The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

The fox's red coat still bobbing precariously on the surface of the pool, Jing Li reached out across the edge of the terrace. Lurching forward in a frantic effort to prevent Xi Yang from sinking deeper amongst the water lilies. Her attempts to retrieve Xi Yang were to be impeded by Shui Long's long arm as it wrapped around her waist. His firm grip barring her from moving closer to the water's edge, Jing Li turned to regard the god's cold gaze with some trepidation. 

Shui Long's golden irises still agitated by the ordeal of recuperating her from his brother's lair. Jing Li felt her heart tremor nervously in her chest as she peered back at him through moistened eyes. However, the water god's stony expression, warning her not to risk aiding Xi Yang any more than she had done already. Jing Li remained unmoving from his arms as she felt him press closer to her. His lips drawing near to her ear, she felt his breath brush the fine hairs on her cheek as he spoke.

"Leave him." He said. The command growled slightly due to his prolonged irritation; Jing Li retracted her outstretched arm from above the pool. Unsure of what to do with the hand that had betrayed the compassion that she had felt for the creature that had saved her, Jing Li brought it to her chest to rest over her anxious heart. Maintaining this position as she meant to illustrate her intention to longer interfere with the fox in the pond, there came a vexed exhalation from behind her. Its warm air, unsettling the chill of the light breeze that surrounded them and the small hairs on her arms.

Jing Li did not realize that she had been holding her breath, until Shui Long spoke again. 

"Come." said the god. The word, evidently not a request, Jing Li could feel his arm pull her gradually further from the border of where the raised terrace met the water. Shui Long's grip on her, mild but not lacking in the authority that his tone possessed. Jing Li glanced back one last time at the fox's crimson fur bobbing pitifully on the pond as she was guided away by the subtle persuasion of water god's hand on the small of her back. 

Steered back in the direction of the gaping openings, which had led them out to the terrace. Jing Li passed over their threshold to look upon the vast room with its regal desk and ornate bed again. The furnishings' silhouettes, casting imposing shadows on the floor of the chambers in the fading light of the day. Jing Li walked over them gingerly as Shui Long escorted her to a door that was different from the one they had entered through previously. 

The entrance, more modest than the enormous wooden barriers that guarded the room. Its distinguished doors parted before them silently with a single nod of the water god's pointed chin. Opening to reveal an elegant marble hallway that was illuminated only by a few candles, their flames lit the way to an arched doorway. Steam seen pouring from the mouth of the portal, there was the smell of incense and oils mixed into the humid air that wafted towards Jing Li's. The warm scent, accompanied by Shui Long's deliberate touch, succeeded in enticing her to venture further down the corridor. 

Jing Li barely noticed the gentle push of Shui Long's palm upon her back as she crossed beneath the arch at the end of the hall. The entry, found to open onto a large room, which contained the water god's private baths. There were candles bordering the various pools that were carved deep within the ground. Their light, glistening on the surface of the baths that were filled to the brim with waters of differing temperatures or origins. Jing Li observed that each bath seemed to be designed to fulfill their own distinct purpose as they passed. 

Her eyes, continuing to wander over the shimmering pools distractedly as Shui Long carefully guided her between them. The god finally came to stop in front of one of the more impressive baths amongst them. Emitting a long exhalation as he removed the hand from Jing Li's back. Curiosity prompted her to turn to see what had made him halt in the thick mist of the baths. The gleaming orbs of Shui Long's eyes, seen clearly amidst the steam, they focused on her more fiercely as he said, "Take it off." The abruptness of this order and the strict tone with which it was issued, causing Jing Li to shrink back from him moderately. Her hesitation forced Shui Long to state again more clearly, "Take off your clothes. I won't have you smelling of that wretched Zhu Nou any longer." 

A thin wrinkle forming between Jing Li's eyebrows in slight indignation at the assertion that her scent was disagreeable to him in some way. Shui Long's bride frowned as she was made to glance down at the bloodied sleeves and the frayed hem of her dress in dismay. Upset that another one of the fine garments that the water god had provided to her had been irreparably damaged by the ordeal. Jing Li looked down at her attire sullenly for a moment longer, before finally acknowledging the possible offense that it might evoke in Shui Long to gaze upon it.

Her cheeks flush from the vapors, which rose from the waters of the bath and the embarrassment of being made to remove her clothes before the water god's discerning eyes. Jing Li began to fiddle with the fabric belt around her waist. Feeling Shui Long's gaze upon her as Jing Li separated the knot nervously with her fingers, she could not bring herself to peer in his direction as the belt's long fabric slid onto the ground. Progressing clumsy to untie the other fastenings, which secured the garment to her slender frame. Jing Li allowed the outer layers of her attire to slip from her shoulders and onto the floor of the baths.

