Anne looked around, her eyes wide, her tail curled protectively down around one leg. She'd worn the look perpetually as Emily showed her around Silva Marie's house, first showing her to her own quarters and then familiarizing her with all the rooms. They had come to the bathing room, lit by a dozen fat wax candles, its wooden floor warm under her footpads.
"Everything is so beautiful… So lavish," Anne breathed, taking in the stack of robes and towels on an ornately carved shelf, the hanging planters of ivy, the large bath itself in the center of the room.
Emily nodded to her, taking a few towels and setting them to one side, preparing for a bath. "Isn't it, though?" she said, paws moving to the carved bone buttons of her dress and unfastening them. "This is nothing, though… Wait 'til you see the houses of the Blues, or the Greens." Her voice rang with solemn awe as she pulled her dress up over her head and folded it neatly, placing it on the shelf.
Anne watched, a bit taken aback by her friend's ease at disrobing in front of her. "You've seen the mansions, then?" she asked, following suit, if with more reluctance, slowly unbuttoning her own dress and sliding out of it.
Her eyes wandered again to her friend's body, and she found herself making comparisons. Her own body, though slim, still carried a fair amount of baby fat. She had a soft look, where Emily's body appeared more angular, sharp in contrast. Emily's breasts were smaller as well, the nipples darker and more noticible through her white tummy fur than Anne's, which were a delicate pink in color.
Anne's hips rounded with subtlety into her long legs, pert behind and luxuriant plume of a tail, where Emily's figure lended itself more to an hour-glass shape, her hips flaring widely from a prim little waist, her tail slender and curling. Emily's grey-white coat made her appealing in a soft, blending way, whereas Anne's stark russet red and white fur made her stand out all the more.
Emily nodded to Anne as she walked over to her and slid her paw around her upper arm. "Oh yes, I have… They're beautiful, much more so than here. The mansions belonging to the members of the Green caste make Mistress Silva Marie's house pale in comparison," she said solemnly, noting Anne's gaze as she led her over to the bath. "I have yet to ever see a castle of one of the Reds, but I have hope," she added, grinning.
Anne nodded to her absently, her eyes remaining captured by her friend's body. The way she moved fascinated her; the feminine, almost felilne grace and beauty with which Emily filled every simple motion had to have been taught to her by Silva Marie.
Emily laughed suddenly, grabbing Anne's attention. "Girl, you act as if you've never seen a naked femme before," she said, guiding her over to the bath and gesturing for her to step in.
Anne blushed fiercely, dropping her gaze and dutifully stepping into the water. Its warmth surprised her, as did the wonderfully scented steam rising up from its surface, curling about her body and darkening her fur. She curled her legs beneath her and settled into a sitting position, letting her head lay back against the side of the bath. "Oh this is wonderful…" she breathed, leaving Emily's statement unanswered.
Her friend slid in next to her, very close. "Isn't it, though..?" she whispered softly, leaning over Anne to retrieve a little blown-glass bottle of soap. Anne's breath caught in her throat as Emily's body brushed against hers, her fur equally dark, warm and wet.
Emily grinned over at her as she straightened again, setting the bottle on the lip of the bath and picking up a ceramic urn Anne set at its edge. Warm water poured over her head as Emily tipped the urn, sluicing down over her body and wetting her long red hair to the roots.
Emily set the urn to one side and took up the bottle of soap again, removing the stopper. Pouring a small amount of the fragrant liquid into the palm of her paw, she slid in behind Anne and began to wash her hair.
Anne sighed with pleasure as she felt her friend's knowledgeable fingers work the soap into a lather. She hadn't had her hair washed since she was a little girl, and then it was with the lard soaps her family bought in the market. This soap smelled of flowers and made her scalp tingle.
As Emily worked, Anne came to realize that her friend's legs were spread wide behind her, curled around her hips and tail keeping her in place. The sensation made her suddenly feel flush. She bit her lower lip, nervous, feeling a sudden need to speak.
"I-I can't even imagine what they would look like… The mansions, I mean… Emily. This…" she stammered, lowering her eyes to the water only to see her friend's legs clasped gently around her own, "This house is more than I ever expected to see, really…" she said in a small voice, trailing off.
Emily snorted at her, "Oh Anne… You never did realize how beautiful you were. How beautiful you are," she said, tenderly caressing the soapy fingers of one paw over her cheek ruffs while the other continued to wash her hair.
