Title:   Lessons in a Kiss
Author:  Kathryn Ramage
Series:  DS9
Codes:   G/B 
Rating:  PG  
Summary: The boys discuss some cultural differences in romantic 
interaction, and provide a few physical examples.

Paramount owns Star Trek, DS9, and the characters.  This story was 
written for personal amusement and should not be taken as intended 
copyright infringement.

Copyright January 2000

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"I don't wish to spoil the spontaneity of the moment for you, Doctor, 
but I think it's better to avoid misunderstandings before we begin. Do
you want me to kiss you?"

Julian, who had just moved a little closer to the tailor on his sofa, 
laughed at the question.  "Yes, please.  But I thought you told me that
Cardassians didn't kiss?"

"That's not what I said," Garak corrected.  "I said that it was not a 
romantic custom we ever developed for ourselves, and only learned about 
through our interaction with other species.  It's in common usage on 
Cardassia these days, but is still considered by many to be an...exotic 
activity."

"So you _have_ kissed before?"

"Of course.  Romulans, Klaestrons, Bajorans, other Cardassians, and one 
delightful Tesselic creature with a bifurcated tongue--but you will be 
my first human."

Julian smiled, pleased to receive this distinction.

"But first, if you don't mind, I have a few technical questions."

"Technical questions?" 

"You and I have already encountered enough complications due to the 
differences between our two cultures.  Mating rituals can be especially
confusing if they are initiated without explanation. I hope you agree 
that we should take a few...preliminary precautions to facilitate 
matters, and avoid any awkwardness." Plus, it was the most amusing way
he could think of for them to learn more about each other.  "Tell me 
what you like to do, Julian." 

The young doctor's look of puzzlement faded as he understood what Garak 
was proposing.  His smile returned.  "Perhaps it would be better if I 
demonstrated."

Fingertips brushed the tailor's jaw, beginning at the sharp edge of his 
chin-ridge, then sliding back toward his ear.  Bashir moved closer; 
head tilted to one side, his eyelashes fluttered down.

"Do you always do that?" Garak asked.

"Hm-?" Bashir stopped, poised with his lips slightly parted, mere
centimeters from contact.

"Close your eyes?"

"Er- Yes, I suppose so."

"May I ask why?"

"I don't know.  It seems like the natural thing to do."

"So it is 'natural' for humans to wish to shut out the sight of the 
person they are about to engage with?" Garak teased.

"No," Bashir laughed. "If you want a reason, I think we do it because 
it intensifies the tactile sensation.  Like this." And, with that same 
head-tilt and flutter of lashes, he gave the Cardassian a kiss.

After a few seconds, Garak shut his eyes too.

It _did_ help to focus the sensory experience: he was very pleasantly 
aware of the tickle of warm breath on his cheek, the hand curved around 
his neckridge, the pressure of the soft mouth on his own.  The delicacy 
of the kiss surprised him; he'd thought that Bashir would be more 
aggressive, energetic, impatient--but perhaps the brash young human 
felt uncharacteristically tentative tonight.

He copied Julian's movements--matched that gentle pressure, tilted his 
head at the opposite angle, opened and closed his lips with Bashir's, 
and met those flickers of tongue with identical sips. From the doctor's 
response--quickened breath, low groan rumbling at the back of his 
throat, the tightening of the arms around him as their kiss deepened--
he had every reason to believe he'd discovered exactly what his human 
liked.

Bashir pulled away from him, breathless and flushed. 

"Was that acceptable?" Garak asked innocently.

"Acceptable? Elim, my god! If I'd know you could do that-!"

But he hadn't done a thing that Julian had not done himself.

"What do Cardassians do?" Bashir asked as Garak drew him back. "Instead 
of kissing?"

"Shall I show you?"

Another small smile.  "Yes, please."

Garak tugged down on the collar of the doctor's shirt to expose the 
side of his throat, bent his head, and sank his teeth into the spot 
where neck met shoulder.  Although he took special care not to bite 
too hard and break that tender skin, Bashir gasped out loud.  

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No- No, I'm all right."  But he was staring at Garak as if he'd been 
shocked by the Cardassian's bite, or as if he were shocked at himself.  
"And that's what _you_ like?"

"It's not so much a matter of preference as it is an instinctive
response.  It seems only natural.  We believe our pre-sentient 
ancestors used this grip to hold onto our mates during copulation."

"I see..." Bashir murmured, and lowered his gaze.  "I- I think you're 
right, Elim--We have so much to learn. I don't suppose you'd- ah- care 
to tell me more about this instinct?" He tried to sound playful, to 
carry on their game, but there was a tremor in his voice and, his eyes, 
when he lifted them again to Garak's, were dark with unabashed _want_. 
Garak would have caught him up then, if Bashir hadn't suddenly gotten 
up from the sofa. "Perhaps give me a full demonstration?"

He held out a hand; Garak took it, smiling.  Yes, there was a lot to 
learn--and they had the rest of the night to continue the lesson.

~*\~end~/*~


Kathryn Ramage                    kramage@erols.com
~*\*~*/*~~*\*~*/*~~*\*~*/*~~*\*~*/*~~*\*~*/*~~*\*~*/*~
"It's about Garak...I'm afraid this relationship has 
gotten a little out of hand."
                            - Dr. Bashir, Past Prologue