CHAPTER 4 : THEY NEVER GOT AROUND TO ROWING…

"Merde. You're good."

Riker couldn't help but grin at the way Ro Laren was cursing. He found her choice of French invectitudes to be most interesting. Clearly her hearing was very good. For the man who said merde the most often around both of them, almost always did so under his breath. Never quite aloud. Yet Ro had heard him anyway.

"It's all in the wrist, Laren. All in the wrist."

Ro watched as he flicked his right wrist, ably casting off. A few seconds later his lure was dancing over the sparkling, crystal clear water.

He eyed his partner in espionage. "I didn't know that Bajorans appreciated fly fishing."

Laren grinned in response to his obvious enjoyment over what he was doing. Sitting on the banks of the flowing river, she shadowed her eyes with her hand against the afternoon sun as she studied his fishing techniques. He was thigh-high deep in cold water, fairly close to the riverbank. "We Bajorans are a practical race. We really like to eat. And knowing how to fish is one way of consistently doing that. There still aren't too many replicators on Bajor, you know."

He cast off again. "And here, I was hoping that you would know enough about fly fishing so that you'd bow down in worship in the presence of a great fisherman."

Since there wasn't any polite, politically correct response to that statement that wouldn't eventually end up with her being court-martialed, Ro leaned back onto her elbows and rested on the large, grey boulder by the river's edge. It still retained plenty of warmth from the noon day's sun, and she was enjoying the feel of it. She looked about, studying the rugged trees, tall hillside grass and boulder and stone lined river bank. "You know, if feels like we are on shore leave together, out here."

Riker cast his rod again. "Yes, it sure does. But we can't forget why we are here."

"Wouldn't dream of it." She signed as if she were disappointed with his reminder. Then she contemplated the view toward the valley below where the Maquis compound was located. "Pretty place. Reminds me of one of those mountain resorts in Estes Park." She stretched out her long legs, unwinding, enjoying the unexpected pleasures of this afternoon.

"Estes Park, eh? And here I thought that you'd flunked Aesthetics 101 when you were at the Academy. So, why'd you go to Colorado?"

She ignored the barb, letting it slide. For the first time over the past few days, she was feeling somewhat relaxed. Up here in the mountains, alone with Will, and away from the hot air that was emanating from Santos and the other Maquis who were always making up their battle plans, she was not in the mood to argue with Riker. Or with anyone else for that matter.

"I went to a Galaxy Science Fiction Convention in Denver. Then I took a few days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. It was one of the best holidays I'd ever had as a cadet."

"Ro, we're living the life that science fiction writers always wrote about." He shook his head. "I never thought that you'd be the type to read SF."

She pitched a pebble in his direction. "Hey, at least it's not Dirk Pitt or James Bond." She grinned, as she remembered some of the 'classics' that she'd found on his cabin shelves .

"I do believe you went snooping when we were married..." he observed.

"And you didn't?" She arched an eyebrow as she remembered how he'd chosen a nightie or two from her chest-of-drawers.

He didn't have an answer for that.

"Do you know what you're supposed to be catching?" as she watched him cast off again.

What do you think was in the stew last night? These fish may not be brown speckled trout, but they taste like members of the salmonidae family." He case a sly glance at Ro. "Kissin' cousins as it were…"

Ro sent him a disparaging glare.

Riker continued. "I went fishing with Santos, yesterday. He loaned some of his equipment to me once he realized that I actually knew what I was doing."

She considered this fact for a while. "Not a bad way of proving that you're not a card carrying member of Starfleet. Whoever heard of a Federation officer actually eating a real, live, non-replicated fish?"

Riker didn't respond for a while, not really wishing to delve into those murky ethical waters. For he'd just had a bite on his lure and the battle to land the big fish was on.

Ro watched with admiration for the few minutes that it took for Riker to net the fish and then wade over to put the copper colored fish inside the creel that was nestled by the rocky river bank. It was obvious that he really knew what he was doing - and that he really liked catching fish.

