Archive of Our Own ^beta

General Alder sat behind her desk. A sigh left her lips as she looked from the mound of paperwork to the clock. She’d summoned Tally Craven a few minutes ago—now just waiting on the Knower’s arrival.

Her biddies had already been sent away in preparation.

The biddy separation had...not exactly turned out the way Alder thought it would. It was a perfect severance with no true remnant remaining exactly, and yet there was still…something.

She ached for the woman’s presence. Yearned, even.

She cut herself off at the thought. She didn’t yearn. She didn’t pine. She was 300+ years old and the General of the Armed Forces. She bowed to none.

But then there was Tally Craven.

And Alder found she would bend a knee without hesitation for her.

How quickly she had gotten attached to her; her brightness, goodness—her sense of justice and a love of witch kind that rivaled her own.

She looked at the clock again. She had summoned Tally to speak further about the accusations she had barged in and hurled at her just a week prior. 

Which is how Sarah Alder learned the extent of the hold the Knower had over her...and Tally had no idea.

No idea of the power she truly wielded.

A knock sounded on her door—head lifting to gaze at it. She took a steadying breath before calling out ‘enter,’ and waited.

The door opened promptly, and Tally Craven stepped through. She was clad in her uniform—hands clasped behind her back as she approached and came to stand at attention before Alder’s desk.

“At ease,” she said, cursing herself silently at how soft her voice came out. She stood and walked to the seating area near the fireplace. She gestured to the chairs, waiting for Tally to sit before she spoke again, “would you like a drink?”

Tally nodded. “Whiskey is good.”

Her voice had a nervous lilt to it—Alder could hardly blame her. Their last conversation ended in a less than ideal manner. She had declared their connection done and over in the wake of Tally’s accusations, knowing full well that the connection remained—she had merely buried her end of it as deep as she could. 

She poured them each a glass and walked to the empty chair by the fire, handing Tally her glass on the way and ignoring the tingle that went up her arm as their hands brushed.

“Thank you,” Tally murmured before taking a healthy gulp.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve summoned you,” Alder started.

“Yeah,” Tally breathed, “you could say that.”

“The manner in which you approached the matter was careless, disrespectful, and inexcusable,” Alder chastised, ignoring the flash of guilt that crossed Tally’s face so she could focus. “The things you accused me of...the answers to those accusations are leagues above your security clearance. They are also my memories. I know you cannot help but see them, but they are not yours to demand explanations for.”

Tally’s eyes remained downcast on the glass in her hand, and Alder could see that Tally’s eyes were glistening slightly.

Her heart clenched.

“That being said, I am sorry,” Alder urged.

Tally’s head whipped up to regard her—shining brown orbs widening in confusion.

“My reaction...was less than ideal. You have experienced memories that are...traumatic, to say the least; by no choice of your own. I was caught off guard, and in response to that I chose to defend myself and my memories...my actions as well.” Alder broke her gaze away from Tally’s. “I know that I hurt you with my declaration that our connection had passed and ordering you to drink the potion from Izadora so that it could be truly severed. I reacted reflexively. Hastily. Not that of a General who has 300 years of experience leading.”

Tally’s gaze remained trained on the side of her face.

She swallowed harshly before looking back at Tally—her face the picture of wonderment.

Goddess, Alder had missed the way Tally would look at her—like she hung the moon for her and her alone.

“I am so sorry, Tally,” she repeated sincerely.

A sob clawed its way up Tally’s throat and she barely had time to choke it off. Her eyes welled with tears even as relief washed over her body.

“Tally,” Alder called, scooting her chair closer and taking the glass from Tally’s hand to sit it on the side table. “Breathe.”

Tally sucked in a breath as Alder coached her through her breathing for the next few minutes. When she calmed down, Alder glanced down—realizing that their hands were intertwined and she had been rubbing soothing circles with her thumbs.

She didn’t pull away.

“Better?”

Tally nodded. 

“Would you care to share why my apology brought you to tears?” Alder asked before a teasing smile crossed her lips. “It wasn’t that bad was it?”

Tally laughed then, eyes brightening. She shook her head. “It was perfect. Um, permission to speak freely, General?”

“Of course.”

“It’s inappropriate.”

