Pet Plaza is an overly large and malodorous testament to the complex and highly illogical relationship Humans have with animals of varying domesticity. Strange, tinkling music plucks at Spock's patience rather than soothes and calms. Nyota is just before the garishly painted cart with the recently scrubbed clean animal clutched to her chest as they turn down another aisle.
Spock blinks at the sheer amount of cat food in varying sizes from single serving cans and bags to two hundred and fifty pounds. At the end of the aisle there are two Humans, male and female, hoisting a two hundred and fifty pound bag of cat food onto a hover pallet already carrying three bags of the same size as an elder Human female watches fretfully.
"Please be careful because that's the last of it, right?" the old woman asks.
"Yes, ma'am." The man plasters on a strained smile. "Wild Stream Salmon flavored."
"Thank you. I've got twenty-seven cats and they all love that flavor." The old woman beams.
"Goodness, twenty-seven cats?" the younger female asks. "That's a lot!"
"It starts with one! I just looked up one day and I was surrounded by friends!"
Spock summons all the self-righteous incredulity he can muster and watches as Nyota purposefully does not look at him. Cats are gateway animals.
The cat is looking over Nyota's shoulder at Spock as if she is assessing his soul and has the gall to find him wanting. Spock wants to bare his teeth and hiss but flattens his expression into disinterested neutrality.
"Kitten food, for growing kitties." Nyota darts to the shelf and crouches down. "What flavor do you want, Kelele?"
"Perhaps she would like Wild Stream Salmon flavor."
Nyota throws him an inappropriately prim glance before she begins analyzing the labels filled with gaudy, cartoon animals and listless, photographed cats as Spock stands beside the cart and sighs inwardly. Kelele, yes, noise is an apt descriptor for the tiny kitten who was discovered to be a blue point Siamese after copious cleaning. Four baths were required before the true color of its coat could be determined. Since its rescue and subsequent clean up the kitten has yet to fully quiet unless Nyota is holding it.
Which is fine, because Spock has no desire to hold the animal, even if he does wish to have Nyota's hand at the crook of his elbow, where it belongs.
It is illogical to resent the defenseless.
Kelele climbs Nyota's shoulder and peers at him through long black strands with her almost unfathomably large blue eyes. Spock narrows his and he is almost certain it looks smug.
Usurper.
"Tuna, chicken, and turkey," Nyota says, and Spock gives her his undivided attention as she rises with an armful of cat and cat food. The depiction of a cat on the label looks unrealistic and vaguely rabid. "Toys," she declares, and Spock follows.
"Nyota, I feel compelled to express my dissatisfaction with the amount of merchandise already accumulated in our cart. The Pretty Princess Cat Throne is more expensive than the Cat Mat by twenty-nine credits."
"Spock, the Cat Mat is atrocious, and I couldn't imagine Kelele on such a thing. It's a piece of burlap," Nyota says as she runs her fingers along a row of ornate wire birdcages as they pass.
Spock does not say that burlap is more than adequate for a feline whose stay is only temporary. He just pushes the cart.
Spock looks on as it fills with special kitten shampoo and conditioner for illustrious fur, lint removers and cat combs, cat treats and vitamins and toys.
So many toys.
Kelele remains either perched on Nyota's shoulder or in her arms, causing Nyota to be unable to tuck her hand in his elbow as they walk. It is unacceptable. And the pet store is rank due to various animals being sold on the premises and the pets of other shoppers.
"Are you alright?"
Spock realizes he has been outwardly frowning. "I am adequate," he says.
Nyota does not look entirely convinced, but she moves on. Gratefully there are no more additions to the cart and the check-out line is fairly short. The cashier scans their items and Spock blinks at the total: two hundred and forty-seven credits. For a cat.
For a cat he does not want.
Perhaps the time has come for him and Nyota to delineate clear and firm boundaries in their relationship. Requesting he house the animal is one thing but making him pay for-
Nyota nudges him and reaches around to swipe her credits stick across the sensor. The purchase is approved and the packaged items sitting in the reusable bags they had brought with them. "What?" Nyota asks as she takes the lightest one.
Spock feels something akin to embarrassment. "I incorrectly assumed you would expect me to fund this expedition," he says as he gathers the remaining bags.
"Why?"
Because that is what most Humans expect when they find out who his father is and what he does. "Past experience," he says.
Nyota pries the kitten from her shirt and puts her in the bag. Kelele's head peeks out of the top and she yowls as if she objects to the relocation due to general principle. "I guess we've never really talked money," she says as they leave the store.
"No, Humans have so many social cues that dictate when such talk is distasteful. I have not had the chance nor inclination to learn them all," Spock admits. "Have I offended you?"
Nyota appears as if she's considering. "Not really," she concludes. "But we'll talk about it later, Kelele needs to eat again and I can't wait to see her with her new toys!"
