Dear Reader:
It has been brought to my attention that there is actual no need to have this story divided into two sections, volumes one and two. So, please disregard that indication in the previous posting. It will be corrected. My original intention was to leave it open to postings in the future, but I now see that there is no need. So enjoy.
I wish to thank my beta, MCeleste for contributing to the (hopefully) smooth flow of this posting.
As usual, I don't profit, but that makes absolutely no difference, I do so love this couple, continuing their story is payment enough. They will continue interacting with Spock and Nyota in the continuing San Francisco Saga (SFS).
Thank you for your continued readership..
Christine's Story
Chapter 21
Risa-The Honeymoon
The shuttlecraft signaled its departure as Lo'vaak checked Christine's harness and secured his own. Reaching over to his brand new bride he swept her hair back from her forehead. Taking her hand in his he kissed it tenderly.
"We will not reach our destination for four hours. You should rest now, my wife," he said with a mischievous smile. "My plate is not yet full."
"Will it ever be full?" Christine queried as she smiled up at him."
Leaning down, Lo'vaak whispered his reply, "I will leave that up to your own evaluation-after we have had many years together."
"So, then…you're giving me time?" she murmured sleepily, as her fingers grazed lightly across his newly shaven cheek.
'Only time to calculate,' Lo'vaak sent through the bond. "We will be quite occupied otherwise."
Christine's eyes fluttered closed as she transmitted one last thought. The words, "Bring it on…' sounded in Lo'vaak's mind as she settle back into the headrest and he nodded.
Lo'vaak's eyes crinkled with overflowing joy as he watched his wife sleep. His wife! He loved thinking and saying the word. The concept of shan'hal'lak (love at first sight) must be acknowledged, for there was no other way to explain what had happened to them. He was now married, bonded and joined to the object of his own personal experience.
Reaching over gently, so as not to awaken her, he brushed back her collar, exposing the vivid evidence of their bond. He had marked his bride while in the throes of his first 'tasting' of her and she had responded in kind, showing the depth of her understanding of the Vulcan way. No delicate blossom, his Christine had been able to meet his passion with her own. He fingered his shoulder and smiled at the memory. But realizing that further thoughts of this nature could cause his body to betray him, Lo'vaak turned his mind to what lay ahead, Risa
-o-0-o-
Risa was a place of remarkable beauty. Once a volcanic wasteland, the Risian native population had transformed their planet into the full realization of its nick name, 'The Pleasure Planet.' Using a planet wide method of weather control over a period of many decades, their hard work had paid off, creating a tropical paradise with glorious temperatures, unparalleled beaches of varicolored sands, subterranean gardens and natural steam pools. Even the sky was a marvel, blessing observers with four luminaries-two suns and two moons. All this in conjunction with attractions of a more fleshly nature, fine restaurants, casinos, nightclubs and bars, all combined to form a place of great attraction to off-worlders. And the Risians in turn, welcomed all visitors to their Mecca of laid-back licentiousness. Their's was a bustling world, with a bustling economy, all to the native population's benefit. There was no such thing as a 'poor' Risian.
Lo'vaak and Christine would be staying at one of the bridal suites, in a private villa at Tamibi Resort. Their cliff side haven faced famous Surray Bay and in addition to magnificent views, offered them complete seclusion..
Several tourist attractions in the vicinity had been recommended to him, but they held little appeal to Lo'vaak. His desire was to get settled into their suite and go out for a walk on the beach. Having spent so much of his life in space made him appreciate the appeal of any planet's physical beauty. Though with the duration of their stay being quite short-three days-he wondered how much they would actually get the chance to see.
He didn't even have to make the decision, it simply happened. The suite had a well-stocked stasis so there was no reason to venture far. The floor to ceiling windows offered the promised breathtaking views-which ended up being largely ignored. What was inside the room held far greater attraction to Lo'vaak. He was grateful that his wife shared this opinion.