And it'll be love, love, love all through our bodies

“Today… was so much fun,” Ella said wistfully as she and Nick walked the long, slow path back to the beach, where Dakota would be waiting. There was a smile on her lips, but her heart was heavy, knowing they would be leaving the zoo so very soon.

The date had not gone… exactly as Ella had planned. When she’d packed an outfit for Cinder, she’d done so as an act of last resort- hoping it wouldn’t be needed, but having it available just in case, knowing how her alter felt about the clothes that Ella usually wore.

Not only had Cinder manifested today, but Ella had practically called her out. This morning, if someone had told Ella that she’d be voluntarily giving up control of her body to Cinder so that her other self could enjoy the date she’d prepared with Nick, Ella would have looked at them with shock and horror and protested- loudly.

But in that moment… it had just felt right.

For this very brief point in time, Ella did not feel scared of Cinder or what her other self would do. Maybe that would change again in the future and she’d be wary of giving up control again, but right now, with Nick and Nola both telling her how much Cinder had enjoyed their date, she didn’t have any regrets.

Once Nick had managed to pry Ella away from the unicorn, they went back and saw all the animals that he and Cinder had gone to together. Ella wanted to walk in her alter’s shoes for a little longer, to see the things she saw, and feel what she felt. It made her feel closer to Cinder in a strange way, and almost made her wonder if someday they could become one, like they used to be.

Not that Ella remembered what that was like. Just like Cinder, those days were a confusing blur of jagged-edged memories jammed together into a collage of half-truths and contradictions. Those things had happened to someone, but Ella could only remember the events themselves. Not herself experiencing them.

Ella **** herself to tear her mind away from those dark thoughts. The longer she dwelled on them the more she felt like a door was opening inside her that she wouldn’t be able to close again. And right now…

She would rather be happy.

“What did you like best?” Ella asked, turning to Nick with an exuberant gleam in her eyes. “The unicorn was probably my favorite… or maybe the lions… …No, definitely the unicorn! The way she headbutted you, that was so cute, ehehe…”

Ella’s cheeks flushed as she realized how that sounded and she quickly waved her hands. “Sorry! That must not have been very fun for you!” She needed to remember that there were more important things than her own joy.

“Don’t worry about it,” Nick said with an assuring smile that melted her heart like butter. “I get it, you were just playing around. But I’d really not like to get close next time, alright?”

Ella sighed and nodded sheepishly. “I’m sorry… yeah, next time I’ll… wait, next time?” She perked up and turned to Nola. “Nola, can… is there a next time?”

“Hmm?” Nola turned to look back at them. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I don’t see why not. You bonded with that unicorn quite adorably… I’m sure she’d be happy to see you again!”

A warm smile blossomed across Ella’s face and her heart went all gooey. She clasped her hands together and flashed a beaming smile. “Oh yes… that would be just wonderful!” She cooed, squirming with enjoyment. “I’d love to see her again…”

“That’s good to hear,” Nick said with a laugh. “Just no more headbutts, if you don’t mind.”

“R-right, I’ll come alone next time,” Ella nodded. “…But, um… maybe we could go on another date? To the zoo? Sometime?” They hadn’t seen nearly all the animals, even if Ella had gotten to see most of the ones she’d wanted to. She definitely wanted to come back!

Nick couldn’t agree more. “I’d like that,” he said. “But again-”

“Right, no unicorn. Yeah. And sorry again. Yeah…” Ella’s cheeks flushed.

Nola giggled. “Don’t worry, it’s only, like, mostly your fault!” She said, skipping over and patting Ella on the shoulder. “Unicorns like pure young maidens like you, but smelly boys? P.U.! No thanks.” She made a face and shook her head adamantly.

Nick rolled his eyes while Ella timidly nodded.

“…Oh, also! We did make a few adjustments, what, since this is Harem Hotel and everything,” Nola quickly said, realizing there was another issue she hadn’t accounted for. “See, the lore about unicorns, it’s all about pure maidens and stuff, so that means virgins, yeah? But we don’t want that! You SHOULD be having sex here! So our unicorns only care about whether or not you’re a cute girl with pure feelings of love in your heart. Even after you and Nick start having sex, she still won’t treat you any differently. Isn’t that great?”

