"Cream and two sugars?" Kathryn stood at the replicator in her quarters, and Chakotay was inspecting the vase of tropical flowers she had placed in the middle of the table.
He half-turned to her and said, "Yes, thank you."
"Such an abomination," she sighed before ordering his coffee.
"I apologize for my crime against nature," he said with a smile. She laughed and ordered black coffee for herself before carrying the cups to the sitting area. Settling at the end of the couch, she crossed her ankles in front of her and carefully arranged her skirt over her knees. Chakotay took the chair beside her and sampled his coffee. "I suppose you feel the same way about my herbal teas."
"No, I like tea." She glanced up from under her lashes. "Well, some of it," she qualified.
"Fair enough." He pointed to the covered tray on the table. "Would you like a snack?"
"I'm full. Neelix really did a good job with the food, and I ate quite a bit."
"I think he's still trying to make up for disappointing you with the map incident."
Her smile faded. "Maybe."
"B'Elanna says the exhaust manifolds have never been cleaner, though."
"I had to reprimand him in some way. But, every member of the crew has made mistakes at some point, myself included."
"And me," he added. "You're a good leader, Captain, and for most of the crew, disappointing you is the worst mistake they can make. That includes you."
"You mean disappointing myself?"
"Yes."
She was quiet for a moment as she stared into her coffee cup. "You're right. I'm not infallible, as much as I hate to admit that. Out here, my mistakes could have devastating consequences for a hundred-and-fifty people. I can't afford to be afraid of making quick decisions, but that means that sometimes those decisions won't be the right ones." She looked up at him. "That's why I appreciate your willingness to stand up to me and tell me what you think, even if I don't always listen. I need you to do that for me."
"I'm much too strong-willed not to, Kathryn." His cheek dimpled with a half-smile. "Just because I have a different opinion doesn't mean that I'm right, either. I figure one of us has to be close to the better option, though."
"Let's hope so. Otherwise, you and I might find ourselves cleaning the manifolds." She leaned her head against the sofa back, then quickly rose up again. Reaching behind her, she lifted her braid and let it slide through her hand. "If you'll excuse me, I think it's time to take my hair down to dry."
He rose when she stood up, and she smirked at him. "Chivalry, Chakotay?"
He felt himself actually blush. "Ah, I guess so," he laughed. "Pardon me. It's a habit."
"I don't mind." She squeezed his arm as she walked past him. "As long as we're not on duty."
He sat down and had just settled back in the chair when he heard a thud and a grunt, followed by what sounded like an expletive.
"Kathryn?" He quickly got up and turned toward the noise. Through the doorway of her bedroom, all he could see was her sprawled over the lounger ass-end up, and her body shaking with giggles. He rushed toward her and asked, "Are you all right?"
Her muffled voice came from somewhere near the floor between the chair and the wall. "I'm fine. I was trying to a pull a pin from my hair and tripped."
"Well, it looks like you gave the chair a what-for." She laughed harder. "Can you get up?" He was still speaking to her backside, and it didn't look to him like she could easily get out of her position without falling over the rest of the way.
"I'm sure if I stay here long enough, I can work something out."
He laughed. "I'll help you." He went around the end of the chair, but there was little room for him to reach her. Instead, he moved back behind her and stood with one leg against her buttocks and the other knee on the cushion beside her. He reached under her arms to grasp the front of her shoulders and said, "Okay, on three. One, two, three."
Kathryn pushed off the floor with her hands while he pulled up, and she was suddenly kneeling on the chair with her back flush against his body. Her hand flew up to her forehead, and she gasped, "Head rush."
"Okay, I've got you. I won't let go until it passes." He held her as still as he could against him while her equilibrium caught up and her head stopped spinning. "I'm sure the Sex on the Beach twice isn't helping."
She giggled again, and the sound traveled that path straight from his ear to his groin that only her voice seemed to know. When she slowly rolled her neck, he realized his left arm was on her breast. He cleared his throat and asked, "Better?"
"I think so."
"Stay where you are until you're sure. I don't want you falling again." When he let go of her shoulders, she remained leaning against him. He saw the pin she'd attempted to pull from her hair, so he gently untangled it and then slid the rest of the clips free. Last, he removed the band from her braid and combed her hair out with his fingers. She remained perfectly still, and he took that as a good sign.
