Alone Time Is A Good Thing
Thursday, Anna and Will traveled to Inverness completing final preparations for the Tattoo. Sarek and Emma chose to capitalize on this time alone. After sharing end-meal, they enjoyed a walk that, while satisfying, left him quite chilled. Emma drew a hot bath for him and then set about housekeeping needing doing.
Once again comfortable, he went in search of his new wife. She was in the living room with the small basket containing black-brown bricks. His natural curiosity activated, he knelt next to her, handing them to her as she stacked them.
"What are these?"
"Peat is ancient plant and vegetable matter that has broken down and decayed. Each brick burns for hours. It's plentiful here."
She smiled, enjoying him in flannel pajamas. She brought their bed linens down and created a comfortable pallet for them to sleep on.
Settling down next to her he spoke. "Should we be concerned about visitors?" He asked.
"Rai, Adun," she responded, pouring tea for them both.
"No?" he asked. He was growing accustomed to how she transitioned between Vulcan and Federation Standard without warning.
"No. My aunt and uncle are under the impression we went with Mum and Dad. Without saying too much, I convinced Mum they need not return before noon," she stated, offering a plate with fresh fruit and kreyla.
"Logical," he replied, selecting a crispy piece of bread.
"I simply wish to spend an uninterrupted evening with you," she answered, smiling and wiping her chin after biting into a particularly juicy piece of globe fruit. "Oops."
"I would discuss a matter of importance, considering last night," he began.
"Sure."
"Living arrangements," he paused, sipping tea. "We will reside together. I find it unacceptable to live apart. I have instructed Soran to transfer your belongings to my apartment."
"How conventional," she laughed gently. "I have one for you: children. I have read research on inter-species conception."
He looked at her. "You are curious about our experiences trying," he deduced.
"Well, I am certain I understand the mechanics of how it happened," she chuckled to herself. "What I am curious about specifically is what kind of intervention was required?"
"Conception occurred quite naturally, of that I am certain. However, very careful monitoring of Spock's fetal development was required for their survival," he answered.
"Their?"
"It taxed Amanda's body greatly," he answered honestly. "The medical team that oversaw Spock's fetal development and birth reside in practice on Nisus. I will contact them for assistance, if you wish it," he searched her facial expression carefully, but she was silent, listening to him. "I already have two sons, and will understand if you prefer not to."
"I wish it," she replied, eyes smiling softly.
He reached his arm, bringing her into his embrace. She leaned against his chest, hearing his rapid heartbeat, smiling. "My heart rate pleases you?" he asked.
"Everything about you pleases me," she said with that particular smile, "especially your warmth." She burrowed closer to him and thought silently how grateful she was to not be disturbed by her parent's 'sex-ploits' again.
/I share in that sentiment. Their privacy should remain intact./
Gently setting her cup on the hearth with his, they lay down, his hands trailing slowly over her skin. He smiled slightly as she shivered under his touch, his tongue followed his fingers, nibbling as he explored in the firelight. She began to shift her body a bit, wincing sharply as her lower back complained about her body positioning.
"I will attend," he offered.
When she turned, he knelt beside her, he began with her shoulders applying just enough pressure to stimulate the circulation in her muscles and elicit several groans of distinct satisfaction.
"Would you prefer more pressure?" he asked.
"Deeper would be marvelous," she responded, hoping he caught the double entendre.
Working dutifully to relieve tension along her spine, he chose to ignore the risqué remark. Shifting into seiza, he applied greater kneading pressure on her sacral and lumbar spine and was rewarded by the muscle tension relaxing. He had not intended the massage be sexual in nature, but realized it had that effect on her. He stroked his fingers along the soft skin of her back.
"How long must I wait?" she asked, her voice softened by his touch.
He looked down at her body glistening, her breathing deep, and pulse accelerating. She sat up on her knees and turned to him.
/You're not the only one who can read thoughts…such delightful arrogance./
Leaning against him, she grazed his body with hers. He had not expected she would perceive his thoughts with such clarity. He suddenly realized the vulnerability Amanda must have experienced in the early stages of their marriage as she worked to regain her privacy.
/An erroneous presumption./ He smiled softly at her in response.
