Chapter 22 #2
Their first stop was at one of the poet stands.
The young man on the small stage was one of the students.
He was wearing a historical warrior costume, reciting the epic poem of Ha-Ta’s claiming of his mate with a great deal of emotion and performance.
He was, however, also performing it completely in ancient Domtri and Holly could have no idea what he was saying.
She still seemed entranced though, staring with wonder as Romival whispered a translation to her of Ha-Ta’s sprint across the beaches as he chased after his mate. The performance was far grander and more detailed than his retelling.
Not enough to completely hold Holly’s attention, however. She listened to the story right up until Ha-Ta’s second night. That was the moment the poet stopped for a drink, taking a brief rest as Ha-Ta did, and in that moment, Holly’s attention was caught by something else.
Though she had asked him to show her around, she was eager to rush from one thing to another ahead of him the whole time.
Never releasing his hand. She wasn’t afraid, but she did hesitate before she approached things.
It was easier for her to watch from afar.
He had to assure her that it was okay to get closer, that she was welcome to do so.
The simple encouragements always earned him a quick but genuine smile.
She needed that comfort and reassurance, and he was happy to provide it. As she said, it was how she understood love being spoken to her.
And he knew she was doing the same for him in turn whenever he would find himself explaining something – the history of the plaza, the programming of the combots, the translation of the poets – and she was looking at him with rapt attention.
Always listening, occasionally asking questions.
Never once making him feel like she didn’t hear when he spoke to her.
She was very hesitant to approach one of the open areas beneath an upper tier, her having been drawn in by the music. But she watched so eagerly as people danced. Their movements sharp and quick. Sparring, but beautifully.
“Do you want to dance?” He asked, looking at her curiously.
The light over them now was orange, making it more difficult to see the rising pink in her cheeks, but she bit her lip uncertainly and she had that look on her face like she wanted to get closer and was only waiting for permission.
“I don’t know how to dance like this,” she confessed, looking to him. “You guys dance differently from humans.”
“Most species have different ideas of what it means to dance. None of them are incorrect.” He gave her a smile, pulling on the hand she insisted on holding. “Besides, I enjoy teaching. Let me show you how we dance.”
She looked uneasy, but wasn’t unwilling as he brought her under the cover of the upper tier– which was filled with students who were catching flavored, smoke-filled bubbles on their tongue.
They didn’t catch them all and a lot of them fell down around the edge of the covered dance floor.
The tiny pops of color and smoke only contributed to the fun.
Romival pulled Holly across from him and told her, “The point is to touch your partner, but not be touched yourself.”
She laughed, self-conscious but still here. “You guys don’t dance, you fight.”
“Precisely,” he smirked. “You ready?”
She shook her head, but she was beaming with all her teeth bared in an action that would have looked threatening from any other species. But human females were all soft and sensual and delicate and even a full snarl was bright and beautiful.
The music was very heavy on the beats, fast and demanding of movement.
But Romival moved deliberately as he reached for Holly.
Almost as if he was going to grapple her like when he showed her how to break free of an unwanted hold, but slow enough that she could easily duck and slip free instead of being caught.
He didn’t expect his Holly to reach out for him in turn. It was a bold sort of move and she was uncertain of herself, so he fully anticipated he would be doing all the chasing in the dance.
He was surprised, therefore, when, about halfway through the first song, as she was getting into the habit of bobbing and weaving away from him, she reached out herself. Her fingers darted forward to stroke his arm. He was so unprepared for it, she actually touched him.
He wasn’t sure who was more surprised – him or her. She giggled as his gaze darkened with approval and desire.
She got more comfortable after that. And as she got comfortable, her movements became freer, easier, and far more sensual than he anticipated.
He realized that she was adding her own idea of what dancing was into the movements.
She didn’t stop trying to keep away from or reach for him, but all of her moves changed.
Her hips began to drop, to rock, to roll.
Like she was sitting on his lap, riding his cock.
Her waist turned, her shoulders moved, bringing his attention to her breasts.
She undulated her entire body, bringing to mind images of her being wracked with pleasure.
She wasn’t dancing out of his way so much as tempting him in closer.
And her movements were drawing attention. Especially when her arms began to move around, swirling around her body, bringing everyone’s eyes onto her. And the most interesting thing was that she didn’t seem to realize she was doing it.
Her gaze wasn’t seductive, it was still playful. She was only focused on their battle dance, not on the reflexive, sexual movements she performed.
But no one else could miss it. Other males were staring. Desiring. Earning dark looks and outright attacks from their own female companions. Romival wanted to snap at them, angry that they dared to stare at his female with lust.
However, he also couldn’t fault them for doing it. This was what human females did, it was who they were. There was just something about the rounded curves of their bodies, the way they moved those curves, and their inherent softness that rendered a male helpless but to stare.
He knew the very instant that Holly noticed.
The smooth, fluid movements ceased, and she became stiff, uncertain. Her arms came back into her body, one covering her heart as though to protect it from the stares.
Romival began growling. Without thought. Displeased that they were making his female uncomfortable with their eyes. Instead of calming her, Holly only looked more uneasy, and her motions ceased altogether.