No Longer A Bachelor (Part III) (PG-17)

Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 19th March 2009

Characters: Ishek, Briata
Description: Ishek and Briata are finally alone after their wedding - but things don't go as Briata quite planned.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 1, day 1 of Turn 5
Rating: PG-17

Briata

If he was, she didn't give any signs of protest. His touch made her
shiver in anticipation. Briata felt like they should be doing more,
but she didn't want to rush either. She broke the kiss to let her
fingers trace the lines of his lips, then dance across his
cheek. "This feels good." She whispered, hoping it would encourage
him.

It did, and that encouraged him. He started kissing along her neck and
down, letting his hands trail down her front now, exploring her. He
could lose himself in the sensation of touching and being touched, and
it helped assuage his strange feelings of guilt.

Briata breathed deeply as he explored her body further. Her own hands
trailed across his shoulders, but she seemed to lose focus in keeping
them occupied. They would stall then start again as she seemed more
inclined to focus on the sensations that Ishek was arousing within her.

He let his hands trail even farther down, towards her belly, below her
belly. One separated and played with her thighs. "Are you okay with
this?"

"Oh yes." She breathed. Briata was more than okay. She knew what was
coming, knew that it might be painful, but for the moment it felt so
good. "Don't stop."

"I think maybe we should lay down instead of sit down," he suggested,
continuing to nuzzle and kiss her. He wanted her relaxed, couldn't
stand the thought of hurting her.

"All right." She was loathe to let him go, to pull away from the
caresses, but Briata did long enough to push further onto the bed. She
leaned forward and gently clasped his hand, urging him to come back to
her.

He lay down next to her, letting his body press against hers, smelling
her. She was soft, and he let his hands run over her belly, her legs.
He kissed her again, tenderly, and then reached for his pants. "I think
these should come off."

Was he telling her to take them off? To help her? Briata let her
fingers trail downward and play at his waist, but made no move to block
his own hands. She turned her head, experimentally letting her lips
trail across his shoulder to the crook of his neck. She inhaled his
scent, finding it provocative in its own right.

Ishek felt his doubts returning even as he reached down and removed his pants. He didn't know if he could do this. She was so gentle, and her touches (though inexperienced) affecting. But he could see her youth in her features as if he'd never seen her before, and it made him feel guilty. He tossed his pants off into the corner and leaned back on the bed.

It was a strange sensation, feeling him against her, skin to skin, flesh against flesh without anything between them. It felt good, though, his warmth seeping into her, her curves melding along his straighter lines. They fit together, it felt right, just as it should be. She smiled at him in the dusk of the room, her cheeks warm despite herself. Wenina had been frank and honest with her, but listening to what she was told and actually _doing_ the things her step mother had suggested were two totally different matters. Her hands played shyly at his hip as if they were trying to decide what to do and where to go next.

Ishek reached out and caressed her face lightly. "Are you tired?" he asked softly.

"No." That was one thing she certainly was not. Briata closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "You feel good next to me."

"I'm tired." he said. He'd hoped she would be and he could defer this and do it for her, but it wasn't to be.

"You feel nice too." he added. That wasn't a lie; she felt good to cuddle with, but he just wasn't responding as he would have with either of his previous lovers.

He was hesitating and Briata wasn't sure why. She, herself, was hesitant but it was more out of uncertainty than anything. The girl opened her eyes and focused her gaze upon her new husband. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm tired and it's been awhile and..." He shrugged helplessly, aware that reiterating the excuses from earlier probably wasn't enough.

"I don't understand."

"I'm...wondering if I can do this." he admitted reluctantly.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?" Had she touched him in an unpleasing manner? Had Briata been too bold? Not bold enough?

"It's not anything you did wrong." Ishek assured her. "I don't know if I'm ready to be... physical yet."

"But...why?" This wasn't supposed to be how things went. People were supposed to be physical once they were married.

"Because it's been awhile." he repeated. "I'm...not sure if I can."

He had said that, but Briata got the feeling there was more to it. There was something behind the words he spoke. What had she done? What had she _not_ done? "O...okay." Disappointment crossed her features but she didn't pull away. "Do you just want to sleep?"

He saw the disappointment and winced.

"We can try again tomorrow." Briata leaned in and kissed Ishek tenderly upon his lips before pulling him into a tight embrace.

Ishek nodded and kissed her back, encircling her with his arms. "I'm glad we're married." he assured her.

"I am too." Briata had no regrets about that. She nuzzled Ishek's neck then rested her head upon his shoulder. Perhaps...perhaps tomorrow. They would try again tomorrow.

Last updated on the March 29th 2009

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No Longer A Bachelor (Part III) (PG-17)