#tt25

"River..."

River whined. Her face felt like it was boiling.

"Come on, sweetpea." Winnifred's voice soothed her, even as it was her words that were riling River up in the first place. "I promise I'll only tickle a little."

"You--" River jerked before throwing her hands over her face. "Ah-haha, come on, don't say it."

Even with her eyes covered, she knew exactly how Winnifred's eyes glimmered with mischief. "Oh, I'll stop as soon as you tell me to, sweetheart. But something tells me that's not what you really want, is it?"

Her hand, warm and leathery, trailed ever so lightly up the thin skin of River's arm. It was enough to make her gasp and flinch away, pushing herself farther back where she laid against Winnifred's chest.

"Ngh!"

River felt more than heard Winnifred chuckle, the sound reverberating from her chest to River's back and making her feel somehow even warmer.

"Well, aren't you the sweetest little thing?" she cooed, her hand gliding down and locking her and River's fingers together. "So delicate today. I'll be real, real gentle, baby."

"Wihihinny..." River felt like she was full of hundreds of bubbles.

"It's okay, sweetpea. Ain't nothing wrong with being ticklish! And you know I love giving you all the attention you want."

River breathed deeply, biting her lip to keep her giggles from slipping out. "I know you do."

Winnifred hummed. "Isn't it so nice to get what you want?"

Skies above, Winny was going to heat her up so much, there'd be nothing left. "It-- it is."

A pause. Then, Winnifred's hand was on her cheek, firm and strong. River opened her eyes, looking right up into Winnifred's beautiful amber ones.

"I love you, River," Winnifred whispered.

Even now, those words made River's whole being tremble. "I love you too, Winny."