Chapter 12 Practice Kiss
Practice Kiss
Jace slept like the dead. He didn’t remember any dreams like he usually did, but those probably weren’t dreams, but training.
Gehenna didn’t need to put him through his paces any longer.
He would do that when he was awake. So his sleep had been peaceful and restful as if he were sleeping on the bottom of the ocean.
The Osiris had a sound, like a purr, that he could feel through his bones.
On Youtube he found channels that claimed to have that “spaceship sound” that he’d used to fall asleep to sometimes.
The Osiris didn’t exactly sound like that, but it was similar and soothing.
But there was also another sound, something that had never been added before to his sleep period.
It was the sound of someone else breathing.
His eyelids cracked open. He’d set no alarm, but he immediately knew that it was 11 a.m. in Sunrise.
He also knew what time it was all around the globe, not to mention several other worlds.
He hadn’t meant to fall asleep last night, but he’d been exhausted.
Beyond exhausted really. The Osiris had pushed him over the top and into unconsciousness.
Khoth and I were supposed to talk!
He was about to jerk upright when he realized that he was pinned beneath the covers on one side by a heavy body. That was where the breathing was coming from. Jace slowly turned his head.
Khoth was sleeping on his side with his face towards him.
He had one arm ducked under the pillow beneath his head.
The other was sprawled over Jace’s chest. One of his legs was also crossing Jace’s legs.
Khoth’s eyelids were closed and his mouth was slightly parted, emitting a little wheeze with each breath.
I guess I wasn’t the only one exhausted last night.
Jace swallowed a little as he realized--not that he thought Khoth meant it this way at all--that this was the first time he’d slept with another person not related to him.
His various sensitivities had made dating practically impossible.
Laying beside someone at night? Ah, no, talk about agony.
So Khoth was the first guy he’d slept with.
Jace grinned.
He was touched that Khoth hadn’t left and gone to his own quarters.
Had the Thaf’ell Commander simply fallen asleep too?
No, he would have been in a chair if this had happened by accident.
A quick look down showed that Khoth’s boots were removed.
So he had laid down on purpose. He likely hadn’t started lying down curled around Jace.
His mother always teased his father that he was an octopus when he fell asleep, needing to wind all around her. It looked like Khoth might be one too.
Well, I’m not going to wake him. I can lay here for awhile.i
He stared up at the red planet that was slowly turning above him on the ceiling.
It was turned just so he could see its rings.
There were rings of smooth, fine material, but there was a chunky material ring or too in there as well.
He saw the glint of a defense array, still active, swinging around the planet.
He heard the faint electronic whir from it.
If he wanted, the Osiris could tell him what it was saying.
Osiris, do you know what Khoth wanted to talk to me about? Jace had told himself the night before he wasn’t going to ask this, but with Khoth here now he couldn’t help himself.
Yes.
Okay, is it bad? Jace braced himself.
Define “bad”.
You know what I think is bad so that’s… bad, Jace reminded it.
While I understand you qualify certain things as “bad” those things are very disparate, the Osiris pointed out. A skinned knee is bad, but so is getting a test question wrong and so is someone you are sexually attracted in turning away from you in a hallway--
Yes, yes, that was Jeremy Trainor and he was hot! And I was the school freak so yeah, let’s not go there, Jace quickly got out.
Khoth does not want to turn his back on you in a hallway. That is what concerns you, yes? That is what is the “bad” you fear, the Osiris said.
Jace considered proclaiming otherwise, but that was rather pointless wasn’t it? The Osiris knew what he was thinking even if it didn’t completely understand.
Yeah, I guess that was my main fear. So he still likes me after seeing his mother, Jace said. Likes me as a friend, of course!
His vitals indicate that you sexually arouse him, the Osiris pointed out.
Jace pinked. Ah, we talked about privacy issues and--
Why is sexual attraction private? Especially in this case when the knowledge extinguishes your anxiety allowing you to perform at a more optimal level, the Osiris pointed out.
Because when you like someone like that it’s scary and exciting and joyous to share it with them on your own time in your own way, Jace explained.
The chase is part of the pleasure? The uncertainty makes it more emotionally satisfying? The Osiris asked.
Yes, exactly. It also makes it angsty, but angsty is good sometimes, Jace said. But you really haven’t given the game away, because you can’t know the important thing.
