Excerpt from Free Range Floret
The dancing fractals of light reflected off the waves underlit the pair as they continued in silence. A small gust of wind kicked up, and Crystal shivered, crossing her arms across her chest. A weight fell across her shoulders as Xym draped a mantle of flora over her, a pair of vines gently rubbing her back and upper arms. Crystal pursed her lips and cast a sidelong glance at the Affini. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“My apologies.” Xym’s tone told Crystal she was far from contrite. “Do you want me to take it away?”
“Yes, thank you.” The warmth was withdrawn just as another gust hit. Crystal gripped her arms tighter, fighting the cold for a few more steps. She let out a little grumble of irritation. “No, wait, I’ll take it.”
“Sorry, what was that, cutie?”
Xym had definitely heard her, she was absolutely certain. She let out a growl. “I said I want it back, damn you.”
“Well, that’s not very polite. Try again.” Xym was clearly loving this, and it was deeply obnoxious.
“Can you please give me the stupid vine cloak thing back, you insufferable shrub?”
Xym laughed as Crystal seethed. “You’re absolutely adorable when you get prickly, has anyone ever told you that?” A vine sprang out lightning quick to boop her on the nose, retreating well before she could bat it away irritably. “But I’m afraid you’re going to have to drop the endearing insult if you want a favor from me.”
“Starsdammit, fine!” Crystal stopped, turning to face Xym, and made a deep, exaggerated bow. “Oh great and powerful Affini, ruler of the universe, would you please deign to allow me the use of your foliage to warm myself?”
“I’d be absolutely delighted, my little gemstone!” Crystal yelped as she was suddenly swept off her feet and into Xym’s waiting vines, and held close against her chest. Vines rubbed her back, arms, and thighs, and she let out an involuntary gasp of pleasure, struggling against the restraints. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Put me -” Crystal had to catch her breath as a vine coiled sensually around her thigh, “down, you wretched rhododendron! This isn’t what I wanted!”
“You’re warmer, aren’t you?” A large hand rested on top of her head, heavy fingers pressing into her scalp. “I don’t see the problem, darling.”
Crystal shivered, no longer from cold, her eyes fluttering under the friction against her crown. “You… you know…” She bit back a moan, “Perfectly well what the problem is, dammit…”
Xym hummed in mock thoughtfulness. “Is the problem that you’re getting pleasure from my touch when you want to stay mad at me, little one?”
“Yessss… I mean, no, dammit!” The Affini’s touch was laying down a blanket of fog over her thoughts, and she tried to shake her head to clear it, but found that Xym’s hand kept her from doing so. “This is… what I’m talking about…” A tendril slithered down the length of her spine, and she arched her back. “You - you can’t just - Ahhhh… F-fuck…”
“I can’t just what, love?”
“F-fuck you…” Crystal’s thoughts were a haze of pleasure, and she desperately scrabbled to cling to her anger as it was pried away from her. “You… leafy… tyrant…”
“Awww, thank you, precious! Flattery will get you nowhere, but feel free to keep doing it.” Xym beamed as Crystal squirmed in her grasp.