A vortex of emotions

"Hmm... I guess I just got overwhelmed by all the emotions swirling among the four of us." Kiara explained. "Usually, I think I'd have a more scholarly interest in it, but..." She let the last words trail off.

"Has something changed?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's felt a lot more... personal since I've started connecting with you." She shrugged. "I used to be able to find it fascinating enough just to observe and record my findings. But now a red haze comes over me whenever I sense any of those same emotions."

"Was it that strong?" I was surprised. "I didn't think anything we did triggered negative emotions."

"Well it was quite subtle... but among other things, I noticed you took notice of Mia, and she of you..." She said pensively.

I was a bit ashamed that I was noticed, but also perked up a bit when she mentioned Mia did the same, before berating myself for it while I was talking to my new lover.

"And Roland may look level-headed but he definitely got a little jealous. I did as well... Ah! Nothing you need to worry about though, I think it's perfectly normal to feel a little jealousy in this unique situation." She quickly continued, pulling herself out of her musings.

"I still feel like I should apologize..."

"No, I accepted this relationship with the knowledge that you still have some lingering feelings... I'm using them to my advantage so don't feel guilty about them." She reassured me. "Besides, I'm quite confident my methods are working wonders." She squeezed my upper thigh, slightly rousing my cock.

"Ahem, I'm not healed yet, but under your careful treatment I'm sure those lingering feelings will disappear in no time." I agree earnestly.

"Mmm..." She mumbled again, back in her reflective state. "Since you and Mia were eyeing each other a bit, I had a moment to look over Roland as well and he seemed more than a little intrigued by my ruby lips, so we're even on that count." She finished with a light-hearted tone.

I almost swallowed my tongue at her remarks.

"Y-you did what? Are you joking?" I ask, a little apprehensive.

"I'm not indifferent to male charms. He is nicely muscled." Kiara plays it off coolly. "So, does it make you want to embrace me? Monopolize me? Make me forget about any other males?" She teases.

"Come on, you have to stop teasing me." I exhale.

"Well I was teasing you, but it's also true that I did look him over." Kiara hugs me. "Does that... bother you?" She continues, a little more seriously.

I didn't answer for a little bit. I was confused, on the one hand, jealousy did seem to have an effect on my enthusiasm in bed. On the other, it did lead to some heartache. On top of that, I felt guilty that I still pined after Mia, and found it hard to reproach Kiara for admiring Roland's charms. Feelings that were foreign to me kept bubbling up, and the unease at feeling so insecure prevented me from offering an answer.

Kiara, sensing that I had trouble expressing myself took up the duty of addressing the situation. She turned her body on the bed and turned my face towards her.

"Darx, listen to me closely." Her serious tone reflected in the firm grip she had on my cheeks, stopping me from looking away. "I tease you because it's fun and arousing. I'm not doing this to hurt you, so if you feel uncomfortable with anything, please don't hesitate to tell me." She took a deep breath. "I'm aware that my... proclivities are... unusual and it's easy to cross the line from playful teasing into humiliation or worse, ****. I need you to tell me when I cross that line. I'm good at reading people, but I'm far from perfect."

I slowly nodded, acknowledging her words, but still wasn't ready to put my own feelings into words.

She hugged me tight to her chest and we stayed motionless.

"Kiara?" I mumbled into her embrace.

"Yes, darling?" She responded, kissing the top of my head.

"Could I tell you some thoughts that have been weighing on my chest?" I asked.

"Yes, of course. I'll listen." She whispered calmly.

I lifted myself up, and sat beside her on the bed, taking one of her hands into mine. My thumb traced the back of her palm.

"I've been feeling a little... insecure ever since I discovered that Mia had been cheating on me... well actually I guess it goes farther back than that. Ever since Amelia had a secret relationship going with Kase."

Kiara didn't say anything, just squeezed my hand to comfort me.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm a good lover." I continued.

"Yes of course you are. I'm very happy with you." She confirmed.

"I'm happy with you as well." I said with a slight smile. "But, I know this is silly. I wonder if you're satisfied? Sometimes I see Mia in my dreams. Well nightmares really..."