Kelele looks right at Spock and howls again.
"There!" Nyota pronounces herself done with a flourish from her place on the floor. Kelele now has a beautifully decorated corner in Spock's apartment, complete with a hypoallergenic enclosed litter box, a plush and overly ornate bed and a ceramic water bowl on one side of a colorful cloth, a wrought iron food dish on the other.
She tries not to laugh at Spock's vaguely sour expression. What was she supposed to do, leave the poor dear on the side of the road? If they hadn't found her she would've died in a day, two tops.
Watching Kelele spill head over paws as she attempts to capture the hanging feather attached to the wall by suction makes her heart feel fit to burst. "Doesn't she look so happy, Spock?"
Nyota is on the floor with Kelele, waving her fingers in front of the kitten and moving them away before Kelele can pounce. "I am not familiar with feline facial expressions therefore I could not say with any degree of certainty." Spock watches with interest at the way Nyota's threadbare shorts stretch in a most pleasing manner across her buttocks.
Nyota does laugh at that and rises to her feet. "Aww, my Spock," she says as she takes his arms and wraps them around her waist. Spock does not say they would be in bed right now if they had been alone. Nyota wasn't wearing much, serving up a veritable ocular feast as she rolls around with that… irrationally arrogant animal. He tightens his grasp and ducks his head against her neck, pressing his nose against the join of her shoulder. Nyota is in his arms now. She shivers as he strokes the spot. "Do you feel neglected?"
"My physical and emotional needs are few and have been satisfied. Additionally, it would be illogical to fear that a kitten has replaced me in your affections," he says against her neck. Yes, he thinks.
Nyota holds him closer. "Of course," she says, and cackles as Spock lifts her unexpectedly. "What are you doing?" she laughs.
"I believe we would both appreciate affection of a more physically demonstrative nature," Spock says as he allows himself to smile against Nyota's skin. She smells warm and familiar and he just wants to rub his face against her skin so he does. He can feel her amusement and the desire that bubbles just beneath it.
Spock drags his teeth along Nyota's neck up to her ear and is gratified when she tightens the grip of her legs around his waist. He pushes the door to his bedroom open with one hand and barely makes it to the bed when Nyota bites down on his ear. With a growl he throws her on the mattress and watches with hooded eyes as she bounces breathlessly.
"If you come down here you'll find out how wet I am already," Nyota half moans as she pulls off the tiny cotton shorts that have been enflaming Spock for most of the morning. He swallows as he realizes she's not wearing any underwear and the crotch of the shorts are darkened by moisture. The matching blue camisole clings her breasts and emphasizes her hardened nipples. Spock licks his lips and reaches out to stay her hand as it moves to the hem of her top.
"It would be rude if I did not extend an offer to help you remove your clothing," he says.
Nyota's eyes flash. "So rude," she says.
Spock clutches her waist and slides the shirt upward, cupping the swells of Nyota's breasts in each hand he pushes beneath the fabric and rubs his thumbs across her sensitive nipples. She almost twists away in his grasp and shudders most pleasingly. Spock is hard and wants inside of Nyota immediately but he does not want to let her go just yet. He strips her of tank and throws it over his shoulder.
His nostrils flare at the perfume of her arousal and he pushes her back onto the bed so he may grab her legs and pull her forward.
"Oh god, yes," she groans as Spock kneels at the edge of the bed and puts her legs on his shoulders. Nyota keens beautifully when he presses his face against her curls and inhales deeply, letting his teeth drag against her moist lips. "Oh fuck," she swears.
"Eventually," Spock raises his head to say. "After I endeavor to give you multiple orgasms."
Nyota looks at him dazedly, a slow grin spreading across her face before her eyes dart toward the door. "Ugh, Spock you forgot to close the door," she says as she covers her flushing face with her hands.
He gives a short lick to her folds and grins as Nyota screeches and tightens her thighs around his head.
"No, Spock! Kelele is watching," Nyota whimpers.
"As long as she does not interrupt, I do not care," Spock says, and to prove his point swirls his tongue around her engorged clitoris.
Nyota pulls at his hair as she vocalizes almost operatically. "I can't do it with the baby in the room," she wails.
Spock tightens his grip on Nyota's hips and flicks his tongue feather-light against her. He does not want to talk about that riolozhikaik animal at this time. He buries his face against her and uses his tongue with all his expertise as he fills his hands with her glorious ass and eats of her because he is starving.
He feels her muscles begin to quiver and he slowly inserts a finger and then two while he mouths at her clit. Spock groans deep in his throat as Nyota's juices flow, getting it all over his cheeks and chin as she begins to whine and move her hips faster. It takes all of his control not to bite; it excites him when she is exceedingly aroused and darkly covets the sound his digits produce as he moves them in and out, slick with her essence.
