CH 155: The Struggle makes Rewards better
It was halfway into the next day and Claire was struggling. Gone were the macabre thoughts of their previous battle, replaced by the twins’ idea. Her lovers around her, drowning in their compliments.
“You’re drooling,” Ursa sternly said beside her. They chose to ride together to keep each other in check.
Claire wiped her mouth with her sleeve, blinking rapidly. “Shit… got caught up in-”
“Stop,” Ursa said, exhaling slowly. “Don’t even mention it.”
“Be strong,” Claire said, grasping Ursa’s hand. She squeezed it tightly like a lifeline. “That village was a bust… we don’t have the luxury of easing up.”
The residents of Oak village were busy with the harvest and couldn’t spare any help. They would have to keep going and deal with the hours of driving. It left them alone with only their thoughts.
That was an issue for all of them. Every one of them struggled with having to hold back. It’d been days since they last had sex, and it was killing them.
Claire felt it the worst. Every movement her lovers made, her eyes were glued to. Lily bent down that morning to pick something up and Claire barely held on. She wanted to mount the alchemist then and there.
Now she was stuck with her thoughts, which quickly turned to fantasies. It was torture. Her cock was throbbing against her thigh, the fabric doing nothing to hide her swelling bulge. She caught Ursa glancing at it every couple of minutes.
“Be strong,” Claire murmured. She gripped Ursa’s hand tightly, hoping to ground the woman.
Ursa gulped. “Hard to… when I can see it through…”
“Look away,” Claire’s voice dropped, full of command. “Be a good girl.”
Ursa stiffened, her eyes now focused on the road. Claire smiled, a mix of control and satisfaction filling her. It’d be torture, but it will make Lily’s little send-off far sweeter.
At least she could concentrate during watch, for the most part. Being in her armor forced her to focus, reminded her of the dangers. Anytime a lewd thought entered her mind, she touched the dents in her armor. The bent metal from Terra’s arrows was a tether.
It got lost in the mind-numbing amount of questions she had after the battle, but she did level up once more. Her skill did seem weird.
Divine Resistance: Resist the influence and strain of the divine. You can better withstand your goddess’s magic. Resistance to other gods’ magic added to your aura.
Stats:
Strength: 21 (+3) (+5)
Magic: 1
Dexterity: 11(+5)
Resistance: 18(+5)
Constitution: 8
Wisdom: 13(+5)
Charisma: 10(+5)
Divinity: 11
Defense: 21 (+5)
It made sense given how her Goddess talked about Claire channeling Her power. The second part sent a chill down her spine. Resisting other gods’ influence? Why would she need something like that? Would she be crossing paths with Toni again?
Claire squirmed. Thinking of the dancer set her off. His lithe body and perfect face. She focused on breathing, trying to calm herself down. Ursa glared at her from across the fire.
“It’s watch,” Ursa growled. “Be on guard.”
“I know,” Claire muttered. “New skill. Had me thinking…”
“We still have two days, better not break already,” Ursa’s glare softened.
Claire nodded. She calmed herself down enough to continue her train of thought. Her skills always came when they were needed most. When Jaz hesitated to allow intimacy on missions, a skill appeared to incentivize it. Her Goddess was saying something to her.
That is, if She controlled when Claire acquired skills.
Claire would have chalked the Lover’s Boon skill up to a coincidence, but there were others. Both her Lesser Taunt and Vow of Protection came when she was worried for her lovers’ safety in battle. Her Parry skill came just in time to face Ursa. Now this one.
It seemed too specific to be handed out randomly. So either she was going to reunite with Toni or they’d need it for a future battle. The latter sent her mind further. Would she face other Champions like her? Were there others?
Is that what Firewater, Silkie, and Samira are?
Claire shook her head violently, the dread building up in her disappearing. She had to stop thinking about that as well. All it was at the moment was speculation. They needed more information before they could truly devote time to those three.
“Time to switch,” Ursa stood, exhaling slowly. She stretched her arms and let out a soft groan. “Think you can hold out for two more days?”
Claire nodded weakly. “I think so…”
“Doesn’t look like it,” Ursa muttered as she walked towards the carriage.
“Too much on my mind,” Claire said as she looked into the fire. “It’s like the only time I get peace from my thoughts is during our intimate moments…”
Ursa hesitated at the door to the carriage, her heart aching. She opened it gently and roused Jasmine and Lily. Claire was left alone, trying her best to hold back her thoughts.
She barely reacted when Jasmine nudged her. “Get some sleep. We’ll have more time to talk when we’re in Restol.”
Claire nodded. She left the campfire’s warmth and headed to the carriage. Lily smiled sleepily as she passed, her cute yawn brightening Claire’s mood.
“Claire,” Ursa’s voice was soft, almost shy. She held the blanket open for the paladin, an invitation to lay beside her.
Claire hesitated. “I’ll be fine…”
“I want to,” Ursa whispered. Claire crawled under the blanket, feeling the heat of her lover’s skin. She curled up to her, her back pressed against Ursa. She wrapped her left arm around Claire and pulled her close.
“Even if it makes it harder?” Claire whispered.
“Even if it causes us to fail…” Ursa replied.
Claire snuggled closer, trying her best to ignore the throbbing heat pressed against her. She held tightly to Ursa’s hand on her waist. “Thank you.”
“Claire, I love you,” Ursa whispered hesitantly. Claire could feel her heart skip a beat. It was the first time she heard Ursa say it. “Your comfort is worth it.”
Claire giggled softly, her heart pumping in her chest. “Even if you have to listen to Elsie?”
“Yes,” Ursa exhaled sharply, and Claire shuddered upon feeling her lover’s breath on her skin. “But I don’t plan on failing.”
Claire snuggled closer to Ursa, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She felt Ursa’s pounding against her back. She could only imagine how red Ursa looked. A comforting thought.
“Me either,” Claire whispered back. “We get through this, get our reward… then I’ll plan something special for you.”
Ursa nearly choked and Claire’s mind blanked. Ursa’s throbbing cock felt like a tail wagging against her ass, but Claire gained her composure.
“S-something special?”
“Mhmm,” Claire murmured. She felt her sleep slowly taking over as she spoke. “A date. Just the two of us… like I did for the others.”
Ursa bit her lip, trying to wrangle her breathing under control. She was barely able to hold her lust back to begin with, hearing another reward was dangerous. “Wh-what kind of d-date?”
“It’s a surprise,” Claire chuckled softly. “Have one planned for Lily too.”
Ursa gulped. She didn’t know if knowing or not helped. Her mind was spiraling as she fought against every instinct. Claire’s soothing breaths helped her calm down. Claire was already asleep, and Ursa should join her.
Or she might go wild.