Foxfire and Frostbite, An Outfoxed Holiday Special - Chapter 2 - Submission

Holiday greetings from StrawberrySunrise and John Drake!

This is the first of two holiday specials for Christmas. This takes place after One Life, but contains no meaningful spoilers for any story, and can be read by anyone.

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The elevator ride up to her penthouse was the longest thirty seconds of Yuki's existence. She stood rigidly against the back wall, her tails twitching with nervous energy behind her. 800 years was a long time, but a fox’s memory was strong… she remembered every mistake she had ever made, every error that had cost her, every emotional highlight, and every lover. Her memory, however, was failing her… She couldn’t remember if she had ever willingly submitted to anyone. The concept sat like a stone in her stomach, heavy and uncomfortable… all of the memories she had of submitted had been forced… humiliating and painful. She glanced sideways at Merielle, who was watching the floor numbers climb with a small, secretive smile that made Yuki's skin prickle with apprehension.

The elevator chimed as they reached the top floor. Yuki automatically moved to exit first, then caught herself—was that allowed anymore? Did submission begin now? She hesitated, causing Merielle to raise an eyebrow.

"After you, fox," the selkie said, her voice gentle but with an unmistakable undertone of authority that Yuki had never heard from her before.

Swallowing her pride, Yuki stepped into the hallway. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked her door, hyper-aware of Merielle's presence behind her. Inside, she flicked on the lights with a gesture, illuminating her spacious penthouse with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Usually, this view made her feel powerful, in control. Tonight, it just emphasized how this apartment had never actually been hers… it was Merielle’s, given to her by the man she saved. Looking down over Kyoto now just made her feel even more exposed.

"Bedroom," Merielle directed, removing her coat and hanging it by the door.

Yuki's ears flattened against her head momentarily before she caught herself and forced them upright again. She was a fucking nogitsune, for gods' sake, not some cowering kitten. She'd endured centuries of actual torture—she could handle a night of playing submissive to her lover. Yet as she walked toward her bedroom, she felt uncharacteristically small. Her nine tails betrayed her nervousness, bristling and twitching.

In the bedroom, Yuki stood awkwardly beside the bed, unsure of what to do. Merielle entered behind her, closing the door with deliberate slowness. Then, to Yuki's surprise, the selkie began to circle her, studying her from every angle with a predatory nature that seemed so at odd to the redhead’s usual demeanor. "You seem… uncomfortable, Yuki," Merielle observed, her voice soft but confident.

"I'm fine," Yuki replied automatically, then winced at how defensive she sounded.

Merielle completed her circle, coming to stand directly in front of Yuki. "Your tails say otherwise. They're practically vibrating with tension."

Yuki fought the urge to wrap her tails protectively around her body. "I’m fine," she said.

"You can back out," Merielle said. It wasn’t a question… just a statement of fact. “I’m not Mordred.”

There it was. Mentioning the vampire’s name out loud sent an involuntary shudder through Yuki's body. Nearly five hundred years as a captive, enslaved, bound, nearly broken. She had been about ready to give up. If it weren’t for that altruistic freak Seo-yun, she might have done it.

And if it weren’t for Merielle, she might still belong to him.

"This isn’t the same," Merielle said, reaching out to trace the line of Yuki's jaw with surprising tenderness. "You know that."

"I know," she whispered.

“Do you want me to stop?” Merielle asked again. “I won’t make fun of you… Although I can’t promise Shura won’t, if you are silly enough to tell her.”

Yuki flushed, and looked down… hating how she felt like she was twenty again and being teased by her older sister. “No,” she muttered. “You won. I’m not going to back out.”

"Good." Merielle's hand dropped from Yuki's face to rest lightly on her collarbone. "Now take off your shirt."

The direct command sent a jolt through Yuki's system. Her first instinct was to refuse, to reassert her dominance and put the selkie back in her place. After a moment's hesitation that stretched between them like a taut wire, Yuki reached up to find the buttons clasping her shirt. She pulled it apart slowly, maintaining eye contact with Merielle as the fabric loosened around her body. With deliberate movements that still held a hint of her usual control and poise, she slipped the shirt off her shoulder and let it fall to the floor, revealing her large breasts covered by a black bra. Yuki had worn lace today… she had always intended to show off for Merielle this evening. She just hadn’t intended it to be like this.

Merielle's eyes darkened as they took in the sight, her pupils expanding with obvious desire. But instead of the submissive response Yuki was accustomed to, the selkie maintained her newfound authority. "Beautiful," she said, circling Yuki again to view her from all angles. "I've always thought you looked magnificent in black."

The compliment, delivered with such confident appreciation, sent a small, traitorous wave of heat through Yuki's body. It was… nice… being complimented like that. The way her pale skin slightly reddened didn't escape Merielle's notice. "You enjoy being looked at," the selkie observed, stopping behind Yuki to trace a finger down her spine before between the base of her tails. "Even as a submissive pet."

Yuki refused to answer, unwilling to admit how her body was responding to this treatment. She had never imagined that being on display for Merielle could affect her this way, when it was usually the selkie on display for her pleasure.

Merielle stepped closer, her breath warm against the back of Yuki's neck. "I asked you a question, Fox."

"Yes," Yuki admitted reluctantly. "I enjoy it."

"Good girl," Merielle whispered, the praise sending another unexpected jolt of pleasure through Yuki's body.

The selkie moved back around to face her, reaching out to unclasp Yuki's bra with practiced fingers. The garment fell away, exposing Yuki's breasts to the cool air of the bedroom. She braced, expecting Merielle’s fingers on her next, or maybe a bite at her shoulder, but instead the selkie stepped back and let the silence linger. “The pants next,” Merielle said. “Slowly. And face me.”

Yuki resisted the urge to scoff, but she did hesitate. The selkie’s eyes were serious, no glimmer of doubt or apology. Yuki’s tail lashed, betraying her annoyance, but she bent and began to unbutton her pants, each movement feeling artificially deliberate. She kept her gaze fixed on Merielle, refusing to break eye contact even as she shimmied the tight denim down over her hips. The selkie’s stare was unblinking, a hunger in it that made Yuki’s skin prickle. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, cursing softly when the pants caught on her thighs. She yanked the waistband down in a single, annoyed tug…

And gasped when Merielle slapped her breast.

Hard.

The impact sang out, echoing in the quiet bedroom, and for a moment Yuki just stared at her, stunned into speechlessness. Pain bloomed across her skin, a hot, stinging crescent, and her mouth hung open, searching for words. Her breasts swung with the impact, swaying back and forth.

“I said slowly,” Merielle chided, her voice steady. It sounded like Yuki correcting a clumsy apprentice, but the words were coming out of her lover’s lips.

Yuki’s breath caught, fury and humiliation warring in her chest. She wanted to snarl, to throw the selkie against the wall and fuck her until she sobbed. She wanted to demand respect. She wanted to cry.

But she promised.

She bared her teeth in a silent snarl, but she did as she was told, curling her fingers into the waistband and inching the jeans down, centimeter by excruciating centimeter. The denim clung to her thighs, catching at every curve, and she let her hips sway as she worked them lower, forcing herself to slow down. Her skin prickled with the cold, with the selkie’s gaze, with the shame of putting herself on display like this. She’d never felt so exposed. Merielle’s eyes followed every movement, unblinking and relentless. She felt foolish and exposed as she peeled the fabric away inch by inch.

