This chapter isn't quite as physically intimate as the last one though there is a detailed discussion about what Naomi is and isn't comfortable with in a relationship. 

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Kieran was spoiled with a second weekend of waking up beside his amazing girlfriend. The early sunlight filtered through the blinds, landing on the sun-tanned skin of her arms and face. Her hair flowed past her shoulder, covering the logo of an old softball t-shirt she slept in. With the warmer weather, they'd kicked aside the blankets, leaving her long legs exposed along with the sleeping shorts that rode up, much to his delight. A pair of black lacy underwear only partially concealed her incredible ass.

Had she worn it for him, or was it comfortable? Katy had saved hers for special occasions as average lingerie stores didn't carry her size, and they hadn't fit that well, but Naomi had the body that people designed for, tall and slim. Perhaps they were just a cozy pair. Had she worn underwear like this every time they went out? He had to put the brakes on that line of thought. Yesterday, she had been very into their closeness, but she had initially put it in the non-sexual category. Although, getting to caress her breasts while they swam had seemed pretty sexual to him. Perhaps she dressed up for him for the sake of dressing up. He wouldn't object to that either.

He snuggled into her back and fell asleep with her in his arms. When he awoke the second time, her head and arm rested on his chest.

"Good morning." She kissed him on the cheek.

He could get used to this.

"It is an incredible morning."

When he ran his hand along her upper back, she let out that contented sigh he'd heard so much yesterday. Her breasts pressed into him, including her perky nipples. Was that boundary still open?

Refocus.

"I love these shorts."

Not any better. Damn it, Kieran.

The cheeks on her face reddened as she readjusted the material so her butt wasn't as exposed.

"Shivanna calls them ass-tastic shorts."

He couldn't help but laugh. "They certainly are." While she blushed, she seemed relaxed, so he dared to tease her more. "Quite the lacy number you have underneath."

She bit her lip. "That was supposed to be a surprise."

"Another surprise?"

She nodded shyly. He had to stop his mind, whose flashing thoughts wanted to break through the sound barrier. Everything they'd had done so far had been waist up. This had to move at her speed, and he had to respect where her finish line was.

"It's a great surprise."

She chewed her lip and studied his face. "Do you want to see?"

"Are you okay with that?"

"It's only to look. Yesterday was fun, but I'm not ready for more than that yet."

"If that's what you want, I'm all for it."

She tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and smiled.

"I'm glad you tell me things like that," he added.

"You don't think I'm being a tease or a prude?"

"Not at all. You're ensuring our intimate moments will work for both of us. I like that a lot." He kissed the top of her head and stroked her soft hair. He didn't want a repeat of what happened at her party. Seeing her that down on herself broke his heart. "Do you want to discuss what you're comfortable with and what boundaries you never want to cross? We've had bits and pieces of that conversation, but I don't want you to use these 'yet's to push yourself into something uncomfortable or to worry about what you assume I want."

Naomi looked at her clothes and sighed.

"It won't be an easy conversation, but it's important. And nothing you say will end this relationship. I'm in this for you and our romantic connection, not because I have expectations."

"Okay."

"Do you want to start with firm nos or the stuff you like?"

"Might as well get the nos over with." She exhaled and looked at the light fixture with silhouettes of trees and bears. "Anal and anything like handcuffs or ropes or being tied up. That freaks me out and makes me feel super trapped."

After she tensed, he stroked her arm, hoping it would relax her. It helped a little.

"Does that work both ways, like you'd be uncomfortable tying me up?"

"Um..." she chewed on her lip. "I don't know."

That told him she'd likely never felt comfortable enough to experiment much sexually. And she might never.

"That's fine. I thought if you didn't like losing control, perhaps you'd like being in charge. Because I am enjoying that. You are quite good at it."

Naomi's cheeks went red again, but she avoided his gaze. They were far outside her comfort zone, and he wasn't sure how to reel her back in. Kissing her didn't seem right, and touching her arm gently had done little.

"What are your other nos?"

"Sex toys make me uncomfortable."

He hadn't expected that one. He'd assumed that might be a more desirable alternative to sex with a partner for her.

"All around, or with a partner?"

"All around. I don't trust electronics in or around my vagina. I'd rather it just be me or us."

"Us?" His heart beat so loud he swore that she'd hear it. "You like being touched by a partner?"

She met his gaze again and gave him the hint of a nod. Endorphins flooded his body. He tried to focus on anything else to quell his body's reaction.

"In time, yeah. It almost always feels good as long as it's not a surprise. Even if some days, I'm not into it, it's more that it does nothing for me than makes me uncomfortable." Her fingers traced the collar of his shirt absentmindedly.

Kieran smiled. He was not expecting that at all, and it was nice to see her relaxing more.

"What about touching your partner? Is that okay?" That wasn't dickish to ask, was it?