"Where'd you learn how to catch fish like this, Raykar? Survival 102?"

"I grew up in Alaska, Laren. Fly fishing is almost practiced as a religion up there. In fact, I taught the survival fishing courses at the Academy when I was there…"

Ro rolled her eyes at this bit of braggadocio. Though considering the ease with which he dealt with the fish, she decided that it might have some basis in truth.

He reeled up his line and carefully placed his equipment into the wide, flat bottomed row boat that was tied to a rock.

"The creel is full. Feel like going for a ride, Ro?" His gaze held a certain mischievous glint that was all too-familiar to Laren.

"Why do I get the feeling that if I say 'yes', you'll then tell me how much the fare will be?"

His laughter echoed about the banks. "You know me too well, Laren." He plunked himself down on the boulder right next to her. "Help me off with my waders, Ro."

For a second, her temper was threatening to flare up. But then she decided that there was more than one way to filet a fish. He should have been warned by the way her grin changed, as she oh-so-casually replied, "Of course, Raykar. I'd love to help you take off your waders." Kneeling before him, with deft fingers she tackled the buckles and the Velcro, for some designs of practical items had survived centuries, simply because they'd always been the most efficient way to do things.

At first Will thought that it was an accident when her hand had brushed the inside of his thigh. The second time it happened, he finally deduced that it was deliberate; and what her wicked game was. He laid back and rested on his elbows, magnanimously lifting each leg as needed when Ro tugged the waders off. Before she could move away from him, he grabbed her by the front of her shift and pulled her directly on top of him. Since she had started this game, it was only right that she should feel how well she had succeeded; how his body had responded. He rolled her over so that now he was on top of her, and he was rather relishing the feel of her pressing up against him. Ro then surprised him. She didn't struggle. Instead, she snaked her arms about his neck, and whispered into his neck, "We're being watched."

"I know. Let's give them something to watch."

She bit his ear, not quite sure how far she should go. She then whispered, "And isn't it time for us to contact our mutual friend?"

"Yes." For a moment, his smile disappeared. "You've been asking for this," he warned, quietly under his breath. He kissed her. He wasn't that surprised when she matched his passion. For a moment, he even forgot that they were being observed. And then he moved off of her and reached for his waders.

It took her a moment to regroup her thoughts as she suddenly felt so alone. His kiss could still make her dizzy, she thought in self-disgust.

She looked at the boots. And then stared back at him in disbelief. "You're kidding."

His grin was amiable as if passion-filled kisses had not just happened between them. "Tried and true covered with muck is usually pretty effective."

"You really stored it there?" Her eyes still stared at the waders.

He laughed as he leaned over and whispered, "The transmitter is actually inside of the bottom fish in the creel." His grin grew even bigger as he watched her struggle to control her sudden flare of temper. "Thanks for taking my boots off."

"You! You…" She stood straight up and shook her fist at him as if she were searching for the exact right, mutinous words to say. She glanced about for an appropriate object to throw.

"Wonderful man?" he suggested. "Number One kissin' cousin?" Suddenly he paused, tensing. And though he was still smiling, the laughter disappeared from his eyes. "Blue-eyed devil of a darling?"

"More like a seven night wonder…," she loudly called out before she stepped away from him.

"They were wonderful…," he calmly answered. He stood, picked up the waders, and then nodded in the direction of the dory boat. He tossed the boots into the boat, picked up his rod, unhooked the creel from the rock in the stream, and then stored the rod against the inside hull and locked the creel to an outside chain on the transom so that it would be dragged beside them in the water when he rowed.

Then he did something that Ro did not expect. He peeled off his shirt and stepped into the shallow water, walking over to the dory. "Come on, Ro." With that he unbuttoned his pants, leaning against the rub rail for support as he slipped off his pants and then tossed both items of clothing into the bow. Knowing that she was still standing on the boulder, flummoxed, he threw one of his patented grins in her direction, and then dove into the water swimming about four meters from the boat.

