"And you're sure we're alone?" Chelsea was sitting nervously on Bucket’s bed, dressed in a borrowed button-up and slacks after a quick shower. She appreciated Bucket cleaning her up most times, but ever since they had made things more “official”, she had become more private about it, self conscious as ever. 

Bucket on the other hand was completely at ease, lounging comfortably in their pajamas. They reached over to pull Chelsea in close, petting in between her horns. "There should be absolutely no one to witness our time together. We're entirely safe."

"I trust you..." Chelsea rested her head against Bucket’s neck, exhaling hard. "I just worry."

"I made measures to prevent any discovery from happening."

"Rein away for a few days, with most of the attendants gone...it feels like it's too good to be true."

"The ones that remain respect status and position too much to intrude."

"Then..." Chelsea pressed a gentle kiss to their neck, glancing up at them shyly. She still wasn’t used to affection shared between them, but to say it was growing on her was an understatement.

Bucket smiled back at her, all warmth. Adjusting to everything had been equally strange for the dog, but they were nothing but grateful. "Then we're safe to proceed."

"Hold me. Please."

They wrapped their arms around, careful with the other demon. "Like so?"

"Perfect." She leaned in and kissed their cheek, still leaving room for Bucket to take the lead. They reached for her hand, Chelsea giving theirs a squeeze as soon as they got close.

"May I?" They leaned in.

"Please." She repeated, keeping her voice soft as she could.

Bucket went for the kiss. Chelsea started to relax as she returned it, practically melting in their arms. They pulled her in closer, their tail wagging in a flurry.

Chelsea’s voice was almost dazed sounding, something Bucket couldn’t get enough of. "You're warm, so, so warm..."

"Oh? Well... You are simply wonderful." They snuggled up, wrapping their arms around and holding her against their chest.

"You're flattering me, Buck..." Chelsea got even more comfortable, initiating a kiss of her own this time.

Bucket pushed their hips up against hers slightly, a little hesitant to go any further.

"...!" Chelsea pulled away from the kiss, beet red.

"I'm sorry!"

"No, n-no, you're good, I just- it surprised me, th-that's all." She cleared her throat. "That you'd see me that way, I mean."

"We don't need to... if you'd rather we keep things simple but.... I would not mind either way really!"  They had trouble maintaining eye contact.

"...is this something you've been wanting?"

They nodded. "Please don't be upset, we don't need to."

"I'm not upset, I just...I'm really not that, I don't know...desirable."

"Oh?"

"I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that you want to kiss me, let alone this. I mean, it's not like I'm experienced with anything but, well...Spit." Chelsea grimaced.

"I can't say I'm any better in regard to experience and... if I'm honest there's nobody I would rather do this with."

"I'd be lying if I said this kind of thought never crossed my mind, but what if I screw it up?"

"You couldn't. Not to me."

She took a deep breath. "Then...do you want to try?"

They nodded.

Chelsea shuffled in place, the blush creeping back into her cheeks. "I think I'd be more comfortable with you leading- i-if that's alright."

"Could you assist me? My experience with the lead is..." They turned red. "Admittedly lacking."

"Okay, maybe we can just. Take turns giving direction, or something. I can go f-first, even."

"Could you?"

"I'll try." She swallowed, trying to look confident. "T-take off your shirt."

The dog tried to maintain eye contact as they did so, slipping it off over their head.
It took all of Chelsea's strength not to immediately bury her face in their chest, choosing instead to reach forward and run her claws through their fur. "It's different, seeing you like this. I m-mean, we've seen each other before, with showers and all, but...."

"Is it good?"

"I never exactly felt like I was allowed to look, before. Like there was a guilt to it for even considering it."

"Is there still guilt?"

 "Not even my messed up head can make me feel guilt when you look at me like that."

They smiled wide.

"You're beautiful." She moved in close and nuzzled against their chest, still trembling a little. "I can't...I can't believe I get to do this with you."

"I'm really surprised you said yes... I was worried it'd be too much."

"I don't know if I'll be able to go all the way through with it, still. N-not because of anything you're doing!" She pulled away enough to look into their eyes, frowning slightly. "You're...perfect, even just this alone is perfect...it's just..."

They leaned in a little, closing the distance. "I don't know if I could either really. I fear it may not be good enough for you."

"You are more than good enough for me, Bucket. No matter what- what I'm saying is that, well...I have trouble, uh..." She looked away slightly. "Getting anywhere with this kind of thing."

"The same really."

"Wait- really?"

"I'm not very experienced, not particularly confident in general, and admittedly may have looming fears and anxieties about being disappointing."

