Chapter 2. Unexpected Release (E)
Just a moment ago, a warm glow caressed Nora's skin, and the gentle touch of a foxkin woman electrified and enticed her. But then, abruptly and without warning, she woke up in her bed. It was a dream, after all. A vivid, hyper-realistic, but only a dream.
Or was it more than that?
Nora's breathing was quickened as the dream's afterglow still hung in the air. It filled her with a warmth unlike anything she had ever experienced. She could feel her heart pounding and her body tingling with an otherworldly energy.
As she slowly regained consciousness, Nora became fully aware that her encounter with the foxkin awakened something powerful in her. She felt shivers running up and down her spine, and goosebumps prickled on her skin from the thrill.
Nora's trembling hand slid beneath the sheets, inching downward across her heated skin. Her fingertips found the soft curls between her thighs, already damp with evidence of pleasure. The wetness there spoke of a powerful orgasm—one that had shaken her from sleep. But something else lingered, something electric that pulsed through her core, demanding attention. Her inner muscles tightened of their own accord, preparing for another release. The need coiled within her like a spring wound too tight, impossible to ignore. She couldn't resist any longer—didn't want to.
She gasped, and a low, husky moan poured from her, a sound so primal and uninhibited it sent shivers through the air. A sound that she would rather expect to hear from that cute foxkin.
Nora covered her mouth with trembling fingers, her wide eyes reflecting disbelief in the moonlit room. Golden eyes—Sumi's eyes—flashed in her memory, and her body responded with a fresh wave of heat. "Am I really this aroused by a dream woman?" she whispered into the darkness. But that electrifying touch when their hands had met in the forest clearing... Nora's skin still carried the memory, her nerve endings singing with it. There was something powerful here, something that transcended ordinary dreams. Something worth exploring.
Her fingers found their way back to the slick folds of her sex, tentatively exploring the sensitive flesh. The touch sent waves of pleasure coursing through her system. Sumi's voice from the dream echoed in her ears, whispering naughty words that made her shiver with delight.
Nora moaned, this time softly, longingly, as she pressed two fingers inside herself, feeling every ripple and undulation of her walls around them. The sensation was overwhelming, almost too much to bear. It felt like she was on the verge of something bigger than just an orgasm—it was primal, primordial even. She spread her legs wider and threw away the sheets, fully uncovering her naked body. Her passion needed more space for this newfound desire to unfurl within her.
Her fingers moved faster, seeking that elusive spot that would send her over the edge once again. The headboard banged against the wall in rhythm with her frantic movements, the sound punctuated by soft grunts of pleasure that escaped from deep within her throat. Nora's hips bucked off the mattress in search of release, driven by this insatiable longing that seemed to consume every fiber of her being. With each thrust of her fingers inside herself, she felt as if she were connecting with something on a fundamental level. The raw core of passion that had always been hidden from view until now.
The tension coiled tighter, her fingers working frantically. Almost there. Almost... Nora's back arched off the mattress as lightning struck through her core. Her scream echoed off the walls as she came undone completely, surrendering to the force of yet another mind-shattering orgasm. Hot, honeyed fluid surged from deep within, soaking the already damp sheets beneath her trembling hips. Throbbing waves pulsed outward from her center, washing over every inch of her flushed skin. Each spasm carried Sumi's name on her lips, the boundary between dream and reality crumbling with each shuddering breath.
Finally, satiated and panting heavily, she collapsed back onto the bed, her fingers still twitching with the memory of her climax. As Nora caught her breath, she wondered at this newfound desire within her. Was this passionate beast hiding inside her all along, just waiting for release, or was it something new created by this dream connection?
Nora's stomach tightened again from the aftershocks rippling through her body, reminding her that she had even more profound depths of sensations to explore. But for now, she allowed herself a slow moment to simply breathe and relax into the contentment washing over her.
A small smile appeared on her lips as she recalled Sumi's presence. For an instant, there was desire again before rational thought returned fully.
"Oh, well," she said out loud, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Two mind-blowing orgasms certainly beat any alarm clock." Her laughter echoed in the empty apartment—when was the last time she'd laughed here?
