You Had Me From Hello

Chapter Ten : Great DJ

Nyota

Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth

Mid March 2258

Wearing clothing again after two days of nudity felt rather strange. At first, being bare all the time had felt odd. It was surprising how quickly she had become used to it - to the ability to brush against him anytime she felt like it and feel his response. To be able to see his response - no hiding behind Vulcan stoicism this weekend! She smiled as she continued to pack the few remaining food items into the box. It had been a wonderful weekend. She really hated that it was almost over. She opened the fridge, bent over to retrieve the last container, and felt warm hands on her bottom.

"What are you smiling about, Nyota?"

She straightened up, turned in his arms, reached over to set the container on the counter, and raised her hands to the sides of his face. "Just happy, that's all. This weekend has been so lovely, Spock. Thank you so much for thinking of this." She brushed his lips lightly with hers.

He gathered her close to him, tucking her face against his neck, the side of his face against the top of her head. This was such a nice to way hold her, feeling her breath against his skin. He did not think he would ever get enough of it. "I am very glad that you enjoyed it, Nyota, k'hat'n'diawa."

Her heart did a flip-flop. Half of each other's heart and soul - what a lovely, lovely thing to say. "Ahhh, Spock."

With one finger under her chin, he tilted her face up and nuzzled against her, soft brushes of his lips against her skin. "Unfortunately, it is time that we must go. Do you have everything packed?"

"Yes, I think I've checked everywhere. The fridge was the last thing."

Spock

"You take the box of food out then. I will lock up." He checked the back door to be sure it was locked, crossed to pick up the two small duffles by the door, closed the door behind him and locked it. He really did not want to leave this lovely place.

He entered the small shuttle, securing the box of food in the cargo net, adding the small duffels, sealed the hatch and slid into the pilot's chair, securing the safety webbing. Nyota already had the communications control unit in her ear and was activating the console before her. He retrieved the data disc with the return flight plan on it from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. She inserted it in the slot on her console and began talking, contacting air traffic control as he started the pre-flight checklist. In a few moments they were lifting into the air.

When they were in the correct flight lane, instruments needing no particular correction for some time, she spoke to him. "Spock."

"Yes, Nyota."

"There's something I need to talk to you about." She paused, looked at him. Was she nervous about something? "Gaila was really kind of upset with me because we left on Friday afternoon. She thought I was going to go out dancing with her Friday night."

He frowned slightly. "But you would not have been with her on a Friday night, whether we were here or there." Her fingers against his arm stopped him.

"Spock, this is something we have done every semester after mid-terms and finals. She didn't stop to think that ... things have changed for me. She just didn't. And she was upset." She paused again. "So I agreed to go out with her Monday." She caught a glimpse of his face and rushed on. "Just for a couple of hours - and I told her that you would be coming with us."

Now he turned to look fully at her. She expected him to come dancing with her Orion roommate?

She looked at him, beseechingly. "Spock, she's my best friend - and I've hardly done anything with her since Thanksgiving. And she was really looking forward to this. So I told her we would come, just for a couple of hours, and then leave. Please?"

This was an established practice. And she had not participated at semester end - because she had been with him - neither of them being able to wait one more day, one more hour. He sighed softly. "Two hours. I agree."

She smiled blindingly at him. "There's this booth - no one likes to sit in it - it's in the shadows, far enough away that the music's not so loud - but it has a clear view of the dance floor. And I promise not to dance with anyone but Gaila." She cocked her head and grinned. "Unless you decide to dance."

He looked at her, one eyebrow arched. She giggled.

***

When they landed back at the transit station in San Francisco, he went to the cargo net and drew out her duffle, handing it to her. He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her softly. Resting his forehead against hers, he spoke softly. "I will see you on the track in the morning."

She protested. "We can ride the same transport back. No one will notice."

He sighed softly. "Nyota, we discussed this. The box of food is just too much to go unnoticed. You have ten minutes until the next train leaves. Please be on it. I will take the next." His voice softened. "Please, k'diwa. Do not make this difficult."

She nodded, plainly still not happy. She straightened up, turned and left. He felt the connection between them fade as she got further from him, but it never quite seemed to disappear. His shook his head, he still did not understand this. What was that tiny spark she left behind? It was nothing like the faint burr that had been T'Pring. This was warm, comforting. Eventually he would have the time to figure out what it was.

