"Do you have any idea what you're risking, going down this road..."

"Uh, life, limb, peace of mind?"

...he laughs and kisses her on the cheek.

She smiles.

"I mean if you don't know how to take no for an answer, that's a problem. We can probably figure out how to practice it, though? Contexts where it's not the end of the world if you ignore my refusal, or - something."

He hugs her.

"I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to be safe with me. I... also want some other things. But the part about you being safe is what's important."

"Good! I agree, and think your priorities are sound. I want to be and feel safe with you, too." She kisses his cheek. "But I mean - what are the other things? Is it just carrying me off to bed to rip my clothes off, or?"

"Oh, there's definitely more than that. Do you really want to hear it all?"

"Sure. Start me off gently?" She bats her eyelashes. "It's my first time, you see."

...well now he's busy giggling helplessly into her hair.

She giggles, too. And waits for him to recover and give her an answer.

The giggles subside, eventually.

He hugs her some more.

"You're a treasure," he says. "All right. Mm... when I asked if you knew what you were risking... one of the nicer things I was thinking about was shoving you against a wall with my hands around your neck and kissing you like that, not strangling you, just feeling you breathe and knowing I could if I wanted to..."

...

Funny, that does not sound objectionable.

"... Okay, maybe not ten minutes after someone just tried to strangle me, but otherwise..." She shivers and looks away. "That. Does not. Sound incompatible."

"I like fear," he murmurs. "I like blood. I like the way you look when you cry."

"I think I'm flattered by that last one," she says, wryly. "Though I can't see what draws you. I don't even cry with much dignity, I just sort of - fall apart all at once in a spectacular fashion. Complete with puffy red eyes and snot."

He laughs and hugs her. "It's very attractive."

"I am glad one of us can enjoy it."

He kisses her forehead.

"Want to hear more?"

"Sure, why not. I've been all right with them so far."

"Mm. I want to hold you down while you struggle to get away," he says softly. "Knowing you can't, and you know you can't, and seeing you try anyway, and fail - having you completely at my mercy..."

It's hard to tell if that's lingering redness from the crying or if she's blushing, but her face is definitely pinker than normal.

"I think," she says carefully, "that particular line of thought is not, ah, off the table? After, um, being assured that you can take no for an answer when I really need you to. Since there's a lot of - vulnerability and trust involved with letting you have that kind of power over me."

He hugs her, very gently. "Of course. I wouldn't - even if you didn't mind trying it, I wouldn't want to until I was sure I could... hear you properly if you needed me to stop."

"Good! That's important!" She smiles at him, brightly. Then looks away again, embarrassed.

She fidgets slightly. "..... With that thing in particular it wouldn't be a - 'I didn't mind,' you realize."

"I did notice that. You are delightful."

She giggles, a little.

"Thanks!"

"Makes me wonder what I'd have to say to frighten you," he adds.