She rolled out of bed on unsteady legs, the ordinary prospect of work seeming almost absurd now. How could she focus on debugging code when her body still hummed with otherworldly pleasure? Her heart pounded with a cocktail of excitement, lingering lust, and something else—anticipation. The thought of seeing Sumi again sent a fresh shiver across her sensitized skin. Tonight couldn't come soon enough.
Nora made her way to the bathroom on shaky legs, her body still buzzing with aftershocks. The first blast of cool water made her gasp, goosebumps racing across her heated skin. Then—bliss. The cascade pounded against her shoulders, washing away sweat but not the memory of pleasure. Her nipples remained stiff and sensitive, each droplet striking them sending little jolts through her core. She watched, mesmerized, as rivulets traced the contours of her body, following paths down her breasts, across her stomach, between her thighs—like invisible fingers continuing what her dream had started.
She glided her palms over soapy skin, the boundary blurring between cleansing and caressing. Her fingertips traced where dream-memory and physical reality mingled—soap and her own lingering arousal creating a slick, intoxicating mixture. A simple touch against her collarbone sent an unexpected shiver cascading down her spine. Even as she patted herself dry with a towel, her nerve endings still sang, hypersensitized to every sensation. The rough terry cloth against her inner thigh made her breath catch—her body refusing to return to its normal state of dormancy. It was as if Sumi's touch had awakened something primal in her, switching all her senses to overdrive.
Nora leaned against the bathroom counter, studying her flushed reflection. The woman staring back looked different somehow—eyes brighter, lips fuller, skin glowing. Never before had she experienced such prolonged, earth-shattering pleasure. Past lovers had tried and failed to bring her to such heights. Even her own practiced touch during lonely nights had never unleashed anything close to what had just happened. Whatever connection was budding between her and that foxkin transcended physical boundaries.
Reality beckoned with cold persistence. The harsh of her smart watch cut through her pleasant haze—5:47 AM. Night was surrendering to dawn, her dream slipping further away with each passing minute. Nora pressed her forehead against the cool bathroom mirror, watching daylight begin to infiltrate through her blinds. The light brought questions with it, unwelcome companions to her afterglow.
What did this mean for her waking life? How could she possibly bridge the gap between sterile reality and the vibrant, seductive dream she'd just been torn from? The Thornfield project deadline loomed over her, its weight crushing down on her shoulders. She couldn't just drop everything and chase dreams. Her team depended on her. Her career, her apartment, her entire constructed life demanded her return.
She met her own eyes in the mirror. "Or could I?" The whispered question hung in the steamy bathroom, dangerous and tempting.
Well, fuck it!" The words burst from her with surprising force. "Time to leave for work!" She slammed her palm against the countertop, the sharp sting anchoring her firmly back in reality.
***
The day at work was a study in contradiction. Nora floated through meetings with an uncharacteristic smile, her colleagues raising eyebrows at her sudden brightness. Even Jenkins' passive-aggressive emails about the API documentation couldn't penetrate her bubble of lingering euphoria. Yet beneath this elation ran an undercurrent of restlessness—a constantly ticking clock counting down the hours until she could return to bed, to sleep, to her.
Cursor blinked accusingly on the screen, having barely moved in twenty minutes. Every line of code she wrote was interrupted by flashes of golden eyes and black-and-white fur, Nora's fingers stilling on the keyboard as she relived that electric moment when their hands had touched. Focus became a battle she was slowly losing.
Now, Nora was consumed with an almost desperate longing to return. Her fingers trembled as she dialed her preferred spa, only to hear the receptionist's apologetic voice informing her they were fully booked. A cold knot formed in her stomach. What if she couldn't get back? What if Sumi was waiting for her? She paced her apartment, gathering every scented candle, bath bomb, and relaxation technique she could think of. Tonight, she would recreate that portal by sheer force of will if necessary.
One thing gnawed at her resolve, though.
"Am I really prepping myself for a date with an imaginary woman?" she thought while lying in a warm bath with the surface of the water covered with pleasantly smelling foam. "How did I get here? Am I going mad? Is it my mediocre love life playing mind tricks?"