The pants finally freed themselves, pooling around her ankles. The air was cold against her bare skin, and she couldn’t help but be aware of the wet patch darkening the crotch of her panties. She wasn’t sure how much of that was left over from the train ride, and how much was fresh… Yuki’s face warmed. She stepped delicately out of the pants and kicked them aside.

“Good girl,” Merielle said. The words shot straight through her, and Yuki had to look away for a second, hating how it made her pulse hammer in her throat. Merielle walked around her again, slow and measured, like she was inspecting a prize animal she’d bought at auction. Yuki’s shoulders tensed; her body wanted to flinch away from every touch, every gaze, but she forced herself still. The selkie had never been intimidating before, but Merielle’s control and confidence radiated off her now, as if she’d been born to it. She stopped in front of Yuki and trailed her fingertips along Yuki’s abdomen, pausing to trace the line of muscle at her hip.

“You’re beautiful,” she said, voice low and private. “You always have been.” Her hand slid lower, cupping between Yuki’s legs. She squeezed, just enough to make Yuki’s knees wobble. “And you’re so wet for me, fox.”

Yuki bit back the retort that came to her lips. Instead, she just stared at the selkie, daring her to keep going.

Merielle’s thumb pressed gently, then circled. “You hate this, don’t you?”

Yuki’s lips parted. She shut them. Then, finally, forced the words out. “No. Not… not from you.”

The selkie smiled. It was not the smile of a brat, or a provocateur, or even a lover. It was the smile of a conqueror. She stepped in, pressed their bodies together, and kissed Yuki with a slow, devastating tenderness that made the fox’s head swim.

She broke the kiss only to whisper against Yuki’s mouth, “I know what you need, Yuki.”

When Merielle hooked her fingers into the waistband of Yuki's panties, the nogitsune closed her eyes briefly, fighting the urge to take back control. This vulnerability was almost unbearable… and then her panties slid down her legs, leaving Yuki completely naked except for the jewelry adorning her ears and throat. She stood bare before Merielle, her tails now hanging lower behind her, no longer bristling with tension but instead swaying weakly with nervous energy.

"On the bed," Merielle directed, her voice soft but firm.

Yuki obeyed, sitting on the edge of her king-sized bed, the soft sheets familiar against her bare skin. Merielle stepped between her spread knees, still fully clothed. The implied power imbalance was not lost on Yuki… her own experience as a domme made her painfully aware of every single bit of weakness in her situation. Then the selkie placed her hands on Yuki's shoulders and pushing her gently but firmly backward until she was lying on the bed on her back. With a graceful movement, Merielle climbed onto the bed and straddled Yuki's waist, looking down at her with newfound dominance that transformed her usually soft features.

"Suck," Merielle commanded, pressing two fingers against Yuki's lips.

For a heartbeat, Yuki considered refusing—biting those fingers instead of obeying. But something in Merielle's steady gaze challenged her to surrender, to trust, to explore this new dynamic between them. She parted her lips, allowing the fingers inside, and began to suck obediently, her tongue working around them in a suggestive display that made Merielle's breath catch audibly.

A thrill of satisfaction ran through Yuki at that small victory—even in submission, she could affect her lover. But as Merielle's free hand came up to stroke one of her sensitive fox ears, sending sparks of pleasure down her spine, Yuki realized with startling clarity that… despite everything… she was as aroused now as she had been the rest of the evening.

What was wrong with her?

Merielle's confidence faltered for a moment, a flash of uncertainty crossing her face as she withdrew her fingers from Yuki's mouth. The selkie might have watched Yuki dominate her countless times, but experiencing it and performing it were entirely different things. Her eyes searched Yuki's face, a silent question in them that the nogitsune immediately understood: what now? She was thinking of what to do next. Yuki faced a choice—reclaim control and end this experiment, or guide Merielle while remaining in her submissive role.

Yuki's first instinct was to protect her vulnerability. Instead, the decision came easier than she had been expecting, and she took a deep breath and offered the truth. "I don’t enjoy pain the way you do," she said, holding Merielle's gaze steadily. "But besides that… The things I do to you… I do them because I find them hot.”

Something shifted in Merielle's expression—a newfound determination replacing her momentary uncertainty. She grabbed Yuki's wrists suddenly, pinning them above her head with more strength than Yuki expected. She could have fought back, could have struggled for her freedom… she was stronger than the selkie, after all. She didn’t, remaining placid and submissive as the selkie leaned down, her mouth finding Yuki's neck with a bite.

She had been bit like that hundreds of times, her blood drained out drop by drop. It had been nothing like this.

Yuki gasped as Merielle's teeth sank into the sensitive junction between her neck and shoulder. The selkie was marking her, leaving visible evidence of this role reversal on Yuki's pale skin… and she found herself arching her body against her lovers, their breasts pushing against one another. Merielle alternated between bites and open-mouthed kisses, working her way across Yuki's throat and down to her collarbone. The nogitsune's body responded traitorously, her back arching to press even more firmly against Merielle's still-clothed chest.

"You taste divine," Merielle murmured against her skin. "Now I understand why you're always biting me."

Without releasing Yuki's wrists, the selkie glanced toward the far wall where Yuki kept her collection of bondage equipment neatly organized on hooks and in cabinets. "The red ropes, I think…” Then she released her lover’s wrists and climbed off the bed, walking with newfound confidence to the cabinet. She found the right length of ropes easily—she'd been tied with them often enough to know exactly what she was looking for.

"I don’t know the knots," Merielle admitted, returning to the bed with the coiled red rope in her hands.

"Just use square knots for right now," Yuki instructed, fighting to keep her voice steady. "It’s like a basic knot, but loop it twice. It’s not perfect, but it will do.”

Merielle nodded, taking one of Yuki’s tails in her hands first. Quickly, she began to wrap the silk around it with careful attention, bundling all nine of her tails together. . Despite her inexperience, the selkie's movements were precise: She'd been on the receiving end Yuki's techniques for years now. She was binding a little too tight, but then Yuki was a kitsune… she wasn’t worried about a little thing like circulatory damage. Merielle quickly completed the first binding before moving onto a second one and then a third, turning Yuki’s nine strong, flexible tails into one clumsy, useless before before she tied it up to the bedpost.

After that, she did the nogitsune’s wrists next, and then came each leg in turn until Yuki was tied to the bed with her legs spread, vulnerable in a way she hadn't been for years. The position left Yuki completely exposed, her sex open and visible between her spread thighs, her breasts thrust upward by the position of her arms. Her tails splayed beneath her, some hanging off the edge of the bed, others curled against the sheets. She could feel her heart pounding against her ribs, a mixture of anxiety and arousal making her breath come quicker.

"You look incredible like this," Merielle said, standing at the foot of the bed to admire her work. "So powerful, yet completely at my mercy."

Yuki flexed her wrists experimentally, feeling the coarse red ropes biting into her skin with every twist and tug. She bent her wrist, curled her fingers, and tried to find slack, seeking opportunities to escape. The rope was rough as it slid over her skin, but there was no forgiveness in Merielle’s knots; all she could do was make the binding tighter if she really committed to a struggle. She worked at it anyway, her muscles straining, the sheets below her bunching beneath her shifting hips and splayed tails.

