I Can Say No

Writers: Devin, Paula
Date Posted: 9th February 2016

Characters: A'dryn, B'jon
Description: A'dryn and B'jon spend some time alone.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 28 of Turn 8

"Oh, this is lovely," A'dryn said as he slid from Nalarith's neck.
B'jon had taken them to a quiet, private spot.

"Isn't it?" B'jon beamed proudly. "And all for us. It's very unlikely anyone happen to come here." He slid down from Denenth's back and removed the picnic basket from the straps.

}: I want ro go swimming,: { she said, watching the calm waters of the cove.

** In a minute, let me take straps off first,** B'jon replied her and started to unstrap her.

It still felt odd to be alone without an escort... but two men would never be courting anyway. A'dryn kept running up against what he'd been taught was proper. As he pulled the straps off Nalarith, he kept glancing over at B'jon, admiring his form. The thoughts filling his mind were definitely not proper.

}:You think of doing these things with him. Why not just do them?:{

**It's not that simple.**

Nalarith huffed to show what she thought of that.

When Denenth was freed from the straps, she headed to the water. }: Do you come too? :{ she asked Nalarith.

"So, do you want to go swim too?" B'jon asked. He put the basket to a shade and started removing his clothes. He had nothing to be ashamed of. His skin was deep bronze from Turns working outdoor and while he was slender, he was well formed, with muscles used to hard work. He was soon wearing nothing but his swimming pants.

A'dryn's mouth went dry. He'd gotten somewhat used to people wearing very little while bathing their dragons, and nothing at all in the bathing caverns, but this was different. It took a while for him to realize B'jon had asked a question. "Oh, um... yes." Slowly, he started removing his clothes. He knew he wasn't bad looking and he'd put on muscle during weyrlinghood but he still felt rather self conscious stripping in front of the other rider.

}:The water is very nice.:{ Nalarith rumbled as she stepped into the lapping waves beside Denenth. She liked the slightly older green, which was good because their riders were spending more and more time together.

Denenth playfully splashed her friend. That's what she thought Nalarith was.

"Careful, don't dunk me, I'm not that good swimmer, " B'jon warned
her, when he waded to the water. While he could swim and had gotten better at it after his arrival to River Bluff Weyr, his skills still didn't match those who had grown up on a seashore.

Nalarith splashed back, her mouth opening in a grin.

"I used to think I was a decent swimmer until I moved here." A'dryn moved deeper, the water coming up to his waist. "Some of the weyrfolk are practically dolphins."

"Yes, they are. I'm more used to splash around in a river. The sea can be scary. Not here though, this cove's so sheltered and waters not too deep," B'jon chatted.

"I'm used to swimming in a river as well. There was also a small pond near the hold." A'dryn smiled a little. "I haven't gone swimming for fun for a while." It was part of weyrling training but that wasn't the same.

"Me neither," B'jon replied. He tried to float on his back but the
playing dragons splashed too much for it.

"Is that why you wanted to come out here? To . . . share this with
me?" A'dryn paddled slowly, the salt water helping to keep him up.

"Yes. Not to mention this is very good place just to relax and
unwind," B'jon replied.

A'dryn tilted his head back, enjoying the warm sun on his face.
"Having free time is still a bit of a novelty."

"You get used to it," B'jon said and grinning mischievously, splashed some water to A'dryn's direction.

A'dryn splashed back, confident B'jon wouldn't get rough. "There's
quite a lot to get used to." He looked out over the waves
thoughtfully. "I'm not the same person I was when I came here." That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but thinking about how much he'd changed made him uneasy.

"Becoming a dragonrider does that to you. There's nothing else like it in Pern," B'jon said.

"There certainly isn't." A'dryn had imagined life as a dragonrider
would be all about fighting Thread. It was certainly a large part of it, but there were so many other things as well. Good things. A'dryn moved closer to B'jon and leaned in for a quick kiss.

B'jon wanted to hold him longer than just a quick kiss but restrained himself. He was letting the other boy set the pace.

Floating beside him for a moment, A'dryn studied B'jon's face. "I know you're being very patient with me. You can... you can ask for things. That you want." His heart pounded.

}:Why do you not simply do the things in your head? Denenth's rider will make you feel good.:{

**Thoughts are different than real life. I'm not ready for all of..._that_ yet.** A'dryn wanted more than kissing, but he was conflicted about it.

"I don't want to scare you away or force you into anything that makes you uncomfortable," B'jon replied.

"I can say no." A'dryn was uncomfortable being in the lead, which was quite the opposite from when he was in weyrling drills. But that was riding and this was a relationship.

"Okay then," B'jon smiled, swam closer and pulled him to embrace and to a passionate kiss.

A'dryn made a soft noise of surprise and returned the kiss with
somewhat less skill than the other greenrider. Partly tangled with
B'jon, A'dryn forgot to keep afloat and slipped. He recovered a second later, spitting water. "Wait. Perhaps we should take this to shore?" A'dryn wanted to give kissing his full attention.

"Good idea, I wouldn't want us to drown," B'jon replied.

A'dryn had brought a blanket and went to get it after they walked
ashore. Heart beating hard, he spread it out in a shady spot. "There, now." He sat down, still damp from the water.

B'jon sat right next to him, placing his hand on his thigh. "Now,
where were we?" he murmured.

A'dryn licked his lips, guilt and shyness battling against his
excitement. "You were going to show me something more than kissing."

"Ah, yes," B'jon smiled mischievously. Then he leaned to kiss him and his hands started to roam on his body.

Every little touch seemed like fire along his skin. A'dryn gave
himself over to the kiss, confident that if he told B'jon to stop, he would.

Last updated on the February 20th 2016

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I Can Say No