Nyota drifted in that place between waking and sleeping, her face pressed into the pillow and her legs tangled with his. Spock lay in the bed beside her, half covering her body with his own. His nose was buried in her hair and his breath was warm in her ear. His hand stroked up and down her bicep and she was aware of a strange sensation that seemed to seep through his skin and into her body. It was very pleasant.
Spock shifted in the bed behind her. She turned to see him sit upright on the edge of the bed, a very un-Vulcan slouch to his shoulders. She watched for a minute as he sat staring straight out of the window at the cityscape beyond.
"Spock," she murmured quietly, reaching out to touch him. His muscles twitched beneath her hand as she traced the marks she had made there earlier. Spock turned his head and looked at her, his expression was as neutral as ever if a little sleepy. His hair stuck up at odd angles and she could not resist from running her hand through it.
"Nyota," he replied softly, stroking down the side of her face with the back of his fingers. She smiled and turned to press her lips to his palm. Spock exhaled a ragged breath in response. If there was one thing she had learned tonight it was that Vulcans had very sensitive hands. "I must meditate," he rasped after while, pulling his hand away.
"Spock I...," she began, reaching her hand around his body and stroking down his chest. Spock leaned his head toward her and pressed his nose against hers as their hands entwined. Her heart thumped erratically inside her chest, her head swam with so many thoughts she felt dizzy. Nyota squeezed her eyes tightly shut and pressed her face against his bicep. She was terrified by the emotions that raged inside of her, unsure why she suddenly felt so shy after what they had done. Before she could say anything else, Spock raised his hand and stroked his palm across the back of her head. She held her breath as silently he withdrew his hand and slipped out of the bed.
Nyota sat silently while Spock dressed and when he left the room she hurriedly gathered her own clothes and slipped them on. When she stepped out of the bedroom she found Spock preparing tea in his small kitchen. As she entered he held out a small cup. "A ceremonial earth tea," he informed her. "I find it a useful aid to meditation."
"You think I need some clarity?" she asked, taking the cup from him. Spock considered this for a moment.
"I think perhaps we both do." Nyota stared into his eyes and felt totally lost by what she saw there. Standing in the half light he seemed like a totally different man to the one who had just taken her to bed. The silence in the room was oppressive. She drank her tea quickly and set the empty cup down.
"Thank you for the tea, Spock," she said, attempting to mirror the stillness he projected. "I'm going now."
She turned and made her way to the door, grabbing her coat and tugging it on. Spock followed her.
"I will escort you," he said, blocking her exit. Nyota pulled up her collar and met his eyes.
"Really, it's not necessary," she uttered breathlessly. He blinked in confusion.
"You seem eager to leave," he said finally. Nyota fiddled with her cuffs.
"I don't want to be in the way," she muttered and when she looked at him, his brow was furrowed.
"I will escort you," he told her again, taking her gently by the elbow and looking her right in the eye.
He held her hand all the way to the station and Nyota felt her anxiety wane. He waited with her on the empty platform.
"I don't think you should come all the way," Nyota said quietly, a chilly breeze blowing her hair across her face. Spock nodded and brushed it away.
"It would be indiscreet," he agreed. Nyota sucked on her lower lip pensively.
"Spock, before..." she ventured. "When you said you had been dishonest, what did you mean?" He swallowed and played with her fingers. In the distance she could hear the shuttle approaching. "Please tell me."
"I was dishonest when I led you to believe that your presence did not provoke an emotional response in me," he said as the shuttle pulled up at the platform and came to a halt beside them. Her mouth fell open in surprise. "You must go." He stroked his fingers down her cheek one more time and stepped back. Nyota did not reply, simply turned and boarded the train, watching his solitary figure on the platform as it pulled away.