Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to Ahlysha, dinopoodle, Lady007, maba7x, 2redbird and the anon reviewer for reviewing!
Kiki sat back down in her chair, tucking a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"Where have you been, Ms. McMahon?" Trent asked, and she looked up at him.
"Out to lunch, ambassador. As far as I know, I was gone for a reasonable amount of time. May I help you?"
"Didn't you get the memo? All female personnel at the Embassy are to stay within the walls. There's too many variables involved, and we need to keep you all inside until this blows over. According to reports, several of these new workers are getting an...interesting view of the locals."
"In what way, sir?"
"Many have been approached by Vulcan males with proposals of marriage. The recent virus apparently has them on edge, though I'm not sure why."
Kiki looked down at her monitor and checked her inbox, and sure enough, not five minutes after she had left the building, Trent had decided to lock them all away inside the walls of the Embassy.
"Very well, ambassador."
She sent a quick message to Tomik, at first tempted to cancel, but that would be rude, so she asked him to come to the Embassy. Jo's eyes were on her, and Kiki looked up at her friend.
"What?"
She accessed the Vulcan database and looked Tomik up, glancing over his service record, checking to see if he had a criminal background. He had none, and his record was exemplary. She sighed in relief.
Jo grinned. "I can get out of the Embassy because I'm already bonded. Um...if you wanted to I could take you to our house." Her grin widened. "Trent won't mess with V'Las, and V'Las will do this if I ask him."
She stood and leaned over the desk. "Just because the Vulcans are going crazy doesn't mean you should abandon this mystery guy." She paused, looking into Kiki's eyes. "Oh...he isn't a mystery now is he...you met with him during lunch. Is he attractive? Do you like him? Tell me all, sister! Dish for me!"
She leaned back and sighed. "Come on, Kiki, you can meet him if I take you home, that's what you were going to do, isn't it?" She grinned. "Unless he's a loser, or a creep...then I can get V'Las to make sure he leaves you alone. "
"This is him," she murmured, pointing to her monitor. Jo jumped out of her seat and looked over her shoulder, then put a hand on her hip.
"Ooh la la," she purred, biting her lip. "Not bad!"
"He's a military man with a poetic streak, so I think I'll give the man a fair chance, honey," she said, glaring at Trent as he closed the door to his office. "Killjoy. Probably jealous because the Vulcan women haven't gone totally gaga over human guys lately."
Jo giggled. "Yeah, probably hasn't gotten laid in years. Not that his counterpart is any better off."
"Excuse me? If Soval poked his head out of the window with his shirt off, he could have his pick of women. And as for asking if he's attractive? That's like asking if kittens are adorable. But he promised to cook for me, and I'll give that a test run any day. Any man who can cook..."
"The best way to a woman's heart."
"Roger that. So how are things going with V'Las? You look happier than I've ever seen you, so I'm assuming things are going well. Do tell. Give me the dish, Ms. Joanna!"
She gave Kiki a discreet high five. "Kiki, he is...oh my," she breathed. "I'm calling a spoiler alert right now, but a Vulcan man's fingers..." She fanned herself. "they could touch your nose and send you into a fit of orgasm. I'll never be with another human man as long as I live. I'll call V'Las and tell him to make sure you can get out with me later this week, or whenever."
Kiki smiled. "Then I look forward to another date with Mr. Mystery Vulcan."
…
She looked down one more time at her sundress, wondering if he would find it "agreeable" on her. It was purple, because Jo had warned against green. Too passionate and forward, she said, like wearing a red dress with a human guy. So she stood there outside V'Las' home, feeling the sweat roll down her body.
She had to remind herself that she was early when he landed in front of her, and she strode forward to meet him, offering him a polite smile. He glanced over her outfit, and his eyes were twinkling.
"You look agreeable."
She grinned at the spot-on nature of her thoughts, but blushed at the sincerity in which he said that and allowed him to help her into the car. V'Las was watching from the front door with Jo at his side, and Tomik raised the Vulcan salute to him, she supposed in thanks for doing this.
"So how was your day?"
"My day was agreeable, considering after my work, I would be attending to the most beautiful woman on the planet," he said, his tone honest. "I will be taking you to my home, since there is a prohibition on unbonded human women going out in public at this time."