Hours later, Nora stared at her bedroom ceiling, the sheets twisted around her legs like restraints. Nothing. No golden-eyed foxkin, no moonlit clearing—nothing but the mundane darkness of her bedroom. The next night brought the same result, and the next, and the next.
Her frustration morphed into a physical ache, a hollowness expanding beneath her ribs. She followed her notes with scientific precision—same tea, same meditation, same sleeping position—yet the door to that other world remained firmly shut. She clawed at her pillow, tears of frustration wetting the fabric. The tantalizing world that had felt so real now seemed cruelly beyond her reach, like a lover who had ghosted her without explanation.
Nora poured over her dream diary for hours, scrutinizing every detail of her routines. She meticulously replicated her schedule down to the minute: the precise time she went to bed, the exact temperature of her room, and the relaxation techniques she employed. But still, nothing seemed to work. The vivid, sensual dreamscapes were now stubbornly inaccessible. Even the more bizarre dreams from previous restless nights refused to come to her. The frustration only built up with each passing night as Nora desperately sought to re-enter the magical realm.
On a particularly restless day, Nora decided to repeat her most successful routine in full. Luckily, she prepared in advance and found an appointment at her favorite spa. This time, though, she decided to go all in, taking a day off at work.
"I deserve that," Nora thought. "I work hard, I earn enough money to allow myself a day at spa."
But the main hope, of course, was that the combination of relaxation and indulgence might finally unlock the gateway to the dream world.
Still, when Nora arrived at the spa, her anticipation was tempered by a nagging doubt. The serene atmosphere and soothing scents worked their magic, and she felt her muscles relax under the expert hands of the masseuse. Her favorite part was the head massage, and she closed her eyes, willing the tranquility to seep into her subconscious. But would that be enough?
At home as she settled into her bed, Nora felt a spark of hope. Indeed, this would be the night she broke through the barrier and found her way back to the dream world.
But as the hours ticked by, Nora lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind a frustratingly blank canvas. There were no whispering trees, no fantastical beings, and no tantalizing touch of Sumi to guide her.
Nora closed her eyes tighter, trying to summon the images from her last dream. Still, the harder she pushed herself, the more elusive this distant realm seemed to be.
Her sleep, when it finally came, was restless and unsatisfying. Nora drifted in and out of shallow, unremarkable dreams—nothing like the vivid adventures she had experienced before. Morning arrived too soon, and she woke up feeling groggy and irritable, her mind heavy with the fear of loss. The previous day's relaxing experience was a complete write-off.
It wasn't the last time she attempted to reach that blissful state. But with no definite results, Nora's frustration grew with each passing night. She tried everything—experimenting with different sleep positions, altering her diet, and even using guided meditation apps to help her relax and focus simultaneously.
But, alas! Despite her efforts, the dream world remained frustratingly out of reach, making her longing for Sumi only more intense.
Three sleepless nights later, Nora's finger hovered over her phone, trembling with the admission of defeat. She pressed Dr. Sharma's contact, requesting an emergency session. The next afternoon found her sinking into the familiar embrace of the therapist's overstuffed armchair, the soft ticking of the whimsical corner clock marking each second of her growing obsession. The room smelled of sandalwood and professional concern—a sterile contrast to the wild, earthy scent of her dream forest. Her leg bounced uncontrollably as she waited to confess that she was losing her mind over a woman who didn't exist.
Nora recounted her dreams and futile attempts to return to them, hoping that her therapist might offer some insight or technique that could break her mental block. And then, after a short hesitation, she opened up about her encounter with Sumi.
"I'm not going mad, am I?" Nora asked with deep concern in her voice. "All of that can't be real!"
The therapist listened intently, her expression thoughtful. "Let's not put any labels on the situation. Dreams can be tricky, especially when they're so vivid," she said. "It sounds like you've built a strong association with a specific routine, but sometimes our subconscious needs more than just repetition to unlock certain doors."
"But it was so real," Nora insisted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I could feel everything—the forest, Sumi's touch. And even more. I can't just let that go." Nora blushed, remembering that electrifying connection she only sensed for a brief moment.
