( 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. )
[Elizabeth can feel the unmistakable shift in the way Ivan's meeting her lips now. It's more pliable, longer, even the way he's breathing feels more sensual. It does make her hesitate at first...]
[But damned if it doesn't feel good. She wants more of it. Sooner rather than later. Her hands drag down his chest, fingers wide, and she hums a needy, excited noise against his lips.]
( 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. )
[Elizabeth doesn't know much about kissing, or about how much someone should kiss someone else before it gets to be too much-- but now she definitely knows she enjoys doing it with Ivan. Something about it just gets her excited, pushes her to get a little messier and intense with it.]
[She breaks away for a moment to breathe, but then she's going right back into it, her arms wrapping around Ivan's back while he holds her close. Eventually, she has to breathe again.]
This is... different from what we started out with. [She says, her voice a giddy and conspiring whisper.] Teach me what else I can do. What do you like?
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. )
[Wow, wow. Feeling his lips behind her ear and on her neck is incredible-- and part of her always knew that people didn't just kiss on the lips only, but actually experiencing it is so different.]
[She realizes that Ivan is stopping at the collar of her uniform, and does the only thing she feels is sensible and unzips.]
( 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.]
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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. )
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[Oh.]
[Elizabeth can feel the unmistakable shift in the way Ivan's meeting her lips now. It's more pliable, longer, even the way he's breathing feels more sensual. It does make her hesitate at first...]
[But damned if it doesn't feel good. She wants more of it. Sooner rather than later. Her hands drag down his chest, fingers wide, and she hums a needy, excited noise against his lips.]
[Restraint? Who said anything about restraint?]
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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. )
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[She breaks away for a moment to breathe, but then she's going right back into it, her arms wrapping around Ivan's back while he holds her close. Eventually, she has to breathe again.]
This is... different from what we started out with. [She says, her voice a giddy and conspiring whisper.] Teach me what else I can do. What do you like?
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( 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. )
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[She realizes that Ivan is stopping at the collar of her uniform, and does the only thing she feels is sensible and unzips.]
I'm really not picky either.
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( 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. )
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...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?]
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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. )
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Lady Donna Vorrutyer?
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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.
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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.
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( 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.
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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.]
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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. )
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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.]
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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. )
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[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.
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( 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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[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.]
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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.
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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. )
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Elizavetka?
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( he'll stop using it if she doesn't want him to, hand stilling on her waist as he looks up at her. )
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