She thrashed once, hauling against the restraints, felt her biceps burn and her hips arch. The motion made her breasts sway erotically on her chest, but she made no headway. The selkie had done a good job and cinched each knot until it felt like a challenge, maybe even a dare.

Yuki couldn't get free.

The realization triggered a rush of adrenaline that was mostly terror and arousal. She was at Merielle’s mercy. Her body responded, her skin tingled with the afterglow of friction, the cool air raising goosebumps along her arms and the inside of her thighs. Her breasts rose and fell with each labored breath, her nipples stiffening in the chill. She was bare to the world, every inch of her on display. There was nothing testing about her struggles as Yuki tried again, more desperately, to work free. The bed shook with her effort, the headboard rattling lightly against the wall. She arched her back, her shoulders pulling at the bindings over her head, and felt the ropes tighten, holding her even more firmly. Her thighs burned as she strained to close her knees and wasn’t able to, no matter how her muscles burned.

The selkie stood above her, eyes luminous in the dim bedroom light, watching her like a deep-sea predator with a wounded fish in her grasp. Yuki’s every wriggle and strained breath made Merielle’s lips curl into a sharper, more dangerous smile. She could feel the selkie’s gaze drinking in every helpless flinch, every exposed inch of skin.

The humiliation was complete.

Merielle's eyes flashed as she watched Yuki struggle. Without warning, she reached down and pinched Yuki's nipple, twisting it just enough to send a sharp jolt of pain-pleasure through the nogitsune's body. "Wriggle all you want," Merielle said firmly. "You aren’t getting away. Tonight, you belong to me."

Yuki gasped at both the physical sensation and the commanding tone in Merielle's voice. "I don’t belong to anyone. Definitely not you."

Merielle twisted harder, drawing a strangled moan from Yuki's throat. "Yes, you do. And you will address me as 'Mistress' for the duration of the evening."

The word sent an electric shock down Yuki's spine. "Hell no," Yuki said reflexively, her tails bristling. "I won't."

Merielle's expression softened slightly, a hint of softness flickering in her eyes. Instead of backing down, however, she leaned over Yuki's bound form, bringing their faces close together. “Then we’ll have to see if I can earn it.” Merielle laughed, the sound bright and genuine, breaking the moment's tension. When she spoke again, her voice had regained its dominant edge. "For that attitude, I think you need another lesson."

She pinched both of Yuki's nipples simultaneously, applying just the right amount of pressure to walk the line between pain and pleasure. Yuki arched off the bed as much as her restraints would allow, a strangled moan escaping her throat.

"Do you like that?" Merielle asked, maintaining the pressure.

"Yes," Yuki admitted, her body betraying her with its obvious response. Her nipples hardened further beneath Merielle's fingers, and she could feel wetness gathering between her legs.

"Yes, what?" Merielle prompted, twisting slightly.

"That isn’t even close to earning it," Yuki growled.

The selkie released her nipples, letting her fingers trail down Yuki's torso to the flat plane of her stomach. "Shame. I think I could get used to hearing that from you."

Despite herself, Yuki felt a powerful surge of arousal at the dominance in Merielle's voice. She had never imagined that submission could feel like this—not a diminishment of her power but a different expression of it. The willingness to make herself vulnerable required its own kind of strength.

"What now, Red?" she asked, feeling her way into this new dynamic between them.

Merielle's smile was predatory as she began to unbutton her own dress. "Now, I think it's time you put that talented tongue of yours to work for my pleasure for a change."

The selkie lifted herself off a Yuki to stand at the foot of the bed, observing Yuki's bound form with newfound confidence. The selkie's eyes roved over her spread limbs and exposed flesh with the same possessive hunger that Yuki usually directed at her. It was strange being on this side of such a gaze. Yuki watched, unable to look away as Merielle began to unzip her dress with deliberate slowness, revealing her body inch by tantalizing inch. "You've seen me naked hundreds of times," Merielle said, her voice husky as she slipped the dress down, revealing the valley between her breasts. "But I don't think you've ever really been made to wait for it, have you?"

Yuki swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. "No,” she admitted.

"I think I understand why you enjoy making me wait." Another button fell open, exposing more of her pale skin. "There's power in it. Making someone want something so badly they can barely think straight. Especially since we’re already established you’re the impatient one."

Yuki growled again, but the sound was cut off as her eyes followed Merielle’s undressing. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and as the dress opened further her breasts were visible, the pierced peaks of her nipples hardened with arousal. Yuki's tails twitched against the mattress. "Are you enjoying the show?" Merielle asked, slipping the dress off one shoulder.

"…Yes," Yuki answered truthfully. Despite her position—or perhaps because of it—she was acutely aware of the wetness gathering between her thighs.

Merielle let the dress fall, catching it at her waist and holding it there teasingly. Her breasts were fully exposed now, as perfect as the rest of her way. Her nipples were hard as diamonds, and it made Yuki ache to take them into her mouth and bite. With deliberate slowness, the selkie released the dress, letting it slide down her body to pool at her feet. She stood before Yuki wearing nothing but a pair of lace panties, her body glowing in the soft bedroom light. The selkie had always been beautiful, but right now she reminded Yuki of a sea goddess stepping out of the waves, her hair like the sunset reflected in the surf behind her.

"You're staring again," Merielle observed with a small smile.

Yuki twisted her gaze away, but she couldn’t look away for long. When she glanced towards the selkie again, Merielle had hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties, dragging them down with excruciating slowness to reveal the copper curls between her thighs. She stepped out of the underwear, now completely naked, and climbed back onto the bed with feline grace.

Yuki's breath quickened as Merielle crawled up her body to straddle her waist once again before continuing higher. The heat of the selkie's core pressed against her stomach, leaving a wet trail as she moved higher. "I've thought about this," Merielle admitted, positioning herself above Yuki's face. "What it would be like to have you beneath me, servicing me with that clever, talented tongue of yours."

She lowered herself slightly, close enough that Yuki could smell her arousal but wasn’t close enough to taste yet. The scent was familiar as could be and intoxicating. Then she reached down and grabbed one of Yuki's sensitive fox ears, tugging on it firmly as she lowered herself onto Yuki’s mouth. Her wet folds pressed against the nogitsune's lips, and Yuki didn't hesitate: She extended her tongue immediately, lapping at Merielle's entrance before dragging it upward to circle her clit.

"Mmmmm," Merielle purred, her thighs tensing on either side of Yuki's head. "That's it. That’s a good girl."

Yuki lost herself in the taste and scent of her lover, the familiar yet somehow novel experience of pleasuring Merielle with her mouth. Usually, she was the one positioning the selkie's head between her legs, directing her movements… or she was between the tied legs of her lover and licking and teasing the way she pleased. Instead, the familiar situation had been entirely flipped, and Merielle ground against her face, setting the pace.

"Slower," Merielle instructed, her hand still gripping Yuki's ear. "Long, flat strokes against my clit."

Yuki obeyed, flattening her tongue and dragging it with deliberate slowness across the sensitive bundle of nerves. She was rewarded with a shudder that ran through Merielle's entire body.

"That's it. Good girl."

The praise sent an unexpected jolt of pleasure through Yuki's core. She redoubled her efforts, alternating between the commanded slow licks and quick flicks of her tongue that she knew drove Merielle wild.