What is the important thing?
Sex doesn’t equal liking someone. It just means your body finds their body attraction on some level, Jace said.
His heart beats faster when you smile, the Osiris said.
Jace’s heart started beating faster. Oh…
That is more than simple arousal in your opinion? The Osiris asked.
I don’t know. Jace smiled. You know you’re sounding a lot like Gehenna.
Never.
Jace chuckled and Khoth stirred. He bit his inner cheek to stop the noise and not disturb Khoth.
Where is Gehenna? She’s hiding from me, Jace realized as he sought out his personal AI.
She is building a new body that is… cuter, the Osiris did not hide its disdain for this.
Really? I can’t wait to see what she picks. Hopefully, it will have a voice box, Jace said.
A physical form such as she takes is not logical nor efficient, the Osiris said.
You’re a ship.
I am an artificial intelligence. I am not a ship, the Osiris answered.
But you’re 1s and 0s are all located on the Osiris itself, he pointed out with a slight frown.
No.
No? Gonna elaborate on that? Jace’s lips curled into a smile.
No.
I see.
Not at this time.
When?
In time.
That’s very elucidating. Not. Osiris, Jace sing-songed, are you being coy?
I am telling you what you need to know when you need to know it. You do not need to know this now, the Osiris said.
I’m too amused by all of this secrecy. You’re just as bad as Gehenna with all this body, no body business, he pointed out.
I am all. I am everywhere. I am inside of you, the Osiris said.
Jace blinked. Inside me?
The Osiris did not answer him back.
Osiris?
Nothing.
Osiris?!
Nothing.
Osi--
You should use this time to rest further. There will be as much activity this time period as last time period, the Osiris answered.
Oh, God, Jace groaned. I hope not! I can’t take another day like yesterday!
You can “take” many days. Your form has been evolved, the Osiris informed him.
Well, my brain--
Is also evolved. You must not be… lazy, the Osiris interrupted.
Really? Lazy? I can’t believe--
Shall I put you into a restful state? The Osiris threatened.
Jace narrowed his eyes. No, I want to just lay here and… enjoy this beautiful view.
The Altaeth planets are quite exquisite, the Osiris said.
Jace quirked a grin. Yeah, the planets are too.
There was a silence then the Osiris stated, You should wake him and engage in sexual relations if he is taking up that much of your concentration.
I’ll consider it, Osiris.
Jace considered the strong lines of Khoth’s jaw.
He longed to run his fingers across it to see what the Thaf’ell’s skin truly felt like.
Would it be like his? More rubbery? Or silky?
And what about Khoth’s hair? Was it coarser or finer than his own?
He yearned to touch the selchitte and hear them clack. He wanted to know what each one meant.
And then he wondered what Khoth’s cock looked like. Heat bloomed between his thighs. Did the Thaf’ell have sex like humans did? Was there blue goo? Did Khoth have semen? What if he had a barbed cock like a dog? Did the Thaf’ell engage in anal intercourse? Was Khoth a top or bottom?
Halfway through these questions, the Osiris began answering them.
No! No, don’t tell me! Jace cried and wished he could cover his face with his hands in embarrassment.
But you asked about basic Thaf’ell anatomy and sexual practices--
That’s another thing like the liking thing. Private. Don’t want to know scientifically exactly. I want Khoth to tell me or to show me if he wants to, Jace tried to explain.
I already informed you of his sexual interest. If you wish to know these things through practical experimentation, you may wake him with a kiss, the Osiris suggested.
Jace’s mouth went dry at the very thought.
He imagined pressing his own mouth against Khoth’s.
He’d kissed someone. Sammie, actually. It hadn’t been a romantic thing as he had always known he’d like guys and he was not her type, but they’d wanted to practice kissing.
Sammie had a much better chance of getting someone to use that practice kissing on, but Jace had been game nevertheless.
It had been nice. A little wet. And they’d clacked teeth a few times.
But nothing to set his heart aflame. Yet he was pretty sure if he and Khoth kissed that it would be quite a bit different.
He licked his lips. His gaze was focused on Khoth’s mouth. He could almost imagine how that lips would give under his. They would be soft and pliant. They would part and he would taste Khoth for the first time. What would Khoth taste like? Citrus? Or spice? Or something altogether different?