Work Text:
Recently, work had been consuming a lot of Columbina's time, not the personal time she set out specifically for Sandrone, but a majority of her free time. And that was a problem, especially when she had almost forgotten her ring in the bathroom after showering, and even more when Columbina began losing sleep because of it. Yesterday, she had almost forgotten her scent patch while leaving for work, lucky for Columbina though, Sandrone was off work that day.
“You need rest, Columbina.” Sandrone sighed, head tilting back with frustration when Columbina didn't reply. Currently, they were sitting at Columbina's desk, or at least Columbina was. Sandrone, however, was hovering over the woman's lap, legs straddling her thighs, hands pushing the slightly taller woman back against her chair.
“I do get rest.”
“Falling asleep at your desk does not count as rest. You got sufficient sleep yesterday, but that needs to happen for more than one night.” Columbina avoided eye contact, eyes travelling anywhere but where Sandrone was. Along with that, she shifted nervously, constantly adjusting where she sat.
“I will, Sandrone. We have one last meeting today.” There was something breathy about her voice that made Sandrone pause, brows furrowing.
“If you come to bed even a second late you are sleeping in your office.” A distinct pink hue crawled up Columbina's cheeks, that squirming now seeming more like trying to pull away rather than get closer. A suspicion prickled at Sandrone's fingertips, one that made her gaze shift downwards. Sure enough, there was a very visible bulge, one she was hovering just above. “Seriously? Of all times.” She scoffed, taking notice of the partially uneven breaths Columbina was taking.
“I'm sorry, I didn't—” with a sharp ‘shush’, Sandrone slid off the woman's lap, lips twitching into a smirk.
“Go get one of your pillows for your back.”
Confusion seeped through the cloudiness in Columbina's eyes, her eyebrows raised. “Why my pillow?”
“So you don't hurt your back on the edge of the chair.”
The woman shook her head, breathing still uneven. “But—”
“You don't complain about it being your pillow when putting it under my hips.”
“That's different. It makes everything feel better, and I buy new pillows each time..” Columbina huffed, head tilting back with a quiet sigh when a palm was placed against her crotch, jaw now trembling. The slight pink hue shifted to red almost immediately.
“Oh please. You just like watching the—”
“Please stop talking…” Sandrone stifled a chuckle, palm pressing harder against the bulge in Columbina's trousers. The fabric is rough against her palm.
She never understood why Columbina wore such a material at choice for work, but that was a question for another time, a time when Columbina wasn't making quiet and pathetic little sounds with each caress of Sandrone's hand. Giving a triumphant smirk, she dropped to her knees, fingers finding Columbina's zipper.
“Sandrone, wait.” A hand caught her own before she could fully pull the zipper down, halting Sandrone's movements immediately. “I have a meeting soon…”
“Hence why I told you to get a pillow. Leaning against a chair while trying to keep your hips still must hurt the back. You are literally grinding against my palm.” Columbina's blush deepened at the words, her eyes screwing shut. The awareness of her hips constantly bucking into Sandrone's hand seemed to have helped with keeping them still, that twitching now only a light shift.
“It's an important meeting, Sandrone.”
“Fine. This can wait.” Sandrone scoffed, using Columbina's knees to push herself up. She didn't turn back while walking away, that heat in her abdomen now seemed overwhelming while walking away. She didn't walk far, rather, to the kitchen. A glass of water would do her good to calm the nerves. The memory of Columbina's quiet gasp when she let go still echoing in her ears, taunting,
Occasionally, she would return to the kitchen for a drink, only to find Columbina looking more stressed each time. Eyes avoiding Sandrone at all costs.
It was amusing, to watch her adjust with each glance sent Sandrone's way. Later, she was definitely going to use this a leverage as to why she was right about why Columbina shouldn't have chosen an office opposite the kitchen and with a window.
She wasn't trying to distract Columbina, Sandrone truly did just need a drink, watching Columbina squirming in her chair was just a bonus.
With one last chuckle at how Columbina ran a hand down her face, Sandrone walked away with a water bottle, planning on checking schedules for the upcoming week. Only, she would be doing that, if she could focus on anything but Columbina. It was bad enough that she stumbled over her own steps while walking, only catching the wall last second.
