At the end of Wanderer's first day in jump space, Joxe steps up to Brent. "I'll be in my quarters when you're ready for bed."

Brent looks up from the bridge console where he'd been studying the ship's systems.  He looks surprised for a second and then nods and smiles.  "Oh yes, I'll be right along."

It takes Brent ten minutes or so to finish and lock the control panel back down.  He heads down to the crew area and after taking a deep breath knocks on the stateroom door.

The door slides open. "Come in. You don't have to knock," Joxe says. She is standing beside her bunk, which is made out into a double bed. "Are you ready to lie down?"

Brent stepped inside and closed the door behind him.  He smiled and chuckled a bit; "Well, one always wants to knock on a lady's door first."  Brent glanced over at the bed and noted that it had been rearranged, taking up a fair bit of floor space.  "Sure, I'd like to take the next step with you."

Joxe smiles and removes her shirt, leaving her clad only in a pair of sleeping shorts. "Which side would you like?" Her auburn hair cascades around her shoulders, freed from the ponytail she habitually wears.

Seeing her take the first step Brent shrugs out of his shirt.  He's already wearing a pair of light, shipboard shorts.  Stepping forward he runs his hand through her hair.  "I like your hair long and free like this.  It's not practical for working but it is very nice."  He glanced at the bed. "I'll take the inside."

Joxe closes her eyes for a moment as Brent caresses her hair. "You first, then."

When he settles down, she lies down beside him and pulls the sheet over them. The cabin is warm enough to only need the light covers. "Okay, rules. What's covered, stays covered, okay?"

Brent nods, respecting the process.  He lays down in the bunk and settles himself, shifting a bit as Joxe lays in next to him.  "What's covered stays covered... yes, that is okay."  He stroked her hair again, teasing an ear.  "What is the progression as we work through our relationship?"

"We're supposed to ask my parents for permission to do this," Joxe says with a wan smile. She reaches up and turns the cabin lights off, leaving just a glowing patch on the opposite wall that served as a night light. "That's not possible, so we're on our own. I've never had a chance to... be with anyone. I spent most of my time on one or another of the family's ships, so there wasn't a lot of opportunity there for me."

"I'd hope that I would have met with the approval of your parents."  Brent is silent for a moment and then places a hand on Joxe's hip.  "A life on ships is not well suited for caring, intimate relationships unless they are fostered elsewhere. I've had encounters and dated but never anything more than a few weeks or months." The fingers of his hand run along her hip.

Joxe closes her eyes for a moment as Brent caresses her. Joxe's skin is soft and smooth, with firm muscle underneath. "I think they would have liked you, Brent." She reaches out to place her palm on his chest. "Things are so different now, and I'm scared and excited all at the same time."

Brent smiles, teeth flashing dimly in the near darkness.  He continues to stroke her, enjoying the touch of her bare skin while he takes her hand with his other hand.  "We've got time and each other; plenty of exploration to do here while we travel down the Main."  He squeezes her hand, willing to be patient and slow as they felt toward each other.  "I'm excited and thrilled, like a teenager here with you."

Joxe scoots over even closer to Brent, until her chest presses lightly against his. She leans in and plants a soft kiss on his lips. She draws back and looks into his eyes. "That was better than I imagined it'd be."

Brent returns the kiss as his arms wrap around Joxe and he caresses her back.  He holds them close, enjoying the softness of her breasts against his chest for a bit.  Then as they pull back he puts a hand on her hip and begins to stroke her waist and stomach.  "I'm continually amazed that I've found you."

Joxe mirrors Brent's actions with her free hand, pressing gently as she runs her hand over his abdomen. Then, she takes his hand and brings it up to press on her chest. "This part isn't covered, Brent. It's okay."

Brent nods silently and moves his hand slowly up Joxe's torso and moves to cup her breast.  He strokes her softly, doing what he knows might be enjoyable to her.

Joxe's hand slows it's exploration as she sighs. "You're so gentle." She rolls away from Brent slightly, giving him better access.

Brent leveraged himself up on one elbow so he could look down on her and better reach her.  "There will be time for urgent passion later."  He leaned down and kissed her where his hand had just recently been.

She hisses softly, and places her hands on his head. "Oh, my," she breathes. After a few moments, she gently pushes his head upward. "I, uh, I think we need to stop. Otherwise, this will turn into something besides bundling." She smiles up at him, and then bites her lip.

Brent's fingers replaced his mouth and nibbling teeth.  He stroked and teased and ever so lightly pinched as Joxe panted softly.  Brent kissed her again, long and thoroughly as his fingers continued their work.  Breaking the kiss he chuckled. "Think of it as a trial and temptation."  Brent kissed her again.  "I respect your customs but you are your own woman here and now."

"I am, yes," Joxe says quietly. "Please be patient with me, Brent." She lays her head back on her pillow. "I'm trying to work all of this out in my mind. Everything I knew is gone, except for this ship. You, Gareth, Malcolm, and Veronica, you all jumped in to go back with me." She takes a breath. "I've had to trust each of you, because I really haven't had a choice."

Joxe looks at Brent. "This is my way to learn who you really are, Brent, and to see if you have the same feelings toward me as I have toward you."

Brent kisses her gently.  "I will be patient with you for as long as you need Joxe.  Please do not feel pressured by me."  Her listened intently to what she had to say.  "We're all adrift, you far more than any of us except Niamh."

His breath caught at her final words.  "I've never felt so close to anyone else.  It's just been a few weeks but I feel like I've known you for years.  I think I am falling in love with you."

She rolls toward him, and snuggles in against his chest. "I think I'm falling, too." She sighs and presses her face into his chest, so that his chin rests comfortably on top of her head.

Brent smiled broadly at her words, his eyes lighting up with happiness.  He pulled her to him and stroked her hair ever so softly for a long, quiet while.  "I can think of no fate more delightful."

"I hope you still feel this way after we emerge from jump," Joxe says with a giggle. She sighs and snuggles close to his chest as he caresses her. Soon, her breathing is deep and even, and she falls asleep.