red lips to hers, comforting her with a kiss.
Chu Ye closed her eyes, her arms tightening around Bai Ning.
As they both parted their lips, something soft slipped between hers. Startled, Chu Ye's eyes fluttered open, and she flushed with shyness. While kissing her, Bai Ning was teasing the tip of her tongue with her own.
"Second Miss—"
Chu Ye was dumbfounded; she didn't know one could kiss like this. As shy as she was, she liked it immensely.
Bai Ning gave her lips a little bite. "Still calling me Second Miss."
Chu Ye thought for a moment, then called her, "...A'Ning." This was how she called Bai Ning in her dreams.
Bai Ning smiled. "Mm."
Chu Ye's heart felt as if it had been smeared with honey. She captured Bai Ning's lips again, kissing them lightly twice, then couldn't resist imitating what Bai Ning had just done, sending her own soft tongue into her mouth.
She learned extremely quickly, and extremely well.
Bai Ning's lips were pressed firmly, leaving her no chance to speak.
"Mmm." A deep, wet, and sticky kiss, both gentle and urgent. Gradually, the sweetness between their lips and tongues spread deep within them, making their heads spin.
A gentle caress, a touch.
Amidst the hazy mist, the hot air drawn into their lungs made them lose control.
Chu Ye once again forgot how she had managed to tear off Bai Ning's bodice this time.
When she came to her senses a little, their soaked underclothes had long been thrown to the floor, while they were still holding each other tightly, their lips and tongues locked in a passionate exchange.
Although Bai Ning had instructed her not to wait on her today, Nuan Hua was still worried. She was afraid that if Bai Ning soaked in the hot water for too long, she wouldn't be able to bear it and might pass out.
After much hesitation.
Anxious, Nuan Hua decided to go and ask.
She walked to the outside of the bathing room. "Miss, are you not done soaking yet?"
But no one answered.
Bai Ning, of course, had no time to answer. Soaking in the hot water, she and Chu Ye were clinging to each other's shoulders and waists, kissing until their bodies trembled.
"Miss?" Nuan Hua faintly heard the sound of panting, which made her even more anxious. "Miss, are you alright?!"
Bai Ning could no longer respond to Chu Ye's repeated deep kisses; she was indeed feeling extremely dizzy. She weakly pulled her lips from Chu Ye's and tilted her head back. Droplets of water and sweat trickled down her fair neck as her chest heaved violently.
Chu Ye pressed her forehead against hers, not daring to kiss her further, letting Bai Ning catch her breath. But her heart itched, so she started kissing her cheek instead.
"I'm fine." Bai Ning tilted her head back, letting Chu Ye kiss her neck, and mustered all her strength to answer Nuan Hua. "You are not to come in."
"Miss..."
"Leave us." Bai Ning was dazed. She pinched Chu Ye's shoulder. "Miss Chu is with me. You don't need to worry."
Nuan Hua's eyelid twitched. She noticed Bai Ning's voice was different from usual. How could that be? The faint, breathless sounds made her blush with embarrassment, but she didn't dare say anything more. After acknowledging the order, she hurried away.
It took a long time for Chu Ye to calm down. Fearing the water would get cold, she said, "Let's dry off and go back to the room." She helped Bai Ning stand up. The moment they rose from the water and saw each other clearly, the tips of Chu Ye's ears turned bright red.
Bai Ning was also bashful. She leaned on Chu Ye's shoulder. "Carry me back to bed."
Chu Ye: "Mm."
After the medicinal bath, their bodies were toasty warm. Chu Ye still felt hot just thinking about what had happened. Back in the bedroom, they were only loosely wrapped in simple white robes.
Bai Ning lay languidly on the couch, gazing at Chu Ye's face. She noticed Chu Ye was still wearing the jade hairpin she had given her. On a whim, she reached out and pulled the hairpin from her hair.
Chu Ye's cascade of black hair tumbled down.
It was the first time Bai Ning had seen Chu Ye like this. Outside, she could kill without batting an eye, but in the bed curtains, she was a complete and charming beauty. She pulled out her own hairpin as well, letting her long hair fall freely just like Chu Ye's.
Chu Ye was so stunned by her beauty she couldn't look away. She had also never seen Bai Ning with her black hair completely down. Dazed, she reached out with her fingertips to touch Bai Ning's eyes, the bridge of her nose, and her lips.
She had long wanted to touch her like this, during the many nights she had held Bai Ning as they fell asleep.
Bai Ning smiled and pressed her face closer, letting her look.
Chu Ye pulled her into an embrace.
Just then, Bai Ning's loose robe slipped past her shoulders and back, half-concealing, half-revealing.
Chu Ye's heart pounded at the sight, but she didn't dare hold Bai Ning too tightly. She was afraid she would—completely lose control.
They gazed at each other for a moment.
Bai Ning lowered her gaze slightly and asked in a whisper, "Do you still need me to teach you?"
The blush on Chu Ye's face deepened, because she understood the meaning behind Bai Ning's words—tonight, they had shared every intimacy except for the final act of possession.
But could she really do that?
Chu Ye looked at Bai Ning's face, hesitating.
In her heart, she actually agreed with Chu Hu's words. Although she and Bai Ning were devoted to each other, how could there possibly be a future for them...
She would just have to take these days one at a time.
With this thought, Chu Ye's lips curved into a slight smile. She didn't speak, but simply leaned in to kiss her affectionately.
Bai Ning chuckled softly and let her kiss her.
Chu Ye's kiss was both sweet and bitter. To be able to kiss her and hold her like this was already enough to satisfy her. She had never dared to hope for more.
They kissed for a long time again.
Bai Ning turned over, and the white robe on her body slipped completely to the side. She also pulled open Chu Ye's robe, then took Chu Ye's arms and wrapped them around her own smooth waist.
But Chu Ye froze. "A'Ning."
She didn't dare move any closer.
Bai Ning stroked Chu Ye's long hair, her eyes gentle with a smile, and kissed her on the forehead. She could vaguely guess what Chu Ye was hesitating about.
"Ye'er."
"Mm?" The sweeter Bai Ning's voice was when she called her name, the more her heart ached.
"I am the same as you."
"What?"
"In this life, I will only let you touch me."
Could she dare to hope for that? Chu Ye bit her lip. Her decision to come back for Bai Ning wasn't because she thought they could be together forever. She had long prepared herself for the day when Bai Ning, like other young ladies from noble families, would have to abide by strict rules and marry a man of equal social standing.
Chu Ye wanted to ask if she really meant it, but then she remembered Bai Ning's promise—Bai Ning had said she would never lie to Ye'er again.
Bai Ning looked seriously into her eyes. "Silly girl, do you understand now?"
Chu Ye's heart burned. She tightened her hold on Bai Ning's waist and silenced her lips with her own, her palm slowly sliding down from her waist.
"A'Ning," Chu Ye called softly. A moment ago in the bathing room, her mind had been filled with the images from that "zither score" she had once flipped through—pictures of women with women...
It was so hard for her to hold back.
If you enjoy my translations, please consider supporting me!
Comments
Post a Comment