"I'm satisfied with you." Kiara reassured me.

"... but you don't finish during sex do you?"

"I..." Kiara took a moment to ponder the issue. "No, but I've read that some women don't climax from penetration."

"Oh... Mia came pretty easily so I thought I wasn't doing it for you... So you can't cum from sex?" I tried to confirm.

Kiara turned away, and my heart iced over.

"... Kiara?" the word 'inadequate' immediately fought itself to the forefront of my mind.

"No!" Kiara vigorously denied it. "S-sorry. I was just embarrassed about what I'm about to say."

I waited with baited breath.

"It's really not what you're thinking... Remember when I said I tore my hymen with my own shadow skill?"

I nodded.

"Well... I uh, experimented quite a bit afterwards to find an..." She wet her lips. "Optimal tool."

"Optimal tool?" I repeated, not understanding.

"To help me climax... cum..." She lowered her head. Embarrassed.

"Like... a sex toy?" I was vaguely aware that these existed and were used in bed.

"Something like that?" She hesitated.

Neither of us breathed a word, both knowing what question was coming next. I gathered my courage.

"Could you show it to me?"

Her hands stayed glued to her thighs for a moment.

"A-ah, if it's too private, don't bot-" I left the rest of the sentence hang as she raised her hands and started to create something out of shadows.

Something vaguely cylindrical was forming. It was quite... large...

I looked away, ashamed at my own thought. When I looked back, I let out a sigh of relief. Though it was quite a large... thing... it definitely did not resemble a humanoid penis. The shape was vaguely cylindrical, but at the top, there were tendrils that were swaying. Near the base, there was a large bump and a protrusion with another set of tendrils.

I couldn't stop staring in fascination.

"Please don't look so closely." Kiara pleaded in a small voice.

"Sorry, it just... I've never seen anything like it before." I gulped. "How does it work?"

"Y-you even want to know that?" She was shocked.

"W-well," Now it was my turn to stutter. "I thought maybe I could... learn?"

Kiara's face contorted into a half-smile half-grimace, pleased that I was pursuing knowledge for her and dread at having to explain.

She sighed heavily. "I guess there's no way out of this one. Okay." She resolved herself, grabbing the tool and placing it between her legs. It looked grotesque. The top tendrils were squirming against her belly.

"So, this part up here is for... stimulating a-around my w-womb..." Her blush was severed but she powered through. "Gently massaging it arouses me greatly." She pointed at a large protrusion about three quarters down the shaft. "This part stimulates another sensitive spot near the front and the entrance when I m-move it... in and out... oh gosh..." She hid her face even more than usual, with her hands.

I put an arm around her shoulder.

Having recovered a little, she pointed to the other protrusion that looked like a tree branch pointing upwards. "When it's all the way inside, this part tickles my clitoris..."

She finished her explanation. I didn't know what to say so I said a stupid thing.

"... Can I see you use it?"

She threw it at me, then she threw a pillow at me. That was deserved.

"Y-y-you!" Her rage and shame caused her to stutter instead of forming the fully-fledged thought.

I caught her hands and started laughing.

"What's so funny?" She demanded, indignant.

I kissed her, still laughing. She resisted a tiny little bit before relenting and giving into it, even if she was frowning.

"Sorry... I just felt so silly." I wiped away the tears that had formed during my laughing fit. "You're right Kiara. I'll tell you about all my insecurities and apprehensions from hereon out."

Her frown melted into a gentle smile. "Ah, I'm glad that it was some use then. Now," She cleared her throat, putting on her authoritative tone. "We have supplies to purchase before setting out tomorrow." She pushed herself off the bed and walked towards the door.

"Sure, sure, lead the way." I said, my mood light again.

Kiara paused at the doorway after I had caught up to her. She kissed me on the cheek and whispered in a devilishly sexy throaty, hoarse tone. "You can use it on me tonight if you want."

My face felt like it could melt iron. She got one up on me once again. I chased after the sound of her giggling.