Earthbound by DM Arnold (read book .TXT) 📕

“I thought ... I thought maybe I'd learn to like it with you. I want to please you, Nykkyo. I was trying for you.”

“Oh, Suki ... korlyta...” He embraced her, held her face against his chest and caressed her raven hair.

“Now I've disappointed you... I'm sorry, Nykkyo -- I didn't want to...” She started to cry. “... I'm such a mess...”

“Oh, no -- you haven't disappointed me.” He stroked her back.

She wiped tears from her eyes. “Why does sex have to be so complicated?”

He kissed the top of her head. “It's because we care so for each other. If we didn't, it would be easy.”

“That's the paradox -- if I didn't care for you, I wouldn't want to -- I'd have no animal magnetism for you at all...” She smacked her fist against her forehead. “That didn't sound right, either.”

He kissed her forehead. “Maybe you should quit while you're ahead.”

She smiled and nodded. “... You might be right.”

“It's my fault,” he said. “I'm not proud of my performance just now. I lost control.” With his finger he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “It was nothing but passion -- pure passion.”

Suki kissed his shoulder. “You shouldn't underrate pure passion,” she said and brushed a lock of his hair from his forehead. “It felt pretty good.” She kissed him again.

“Do you still want this?”

“Of course I do,” she replied. “Don't you?”

“I want nothing else. Maybe if we slowed down a little... Are you willing?” She smiled and guided his lips to hers. “Then, why don't we start over...” Nyk carried her to the bedroom, set her onto the bed and lay beside her, stroking her face and gazing into her dark eyes. She slipped her hand behind his neck and drew his face toward hers. His lips touched hers and he kissed her. “You've never made love to a man -- I've never made love to a pregnant lady.”

“It'll be a first for both of us.” She lay on her back and ran her hands along her stomach. “I'm starting to show -- and, I'm starting to feel pregnant.”

“I can't wait to see your body change. And, it will change back, afterward.”

“I don't know -- I wonder if my breasts will ever be the same again.”

He kissed and caressed her abdomen. “Maybe we shouldn't -- I wouldn't want to hurt him.”

“I'm not made of glass -- and, pregnancy's not a disease. I saw my doctor last week and she said everything's normal. She gave me the go-ahead. Fat chance, I told her. Little did I know...” She placed her hand on his and pressed it against her belly. “Lovemaking won't hurt him. I heard his heartbeat.”

He put his ear to her stomach. “I can't hear anything.”

Suki giggled. “You need a special instrument.”

“I wish I was there. I want to hear it myself. I'd like to accompany you on your next visit.”

“I'd like that.”

“Oh, Suki -- I was proud to be a Kyhana -- to hold the crest and to translate Koichi's journal. Learning I'm not hurt -- and what hurt most was discovering my parents lied to me. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?”

“Thankfully, no -- not like that at least.”

He caressed her belly. “That is something we must never do -- we must never lie to him. As soon as he's old enough to comprehend, we'll tell him his origin -- of how he came to be. And, each day in word and deed, we'll demonstrate our love for him -- for the individual he is.” Nyk returned to lying beside her and gazed into her eyes.

“Of course. You're absolutely right.” She traced his lips with her finger. “Teach me your language, Nykkyo. Perhaps some day I'll return to your world.”

“Okay -- lesson one. “Suki, mi z'am. I love you.”

“Mi z'am,” she replied.

“Mi ve xiam z'am't. I've loved you always.”

“Mi va xiam z'am't.”

“It's ve, not va. Va makes it “I will loved you.” He kissed her forehead. “Try this -- mi nexiam z'ami nehalt va. I'll never stop loving you.”

“Mi nex... I'll never stop loving you either, Nykkyo.” She kissed his lips and he felt her tongue exploring his mouth.

“One more. Ni niva n'amor.”

“What does it mean?”

“Go ahead and say it -- it's easy. Ni niva n'amor.”

“Ni niva n'amor. What's it mean?”

“It means -- let's make love.” He kissed her eyelids. “I love your eyes. I was in love with you the moment I saw your beautiful, dark, Asian eyes.” With his finger he traced her eyebrows. He took her hand and placed it upon his chest. She stroked his shoulder and arm. He felt her toes brush against the top of his foot. She smiled at him and he smiled at her.

Nyk caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. He kissed her forehead. She suppressed a giggle. He ran his hand along her shoulder and down her arm. She took his hand and kissed it. He kissed hers and gazed again into her eyes. She slipped her hand behind his head and kissed his lips. He traced her eyebrows again.

“What are you waiting for?” she asked.

“I was waiting for your signal.”

“My signal? Is this some Floran lovemaking ... thing?”

“Oh, yes. When we make love, each partner signals readiness.”

“Do you mean readiness for ... touch? What sort of signal?”

“The guiding of your partner's hands is such a signal. This isn't an Earth practice?”

“It's not one I'm familiar with.”

“Then, how do you know your partner's ready?”

“You know, that's an excellent question...” She took his hand and placed it upon her body. “I'm definitely ready. I've never been so ready.”

“Show me.”

“Show you what?”

“How to touch -- we must teach each other the sorts of touch we find enjoyable.”

Suki twirled a lock of his hair with her finger. “Maybe you'll touch me in a way I've never experienced and I'll find it very enjoyable.”

“...you might be right. But, don't you think what we know we like is a better starting point for experimentation than something at random?”

She took his hand and began guiding it onto her body. “I feel self- conscious doing this.”

“Why? It's trust and sharing, Suki. Trust me and share with me what gives you pleasure.”

“It just seems ... unseemly. I'm sorry, Nykkyo -- it must be I'm inhibited.”