From Nola’s point of view that sure sounded great.

Ella didn’t even know where to start, though.

“Wh-wh-what!?” She stammered, her hand drifting down to her rubber-band. She played with the hem of her frilly dress (she’d changed clothes again back when she took over) with her other hand, feeling suddenly very hot and bothered. “I didn’t, that’s not-!”

It hadn’t even occurred to her that was a possibility. Today had been so wonderful and sweet, that the notion of sex hadn’t even entered her mind until Nola popped in and planted it there.

Now it was all she could think about.

Right, this… this is a date! And dates… they usually end in us being intimate! I-I’ll have to do things with Nick… well, not “have” to, he would never make me… b-but if I don’t then that’s two rounds in a row where we haven’t done anything… last time Cinder took over for that, so I didn’t have the opportunity, but if it’s me, then…! Ella’s brain was starting to fry as she poured over a ton of possibilities that were only just now occurring to her.

And she didn’t like the picture forming in her mind.

“It’s a good thing, right?” Nola patted her on the shoulder again, seemingly oblivious to how her words were being taken by the other girl.

Thankfully, Nick had much more situational awareness.

“Nola, let’s just leave the sex out of it for now, please,” he asked her gently but firmly. “This has been a really hectic and crazy date; just because we had a lot of fun together, that doesn’t mean-”

“No, she’s right!” Ella blurted out, turning her wide eyes towards Nick. Her body was trembling like the flowers in the unicorn’s windy glade, but she had a determined look on her shaky face. “I… this… this is a date… technically, um, our third, kind of… so… w-we… I mean…”

The words wouldn’t come out. How hard was it to say? Three dates. Even someone as sheltered and isolated as Ella knew what that meant.

So why couldn’t she bring herself to say it? What was she afraid of? That she wasn’t ready to take that next step? That Cinder would be mad at her? That Nick would think less of her for saying it? When all the other girls here were already doing whatever they wanted with him?

After Nick had gone and treated her and Cinder so nice and sweetly today… she owed him this much at least, right?

Ella looked up at Nick with watery eyes, and he winced.

“Ella, we talked about this,” he said gently. “You don’t have to **** yourself to do anything you’re not ready for. I like spending time with you because I like you, not because you want to do stuff with me. Okay?”

Ella shook her head. That wouldn’t do… no, it wouldn’t do at all!

“We’ve been on three dates already…” she whimpered. “You don’t need to treat me like some little kid, Nick! I know… I know I don’t have any experience… I must look really silly to someone with a bunch of girlfriends like you, but… even I… even I want to make progress with you, too!”

Her gaze was shaky, but determined. Even though she looked ready to cry, she also looked like she was ready to see this through.

Nick didn’t know how to respond to that. His heart swelled with admiration at Ella’s determination, even though he felt uncertain how he should proceed. It was obvious that Ella wanted this, but it was just as obvious that she was scared of taking the next step. This wasn’t at all like with Mary who had been held back by her faith, or Morgana who talked a big game but was really a timid girl with a wild fantasy life. Ella… it was like she was forcing herself to do this, because she wanted to do it and thought she should be ready, even if she wasn’t.

What was Nick supposed to do here? If I turn her down, it’s just going to sting her. She’s already got a chip on her shoulder about being babied and patronized, or “treating her like glass” as she calls it… if I say no, then she’ll just feel like I’m pushing her away. But is she really ready to take this next step? I know the show we’re on is going to make it happen eventually, but I really don’t think she’s ready for that.

He felt trapped. But what could he say?

“Ella… is this really what you want?” He asked seriously. “If this is just because of pressure-”

“It’s NOT because of that!” Ella insisted. “It’s just… it… it’s time, that’s all. I’m not saying it because I feel like I owe you, or because… because I think I have to do it. I want to! I… I’m just… I’m really scared right now…”

She snapped her rubber-band. “Thwap!”

