Going Slow

Writers: AL, Devin
Date Posted: 28th September 2009

Characters: Cosani, Kh'tor
Description: Cosani visits Kh'tor for her experience lesson.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 27 of Turn 5

Cosani

No matter what she told herself, she couldn't get rid of the nervousness. Cosani rubbed her palms on her trousers and knocked on the door.

"Come in." The young man called out. When he entered, he smiled to Cosani, then motioned to a tray that sat upon the small table with two comfortable chairs beside it. Upon it were two cups a lump of something that was covered in a bag of somesort. "I took the liberty of having some tea sent up."

She went from nervous to guarded. "I don't want tea."

"That's fine, you don't have to have any. I just thought it would be nice." Kh'tor picked up one of the cups and poured the hot tea into it, but he didn't touch the other cup. He sipped at it and eyed Cosani, though his expression was most pleasant. "How are you feeling today?"

"I don't want small talk, either. Or a meal, or a picnic, or to go swimming with you, or to hold hands and walk down the beach." Cosani crossed her arms. She should have known that Meledei would find her someone "nice".

"I see." The girl didn't want much of anything, did she? He never expected a relationship, but she could at least attempt to be nice. "I would think doing this would go more smoothly and you'd be relaxed if we talked a bit, got to know each other. Relaxing will help things go along. I don't expect anything from you, please don't get me wrong, but we can at least relax before we get into things. That will make things better for you."

"How do you know what will make things better for me?" Maybe she was overreacting, but she didn't know him, and couldn't trust him to keep his word. "When you study with someone, do you offer them tea? Do you try to get to know them before you start working?"

"I _don't_ know. I just know that a warm drink often helps people to relax, so I thought I would give you the choice." Kh'torr took another sip of his tea and then nodded. "And yes, as a weyrling when I was studying with other weyrlings I did often offer tea, or klah, or something of the sort. And yes, I do prefer to get to know someone with whom I am working. Maybe not as best buddies, but at least well enough to be on civil terms." He held his gaze upon Cosani. "You have a choice. You may take the tea or you may not. We can sit here and talk and get to know one another or we can simply sit in silence while I finish _my_ tea. You have choices Cosani, and no one is going to force you to do something. Not me, no one. No one can. You are a dragonrider, Cosani to green Shalith. You are your own woman and the only one who owns any part of you is that beautiful green dragon who chose you. I'm not trying to claim you, so please do not mistake my actions for intentions that don't exist."

She sat down in a chair, her arms still crossed. Shalith had chosen her, and this was for Shalith's sake. "I just want this over with."

"Fair enough. Would you, perhaps, allow me five more minutes to finish my tea and then we shall get down to business?" Kh'tor's eyebrows rose as he sipped at his drink.

"Fine." Cosani looked down at the floor.

"While we're waiting," Kh'tor spoke after a moment, "We should go over the rules."

"Rules?"

"Yes." Kh'tor took a long drag from his tea before he continued. "Rule number one. This should feel good. That's the most important rule and you should keep that in mind. Tonight there will be a point where it might not since you have no experience, but for future reference, doing this sort of thing should _always_ feel good." Kh'torr frowned into his tea as if he were annoyed at it. "Rule number two: If it doesn't feel good, say so and make sure you let your partner, in this case me, know what does and does not feel good. Rule number three, if said partner continues to do something that doesn't feel good, you should slap him. Don't hold back."

"I have no problem punching someone if they hurt me." Her tension eased just a little.

The comment caused a grin to spread across Kh'tor's face. "That's good. Though I doubt you'll find many men, if any men, here at the weyr who will do that to you, it's still something good to keep in mind. I do ask, however, that before you start communicating with your fists, you'll first try to communicate with your voice, or perhaps in more gentle ways with your body. Now, I am assuming you've discussed what it can be like for the first time?"

"They talked about it in class." Warned them, was more like it. But it couldn't be _that_ bad if people wanted to do it again.

"I will do my best to go slow so it will hurt as little as possible. It depends on the women though. Some women have pain after several couplings, some only first time, and some never at all." Kh'tor set aside his cup and looked straight at Cosani. "The most important thing is to communicate with me. Tell me what you like. It's important to me that this feels good for you."

"I like less talking." He was giving her far too much time to think.

"That," Kh'tor stated as he slid across to draw close to Cosani. He stopped inches from her, face hovering before hers, "is not a problem." He smiled, then tenderly kissed her upon the lips, a short, simple and sweet gesture, testing the waters and not wanting to go _too_ fast too soon.

That was ... interesting. She tried to sort through her feelings. }:It wasn't bad,:{ Shalith said.

**No. It wasn't.**

"Should I keep going?" Kh'tor asked, his voice a whisper.

She swallowed. "Yes."

Kh'tor complied, but he lengthened the kiss, opening his mouth against hers and encouraging her to do the same. His hand trailed up her arm in a light caress.

It really wasn't so bad. Kind of nice, she had to admit. So this is what kissing is like.

Kh'tor's fingers traced a path from Cosani's arm over her shoulder and neck to her face. His thump swept over her cheek as he deepened the kiss and silentl urged her to respond.

She pulled back, wanting to say something, to ask him something although she didn't know what. She looked at his face for a moment. What would happen after this? What about tomorrow, and all the days after, when she saw him around the Weyr? She would remember tonight, and he would remember her. Cosani pulled away. "I--I can't ..."

Kh'tor didn't try to press, but immediately pulled away. He wasn't the sort to push any woman, but he was trying to be particularly careful with this one. "Is something wrong?"

"I can't do this." She backed away a few steps, then turned and walked toward the door.

"Cosani, wait, just a moment please. You don't have to do it, but just wait." Kh'tor stood up, but he didn't make a move to try and stop her.

She put her hand on the doorknob and turned. "What?"

"It's okay not to be ready." Kh'tor stated hoping that she would believe it. "But when you are, I'll still be willing to help you, no strings attached. But don't feel bad if you aren't ready. It's okay."

With a noise that was almost a growl, Cosani yanked the door open and left.

Last updated on the September 30th 2009

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Going Slow