“Archons help me…” She sighed, brows furrowing.
—
As expected, she got through one page in the two hours Columbina's meeting had been going on, mind continuously wandering back to the woman with each new word. It was overwhelming. Her heat wasn't for another three weeks, so she shouldn't be so fixated on that irritating daydreamer of a woman right now.
Abruptly, her laptop was snapped shut. If focus wasn't going to be easy, she was going to fix the thing occupying her mind so boldly. While walking, the hallway couldn't feel longer towards Columbina’s office, her fingers trembling ever so slightly when Columbina came into view. It looked as if she were saying her last goodbyes, eyes widening a fraction when noticing Sandrone.
Seeing Columbina made her heart race, a wave of relief in just seeing the woman's face washing over her.
Taking the nod Columbina gave as confirmation that she could enter, Sandrone pushed the door open, trying and failing to control her heartbeat.
“Do you need anything?” Internally, the answer was a definite yes. But Columbina didn't need to know that right now.
“How did it go?” One of her hands found Columbina's cheek, tilting then woman's head up.
“You haven't asked that in a while. Usually you expect it to go well Immediately.” Initially, the kisses were chaste, just quick and soft. And then Columbina pulled her back down, deepening the kiss with a quiet sigh. Sandrone took that as a ‘good’, assuming from Columbina's relaxed and calm demeanour when she entered. That demeanour had become slightly more desperate upon Sandrone's entry, something the engineer took much pride in. She wanted Columbina to lose herself, wanted to have the woman making desperate and pathetic sounds in the crook of her shoulder once more.
Sandrone ignored the warmth pooling in her abdomen, her palm wandering down Columbina's front, drinking down each slight gasp and twitch the action brought. Pulling away for oxygen felt irrelevant with Columbina's arm around her waist, with her hand rested on the woman's upper abdomen.
Immediately upon shifting her palm lower, Columbina hardened against it, a low hum vibrating her throat at the contact.
Unfortunately, oxygen was a necessity. And so, she pushed herself back by Columbina's shoulders, chest rising and falling in a way that betrayed Sandrone's calm exterior. For a moment, she took a moment to appreciate the softness in Columbina's eyes, how her cheeks were dusted red.
“Bed, now.” Sandrone mumbled, fingers curling around the back of her nape to pull Columbina to her feet, grinning when the black and magenta-haired woman pulled their bodies as close as possible, pulling Sandrone into a deeper than before kiss. One of Columbina's hands found her lower back, pushing Sandrone even closer.
The heat between them was enough to melt platinum, but in-between that heat was an always present softness, in the way Columbina fiddled tenderly with the fabric of her shirt, in how they were both grinning in-between kisses, even in how Sandrone refused to let go of Columbina's upper arm while walking up the stairs.
The cold air of their room felt like an attack against her skin, but Columbina's presence immediately warmed any chill she felt, the woman's lips finding her own immediately while Sandrone focused on moving them both to the bed. Columbina only pulled back when forced to, her back hitting the mattress with a dull thud.
Without waiting a beat, she sat up, hands finding the hem of Sandrone shirt. “Your lack of patience is astonishing, Dove.” There was a layer of teasing to her tone, allowing Columbina to pull her shirt off.
“Would you prefer we slow down?” Columbina hummed, pulling her head down, an action that made Sandrone instinctively look away, trying to calm the redness undoubtedly overwhelming her cheeks, but Columbina followed the action instead of turning her head back.
“Just hurry up.” Columbina's smug grin grew, her teeth nipping at the column of Sandrone's throat, fingers fiddling with the clasp of her bra for a moment before managing to unbuckle the clasp. Though, impatience soon overwhelmed Sandrone when Columbina began focusing on leaving small marks across her collarbone instead of taking the rest of her clothes off. So, she found herself kicking the jeans she wore off, underwear soon following.
“I was going to—” With a quiet groan, Sandrone hooked a thumb inside Columbina's mouth, pushing her tongue down. The action resulted in something almost like a cough, but more choked back.