"That's the easiest part for me with sexual affection. I have to be in the mood for it, but if it's just my hands or mouth, it's more relaxed."

His eyebrows shot to the sky. "So oral sex is on the yes list?"

"I don't do the whole swallowing thing. I'd probably gag or puke, but otherwise, yeah."

"Are you sure you're comfortable with it?" There were enough allosexual women who would flat-out refuse.

"It wouldn't be super frequent, but when I'm open to intimacy, it's an option for us. I find it easier than sexual intercourse. Maybe it's a control thing like you said."

He smiled at the word 'us'. Although he had to be careful how much he did that or else she'd think he was far too excited about something she was emphasizing wasn't often and wasn't her favourite part of the relationship.

"Do you like receiving oral?"

Naomi bit her lip. "Sometimes. It's either really good or really uncomfortable. I can usually tell before which it'll be and stop you from wasting your time, but it can shift mid-experience."

"So when you're in the mood, is it better than being touched, but also more likely to backfire?"

"Yeah."

"What about vaginal sex? And please keep being very honest, especially for this one."

Naomi sighed. "When it's good, it can be fun, and it makes me happy that we get to share that experience, but when I can't get into it, it's... hard to explain. I know I'm asexual, and I'm supposed to be self-accepting, but when my sex life is half-decent, it's like I've won. When it's not going well..." Those tense muscles returned. "It's like I'm letting you down and fear our relationship is a disappointment for you."

Kieran took her hand and stroked the side of her face. He could already imagine her shutting halfway through, not saying a word and scaring him. That would stress their relationship, and he could see why it ended her last one. He did not want to be the guy who made her suffer like that. The easiest way to avoid that was to take that kind of sex out of the picture.

As he stared into her hazel eyes, he said, "Nothing you do will ever be a disappointment. We don't need to have vaginal sex. Everything else you mentioned is more than enough for me, and if there are periods when you're not interested, it's not a big deal."

"But..." She looked at him with wide eyes like he'd announced Earth had two moons.

"But what? I'm not gambling your emotional well-being for possibly fun when 'really good' and 'good' are on the table with far less risk. This needs to work for both of us. Everything with you is amazing, so I'd much rather stick with what's easiest and best for you."

Her eyes grew glassy, and her lip trembled. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

She stared before the tears trickled out, and she cried into his chest. He squeezed her, which seemed to relax her.

"What's wrong?" He asked once her tears had slowed.

"I was so relieved and happy, but then I felt guilty because you're giving up something important."

"No, your comfort and well-being are more important. You put a lot more on the yes side than I expected. We haven't even gotten into the fun stuff, sexy lingerie, role play, and I don't know your views on food play, but after our fun in the water, I'd be lying if I wasn't fantasizing about licking whipped cream or chocolate off of you."

Naomi shivered, but the way she met his gaze told him it was a good one. "I'd be okay with that in time." She nibbled on her lip and looked at her pyjama shorts. "Speaking of lingerie." She hadn't regained her confidence, so he had an idea.

"Hold that thought. I have a surprise for you too."

"Oh?"

"Give me a minute." He rummaged through his luggage for something he was now glad he impulse-packed, shoved it in his pocket and ran off to the bathroom. When he returned, Naomi studied him and raised an eyebrow.

"We're equals in this relationship, right? So it's only fair that we both get to show off our favourite underwear. And you can look, but you can't touch, okay?"

Naomi smiled and laughed. "Okay."

Kieran was nervous, but the pressure was lower as he only wanted a laugh and not to seduce her. He leaned against the wall opposite him, jutting out his hip and bottom lip.

"Hey, Nomi." His cheesy wink made her laugh, and she sat up in bed.

He sauntered over to her, placing a hand on his hip. Then he turned around so his back was to her and slid down the waistband past his left hip.

"Sm-art," Naomi read tentatively as Kieran revealed more of his boxers, including the picture of a donkey. After he pulled his shorts to his ankles, she chuckled. He stuck out his butt exaggeratedly, which worked to make her laugh. He looked coyly at her over his shoulder.

She grinned. "Very fitting. You are a smart ass."

As he kicked his shorts to the side, she stood and walked over to him. "I'm not sure I can top that."

"It's okay. We can't both be the attractive ones in the relationship."

"I find you very attractive. You make me laugh when I need it the most, you make me smile until my cheek muscles want to rebel, and you let me... be exactly who I am without judgment or pressure. I have never been as sure about anyone as I am about you."

Kieran's response caught in his throat as she stroked his beard with his gentle fingers. Her gaze trailed from his eyes to his lips then back again. Adoration and affection sparkled in them, proving she meant her words.