Alder smirked. “You’ve witnessed less than ideal actions of mine, Craven, I think we are past that.”

Tally smiled softly at the affectionate way her last name left Alder’s mouth. She sighed before taking a breath and looking into crystalline eyes.

“I hated this past week...the conflict. I felt so...” she breathed out shakily and shook her head, “off.”

Alder nodded encouragingly, seeing that there was more to that.

Then Tally blushed and Alder felt her curiosity spike.

“Goddess, this is definitely inappropriate.”

“Say what’s on your mind,” she urged gently.

“I just,” Tally breathed out, “crave you. And I miss you, like all the time.”

Alder hadn’t expected that, and she found her mouth slacken in surprise. Her heart rate picked up at the admission. 

She was no stranger to the looks of wide-eyed cadets—and even her officers. She knew well that many of them had, or do, desire her—but it was never something she would pursue. It was unethical and inappropriate across so many channels, even if she had been tempted a time or two in her days.

But Tally...

Goddess, Tally was the exception to every rule she had ever laid out for herself. Tally was the hardest thing she would ever say no to—and she found that she truly, with all of her being, didn’t want to.

At her silence, Tally rambled on, “I’m-I’m sure it’ll pass and it’s probably just a side effect of the severing and then just everything that’s happened. I just thought you should know because if things are going to be different then I would rather be honest and—”

Alder cut her off, “In what way?”

Tally looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”

“In what way do you crave me?” Alder asked carefully. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears; could feel it pound against her ribs with an excitement she hadn’t felt in centuries.

Tally seemed to take stock of Alder’s demeanor. The way she was leaning in just so, how her hands still cradled Tally’s, how her eyes were flickering to her lips and back up as she waited.

“Oh,” Tally murmured, pupils dilating with the realization. “In every way...”

Alder leaned in, stopping just before Tally’s lips and tilting her head slightly. “Do you crave my touch? Perhaps my lips trailing across your jaw? My tongue tracing over your witchmark to feel you shake against me?”

Tally’s breath quickened. “Yes.”

“Would you like to feel that?”

“Yes.”

Alder turned her head, brushing her lips against Tally’s and delighting in the shaky breath it pulled from her. “Perhaps we can satiate that craving.”

Tally closed the distance, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that had her believe that Work could be performed in such an act.

They should really talk—clear the air properly. But Alder felt that there would be time for that after. 

Tally wanted her physically and that she could indulge in. She could kneel at the altar of Tally Craven—worship her until the sun rose before sending her on her way. 

She may not be able to have her for life, but she could have her for tonight.

In the aftermath of their night, Alder had severely underestimated her ability to keep it to just one night.

Tally was currently spread across her desk, mewling as her fingers slid through slick folds. She was hazy with lust—eyes blown as she watched the path her own hand took before her digits disappeared inside the Knower and earned her a keening whine.

“Perfect,” she murmured as she curled them, pulling another moan from the redhead.

She quickly realized that this was not something she could limit herself with unless Tally explicitly told her she was no longer willing. She had hoped that one night together would have been sufficient—she could live her life knowing what it was like to have Tally in her arms as a lover, and then move on.

Instead it merely stoked the flames of her desire for the younger witch. She told herself that it was purely physical—just the attraction that she had toward the Knower that made her desire her so much.

But deep down she knew it was far more.

She craved Tally Craven in a way that couldn’t be satiated with one night—but would require years, decades...perhaps an entire shared life lived and then again in the next.

She’d burn the world for her.

“General,” Tally moaned out as Alder hit a particular spot.

“My name, Tally, say my name,” Alder ordered as she pulled Tally toward the edge of the desk and into her fingers more. She increased her pace, curling her fingers and watching with rapt attention as a pretty flush spread across Tally’s chest.

“Sarah,” Tally breathed out.

Alder could feel her flutter around her fingers. “That’s it, lovely, cum for me.”

Tally whimpered as her body arched into Alder’s touch. “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.” She reached out, grasping her forearm and holding tight. “Sarah! ”

Alder moaned as wetness gushed from Tally, coating her hand further and leaving her feeling more feral than she had before.

“So good,” she murmured as she leaned over and kissed down Tally’s stomach, her fingers leisurely thrusting into the witch to prolong her orgasm.

