CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Awakened

Angela's confused protest cut off with a gasp as he slipped through her weak defenses, into her mind and her emotions, everything she was thinking and feeling. She was human, and she couldn't answer his initiation with her own mind. But it was enough for him to simply have open access to hers. His eyes rolled back as he fed off of her desire, her need, her arousal. Suddenly, that tingling felt familiar and right and natural. The warmth of her chest on his made his hearts beat faster. His lips craved hers. Moving his hands back into her hair, he pulled her closer and claimed her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss.

The jolt that ran through him was powerful. It was powerful to her, and he felt every bit of her arousal. More than that, he was beginning to feel his own. Her taste, her scent, the way her body felt against his - he was acutely aware of all of it, and suddenly, he wanted more. Her hands roaming over his shoulders, down his chest, made his skin tingle. He mimicked her touch, down from her collarbone, between her breasts, along her lower ribs. He wanted to explore her, to know her. And as he slowly withdrew from the kiss and felt her tremble slightly, he smiled. He wanted to feel more of that.

"What did you do?" she whispered breathlessly, kissing his jaw, down to his neck.

"Do you like it?"

"It's like everything is more... I can smell, taste, feel... everything."

He smiled as he followed her lead, kissing her neck, feeling her pulse with his tongue. He didn't want to explain the basics of telepathy to her - the connection that gave her access to his senses and gave him access to her feelings of pleasure - and right now, he wasn't sure he could. His thoughts were fragmented as her nails raked his chest - pain and pleasure in equal amounts. He moaned involuntarily as he gave himself over to the sensations, the need and the excitement, the heat and the animalistic drive to be inside of her.

But it was more than that, too. There were feelings he hadn't expected, hadn't thought of. The love and intimacy he felt when she was near was somehow amplified. A protective drive, and a feeling of safety, as if he were himself protected. There was trust and openness and vulnerability that he'd only felt thus far towards the Master, his closest friend. And really, had he ever felt it to this extent? This was more than the animal mating ritual it was reputed to be. Suddenly, he understood what the humans meant when they called it "making love."

As she slowly withdrew from the warm, soft kisses, he opened his eyes and locked gazes with her. Her hands were working at his slacks, slowly unfastening them. He lowered his own hands to help her. He wanted them off. He wanted her hands on him, easing that need for touch. He dug his heels into the carpet as he lifted his hips to push the pants down and off. Erect and throbbing, responsive in a way he'd never been in his life, his breathing was quick and shallow as he settled back again, watching her and waiting for her touch.

The light, barely-there caress of her fingertips made his eyes slide closed and drew a soft, involuntary moan from his lips. He could feel his muscles twitching, nerves screaming with pleasure as she stroked him slowly.

"Angela..."

"Doctor?"

He opened his eyes slowly and stared up at her, perched over him, just out of reach. Licking his lips to bring moisture back to his mouth, he let his eyes wander over her slowly - the soft rise of her breasts, the curves of her hips. His fingers followed the path of his eyes, exploring her curiously and finally tightening his hold just enough to pull her closer, pull her down on him.

He shuddered with pleasure as her warmth encased him. There were no words, no thoughts, only pleasure and instinct. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that instinct couldn't be his own. But it didn't matter. Right now, nothing mattered but the heat and intimacy and slow, steady rhythm that their bodies naturally set. Unaware of everything but the woman in his arms, he moved with her, tipping his head away as he felt her kisses on his neck, his own hands wandering over her back, her sides, every inch of her warm, soft skin that he could touch.

As slow, intimate minutes passed, he felt the build, the tightening, the tension. He felt the way she rose in his arms and the scrape of her teeth on his neck. His own pleasure and hers, mixed and mingled, together as one. He felt it build, and suddenly realized he'd gone too far to stop it even if he wanted to do. He groaned as he pressed up, holding her tightly to him as he released inside of her. He heard her whimper, felt her nails digging into his shoulders as she shook with relief and finally fell forward, breathing heavily, resting her head on his shoulder.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Neither spoke. Then, finally, the Doctor resumed the slow, gentle stroking up and down her back. The connection between them severed by the intensity, he couldn't feel her anymore. But he didn't need to. He could feel his own pleasure now, his own relief and relaxation and pure, happy contentment.

"Are you alright?" he whispered.

"Yes."

She took a few slow breaths, easing down, then pulled away slowly to look at him.

"You know, for someone who's never done that before, you're remarkably good at it."

He smiled and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "I'm a fast learner."

With a quiet laugh, she leaned in to nuzzle him gently, pausing with her lips against his ear. His breath caught as she drew the lobe between her teeth, pulling gently.

"Would you like to move to the bedroom and do it again?"

*X*X*X*

The Doctor could feel River's eyes on him. He'd been able to feel the weight of her stare for a while now, as Rose had been wandering through his memories of a lifetime so very long ago. Not wandering, really. She seemed to be caught in one very specific memory.

Connected to the emotions of those memories but not the images themselves, River probably wasn't aware of why she was looking at him like that. But he knew. Rose's proximity to - even presence inside of - long forgotten memories brought them to mind in sharp distinction. He remembered everything about that night, with Angela. And he remembered Rose well enough to know why River, influenced by her reflections and emotions, was trying not to look at him.

"Are you alright?"

It was an unnecessary question - perhaps even a tiny bit sadistic when he considered that he knew River would never admit to the feelings she had right now. But he couldn't help it. On the rare occasion that he got the chance to rib her the way she always seemed to do to him, he was simply compelled.

"Oh, yes. Just fine." Her predictable lie was covered with a tight smile and a quick look away, as if she could prevent him from noticing the way she'd been staring at him. "Why do you ask?"

The question was so innocent, it made him chuckle as he stood from the jump seat and circled the console, stepping up behind her. "No reason."

Her body was warm, face a bit flushed as she stood completely still. "What about you?" she asked, a little tightly as she gripped the edge of the console. "Feeling alright?"

"Oh yes."

He leaned in, just close enough to barely touch her hair as he peered over her shoulder at the monitor. He breathed deep, drawing in the scent of her pheromones, and watched her reflection in the screen as she clenched her jaw and shut her eyes tight. She wanted to curse at him, he knew. But they both knew it would only make matters worse if she did. So instead, she remained silent.

Hiding his smile by sheer force of will, he glanced over the main information screen of the Tardis. "Is it just me, or is it getting a bit warmer in here?"

Eyes opening, she turned her head to fix him in an intense glare. "I hate you."

"Do you now?" he teased. Reading the frustration in her eyes at that moment was the most fun he'd had all day. Though leaning in to kiss her, holding her hair tightly to keep her steady, was a close second.