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Marcus and I were sitting on the couch together in my quarters. I was braiding his long hair as he entertained me with some of the stories he encountered as a Ranger.
As I was finishing up a braid, he stopped suddenly and slightly turned his head to look at me.
“Why are you so fascinated with braiding my hair?” He asked.
“Well, it’s not just your hair, I suppose,” I replied. “I’ve always kind of had a fascination with people’s hair. Braiding has this, sort of, calming effect on me. It gives me intimacy with another person, but it’s not overwhelmingly personal. It’s physical contact, but it’s not too much. I just feel like it is a way that I like to show affection.”
After pausing for a second, I added somewhat absentmindedly. “I even used to braid my own hair when it was long.”
“So there’s nothing special in particular about my hair?” Marcus asked, looking at me again with a slight smile.
“Oh no, I very much like your hair” I said, taking a minute to run my hand through his loose brown locks.
“Why’s that, hmm?” Marcus asked as I started on a second braid. I didn’t pause to fully understand his tone before I answered him.
“Well, to start off, it’s a very lovely texture,” I said, running my hand through his hair again. “I can run my hand through it so easily. It’s soft,” I looked him in the eyes, realizing I wasn’t talking about just his hair anymore. “Sweet, and quite strong.”
“Wow, my hair is rather great, isn’t it?” Marcus grinned.
“Oh, stop it!” I said, playfully pushing on his shoulder. “I take back what I said! I don’t want your ego to get any bigger than it already is!” Marcus put his hand to his chest and fake gasped before we both fell back on the couch laughing.
After we both managed to get our giggles under control, he slowly leaned his head on my shoulder. We sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Marcus spoke again.
“I like being with you.” he said softly.
“I like being with you too,” I replied.
I turned my head towards him and found his face was mere inches from mine. I began to stroke his forehead, right where his hair met the upper edge of his face. I dragged my thumb back and forth that invisible line, studying it. I rose off the couch ever so slightly and placed a kiss on the left side of his face, right where the invisible line began.
I heard him gasp softly as my lips met his skin.
“Is that okay?” I asked, realizing what I had done without thinking.
“Yes,” Marcus whispered, so quietly I almost didn't hear him.
Slowly, I began to kiss him along the line I traced, going from the left side of his face to his right.
When I pulled away slightly I gazed into his eyes again. His pupils were dilated and his mouth was slightly parted, at a loss for words.
I began to repeat my actions along the top edge of his beard. I traced the line with my thumb before following with closed mouth kisses. I thought I heard a small whimper come from Marcus as I purposefully avoided his mouth.
Finally, I brought myself back to eye level with Marcus. His hand had now moved to firmly trace patterns on my side. He gave me a pleading look as I traced a short line above his mustache and placed teasing kisses over his nose.
“Aren’t you so inpatient?” I whispered while I began to trace my finger over his pouting lips. I locked eyes with him once more before I placed my lips on his.
As we kissed, I continued to slowly make my way from the left side of his lips to his right. When I pulled away, he leaned forward to follow me.
“Ah ah ah” I said, gently stopping him with a finger to his lips. “I’m not done yet,” I smiled playfully.
I gently lifted his chin up until the underside of Marcus’s jaw and his neck were exposed. Then, I traced where his beard met the skin on his neck with my finger. Marcus gasped quietly as he figured out what would happen next. He let out a pleased noise when I placed my first kiss along his throat.
When I finished tracing kisses along his neck, I sat back, satisfied. Marcus looked into my eyes, slightly out of breath. He reached up and cupped my face with both of his hands. After a few moments of gentle caresses, he spoke.
“My turn now, Love?” He asked, leaning toward me.
“Yes,” I breathed, as his lips met mine again.