Tally sighed as her eyes fluttered open to regard her.

Then Sarah quickly slid down to her knees, pulling Tally further off the desk to rest her legs over her shoulders while her fingers stayed put. She resumed her earlier pace and leaned in to slide her tongue through sweet heat.

“Fuck!” Tally cried out. Her hand came down to tangle in dark hair, holding her tight to her.

Alder moaned her appreciation—eyes flickering up to find Tally leaning on her forearm; her brown eyes nearly black in the room.

“Shit,” came a high pitched whine as she sucked her clit into her mouth. “Fuck, Sarah, I’m—”

Alder moaned against her center as she gave another firm suck and felt Tally explode in her mouth.

The redhead slumped backward with a heaving chest as Alder languidly cleaned her with her tongue. She pulled her fingers free and sucked them clean before she ran her hands up Tally’s thighs as she rose.

“Alright there?” she questioned with a satisfied smirk.

“Goddess,” Tally breathed.

“Not quite, but I appreciate the comparison,” she quipped with a wry grin, leaning over the desk to press a kiss to Tally’s lips.

Tally sighed into the kiss, her arms wrapping around Alder’s neck as their lips met again and again.

She could kiss Tally for the rest of her days and never grow tired.

The thought made her pause against the redhead. It was a dangerous line of thinking. She knew that this was all that it could be—as she reminded herself for what felt like the hundredth time. Tally was young, with a whole life ahead of her. One where she could find some young witch to settle down with and have a family. What could she really offer her? 

Tally quickly pushed her back and sat up with a bright grin on her face. “Can I eat you out in your chair?”

Alder was quickly pulled from her thoughts at the request. She gave a nod and couldn’t resist the smile that crossed her face as Tally beamed.

She walked around the desk—still clad in her uniform minus the jacket—and sat in her chair.

Tally came around the other side and spun the chair to face her, quickly kneeling on the ground and reaching for Alder’s belt.

She undid it in a moment and popped the button, followed by the zipper before she pulled the garment down her legs.

Her eyes flickered up as she reached for her underwear—hooking her fingers beneath the waistband and sliding them off to join the pants.

Tally’s hands spread her thighs while she drank in the sight of the redhead on her knees for her.

The swipe of Tally’s tongue through her soaked folds pulled a guttural moan from her lips. Her hand tangled in red hair as Tally sucked her clit into her mouth.

She was cumming sooner than she would have liked—quaking against Tally but only for a moment before the redhead repaid the earlier favor. Two fingers slid inside, curling as her tongue flicked across her clit.

“Tally,” she hissed as she felt the heat build in her abdomen again. 

“You taste so good,” Tally breathed against her, voice nearly a whine. “I could do this every day.”

A shock went up her spine at the declaration as a whimper left her mouth. In any other scenario she would be mortified that such a sound left her, but the look in Tally’s eyes when they met her own had her moaning twice as loud and frequently.

Her hips ground up to meet Tally’s movements, chasing her pleasure as her second orgasm neared.

“Fuck,” she panted, grip tightening in Tally’s hair.

A moan against her center had her flying over the edge. She came with a cry, holding Tally tight to her as she rode out her orgasm.

She slumped back in the chair, trying to catch her breath as Tally lapped up the wetness she left.

When she finished, she rested her cheek against the inside of Alder’s thigh and pressed a soft kiss to the flesh there.

She carded her hands through red hair, smoothing it after messing it. She felt content in that moment; her hand in Tally’s hair, her soft skin pressing against her own. It was relaxing and calming—a balm for her tired soul.

She was about to reach for Tally and pull her up in a silent request to straddle her in the chair so she could hold her—

“I should go.”

Alder’s stomach dropped as her hand ceased movement through Tally’s hair.

The sting of tears bit at her eyes—the burn making her bite her tongue to stop.

This was how it would be—stolen moments in her office to satiate their physical desires and then go their separate ways until the next time. Nothing more.

No matter how badly she wanted more.

“Of course,” she managed, despite the tightening of her throat.

Tally rose and hastily grabbed her discarded clothing. She dressed, as Alder did the same. 