“I don't care what you were going to do, you were doing it too slow.” she let go after a moment, allowing Columbina to place herself against their pillows, soon followed by Sandrone straddling her hips. It felt… great, to be positioned on top of someone who would usually see such a thing as shameful, but luckily, Columbina wasn't like that, and she never had been.
“I would like to try something.” Columbina sighed when Sandrone began unbuttoning her shirt, stopping after a few buttons.
“Oh? And that is?”
Fingers curled tightly into her thighs, pulling Sandrone closer. The action alone made a flash of recognition crash into the engineer, a sudden nervousness prickling up her spine.
“Columbina…” It wasn't like she didn't want this, excruciatingly so, but there was a layer of nervousness to it, especially while sitting on Columbina's stomach, her hands on the woman's shoulders.
“Are you okay?” And of course, Columbina noticed. She always noticed. The hands on her thighs moved to her waist, concern evident on the woman's face.
“Yes. But are you sure?” She avoided Columbina's gaze, shifting nervously.
“Not if you aren't.” With a nod, Sandrone placed a kiss upon Columbina's lips, trying to calm the nerves that prickled at her fingers.
“I'm sure.”
“You don't look sure.” The words melted her heart, a warmth blooming from where it had pooled.
“I am. We've just never done this before.” Columbina nodded, smile soft and encouraging.
“Take your time. We don't have to do this if you don't want to.” The warmth blooming in her lower abdomen was unbecoming unbearable at the tone of Columbina's voice.
With a sharp inhale, she pressed a palm against the cold wall in front of her while the other grasped their bed frame. Thinking had been forgotten about, especially when Columbina's palms found her thighs once more, muttering quiet praises against the skin of her inner thigh. It was new, the mix of never being in this position before and the fact Columbina was exceptional at setting her nerves on fire before they had even begun. But Sandrone could get used to this feeling, especially when Columbina's hand travelled up, fingers curling into her rear to gently push Sandrone down further, something she didn't fight against.
At first, Columbina kissed her clit lightly, hand still rubbing her thigh. It shouldn't send a jolt up her spine, the brief contact shouldn't have pulled a muffled groan from her lips, but it did. Momentarily, Columbina pulled back. “Is this okay?” The nod Sandrone gave in reply was almost frantic, her fingers tightening around the bedframe when Columbina's hesitation evaporated.
It felt like pure ecstasy when Columbina's lips wrapped around her clit, alternating between lapping up the slick and sucking, a combination that made Sandrone's legs feel boneless as she slumped against the bedframe. Her hips wouldn't stay still. They couldn't. It was almost as if she had been waiting years for this instead of a mere business meeting. The sounds she couldn't muffle would have been humiliating to make so soon, but she was too far gone to feel anything but pleasure and adoration for the woman supplying that feeling.
Columbina's hand on her rear slid to her side, gently rocking Sandrone's hips in a more calculated rhythm, a rhythm that made light explode in Sandrone's vision, a rhythm that intensified the burning sensation rising in her abdomen.
“Columbina—!” In reply, her lover hummed, something that rattled any remaining composure Sandrone had left, a pitchy and drawn out moan tumbling from her lips when Columbina pushed further forwards, that hand on her thigh being used as leverage to pull Sandrone closer until eventually that build up of heat became overwhelming. Every muscle in her body had gone taut, that previous slight tremor in her legs now a full shake where her thighs were clamped around the sides of Columbina's head, a hand finding its way to the woman's hair somewhere along the intense feeling, likely to ride out her high without interruption. Her hips came to a halt eventually, an almost exhausted groan being the first sound she made after her muscles relaxed.
She slid off of Columbina, eyes fluttering shut with one last deep inhale and exhale.
“Are you okay?” Columbina questioned, tone soft and tender. With one glance the woman's way, that cooling heat in her cheeks returned, more intense than before. Her lips were shining, as was the upper part of her neck and jaw. That alone was enough to make the stifled embarrassment return.
Sandrone didn't reply verbally, her throat ached too much for that, her lower body and arms did too, but she nodded, giving a still blissed-out ‘mhm’. However, when Columbina shifted to stand up beside her, that ache in her body was forgotten while grasping Columbina's wrist.
“Where are you going?”