Instead of being pleased, however, one of Merielle’s fingers reached back to twist one of Yuki’s nipples. The nogitsune yelped, the sound muffled by the selkie’s thighs around her face. "I didn’t tell you to change the rhythm," Merielle admonished, tugging sharply on Yuki's ear. "I told you what to do already. Follow instructions, or I'll have to punish you, Fox.”

Yuki glared up at Merielle, her eyes half-lidded in a sullen scowl. She knew Merielle liked that. The selkie was still being an exceptional brat. When she got out of this, she was going t—

She was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn’t realize Merielle’s hand had left her breast and slid downward until her fingers stroked lightly over her panties. The touch was barely there—just enough to remind Yuki of her own arousal without providing any real satisfaction. Yuki twisted her hips, trying to drive her groin against Merielle’s hand, but she pulled back and only brushed her clit a second time. “Or maybe you require other motivation to behave…” Merielle mused to herself. “If vinegar doesn’t work, perhaps you need some honey. If you want me to make you feel good, you’ll do as I say. Now apologize.”

Yuki narrowed her eyes, but she grunted. "I'm sorry,” the nogitsune spat, her voice muffled against Merielle's flesh. "I'll do better."

"See that you do." Merielle shifted her position slightly, giving Yuki better access. "Now, circle my clit with the tip of your tongue. Slowly."

Yuki complied, focusing all her attention on the precise movements Merielle demanded. The selkie's taste filled her senses as she traced careful circles around the swollen bud, feeling it pulse beneath her tongue as Merielle's arousal built. Behind her, Merielle's fingers continued their maddening light touches through the fabric of Yuki's panties. The nogitsune found herself unconsciously lifting her hips, seeking firmer contact. This slight movement caused her to lose focus on her task, her tongue faltering in its rhythm.

Immediately, Merielle removed her hand entirely, leaving Yuki aching and empty. "Excuse me, brat. Did I say you could seek your own pleasure? Especially at the expense of mine?"

Yuki couldn’t quite hide the whine of frustration in her voice… Merielle had been teasing her since the restaurant now, and enchanted her. Actually, no… she was still enchanting her. Now that Yuki paused to sense for it, she could almost taste the glamour. "No," Yuki admitted.

"Tonight isn't about you," Merielle reminded her, grinding herself more firmly against Yuki's mouth. "Tonight is about me, and my pleasure. I decide when you get to cum. Until then, your only purpose is to serve me with that tongue, and pray you can inspire me to be merciful. Do you understand?"

"I… do," Yuki replied, swallowing her pride and frustration. The reversal of their usual dynamic was humiliating… but with Merielle’s magic swirling, it was also strangely exciting. The selkie didn’t know much magic, but the one trick Yuki had taught her to be good at was enormously effective here.

"Now," suck my clit,” Merielle commanded. “Be gentle at first, and slowly grow harder."

Yuki wrapped her lips around the sensitive nub, sucking softly while her tongue continued to work against it. She felt Merielle's thighs tremble on either side of her head, and heard the catch in her breath that told her she was doing it right. "Harder," Merielle gasped, her hips beginning to move with more urgency.

Yuki increased the suction, drawing Merielle's clit fully into her mouth and flicking her tongue rapidly across it. The selkie moaned above her, her hand gripping onto Yuki's ear to hold her exactly where she wanted her. "Perfect," Merielle breathed. "Don't stop. Don't you dare stop."

Despite her position of submission, Yuki felt a surge of satisfaction at Merielle's response. She might be bound and following orders, but she still knew exactly how to drive her lover wild. She continued the demanding suction, feeling Merielle's movements become less controlled, more instinctive as she chased her pleasure.

"If you make me cum," Merielle promised, her voice strained with approaching orgasm, "maybe I'll touch you properly afterward. Would you like that?"

Yuki moaned against Merielle's flesh, the vibration drawing another gasp from the selkie. The prospect of relief for her own aching need was tantalizing, but Yuki found herself equally motivated by the desire to please Merielle. Her position of submission mattered less to her than her desire to be the cause of her lover’s climax. "Answer me," Merielle demanded, giving a warning squeeze of Yuki’s ear.

Yuki pulled back just enough to speak, her lips brushing against Merielle's sensitive flesh with each word. "Yes… I want to make you cum."

"Then get back to work," Merielle ordered, pulling Yuki's face firmly against her cunt once more. "And don't stop until I tell you to."

Yuki dove back in with renewed determination, alternating between sucking Merielle's clit and flattening her tongue against it in broad strokes. The selkie's thighs began to quiver more insistently on either side of her head, her breathing becoming ragged. She was getting pretty close… Yuki could tell from years of experience at this point.

"That's it," Merielle gasped, grinding herself more firmly against Yuki's mouth. "Right there. Riiiight there! Don't stop!"

Yuki followed her instructions exactly, maintaining the exact pressure and rhythm that had Merielle teetering on the edge, fighting against her own instinct to vary her technique. Tonight wasn't about showing off her skills or maintaining control—it was about following orders perfectly, being exactly what Merielle needed.

And judging by the increasingly desperate sounds escaping the selkie's throat, she was succeeding admirably.

Merielle's thighs clamped around Yuki's head as her orgasm approached, the selkie's movements becoming erratic and desperate. Her hand slipped from Yuki’s ear to tighten painfully in Yuki's hair, holding her exactly where she needed her, using her face like a tool for her own pleasure. She could taste the increased wetness flowing from Merielle's center, feel the telltale pulsing that signaled her imminent release. The nogitsune maintained the precise rhythm that had brought Merielle to the edge, her tongue working tirelessly against the selkie's swollen clit.

"Fuck! Yuki!" Merielle gasped, her hips bucking wildly against the nogitsune's face, the sound of her voice raw and unfiltered as her body convulsed with pleasure. "Don't stop, don't stop, don't—"

Her words dissolved into wordless cries as waves of pleasure rolled through her. Yuki could feel each pulse against her tongue, each contraction of Merielle's inner muscles. She kept up the steady pressure, drawing out the selkie's orgasm for as long as possible, even as her jaw ached and her own arousal throbbed insistently between her legs.

Finally, Merielle's body went slack, her thighs trembling with aftershocks as she slowly raised herself off Yuki's face. The nogitsune licked her lips, tasting Merielle's essence on them.

"That was..." Merielle's voice trailed off as she caught her breath, her skin flushed and glistening with sweat.

"Satisfactory?" Yuki suggested, a hint of her usual smugness returning despite her bound position.

Merielle laughed breathlessly, moving to lie beside Yuki rather than on top of her. "More than satisfactory. But I think you know that."

Yuki turned her head to meet Merielle's gaze, acutely aware of her own unsatisfied need. Her clit throbbed painfully, her sex so wet she could feel it soaking through her panties. Merielle had promised to touch her if she performed well—and judging by that orgasm, she had definitely performed well. "And what about me?" Yuki asked, unable to keep the desperate edge from her voice. "You said if I made you come—"

"Ahh ahh ahh… I said maybe," Merielle corrected, running a finger lightly over Yuki's collarbone, deliberately avoiding any areas that might provide relief. "I'm still deciding."

Frustration boiled in Yuki's veins. Her hips lifted automatically, seeking contact, friction, anything to ease the ache between her legs. But Merielle simply watched her struggle, making no move to touch her where she needed it most.

