Brandy was usually the sort to leap right out of bed and into action, but the gentle rocking of the boat and the blissful warmth under the sheets were so cozy. Brandy couldn't bring herself to do it, so she lay there on her back, eyes closed, and let her thoughts drift.
She'd overdone it once again, but she didn't feel too bad about that. Nibbles, Chew, Adrianna, Monique, Tamsin, and Ara had all been worth her time to fight. She'd given it her all even if she hadn't come away with total victory. Maple had been having a blast enjoying a huge Water advantage with all the rain. The only regret to be had here was if Brandy had been properly rested, she might have put up more of a fight against Ara.
There was a hand in reach of hers, so Brandy reached out to squeeze it. Soft, smooth skin, perfectly cut nails, and no feathers.
"Maple?" Brandy mumbled, slowly opening her eyes. Golden hair spread out messily across a pillow. Fuck, that was a beautiful sight. "You look pretty."
After a moments silence, Brandy squeezed her hand, "Feel pretty too."
"I wanted to wake you earlier," Maple said, rolling her head over on the pillow. She had that tight-lipped smile of someone trying not to laugh. "But you were so peaceful there, it'd have been cruel."
"What's so funny?"
"I'm not spoiling the surprise. You'll work it out."
"Jokes on you, I'm just going to ignore it." Brandy smiled and pulled Maple in for a hug. Or tried to anyway. There was a clattering of metal, and Maple remained unpulled.
"Might find it tricky to ignore."
Whatever the surprise was, it was stopping Brandy from getting a hug. Brandy hated it already. With a long sigh, Brandy let go of Maple's hand and reached for the covers. Or tried to, but something tugged, and Maple's hands came with her. The covers slid off them to reveal a padded black leather strap wrapped around each of their forearms with a small chain running between them. The padding was so comfy Brandy hadn't even noticed it was there.
"Yours?"
"Mahi's."
Figures. Mahi loved people's reactions more than actual sex. Of course she'd have comfy handcuffs on standby. More than one set, too, because Brandy couldn't pull Maple, and this set of cuffs wasn't stopping them from getting closer. The handcuffs on their other arms tied to the bedposts were responsible for that.
"So, we're stuck like this?" Brandy asked.
"I'm sure someone will come get us out if I yell loudly enough. But our Pokémon are trying to make a point, and you taught me we'd be good trainers to listen to them."
"That we look sexy chained up?"
Maple roved her eyes over Brandy and there was a hunger there that made Brandy blush. Brandy knew she looked good, but this was more than just appreciation of form. That look had intent behind it, and if they hadn't been cuffed, Brandy would have no doubt those hands would be roving across Brandy's body.
"Then I have a lot of relaxing to do."
That got a snort from Maple, and it helped pop the tension between them. Maple laid back so she could hide from Brandy's gaze, her cheeks blushing red.
"I love your new confidence. Hot, hot, hot. Seriously though," Maple said. "Relaxing and talking. Not fucking."
"Sure," Brandy said, kneading Maple with her thigh in an attempt at a slow massage. "You start, you've been awake longer."
"Someone's being very distracting." Maple sighed softly, but she relaxed into it, her breath calming. "Adrianna wore me out. I didn't last very long."
"You did ask for it."
"Oh, and she provided," Maple smiled. "She's good, right?"
"Incredible," Brandy said, and they meant it. The Seadra fucked like a demon, and while she didn't have Mercury's unreal skill at reading minds, she made up for it in just how incredibly attentive she was. She wanted to break ladies, but more importantly, she wanted them to enjoy being broken. "How sore are you?"
"There's a reason I didn't try to escape while waiting for you to get up." Maple said, "I need more exercise."
"I'm sticking to a massage, your orders."
Another snort from Maple, Brandy hoped that pride she felt wasn't Bug inheritance. She didn't need to become Sparky's partner in bad jokes.
"Nibbles seemed nice. I didn't last long against her Poison. But Tess is a sweetheart, and I'm sure she'll toughen me up to poisons." Maple said, "You two hit it off?"
"She's sneaky, very clever in a fight, and the tentacle hair is really nice." Brandy said, "I'd love to inherit tentacle hair."
"You'd have to grow it out, and I love the short-hair Brandy look."
"I'd make it worth it." Brandy purred.
Maple lightly kneed Brandy, a clear hint to stay focused. That wasn't fair! Brandy couldn't be blamed. She had a gorgeous woman to rub up against. Even if the best they could do was rub thighs and hold hands, that was more than enough to get the fire relit in Brandy's Steam Engine.
"Nibbles seems a menace," Brandy said, giving up on her plan to use her knee to fuck Maple silly. "But she just didn't want to be seen as a lesser prize. She's going to be so proud she lasted longer than Monique."
"Sparky told her already." Maple smiled, "Monique's taking the teasing with grace."
"Poison Type for you, can't resist a chance to push you to do better."
"Trust me, I know. Tess fits into our team perfectly, we needed someone looking out to make sure we're all doing our best."
Aw. Brandy was glad the poisonous bunny rabbit was fitting in with Maple's team. Tess was just a great lady, she deserved all the love she could get.
"What's Ara like?" Maple said, entwining a leg around Brandy's so they were locked in a tangle together. "I only got a brief talk with her, but she made sure we were all tucked in tight. Waking a fossil Pokémon will cause a bit of a stir, and she feels like she's in the mood to make waves."
"I didn't last long, but she took control of everything effortlessly." Brandy said, "I'm used to being able to get a Pokémon worked up, but Ara she handled me. It was a bit dizzying, I've felt outmatched by Mercury, but I've always been able to put up a fight. Ara just, it felt right to let her have her fun."
"Oh, I just need to act more mature, and you'll obey every command?"
"Like I wouldn't already?" Brandy grinned. "Give me orders, and you'll see how hard I work to follow them."
"I am spoiled by you," Maple smiled. "And might take you up on that later. But for now, you need to decide what the plan is. Because we're getting to Spikemuth not long after Breakfast."
"What? But it's days away."
"When you have a small army of grateful Water Types, you can make a boat move very quickly." Maple smiled. "And they're worried if we stay on the ocean any longer, we'll be coming into the port as desiccated husks."
"Tempting, though."
"Very." Maple nodded, "Probably why they handcuffed us. So we don't go change their minds."
"I still think it was the sexy thing."
"And that's why we all love you," Maple blew Brandy messy-sounding kisses. "But for my first command, you're going to lie with me and think hard about who you want to ask to bond. You need a fourth to cover your Rock weakness, and you're not letting all this opportunity slip away."
"What about you?"
"I don't need a fifth," Maple grinned. "Four is plenty right now. But I will get an armful of Dex numbers for when I do."
Very smart forward planning and Maple was right. Brandy did need to think about who'd fit the team. There was one obvious option right off the bat.
"Can I-"
"You can't have all three. You'll die."
Damn. Well, if that's off the table, Brandy would have to really think hard about this. It wasn't just who'd be good for her, it had to be someone who'd be good for the whole team. An almost impossible choice. Probably for the best they had been chained up, so they couldn't waste all that valuable thinking time with Trainer sex.
Brandy gave the chain another tug in case it'd come free, but no. Mahi's cuffs were well made. Darn. Thinking it was then.