“Because it’s my… first time…” Her eyes were watering. But past that clear gaze, Nick could see a smoldering fire.

Nola had faded into the background at this point. It was just the two of them here. And while Nick had no intention of having sex with her right here in the middle of the zoo, he knew he needed to respond to the sincere feelings she was conveying to him.

“…Are you sure about this?” He asked with a final, weighty sigh, determined to see this through if it was really what Ella wanted.

She paused, her eyes flickering slightly, and then gave him a timid nod in response. “…I do,” she murmured softly. “Today was amazing. I was scared this morning… so I didn’t want to think about what tonight meant, but… with how you were today with me, and with Cinder… it’s time. I’m ready… to have my first kiss.”

The air around Nick froze as her words touched his ears.

Nola nearly fell over. “Wait, huh!? Hold up a second!”

Ella ignored her. Saying those words, it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she held her head up high. “I know we’ve only been on three dates, but I feel like I’m ready now, to really… k-kiss you!” She cursed herself for getting tongue-twisted at the end there. “If… if you want to, I mean,” she quickly added, her heart skipping a beat. Her mind raced as she started questioning herself due to Nick’s lack of a response. What if he didn’t want to kiss her? What would she do then? Ella had put her heart out there for him, but if he turned her down… if he wasn’t ready…

“Wait… that… that’s what you were talking about?” Nick was still a few sentences behind her, trying to play catch up. “You want… us to kiss?”

Ella blinked, confused. “That’s what you’re supposed to do, right?” She asked, her voice hitching from anxiety. “On the third date, you share a kiss. Is… is that wrong?”

“No!” Nick said quickly, relief rushing over him like a tidal wave. “A kiss! On the third date! That… that’s exactly right, yes! You’re totally right, Ella! A kiss, that’s all!”

Ella’s eyes widened and she nearly collapsed out of relief. “Oh, thank goodness,” she sighed, placing her hand over her heart. “I was worried that you wouldn’t… um… that you were going to turn me down… I’m so glad…”

“No, uh, it’s fine,” Nick said, his face burning as he kicked himself mentally for misunderstanding what she was asking for. If Ella was asking for a kiss after their third date (and really, one of those dates hardly even counted) then she probably wasn’t ready to go any further.

“Good, um… I’ve actually been, uh… thinking about it for a while…” Ella scratched her cheek, smiling sheepishly. “I said I was scared, but… I also really wanted to. I know it’s because of my transformation making me think this way, but… kissing you… I really want to. Do you… want to kiss me back?”

Nick had agreed to the kiss, but what Ella really wanted to hear right now was that he wanted to kiss her. That would help set her heart at ease.

…And maybe make her feel better about all the other stuff she was thinking about doing with him right now. Stuff that had been flashing through her mind when she had him tied up and blindfolded in that chair.

Stuff that she was definitely not ready to try yet.

“Ella, if you want to kiss, then I’m more than happy to do that,” Nick assured her, giving her the best smile he could. The idea had admittedly not really occurred to him today- he’d been enjoying Ella’s (and Cinder’s) company so much that this hadn’t even felt like a romantic sort of date. But the look in her eye, the fact that it was almost sunset…

The yearning in her gaze made him realize that he had a cute girl who adored him standing right there, looking so cute he wanted to scoop her up in his arms.

Really, his mental block had only existed because he’d been afraid of what giving in would mean for the two of them. But if Ella was ready, then he wanted to make her happy.

He hoped that a kiss would do that.

As for Ella, she looked… hesitant again. Like someone who had been riding the high of a fantasy and was now crashing back down to earth.

“So, um… uh…” Ella fidgeted with her fingers and lowered her head, shielding her face behind her bangs again. “How… how do we, uh…”

“Kissing lessons?” Nola popped in. “Happy to help! Just pucker up, and-”

“Nola!” Nick snapped, shooting her a look. “Some privacy, please? Seriously.”

“Right, don’t have to ask me twice,” Nola said with a salute, although apparently Nick DID have to ask her again, because she just stood there with a leering look on her face.

“Nola!”