"You brat! You little bitch! You…”

Merielle drew back one finger and flicked it across Yuki’s clit. The nogitsune hissed out a breath as the spike of sensation soared through her, but it wasn’t enough to push her over the edge. “Are you sure you want to be rude to the one holding your fate in her hands?” Merielle asked, her eyes twinkling. “How well would that have worked out for me?”

“…Please," Yuki whispered, the word strange and unfamiliar on her tongue. She couldn't remember the last time she had begged for anything, let alone sexual release.

"Mmm. Not yet," Merielle said, her voice surprisingly firm for someone who had just experienced such an intense orgasm. "I'm enjoying seeing you like this."

Yuki tugged at her restraints, a growl of frustration building in her throat. "You're cruel," she accused, her bound tails lashing against the mattress.

"I learned from the best." Merielle sat up, moving to straddle Yuki's waist, careful to position herself where she provided no stimulation to Yuki's aching center. "How does it feel, being on this side of denial?"

The question wasn't purely teasing—there was genuine curiosity in Merielle's eyes. Yuki considered deflecting, protecting her vulnerability, but something about the night's role reversal made honesty seem like the only viable path. "Maddening," she admitted. "But… not entirely unpleasant?”

Merielle tilted her head, studying Yuki's face with surprising intensity. "There’s something freeing about now having to be in charge all the time, isn’t there? Something relaxing about letting go and not being a control freak about everything, yes? Like… letting go and skating without worrying about looking foolish?”

"I wouldn't go that far," Yuki muttered, though the wetness between her thighs suggested that Merielle might have made at least a little bit of a point. "Let's say I don't find it as objectionable as I expected."

A slow smile spread across Merielle's face. "High praise indeed, coming from you." She leaned down, her breasts brushing tantalizingly against Yuki's. "Would you like to know what I'm planning next?"

Yuki swallowed hard, both dreading and anticipating whatever the selkie had in mind. "…Yes."

"First, I’m thinking about edging you," Merielle said, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Bringing you to the brink over and over again, not letting you come until you decide I’ve earned the title of Mistress from you." Her finger traced the outline of Yuki's nipple, not quite touching the sensitive peak. "And you’re a stubborn fox. I might not even manage it. We might go alllllll night without you deciding I’ve earned it, and you’ll be kept on edge, desperate and begging for release that won't come until tomorrow when our bargain ends."

A shudder ran through Yuki's body at the prospect—part terror, part perverse excitement. She had done this to Merielle many times, of course. The selkie was simply turning her own techniques against her. But Yuki had never experienced prolonged denial from the receiving end. The idea of being kept on the edge for hours, possibly all night, sent conflicting waves of dread and arousal through her. "You wouldn't," she said, but there was no conviction in her voice.

"Wouldn't I?" Merielle trailed her fingers down Yuki's stomach, stopping just short of where the nogitsune desperately needed to be touched. "I think you underestimate how much I've learned from watching you, Mistress."

Yuki's eyes widened as she recognized the truth in Merielle's words. She really could keep her teetering on the edge of pleasure for hours without tipping her over. Hell, with glamour, she could probably come close to making Yuki lose her mind until she was willing to do anything to cum in that time. "You're enjoying this too much," Yuki observed, trying to regain some measure of control through conversation, if nothing else.

"Very much," Merielle admitted without a hint of shame. "It is fun to have you completely at my mercy… making you respond to my every touch." She brushed her thumb across Yuki's lower lip. "Knowing they'd do anything you asked just for the chance of relief."

"I wouldn't do anything," Yuki protested weakly.

Merielle raised an eyebrow. "We’ll just have to see, then won’t we?”

Merielle slid off the bed with a fluid grace that reminded Yuki of water pouring over stone. The selkie's naked body gleamed with sweat in the dim light as she padded across the room toward the closet where Yuki kept her extensive collection of toys. The nogitsune strained against her bonds, her pride warring with the persistent throbbing between her legs. Her tails twitched futilely where they were bound to the bedpost, each movement only emphasizing her complete helplessness. Maybe, if she could just get that tail a little bit closer she could get one of them between her legs…

"Now, what shall I use on you?" Merielle mused aloud, staring at Yuki's meticulously organized collection. Her fingers trailed over floggers, clamps, ropes, and cuffs before stopping at the hooks where a few of her electronic toys were kept. "Ah, perfect."

The selkie pulled out the heavy, white Hitachi wand and turned, its electrical cord trailing behind it like a tail. Yuki stared at it like a snake slithering towards her… she had used that thing to reduce Merielle to incoherent begging within just a few minutes. What was it going to do to her when she was already drowning in glamour?

"Looking for something easier?" Yuki suggested, trying to mask her apprehension with sarcasm. "That might be a bit much for a first-timer to handle. Easy to push me over the edge too quick."

Merielle plugged the wand into the wall socket, her smile knowing and wicked. "I think I can handle it." She clicked the device on, its powerful motor humming to life with a sound that sent a jolt straight up Yuki’s spine. The nogitsune's thighs tensed involuntarily as Merielle approached the bed. The magic pouring off the selkie still swirled around them both, amplifying Yuki's desire to uncomfortable levels and keeping her from looking away from the insanely beautiful woman. It was like being drunk on lust, her body responding more intensely than it should to even the anticipation of touch.

Merielle climbed back onto the bed between Yuki's spread legs. She kept the vibrator switched to its lowest setting, hovering it just above Yuki's inner thigh… close enough that Yuki could swear that she felt the air vibrating against her desperately sensitive slit.

Then she pressed it down…

On her thigh.

Even that touch, away from her intimate flesh, was enough to make Yuki jerk in her restraints. Merielle dragged it slowly up her inner thigh, deliberately avoiding her sex, tracing lazy patterns that inched closer to where Yuki needed it most, then veered away. It was maddening.

"Is this how you feel when you tease me?" Merielle asked, bringing the humming head of the wand close enough to Yuki's clit that she hoped against hope it would kiss… then backed off. "Does it usually feel this strong? This in control?"

"Oh, just get on with it," Yuki growled, her hips lifting involuntarily, seeking contact.

Merielle laughed softly. "So impatient."

Then, without warning, she lowered the vibrator, pressing it firmly against Yuki's clit. The sensation was immediate and overwhelming—pleasure so intense it bordered on pain shooting through her body. Yuki's back arched off the bed, a strangled gasp escaping her throat. Her tails thrashed against their bindings, her body instinctively flinching in so many directions that Yuki couldn’t be sure if her body was trying to get towards the sensation or away from it. Yuki expected Merielle to pull the thing away immediately but instead she kept it there, letting the relentless stimulation build rapidly into what promised to be an explosive orgasm.

"That's it, Fox," Merielle murmured, watching Yuki's face intently. "Let go. Show me how it feels."

Yuki felt her climax approaching with alarming speed, her inner muscles already beginning to contract, her breath coming in short, desperate pants. She was so close, just a few more heartbeats and she would—

The vibrator lifted away completely. The withdrawal was so sudden that Yuki cried out, her hips bucking against empty air, her body trembling on the precipice of release. "No!" The word escaped before she could stop it, raw and desperate. She should have seen it coming… should have known it was coming. It’s what she would have done… but so drunk on sex her brain refused to work.