Anne paused for a moment, caught between the urge to press into her friend's paw and to pull away from it. Filled with indecision, she settled upon giving it a little nuzzle and then turning her head, brushing imaginary soap out of her eyes.
"I never thought so, Emily, but… I'm here," she answered softly, very aware of Emily's body behind her, nervous but wanting to be touched again.
Emily chuckled softly, lifting the urn and pouring warm water over her hair again, rinsing out the soap. Anne flattened her velvety ears and tipped her head back to keep the water from going into her eyes, giggling unexpectedly. "Watch it, Emily!"
Her friend giggled in response, but continued with greater care, gently squeezing out Anne's hair and then washing it again. She shifted, her breasts pressing heavily against Anne's back, hard nipples barely noticible jutting out from her downy chest-fur. Anne grew quiet, closing her eyes and just experience the new sensations.
Emily appeared to sense her change in mood and became quiet as well, gently rinsing out Anne's hair and then curling it up into a make-shift bun. She shifted again, moving through the warm water until she settled in front of Anne. "Anne…" she said softly.
Anne opened her eyes and looked over at Emily, flush heightening. She bit her lower lip and looked into the water. "Emily…"
Emily drew in closer, moving until she sat half in, half out of Anne's lap, her legs clasped loosely around her hips. Anne looked up, watching, not stopping her friend but unsure what she should do.
Smiling, Emily turned and pulled a sea sponge from the little niche from which the bottle of soap had come. Anne grinned at her, "We used to see those being unloaded from the ships in the harbor," she said, taking the sponge from Emily and looking it over curiously as her friend poured more soap into the palm of one paw.
"Yes. Now we know where it goes," she said, grinning and reaching for the sponge again. She squeezed it, filling it with water, then worked the soap in until she had a good lather.
Anne watched her, noting the delicate silver highlights the candles lent to Emily's grey fur and hair, unruly tendrils escaping from her bun to curl about her neck and shoulders. "You're beautiful…" she whispered, taken aback as the words fell from her lips.
Emily smiled at her tenderly, allaying her fears. She settled the sponge upon one of her shoulders and began to slowly wash her. "As are you, my friend, even more beautiful than I," she whispered softly in response.
Anne shook her head in denial, then surprised herself by reaching out to delicately brush her fingers over Emily's muzzle, the slope of her neck. Emily smiled at her, moving the sponge in such a way as to not impede Anne's explorations. Anne giggled nervously as she trailed her fingers down over her friend's breast, rubbing her thumb over one of the hard nipples and then hefting the breast, feeling its weight.
Emily gasped softly in response, her thighs going taut momentarily around Anne's hips, her ears laying back, the sponge pausing. Anne looked up at her, surprised at the intensity of the reaction, and dropped her paw.
Giving a shudder, Emily reached for Anne's paw, shaking her head with an encouraging smile, "No, it's okay. I liked it…" she said softly, returning her paw to her breast, "Don't stop…"
Anne grinned a bit, embarrassed but encouraged, and began to caress over Emily's breast again. She let her fingers trail, teasing her nipples and the area around them, exploring as her friend made soft, growling, pleasureful noises and resumed sponging down over her arms and sides.
Emily paused as her washing led her naturally to Anne's own breasts. Anne looked up at her friend, grinned a bit, then dropped her paws and leaned back against the side of the bath. Emily grinned at her in return and began to lightly circle Anne's breast with the sponge.
Anne giggled as her friend teased her, brushing by her hardened nipples but never touching them directly. She began to squirm, her heavy, water-logged tail breaking the surface, trying to get Emily's sponge to go where she wanted it to by moving her body.
Emily giggled, making a game of it, teasing Anne until she looked about ready to burst and then relenting, roughly drawing the sponge directly over her nipples.
Anne gasped and became perfectly still, ears laying flat again, eyes flying wide at the bolts of pleasure searing through her. She had never felt something so pleasurable in all her life, and it was evident on her face.
Giving a slow smile, Emily shifted until her thighs settled around Anne's waist, the curve of her mound pressing to her own. Her hard nipples raked across Anne's, sending new shocks into her body. She brought her arms up around Anne's neck and pressed against her, drawing her paws downward to lightly wash her back as her cheek caressed to hers.