The other night when they had come together, they had lingered near the door of Alder’s office for a moment before she had leaned in and kissed Tally goodbye. It had been sweet and precious—almost a promise of more.

Tonight there would be no such sweetness—because before Alder could even take a step toward her, Tally had reached the door.

She turned, hand on the handle. “Um, if you want to do this again just summon me?” She offered a smile.

Alder merely stared after her—the burn behind her eyes was increasing. She gave a single firm nod.

Then the door clicked shut as her first tear fell.

This was all it could be.

Despite her better judgment, she had in fact summoned Tally again. She had managed to make it a few days—but after seeing the Shellbark boy flirt shamelessly with Tally, and being unable to discern Tally’s level of interest, she had requested her presence in an hour.

And so they were here, once more in her office with Tally straddling Alder in her chair. 

Three fingers were buried in the Knower as hips rocked frantically in time with the curl of the digits inside.

Tally moaned and tightened her hold around Alder’s neck as Sarah leaned forward and licked a stripe over Tally’s cords.

“Let me hear you, darling,” she murmured against Tally’s throat.

The sharp breath Tally took in alerted Sarah to her slip up in referring to Tally in such an endearing way. But she couldn’t bring herself to care. Within these walls Tally was hers, and that would have to be enough.

A loud moan echoed in the room as Tally’s hips worked faster.

“Fuck, Sarah,” Tally moaned, head coming to rest against Sarah’s. She panted against Alder’s lips while fingers tangled further into the messed braid.

“So beautiful taking me like this,” she said against Tally’s lips. She kissed her again, taking her bottom lip between her teeth and tugging as Tally moaned into her mouth.

Tally whimpered again, and Sarah found it to be music to her ears.

Tally pulled her even closer—as if she couldn’t have her near enough and was trying to fuse them together.

An idea crossed her mind then. She curled her fingers and pressed her thumb against her clit.

Tally’s hips increased in pace as more moans fell from her lips, chasing her orgasm as she climaxed.

“My pretty girl,” she moaned against Tally’s lips.

Tally screamed.

Her center pulsed around Alder’s fingers before gripping them tightly. She released a shaky breath as she felt her stomach become damp suddenly.

Tally shuddered in her lap as she pressed kisses where she could reach—trailing down her cheek to her shoulder as the redhead slumped against her.

“Fuck,” came the muffled response.

Alder couldn’t help but chuckle. Her free hand ran up and down Tally’s back, soothingly rubbing it as Tally recovered.

“Can I pull out, or do you need a moment?” she asked softly, pressing another kiss to Tally’s shoulder.

The Knower sighed heavily against her, tensing slightly before she gave a single nod.

She eased out before bringing her fingers to her mouth and cleaning them—eyes meeting Tally’s when the redhead pulled back to regard her.

Brown eyes glanced down—a blush coating her cheeks.

Alder followed her line of sight and chuckled at the shining wetness on her stomach. “I must say, this was a first for me.”

Tally’s eyes widened and Alder could tell she was more mortified than anything else. She quickly wrapped her left arm around Tally’s waist as her right reached up to cup her cheek.

“I am far from disappointed by it,” she assured as she stroked Tally’s cheek. Her heart fluttered as Tally leaned into the caress. “It was perfect, Tally.”

Tally blushed sweetly at that, and Alder found her lips turning up in a smile as they gazed into each other’s eyes.

Tally leaned forward slightly and Sarah closed the distance, taking Tally’s lips with her own and savoring the moment.

She knew she would leave shortly—having already fucked her with abandon when she first set foot in the office. It had taken her by surprise, the forwardness. She wasn’t upset by any means—finding once again how easily she buckled for Tally Craven. She debated asking her to stay—to share a drink by the fire, where she could hold her and run her hands through fiery strands. She wanted that intimacy with her, like they were indulging in now. She could kiss her for hours—map every inch of her every day and night. It made her heart hum with approval and emotions she thought she would never experience. It was addicting and beautiful.

They parted and Alder moved to rest her forehead against Tally’s, still craving the closeness to her—

“I should go.”

Alder clenched her jaw—stomach sinking once again at the statement. She wondered what she continued to do that made Tally want to leave so quickly...

It could only be because Tally wanted this—only this.

No matter how much she wanted more.