"I suppose I should be grateful that he's wearing boxers," she grumbled under her breath as she slipped out of her shirt and jeans, tossing them and her shoes on top of Riker's clothing. Then she walked into the shallows letting Will look his fill at her. For now she was flummoxing him. She was wearing some of the sexiest underwear that she owned. Both the bra and her miniscule panties were scarlet lace. From the expression on Will Riker's face, she gathered that he rather liked the way that she looked. And part of her soul reveled in this knowledge, welcoming it.

But what really surprised Will was the way that she swam over to him. Ro did not dogpaddle. Instead, her movements were crisp and clean expressions of power and expertise. She knew why he had that look on his face when she finally reached him. "I've been on a few swim teams in my lifetime," she explained as she stood up next to Riker in the chest high water. "In the camps, swimming in the lake was one of the few pleasures that I had as a child. And since we all know how well the Cardassians love water, swimming in the lake was one of the safest places for a young girl to be."

"Oh, Ro…"

The sympathy in his eyes was her undoing. He lifted her up by the waist. She automatically placed her arms about his neck, relishing the feel of the strength of his shoulders; and how she felt in his arms.

His kiss was gentle. Inquiring. Almost delicate. She melted. She felt his fingers unhooking her bra, but didn't quite realize all that he'd done until he waded up both her red lace bra and panties hooking them together, and then accurately tossed them into the dory.

His answering grin to her surprised expression held no hint of apology as he gazed down at what he'd just uncovered.

Telling herself that it was the almost-cold water that was causing her nipples to harden, she surprised even herself as she didn't try to break away from his embrace. Instead, she almost relished his perusal.

"Oh, Ro…," he signed again as he bent his head to kiss her breasts. No amount of cold water could douse the conflagration that he was igniting in her body.

Suddenly he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the boat, placing her on the widest of the thwarts so that she was situated on the crosswise seat with her legs dangling over the edge.

"What," she gasped as she didn't quite grasp what he was doing.

"I must be losing my touch," he grumbled to himself, lift up one leg as he began a lingual exploration of her toes. By the time he reached the back of her knee, she was pleading to the prophets - loudly. And then he demonstrated how he thought Bajoran lovers used the ridges of their noses. Her screams of pleasure echoed about the banks. Several times. When she was gasping for breath he climbed into the dory and spread two of the blankets he'd brought against the planking. Sliding her down, he covered her body with his own, and kissed her. Then she kissed him back. It was the kind of passion-filled kiss that had nothing to do with the charade they were supposed performing for their unknown spy. Pure, naked desire blazed between them. And he made love to her. And she loved him back. They'd long forgotten about play acting.

When finally their cries chorused together, he rolled next to her as they both stared straight up into the pure blue of the sky. "Think Santos is gone?" Ro gasped as she tried to control her reactions to the way his fingers were still touching her.

It took him a moment to respond as if he had to marshal his thoughts before answering. "You heard him sneak up on us?"

She turned her head, tacitly offering him better access to her neck. "No. I smelled the Denebian spice leaves. And since Santos is the only one who smokes that stuff in the compound…"

"Right."

She felt him move as the boat rocked again. He was crushing her breasts against his bare chest. She let her fingers do some more exploring of his body. Once was obviously not enough for him either.

She tensed. "Raykar, do you think he has suspicions, or was he just checking up on us?"

"What I think is that he was coming for the fish. And he saw that we were occupied." He grinned as he watched her blush.

"Either way, it's a good thing that we put on this act for him."

"An act? Is that all this is? Is that what you'd call it, Laren?"

She trailed her fingers down to his groin. "I think that we should continue 'acting' just in case Santos comes back."

He raised his head to look at the position of the descending sun. "I'd say that we have an hour before I have to get around to cleaning the fish for dinner. Whatever shall we do?"

"What I think we're going to continue doing tonight and every night from now on." She pulled him down against her body and kissed him.

Once again, she'd surprised him.