Nyota

When she entered her dorm room, Gaila was not there. In many ways that was a relief. Not that she did not want to see her roommate, but she really did not look forward to the many questions and requests for details. She knew they would come, but for now, she could just enjoy those memories on her own, without trying to figure out how to satisfy Gaila's curiosity with giving away too much personal information. She emptied her duffle, putting toiletries back in the bathroom, the duffle back under the bed. She stripped, stuffed her clothing in the laundry bag, and entered the bathroom. She would certainly miss that big shower stall with the two shower heads. Soon the bathroom was filled with steam. She stood under water, remembering the spectacular shower she had had this morning - and the one yesterday - and the one Friday evening. She was smiling from ear to ear by the time she turned the water off.

By the time Gaila showed up, she was dressed in soft pants and a tee shirt, had her hair dry, and was seated on her bed surrounded by books and PADDs, making up for the time she had NOT spent studying over the weekend.

***

He was already on the track in the morning when she jogged through the tunnel and accelerated into a full run. She got to watch him in full speed half-way around the track. She did miss seeing the play of muscles, though. It would be nice when it warmed up enough that they could run in shorts again. His greeting this morning was in Vulcan, so of course she replied in the same language. He changed his speed to accommodate her, running in tandem around the track until she had finished her five km, then speeding up again as she left the track.

***

He was already down the hall in his classroom when she entered the office. She had missed him by only a few minutes. Gaila had pestered her so much this morning, wanting more details than she was willing to share. And he hadn't had any tea. But she couldn't take it to him after he had started teaching. She would just have to have a cup waiting for him when he returned.

***

She saw the music player as soon as she entered the gym and almost ran across the floor. He pressed the button and the familiar drum beat sounded. As she dropped into the waiting position, she heard the first spin command. She grinned at him, elated. For the whole session, they spun and flashed about one another, hands and feet coming so close, yet never touching, as they flowed almost effortlessly in the familiar motions.

Spock

Monday, 1730

It was the first Monday evening that they had not cooked supper together since - he was too irritated to remember exactly when it was - sometime last spring. He was disturbed. It was a necessary part of his routine and he did not like its absence. He stood in front of his closet, trying to decide what to wear. Slacks and a sweater, he supposed. She liked that dark green one with the high rolled collar and the textured stitch. And those black slacks, the ones that fit so close. He added short boots.

***

He tapped the touch plate on her door. Her roommate opened the door and invited him in. Her dress was too tight, too low, too short, too bright. He certainly hoped Nyota was not dressed like that. He heard her footsteps and turned. There she stood, in the door to the bedroom. His jaw dropped. It was as though someone had drawn a line across her body just at the armpit. Above she was bare, below covered. He had no idea what was holding that dress up. Her arms were covered all the way to the wrists, tightly. The bodice of the dress was molded to her body down to the hips. Below that it was ... streamers. Many narrow bands of soft fabric, floating down almost to her knees. The whole thing was a dark burnt orange, shading to rust. Her skin glowed. He was transfixed. She moved across the room toward him, the skirt of her dress floating about her, moving with her movements, giving him little glimpses of the brown skin of her thighs. She stopped in front of him, handing him her jacket to hold for her. He was very faintly aware of her roommate giggling beside him. He struggled mightily to regain his control. He held up her jacket and she slid her arms in. His breath brushed against the nape of her neck. He was much too close. Conscious of her friend, he subdued the shudder that wanted to reveal too much, much too much. He followed the two young women from the room. This was going to be much harder than anticipated.

***

The Galaxy Pit was crowded. After all it was Friday night. But the booth that Nyota wanted was empty, just as she had said it would be. She motioned him into the booth first, then handed her jacket to Gaila to drop on the seat on the other side. She slid in beside him, resting her hand flat on his thigh under the table. He knew this was meant to be reassuring, but it was possibly too much. However, he had no intention of telling her to remove it. The server came, took their drink orders, left, returned. Nyota lifted her shot glass and emptied it. Then she grinned at his raised eyebrow. He took a small sip from his. Interesting flavor. Across from him, Gaila spied someone she knew on the dance floor and bounded up. Nyota looked at him, obviously asking permission. He sighed. "Go and dance, Nyota. I will watch here."

She squeezed his thigh briefly, then jumped up and headed for the dance floor. She was careful to stay where he could see her without twisting about. Her arms raised above her head, she started to sway to the music. The streamers in her skirt swayed back and forth, revealing her smooth muscular thighs, then hiding them. It was very provocative. Beside her, Gaila was much more active in her movements. He much preferred Nyota's style.

He watched for some time as the music changed - sometimes faster, sometimes slower. At one point, Gaila was joined by that same cadet he had seen with the medical cadet in the mess hall - the one that had supplied his search terms. She seemed very familiar with him, even dancing so close to him that it was very obvious that sexual activity was implied. It was distasteful. But when he tried to pull Nyota into their movements, she slipped away from him and would not let him touch her. He did not think he liked that cadet very much, perhaps he needed to find out who that was. He thought perhaps this was one of the cadets who had been pestering Nyota about the Kobayashi Maru simulations.