"No?" Merielle echoed innocently. "But I've barely started."

Yuki glared at her, chest heaving. "You… little… bitch."

"Careful," Merielle warned, trailing the still-vibrating wand along the sensitive skin of Yuki's stomach. "You’re being very rude."

"I’m not… fucking… saying it…” Yuki growled through gritted teeth.

"That’s unfortunate for you," Merielle lowered the vibrator again, this time pressing it against Yuki's entrance, gathering her wetness before sliding it back up to her clit. The sensation was even more intense now, the vibrations seeming to penetrate deeper. "Just one little word. That's all it will take."

Yuki's resolve hardened even as her body melted under the stimulation. She wouldn't break so easily. She was eight hundred years old, for fuck's sake, and she’d been denied for five hundred of those. She could handle being teased away from cumming for a single night. Yuki was sure of it… but the way Merielle made her pleasure build again and again, higher and more urgent than before, she realized with a sinking feeling that she might be wrong about that. The vibrator worked mercilessly against her swollen clit, her wetness making the sensations slicker, more intense. Her legs began to shake, the muscles in her thighs quivering with the effort to hold back her release, and her selkie’s glamour were lick claws sinking into the fox’s brain.

Again, just as she approached the edge, Merielle pulled the vibrator away. This time, Yuki couldn't suppress the whimper that escaped her lips, the sound pathetically needy to her own ears.

"You're so beautiful like this," Merielle observed, her voice husky with renewed arousal. "So strong, yet so helpless. The way you flex, trying to get away… I could watch you struggle all night."

"Please," Yuki whispered, the word feeling foreign on her tongue. "Please, I need to cum."

"Please what?" Merielle prompted, bringing the vibrator close enough that Yuki could feel its hum against her oversensitive flesh without actually touching her.

"Please let me cum," Yuki elaborated, her voice strained, deliberately avoiding the word Merielle wanted to hear.

The selkie shook her head slowly. "Not good enough."

She applied the vibrator again, this time turning it to its highest setting. The jump in intensity was devastating. Yuki's entire body convulsed, her wrists straining against the ropes until they cut into her skin. The pleasure was overwhelming, building faster and higher than before, her orgasm rushing toward her with unstoppable force.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck," she chanted, her head thrashing from side to side as the pressure built to an unbearable crescendo.

And then the vibrator was gone again.

Yuki screamed in frustration, actual tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Her body shook with unfulfilled need, her clit throbbing painfully, her inner walls clenching around nothing. It was agonizing. "I… fuck…" she sobbed, beyond caring how pathetic she sounded. "You… bitch… you bitch… you bitch…"

"Say it," Merielle demanded, her voice firm despite the evident arousal darkening her eyes. "Call me what I want to hear."

Yuki turned her head away.

"Say it," Merielle repeated, bringing the vibrator close enough that Yuki could feel its promise without receiving its relief. "One word. That's all it takes."

Yuki gasped, frustrated tears now streaming freely down her face. Her need so acute it was like a knives stabbing into her. Merielle pressed the vibrator against her again, and Yuki's back bowed off the bed, her entire body shaking with desperate need. She was so close, so fucking close, pleasure coiling tighter and tighter until she thought she might break apart from it. Mistress. The word hovered on her lips, ready to spill out. Would it really be so terrible? Just a word. Just a moment of surrender in exchange for the release her body screamed for. Even on the edge of madness, her pride resisted… she couldn’t give in like that.

Merielle pulled the vibrator away again, and Yuki collapsed back onto the bed, sobbing with frustration. "I know what you need," Merielle said, her voice unexpectedly gentle. "And I'll give it to you. When you're ready."

Yuki closed her eyes, feeling defeat settling over her like a shroud. Her entire body ached with unreleased tension, her clit so swollen and sensitive that even the air felt like too much stimulation. The selkie's glamour wrapped around her mind like silken chains, amplifying every sensation, every need, until nothing existed except the desperate craving for release.

She couldn’t hold… And what terrified her most was the realization that some part of her wanted to give in, to surrender completely and let go of the control she'd clung to for centuries.

As Merielle brought the vibrator back to hover just above her desperate flesh, Yuki gritted her teeth, but it didn’t stop her from screaming when it came back down again.

——————————————————————

It had been hours. How many, Yuki had no clue anymore… Time had lost all meaning. Yuki's world had contracted to nothing but sensation—the relentless vibrations against her clit, the cruel withdrawals, the desperate emptiness each time Merielle pulled away. How long had this been going on? Hours, surely. Her body was slick with sweat, her wrists raw from struggling against the ropes, her thighs trembling constantly now with exhaustion and need. The sheets beneath her were soaked with her arousal, her cunt aching, swollen, desperate for the release that remained just out of reach.

The nogitsune's fox ears lay flattened against her head in complete submission, a position that seemed unnatural on the dark-haired hadn't assumed in centuries. Her nine tails had long since given up their furious thrashing, now lying limply where they were bound, occasionally twitching with residual tension. Her throat was raw from begging, from moaning, from crying out in frustrated need every time Merielle brought her to the edge only to deny her at the last moment.

"Please," she whispered, the word so frequently repeated it had almost lost its meaning. "Please, I can't take any more."

Merielle's face hovered above her, flushed with her own arousal and her red hair tangled. Like Yuki, she was half crazy with the lust. Unlike Yuki, she had had relief: the selkie had taken her own pleasure several times throughout the night. Whenever the sight of Yuki's desperation had made her own need too great to bear, she had simply climbed onto Yuki's face again, grinding against her mouth until she came, forcing the nogitsune to give her relief and adding to the nogitsune's torment by flaunting what she couldn’t have.

"Still so stubborn," Merielle observed, her voice husky with desire despite her multiple orgasms. Her fingers traced lazy patterns over Yuki's sweat-slicked stomach. "Honestly, I’m impressed you’ve lasted this long. But we both know just how stubborn you can be… maybe it shouldn’t surprise me.”

"P-please…please…" Yuki choked out, her voice cracking. "En… nough… enough… enou..gh…”

"Not quite." Merielle positioned the vibrator against Yuki's oversensitive clit once more. The nogitsune's entire body jerked in response, her nerves so raw that even this gentle contact felt overwhelming. "We both know what I want to hear."

The vibrations intensified as Merielle turned the dial higher. Yuki's back arched off the bed, a keening sound tearing from her throat as pleasure-pain coursed through her abused flesh. She was beyond pride now, beyond resistance. She needed release more than she needed air. "Mistress!" The word exploded from her like a physical force, tearing through the last barricade of her pride. "Mistress, please! Please let me cum!"

The moment the word left her lips, something shifted in the air between them. Merielle's eyes widened slightly, as if even she hadn't expected the impact of hearing that title from Yuki's mouth. The selkie recovered quickly, her lips curving into a triumphant smile. "Say it again," she commanded, pressing the vibrator more firmly against Yuki's clit.

"Mistress," Yuki repeated, the word coming easier now that the dam had broken. "Please, Mistress, I need to cum… I'll do anything! Anything you want! Just… just please let me cum!"

Merielle's free hand stroked Yuki's cheek with unexpected tenderness. "I will let you cum, but on one condition." She leaned closer, her eyes locking with Yuki's. "You must keep your eyes open and on mine the entire time. If you close them, even for a second, I'll stop. Understand?"

