( oh, he's going to continue kissing her then, because he'd be an idiot -- okay, more of one -- to not. )
Don't think there's a chance of that.
( he says, before kissing her again. this time he attempts to deepen the kiss, although if she doesn't respond positively he'll back off. look, he's capable of some restraint for her sake. )
Don't think there's a chance of that.
( he says, before kissing her again. this time he attempts to deepen the kiss, although if she doesn't respond positively he'll back off. look, he's capable of some restraint for her sake. )
( ivan almost laughs -- out of joy and relief rather than at her, and manages to change the sound into one of encouragement. oh yes, he likes this. her lack of restraint and the noises she muffles in his mouth. ivan relaxes further, hand on her waist sliding to the small of her back, pulling her closer to him.
he forgets the massage in exchange for cupping her face, running his fingers through her hair with more intent than before. oh yes, he likes this a lot. )
he forgets the massage in exchange for cupping her face, running his fingers through her hair with more intent than before. oh yes, he likes this a lot. )
Well ( ivan says, grinning up at her even as he leans in closer to her, resting his forehead against her's ) that depends on what you want.
( his breathing is heavier now, eyes darker as he presses a quick kiss to the soft skin behind her ear, at the hinge of her jaw. light, just lips and not anything that would come close to leaving a mark. he's not above necking like a teenager but he knows better than to make it obvious. ivan sighs against her neck, slightly annoyed that the uniform collar is blocking his progress. )
I'm not picky.
( one of his virtues, if you will. )
( his breathing is heavier now, eyes darker as he presses a quick kiss to the soft skin behind her ear, at the hinge of her jaw. light, just lips and not anything that would come close to leaving a mark. he's not above necking like a teenager but he knows better than to make it obvious. ivan sighs against her neck, slightly annoyed that the uniform collar is blocking his progress. )
I'm not picky.
( one of his virtues, if you will. )
Didn't read anything you want to try?
( genuinely curious, although there's a small bit of teasing as he nuzzles the crook of her neck affectionately. oh, he's plenty distracted by the skin revealed to him -- although part of him is kicking his brain to remember not to go completely overboard and scare her off. )
( genuinely curious, although there's a small bit of teasing as he nuzzles the crook of her neck affectionately. oh, he's plenty distracted by the skin revealed to him -- although part of him is kicking his brain to remember not to go completely overboard and scare her off. )
( that makes ivan laugh, warm against her skin. )
Back home we're all left to fumbling around and figuring it out by ourselves. There was this one woman, though -- Lady Donna Vorrutyer-- ( oh, donna vorrutyer. in between husbands and at least a decade older than ivan. her lessons had been mind melting, and had eventually saved his skin on eta ceta a few years later. he never did thank her for that. but maybe talking about donna right now isn't the right thing to do at this point. ) Anyway, you were saying?
( don't get your hopes up too much, ivan vorpatril. )
Back home we're all left to fumbling around and figuring it out by ourselves. There was this one woman, though -- Lady Donna Vorrutyer-- ( oh, donna vorrutyer. in between husbands and at least a decade older than ivan. her lessons had been mind melting, and had eventually saved his skin on eta ceta a few years later. he never did thank her for that. but maybe talking about donna right now isn't the right thing to do at this point. ) Anyway, you were saying?
( don't get your hopes up too much, ivan vorpatril. )
( awkward. ok, ivan, see if you can explain this one. )
I was twenty, she was nearing thirty and recently divorced. She saw something in me and, er, well, nabbed me. ( later on, ivan will rephrase this as i don't know what she saw in me, but not currently. something about how it would have been a crime to let someone as handsome as ivan xav vorpatril wandering around and be mediocre at sex. pity was definitely involved. 'nabbed', however, is a constant and acceptable word choice. ) The upshot of it is that I learned a lot from her.
( she taught ivan patience by locking him out of her room and making him find the key. among other things. )
What I meant by that, though, is that books are as good a start as any. Possibly better than not having a damn clue. And all the fun parts of trial and error still hold.
I was twenty, she was nearing thirty and recently divorced. She saw something in me and, er, well, nabbed me. ( later on, ivan will rephrase this as i don't know what she saw in me, but not currently. something about how it would have been a crime to let someone as handsome as ivan xav vorpatril wandering around and be mediocre at sex. pity was definitely involved. 'nabbed', however, is a constant and acceptable word choice. ) The upshot of it is that I learned a lot from her.
( she taught ivan patience by locking him out of her room and making him find the key. among other things. )
What I meant by that, though, is that books are as good a start as any. Possibly better than not having a damn clue. And all the fun parts of trial and error still hold.
And everyone before her. ( he was fifteen the first time he had sex. there was a lot of practice involved between that particular girl and lady donna. but moving on: ) It worked pretty well.
( no one's allowed to talk about sex on barrayar, unless you're countess cordelia naismith vorkosigan. and then you can't stop her. betans.
ivan grins at her in return, holding her closer, hand cupping her cheek and thumb running across the line of her cheekbone. )
That's right.
( no one's allowed to talk about sex on barrayar, unless you're countess cordelia naismith vorkosigan. and then you can't stop her. betans.
ivan grins at her in return, holding her closer, hand cupping her cheek and thumb running across the line of her cheekbone. )
That's right.
( he can do that. ivan presses another kiss against the line of her neck, warm breath ghosting over the exposed skin. )
Well, all of it. ( he admits shamelessly, hands sliding from her waist back up to under her arms, then down her arms as far as he can. ) But I'm really aiming for some collarbone. High hopes, you know?
( please just throw him out any time you want, liz. ivan kisses back up her neck, hand coming up to brush down the side of her neck as he kisses her fully, pressing gently against the exposed skin almost reverently. )
Well, all of it. ( he admits shamelessly, hands sliding from her waist back up to under her arms, then down her arms as far as he can. ) But I'm really aiming for some collarbone. High hopes, you know?
( please just throw him out any time you want, liz. ivan kisses back up her neck, hand coming up to brush down the side of her neck as he kisses her fully, pressing gently against the exposed skin almost reverently. )
( comfort is important, and he does -- stilling until until she moves again, confusion and surprise wrinkling his handsome face at the unzipping. oh, a tank top, that make sense. ivan breathes again, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth before retracing the path he just tracked up, lips ghosting over her skin before nuzzling at the crook of her neck. )
I'm reasonably sure no one's accused me of having those before. ( he jokes, pressing another kiss to the base of her neck, nosing his way down to press a kiss against the dip above the bone. )
I'm reasonably sure no one's accused me of having those before. ( he jokes, pressing another kiss to the base of her neck, nosing his way down to press a kiss against the dip above the bone. )
Not too terrifying.
( or new, he thinks, blissfully unaware of his own feelings. the squirming isn't going to help him any, least of all when she went so stiff at the idea of being naked or kissed everywhere. but he hums against her skin all the same, lips curving up into a smile. )
Good, I'm glad.
( he is! very genuinely. )
( or new, he thinks, blissfully unaware of his own feelings. the squirming isn't going to help him any, least of all when she went so stiff at the idea of being naked or kissed everywhere. but he hums against her skin all the same, lips curving up into a smile. )
Good, I'm glad.
( he is! very genuinely. )
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