Anne made a soft sound of surprise, remaining still, just experiencing the feel of Emily pressed against her, the warm water lapping around both their wet bodies as the sponge washed over her back. "Oh Emily…" she breathed, resting her forehead upon her friend's damp-furred shoulder and closing her eyes, tentatively bringing her arms around in a half hug, half passionate embrace.
The sponge dropped into the water behind Anne with a small splash, surprising her. She lifted her head, opening her eyes to find Emily staring back at her, her own gaze smoldering. Emily's paws came up, cupping Anne's muzzle and tilting her chin slightly, and then she kissed her, gently at first but with growing passion.
Anne yipped softly in response, pressing back against Emily, her own paws caressing over her friend's face and hair. Emily growled and pressed her lips hard against Anne's, fiercely passionate, her body grinding. And then suddenly she was pulling back, shaking her head and moving out of Anne's lap.
Anne felt empty, the absence of her friend's body against hers painfully apparent. She stared at Emily, shaking her head in confusion, "What… I-I'm sorry, did I do something wrong, Emily?" she asked.
Emily shook her head quickly, laughing an empty laugh and smoothing her hair back. "No, no of course not, Anne. I just…" she looked up at Anne, appearing unsure of herself for the first time that night. "You're just so beautiful, and…" She sighed and shook her head again, looking away. "It would be a great disservice of me if I were to deny our Mistress, Silva Marie, of the pleasure of being your first," she said softly.
Anne's mouth dropped open, then slowly closed again. She nodded slowly in understanding. She knew she had been brought to Silva Marie's house as an amusement; a toy, an intelligent little pet that, if pleasing enough, might be allowed to become an apprentice. It was her very innocence that Silva Marie would find most appealing. She nodded to Emily, biting her lower lip. "I know you're right, Emily, but…" she said softly, giving a nervous laugh.
Emily grinned back at her, then giggled, "But it felt so good…" she finished.
Anne nodded, grinning. "Yeah," she said softly, "I never knew that… Well, you know…"
Still grinning, Emily nodded, fishing the sponge out from behind her and using it to sluice away the remaining soap from Anne's body. "I know, it was like that for me, too. Well, later, anyway…" she added softly.
Anne tried to catch Emily's eye, but found her friend absorbed. "Later?" she asked.
Emily nodded silently, returning the sponge and bottle of soap to their holder. "Yeah… Mistress Silva Marie, she, well… You'll find out for yourself. You may come to like it… Some do," she said, standing and moving to the edge of the tub. She got out, then turned and held out her paw for Anne.
"Either way," she continued as Anne gave her a probing look and then stepped from the tub, "This is a wonderful opportunity for you. You shouldn't worry, Mistress Silva Marie never permanently marks her chosen ones, as unpromising as they may be. And being unpromising, my friend, isn't something you'll ever have to worry about either."
Anne grimaced a bit at that, "You're not very encouraging…" she said, lifting her arms as Emily unfolded a large towel and wrapped it around her middle, briskly rubbing her dry and then tending to herself.
"Well, I try. I'm sorry, I've just been here so long, and I've tried so hard. Some day, though, Mistress promised. Some day, if I'm good enough, I'll be a Brown." Emily's grey eyes gleamed as she spoke, taking down Anne's hair to allow it to dry.
Anne nodded slowly, shaking out her hair and then sliding her paw into Emily's offered one.
"Come, we need to get you ready. Mistress Silva Marie asked me to prepare you and then send you to her chambers. She'll be waiting," Emily said.
Breath catching in her throat, Anne nodded again and sat in the chair Emily guided her to. Fragrant oils were applied to her paws and feet, her nails cut and filed to perfection. Emily brushed out her hair with tender care, leaving it hanging naturally over her shoulders in lockes that gleamed blood red in the candle light.
Anne smiled at her bravely as Emily stood back and looked her over for anything she may have missed. "Beautiful as an angel, you are…" she whispered, voice without the slightest hint of teasing.
Anne blushed in the face of it, grinning. Emily brushed out her hair a few last times and then led her over to a door adjacent to the one they had come through. She squeezed Anne's paw and smiled affectionately over at her, "Ready?" she whispered.
Anne nodded, squeezing her friend's paw tightly. "Thank you, Emily. I'm ready," she whispered.
Emily smiled, leaning in to place a gentle kiss upon the corner of Anne's mouth, and then knocked three times on Silva Marie's bedroom chamber's door.