"So that's why you had sex with her? Because she is confident?"
And I stopped hard. "No."
Ayla huffed. "Zasen, if you keep stopping, we won't do any hunting."
"No," I said, turning to face her, "I think this is something I need to clear up. Ayla, I had sex with women because I wanted to - and because they agreed. Lessa was a friend. She was safe because of that. She's also very beautiful, and her confidence isattractive to me. So is her determination. I even like how she's abrasive at times. It makes her fun.Allof that goes into wanting to have sex with someone, okay?"
"I don't really understand how Dragons judge someone's beauty, or attractiveness," she admitted. "I mean, Rymar dated that man with bright colors, but he was not very nice. Kanik doesn't seem to date anyone - well, didn't."
"He did," I assured her. "Fewer than myself and Rymar." Then I grunted. "No, that's not true. Kanikdatedmore than us, but had sex less. Rymar tried to find someone he could care about, and kept learning they weren't what he thought."
"And you?" she asked, those eyes of hers looking up through her lashes in a way that made my lips curl.
"Um..." Yeah, now I was on the spot. "If I say something, can we talk about it before you panic?"
She nodded, agreeing quickly.
"I like the act of sex, but I didn't always want a relationship with the people I had sex with."
"Why?" she asked.
But there was no fear in those eyes. Curiosity, sure. She also lifted her chin just enough to make me think she was daring me to actually answer.
Crossing my arms, I decided to see how far this would go. "I happen to enjoy making women feel good. I am turned on - sexually aroused - by the way she moves, moans, and breathes when I do that to her body. I like orgasms too."
"To spill the seed?" she asked.
Humming, I made a face. "Yes, but no. Ayla, an orgasm is a rush of pleasure. Yes, men ejaculate when it happens, but there are exceptions. The goal is the feeling, not the seed." Then I shifted closer. "And women do it too."
"But not the same," she said.
"Nope," I agreed, then turned and began walking again. "Holly, come!"
Behind me, Ayla groaned. "Pepper, heel." But I heard her following. Then, "So how does a woman orgasm?"
This time, I didn't slow down. "Her genitals are stimulated until she experiences a rush of pleasure. There's also excess lubrication that happens down there. The goal, however, is the rush of pleasure."
"Rymar said something about... You know... to myself."
Fuck. Now my dick was getting hard, and I was damned glad I had on pants tonight. Hoping she wasn't watching, I had to make a slight adjustment.
"Most people do that," I assured her.
"Lessa told Meri it's better with help."
Yep, I had to stop again. "When did that happen?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, but Meri said they'd talked before she had the baby. And I told her what Lessa told me, and.." She shrugged. "She also said it didn't always hurt."
"Meri said that, or Lessa?"
"Meri," Ayla confirmed.
I nodded. "Okay. Well, so you know, it shouldneverhurt. If it ever does, tell Holly to bite them. Shit, tell Pepper!" The black and tan dog perked up at the sound of her name. "Pepper's a good girl," I told her.
So Ayla reached over to pet her. "So why didn't you want a relationship with the women you had sex with?" she asked.
Yeah, this was going to be a long-talk sort of night. Giving in, I pulled my bow over my shoulder and dropped it on the ground by a tree, then gestured for Ayla to do the same. My pouch went beside it, and I moved closer, checking around us to make sure we were truly alone.