The kiss they shared was one of his favourites. It was charged by her words, her stare, and her ability to bare her soul to him. Emotional and romantic attraction was growing far more important than sexual and aesthetic attraction, not that Naomi didn't inspire both, but this was a new level for him and her.

His concept of time got lost. It could have been ten minutes or two, but regardless, the ending came too soon, although Naomi's hands remained near his face, her thumbs tracing his cheekbones, finger tickling the skin behind his ear or his earlobes.

I love you, he longed to whisper, but not when he was in a silly pair of boxer briefs at Brinny's cabin. As much as they'd laugh about it later, Naomi deserved more.

"It's my turn. Not that I'll be able to top your little show." Naomi's lips danced with a smile.

Kieran chuckled. "Anything you do will be amazing and far surpass mine."

"We'll see about that."

As she stepped away, he sat on the bed so he'd be less tempted to touch and kiss her again. With the window's light at her back, her hands rested on the waistband of the grey cotton shorts, dipping them to reveal the black lace beneath them. Inch by inch, they slipped until they hit the floor with a gentle thud. She clutched the bottom of her t-shirt as she searched his face for a reaction. The eye contact was reassuring, so he permitted his eyes to wander her incredible body. Her hips had a slight curve, and her legs stretched for days. His fingers ached to rub over and under the translucent fabric to see her response to other types of touch.

Slow down. She wants you to marvel at her today, nothing more.

"You look amazing. Can I see the back?"

She spun around where the black fabric hugged her ass, leaving half exposed for him to admire. His body ached for her in all new ways as this was a new boundary to cross, and she'd been clear that even if she was open to more intimacy, it wouldn't be soon or frequent.

She turned to face him with a coy smile. "What do you think?"

"Gives a whole new meaning to you being cheeky."

"Hey," she protested playfully. "Should I lie down with you, or is that a bad idea?"

"Here." He padded his front and obvious erection with a blanket.

She chuckled and snuggled back in as the little spoon. He could have sworn she pushed that pretty butt of hers into his most sensitive area, but he was probably imagining it. He stayed quiet, afraid that the nature of his thoughts might spill out if he said a word.

Five minutes later, she turned to him with a wide grin and a stare charged with emotion.

"Kieran, I..." She bit her lip again, sending his heart racing.

It was premature to think she might utter three words that would sound better from her than any other in the English language. Despite her silence, that look in her eyes convinced him he may not be alone in those feelings.

"I'm so glad we met."

"Me too."

"Hey Nomes?"

She responded with a soft 'hmm'.

His breath caught in his throat. It wasn't fair to say it now. Especially not when she'd pushed an intimate boundary, and his words may imply his feelings were linked to it. But he could hint at it. "I love our relationship."

Not an inch of her face was unaffected by her hundred-watt smile. Austin had been right. Kieran was the one she wanted to build with, while her ex would always be an outsider.

"I love it too."

She took his hand and laced their fingers together. His looked like sausages next to her dainty ones, and he fought not to snort, yet a chuckle of happiness sneaked through.

"I'm still trying to think of a nickname for you. They all seem terrible."

"Hit me."

"Kiers?"

"Good ol' Kiers Brosman? What else?"

"Kizza?"

"That makes me sound like a soft drink."

"Kiki?"

He shook his head.

"Kay?"

"Please, nothing with the word Kay." All that stirred up were painful memories.

How many times had he uttered, 'Kay, you're so beautiful,' 'Kay, I love you,' 'Kay, I want to spend the rest of my life with you"?

Why was it so damned hard to not get emotional about her?

"Sorry," Naomi muttered. She must have picked up on the change in his mood. "What did people call you when you were a kid?"

He didn't want to lie to her, but he couldn't share part of the truth without making her suspicious. Legally, he was Kieran Lavoie. As Jake liked to remind him, it wasn't lying to call himself that because, in the eyes of the government, it was his name. But Kieran had never been as comfortable with the change as Jake, who'd hated his given name Elijah since childhood. He'd changed it to Jay, the nickname he'd insisted on as a kid when he went to college, and to Jake Lavoie right before the move.

Kieran missed his name and the way the syllables of his full name would roll off his dad's tongue in a French accent, whether he was amused or disappointed but never able to be completely upset with him. He missed being 'my Matty' when his mom was in a rare good mood. And he missed being one half of 'Matt and Katy'.

"What they called me had nothing to do with Kieran."

"Ok, I'll keep thinking."

"Don't stress yourself out. A nickname won't change how much I care about you."

However, learning the truth behind his name change could diminish her trust. But he had to do it soon because the longer he kept her in the dark, the less she would trust him. He was too in love with her to lose her.

Did you expect Jake to have changed his name too? Any theories as to why they'd both change their names?

You'll have answers very soon :) 

Part 2 of this chapter will be out on Saturday as the chapter was nearing 6k words. Naomi and Kieran will be canoeing to the tunnels.