Day 9 - Naughty Book/First-Time - "More Than Words"
The soft glow of candlelight flickered across the room, casting long shadows over the ornate furnishings of Cressida's bedroom. It was late—much later than either of them should have been awake—but the excitement of their impromptu sleepover had kept them both from retiring for the night.
They had spent hours talking—about society, about marriage, about the latest scandal reported by Lady Whistledown—but as the night wore on, their conversation had grown quieter, more personal. Now, wrapped in the comfort of Cressida's bed, with their bodies tucked beneath the heavy covers, there was a sense of intimacy in the room that neither of them had fully acknowledged.
Cressida had suggested they sleep, but Eloise had other plans.
"I brought something," Eloise murmured, her voice low as she reached into her travel bag, the glint of mischief in her eyes unmistakable.
Cressida blinked, her curiosity piqued as she watched Eloise pull a small, leather-bound book from her bag. The cover was plain, unassuming, but there was something about the way Eloise held it—something secretive, almost forbidden—that made Cressida's heart race with both curiosity and excitement.
"What is it?" Cressida asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she shifted closer to Eloise, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the look in her friend's eyes.
Eloise's lips curved into a small, mischievous smile as she turned the book over in her hands, her fingers brushing lightly over the worn leather. "Something you won't find in a circulating library, I assure you," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet amusement.
Cressida's heart raced, her curiosity burning as she watched Eloise handle the small, inconspicuous volume. "Eloise…" she murmured, her voice trembling slightly as she leaned closer, her eyes fixed on the book. "What is it?"
Eloise glanced up at her, her smile deepening as she held the book out, just beyond Cressida's reach. "Something Lady Whistledown would never dare report," she teased, her voice low and filled with a hint of scandal. "Something not meant for the eyes of young ladies like us."
"What… do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eloise's smile deepened, her gaze locked on Cressida's as she leaned in closer, her voice soft, conspiratorial. "This book," she whispered, her fingers brushing lightly over the cover, "was given to me by a friend who… shares certain tastes. Forbidden tastes."
Cressida's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the book, the weight of Eloise's words sinking in. "Forbidden… how?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Eloise's eyes gleamed with amusement as she opened the book, flipping through the delicate, yellowed pages until she found the passage she had been looking for. "Forbidden in the sense that it explores… certain desires," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet reverence as she traced the words on the page with her finger.
Cressida's breath hitched, her heart racing as she stared at the open book in Eloise's hands. And yet, as she looked into Eloise's eyes, she could see the excitement, the thrill of the forbidden, burning just beneath the surface.
"Would you like to hear it?" Eloise asked softly, her voice filled with quiet intensity as she held the book between them, the open pages waiting for her to read.
Cressida swallowed hard, her breath coming in shallow bursts as she nodded, her curiosity and the strange excitement that bubbled within her too strong to resist. "Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling with both anticipation and something she could not yet name. "Read it to me."
Eloise's smile deepened, her fingers brushing lightly over the pages as she began to read, her voice low and intimate, the words filled with a quiet, forbidden allure.
"She touched her," Eloise read softly, her eyes flicking up to meet Cressida's, gauging her reaction. "In a way no woman should ever touch another. But there was no shame in it—only the thrill of knowing that no one else could ever feel what they felt in that moment."
Cressida's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling slightly beneath the covers as she listened to the words, her mind struggling to process the scandalous nature of what Eloise was reading.
"They kissed," Eloise continued, her voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity. "Not with the shy, hesitant kisses of women pretending affection for one another, but with the hunger and desire that only comes from knowing that what they shared could never be spoken of—never be seen by the eyes of men."
Cressida could feel her pulse quickening, her heart racing as she listened to Eloise's steady, deliberate voice, the images conjured by the words filling her mind with thoughts she had never allowed herself to have before.
"There was a tenderness in it," Eloise read, her voice growing softer, more intimate. "But also a hunger. A desire to claim, to possess, to mark each other in a way that no man ever could."
Cressida swallowed hard. "Eloise…where… where did you find this?"
Eloise's smile deepened, her gaze locking onto Cressida's as she closed the book gently, her fingers lingering on the worn leather cover. "I have my sources," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet amusement. "But I thought it might be something you would appreciate."