He slid his hands under her hair and massaged her scalp. Her head dropped forward, and he worked his way through her auburn tresses, mesmerized by the silky strands and the darker, damp streaks. As a low moan sounded from her, she raised her head and stretched her neck. He reached forward to pull her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear as he leaned to the side on his knee and looked at her.
"Thank you, Chakotay." Her voice was low and husky, and the smoldering in her eyes emboldened him. He laid his hand on her jaw and lifted her face as he pressed his lips to hers. She was still for a brief second and then melted into the kiss. Lowering himself on his bent knee, he slid his other hand up her back and around her shoulders. She gripped his arms, her lips parted, and they tasted each other for the first time as their tongues met with a light, sensual touch.
They teased and caressed in unhurried delight until she slowly pulled away from him. "Chakotay," she breathed. She raised her hand to his cheek and gazed into his eyes. "I shouldn't be doing this."
"Why?"
"I don't want us to be one of those mistakes I make."
"I refuse to believe my feelings for you are a mistake, Kathryn. This has been building between us since New Earth. You feel it, too." He trailed his fingers down her jaw to her neck. "You're entitled to the same needs and desires as any other human on this ship. Are you really willing to deny what's between us for the next several decades?"
She smiled softly and wrapped her hand over his. "I can't deny what I feel for you. What worries me is the ramifications of acting on those feelings. This can't change the command structure we have developed. We have a duty to this ship and crew. I won't sacrifice command of Voyager or our mission for my own desires."
"I would never ask you to. I meant what I said before. I will do everything I can to help you get this ship home. We're both mature and experienced enough to make this work." He lightly kissed her forehead.
She touched his face again and ran her thumb over his lips. "You'd tell me if I'm making a mistake?" she whispered.
"I'd list the reasons why." He kissed her fingertips, then reclined back in the long chair and pulled her on top of him. Lips and tongues met once more to taste and tease as she lay against him. His hands spread over the small of her back, and one ran up her spine to the skin of her shoulders bared above her dress.
Kathryn hadn't felt a man's touch in a long time, and the sensations were almost overwhelming. Emotions, including insecurity, were running high. She broke off the kiss and pressed her cheek against his for a moment before looking at him.
"Chakotay, is this a one-night stand?"
The hurt on his face told her what she needed to know. "Kathryn, if you are expecting a one-night stand, it would be best if I leave now."
"No." She grabbed his hand he'd placed on the chair to push himself up. "That's not what I want. I was afraid you did."
He relaxed again and held onto her hand. "I want you so badly it hurts, but not for one night. You're a beautiful woman, and I admit to a strong physical attraction, but you are so much more than your body. Your mind, your strong will, your sense of right and wrong, your respect for others and all life - I'm just as attracted to those qualities. I want those things, too; I want all of you, Kathryn."
"The captain comes along with Kathryn. You can't have one without the other."
He brought her hand up to his chest. "All of you. Everything you are; everything you are willing to give me."
"The captain can be stubborn and overbearing."
He kissed her fingers. "She is you, and I love that you are complex and challenging." He slid over and rolled her onto her side, curling his leg over hers to hold her tight and away from the edge of the chair. "I want a relationship, and what we start tonight to be the beginning of trying hard to make something work between us. The physical is only a part of the whole woman that makes my spine tingle and my heart skip."
Kathryn pulled her fingers from his and wrapped her hand over his hip. "You do know how to sweet talk a girl."
He flipped her onto her back underneath him and nuzzled her ear. "I also know how to make a girl moan." He licked under hear earlobe and nipped the sensitive spot.
She moaned, and then giggled. "I guess you do." Chakotay smiled against her jaw and pressed tiny kisses down her neck as he straddled her legs. While his lips wandered over her collar bone and down her chest, his hand stroked her shoulder and down her arm. Remembering his earlier vision, he thrust his tongue between her breasts and licked her cleavage.
Her hands slid over his shoulders and chest, her fingers dipping under his collar. She found her way to the buttons of his shirt and began unfastening them. Pulling the shirt up his back to reach the last three buttons, she slid her hands across his chest and pushed the garment off his shoulders. He groaned at the feel of her on his bare chest and raised his head to kiss her again. Her tongue darted over his lips, and then she pushed him against him and sat up.
Kathryn kissed and explored his muscular chest, and he dropped his shirt over the edge of the chair. He cupped her breasts and teased her nipples through her dress with his thumbs. One hand skimmed down her side and leg until he could push under her skirt and stroke her thigh. Her legs were trapped between his pressing them together, and his fingertips slid from one thigh to the other as he moved higher.