“Let's try something else, then... You touch me the way you'd like me to touch you. I'll do the same.”

“Okay...”

“You go first.”

Suki placed her hand on his chest. “Like this... And, like this...”

“That feels good,” he replied. “Like this...” He guided her fingers.

“Yeah... I like this sort of thing too...”

“I don't have much, compared to you -- but my breasts are as sensitive as yours ... and I enjoy the same sort of touch.”

Suki continued to caress him. “You know -- when I was in college I had a girlfriend who wasn't much bigger on top than you.” She giggled. “She used to call herself my boyfriend.”

“So, you HAVE had a boyfriend.”

Suki laughed. “Oh, Nykkyo -- you do have a way of putting me at ease... It's your turn, now.”

“I'm almost afraid to touch you.”

“Don't be afraid...” He smoothed his hand along her skin. “And -- don't be too gentle...” She drew in a deep breath and released it. “Mmm -- your hand is warm... Oh, Nykkyo -- you have a very nice touch... I think being pregnant has made me more sensitive.”

“I'll be careful, then.”

“Not tender ... sensitive. The sensations are stronger. It feels good...” Her breathing slowed and deepened. “...really good.” He could feel her heart accelerate, its beats transmitted through her flesh. “You're right,” she said. “... this is so much better than something at random ... you seem to know...”

“I'm reading your body.” He held her hand over his left breast. “Read mine -- do you feel my heart?” She nodded. “We'll each learn the language of our bodies. Once we're fluent, we'll have touch conversations.” He stroked her forearm as she caressed him.

Nyk caressed her thigh. “I love your skin,” he said. “The color ... softness...”

Suki giggled. “You seem to like everything about me that I'm not so crazy about...”

“No, Suki. I like everything about you.”

She placed her hand on his and caressed his forearm. Then she led his hand up her thigh and positioned his fingers. “I have to show you like this because you don't have one of these... Like this... Just like that. Perfect.”

Nyk held her, gazed into her eyes and stroked her. Suki drew in a breath. “Oh, God this feels good. You have such an incredible touch...” He felt her body relaxing. Her breathing deepened and she parted her lips. “I like how you're holding me, too. It all feels so good ... so good...” She wrapped her arms around his neck and held his face against her breast.

“Suki -- you're heart is racing.”

“I'm on the verge,” she panted, “of a ... very ... powerful... Oh, God, Nykkyo -- it's perfect... don't change it ... don't change anything...”

Nyk felt her fingers in his hair as she pressed his head to her sternum. The throbbing of her heart filled his ear. He continued to stroke her as he held her tight. “Just a little more,” she whispered. Her thighs began to tremble. “A little more... Oh, God!” Suki arched her back, closed her eyes, grimaced and swallowed a groan. “Oh!” she gasped. Nyk moved his hand to her face and caressed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. She drew his lips to hers and kissed him.

“Good?” he asked.

“Mmm... Best ever...” She moistened her lips with her tongue. “I suppose this means we've reached the moment of truth.”

Nyk took her hand and led it down his abdomen. She touched him and then drew back. Her eyes began to brim. “I was afraid,” he replied, “that this part might be difficult for you.”

“I've been trying to put the rape out of my mind.”

“Images of that day haunt me yet. I can't imagine what it must be like for you.”

“I do want this, Nykkyo -- I do. But, I didn't know how I'd react...”

“I understand,” he replied. “I know men have damaged you. We mustn't do anything if it feels wrong. We'll have a rule. If you say don't, I won't. If you say stop, we'll stop. I'll never violate that rule, I promise.” He led her hand again. “Remember -- it's me, Suki -- only me... It's a part of me -- as much me as my eyes ... my hair ... my hands.” She bit her lower lip. A tear ran down her cheek. “I love you, and I'll never hurt you. I'll never use any part of my body to cause you pain. I'll die first.”

“I know. Hearing it means so much to me.”

“If we've gone far enough for tonight -- it's all right.” He looked into her eyes. “It really is. If you want to stop, we'll stop. Just say the word.”

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and another. “The word ... is go. I have enough demons in my psyche -- I'm not letting that punk ruin the rest of my life with you. Ni niva n'amor, Nykkyo. Ni niva n'amor!”

Nyk lay on his back, coaxed her atop him, and locked his legs with hers. He held her with his right arm around the small of her back and with his left he caressed her shoulder blades and her raven hair. Suki lay her face against his shoulder, her eyes closed. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes ... so far...”

“Did I hurt you at all?”

She shook her head. “Uh-uhn...”

He ran his hand along her back. “Here we go, then -- we'll take it easy...” He began a gentle rocking of his hips.

“Oh, Nykkyo! Don't!” She clutched him. “Don't let go of me.”

He held her tighter. “I love you, Suki.”

“I know you do. I know...” He caressed her shoulders and lower back as he continued to rock his hips. He felt her warmth and her muscles move with her breathing. As his excitement built, he established a barrier in his mind -- forcing his own sensations to the back while focusing the front of his awareness on her, watching her as she lay atop him.

Suki tightened her grip on him and began making soft whimpers in the back of her throat. Then, she hoisted herself onto her elbows, opened her eyes and gazed into his. Her breathing grew heavier and he felt her breath on his face.

His heart began to race and he struggled to maintain the division in his mind. Suki slipped her hands behind his head and lifted his face to hers. She pressed her lips to his. He closed his eyes. Their breath mingled and they shared each other's airways.

Then, unable to maintain it, Nyk allowed his barrier to collapse. Sensations flooded into his awareness. He tightened his grip around the small of her back. With his arms