TITLE: Tall Enough for You?

CHAPTER: 5

I woke to the sound of someone in my bathroom. A glance at the chronometer reported 0200. I hadn't slept so deeply in years, so it took me several seconds of who and what to orient myself. I stretched and yawned and then it dawned on me and came back in one heart-flipping grin of memory. That wasn't just anyone in my bathroom that was the Master Chief. Last night he'd whispered against my neck imploring me to call him John. Although, I'd spoken his name several times, I understood that the invitation to call him by his given name was a gift.

I also knew we'd shared something deeper than first names, or sexual pleasure. It was in the tenderness of the way he touched me, and the desire he allowed me see in his eyes. The way he trusted me enough to follow my lead. I fell back on the pillow with a profound sense of peace. What I had instigated between us last night left me sore and aching. The blush that crept up my neck told me we had come together for all the right reasons.

The water in the bathroom is shut off, causing my heart to leap into my throat. What should I do? Pretend to be asleep? Fluff his pillow? Brush my teeth? Comb my hair? I probably looked awful. What the hell? I should make him breakfast, at least. Right? I shoved my hair out of my eyes and realized the emotion making me gulp for air was nerves. Sarah Palmer, commander of the Spartan contingent on the UNSC flagship Infinity is unexpectedly shy.

Then suddenly the bathroom door opened and startled me so badly I jumped out of bed. I jumped out of my own bed! Now, it's the middle of the night, we're naked, in the middle of my quarters, having a staring contest.

"Master Chief?"

"Commander?"

"John?"

"Sarah?"

"Did you find everything you needed? I mean, do you need anything?" Keep babbling, Palmer.

"Yes and no."

"Yes?

"I found what I needed."

"And, no?"

"I have a question."

He's walking toward me, filling my vision with his muscular frame. But in the darkness of the room, I cannot see his eyes. Nerves make me cross my arms over my chest. He cocks his head weighing my actions against my stammer. We are both so new to this level of intimacy. The link between us is tenuous and I'm not sure I know how to make it right. What happened to my assurance this was the right thing? Think, Palmer. Think of something.

"I'll leave now."

"Why?"

"You seem uncomfortable. Different."

"John, understand something. Yesterday, I intended to offer you comfort and ease your grief, if I could."

"Then you achieved your goal, Commander. We need never speak of this again."

"No!" I grabbed the clothes from his hands and threw them across the room. "Look." The hand I scrubbed through my hair was shaking. "I'm not exactly a veteran at having men in my quarters, Master Chief. It's easier to stay apart, stand alone… I'm lucky Tom and I built a friendship. But this… is so different… so much more. Please don't leave, John."

Faster then I could reach out to stop him from leaving he reached down with his hands and lifted me off the deck. My legs wrapped naturally around his waist and he held me in place with his hands on my butt. I must hang on to his neck to stay balanced.

I rubbed my nose against his and managed a coherent sentence over the sound of my heart ricocheting in my chest. "What's your question?"

"Last night, you said I only met, not exceeded, my training requirements. That is not acceptable."

"So you're interested in some remedial training?"

The humor and the easiness is back and I can see his eyes now. As I look down into his face, the innocent need shines up at me. The breathless sensation of something of tickling my bottom kick-starts something inside me and suddenly I want it all, again, now.

Before another word is spoken by either of us, I kissed his upturned mouth. When my tongue locks with him in a dance of passion and exploration. I dragged my nails up his back and she shivered. I wasn't gentle about it and the kiss wasn't tentative. It was a war of dominance. Seeking and searching, exploring new territories and recording sensations for future reference.

His body arched toward mine and he backed me against the bulkhead. But I had an idea, so before he could push me against the wall I attempted to twist away. His grip tightened and with his incredible strength, he pushed against me causing a friction that only increased my need for him. Then suddenly hot and hard he's inside me again. I wanted him to break me in half, to crawl inside me and never stop looking at me with those dark eyes.

The quiet violence of his actions and the angle of his penetration triggered an orgasm that curled my toes and left me gasping against the hard muscled shoulder. Still hard inside me he stopped moving while I caught my breath. When I could think again I twisted away before he could stop me I dropped to my feet and quickly reversed our positions. He called out my name when I shoved him hard against the bulkhead and his back slammed against it rattling everything in the room.

"When I said it was your turn, I meant it was your turn. I trust this time you will pay attention?"

He looked so damn good, watching me, quick breaths filling his massive rib cage and hands trying to gain some purchase on my shoulders. The way he grabbed at me, I think he wasn't sure if he wanted to pull me up or push me down. So to save him any embarrassment about asking for something he might not even be sure about I slid to my knees and made the decision for him.

When I wrapped my hand around him, he groaned. When I opened my mouth to take him in, he bucked against me so hard I almost fell backward.

Steady Chief.

I played this moment on instinct by listening to his reactions to the swirl of my tongue over the tip of...what I held in my hand fit no definition of the word 'tip'. The word phallus came to mind as I slid my lips firmly down over his erection. Locking my lips around him I pulled up and he shivered a groan. There really wasn't any word adequate to the task of describing this organ. Except perhaps to place a laurel wreath and fresh flower petals around it base. Yes, I thought as I enjoyed the sweet taste of him and his reaction to this intensely intimate moment.