Nodding sympathetically, the therapist agreed: "I understand. But perhaps it's not just about recreating the exact circumstances. It may be about finding a specific mood," she said. "Sometimes, it's about allowing your mind to wander freely, without the pressure of trying to control the outcome. Have you tried just letting go and seeing where your dreams take you?"
Nora sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and exhaustion. The rest of the session didn't help her figure out exactly what she had to do. The therapist only gave vague recommendations and deflected some of Nora's questions and doubts back to her.
Still, there was one thing in the therapist's words that stuck in Nora's mind. Since the beginning of these vivid dreams, she had always approached them with scientific rigor, meticulously recording every detail. The idea of relinquishing control was daunting, yet she couldn't deny that her methods were failing.
Returning home that night, Nora decided to follow that therapist's advice. She abandoned her detailed notes and routines, instead opting for a simpler, more relaxed approach.
Nora dimmed the lights, played her favorite music, and let her mind drift as she climbed into bed. For the first time in weeks, she didn't focus on trying to summon the dream world. Instead, she allowed her thoughts to meander, hoping that a more relaxed state might be the key to breaking through her mental block.
As sleep enveloped her, Nora felt a gentle tug at the edges of her consciousness, a faint whisper of something familiar. Something, she felt before. The sensation was subtle but unmistakable, a delicate thread connecting her to the dream world she longed to return to.
Nora found herself drifting, her mind teetering on the brink of that elusive realm. But as soon as Nora focused on her hope that Sumi would meet her with her soft touch, she realized that it was something much more powerful and almost inhuman.
She hovered in that liminal space between wakefulness and dreams, her consciousness floating untethered. Then—a shift. The air around her seemed to thicken, pressing against her skin with gentle insistence. Something had changed. Someone was there, observing her from just beyond the veil of perception. A voice whispered directly into her mind, bypassing her ears entirely:
"Nora, fill yourself with Love!" The words vibrated through her very being. "You have to make a conscious choice. You have to choose this path! I need you..."
The voice wasn't Sumi's—it carried weight and age, power and urgency. It reached into her chest and squeezed, demanding a response she didn't know how to give. The connection wavered as if something prevented Nora from getting the whole message. Startled, Nora opened her eyes. The room was blanketed with darkness, the faint glow of streetlights barely filtering through the curtains.
Nora sat up, her heart racing. She tried to shake off the eerie feeling that lingered like a shadow, but it remained somewhere really close but still out of touch.
"Is there someone there?" Nora whispered into the silence, her voice trembling slightly.
There was no response, only the quiet hum of the night outside her window.
Nora glanced at the clock. It was late. Or maybe it was more correct to say that it was already very early in the morning. There was not enough time left for her to get enough sleep before the new day.
With a deep sigh, Nora laid back down, determined to push aside her unease and reclaim at least some of the rest she desperately needed but understanding that she probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep once again. However, the exhaustion finally claimed her. Still, the sleep was tumultuous. She couldn't shake the unsettling notion that something beyond her understanding was at play, keeping her from the dreams that had once welcomed her so warmly.
As days bled into nights and back again, Nora found herself trapped in a twilight existence—too exhausted to function in her waking life, yet unable to reach the dream world she craved. When fragments of sleep did come, they brought disturbing new elements: whispered voices arguing over her fate, shadowy presences that circled her consciousness like hungry predators. Some voices called to her directly:
"Your path lies with us..."
"The Shrines await you..."
"Choose, Chosen One..."
Others hissed and spat, working frantically to block her passage: "She must not cross again... The balance..."
Nora began to miss meetings at work. Her code grew sloppy. Dark circles formed permanent residences beneath her bloodshot eyes. The meticulous routine that had once defined her existence lay shattered at her feet, replaced by a single desperate goal: to reclaim not just the vivid world and its golden-eyed inhabitant, but the simple mercy of unconsciousness.
Each night stretched longer than the last—an endless expanse of ceiling-staring and sheet-twisting. Her pillow became damp with frustrated tears as she sensed the door to that other reality just beyond her reach, barred by forces she couldn't begin to comprehend. Something was happening—a battle being waged over her, with her as both prize and battlefield. And she was powerless to influence the outcome.