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Khoth kissed the spot behind Jace’s right ear. He let his lips linger there. He felt his birth ta’na pulse. His breath came out in a shuddery gasp. He licked the lobe of Jace’s ear and he nearly cried out at the pleasure of the taste of it while imagining Jace’s tongue on his spine doing the same thing. Biting, licking, kissing all over his birth ta’na. His seed nearly spilled. His breathing became even more harsh and ragged.

Jace twined one hand around his head and twisted his head so that their lips could meet. Even with the pleasure of Jace’s body between his legs, he needed to see Jace’s face and kiss him deeply.

Khoth circled Jace again so that they were face to face again. Jace’s lips were wet and plump and definitely needed to be kissed again. He dove in. It was like drinking tal--the spiced wine of Aegis--as he slid his tongue between Jace’s lips and sampled him.

Jace’s teeth caught his lower lip between them and rasped lightly over it. The pleasure-pain sensation had another zing of pleasure running up his spine and along his sex. The dar’lac pressed against their cloth prison. He could almost imagine them angry with him as if they were a separate being. What would Jace think of his sex? It was different from a human cock. It could give more pleasure. But Jace might think it frightening. He had to be careful. Had to prepare him. Now he almost wished the Osiris had insisted on showing Jace everything about the Thaf’ell.

“I thought… uhm, the bath or shower? Could we? In there?” Jace pointed in the direction of the bathing room.

It was pleasing to see that Jace was robbed of unnecessary speech when they were together. But he was glad that Jace had gotten those words out, because this would give him the opportunity to slowly show Jace his differences and what pleasure he could receive. Yes, this would be good. Plus, they should be cleansed of battle first and then joined together new and fresh.

Khoth slipped off the bed and lifted Jace into his arms. Jace’s legs wrapped around his waist. His arms wound around Khoth’s neck and they kissed again. It was a long and breath stealing kiss. Khoth swore he could feel Jace’s lips imprinted upon his own.

Jace reached up and touched his lips, smiling slightly, even as his eyes were wild. “My lips tingle and you taste… I don’t know. I’m drunk with you, Khoth. Drunk, but I need more.”

“I will give you all you need.”

Khoth carried the young man easily to the bathing chamber ready to teach and learn and satisfy Jace’s every need.

Learn

Jace still couldn’t get over how strong Khoth was. He’d lifted and carried Jace as if he weighed no more than a slightly plump cat. Or a plump pig. Like Chili. But maybe thinking of animals at a time like this wasn’t really appropriate. He wasn’t sure. He’d never done anything like this before.

And it was with Khoth.

Khoth who made him a little dizzy even when he just thought of the Thaf’ell’s name. Khoth who made his heart skip a beat and then patter a little harder the moment he saw him. Khoth who would die for him. Khoth who he would die for. Thinking about dying was really inappropriate at a time like this! He knew that. But still. Khoth meant so much to him and he wanted to tell the other man. Yet the words seemed stuck in his throat.

Khoth lightly set him down on the stone floor of the bathing chamber. The stone was warm. It was heated. The AIs showed him the ingenious ways that water--heated by the sun--was pumped beneath the stone floor and--no, no, no, thinking about plumbing really wasn’t appropriate! But the bathing room was beautiful.

It was a long room, rectangular, with the opposite narrow end being made out of frosted glass that allowed the sunlight to stream in. Shadows from tree branches tapped against the glass as the wind outside shook them. He could see shadows of leaves falling down and disappearing from sight.

Unlike most human bathrooms, this one did not contain a toilet or sink. Those were kept in separate areas. This truly was a bathing room. A tub was built into the floor right by the frosted glass window. In the ceiling above the tub were two large squares of metal with holes punched into them in elaborate designs. It took him a moment to realize that those were the shower heads. The AIs, wanting to be helpful, turned the taps on for them, adjusting the temperature so that both he and Khoth could wash off and then soak in the tub with ease.

“Did you…?” Khoth pointed to the running water.

“The AIs. They’re really desperate to help. In any way they can. The water temperature will be perfect though,” Jace assured him.

He was surprised by how articulate he sounded. He even made sense! That was something. He could already imagine the hot water on his bare skin. Or better yet on Khoth’s bare skin. He wanted to lick it off. Did people do that? Would Khoth like that? He’d watched plenty of porn, but it had always left him a little cold. Maybe because he couldn’t imagine ever being able to touch and be touched as the actors were in the movies. But now he did have his chance.

Definitely going to get clean. But then dirty. And then clean again.

Jace found himself blushing at his own thoughts. But shouldn’t he be focusing on what should happen in real life next? Forget fantasies. He had Khoth all to himself! Alone! With water! And the promise of sexy times. So...

Jace only had on his pants, but Khoth was still fully dressed. Jace stepped a few feet away on legs that seemed strangely weak so that he could see all of Khoth. But he was truly recovered. Well, mostly recovered. The weak knees were from the thought of what was going to happen with Khoth. What he wanted to happen

I can inform you of all Thaf’ell sexual practices with diagrams and--

Osiris! No! I told you, I want Khoth to teach me. I want to be in this moment with him and no distractions, Jace begged the AI.

I must inform you of one thing--

No! No! I don’t want to know! Jace interrupted.

The Osiris went silent. Jace told himself he didn’t care what the Osiris had to tell him. He didn’t need to know. He’d figure it out by himself. By doing instead of just knowing. Yet even as Khoth unzipped his boots and Jace should have been fascinated with the graceful way that Khoth removed his clothing with no affect and no shame or embarrassment as if them getting naked together was no palm-sweating work, he wasn’t focused. At least, not entirely. The Osiris’ words kept coming to him and interfering with his enjoyment.

The Osiris doesn’t tell me too much extraneous information, Jace reasoned with himself. Maybe I should listen to what it has to say.

I sent you no extraneous information, the Osiris contradicted. Very tartly. That you wish to be ignorant--