She nodded, clearing her throat and removing her arms from around Tally and willing her eyes to not betray her.

Tally hopped off her lap, grabbing her clothing and dressing quickly. 

Alder had pulled her shirt over her head and haphazardly thrown her pants on. She would need a minute to collect herself before leaving to go to her quarters.

“I’ll see you later,” Tally offered—eyes shining and hopeful.

Alder merely nodded and watched her go.

Her vision blurred as the tears formed. She wrapped her arms around her midsection, holding herself tight like she wanted Tally to do—like she was desperate for her to do.

A quiet sob slipped past.

There was a bitter taste in her mouth as she threw back the glass of whiskey. She had once again seen Tally with Shellbark—and it seemed she hadn’t deterred him if his incessant flirting was any indicator.

She shouldn’t be upset—she had no reason to be. Tally wasn’t hers.

And that was the problem.

How much longer could she keep this up? 

It had already been weeks, and each time they would fuck and have a few moments before Tally would quickly leave.

She had already summoned her for tonight. She contemplated remaining as detached as possible for this. Perhaps if she could do that she would be fine—she wouldn’t be left to press her cracks back together whenever Tally left.

The door opened and closed with a click.

She glanced up, seeing Tally approach her with a sweet smile. Her heart rate increased with each step the Knower took as the distance closed.

Before Tally could close the gap, Alder did. 

She reached for her and pulled her against her—lips meeting in a clash as she walked them back to the couch in the room. She felt feverish, wanting to fuck Tally within an inch of her life and lay siege to her.

She pushed her down onto the couch, quickly removing Tally’s shirt and sports bra in one movement before reaching for her pants.

Tally’s breaths were coming out quick and shallow as she pushed the bottoms down to the floor and ripped them off.

Her lips moved to her neck, licking and nipping the flesh there before she moved to her shoulder and bit down.

“Fuck, Sarah,” Tally moaned, head swimming with the intensity of Sarah’s movements. “Harder.”

“It’ll bruise,” she murmured against the skin, pressing kiss after kiss around the area.

“I don’t care,” Tally replied quickly as her hand threaded in Sarah’s hair—down for once and free of its tight braid.

A growl escaped her, and she bit down—sucking the flesh and tasting a hint of metal.

Tally whined, legs wrapping around Sarah’s waist to get closer.

She pulled back, eyeing the new mark and feeling a surge of pride flood her. Even though Tally wasn’t hers, she would bear her mark for a few days at least. She silently cursed that Tally wished for it when she was trying to be detached.

She reached between the redhead’s legs, finding her soaked with want. Tally hissed at the contact—moaning a moment later as Alder circled her clit.

She mewled, bucking her hips upward to chase the digits that moved away from her briefly.

Alder nudged her head with her nose—capturing her lips again in a desperate kiss.

Then she slid her fingers home.

The thought of such a thing sent a pang of melancholic want through her as Tally’s cry of pleasure echoed in the space.

Home.

With Tally Craven, how could she feel anything else. She had never experienced this—how a person could feel like home, when the only true home she ever knew was Fort Salem.

She fucked her with abandoned, hitting deep and rough as Tally chanted her name in her ear.

Tears stung her eyes as she felt Tally flutter around her fingers. She wasn’t ready for this to end yet. She slowed her pace.

Tally whined, hips bucking into her fingers to try and urge her to keep going.

“Not yet,” she rasped. She turned her head and nuzzled Tally’s witchmark. She pressed a kiss to it before running her tongue along it—releasing a breath as Tally gasped at the attention.

“Please, Sarah, please,” Tally begged—voice nearly broken in her desire.

Alder increased her pace again, earning a cry of delight from the redhead. She pumped into her, once more feeling the flutter around her fingers.

Her free hand rose to grasp the back of Tally’s head, forcing her to meet her eyes—eyes that she prayed to the Goddess were free of tears. 

“Look at me while you cum,” she ordered, curling her fingers with the demand.

Tally forced her eyes to remain open as the pressure coiled in her abdomen. “Yes,” she hissed as she neared her release.

“Cum for me, love,” Alder breathed out, failing to realize what she even said.