"You could never disappoint me, you never have."

"I don't ever want to."

"You won't." Chelsea pressed her hand against their chest, massaging carefully. "We'll take turns with this until it feels more natural, and...we can stop whenever we're comfortable. We'll try it, together."

They nodded. "However you’re comfortable...you can go again."

"I already started with your shirt, feels like I'm cheating to take another turn." She couldn't help but smile, just a little. "If I'm going to be greedy, though...pants next. S-slowly."

"Yes well....." They started unbuttoning. "I don't mind."

"Try giving me something to work with while you do it. Your turn."

"I would like you to wrap your tail around me. Please."

"You'll need to get these off first..." She reached over to help get Bucket's pants off all the way, taking a moment to look them over before scooting in close. "It's not as long as other people's, I can't do a full coil or anything..." She wrapped her tail around Bucket's leg as best she could. "But I can do this much."

"It's more than enough."

She rested her head on Bucket's chest, daring to reach around and feel their thigh. They pressed their face in between her horns, nuzzling the fur there. 

"Is it really alright for me to touch you like this? I kind of...I kind of want to do more, for my turn." Chelsea swallowed.

"You may do as you wish, I say this with sincerity."

She swallowed, moving to feel between their legs as carefully as possible. The dog shivered a little in response at first but eased up enough to allow her.

"Y-your turn." She didn't stop herself from feeling them, watching their reaction.

They pushed up very slightly, trying to maintain a confident face with mixed results. Chelsea pressed down harder, causing Bucket to make a noise. "Please..."

Her breath hitched as she heard them react. "Tell me what to do, tell me what'd feel good for you."

"Anything.."

"I want to hear that sound again." She slid her hand fully under their underwear.

The dog couldn’t keep their voice down.

"You're going to make my heart beat out of my chest, Buck."

"Do not assume mine is doing better!"

"It's weird, but I think I like this." She pressed down particularly hard, trying to find a sensitive spot. "I like being able to show you just how much you do to me."

They made a loud whine, their hips shaking just the slightest bit. "I must ask you now... how long did you think about this yourself?"

"I...longer than I want to admit."

"I'm glad."

"Did you, ever?"

"Many times but I feared it would be too much to place such affections on you."

"Right now, I think that's all I want."

"The same really."

Chelsea pulled her hand away reluctantly, taking a deep breath and starting to unbutton her own top. "...Need to do this while I have the guts."

"Please do."

She got her shirt off with a little struggle, setting it aside and immediately going to cover up some of her chest scars.

"Don't."

"They're horrible."

"They don't bother me.. and I'd like to see you too."

She put her arm back at her side, trying to keep eye contact as best she could. "It only gets worse from here."

"You're fine."

Chelsea squeezed her eyes shut as she pulled her pants off, the scars getting particularly deeper and more pronounced the more she revealed.

They smiled at them, assuringly. "You're good. Hold onto me."

"Y-you're not bothered?" She scooted in close to them again, shaking all over.

"Absolutely not! You're not hurting are you?"

"No, just...like I said, it's different than before. It's new."

"It doesn't have to be new for long you know... we'd have to look for opportunities to do things like this together but...."

"I want to."

They nuzzled up. "This is okay then yes?"

"Yeah...this is okay." She wrapped her tail around their leg again, trying not to fidget too much against them.

"You can tell me if anything is uncomfortable."

"No, it's just- you're so close to me, and, with those sounds you were making earlier, I just-I'm not used to feeling this. I'm not used to enjoying it."

"Neither am I, it's a first for both of us." They pressed their nose against her cheek. "I'm glad this is with you."

"It's like I want more and more of you."

"You may have as much as you need."

Chelsea tried gently pushing their hips together, getting a shaky sigh out of Bucket in return. "And what if I n-need too much?"

"I'll need just as much."

"Then I want it all." She moved in for a clumsy kiss, trying but not entirely sure how to effectively grind against them. Bucket did their best to make their position work, equally new to this.

Chelsea shuddered as they managed to push against a sensitive spot, making the tiniest noise into their kiss. Bucket was floundering any attempt to keep their cool as Chelsea managed to find a position that worked, both of them starting to breathe heavily as she grinded up against their hips. The dog tried to keep up the pace with their partner, just the tiniest bit hesitant to pick up the pace.

"Y-you doing alright, Buck?"

"Y-yes. Yourself?"

"I'm just checking on you before we get any more intense."

They nodded. "Continue just a while more please."

"More at this pace, you mean? We don't have to rush."

"Just to warm me up the slightest bit longer..."