She lay back in the chair as his touch skimmed over her panties. Unfastening his slacks, she slid her hand inside to feel him hot and hard. She traced the length through his briefs and gently squeezed when he thrust into her palm. Her hips rose with an answering thrust when he pushed his fingers into her panties and found her clit.
Chakotay leaned over and kissed her passionately, driving his tongue between her lips as desire gave way to unbridled lust. Moans and whimpers blended together, and heat seemed to arc between them.
She pulled one leg from between his and bent her knee over his back, opening herself up to him. Lifting her hips, she pushed her panties down and bunched her skirt up around her waist. He circled and stroked her clit, sliding through her moist folds and teasing her opening before finding a rhythm over her button again.
"Chakotay, we should…ahh…move to…the bed."
"I'm not stopping until you come."
"Oh, God." She gripped the edge of the lounger and ground against his hand. Pressure built low in her belly as he drove her closer and closer to orgasm. He raked his teeth over her neck and nibbled her earlobe. Her body trembled and her neck arched. Nothing else mattered to her but the fire in her nerves lit by his touch. Her leg pulled Chakotay closer with the tightening of her muscles.
He increased his pressure, and her eyes snapped open as she gasped, and then they squeezed shut again. Her hands locked around the back of his neck, her hips rose toward him, and the dam burst as she came hard. Twisting away from his fingers over her too-sensitive nub, she clung to him against the white flash behind her eyes and flood of wet heat between her legs. When her hips dropped back to the seat, he growled in her ear. "Now, Kathryn. I want to be inside you now."
"Yes. Please!"
He rose up and pushed her knees back to her breasts, then rolled her to the side. "Turn over."
She worked her way around in the narrow chair until she was on her knees with her legs between his, her hands clamped over the top of the backrest. Chakotay flipped her skirt up, slid his pants and briefs down, and palmed his erection with one hand while grabbing her hip with the other. He couldn't remember ever being so hard in his life, and knew he would take her fast and hard. Positioning his engorged tip to enter her, he possessed just enough coherence to say, "Tell me if I hurt you."
"Do it, Chakotay. Now!"
He pushed into her half way, then pulled back and slammed home in her tight sheath. She rocked back against him and muffled a cry in the cushion.
"You okay?"
"God, yes!"
He smiled and trapped her arms above her head over the seat with his. Slow and steady was out of the question as hot, female come coated his length and trickled onto his sac. He drove into her again and again, pinning her to the lounger with his broad chest against her back. Her long, auburn tresses tickled his neck and shoulder, the scent of sex was heavy in the air, and the rasp of her dress against his stomach added another layer to already-raging sensations.
Chakotay's grunts in her ear grew louder with each pound of his shaft in her sex. He watched her lick her lips and bite his arm beside her head. The stimulation was all he needed to push him over the edge. He buried himself in her as deeply as he could and turned his face to her neck to muffle his roar. Writhing against her back, he pumped his seed into her until nothing was left but the aftershocks through his body. Gasping for breath, he raised his head and gave one final, long thrust before pulling out of her.
Chakotay sat back on his heels and pulled her down to sit on his thighs. She rested back against him, and he slid his hands down her arms to link their fingers together. After another minute, her husky voice said, "I can't believe I was going to deny myself that."
He chuckled and hugged her tightly. "As much fun as that was, my knees will never forgive me if I don't get up. Maybe we can try the bed now?"
Kathryn laughed. "Good idea. There's no way I'm explaining to the Doctor why we are both in sickbay for knee pain. I should clean up, though. I just changed the sheets this morning."
"You go first." He eased out from under her and stood up, pulling up his underwear and slacks before helping her from the lounger.
"Chakotay," she said as her dress settled back over her legs. "Next time, can we take our clothes off?"
"Ha! Yes, we can. As a matter of fact, we can take them off now if we're getting in bed."
She turned and lifted her hair so he could lower her zipper. "At least you're seeing me naked after the sex. You can't bail on me beforehand."
He pushed the straps off her shoulders and followed the material with his eyes as it pooled around her feet. Slowly lifting his gaze up her body, he turned her to face him. She stepped out of the dress and panties, and he stared at her breasts. "If I'd seen you naked before, I would have come before I got close to you."
Kathryn reached for his pants and pulled them down, then lowered his briefs. Even semi-erect, his size was evident. He was a beautiful man, and she looked forward to trying out the bed. "Oh, my," she husked. "No, this was definitely not a mistake."