Peering shyly at the water god as she stood before him in only the sheer undergarments that still clung to her skin. Shui Long's yellow irises glowed with the warm light of the candles as they surveyed the slopes and curves of her body. Resisting the impulse to hide the parts of herself that were not known to others, Jing Li flinched slightly as the water god came to demand more from her.

"Remove it all." Shui Long said, his expression still tainted with a cold severity. Jing Li felt a shiver travel up her spine as she stripped herself of the last few items of clothing to cover her skin.

The god's countenance, finally softening slightly after she had exposed herself so completely to him. He jabbed his chin in the direction of the bath as he issued another curt command, "Get in." Regarding the deep waters of the bath with some uncertainty as to where they ended, Jing Li still did not object to the god's wishes as she shuffled towards it. Descending the steps, which disappeared down into the water at one side of the pool. Jing Li allowed herself to be engulfed by the bath's pleasant temperature and the faint smell of eucalyptus and sandalwood as she sank into its depths.

Feeling more comfortable now that her body was concealed beneath the water in the pool. Jing Li's heart was to become unsettled once more, when she turned back to observe Shui Long proceeding to disrobe beside the bath too. His broad shoulders already displayed attractively from the ledge above the water as he peeled back the garment, which covered his handsome figure. The layers of dark fabric fell away to reveal the vague ripple of muscles on Shui Long's back and torso. 

Jing Li's eyes, wandering dangerously over their enticing path to discover the considerable evidence of the god's masculine physique dangling before them. Her focus on Shui Long's bare body lingering for far longer than she thought might be considered acceptable or proper, she finally forced herself to turn away from him. Hiding the pink hue of her cheeks by sinking a little deeper into the waters of the bath. Jing Li was too shy to regard the god again, whilst he too joined her in the bath. 

The waves made by Shui Long's ethereal form as they entered the water exciting titillating thoughts within her. Jing Li attempted to dismiss them from her mind as she scrubbed the blood that remained in the soft nail beds of her fingers. Still occupied in this task as the god slumped down onto a stone platform, which sat below the water. He rested his head on the edge of the bath as he sighed a quiet reflection, "I suppose you didn't need me to protect you this time either." The solemn remark sounding as though it had been reflected upon several times in his mind before it was finally to be spoken aloud, Jing Li paused to listen to him further. 

"Perhaps others were right in their objections." Shui Long said, "I let my feelings for you trick me into believing that I could make you happy." Sensing the frustration and inadequacy that this admission inspired in him, Jing Li turned to regard Shui Long. The water god's eyes, no longer shining with the faint light cast by the flames of the candles. Jing Li inched closer to him as he continued to stare dismally up at the painted ceilings. However, feeling that there were times of blissful happiness, amongst the separations and the hardships that they had faced, Jing Li reached out a cautious hand to him. 

Hoping to remind Shui Long of these happy instances they shared as she placed her palm tenderly upon his chest. This small gesture, causing the god's forlorn gaze to drift back down towards her. The steady beating of Shui Long's heart felt beneath her fingers, he said, "Would you ever want to be my wife? After knowing all of my shortcomings?" This being the first time Jing Li had heard of his plans to make her his wife, there was a timid smile that played upon her lips. Her happiness downplayed the somber mood in the baths. 

The quiet signal of the affections she possessed for him, encouraging Shui Long to move closer to her as he asked again, "You are willing to be beside me throughout your entire life?" Affirming her agreement to this question with a nod of her head, Shui Long took her lips in fit of overwhelming passion. Their mouths, meeting and parting, like vigorous waves crashing against the shore. Their embrace fell into a hypnotic rhythm as Shui Long's fingers sought to entangle themselves with the dark locks of her hair. 

His other hand, roaming provocatively over the curves and fissures of her body. He explored the familiar territory of her breasts and the plump rounded mounds of her cheeks as though reclaiming them as his own, before the water god's lips separated from hers. Taking Jing Li's hips in his strong hands, Shui Long spun Jing Li around so that she might look out over water as he raised her up onto his lap. Kissing the pale skin that glistened from the water of the bath on Jing Li's thin neck as he held her to him. 

The pool, beginning to ripple from the provocation of their movements, there was a significant quiver upon its surface as Jing Li felt the god's touch migrate to the slit between her legs. His fingers eliciting pants and moans of pleasure as they proceeded to caress her there. Feeling every stroke of his fingers and every gasp of his cool breath upon her skin, Jing Li writhed against Shui Long's body. Until a surprised groan was to penetrate the air within the baths. Feeling his hardened member cross over her boundaries, the heat and force of this action nearly overwhelmed her as shook from its impact. 

Shui Long's hand still placed adamantly on her hip and his arm around her waist. He anchored Jing Li firmly to his body as they were to ride out the passionate undulations that were to overcome them. Her back pressed against his chest swaying along with the rhythm he had set for them. Jing Li felt one last wave of ecstasy course through her body. The sensation inspiring a moment of release, their pleasured cries were accompanied by the sound of sloshing water echoing throughout the baths.