*I OWN NOTHING*
It was so easy for her to say, even she was taken aback by how effortlessly the words seem to come out. He stared at her, that was to be expected, it meant that he was ponder what she had said, carefully considering his response. He did what he always did when confronted by overwhelming expressions of emotions that humans had the tendency to empress, he appealed to their sense of reason.
"Perhaps it is merely…infatuation?" Spock whispered looking away from her. Nyota sucked in a breath as she left the bed and went to wash the smudged makeup from her face. Spock sat up in the bed and quickly pulled on his pants, he took her lack of response as an indication of her displeasure at his remark. "Nyota I…"
"Infatuation is a temporary, irrational desire for someone. Is that really what you think I have for you?" Nyota asked as she dropped her applicator and turned her attention to him.
"No, however what you expressed is difficult to define" he retorted still not meeting her gaze.
"Love is different" Nyota explained calmly, "I cannot define it for you because words are insufficient, it is wholly intangible, however it is very real, and I believe that it is quite logical. Furthermore, I am in touch with my emotions I know exactly what I feel for you, even though at times you make it difficult, I still love you."
She said it again. Spock thought back to the first discussion of love, in the lecture hall when she had attempted to justify love as 'an emotion… the brains way of telling us not to protest against our natures'. He momentarily reconsidered her argument for emotion.
"Emotions require control and restraint otherwise they would cause individuals to act on impulsion, without reason…" Spock stopped, Nyota had made a sound that she had once described as a 'giggle', which expressed amusement, he had not intended to be humorous, her response was …inappropriate.
Nyota sensed that she had struck a chord, Spock's expressionless face seem to tense, his jaw was clinched. Nyota walked over to Spock who was sitting on the edge of the bed, "We were just acting on impulsion, both of us, there is nothing wrong with that, didn't it feel good to allow yourself to succumb to your desire, even for awhile?"
Spock recalled the sensation that had come over him when he had kissed her, when he sensed her arousal when he linked with her, it had been overwhelming, he had fought for control, he remembered what it was that had stopped him, her fear.
"It was beyond pleasure I must admit. However, one cannot allow themselves to be controlled by pleasure. You do not fully understand Vulcan physiology, our passions can be quiet brutal, I did not wish to subject you to that."
Nyota smiled "Why?"
Spock's lips betrayed an amused smirk, "It is logical" He responded dryly.
Nyota insisted that Spock take her out for dinner, their lunch in the room had been just as bland as the soup and bread from the previous evening. Spock had of course argued that the replicator's meals were sufficient in nutrition and thus served their purpose to which Nyota replied "they cannot be sufficient in nutrition if they are not consumed, and I do not plan on consuming replicator mush tonight."
The restaurant was positioned at the top of Tioga Mountain, The atmosphere was agreeable, the food was appetizing, the service was, for Spock, unacceptable. The evening started off well, there restaurant was not too busy, there was a live band, Nyota was in her usual pleasant mood, and then their attendant arrived.
Spock did not usually notice the reaction he and Nyota drew from onlookers, he in fact found it a useless point to consider especially since their behavior was always discreet and acceptable. This was not the case on this particular. When they were seated he immediately noticed the tall, dark attendant who had immediately noticed Nyota. He approached the table just as they sat down. "Good afternoon, welcome to The Tuolumne" he smiled broadly at Nyota, he had not seemed to notice the man sitting with her. An awkward silence hung in between them as the attendant eyed Nyota who looked at Spock who seemed perplexed. "Nyota would you like to order?" Spock asked breaking the silence. "Sure…" Nyota began. The attended interrupted "Your name is Nyota? Are you from Africa by chance?"
"Yes, the Kenyan Coast to be exact" Nyota admitted.
"I was born in Burundi, salamu my name is Shujaa, it is a rare to treat to meet a countryman so far from home." The man held out his had to Nyota, she looked at his out stretched hand, and then at Spock, whose brows were drawn sharply together as he to glared at the man's hand. Nyota looked at the smiling Shujaa; perhaps it was innocent enough, if your boyfriend was not a Vulcan. She was not going to bother with trying to explain that she could not shake his hand because her boyfriend is a Vulcan and Vulcan's are touch telepaths and on and on. She would come off very rude, which was not her nature generally; however there seemed no other solution. "Nice to meet you" she nodded keeping her hands safely beneath the table. It was then that Shujaa seemed to notice Spock for the first time; he turned to him briefly and gave him a sideways glance before taking their orders and hurrying away. "You handled the situation, quite efficiently" Spock commented while they waited for their meals to arrive. "Spock, what did I order just now?" Nyota asked. "I believe you called it pasta with diced tomatoes and basil."
"Why?"
"I assume you find it palatable"
"Yes but why did I not order the roast buffalo cutlet instead?"
"The consumption of animals is…"
"Something that many humans do, like shaking hands"
"Nyota I do not see how shaking hands and eating animals relate, other than they are both activities that I do not take part in."
"That is right; they are things you do not do, because of who you are. I have no qualms with you being who you are. Likewise you should not feel discomfort if I shake hands with others, it is perfectly acceptable in my culture."
Spock considered her explanation, it was logical, "Nyota, it would be inappropriate if you and I were bond mates, it would not be acceptable, in any culture."
"Yes Spock, but I am not your bond mate, she is on Vulcan." Nyota Sighed.
Before Spock could formulate a response Shujaa arrived with their meal. Nyota smiled and thanked him, Spock watched him carefully as he placed Nyota's plate before her smiling. Spock concluded that the man smiled at Nyota more than was necessary, even for a human, he found this observation unsettling. Spock glanced at Nyota's plate "would you have preferred the buffalo" he inquired.