Emma awoke to a chill and stoked the fire, adding another brick of peat. She glanced up at the family clock to see it was approaching three o'clock. Turning her eyes back to his sleep, she watched him. He sighed softly as she returned to him.
She reached her hand out to softly trace his angular body contours, and naturally worked their way down his stomach, playing in the soft fuzz that ventured southward from his navel. She wanted to continue, but paused, not wishing to wake him.
"T'hy'la, please continue," his words heavy with sleep.
"I should have let you rest."
"Sleep will come later. I would teach you something quite satisfying," he said.
She nodded, curiosity getting the better of her.
He brought their hands together, a strange pulsation of energy channeling through their fingertips. Pairing only their index and second fingers together, he gently traced down the back of her them with his and across her hand, subsequently igniting every nerve ending in her body.
She inhaled deeply as his hand returned to its starting place, her pulse rate accelerating. She trailed her fingertips over the back of his fingers, lingering for a moment against them, moving slowly in the trough between them. His eyes closed as his breath deepened.
"That is most pleasing," he whispered to her.
Fascinated, she continued gently drawing her fingers over the back of his hand, tracing the blood vessels one at a time, feeling his pulse race under her fingers. She watched the subtle movement of his eyebrows as she explored this new technique. Continuing, she delicately traced his ear from lobe to point and was rewarded with a distinctly provocative exhalation.
Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed the tip of his nose, cheeks, and chin as he allowed his thought to flow freely: of them and the sense of renewal he felt found in this unexpected bonding.
Straddling him, she settled down as his hands found her hips and moved up her back. Projecting the sheer pleasure her attention brought him, his thoughts permeated her mind as early morning sun burns through slow, thick fog. His presence sure and steady, he enveloped her in the affection and desire he felt for her.
/Know that I feel this for Thee, Aduna t'nash-veh, even if it is not said aloud./
One gentle motion found her beneath him, his efforts increasing. She projected her emotions to him: fealty, submission, protectiveness – and desire, she moved in concert a confident and satisfying rhythm between them.
His nictitating membranes instinctively shut as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of Nevasa, standing quietly with other families waiting for their children to from the desert.
Sarek thought of their intense disagreement.
"I realize it's a rite of passage, but I don't want him harmed," she said, tears in her eyes.
"My wife he will likely return. Like you, he is strong, tenacious, and resourceful."
He recognized how she stared at him and decided to stop talking. They did not disagree often, but when she set on her argument, he would have to wait until she was willing to 'renegotiate terms'. She had understandable trepidation about the kahs'wan.
"Likely?" she said loudly, almost mocking him and turned, walking out of the room.
She had already lost one son, and was not about to lose another, but she could not do anything about it. Carrying and delivering this boy had been so difficult. Sarek followed her to their shared office, finding she had shut the door, and knocked quietly.
"I do not wish to speak."
"I do not intend to speak - may I enter?"
There was no verbal response as she opened the door. He stepped toward her and reached his hand out to her, beckoning her to him. He simply held her. She was not normally given to responses like this.
"Aduna - " he was quickly cut off.
"I though you weren't here to talk, Sarek. I am feeling irrational, illogical and I am wallowing in it. Take it or leave it," she protested, quietly.
Their son chose the shorter, more dangerous route and was expected midday. As they stood she was very careful to shield her thoughts, lest she commit a garish social faux pas.
The Adjudicator announced the first were seen in the far distance. As the children began to come into view, they waiting families all saw him. Emma recognized her boy simply from his hair.
He had indeed returned to them, and while the other children were walking in, he was leading them at a dead run, unimpeded by the desert heat. Sarek inwardly smiled to himself: his son was born running.
The families looked at Sarek and Emma in what could only be described as disbelief, and then back at him. He stopped to catch his breath a moment, barely concealing his delight, and greeted his family for the first time a man.
"O'Mekhlar. Mene Sakkhet ur-seveh…"
Sarek's eyes snapped open, quickly surveyed their nest in the living room. The sun was just breaking the horizon. He sat upright and listened, hearing the creaking of floorboards above him.
Moments later she came out of the bedroom smelling coffee. Unable to deny herself, she headed downstairs.
"First-meal is ready," he offered, a cup of coffee in his left hand.