Grabbing his butt in my hands I pulled him forward and he went deep into my mouth. Then pulled back leaving him bereft of my touch, to let the cold room air wash over him. With his hands fisted in my hair, I used just my tongue to swirl around the head and tease the pulsing vein on the underside.

Again and again, I forced him forward then pushed him back against the wall. He was hardly breathing now, just moaning incoherently. Every so often he said, no coupled with my name. I just ignored him, because, my love. The answer is yes. There's no turning back now.

This is my gift to you.

I braced myself and added my hand to what my mouth was doing. All my senses were involved with this experience of giving him this pleasure. I tasted the sweat of his arousal and my own orgasm. The tangy salt of the precursor to his release. The curling hairs at the base of his erection tickled my nose. The utter maleness of him overwhelmed me. Nearly incoherent with the effort to stay upright, I allowed my instincts and his reactions to tell me how to move.

"Sarah…"

His entire body curled, taut as a bowstring and arching toward me. Then in one groaning breath of sound he surrendered when his release flooded into my mouth.

And when it was over and he released me I crumpled to the deck and he followed me down. Sliding to his knees, he curled himself around me. I was so aroused myself, his fingers made quick work of me and brought me to climax. Before I slid into unconsciousness, I mentally added 'conscientious' to my list of Master Chief adjectives.

~o~

"Good morning, Commander Palmer. It's a fine Spartan day."

"What?" I mumbled struggling to awaken.

But John was already alert and slide his hand over my mouth. We were still on the floor. I recognized the sound of Roland's voice. Apparently, the ship's A.I. couldn't "see" us. But he very soon would.

"Commander Palmer, are you quite alright? Your heart rate jumped and your respiration...I detect more than one...two... Identity, Master Chief. Well..."

"Roland, get out of my quarters."

"Ma'am, you are late for your morning briefing with Captain Lasky. Just fulfilling my duties as assigned. I can hardly be faulted..."

"Get out of my quarters now, or I will personally pull every single one of your circuits myself and you'll be singing 'Daisy Bell' by the end of the day."

"Ah, movie reference, 1968, Stanley Kubrick. 2001, A Space Odyssey. The film explores the myths concerning the evolution of the human condition."

John unwound himself from around me and stood up, still naked, and walked toward Roland while the A.I. droned on.

"Originally panned by the critics it achieved cult status, the... appearance of a monolithic structure...Uh...Oh...Well, Master Chief!"

The Spartan's approach to Roland's holo-display could only be described as predatory.

"Threatening an A.I. construct violates several articles of UNSC as well as civilian... I'll inform, the Skipper you are on your way!"

Once we were alone again, I hurried past John to the bathroom. He stopped me and pulled me into a hug. Then he opened a bottle of water and handed it to me.

Add 'thoughtful' to the list. I would need a second sheet of paper soon.

"Sarah, you know this is new to me. I will never forget what we shared last night. Now, go," he said softly and patted my bottom as I ducked into the bathroom.

When I came out, he was gone. The bed neatly made up. Clothes folded and stacked on the dresser. The towel from last night draped over the back of a chair. Neat, tidy and shipshape and utterly empty. I got the hell out of there.

Captain Lasky greeted me with a quick good morning and then stopped. Why is he staring at me? Two phrases popped into my head: Apparently, well-rested and well-fucked are written all over my face. The blush started in my belly and rose like a flame across my face. The Skipper is a gentleman and I know he wouldn't comment. So I sat down quickly, accessed my PADD and cleared my throat. When I looked down at the display, my hair swung forward.

Dammit. Breathe, Sarah. Breathe.

I cleared my throat again and jumped in. "My fire teams are on a rotating shore leave schedule. Based on predictions of the ship's time in port, I granted each team a twenty-four-hour window. They were instructed by the next team and may not leave until the preceding team reports in. The schedule commenced last night at 1800 with Team Majestic."

"Commander Palmer?"

I didn't dare look up at him and pressed on. "Are there any specific assignments or tasks you wish me to oversee while we're in port, Skipper?"

"Sarah?"

"Yes, sir?" I responded impatiently and for the first time met his eyes.

"Listen to me very carefully, Commander. I cannot order you to take leave. But there is one thing I can do. So let's make this official. Our briefing is concluded. The ship is squared away. All maintenance is on schedule. Ground crews are on board and working as of 0600. Now, with all due respect and my highest regard for you, go back to your quarters. Stow that uniform. Replace it with whatever you wish, as long as it doesn't have UNSC or Mjolnir stamped on it. Take whoever put that color in your cheeks and caused you to forget about your hair with you and get the hell off my ship. I don't want to see you or hear your voice for at least 48 hours. At which time you may check in via comlink. Do I make myself clear?"

Damn him. He's grinning at me like a Cheshire Cat. I'd be annoyed if it were anyone but him. I'd probably shoot anyone else but him for making that comment. But I consider him a friend and damn that grin, he's seeing right through me. We have each other's back and our friendship apparently extends to moments like this. I trust that he only wishes me well.

Slowly standing, I gathered my personal items and forced myself to meet his eyes again, I felt like an FNG. But I just could not keep from sharing that smile with him. "Understood, sir. In which case, you should know, sir. The Master Chief will accompany me to Earth, sir."

His mouth opened. His mouth closed. He stood up and he sat back down. The grin returned in full force. "Noted, Commander. Dismissed."

2001 a Space Odyssey: HAL singing Daisy Bell as he dies. youtube: HW_oMKGMQaU