The girls came back to the table, ordered more drinks, chatted animatedly. Several people came over to talk for a few minutes - some of those started visibly when they saw him sitting there. Eventually, they decided to dance some more. Back out on the dance floor they went, swaying and stamping to the beat. Several songs played while they danced together.

The music changed again - this time there was a very prominent, steady drum beat. Nyota bent, twisted, spun. She was dancing just for him now. That cadet was back, trying to join her. With a low growl, he rose from his seat and crossed the distance between them, moving between them, blocking his attentions to her, joining her in the spinning movements. It was exhilarating. He could not take his eyes off of her, the streamers of her skirt flying about her, her lithe body tantalizing him as it moved, so skillfully. He paid no attention to the irritated exclamation of the other cadet. He was of no importance, she did not dance for him.

When the music stopped, Nyota stood looking up at him, eyes wide and soft. "I'm ready to leave now, Spock." He was much relieved.

They walked back across the campus in the soft darkness, fingers linked. The exhilaration from the dancing drumming still through both of them. When they entered his quarters, he took her jacket and hung it up, then turned to find her right behind him, eager. He lifted her, flipped her down onto his bed, ran his hands up the outsides of her legs, finding the top edge of her panties and pulling them down and off in one swift motion. Sweeping the streams of her skirt aside, he buried his face between her legs, inhaling the warm, wet scent before applying his tongue to her. She moaned and twisted beneath him, pulling at him, wanting him. He lifted his face, flipped her over on her stomach, pulling at her hips to raise them. Her shoulders were down on the bed, her bottom up in his face, her knees spread wide, opening herself to him. He fumbled with his trousers, and plunged into her, still fully clothed. Trembling, he placed his left hand flat on the bed beside her to support himself, and clasped her midriff with his right hand, pulling her back into him. Swiftly he stroked into her, deeper and deeper, until he was growling at her as she moaned and cried at him, calling his name as she convulsed about him. She was his.

Nyota

Monday, 1730

She stood in front of her closet, once again trying to figure out what to wear. Gaila was still in her underwear - well, she hoped that was just underwear. If Gaila thought that was a dress, she was not going anywhere with her. Her sisters had talked her into buying a new dress when she was home at Christmas time - maybe now was the time to wear it. She pulled it out of the back of the closet and heard her roommate's gasp. Yes, time to wear this dress.

***

When she walked out of the bedroom and saw Spock's face, she was SO glad that she had decided to wear this dress. He couldn't even summon up that calm expression at all, and she was sure that she had seen his jaw actually drop. This dress must be a lot better than she had thought. When he held her coat for her, he almost slobbered on her neck. She tried hard not to smile. This evening was going to be goood.

***

She ordered her customary shot of Jack and one for Spock, although he raised his eyebrow at her. She tossed hers back while he just sipped. But he kept sipping - he must like the flavor. Then the DJ played something she really liked and she looked at Spock, wanting to dance, but not if he was going to be uncomfortable. When he told her to go ahead, she almost ran out onto the dance floor. Oh, she hadn't been dancing in months. She and Gaila swayed and stamped to the music, having so much fun. Some of their other friends were there as well, and for a while they had six or seven people in a circle, bumping hips - until she caught a glance at Spock's face and moved aside. Too much touching for him to be comfortable, and she hadn't even thought about it. Sometimes it was really hard remembering how he interpreted so many things so differently than she did. Then that idiot Jim Kirk showed up, putting the make on them, blatantly making out with Gaila right on the dance floor. When he tried to draw her in as well, she moved further away, not wanting to be anywhere near him. When the music stopped again, she returned to the table, Gaila reluctantly following. They ordered more drinks and sat there cooling off, talking to friends who wandered by.

When they were cooled off and their drinks were gone, they went back out on the dance floor. She raised her arms in the air again, swaying about, swinging her funky skirt around her legs. This was an excellent dress for dancing. One of songs played that had a beat that they all stamped their feet to, clapping their hands and having fun. Then the music changed again and she thought of Oxford. She turned to see Spock watching her, smiled, and began to spin, twisting about, trying to entice him out to dance with her. Kirk was back again, trying to catch hold of her, making her angry. And then, there was Spock, coming between them, spinning around her, arms flashing near hers, eyes burning at her. She smiled at him, glowing, happy, paying no attention to that idiot Kirk. And when the music stopped, she was ready to leave, wanting to be back in Spock's quarters, in his bed, soon.