Yuki nodded frantically, beyond caring about any conditions. "Yes! Anything! Please."

"Good girl," Merielle whispered. The selkie positioned herself beside Yuki, their faces level, her green eyes meeting Yuki's blue in an unbreakable gaze. With her other hand, she turned the vibrator to its highest setting… and pressed it against Yuki's clit.

The sensation was devastating. After hours of edging, Merielle had been using lower settings for hours now. With the demonic thing turned up to maximum, Yuki's body responded instantly, pleasure surging through her with almost painful intensity. Her back arched, her thighs tensed, but she forced her eyes to remain open, locked with Merielle's, even as the first wave of orgasm crashed through her.

"Mis… tr… ess!" she half choked, half screamed as her climax took her, the force of it unlike anything she'd experienced since just after getting freee. Her inner walls clenched violently, waves of pleasure radiating outward from her core to the tips of her fingers and toes. Her body, denied for so long, simply exploded now that she was permitted to release.

Merielle held the vibrator steady, her eyes never leaving Yuki's as the nogitsune's body convulsed beneath her. "Let it go completely," she encouraged. "Show me everything!"

The orgasm seemed endless, wave after wave of pleasure crashing through Yuki's immortal form. Her body shook, her cunt pulsing with contractions so powerful they were visible through her toned stomach as it clenched again and again. stomach. Still, she maintained that eye contact, letting Merielle witness her complete undoing, her total surrender. There was nowhere to hide, no way to mask the raw vulnerability of her pleasure. "Mis… tress," she gasped again as a secondary orgasm built on the first, her body somehow finding more release when she thought she had nothing left to give. Her thighs trembled uncontrollably as the pleasure continued far beyond what should have been physically possible. Tears streamed from her eyes, but still she kept them open, locked with Merielle's, letting the selkie see her completely exposed, completely owned in this moment.

Finally, when Yuki thought she might actually lose consciousness from the intensity, Merielle gently removed the vibrator. The nogitsune collapsed back onto the bed, her body continuing to shudder with powerful aftershocks, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She felt utterly shattered, broken apart and remade by the force of her release.

"So beautiful," Merielle murmured, setting aside the vibrator and stroking Yuki's sweat-dampened hair from her forehead. "You really are so hot when you cry.”

Yuki couldn't speak, couldn't form coherent thought. Her body continued to twitch and shake, occasional whimpers escaping her lips as aftershocks rippled through her oversensitive flesh.

With gentle hands, Merielle began to untie her, starting with her ankles. The selkie worked methodically, carefully unwinding the red silk ropes that had held Yuki captive for hours. As each limb was freed, she massaged the marked skin, pressing soft kisses to the rope burns that encircled Yuki's wrists and ankles. "You did so well," Merielle praised, her voice soft and affectionate as she moved to the tails next, unbinding them with the same tender care. "So perfect for me."

Yuki's tails, once freed, lay limply on the bed, occasionally twitching with residual tension but too exhausted to resume their usual animated movement. The nogitsune felt hollowed out, emptied of everything except a bone-deep satisfaction that transcended physical pleasure. She had never felt so utterly vulnerable, so completely seen… and it was fine. "I can't move," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper, her throat raw from screaming.

"You don't need to," Merielle assured her, finishing the last of the unbinding. She didn’t have the strength to lift Yuki, but she didn’t need to as she gathered the nogitsune’s boneless form into her arms, cradling her against her chest on the bed. The selkie's skin, warm as it probably was, still felt cool against Yuki's overheated flesh, and the feeling of being held was soothing. Yuki's head lolled against Merielle's shoulder, her body occasionally shuddering with another aftershock. The selkie stroked her hair, her back, her tails, each touch gentle and reverent, so different from the demanding domination of moments before.

"Rest now," Merielle whispered, pressing a kiss to Yuki's temple. "I've got you."

Too exhausted to resist, too shattered to maintain any pretense of control, Yuki surrendered to this final vulnerability. She curled into Merielle's embrace, allowing herself to be held, comforted, and protected. One of her tails weakly curled around Merielle's wrist, an unconscious gesture of connection that made the selkie smile.

"Thank you," Yuki whispered, the words barely audible. She wasn't entirely sure what she was thanking her for—the orgasm, the care, or for her being allowed just once to let go… to not be in charge. Maybe all three.

Whichever it was, Merielle seemed to understand. She tightened her arms around Yuki, holding her safely as the nogitsune's eyes fluttered closed, her body still occasionally trembling with the ghosts of pleasure. In that moment of complete vulnerability, Yuki felt the woman’s real power… the strength that came from trusting someone else completely. From feeling safe.

Yuki closed her eyes for a minute and just breathed.

The silence stretched… it wasn’t uncomfortable, but there it was charged. Her body still occasionally trembled with aftershocks, little ripples of pleasure that made her toes curl and her breath catch. Merielle's fingers traced lazy patterns along her spine, occasionally venturing to stroke one of her tails with a reverent touch that made Yuki's skin prickle with renewed sensitivity. The selkie's body against hers felt right as their limbs entangled, their breathing gradually synchronizing in the quiet aftermath of Yuki's shattering release.

"That was..." Yuki began, then stopped. She found herself at a loss for words—a rare occurrence for the normally impulsive nogitsune.

"Unexpected?" Merielle suggested, her fingers continuing their gentle exploration of Yuki's body, tracing the faint red marks left by the ropes. “Tragic? Awful?”

"Wonderful," Yuki admitted softly. The word hung between them, heavy with implications. She felt Merielle's surprise in the momentary stillness of her fingers. "I didn't expect it to be. I thought I would hate every moment of it."

"But you didn't," Merielle said, not a question but a gentle confirmation.

"No." Yuki shifted slightly, adjusting her position so she could see Merielle's face without pulling away from her embrace. "I had... doubts. Given my history."

Merielle's arm squeezed the nogitsune more firmly. “I know.”

"I swore I'd never kneel for anyone again,” Yuki whispered. “Never surrender control."

"Is that what you did?" Merielle mused, her hand coming up to cup Yuki's cheek. "I don’t think you knelt. You just… relaxed for a little bit."

"For you," Yuki agreed. "Because I trust you. Because I knew that even when I was completely at your mercy, I was safe.”

Merielle's laugh was soft and warm. "I enjoyed it too," she confessed. "Making you react like that… cum like that. It’s intoxicating.”

"You were surprisingly good at it," Yuki admitted. Then she smirked. "For a beginner.”

"I had an excellent teacher," Merielle replied, her eyes twinkling. "Some domineering nogitsune who's been torturing me with pleasure for years now. Perhaps you've met her?"

Yuki laughed softly, the sound quiet and nearly breathless. "Touché. I suppose I deserve that."

"You looked beautiful," Merielle said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "When you finally let go. When you relaxed. It’s been a while since I saw you that unguarded. Maybe since the last time I tied you up, come to think about it.”

Yuki's cheeks warmed at the memory of when she had realized Merielle wasn’t going to take her skin and flee back into the ocean. "It was terrifying," she admitted. “But… with you, it felt like you were revealing something that was already there. Something I'd buried so deeply I'd forgotten it existed."

Merielle's eyes darkened with emotion. "And what was that?"