The aircar lifted into the air, and he turned to her. "Is there a time that you are required to return to the minister's house this evening? You are of course welcome to stay at mine, but from my reading, I am given to understand that it can be seen as socially unacceptable in women's eyes to stay a night at a man's home when you are unmarried, whether coitus has taken place or not. I wished to extend the offer, but express to you that I do understand if it is turned down."
He took a long breath, and looked over her body. "To be honest, it would be difficult for me to refrain from touching you, Kiki. You glow with the heat of the Vulcan sun. It would tempt me, to be sure, but my regard for you...I would not disgrace you or myself by an unwelcome lascivious act."
She blushed, but flashed him a coy smile. "I appreciate your honesty, and I think you're sweet. What's on the menu tonight?"
"Braised torbek root and genot bean stew."
"I've never had torbek root braised before. Genot bean stew is a classic, as I understand it."
"Indeed, I did not wish for you to have to eat foods you aren't familiar with, so for this first date, I decided to go with foods you would have probably been exposed to."
"Thank you for thinking about me, but I'm all for trying new things. We can do that next time."
He pulled into the gate of his drive and closed the gate behind them with a remote. "When we stop allow me to get out first. My sehlats are out, and though they are friendly, it will be better if I give them the command to stay. If I do not, they will pounce on you and lick your face. They are very large, and given your lithe frame I do not think that would end well."
Tomik stopped the transport, and two giant sehlats came bounding over to him. He made a screeching call and pointed to the ground; they sat instantly, and then wagged their tails. He turned and opened the door for Kiki, helping her out by the elbow.
"The one on the left is I-shia, and the one on the right is I-chai." He approached them, leading her to the panting animals. "Allow them to smell your hand first, and then you may pet them if you desire."
He scruffed I-chai's ears up as he watched Kiki. "They were wild sehlats. Their mother was killed and I have raised them from infants."
"Boys or girls?" she asked, allowing I-shia to sniff her hand first.
"That one is a girl, and this one a boy. Brother and sister."
"They're like giant teddy bears!" she exclaimed, rubbing her hand over the sehlat's back when it pressed its head into her hand. "With six-inch fangs! Awesome and adorable! Yes, you are! Oh, yes, that's a good girl!"
The sehlat yowled and wagged its tail enthusiastically, and she winced a little at the sound, but grinned when it seemed I-shia liked her...a lot. "Yes, that's a good girl! And you're a rescue, which makes you even cuter!"
She smiled up at Tomik, who was petting I-chai with a distant look on his face as he returned her gaze. She turned back to the sehlat. "Yes, she's such a pretty girl!" She obligingly rubbed the animal's stomach when it laid on its back, and it actually thumped its leg as she petted vigorously. "Do you like that, I-shia? Oh, does that feel good?"
"Be careful, Kiki, else every time you come here she will expect you to do this again. Sehlats never forget, and they are focused creatures, if she demands her stomach rubbed, she will not back down until you have done it." He smirked. "Much like me actually, once given such attention." His voice was light, the tenor such that it was obvious he meant it as a joke.
He stopped petting I-chai and then glared down at I-shia. "You are taking all of the attention I would like to have, now go play with your brother."
I-shia groaned, seemingly understanding him, and put its paws over its eyes, peeking out over them at him, as if to check as if he was still watching. Tomik smirked and pulled its paws away.
"That is not how it works, I-shia. If you do not see me I do not cease to be. Now, go play. Perhaps after dinner I will teach Kiki how to play fetch with you. If you do not, I will not."
With a whimper it rolled over, licked Kiki's ankle, and then trotted off with her brother.
He stood and nodded. "She licked you, which means you are hers. She has claimed you. I would offer my condolences to anyone or anything that would attempt to harm you now. She would...be most displeased. Shall we? I do hope you are hungry."
She smirked darkly. "I think I can extrapolate what that animal would do. I'm very glad to have such a protector now." She followed him into the house and sat at the counter, watching him chop vegetables. Everything else was waiting by for him to cook.
"The flavor of the torbek tends to degrade if not cooked soon after it's chopped," he explained. "It is the last step to cooking this. The genot stew is ready."
"It looks delicious," she moaned, looking into the bubbling pot. Her gaze drifted upward to his ears, and she couldn't resist but continue. "Very delicious..."
He looked up and noted where her eyes were, and his eyes twinkled in apparent mischief. "I said I would not touch you if you did not wish it. Do not make me rescind that statement."