Cressida's breath hitched, her heart racing as she stared at the book in Eloise's hands, her mind swirling with the weight of what had just been read to her. "I… I've never heard anything like it," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't even know such things could be written down."
Eloise chuckled softly, her hand resting lightly on the book as she leaned closer, her voice a soft, conspiratorial murmur. "There's more," she whispered, her gaze locked onto Cressida's. "If you'd like to hear it."
Cressida's breath caught in her throat, her body trembling with both excitement and fear. She knew she should refuse—knew that listening to more would only lead her further down a path she wasn't sure she was ready to explore. But the pull of the forbidden, the thrill of hearing something so scandalous, was too strong to resist.
"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she met Eloise's gaze. "Read me more."
Eloise's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile as she opened the book once more. "Her hand lingered on her lover's skin. The touch was gentle at first, exploring, tracing the curve of her body as if memorizing every inch. But soon, it became bolder, more insistent, as desire took hold, driving them both to the brink of something they could never name aloud."
Cressida felt herself warming beneath the covers. Suddenly, her thin nightgown felt too tight. Minutes ago, before the book was brought out, she had been comfortable.
"They kissed again," Eloise murmured, her gaze flicking up to meet Cressida's as she read. "But this time, it was not soft or tentative. It was filled with hunger, with a need to claim, to possess, to mark each other as theirs and theirs alone."
Eloise paused, her fingers lingering on the edge of the page as she looked up at Cressida, her gaze dark with something unspoken. For a moment, the room was filled with nothing but the soft flicker of the candlelight, the quiet crackle of the fire in the hearth.
"I think that's enough for tonight," Eloise said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she closed the book gently, her fingers lingering on the worn leather cover.
Cressida blinked, her heart still racing as she stared at the closed book, her mind swirling with the weight of what had just been read to her. "That was…" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "That was quite… something."
Eloise chuckled softly, her gaze filled with quiet amusement as she leaned back against the pillows. "It's not the sort of thing one finds in a typical drawing-room," she teased, her voice low and filled with mischief.
Cressida swallowed hard, her breath coming in shallow bursts as she tried to compose herself. "May I… may I see it?" she asked softly, her hand reaching out tentatively toward the book.
Eloise hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Cressida and the book in her hands. Then, with a small, knowing smile, she handed it over, watching with quiet curiosity as Cressida opened it to the page she had just read.
For a long moment, Cressida said nothing, her fingers tracing the delicate, yellowed pages as her eyes scanned the words. The passage Eloise had read was still there, the words as scandalous and forbidden as they had sounded moments ago. But as Cressida flipped through the book, her breath hitched, her eyes widening as she came upon another section.
"There are…" Cressida paused, her brow furrowing as she scanned the page. "There are passages about men in here."
Eloise's breath caught slightly, but she maintained her composed expression even as her smile faltered. She watched Cressida more closely than she had all night. "Yes," she admitted softly, her voice filled with quiet amusement. "The book covers many… experiences."
Cressida's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes flicking back to the passage Eloise had read earlier. "But you chose that one," she whispered, her voice filled with both curiosity and something else—something she wasn't ready to name. "The one about women."
Eloise didn't look away, her gaze steady as she met Cressida's eyes. "Yes, I chose that passage on purpose."
Cressida's breath hitched, her body trembling slightly as the weight of Eloise's words sank in. There was something unspoken between them—something that had lingered in the quiet moments of their friendship, in the way Eloise looked at her, the way they seemed to understand each other without needing to speak.
And now, with the forbidden book between them, with the weight of the words Eloise had chosen to read, Cressida couldn't help but wonder if the boundary they had never spoken of had finally been crossed.
"Does it surprise you?" Eloise asked softly, a soft hint of worry creeping into her tone. "That I would choose that passage?"
"I…" Cressida stammered. "I don't know what to say."
Eloise's smile softened, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding. "You don't have to say anything," she murmured, her voice low and intimate. "Not if you're not ready."
Slowly, Eloise shifted closer, her body brushing lightly against Cressida's beneath the heavy covers. The touch was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it sent a shiver down Cressida's spine, her breath hitching in her throat as she felt the warmth of Eloise's body so close to her own.
