Kathryn was so excited about the primate that she didn't consider that she was in a towel. Not that she was that modest.
"They must have to contend with insect bites too," she finished.
It was then that she realized he was looking at her; had been looking at her. He was staring at her exposed shoulders.
She pulled the towel a little higher and shifted uncomfortably. He looked away and excused himself.
She stared after him for a moment, wondering if she had imagined it. Which meant that she wanted him to look at her…liked that he did it.
Chakotay pulled her under the table as furniture fell all around them. He held her close, her heart breaking along with her equipment. He stroked her arm as she groaned over another lost specimen vial.
She wanted to cry, but she wouldn't. Not here, in his arms. His grip on her shoulder tightened every time she winced; protecting and comforting her. His fingers traced gently over the outside of her shoulder and down her arm. She felt warm chills.
The storm subsided and he released his grip. Something inside of her registered that she didn't want him to let go.
As his fingers worked their magic on her neck, she relaxed. His touch was always comforting to her, but this was even better.
His hands caressed her, and she closed her eyes. She imagined those hands working their way down her back, around her front, cupping her breasts. She wanted him to delve lower, up and down her leg, higher to…
She realized his hands had stopped moving. Maybe he was thinking the same thing. Was that why he stopped? She shouldn't have been thinking about him touching her; they shouldn't get that close.
She stood abruptly and said goodnight.
She hadn't expected the ancient legend. In her mind, she would explain the virtue of parameters, and that would be the end of it.
When she realized the story was about them…when she accepted how it made her feel…she threw her parameters out the window.
She got chills when his fingers laced through hers. He gave her a squeeze, and she smiled, realizing that she really could give in to her feelings for a change. Why not?
"So about that back rub that got interrupted?" He came around the table without letting go of her hand.
"Yes, please," she smiled.
When they were finally intimate they found they couldn't stop. They had no obligations, no schedule to follow, and no one to interrupt them. The whole world was theirs. Literally.
He found her in the garden, tending tomatoes. She brushed comfortably against him, drinking his presence. He had something to show her inside; plans for a boat.
She saw a wicked glint in his eyes at the mention of exploring the river. The image of them swimming naked and laying together on the shore…
And then they heard their com-badges crackle, and the bottom fell out of her new world.
"We plan to be in orbit in thirty hours."
They looked at one another, the pain and surprise etched on their faces more surely than relief or joy. Her mind raced around the last few weeks, and realization settled.
They would lose it; all of it. She had finally accepted their life here...together...and now they would be ripped from it.
She told herself it was a good thing that she would be the captain. She saw the same understanding and sadness mirrored in Chakotay's eyes, registering the loss to come; on Voyager they could not be like this.