“Getting you a drink.” There was a slight rasp to her voice, one that made Sandrone's gaze travel downwards. For the most part, Columbina was still entirely dressed. The top three buttons of her shirt still undone where Sandrone had given up on undressing her, and then there was the composed appearance, the priorising of Sandrone while she was still very visibly aroused.
“I don't want a drink.” The tug to drag Columbina back into bed was… unintentionally harsh, but luckily Columbina didn't seem bothered.
That dull ache lingered as she straddled Columbina's hips once more, light tremors still running through her body while unbuttoning the remaining buttons of Columbina's shirt. “I don't want a drink, and I don't want to wait another five minutes. Was two hours not enough?” Sandrone huffed, fingers curling tighter around the now partially removed dress shirt.
An objection was clear on Columbina's face, one that was undoubtedly about how important it was for Sandrone to stay hydrated, but that topic never came. “I… I don't have any protection on me, are you sure?”
“Yes, I'm sure. But do not knot me, Columbina.” The woman nodded slowly, eyes still soft and full of adoration. Her request was easy to do. If Columbina had complained, not like she ever would, Sandrone would undoubtedly find herself immediately filing divorce papers. But luckily, she had allowed herself to marry someone at least competent enough to know when to complain about decisions and when not to.
“But there are a lot of risks. You aren't on birth control anymore, and i—”
“I know what the risks are, Columbina, and I'm telling you that I do not care. That is why I said ‘don't knot me’. If you do, I am divorcing you.”
“Isn't that a bit extreme—” Columbina abruptly stopped talking when Sandrone glared down at her. “Right. Sorry. I didn't think before speaking.” With a pleased hmph Sandrone placed both hands on Columbina's shoulders.
“I sure hope that question was just from not wanting to lose me, otherwise that in itself would be a problem.” Columbina nodded again, guilt clear on her face. Once she had nodded, Sandrone leaned down, pulling the woman into a tender kiss. Immediately it was reciprocated, a trembling hand resting on her cheek, sliding to the back of her neck with a quiet groan when Sandrone's hips pivoted downwards. After multiple moments, Sandrone pulled back, a string following her. “I have work tomorrow. Don't be too rough and don't even consider another round after this.”
Columbina shifted where she was laid, giving Sandrone more room. “Okay.” the sound of her zipper blended with Columbina's now derailing from composure breathing, her chest rising and falling ever so slightly quicker.
“I swear if you—”
“I know, Sandrone. I have self-control… not that anyone should need self control to respect boundaries.” Right. She didn't have to tell Columbina not to do something more than once when it came to intimate moments like this.
She scoffed, eyes fluttering shut before snapping open again. “Good.” Finally, Sandrone managed to undress Columbina fully, pulling her into a gentle yet intense kiss. It was almost addictive now she felt currently, pulse thumping violently, nerves buzzing with every one of Columbina's movements, a pit of heat comparable to molten tungsten burning in her abdomen while lining herself up.
Columbina groaned into the kiss when she lowered herself inch by inch, fingers tightening around the nape of Sandrone's neck. It was a searing type of pleasure, one likely more intense from the sensitivity of her previous climax. She could practically feel Columbina throb already. Along with that, the black and magenta-haired woman's face was a work of art when she pulled away from the kiss, her head tilted back into the pillows, fingers curling tightly into Sandrone's hips. It was the only thing Sandrone could focus on outside of the overwhelming need bubbling up inside of her chest.
Her grind against the intrusion intensified everything, especially when Columbina pressed herself further in, pulling a sigh in an attempt to stifle any other sound. Although, that didn't work very well when a drawn out moan pressed against her throat, already escaping her lips when Columbina gave a light thrust upwards, hands unable to stay still against Sandrone's skin.
“You feel so good, Sandrone. So perfect.” Upon hearing the words a sharp, guttural moan bubbled from her throat, the trembling in her arms returning, more intense this time. “You're—oh—shaking, a lot.” Columbina groaned, once more meeting Sandrone's going perfectly.