Tally’s orgasm came a moment later. Her legs tightened around Alder’s waist as her back arched—eyes slamming shut despite her best efforts to keep her gaze open and on Alder.

Alder watched with rapt attention, committing every detail to memory just in case. 

She eased her down and pulled her fingers free, cleaning them off with her tongue and humming in appreciation at the taste. She felt the hand in her hair move, lightly tugging her toward the redhead.

She allowed herself to be moved as Tally silently positioned her on top. Tally’s arms wrapped around her as the Knower burrowed her face in her neck.

Her eyes burned again as she let Tally seek whatever comfort she needed.

When she felt her relax, she pulled back and stood—clearing her throat and turning away from Tally slightly.

“You should go. I still have some work I need to finish,” she said.

“Oh.”

She could hear the surprise and confusion.

“Do you not want me to...” Tally trailed off questioningly.

Alder shook her head and moved to her desk. Distance, she needed distance.

“No. That’s quite alright.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Her voice cracked.

Alder finally looked up, heart breaking at the crestfallen look on Tally’s face.

She seemed so small—still sitting on the couch, naked, holding her clothing, hair messed up from sex and a faint flush to her skin.

“No.”

Tally bit her lip and nodded, and Alder turned away once more.

She could hear her dressing, still refusing to look back at the redhead. She waited for the door to open and close.

Part of her wished that Tally would fight to stay, to fight for her place in Alder’s space and challenge her words as always, to give her a glimmer of hope that she wanted her the way she wanted Tally—

And then the door clicked shut.

A gasp left her lips and she slid down to the floor, back pressed to her desk—as if she was hiding from the world.

She tucked her knees against her chest as she silently wept.

Alder had refused to summon Tally again. A week passed by without a word—and she knew it was affecting her day to day.

Many of her officers gave her a wide berth, unwilling to risk her wrath. She was in a foul mood. Her biddies urged her to just have a conversation with Tally, but why would she do that? Tally never gave any indication that what they were doing wasn’t enough. No indication that she wanted more.

It all came to a head when she was walking across the quad and she spotted Tally.

Her hair shimmered in the sunlight—almost as if there was a halo around her head to paint her like the angelic being Sarah thought she was.

Her heart clenched with longing.

Then Shellbark appeared and slung an arm around Tally’s shoulder, whispering something in her ear.

A crack of thunder shook the ground—startling all those on campus outside.

Tally’s head whipped to the side, finding her instantly.

Their eyes locked as a streak of lightning flashed in the sky—and then Alder turned and stalked off, the rumbling never ceasing.

She reached her office, dismissing the biddies and pouring herself a glass of whiskey.

She was furious—at Shellbark, at Tally, at herself and her inability to keep her emotions in check. Tally had unraveled her to the point of losing control of her Work. Her heart ached and her stomach sank, even as she drained the glass of whiskey.

She heard her door open and close.

“Amber, I said I’m not to be disturbed,” she breathed out through clenched teeth, fully exasperated as she poured herself another glass. She looked up, pausing her task as her eyes landed on Tally.

The redhead had a wounded expression on her face.

“Ta-Craven,” Alder corrected quickly. “What can I do for you?”

Tally’s eyes welled with tears. “Seriously?”

Alder frowned. “Cadet—”

“Don’t,” Tally hissed. She took a few steps closer. “Don’t. You don’t get to do that.”

Alder bristled. “I’m your General, of course—”

“No,” Tally interrupted again, moving closer once more. “You don’t get to call me a cadet in these four walls and pull rank when this isn’t a military matter. It’s an ‘us’ matter.”

Her heart clenched at the words. “There is no ‘us’,” came her bitter reply. 

She reached for the glass she poured and took a swig, hoping it would help her get through this.

Tally let out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re right, there isn’t. So then what’s your issue?”

“I have no issue.”

“Bullshit,” Tally bit out. “Do you think I didn’t notice the glares you’ve been sending Gregorio’s way? That I was just going to ignore your literal summoning of thunder and lightning outside just now? You don’t get to be jealous and push me away wh-when you only want me for sex.”

At this she paused—a biting remark on the tip of her tongue. “What?”