"The desire to be seen," Yuki whispered. "Not as the powerful nogitsune, or a menance. Not as a chosen one, or a prodigy. Not as a mistress, or a survivor. Just… me. Not needing to shield anything."

“With all my vulnerabilities exposed," Merielle said softly. "You've given me that gift many times, Mistress. I'm honored to return it."

They lapsed into silence again, the weight of the moment settling around them like a warm blanket. Yuki's tails, recovering some of their strength, curled lightly around Merielle's legs, an unconscious gesture of affection and protection.

Merielle's fingers resumed their gentle stroking of Yuki's tails, causing the nogitsune to sigh with pleasure. "You needed this," the selkie suggested. “To relax, once in a while. You know, you don’t always have to plan which train we take, which restaurant we go to, what activities we’re going to do. I like you taking charge, but I don’t want to make you carry all the weight, you know? I can step up if you let me.”

Yuki nodded slowly. "I've been too rigid," she admitted. "Too controlled. Always needing to be in charge, to anticipate every possibility, to never show weakness." She brushed a strand of copper hair from Merielle's face. "When you’ve been doing it for centuries, it’s easy to forget that not everything needs to be a battle for control."

"Like ice skating?" Merielle teased.

"…Yeah, I guess so," Yuki agreed with a rueful smile. "I was so focused on not looking foolish that I couldn't enjoy myself. Couldn't let go and just... be."

"And how did that work out for you?"

"I fell on my ass six times," Yuki reminded her dryly. "But... I did have moments of fun. Especially when I fell down with you and pulled you after me."

Merielle laughed, the sound light and musical. "See? Sometimes not being in control can be enjoyable."

"I'm beginning to understand your point," Yuki conceded. Her hand traced the curve of Merielle's hip, appreciating the selkie's form with renewed awareness. "Thank you," she said softly. "For showing me that. For being someone I can trust enough to let go with."

Merielle leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against Yuki's in a kiss that held none of the earlier dominance, only tenderness and affection. When she pulled back, her eyes were bright with emotion. "Merry Christmas, Mistress," she whispered, emphasizing the title with a hint of her usual submissive tone.

The return to their normal dynamic felt like coming home, comfortable and right. But now there was something new between them, a deeper understanding, a shared secret of vulnerability and strength that flowed both ways.

Yuki felt her eyelids growing heavy, the physical and emotional exertion of the night finally catching up with her. Merielle seemed to sense her exhaustion, pulling her closer and adjusting their position so Yuki's head rested comfortably on her shoulder.

"Sleep, lover," the selkie murmured, pressing a kiss to Yuki's forehead. "You've earned your rest."

Yuki wanted to reply, to say something witty or meaningful, but fatigue overwhelmed her. Her body felt pleasantly heavy, her mind drifting toward sleep despite her efforts to stay present in this moment of connection. The last thing she was aware of was her tails moving of their own accord, wrapping protectively around Merielle's form as they both surrendered to sleep.

——————————————————————

Yuki woke slowly, consciousness returning in gentle waves rather than her usual sharp alertness. Her body felt odd… utterly relaxed. Kitsune healing meant that she wasn’t even a little bit sore from their activities late into the night, but the absolute release of tension that had accompanied it had lasted. She stretched languidly, her tails uncurling from where they had wrapped around Merielle during the night, only to realize the selkie was no longer beside her. Opening her eyes, Yuki found Merielle already awake and sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her with an expression that combined affection with something like anticipation. In her hands, she held a small package wrapped in deep blue paper.

"You're up early," Yuki murmured, her voice still husky from sleep.

Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, catching in Merielle's copper hair and giving her an ethereal glow. The selkie was wrapped in a thin silk robe that did little to conceal her body beneath with the way it clung to her curves. Against the backdrop of golden light, she looked as stunning as ever. "I couldn't wait," Merielle admitted, her eyes bright with excitement. "I wanted to give you a present."

She held out the package, encouraging Yuki to take it. The nogitsune pushed herself into a sitting position. She accepted the gift with curious hands, noting the careful wrapping. “Did I sleep all the way until Christmas?” she teased, turning the package over in her hands. “I don’t think you wore me out that much.”

"Some things shouldn’t wait," Merielle replied, a hint of nervousness entering her voice.

Yuki carefully unwrapped the paper, revealing a small velvet box beneath. Her curiosity deepening, she opened the lid—and stared. It was one of Merielle’s collars that Yuki had gotten for her, a simple but beautiful thing of supple black leather with silver accents. That was just as it had been when Yuki gave it to her. What was new was the small tag hanging from the front that Merielle had drawn kanji onto… the correct kanji, this time.

For a moment, Yuki couldn't speak. Then she quirked an eyebrow. "Mistress's Fox?" she mused. Yuki ran her fingers over the soft leather, feeling it.

“I wanted something to remember last night by,” Merielle assured her quickly. “You don’t have to wear it. I just want you to have it. To know that you’re mine, too… and you never have to do it all by yourself.”

Yuki looked up from the collar to Merielle's face, finding only sincerity in her expression. There was no demand there, no expectation—just an offering of herself, her heart, her understanding.

Then she lifted it up. "I'll wear it today," Yuki decided. "Just for today." She held out the collar and the back of her neck. "Would you?"

Merielle's eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected this response. With gentle hands, she took the collar and moved behind Yuki. The nogitsune felt the soft leather touch her skin as Merielle fastened it carefully, the weight of it unfamiliar but not unpleasant. When it was secure, Merielle's fingers lingered at the back of her neck, a tender touch that sent pleasant shivers down Yuki's spine.

"How does it feel?" Merielle asked, moving back around to face her.

Yuki touched the collar, feeling the tag rest against the hollow of her throat. "Not all chains are restricting,” she admitted. “I don’t mind tying myself a bit more firmly to you.” Yuki sighed. “Well, I suppose I put on your gift. If you want, you can have me at your disposal for the rest of the day, too.”

Merielle smiled, the expression lighting her entire face. But then, something shifted in her eyes—a mischievous glint shone in them. Before Yuki could react, Merielle leaned forward and delivered a firm, sharp slap to her cheek. The impact wasn't painful so much as shocking. Yuki's hand flew to her face, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What the fuck was that for?"

Merielle was already scrambling off the bed, her smile turning into a challenging grin. "No, Mistress," she said, emphasizing the title with deliberate provocation. “I don’t think so.”

Understanding dawned on Yuki like a thunderclap. The selkie was giving her a gift beyond the collar itself: the permission to be exactly who she was, without guilt or reservation. A reminder that that was the woman she fell in love with, despite everything. "You little brat," Yuki growled, her fox ears perking forward as her tails bristled behind her. "You're going to regret that."

Merielle's laughter was bright and fearless as she backed toward the bedroom door. "Am I, Mistress? I don’t think so."

With that Merielle turned and bolted, the silk robe fluttering behind her as she ran naked through the penthouse. Yuki launched herself from the bed, all traces of morning languor vanishing as the thrill of the chase ignited her blood. Her tails streamed behind her, her bare feet silent on the hardwood floors as she pursued her prey.

"When I catch you," she called after the fleeing selkie, "I'm going to bend you over the nearest piece of furniture and spank that perfect ass until fae skin or not you can't sit for a week!"

Merielle's answering laugh echoed from somewhere in the living room, breathless with excitement and anticipation. "Promises, promises!"