Frustration intertwined with that need, bringing more vigour into each one of her now rough movements. “Be quiet—” below her, Columbina's back arched slightly, her grip on Sandrone's thigh and hip tightening each time Sandrone raised herself. Seemingly, Columbina had gotten the message on what rhythm she wanted, if the way her previously softer movements had become almost world-shattering.
She pressed a palm against Columbina's collarbone, finger tips pressing lightly against the base of her throat. “Oh gods,” Sandrone threw her head back, a jolt of electricity making her body buzz, the kind that made it difficult to keep her arms steady enough to stay upright. She kept brushing against every spot that made Sandrone's world spin, a high-pitched moan rattling Sandrone's nerves.
“Sandrone…” This time, her name was drawn out on Columbina's tongue, her arms now wrapping around the engineers waist. “Why are you shaking so—” the words were cut off by a quiet curse, her neck craning back into the pillows. “Much?” That single word was a whine, a beautiful sound, one that made everything muscle Sandrone's tense for a moment.
She wanted to snap, to say that she built machines that could kill a person if they made a single mistake for a living, but this feeling was more intense, more straining than any machine she had ever built before.
Truthfully, the strain of keeping herself upright while her arms shook as much as they were was beginning to feel painful, the kind that stopped her from enjoying the increasingly tight coil in her abdomen.
“Just… give me a minute.” Finally, she slumped against Columbina's collarbone, pulling the woman's hand away from her hip. The scent of tuberose and pear blossom was relaxing, as was the hand gently rubbing her lower back. Slowly, Columbina eased herself out of Sandrone, earning a quiet sigh in response.
“Stay here, my love. I'll get you something to drink.” She found herself being placed on the edge of the bed, momentarily watching Columbina begin to walk away before her mind caught up with reality.
“Stop trying to get me things when I'm not done!” Sandrone snapped, legs thrown over the side of the bed where she once again pulled Columbina back.
Confusion passed through the woman's expression, allowing Sandrone to pull her closer. “I just want to make sure you're comfortable…”
“We have done this for years. Have you not learnt that if im uncomfortable i will tell you?” both palms smoothed over Columbina's shoulders, nails digging into the smooth skin.
“But—” with a shake of her head, Sandrone pressed a finger to Columbina's lips, silencing her.
“Just fuck me, Columbina.”
“Please do not—”
Columbina's flustered appearance was addictive to stare at, how her usually pale face was now bright red. “Yeah, whatever, don't word it like that. Just please, Columbina.”
“Okay… how do you want it?”
“As rough as you can. Not enough to hurt, though, and not enough to affect me in the morning.” Sandrone groaned, wrapping her legs around Columbina's hips. “Now hurry up, Columbina. I don't have all night.” The woman didn't question her after that, but she did huff a small ‘wait’ while reaching for one of her own pillows, gently lifting Sandrone's head to place the soft material behind her head, soon followed by another pillow under her lower back. Multiple tender kisses were littered across her skin while Columbina gently pressed herself inside, forehead resting against Sandrone's collarbone, cheek eventually rubbing against her shoulder.
Tuberose and pear blossom enveloped her from all sides, a dizzyingly pleasant scent, however, a different pleasure to the one currently making her skin buzz once more.
“Give me a moment.” Sandrone sighed, brows furrowing in an attempt to collect herself.
Most alphas would find the idea of letting an omega tell them what to do laughable, perhaps even get offended. After all, they were just property to most. But not to Columbina. Sandrone was everything to Columbina, whatever she wanted would be got, whatever she said was done immediately after teasing, and most of all, they were equal. Sandrone wasn't property, just another thing to be claimed, and Columbina couldn't be happier to treat Sandrone better than any fairytale could even begin to think of.
“Are you okay, my love?” Columbina mumbled against the side of her neck, the damp hair of her fringe tickling the area slightly.
“I'm… great. You can move.” she meant the words. She always meant the words around Columbina. With a small nod, Columbina pushed herself further inside, eyes fluttering shut. Almost immediately, her palm found Sandrone's lower abdomen, pressing down gently. It was like the world had flashed white when Columbina's initiallt slow rhythm started, her palm still massaging the area it was pressed against. Sandrone loved Columbina a substantial amount on a normal day, but on days like this, knowing she will never know what it feels like to be used for purely pleasure with no regard for how Sandrone felt about it, that adoration and love for Columbina sparked a much bigger fire in her nerves. At the side of her neck, the same mark she had spent nights and days grinning because of aches. She was almost positive Columbina felt the same, after all, the side effects of being marked were unusually intense for someone who wasn't supposed to have many.