"Oh, but I've turned your own sehlat against you!" she said with a wicked grin. It was fun to tease him. "If your touch was honorable, I don't think I'd mind. As long as you remember what I told you during our first meeting. But if you don't think it wise, then I will defer to your judgment, my good sir."
"We are creatures of extremes, Kiki, did you not know?" he replied lightly. "I say it with ease now but it is truth. Before logic cooled our boiling blood we were savages given to violent behavior, and unseemly physical practices."
He stirred the bubbling pot and then poured some braising liquid into the pan with the roots. "Most of the Vulcans you meet will deny this publicly, but I see no reason to...for just under the thin veneer of logic is a beast as wild as any sehlat. Were I to touch you, my dear, I may not stop."
He raised an eyebrow slightly. "And I promise you this is with good reason that I withhold touching. You see, I could disarm your maidenly ways with but one finger."
She crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't sure if he was teasing or bragging, but either way, with him it was attractive.
Picking up the plates he put a serving on each, and then placed one before Kiki. "As is said in your human culture, bon apetite." He poured her some sweetened tea and then watched for her to take the first bite before he took his. "Is it agreeable?"
She chewed, then bit her lip to stop from groaning. "Forget the military. Become a chef."
"I take it you like my cooking?"
She nodded and took another eager bite. "This is heavenly."
His eyes twinkled in what looked like amusement. "I am pleased you approve."
She flashed him a pleased grin, then paused, spearing a bit of root on her fork. "So you read the Lord of the Rings, right?"
"Indeed."
"Have you seen the film adaptation?"
He shook his head, and she put down her fork. "Ok, later this week, you and I, dinner and movie? Here?"
She wasn't even done with the first date and she was already planning a second. He seemed pleased with this though, and she smiled, realizing she was more taken with him than she first realized. He was honest, and a good cook, liked animals, had a poetic streak and enjoyed examining her culture. She could learn to like this. She could learn to love this.
"I have another gift for you after dinner is over. I noticed that you have a bit of dewy sweat on your brow when I picked you up. It has been my observation that humans do not take the cue from us and the clothing we wear. Have you not wondered why we wear layers of clothing?"
She nodded. "I have, it seems that with the heat, you just can't take enough off to be cool."
"Indeed you cannot. That is why we wear the clothing we do. It reflects and keeps out the heat, allowing the body to be more cool. We do not have sweat glands the way you do, and it is possible to overheat, which is why our clothing is made the way it is. I had a special set of robes made for you that you might wear during your off hours to aid you and keep you comfortable."
He sipped his tea. "I will take you around to see my garden. I have grown all the items you eat now, and show you my estate. I do not know what one does on one of these dates, my reading indicates that one eats, and then there is kissing until the act of coitus begins." He wiped his lips on a napkin. "Given that this is fiction that I read, I am calculating that in real life it does not happen so simply. So if you would guide me, I would appreciate it."
She blushed at the thought of sex with him, but it wasn't a bad notion. Simply uncomfortable right now. "Mr. Tomik, you are a very considerate man," she whispered, taking another bite of stew with an appreciative moan. "And might I remind you, you promised I-shia that you would teach me how to play fetch with her. Where are they now?"
"Outside, in the garden, most likely playing. They sleep in the heat of the day, when it's too hot to expend energy."
She nodded. "Like lions on Earth. And most cats. And some humans living in hotter regions."
"Yes, your planet is very diverse. Vulcan has very little diversity, only perhaps one hundred wild species of animals, and no more than three times that in flora. We have managed to integrate alien species into our ecosystem. Such as a genetically modified agave plant."
She grinned. "Are you planning to make tequila from it?"
"Well, when Vulcans were training to go to Earth, they took tequila shots in preparation. And listened to rock n roll."
She couldn't contain her giggles. "Oh...that is priceless. You poor things! You know we wouldn't make you drink anything if you really didn't want to!"
"When we are finished I will take their pans of food, and today is watering day, so you can carry that...they each receive a pan of water every five days. They will both be yours if you water them. But then, slowly and surely, bit by bit, everything I have is becoming yours."