More tears gathered in Tally’s eyes. “You were different with me last time. You didn’t even want me to touch you and you told me to go...you haven’t asked for me since. I know this was just about sex for you, and maybe it soothed something for you too at first...but fuck, Sarah—” she choked back a sob and took a moment, speaking with a tight voice as her tears slid down her cheeks, “you don’t get to be sweet and call me ‘darling’ and ‘love’ and then discard me like some whore. And then not even have the decency to tell me if you’re done with me.”

The sob Tally had choked back escaped her then.

Alder’s eyes roamed over Tally’s form, confused and processing everything that she just said. 

“Tally,” she started, taking a few steps toward the redhead and pausing when Tally took a step back—the redhead’s lip quivering with the effort to not continue to cry. “All I wanted was for you to stay.”

Tally shook her head, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Alder let out a bitter laugh. “After we finished, every single time, you left. Every. Time. I thought it was only about sex for you, that it was just for you to soothe the craving for me...and I assumed you got what you needed from the interaction when you would quickly leave. You certainly seemed like you couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

Tally’s brow furrowed.

“This last time...I needed to be more detached if we were to continue...” she admitted.

Tally’s lips parted, clearly running through every time they had sex in her mind. “I thought you wouldn’t want me to stay...this...this wasn’t just about sex for you?”

Alder swallowed, throat tight. “No.”

Tally finally stepped forward, again and again until she was in Alder’s space and sharing the air with her. “You wanted more than that?”

“Want,” she corrected quietly.

“Oh,” Tally breathed, eyes brightening. She leaned forward, leaving just enough room should Alder choose to leave. “Sarah, I want more than sex too.”

The breath left her lungs before Tally closed the distance and kissed her so tenderly that tears instantly pricked her eyes. They pulled back and Sarah released a shaky breath.

“Don’t ever send me away like that after sex again please,” Tally requested. “It felt awful.”

“I’m sorry,” Alder apologized as she tentatively rested her hand on Tally’s waist. “I couldn’t let you touch me...”

“Why?”

“It would’ve broken me...you leaving after...again,” she admitted.

“Oh, Sarah,” Tally whispered, pressing her body into Sarah’s completely. “I’m so sorry too.”

Their foreheads touched, noses brushing against each other’s tenderly. 

“So there is no confusion, you would want more than this? You would want me?” Alder asked carefully, eyes still shut as their foreheads rested together.

“More than anything.” Tally pulled back a hair so she could gaze into her eyes. “I want it all with you. And do you want that with me?”

“Desperately.”

“So we just...had a huge miscommunication?”

Alder hummed. “It would appear so.”

At that, Tally laughed and pressed their foreheads together again as her hands rose to tangle in Alder’s hair. “Please touch me properly.”

Alder wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her flush against her and kissing her gently with as much love and tenderness she could muster. Tally whimpered against her lips and she deepened their kiss, leaving them both breathless when they pulled apart.

“I’m not interested in Gregorio by the way,” Tally said suddenly.

Alder arched an eyebrow at that.

“He just doesn't know how to take a hint,” she continued.

“Would you like me to strike him with lightning?”

Tally chuckled. “Well, I’m pretty sure he has an idea now after that, and then me running after you.”

Alder scoffed. “As if that would be enough of a deterrent.”

“I can tell him I’m unavailable.”

Alder couldn’t help but smirk. “And how are you unavailable?”

Tally blushed as a shy smile graced her face. “Ah, well I think, and correct me if I’m wrong...I’m in a relationship with Sarah Alder.”

Alder couldn’t help the satisfied smile on her lips at that. “I believe the correct term would be ‘girlfriend’.”

Tally beamed. “Isn’t that a bit juvenile for you?”

Alder scoffed, rubbing her nose against Tally’s. “Yes and no. The term sounds juvenile...but I was robbed of much in my life...I never had the chance to experience things the way I should have...and I have never wanted to, until I met you.”

Tally reached up and grasped her chin, forcing her to look in her eyes. “You mean that?” Her eyes were shining with tears as she asked.

“As I live and breathe,” she murmured reverently.

Tally closed the distance, capturing Sarah’s lips in a kiss that had her head spin. They lost themselves in each other, again and again until each wound was soothed with gentle touches and heated kisses—until they were both spent on the rug in front of the fire, wrapped up in each other and blurring the lines between who was who.