Nyota smiled, Spock noticed she smiled many different ways, depending on her mood and who she was addressing, this smile she only used for him. "I don't really like buffalo" she stated. As they ate Spock noticed their attendant was quite attentive, to Nyota at least. Nyota was attractive, well spoken, and intelligent, she attracted attention easily. This generally did not bother him, but something had changed, he found the attention she received from Shujaa to be completely unacceptable. "Nyota, it is illogical to speculate on things that are unlikely to occur, but our conversation on the terran habit of shaking hands as you call it perplexed me. Suppose I decided to kiss someone, for example that bio researcher who was so interested in my biology, would it not be the same as you embracing the hand of the attendant, who seems to be quite interested in you?"
Nyota put her fork on the plate and glared at Spock, "Are you making a joke?"
"I wouldn't"
"Then you seriously think that a gesture that insinuates romantic intentions and one that is a gesture in greeting between brief acquaintances is the same thing?"
"Not exactly, Spock countered, "However you are familiar with Vulcan culture and are well aware of the implications touching other individuals hands have among us, if you actually feel such affection for me that you expressed earlier, you could accommodate this."
Nyota smiled, "it is something I will consider, because I love you." Spock glanced around the room quickly, feeling her public profession was too overt. It seemed as though no one had heard the exchange, and since he was aware that their relationship required compromise he did not comment on the matter.
That night Spock meditated as Nyota slept, he was troubled, there was something about what she said to him that day that made him territorial, protective of her. He had found himself repulsed by the idea of her 'shaking hands' with the young terran male. What if she had shaken the man's hand? It would have meant nothing to them, but he could not help but feel it would have been utterly inappropriate; she did not belong to that man. Nor did she belong to him, not exactly, not yet. Spock felt the undeniable urge for her to belong to him, initially he thought it was an early onslaught of the blood fever, however his logic and much of his restraint were intact. As he admired her sleeping form he thought that it could merely be lust. Lust however seemed insufficient, it was something else, it was deeper. Although he was able to push the effects of her from his mind temporarily he was still vaguely aware of them throbbing within him. Spock was aware that something had to be done, things could not continue as they were.
He approached her after she had taken her shower, before she fixed her hair and put on makeup, he thought she looked most pleasing in this state. She lounged on the bed wearing a thin robe tied at the waist; she was browsing through a data pad. "Nyota, I want to show you something" Spock said perching on the edge of the bed.
"Sure." Nyota smiled setting the data pad down.
"I can only show you, through my own consciousness, like when I touched your hands, but this time, it will be more intense, if you will allow me." Spock explained.
Nyota sat up, she seemed confused for a moment then slowly nodding her head she replied "ok…yes…go ahead, show me."
Spock lifted his hand to her face, it will be strange for you at first, do not be frightened. "Nyota closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of his fingers on her face, she begin to feel dizzy. "Our minds, one and together" Spock whispered pressing further in to her consciousness. Nyota froze; she felt outside of herself, she looked down at herself, her heart raced. She felt an unfamiliar stirring in her abdomen, it was not her own. "How do you feel?" she heard a voice ask, she was not sure if she had spoken or Spock. "I am confused" she mouthed still unable to ascertain the speaker. "Concentrate." Nyota began to feel a sudden calm rush over her, she felt herself atop something soft, there was a salty presence on her tongue, she was kissing someone, a girl? She smelled lavender, her shampoo, entwined with a strong sweet scent; arousal. She was overcome by desire, she remembered this feeling clearly. "Do not be ashamed, I love you." Nyota felt her heart pound in her chest. There was a rush of affection that flooded through her, it did not belong to here, she had never felt anything like it before, for a moment she went blank then She saw herself sitting at the restaurant the previous night, she noticed the waiter standing at the table smiling at her, she felt slightly angry as she glanced at his outstretched hand. "She belongs to me" a voice echoed in her ears. "Nyota…Spock?" Nyota felt a throbbing sensation within her, again she found herself looking at herself, she gazed into her eyes, "Ashalik, you are mine" love it felt like a euphoric loss of gravity, happiness, it was unfamiliar, Spock felt a lack of focus, he faltered, then she was gone.
His hand rested on her shoulder as she felt herself regaining her own consciousness. She blinked at Spock momentarily bewildered; she looked about the room then returned her gaze to him, words were inadequate. Spock held her gaze; he dropped his hand to the string of her robe and tugged at it gently. The flimsy fabric slid off her shoulders effortlessly, Spock admired her smooth delicate skin as he pulled away the remaining fabric, exposing her fully. He kissed her gently as she helped him undress, as her hands danced over his bare skin a surge of passion rushed through him, he breathed deep and pulled back momentarily regaining control. "Spock..." she smiled pulling him closer. He kissed her lips, her neck, the slope of her neck, her sighs urged him further, he held back. He wanted to savor her, he explored with his lips, his hands, slowly. Nyota gripped his shoulders her nails pressed into his flesh, he shuddered with pleasure. Their arms entwined he pressed her close, relishing the coolness of her skin against his, again he held back. Nyota felt his pleasure prodding her slightly, "Please…" she breathed franticly thrusting her hips to meet his. He wanted to hold back, a few moments more. Spock felt his blood rushing, he was uncertain, remembering her fear on their first attempt. Pushing her back against the bed he stared down at her, his countenance a mask, his brows drawn together, he appeared to be concentrating intently on her face. He pressed his fingers to hers; she closed her eyes, she felt his hesitation, he felt her desire. His kisses intensified, again she felt as though she could not breath, she bit down on his lip, a soft gasped escaped him, he succumbed.
A/N: I will end the scene here; don't want to change this to an M rating. I may do an in-depth M rated version if anybody wants it. Otherwise do stay tuned, a few more chapters and we will be on to the post- movie sequel!
Oh and… REVIWE, REVIEW, REVIEW!