His face darkened slightly. "There is something I should tell you if you would seriously take on a Vulcan husband. Be it me, or another man I must then vanquish...All Vulcan men, every seven years endure the blood fever. It strips away the calmness you see and we become chemically imbalanced, and this is lethal if the cure is not given. Before you ask, I shall tell you. The cure is sex, and a lot of it. For up to three days a man will ravage his mate. It is a dangerous time, but I am told that you human women are sexual creatures, and that when we are in the flame it makes you burn with us, making the experience a pleasant one rather than the horror that our own race of women sees it as. It is a very primal and private time, Kiki, one we do not discuss ever even among ourselves. Given that my intent is to make you my wife, I no longer consider you to be an outsider. I feel it only proper that you know of it. Mine is three years way though, and in that time I will teach you how to control me in those moments so you may rest, and the time will be easier. Once bonded, it will not be hard for one such as you." He looked down, nearly ashamed. "And if being in my bed for such extended times horrifies you, I can seek a priestess to do the duty...mind you it would not be my wish, but I would do so if you required that of me. I would never wish to inflict what was unwelcome, that is where it become dangerous for us both."
He poured her some more tea and sighed. "Have I overshared on a first date? Perhaps but I feel it required that you know before my katra bursts for you, and there is absolutely no turning back for me...I say that as if it has not already happened."
"You probably should have waited a while longer, but I appreciate the honesty," she said, taking another bite of stew. She shook her head. "You seriously are a creature of the night, aren't you? Those blue eyes, that hair, that voice...that voice...so this is what's keeping them, isn't it?"
"The human women with their husbands? I would suppose so. Is it any wonder you are so desired?"
"It's becoming more apparent to me the more time I spend with you. If plain sexual desire doesn't get them through...and seriously, since you're being blunt, I'll return the favor - this pon farr business sounds like a nympho's wet dream...then pure human compassion, I hope, will help them."
He looked confused. "So...?"
"If Jo can do it, I think I could too. It doesn't sound that bad...is it that bad?"
"I believe it is as bad or as good as you make it, Kiki. If you view it as terrible, then it become terrible because I will feel your disgust; my insecurity will make me aggressive and it would be horrible for both of us. If you believe it to be good, then a different cycle starts. I can teach you how to control me in this time through our bond. I am blunt with you, ashaya, because you deserve honesty and truth. Vulcans do not date for years as humans do, we do not engage in premarital intercourse, and as much as I will blend our courtship...I am still Vulcan."
He stood and walked around the table before he knelt before her. "I would be yours this instant, ashaya, and devote my life to your contentment. If you wanted sehlats, you would have them. If you wished to speak of your day to me, I would listen. Love is an honorable human concept, and a wedding is an instant...a marriage is a lifetime's worth of devotion. I would...no...I am already devoted to you, single-mindedly so."
He stood, staring down at her with what looked like triumph in his eyes. "Think on this...I am so devoted, and positive that you are for me that I willingly would place my life in your hands, for when the fever comes, if you run...I will die. That is my level of devotion and belief in you."
He saw that she was nearly finished, so he went to the small fresher unit and pulled out two bowls of ice cream. "I am told it is customary to have a sweet after dinner. I had to go to some lengths to procure this. It is pecan cluster with something called caramel." He placed it before her and cleared away the dishes she was finished with, and those he had finished. She rose to help, but he lightly pushed her back down into her chair.
"You know Kiki, I am alive today because of my ability to see things others cannot. Will a man attempt to kill me? Will he not? Am I being mislead?" He put the dishes in the sink. "It has made me an adequate reader of people. Behind your green eyes, I see a woman who does not yet know her own power. This is the woman I wish as my bondmate, because I wish to be there to see you come into your own."
Kiki stared at him, heartened by his belief in her power, whatever that may be; she sat back in her chair, digging into the pecan cluster ice cream. It really was good, and she appreciated the lengths he went to get this, and told him so. He simply nodded and continued to eat.
"So you have your fever in three years?"
"Indeed."
"So that gives me time to consider this."
"Yes."
"Ok," she said, then dug back into the ice cream. She wanted to talk to Jo about this (and the darker part of her wanted to check every single woman who had been bonded for Stockholm Syndrome). Tomik had just condemned himself to death if she didn't marry him. He was a pleasant guy, but she needed more than a suicide note and a nice first date before she agreed to chain herself to him. The way Jo talked, she would be telepathically connected to him and his thoughts and emotions. That'd be weird all on its own, but furthermore, she would have to help him through fever, and she didn't even know what Vulcan men were like in the bedroom. Jo thought they were the best lovers in the galaxy, but Kiki wanted to see for herself.