( 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. )
What makes you think I had access to anything detailing anything like this when I was locked in a tower by a man posing as my father, hm? [Also gentle teasing as he nuzzles her neck. Elizabeth sighs happily and threads her fingers through Ivan's hair.]
...but I may have taken a peek at the romance novels we keep in the back. [That's a little extreme for right now, but probably worth mentioning, right?]
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. )
[Yeah, no dice Ivan, Elizabeth catches that subject change for what it is. She frowns, feeling a little twinge of annoyance and not really understanding why. And before she can figure it out she's saying:]
( 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.
[Elizabeth narrows her eyes, the wheels in her head clearly spinning as she puts the pieces together.]
You... learned how to do things like this, and others, from her?
[After a moment, she shrugs.] Given there's no comprehensive manual on this sort of thing that I've ever come across, that actually sounds like a practical solution. [And then she grins and leans on Ivan again.] And now you're doing the same for me.
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. )
Let's not talk about them right now. [Elizabeth is patient, yes, but there's only so much of Ivan's history she wants to contend with. Her ego when it comes to romantic gestures is still extremely fragile, best not to bruise it thinking about all of Ivan's other partners.]
So... what did you want under here? [She asks coyly, turning down her collar a little like it's the most risque thing in the world.]
( 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. )
[Yes, the admission makes Elizabeth go bright red everywhere. She can appreciates the honesty, but it's definitely not a place she thinks she can go just yet. And she's trying to formulate a way to put him off as he runs his hands over her, but he seems to have picked up on how stiff and silent she's gone. Collarbone. That's fine, he saw all of her collarbone on their date.]
I can appreciate a man with goals... [She says, a little breathless from being touched and kissed within an inch of her life. A valiant effort is being put forth, Elizabeth is trying very hard to keep up with Ivan, though she's reaching the point of overstimulation quickly. Still, she yanks the zipper down to her navel (it's fine, she has a tank top on underneath it, still decent... ish) for Ivan's benefit. Stopping is not on her radar right now.]
( 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 bring out all kinds of new and terrifying things in you, Ivan.
[Oh yes, that's a nice feeling. Elizabeth sighs happily as Ivan pays her neck and collarbone attention. She squirms a little in his lap, clearly thrilled by this development in their kissing, and wraps her arms around Ivan's back while resting her chin on top of his head.]
( 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. )
[Elizabeth smirks over Ivan's head as he kisses her neck and collar bone, then after enjoying it for a moment longer, pushes him away so she can have a turn. She puts her lips gently to Ivan's neck, mimicking what he did for her, curling her fingers into the collar of his uniform.]
Not a chance. ( he says, the sincerity of the statement passing unnoticed.
he's surprised but not disappointed when she presses her lips against his neck, and it pulls a pleased hum from him. his hands run up and down her side, settling at her waist as his head falls back automatically, exposing more of his skin. )
Confession-- I'm a lot braver right now than I thought I would be. [She smiles against his neck and kisses him there gently, playfully. She tracks a path from his collar to the sharp curve of his jaw right under his ear.]
You? ( he sounds surprised, mostly because elizabeth is one of the bravest people he knows. and not the sort of stupid bravery ivan associates with his family -- who constantly put themselves into danger by not keeping their heads down even though they know what sticking out means on barrayar.
he shivers, hands curling in as his breathing becomes shallower, flush creeping up over the edges of his collar. ) You're always brave, Elizavetka.
( the diminutive comes to him naturally, fondly. maybe she'll let him use it, maybe she'll be confused. either way, it's worth a shot. )
[Confusion, yes. Elizavetka?. That's not her name, but half her name. The rest is some delightful combination of Russian-sounding syllables that delights her. She tilts her head, but her face is still pink and pleased despite the confused smile.]
[Oh she definitely doesn't look like she doesn't like it. Elizabeth glows at the idea of being called by an affectionate nickname-- it's the first time, in fact. She tries to bite her lip to keep from looking too thrilled, but it's clear Ivan has made her incredibly happy in this moment. She kisses his temple in a burst of joyful energy, then rests her forehead against his.]