“Right, going.” The leprechaun scampered off, leaving Nick and Ella alone for real this time. Alone with the awkward atmosphere hanging over their heads.

But when Nick turned back to Ella, something changed. He couldn’t describe it, but seeing her like that, it was as if he could feel his body relaxing. Like he was ready for this because she was ready for it.

Ella gave him a timid smile.

“I’m, uh… this… this is my first time,” she said awkwardly, feeling that same tension that he felt. But along with that tension came the same sense of desire. “I know it’s not yours. So… can you…”

It felt wrong to say “Take the lead” because Ella really wanted this. She wanted it more than he did, she was pretty sure. So she should be the one taking the lead, right?

But she didn’t know how to do that, so the only thing she could do was turn the reins over to Nick, and hope he would make it good for her.

Unfortunately for Ella’s expectations, Nick was not some master kisser. He’d kissed most of the women in his harem already, but that had been when the moment was right. And while the moment was right here as well, the feeling of expectation she was piling on him gave him pause.

“…To start, there’s no ‘right’ way to do it,” Nick said, stepping closer to her. He noticed the way she tilted her head slightly so she was still looking into his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. “When it comes to kissing, you just… do it.”

“I-I see…” Ella said, nodding timidly. “Okay… then… just… do it…?”

He could hear her heart beating. Normally this would be the time when he’d caress her shoulders or pull her in for a hug, but he wasn’t sure how she would respond. This was a lot for her right now, even if she really wanted it.

Then he noticed how much closer she’d come.

Ella leaned in, desire flaring in her eyes.

“It’s alright,” she murmured, wrapping her fingers around his arms as she pushed herself towards him, rising up on her toes to press her face closer to his. “I’m… I’m nervous too… it’s fine. But I really want this.”

Ella had no idea if she was doing this right or not, but Nick was just too slow! This wasn’t going to satisfy her at all!

He wanted it, she could see that now. But he was holding back, out of consideration for her.

How sweet! Normally, Ella would be touched.

Right now though, she was impatient.

I’m not a wilting flower. I’m not made out of glass. You wouldn’t hold back with Rose or Dawn or Morgana, so why with me!?

Nope, no way!

Ella had always imagined that her first kiss would be like something out of a storybook romance. A dashing prince would sweet her up into his arms and she would timidly cede her lips to him as he held her tight, being modest and reserved like a proper princess should be.

She had never imagined that she would be the one pushing first.

Kissed the Master! +1 VP

That was it? A single point for a single kiss?

…It wasn’t even satisfying. It was rushed. And awkward. But that wasn’t Ella’s fault, she didn’t know how to do it properly!

She needed practice.

So she tightened her grip on Nick’s arms and tried again, pushing her lips against his for the second time in as many seconds.

This time, she let herself feel it. The heat. The softness of his lips as they pushed against hers. The way he parted his mouth into a faint sigh against her, almost as if he was inviting her to just… keep going.

Her body was moving before she even realized what she was doing, and suddenly her tongue was inside him, exploring his mouth as she practically pushed him over, forcing her kiss on him with all the furor of a woman who had been dreaming of this since she was a little girl.

Which she had.

It was so much! More than she ever could have hoped. And it filled her chest with a rush of excitement as their tongues danced together. Nick was responding to her now, and it was just what she’d always hoped it would be. Feeling him kissing her back, it was like he was telling her that he liked this too, that he was accepting her.

That he wanted it.

And Ella wanted this too… she wanted so, so much more! As her body burned like a bonfire she knew that this was just the start. And when Nick tried to pull away for whatever stupid reason, she dug her nails into his shirt and **** him back.

Cinder wouldn’t let him get away, so she wouldn’t either. Nick was enjoying this, almost as much as she was. And she was going to make him enjoy it even more.

“Haah…” A passionate sigh escaped between them in the brief instant Nick tried to break the kiss, before Ella reminded him that he didn’t have the right to stop now. No, now that Ella had tasted what kisses were like, she wasn’t about to let him off that easily.

This was his reward for such a wonderful date, but more than that, it was HER reward for planning such a wonderful date.

And she was determined to get her due.