Suddenly, Columbina hooked a hand under Sandrone's knee, a quiet whine tumbling from her lips with a specific thrust, one that also pulled a humiliatingly pitchy moan from Sandrone herself. Palm still moving in small, rhythmic circles, Columbina pushed the leg she held over her shoulder, an adorable deep red hue to her cheeks.
“You are so gorgeous, Sandrone.” Columbina choked out, fingers curling tighter into Sandrone's thigh, and just as asked, that gentle rhythm became harsher, the kind that made Sandrone's head spin, the kind that pulled sharp and high whines from her lips with each firm thrust Columbina gave. Her words, however, were anything but harsh and rough, each gentle praise pushed her further towards the edge she was previously teetering on the edge of, each quiet whimper and whine that Columbina gave. Both things didn't reflect how her body jolted against the rhythm.
“Columbina—” The woman's name always sounded like a blessing, especially when her skin was burning once more, that coil that had began loosening in her abdomen tightening once more.
“You're doing so good, you're so—” Columbina's sentence was never finished, a quiet, breathy moan replacing any words she could have said, hips snapping forward with a slither of desperation, that ethereal woman's head thrown back.
If she were able to think straight, the slick sounds even moving slightly resulted in would be embarrassing, how thoroughly soaked she was, but luckily for Sandrone, any thought that wasn't Columbina was immediately deemed irrelevant, especially when she leaned forward, towards her tingling mark on her neck.
Silently, she pleaded that Columbina would bite down again, remark her just because the option was there. But no, instead, Columbina merely kissed the area, lightly nipping at the sensitive skin before pulling back, brows furrowed in concentration when her eyes shifted downwards. Sandrone would be lying if she said disappointment didn't pull at her mind for a moment when Columbina didn't bite down again, at least, that was until a familiar throb inside of her returned.
“Do you want me to—fuck—pull out?” Columbina groaned, fingers curling into the skin of Sandrone's pelvis.
“Archons no, please don't—” Even speaking was difficult, between how gentle the small touches Columbina littered across her body were, the beyond perfect rhythm that had been set, and the hand pressing down lightly on her lower abdomen, everything felt as if it were on fire in the most pleasurable way. That flame only built when Columbina's free hand pulled away from her shoulder, a thumb soon gently rubbing small circles against her clit, something that made the world around her flash white, a sound she continuously claimed to never make in the past spilling from her lips. Now, the trembling of her legs was uncontrollable.
With a quiet whine against Sandrone's collarbone, Columbina pressed herself closer, thumb still moving in now sharp, uncalculated circles from how much Columbina's hands were shaking. “You are so gorgeous, Sandrone.” Her head tilted back against the pillow Columbina had gently placed behind her head previously. upon hearing the words, that tight coil in her abdomen snapped with a sharp gasp, a loud ringing replacing any other sound around her, followed by a familiar warmth, one that stood out from the burning in her nerves, something that only made that already blinding light worse when Columbina's hips pressed further against her. The full feeling was pleasurable enough, but paired with both the quiet and desperate rambling and the way Columbina had pulled her impossibly closer would have been enough to make her eyes roll back on it's own.
Columbina's breathing was rough against her neck, hips still occasionally twitching while her arm wrapped around Sandrone's shoulders, the slightly taller woman's cheek lazily rubbing against her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” Her voice was gravelly, but so irritatingly soft. Sandrone nodded in reply, her mind still fuzzy. All she for certain knew was that Columbina never made her feel lonely, no matter where they were or who they were with, everything was always okay in the end around Columbina.
The thought made her huff a laugh. If she were to tell the version of herself that glared at Columbina in the halls and snapped at her during lessons that she would be married to that same irritatingly and unnaturally gentle woman, she wouldn't believe it. Sandrone herself could barely believe that she had almost allowed someone else to claim the only person she could consider a soulmate just because of a petty grudge.