[No, she really doesn't get the idea Ivan, she's never spoken Russian before. But nonetheless, she looks fascinated and a little eager to call Ivan by one of these endearments. Though it doesn't look like he particularly likes them...]
So... you wouldn't like me calling you Vanya? Or Vanechka? [Her smile develops a bit of a pout.] I like them.
( then maybe he wouldn't dislike them so much. after all he doesn't want to take away her fun so soon, and hell -- it doesn't sound so bad when she uses them. )
I do! [She shifts a little closer on Ivan's lap, wrapping her arms around his middle and laying her head on his shoulder.] I may be brave when it comes to things I used to do all the time, but I've never kissed someone as much as I've kissed you... Vanya.
[Elizabeth grins, idly resting her hand on his sternum and taking in the quiet moment.] But you haven't let any doubt I've had take root.
( ah, see, his opinion of that particular diminutive is already rising. )
I'm glad. Both counts, really. ( easy now, ivan. he's fine, sitting like this, running his hand through her hair. ) It's supposed to be fun, above all else. There's no point in it, if it's not.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
( 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. )
no subject
...but I may have taken a peek at the romance novels we keep in the back. [That's a little extreme for right now, but probably worth mentioning, right?]
no subject
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. )
no subject
Lady Donna Vorrutyer?
no subject
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.
no subject
You... learned how to do things like this, and others, from her?
[After a moment, she shrugs.] Given there's no comprehensive manual on this sort of thing that I've ever come across, that actually sounds like a practical solution. [And then she grins and leans on Ivan again.] And now you're doing the same for me.
no subject
( 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 subject
So... what did you want under here? [She asks coyly, turning down her collar a little like it's the most risque thing in the world.]
no subject
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. )
no subject
I can appreciate a man with goals... [She says, a little breathless from being touched and kissed within an inch of her life. A valiant effort is being put forth, Elizabeth is trying very hard to keep up with Ivan, though she's reaching the point of overstimulation quickly. Still, she yanks the zipper down to her navel (it's fine, she has a tank top on underneath it, still decent... ish) for Ivan's benefit. Stopping is not on her radar right now.]
no subject
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. )
no subject
[Oh yes, that's a nice feeling. Elizabeth sighs happily as Ivan pays her neck and collarbone attention. She squirms a little in his lap, clearly thrilled by this development in their kissing, and wraps her arms around Ivan's back while resting her chin on top of his head.]
I like this, this is fantastic.
no subject
( 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. )
no subject
[Ha ha. Ha.]
[Elizabeth smirks over Ivan's head as he kisses her neck and collar bone, then after enjoying it for a moment longer, pushes him away so she can have a turn. She puts her lips gently to Ivan's neck, mimicking what he did for her, curling her fingers into the collar of his uniform.]
no subject
he's surprised but not disappointed when she presses her lips against his neck, and it pulls a pleased hum from him. his hands run up and down her side, settling at her waist as his head falls back automatically, exposing more of his skin. )
Quick learner. I knew you would be.
no subject
no subject
he shivers, hands curling in as his breathing becomes shallower, flush creeping up over the edges of his collar. ) You're always brave, Elizavetka.
( the diminutive comes to him naturally, fondly. maybe she'll let him use it, maybe she'll be confused. either way, it's worth a shot. )
no subject
Elizavetka?
no subject
( he'll stop using it if she doesn't want him to, hand stilling on her waist as he looks up at her. )
no subject
And what do I call you? What's your nickname?
no subject
and then she asks about his. ivan grimaces slightly. )
Vanya's the most common diminutive. Ivanushka, Vanechka-- you get the idea. M'mother doesn't even use any with me.
no subject
So... you wouldn't like me calling you Vanya? Or Vanechka? [Her smile develops a bit of a pout.] I like them.
no subject
( then maybe he wouldn't dislike them so much. after all he doesn't want to take away her fun so soon, and hell -- it doesn't sound so bad when she uses them. )
no subject
[Elizabeth grins, idly resting her hand on his sternum and taking in the quiet moment.] But you haven't let any doubt I've had take root.
no subject
I'm glad. Both counts, really. ( easy now, ivan. he's fine, sitting like this, running his hand through her hair. ) It's supposed to be fun, above all else. There's no point in it, if it's not.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)