"You're trembling," Eloise whispered, her voice filled with both concern and quiet amusement. "Are you frightened of me, Cressida?"
Cressida swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to find her voice. "No," she whispered, her breath coming in shallow bursts. "Not frightened… just…"
"Unsure?" Eloise finished for her, her voice soft but filled with understanding.
Cressida nodded, her fingers tightening around the book in her lap as she looked up at Eloise, her eyes wide with both curiosity and something deeper, something she wasn't yet ready to name. "I've never…" she began, her voice trailing off as she looked down, unable to meet Eloise's gaze.
Eloise reached out, her hand resting lightly on Cressida's, her touch gentle but firm. "You don't have to be afraid," she whispered, her voice low and filled with quiet reassurance. "This is only between us. No one else will know."
There was something so calm, so steady in Eloise's gaze, as if she had already made peace with whatever it was that lay between them. And in that moment, Cressida felt the pull of something undeniable—a desire that had lingered, unspoken, for far too long.
Without thinking, Cressida's hand moved, her fingers brushing lightly over Eloise's wrist, tracing the delicate line of her skin. The touch was tentative, hesitant, but it was enough to send a shiver through both of them, their eyes locked in a silent, unspoken agreement.
Eloise's lips parted slightly, her breath warm against Cressida's skin as she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Would you like me to stop?"
Cressida swallowed hard, her heart racing as she shook her head, her voice trembling with both fear and excitement. "No."
"Good," she whispered, her breath warm against Cressida's cheek as she leaned in closer, their bodies brushing against each other beneath the covers.
Eloise's fingers trailed up Cressida's arm, tracing the line of Cressida's collarbone through the thin fabric of her nightgown. The touch was subtle, almost innocent, but there was nothing innocent about the way Cressida's body responded, her breath coming in shallow gasps as her skin tingled beneath Eloise's fingers.
"You're so soft," Eloise murmured, her voice low and filled with quiet reverence as her hand moved lower, brushing lightly over the curve of Cressida's breast, her touch lingering just above the swell of her chest.
Cressida's eyes widened. She had never been touched like this before—had never imagined that such a simple, fleeting caress could send such shivers through her entire being. And yet, with every brush of Eloise's fingers, her body ached for more.
Eloise's hand paused, her fingers hovering just above Cressida's chest as she looked up, her gaze filled with quiet intensity. "Is this all right?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she waited for Cressida's response.
Cressida swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest as she nodded, her voice barely audible. "Yes."
Eloise's breath hitched, her hand moving lower, her fingers brushing lightly over the soft fabric of Cressida's nightgown, tracing the delicate curve of her breast with a care that made Cressida's entire body tremble with anticipation. The thin fabric did little to hide the warmth of Eloise's touch, her fingers pressing gently against the taller girl's skin as she cupped her breast, her movements slow and deliberate. Cressida gasped softly, her breath catching in her throat as the warmth of Eloise's hand seeped through her nightgown, her body arching slightly into the touch.
Eloise leaned closer. Her breath was warm against Cressida's ear as she whispered, "You're beautiful, you know that?"
Slowly, tentatively, Eloise's other hand moved to rest on Cressida's hip, her fingers brushing lightly over the fabric of her gown as she leaned in closer, her breath warm against Cressida's neck.
"Do you want me to stop?" Eloise whispered, her voice filled with quiet concern as her hand stilled, her eyes searching Cressida's for any sign of hesitation.
Cressida's breath came in shallow bursts, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked up at Eloise, her eyes wide with both fear and desire. "No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Don't stop."
Eloise's smile softened, her hand moving once more, her fingers trailing down Cressida's side, tracing the delicate curve of her waist before slipping beneath the hem of her nightgown. The warmth of Eloise's hand against her bare skin made Cressida gasp, her body arching slightly into the touch as she felt the slow, deliberate movements of Eloise's fingers exploring the soft, untouched skin of her thigh.
Her fingers moved slowly as she explored the soft curve of Cressida's inner thigh. There was a tenderness in Eloise's movements, a care that made Cressida's heart swell with both affection and desire.
"You're trembling," Eloise whispered, her voice filled with both concern and quiet amusement as her fingers continued their slow, deliberate journey.