“What's funny?” Columbina hummed quietly, kissing her jaw.
She blinked away the blackening edges of her vision, giving a quiet gasp when Columbina pulled away, that small cloth she had prepared now in her hand. Quickly though, she mostly recovered from the feeling. “Do you think we would believe ourselves if we went back in time to tell our younger selves we would end up like this?” For a second, Columbina continued humming, a familiar tune, one Sandrone loved while gently wiping away the sweat on her forehead, neck and shoulders, eyes half-lidded and hazy.
“I for one would be ecstatic… you however may have caught an assault charge if anyone other than Rosalyne even considered such words near you. The horrors, am I right? Also, I'll change the sheets. You should rest for work.” With a lazy but smug grin, Columbina kissed her, fingers tracing her cheekbone.
“Shut up… I got over that phase, and thank you, i suppose.”
“The phase where you hated me for being the textbook perfect partner to look for? Or the phase where you hated me for not being normal?” Sandrone couldn't stifle the chuckle in time when Columbina spoke, that same grin still on her face. Truthfully, she couldn't be more happy that Columbina wasn't the usual possessive and aggressive stereotype, but telling a sixteen year old with a hatred for everything that breathes that she was the luckiest person ever to have Columbina's almost overwhelmingly respectful admiration wouldn't be easy.
She never pushed into Sandrone's space like someone looking to claim would, rather, it was gradual. Offering to help with school work, smiling and listening when Sandrone spoke, until eventually, she found herself willingly inviting Columbina into her workshop daily.
“Shut up.” With a smirk, Columbina subtly flashed her ring, eyes narrowing down at Sandrone.
“I think you would try murder me if we told our past selves about this.”
“Why did I marry you?”
With a chaste kiss, that smirk became a grin. “Because you love me, and I married you because I love you.”
Heat burned her cheeks at the words. “You are such a freak.” With a wriggle of her finger, Columbina shook her head. “Oh please, you are as unnatural as they get.”
“No. I am what scientists would refer to as ‘high value’.”
Sandrone bit her lip to stop the grin trying to make its way to her face, that post orgasmic bliss bringing shows of emotion that were usually easy to hide to the surface. “One doctor called you that, Columbina.”
“Five. Five doctors have called me high value and three scientists. It's on my file.” Columbina stated, still placing kisses across Sandrone's cheeks.
With a scoff, Sandrone's cheek rested against the pillow, that boneless feeling being the only thing stopping her from telling Columbina to sleep on the cough. “Yeah. One of those three scientists told you to your face you need to have children with a certain glint in her eye.”
“She got in trouble for that, Sandrone.” And yet, a pang of jealousy still flickered through her mind. “You know I could never love anyone but you.”
“I still don't know why you let them flag you as the highest of the high value. All it does for you is put you first in line if scientists decide to—”
“I wouldn't accept the offer even if they did offer copious amounts of money for me to go be a lab rat with some random person. Now come on, we should wash up.” Sandrone huffed when Columbina walked away to retrieve two towels, eyes fluttering shut. The whole high value topic was a sensitive one after a while.
Columbina didn't look the role whatsoever. Sure, she was unnaturally attractive, but at first glance, no one would immediately recognise her as the recommended first choice when given the chance. She was shorter than most, daydreaming a lot of the time, and more recently, subconsciously recoiling when anyone without a scent patch on walked even remotely close to her. Unless it was Sandrone, that is. All three of those traits would make Columbina's file a shock. Most stereotypical high value alphas were annoyingly confident, six foot tall, and in everyone's faces about how ‘good’ their personality was.
But not Columbina. She kept to herself, didn't get irritated when someone wasn't attracted to her, didn't push herself into everyone's space just because she could. Columbina was textbook perfect, not the media perfect, the kind of perfect people idolise until meeting someone that doesn't come home until two in the morning because they were at the club. She wasn't in any way arrogant, and wasn't actively trying to collect as many possible partners as possible.