She went back to grinding slowly, watching for even the slightest change in the dog's expression. Bucket’s expression was shy, but it was clear they were enjoying themself, a dazed smile across their face.

"You're so beautiful, Buck..."

"I would not say so..."

"I mean it." She leaned in, more confident than usual. "Y-you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and I want you to know that."

"Really? I was about to say the same about you but... now I feel quite embarrassed knowing you beat me to it. People will think I copied you."

"I-" She went to protest before realizing the absurdity of it, laughing. "We're both so terrible at taking compliments."

"We really are!"

"Maybe we just need more exposure- n-not that we can get much more exposed than this."

"We'll adjust... I think."

"Maybe if I just keep telling you, it'll sink in."

"Tell me, then."

"No one's ever made me feel this way before, never...you're the world to me, Buck."

"There's nobody I would rather be with right now than you... so to know the feelings are returned is a relief. "

"I want to show you just how much."

"Please."

Chelsea reached down between their legs again, daring to slide a finger in.

"C-chelsea!" They pulled her in closer, clutching at their back. Their partner moved slowly, keeping her face pressed into their chest fluff.

"More..."

She slid another finger inside, trying to find the perfect angle.

"It's so much..."

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No!"

She couldn't help but smile at their outburst, picking up the pace a bit. Bucket couldn’t help but dig their claws lightly into her back, just enough to be felt.

"I love you, Bucket." She kissed just underneath their collar. "I'm going to give you everything."

"I want all of it."

Chelsea didn't hold back now, wishing more than anything for another arm to hold them with. Bucket leaned back in, bumping their nose against her cheek, looking for more contact. She immediately moved to face them, giving them a warm kiss as Bucket wrapped a leg around her.

"How's it feel?" She hit a sensitive spot.

They rubbed up against her, wanting more and more. "G-Good!"

She tried to hit the spot again, Bucket unable to keep themself from pressing their teeth into her shoulder.

"You can bite if you need to..."

"Will you be okay?"

"I am if it's you."

Bucket bit down, hard but not enough to break skin. Chelsea had to keep herself from crying out, doing her best to focus on the fact that it was Bucket doing this, not Spit, not anyone else. Bucket started rubbing her back, claws kept light and painless against her skin. She found herself relaxing into it, panic fading away with every press of Bucket’s palms.

Bucket pulled away, a concerned look on their face. "Was that distressing?"

"A little at first...I'm not exactly used to biting being a positive."

"I didn't realize it'd be an issue..." They hugged her tight, their worried expression only worsening.

"It's different with you, it's okay...I know you're not going to hurt me."

"We don't have to repeat that."

"No, I-" She gave them a determined look. "We can try again. Gentler, while I take care of you."

"You do tell me if it's too much."

"I will. I promise."

They pressed their nose against hers. "No trying to tough it out if it gets to be too much."

"Please. I want to try again, I'm ready for it."

They pressed their teeth into her shoulder lightly. She was less tense this time, slowly moving her hand again as they bit down. Bucket nibbled just the slightest, carefully gauging her reactions.

"It feels kind of nice, when you're gentle like that..."

"Does it?"

"It doesn't hurt, it's just nice..." She started moving faster, relaxing completely in their arms.

"You're nice..."

Chelsea hit the sensitive spot from earlier, without warning. "I want to hear your voice tremble again."

"C-Chelsea!"

"I want to hear everything you have to keep bottled up." She leaned in with newfound confidence.

"L-Like..?"

"I want to hear what you've wanted to say, with all of this kind of thing, with anything. J-just for me."

"I've wanted this sort of thing so long and I've always been afraid to alienate you. I held off from ever bringing such thoughts off, half out of fear of rejection and half out of not wishing to ruin what friendship we had at the time... and now I wish I had known sooner. Wish I had said more sooner."

Chelsea hung onto every word, trying not to tear up in the middle of everything. "More."

"I want you to hold me until I memorize every pulse, every bit of warmth, every little heartbeat and twitch."

"Forever." She got more intense, doing her best to push Bucket over the edge. "I'm going to hold you like this forever, no matter how long we're apart."

They pulled her in as tight as possible. "I don't ever want to ever be apart..."

"Someday we'll get out of this, together, and we'll be free, and I'll show you how much I love you a hundred times over..." She managed to get her words out without stumbling, completely caught up in the intimacy of it.

"You... you genuinely think we'll make it through this?" Their eyes lit up.

"I promise..."

"Then we'll get out one day."

"Together." She slowed down, just gently rubbing them now, satisfied with just getting to feel them. "We'll get out together."

 "We swear on it?"

"No matter what."

"We'll make it happen."

"I love you, Buck."

"I love you too."