This is the chattiest Valmir has ever been around me.
Is he...shy?
It's wild to think about, yet Valmir doesn't like to show vulnerability. I watch as he pokes at the fire with a long bone, then sets it against the lip of the rock-lined firepit. One hand always remains on my foot, as if he doesn't want to let me go. He glances over at Makana. "Is your pet all right?"
"He's good. He ate a couple of roots, and I made a nest for him."
Valmir nods. His hand twitches on my foot. "I'm sorry his cage didn't work for him. I can make a new one when we return, something he would be happy to stay in."
"I don't think we need the cage. He's not going anywhere. And if he did...I'd let him. But I think you're right. I think he's spoiled now." And I think Valmir is stalling.
He grunts. "Are...you hungry? Would you like for me to make you something to eat?"
Aw. Definitely shy. So strange to think that the guy who jerked off on my door is now feeling awkward about asking for a kiss. "I'm not hungry."
"I see."
I get tired of waiting for him to ask. "Valmir, do you want to kiss me?"
His tail gives a hard thump on the ground behind him, like the prickly cat he is. His gaze locks on to my face. "I...yes. Yes, I would."
I pull my leg out of his lap and move closer to him. "Okay,good. Because we've talked about Jason and animal cages enough. I want to kiss."
"I would like that." He sounds stiff and solemn.
Putting my hands on his tunic, I pull him in closer. His entire body is like a board, and I can feel the nervousness sheeting off him. His anxiety is making me nervous, too. He watches my face closely, his gaze darting over my features. I move in closer, my nose practically touching his, and bury my fingers in the thick ruff of mane that surrounds his head. It's soft and fluffy, not coarse like I imagine a lion's mane would be. It's rather nice to grab onto, and my mind immediately goes to filthy, filthy places.
But we're going slow because he's nervous, I remind myself. Can't shove his head between my legs until we've kissed.
Valmir's gaze slides over me, his catlike mouth drawing into a frown. "Are you...waiting on me? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do here."
"We're sharing a breath first," I tell him. "It's a tradition for my people."
"Another memory?"
I nod, the fragmented memories of other ceremonies flitting through my head. "This one just came to me, but it feels right."
"Then we should honor it." He holds himself still as I press the tip of my nose to his and just...breathe. I breathe in and out with him, sharing breath. A flurry of traditions from other forgotten weddings drift through my head — a floralleifor the bride and a Maile one for the groom. Thehula. The blessings. None of those customs are possible because we're here and not back home on Earth. I don't know his customs, either.
Which is fine. We'll make new ones. But I think us sharing breath to seal our union is fine. It's in the spirit ofaloha, and that's what counts. We don't need anything more to celebrate our union.
And isn't that what this kiss is for? I've been holding back on my kisses because they're an intimate sharing. Touching Valmir and making him come felt like indulging in animal need. Kisses are different. But now, looking at him and with my heart full of our conversations today, I'm ready to kiss.
I put my mouth on his. Gently. Very gently. It's a mere brushing of lips, a transference of warmth and breath, nothing more. Valmir remains completely stiff the entire time. "April," he murmurs under my mouth. "What are the rules for kissing?"
I grin despite myself. "The rules are you do what feels good."
I lean in to kiss him again, another small peck. Still, this male keeps talking. "Surely there are some guidelines."
"Well, for starters, you don't talk when your woman is trying to kiss you." I glance up at him, amused, and give his mane a gentle tug of reproach. "But if you need guidelines, we do lips first. Then we move on to tongue."
I lean in again.
His mouth opens before I can kiss him. "How am I to tongue you?"
And I pause once more. Really, it'd be funny how often he's interrupting me, except I know that Valmir wants guidelines because he feels like everyone knows the rules but him. So I'm patient with his questions. Well...patient-ish. "You use your tongue like you're tasting me. Not like you're trying to lick my tonsils. Don't jam it down my throat. Make it delicate. Sweet."
"Sweet?" He sounds scandalized at the prospect.