Sandrone could only be grateful she fell right into the pit of love for Columbina that she had purposefully avoided one Saturday morning. Celestia knows who she could have ended up with if Columbina left the country for work without her. Or perhaps it would be no one at all, perhaps in one universe her still heart skipped a beat when catching the scent of tuberose and pear blossom, still silently denying the love she had for the same irritating woman currently easing Sandrone to stand up, hand on her waist for support.
But if that universe were to be real, Sandrone was glad she wasn't the one living it. Life without Columbina sounded oddly bland and lonely.
Before she could ask Columbina about what temperature the bath was, Columbina smiled softly, that melodic chuckle blessing Sandrone's ears. “I checked the temperature twice. Don't worry.” scoffing, Sandrone settled against the back of the bath, eyes fluttering shut when Columbina settled against her chest. Occasionally, a jolt still passed through her, nerves still calming themselves.
“I'm going to strangle Arlecchino for introducing me to you.” Sandrone mumbled, fingers threading through black and magenta hair.
“Well… technically it was Rosalyne that introduced us, not Peruere.” a quiet hum of a laugh vibrated against her chest, Columbina's voice still hoarse.
“You and Arlecchino were a pain” Sandrone groaned, the memory of spending an hour hearing people mutter about how much they wanted the both of them.
“Why? We both stayed out of people's way.”
“That's why you both were a pain. All everyone would talk about was now attractive you both were.” And how right they were.
“Well, would you agree?” Columbina already knew the answer was undoubtedly yes, Sandrone had no doubt about that. And of course, that thought just frustrated her more
“Oh please. I would have rather died than admit you look visually pleasing.”
Columbina hummed, a small, proud smile curling her lips. “And look where you are now…” With a quiet sigh, Columbina rested her head against Sandrone's collarbone, fingers waving around the steam curling around them.
“You are so ridiculous.” And yet, her hand was still holding the back of Columbina's neck, playing with the wet strands of hair.
“You know, if you didn't cry at our wedding I'd think you to be emotionless.” Columbina teased, gently holding Sandrone's waist.
“I let three tears go. You were sobbing, violently at that. You got two words into your vows and started sobbing, Dove.”
“And I, my dearest Sandrone, do not try hiding my emotions. Is it so wrong that I was overcome with joy when marrying you?”
“Rosalyne had to help you calm down after the ceremony.”
“You looked so perfect.”
“You looked ridiculous.”
“You said I looked very handsome. Tears and all.”
“Shut up, I never said that.” She did. Sandrone vividly remembered the uncontainable grin on her face when she was kissing Columbina's face, telling the still partially crying woman how both pretty and handsome and just perfect she looked. It would forever be the best day of her life, with the best person she had ever met in her life.
Alain had hugged them both after the ceremony, age not dulling his pride in Sandrone as he congratulated them both properly, without all of the eyes of their friends watching. Even Wanderer had cracked a smile, something Ajax teased him about, something Durin also began grinning because of. But that wasn't the part that made it the best day, whether guests were there or not, it was Columbina that made her feel like gravity no longer existed, it was Columbina that made her feel beyond ecstatic.
In front of her, there was an amused glint in Columbina's eyes when she pulled back, cheeks still pink. “I'm pretty sure you did.”
“Whatever.”
—
Columbina had brought her a warm cup of tea after cleaning themselves, offering food options, but Sandrone declined. Sue was too tired to eat, all she wanted to do was curl up in the sheets Columbina had just changed and fall asleep. Luckily, that option was very openly available, her eyes fluttering shut immediately after finishing the rest of her tea. Columbina joined her soon enough, fully dressed in her sleepwear, just as Sandrone was.
There was a quiet, hypnotic glow to her face, one that differed from Columbina's usual natural glow. It made pride bloom in Sandrone's chest, when she had someone ‘supposed’ to be assertive and more dominant curling up against her chest each night, head tucked under Sandrone's chin. It was statistically unnatural, but no statistic could ever change her opinion of Columbina. She preferred the gentleness, preferred the way Columbina put them on an even scale in all situations.
With one last quiet, relaxed breath, she held Columbina's head, eyes fluttering shut when exhaustion overwhelmed her. Just as usual, Columbina would stay pressed against Sandrone's front, and Sandrone would smile to herself about it, legs intertwined with her wife's own, arms wrapped around her waist.