Cressida swallowed hard, her breath coming in shallow bursts as she nodded, her voice barely audible. "I can't help it," she whispered, her cheeks flushing as she met Eloise's gaze. "It feels… so strange."
"Is it a good strange?" Eloise asked softly, her voice filled with quiet curiosity.
"Yes, it's… wonderful."
Eloise's eyes darkened with something unspoken, her fingers moving with more confidence now, tracing the delicate line of Cressida's thigh before dipping lower, brushing lightly against the soft, slick heat between her legs.
"You're so wet," Eloise whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she looked down at Cressida, her gaze filled with quiet wonder. "I didn't realize…"
Cressida's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as she clutched the sheets beneath her, her body trembling with both embarrassment and excitement. "I didn't either," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Eloise's fingers traced the delicate folds of the other woman's body with a care that made her entire being ache with need. The intimacy of the moment, the way their bodies were so close, so connected, made Cressida's heart race with a desire she had never allowed herself to feel before.
Cressida gasped softly, her body arching toward Eloise's touch, her thighs parting instinctively as Eloise's fingers dipped lower, brushing gently against the most sensitive part of her. The sensation made her entire body tremble, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts as she felt the slow, deliberate pressure building between her legs.
Eloise's fingers found Cressida's clit, her touch light at first, exploring with a softness that left Cressida aching for more. She circled the sensitive bud slowly, applying the slightest pressure, just enough to make Cressida's breath catch in her throat, her body trembling beneath the weight of Eloise's attention.
"Does that feel good?" Eloise whispered, her voice low, her breath ghosting against Cressida's neck as her fingers continued their careful exploration.
"Yes," Cressida gasped, her fingers clutching at the sheets as her hips lifted involuntarily, pressing herself closer to Eloise's hand. "Please... don't stop."
Eloise's smile deepened as she leaned in, her mouth brushing lightly against Cressida's ear. Her fingers began to move faster now, applying more pressure as they stroked her clit in slow, firm circles. Cressida's body responded immediately, her breath hitching, her legs trembling as the pleasure built with every deliberate stroke.
The intensity of it was overwhelming. Cressida had never imagined something like this could feel so all-consuming, so powerful. Every nerve in her body seemed to be alight with sensation, her entire being focused on the point where Eloise's fingers moved with precision, coaxing her closer and closer to the edge.
Eloise's free hand slid up, cupping Cressida's breast through her nightgown, her thumb brushing over the hardened peak as her other hand continued its steady rhythm between her legs. The combined sensation was enough to make Cressida's body tense, her breath coming in shallow, desperate gasps as the pressure built inside her.
The room was filled with the sound of their ragged breathing, the quiet rustle of fabric as Eloise's fingers worked with unrelenting care, bringing Cressida closer to the edge with every passing moment. The weight of their shared intimacy, the knowledge that no one else would ever know this moment, made it all the more intense.
"Let go," Eloise whispered, her voice soft but filled with quiet command. "I want to see you fall apart for me."
Cressida's breath hitched, her body trembling uncontrollably as Eloise's fingers pressed harder against her clit, the pressure becoming almost unbearable. She could feel the release building, the pleasure rising like a wave, threatening to overwhelm her entirely. Her entire body tensed, her hips lifting off the bed as she clung to the sensation, desperate for it to continue, for the release that Eloise's touch promised.
And then, with a soft, breathless cry, Cressida shattered.
Her body convulsed beneath Eloise's hand, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts as the wave of pleasure crashed over her, leaving her trembling and breathless. Eloise didn't stop, her fingers moving in slow, gentle circles, coaxing every last tremor from Cressida's body as she rode the final waves of her release.
Cressida's head fell back against the pillow, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath, her entire body tingling with the aftershocks of her climax. Eloise's touch finally stilled, her hand resting gently against Cressida's trembling form as she watched her friend, her eyes filled with quiet satisfaction.
"You're beautiful," Eloise whispered softly, her breath warm against Cressida's skin as she leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
Cressida, still dazed from the intensity of her release, smiled weakly, her fingers reaching up to brush lightly against Eloise's cheek. She had never felt anything like this before—had never known that such pleasure, such intimacy, was possible. "Perhaps, I should read to you a passage from your book."
"I'd enjoy that greatly."