"Oh god, Spock!" Nyota drops back onto the bed and grinds against his face. "We have to… Ugh, oh god right there!" She shouts and thrashes.
Spock reluctantly pulls his face from her groin, mesmerized as Nyota fucks herself on his hand. "Do you wish to stop now?" he asks, proud at the calm in his voice. Spock presses Nyota's hips against the bed and holds them so she cannot get the motion she wants.
Immediately she whimpers and falls back onto the bed. "Spock, please," she says.
"Do you wish me to remove my fingers to relocate Kelele?" Spock twists his fingers just so and Nyota rears off the bed again, babbling and tossing her head. "Do you feel how wet you are, Nyota?" he whispers as he watches her stare down at his hand moving against and inside of her. "Do you hear how wet you are?"
"Spock…" Nyota is biting her lip while trying to undulate her hips, seeking the friction she desperately needs. "Please," she sobs, and Spock almost comes undone without a touch to his lok.
The time for play is over. Spock removes his fingers from Nyota and quickly steps out of his pants and underwear. She scrabbles backward on the bed as Spock climbs on; he grabs her and lifts her onto him. Nyota wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him furiously as she slides down his almost painfully erect member. Spock breaks the kiss to lick and growl into Nyota's mouth when he is seated entirely within her.
Nyota presses small kisses across his brow as Spock tries desperately not to rut into her mindlessly. "You feel so good," she murmurs against his skin and flexes her vaginal muscles against him.
"Nyota," Spock says, attempting a warning but his voice sounds feeble.
"Kelele is still watching. Go away," Nyota attempts to shoo the animal into the next room.
Spock adjusts his hold on Nyota and allows his hips to surge forward.
"Oh god," she shudders.
"You will not think of anything else while I am inside of you," Spock snarls as he sets a long, deep stride. "I am foremost in your thoughts." He punctuates his words with a twist of his hips that has Nyota sobbing. Nyota scrapes her fingernails down his back as she holds on as best she can but the pace is brutal and almost beyond her Human capabilities. Spock begins to merely lift her and let gravity do the work.
Nyota bites his ear and his hips falter. They fall back onto the bed and Spock just barely has the presence of mind to catch himself with his hands on either side of Nyota's head. She pulls her hair from beneath his hand and the strands slide silkily against his sensitive palm. Spock shudders and begins to move his hips again.
He does not understand how Humans can think so little of what they call the missionary position. From this vantage point Spock is able to get the best traction and angle to please Nyota and himself while he watches the stupor of desire and ecstasy play across her features, spurring him on. He reaches back for Nyota's right leg and lifts it, deepening his thrust.
Her reaction is immediate and violent. Nyota thrashes her head and rakes her fingernails down his chest as her hips meet Spock's with an obscenely wet sound. "Oh god I'm so close, Spock," she warns. He bends for a bruising kiss as he lines his fingers up against her psi points and falls into her mind.
The double sensation amplifies Spock's need and burns away the last of his control. He settles in her mind and is thus able to maintain the link as long as they are physically connected, as intimately as they are. He grinds his hips against hers almost desperately as each thrust rubs against her clit and causes small shocks to travel up their arms and -
Nyota tumbles into her orgasm with surprise, tightening around Spock and dragging his climax out from under him. For a moment there is nothing in the universe except him and Nyota, and then reality comes rushing back. He comes with a roar and his hands spanning her hips and holding her tightly as he empties himself inside of her.
Somehow in the midst of their lovemaking they have managed to end up at the head of the bed. Spock is able to fall forward and brace his hands against the wall as they both gather their breath, still inside of her. "That was…" Nyota pushes her hair from her forehead as she attempts to assert control over her respiration.
"…Exceedingly agreeable," Spock says, slightly smug. Nyota catches the emotion and chuckles breathlessly. He looks over his shoulder and is pleased to see that Kelele had gone elsewhere during their activities. Spock's smugness deepens. This is his house, and he will do as he pleases, when he pleases.
"Spock, are you seriously – " Nyota's words fade as Spock turns his attention back to her and the fact that he was still buried within her very warm body.
"I am not done with you yet," he promises as he moves his hips. Nyota's mouth falls open and Spock gathers her in his arms and rolls them so she is straddling. He redirects his blood flow with little effort and almost bares his teeth as her eyes flutter shut and she groans, low and shaky, before beginning to grind down atop him. "I wish to watch as you come apart and scream my name," Spock rumbles.
Nyota threads her fingers through his and begins to shift her hips in earnest as she throws her head back and exposes the aesthetically pleasing column of her throat and her upturned breasts as they bounce from her movements. Spock licks his lips and flexes his hips. They will have hours without a thought to that transitory, obstinate animal.
Spock will make sure of it.