Choices

By Firinn

"Oh," I groaned as I practically oozed into the steaming pool. I had resisted the notion of changing into a highly unflattering Starfleet issue swimsuit, but the reward was worth it. The searing heat assaulted my battered muscles and the strategically placed jets pounded them into submission. If I died right now I would die a happy woman.

"Good?"

"Oh, yes."

He chuckled. The water sloshed as he adjusted his position across from me. I was tempted to see what he was doing, but my eyes were closed and my head was tilted back against the edge of the pool. Lids that were too heavy to lift flew open as something grabbed my leg and lifted it off the floor. I almost made a fool of myself in the water before I realized the offending hands were Jean-Luc's—and they were doing deliciously wondrous things to my leg.

"Oh!"

"Good?"

"Yes. Don't stop." I lost all track of time in the humid bliss. I was sure I had stayed awake, but I opened my eyes to discover I was leaning against Jean-Luc's chest with his arms wrapped lightly around my waist. I had no idea how I got there, and for once I wasn't about to ruin it by thinking too much.

His baritone rumbled through my chest as he murmured, "Are you relaxed?"

"Oh, yes."

"You would agree that this course of treatment is effective?"

"Oh, yes."

"Shall we exit the pool?"

"I don't think I can." I smiled and I could feel him smiling too. "I do believe my limbs have turned to jelly."

If I hadn't been in such a fog of relaxed bliss I would have caught the mischievous tone in his reply, and may have been ready for what was to come.

"Really?" His chest shook as he laughed. I should have been on guard, but instead I let the timbre of his voice lull me further into a semi-conscious state. "I think I can help you with that."

"Jean-Luc!" I shot across the small pool, screaming, splashing, and laughing. "I can't believe you did that!" I panted as I turned to face my attacker. He was grinning like a schoolboy and despite my shock, I couldn't help but smile back.

"I always wondered," he said.

"Wondered what?" I replied, watching for any sudden movement.

"If you were ticklish." His satisfied smirk sparked a fire in my chest.

His impudent actions deserved punishment. Moving as slowly and languorously as possible, I moved toward him, keeping his eyes locked with my own. I ran my hands up his thighs and across his chest. I knew I had his undivided attention when I brought my face within an inch of his and said, "And now you know."

"Yes." It came out as a croak. I smiled. This was going to be fun.

I broke our gaze and focused my attention on his lips as I asked, "And do you know what I've always wondered?" I let my thighs brush against his as I allowed my body to float even closer. I returned my gaze to his hazel eyes.

He cleared his throat to speak, and unable to do so, simply shook his head.

I leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I've always wondered the same thing."

The pool exploded as Jean-Luc sprang into motion. Apparently his underarms were just as ticklish as my ribs. I was laughing so hard I didn't see him coming. The next thing I knew our arms and legs were tangled together as we fought to tickle the other into submission. Somehow I managed to acquire one of his feet, but that was short-lived when he countered with an attack to the back of my knee.

We were forced to cease our struggle when one of the hotel staff came to investigate the commotion. Flushed and giggling like teenagers up to no good, we assured the lifeguard that we were fine. Rolling his eyes, the blue-skinned employee moved away.

I smiled over at my partner in crime and something clicked. I'd be damned if I was going to lose him for any reason. Him. Us. It felt right. I'd been a fool for fighting it for so long. My smile faded as I stared at the man I loved. I was hopelessly, helplessly in love with him and finally ready to admit it.

I slid through the water toward him. He watched but made no move to stop me. I let the current push my body against his as I placed my hands on his chest once more. My lips brushed his ear lobe as I whispered, "I think we should finish this in a more private location."

"I am prepared to concede the battle to you, Doctor." His reply was strained.

I darted my tongue out and licked the edge of his ear, sending shockwaves rippling through us both. "I wasn't referring to the tickling." I pulled gently on his earlobe with my teeth and was rewarded with a sharp hiss.

"Doctor," came his hoarse whisper.

"Mmmm?"

He pushed my shoulders away, forcing me to meet his gaze. He didn't speak. He searched my face for the answer to his question, and finding it, pulled me into a long tender kiss. His hands began to wander under the surface and I broke the kiss long enough to whisper, "Jean-Luc? Somewhere more private?"

He nodded, but the desire in his eyes made me wonder if we would make it to either of our rooms.

Jean-Luc's chest was far more comfortable than the backrest of the bench in the shuttle's cabin. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so content. Even reading the summary of the Mendellian award ceremony failed to erase the faint smile plastered to my lips.

"I'm sorry you missed out on that," Jean-Luc whispered as he peered at the PADD in my hands.

I gave the arm around my waist a reassuring caress and replied, "Yes, it would have been exciting to win." I shifted so I could look him in the eye. "But no award in the universe is worth losing my best friend for. Besides," I grinned impishly, "the look on Yuri's face when I countered each finding in his report was priceless."

He chuckled. "I'm sure the fact that the Surgeon General and Admiral Torres were on the video screen had nothing to do with the level of personal satisfaction you derived from the experience, did it?"

"Oh, no," I replied, eyes as wide as possible. "I was simply doing my job as a medical professional."

Jean-Luc kissed my forehead. "And I appreciate your devotion to detail. I don't know how to thank you."

"It was purely self-interest." I teased. "I couldn't let them tarnish my reputation, and I didn't want to lose my favourite breakfast companion."

"Mmm," Jean-Luc pulled me closer. "I think we may have to start eating something more substantial than coffee and croissants. I'm finding I am far hungrier in the morning than I used to be."

"Yes," I set down the PADD and twisted in his arms. "As long as we don't over indulge."

"There are some things I will gladly over indulge in," he said as he ran his fingers teasingly up my side, "but breakfast is not one of them."

"Jean-Luc, you are incorrigible!" My heart rate increased as memories of his recent 'indulgences' flashed through my mind.

"I'm just trying to stay in peak condition," he replied. "I wouldn't want my physician to find me lacking."

I laughed. I had no idea how we were going to keep this a secret when we returned to the ship. I didn't know if I even cared. I was so damn happy. I straddled his lap and purred into his ear, "Yes, and I will be monitoring your physical health very closely, Captain."