Chapter 4: Jealous much?
Kiera knew that she really should be paying more attention—Sten seemed to be saying something important. He never raised his voice, in incredulity or otherwise. Perhaps the occasional snarl and battlecry while fighting, but never in a normal conversation. Of course, nothing about this discussion they were having was normal, but he always said things worth listening to.
She glanced over at him, and seemed to be detecting a faint blush. How cute—she mused to herself, knowing full well that it was the result of some utter nonsense her brain seemed to come up with only very recently.
Idly, she began counting off the potentially erogenous zones on the body.
Kossiths had to have the same…body parts as humans did, she supposed. Her gaze began to linger on her companion's body again. Just much—larger?Definitely larger.
There really wasn't much difference between Sten and the arishok—barring those horns and sharp claws— Kiera snapped her eyes away when her friend looked up, thoroughly embarrassed by the shameless way she was appraising his physical appearance.
"If you wish… kadan, there is a way to—satisfy your curiousity." The delicate stress laid on that last word piqued her interest. She half-fancied that a smile was forming on Sten's thin lips. It was a most foreign expression on that usually impassive face.
"My… curiousity?" Talk about awkward moments.
"I could… demonstrate." Now that—she was quite certain that she did not imagine that sudden darkened color of those stony cheeks.
"You?" She squeaked—it wasn't that she never wondered but—where was all of this suddenly coming from? Morrigan had called Sten a prude once, and it had seemed to be quite a good description. First the arishok, and now…
Sten surveyed her silently, the heated flush dissipating rapidly. At length, he spoke again, though an edge seemed to have crept into his usually emotionless voice. "If you would prefer one performed by your – species—it will be relatively more difficult to arrange."
Kiera only gaped. How in the Maker did one even begin to reply to that?
"But perhaps I will try, for your sake." The stern gaze that beheld her broke away, and Sten turned to leave. Apparently, she had hurt his feelings.
"No, no—it's fine…" she began, following his rapid strides, catching his arm—halting his movement as definitively as a wall. She almost walked into his unexpectedly still body.
"You don't have to do it. All that was just… a moment of idle chatter. I know how—uncomfortable this sort of conversation makes you—so…"
Sten broke in, "How is it—different—among your people?"
"My…?" Kiera was certain she was raving mad by now. Why would Sten be curious about this?
Those lilac eyes did not shy away in this. "Pleasant?"
"What? I… I'm not all that experienced in that—"
"Is it?" The sudden fury in his words stunned her.
"Relatively? In comparison? But… I—I suppose?" Images of her nights in camp—with him—flashed past, and she couldn't quite deny it.
The questions took on a more personal nature—and for the first time, Kiera saw a hint of something in Sten's behavior. "When you were with that would-be King?"
"Look, Sten—I'm sorry to have ever brought this ridiculous topic up in the first place. The Qun—"
"I know the Qun. You, kadan— as a bas, do not." That actually stung. But it was true.
Kiera stared after him, watching is retreating figure mutely. A single question remained in her mind. Was Sten—perhaps, jealous? She highly doubted it.
P.S.: I'm sorry it's so short? I do try my best to write double chapters to make up in quantity, heh. But I promise, once we get over the awkwardness, I'll write longer ones.