Author's Notes: In Chapter 37, Nyota tries to be accommodating to Spock's directives during the first hours of the remaining time they can spend together in Paris, before heading back to their secret lives at the Academy.

Those familiar with the musical theatre will notice one scene inspired by one of the important turning points of the play, Gypsy.

Warning: The latter third of the chapter contains sexual content. If such material offends you, you can easily skip that section and wait for the next posting.

As always, your comments are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Logistics . . .

After hearing his lust-filled voice, Uhura would have never thought logistics would have been the priority for Spock after they left the Marini's apartment. However, the Vulcan directed the SkyCab driver to first go to Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel so Uhura could collect her belongings.

As their rode to this destination, Uhura asked, "Spock, why don't we just stay there, tonight?"

He answered, "The location of my Parisian living quarters will suit our plans much more effectively."

"Our plans?" She questioned. "The term, our plans, implies we both had something to do with developing them. Obviously, that has not been the case."

"Nyota, you are mistaken." He contended. "Using the possessive – our – infers that something belongs to two or more persons. It does not matter whether or not you were instrumental in devising the plans, since they will involve both of us."

Her laughter caused the Vulcan to regard her curiously. Ordinarily, she would have argued with him over such chauvinistic behavior. However, for at least that night, she was glad to have him to such a commanding position.

All right, Baby . . . She thought to herself. Take charge.

Yet, the 16-minute ride to her hotel proved quite unromantic. The Vulcan seemed reticent to talk, as he focused his sights straight ahead. His posture seemed even more erect and stiff than usual. And, when she shifted her body to be closer to him, he countered her move by sliding himself a few inches away to avoid touching.

Uhura sighed, but did not feel dejected. She knew Spock loathed public displays of affection and was not about to give the driver anything to talk about. She told herself, Be patient, Nyota. You have over 30 hours to be alone with him. You can wait.

Arriving at Uhura's hotel, the East African found the Vulcan slowed his step as they began to walk through the lobby until he finally stopped.

Turning back to him, she asked, "What are you doing?"

"I believe I will wait for you, here." He replied.

She noted, "I thought you would want to help me pack so we could be on our way as soon as possible."

Spock responded, "Do you have so many items that it will take two to gather your belongings?"

Uhura studied the Vulcan for a few moments, before a smile finally came to her face. She asked, "Spock, are you afraid?"

"Afraid?" He questioned incredulously. "Nyota, please do not be ridiculous."

"I think you're afraid to come up and be alone with me in my suite, because you think we might not make it out of there tonight. Right?" She teased. "That's not a part of our plans, is it?"

The Vulcan gave her no reply, which to Uhura was as good as agreeing with her. She nodded knowingly and told him, "It won't take me long."

In her suite, Uhura gathered her clothing and toiletries to place in her travel bag. As she packed, she asked, "Computer, do I have any messages?"

"There is one unplayed message from Habibah Mungai and Yasmin Temiz."

"Play message." She ordered.

Loud music in the background could be heard, as her two friends began to speak simultaneously. "Hey, girlfriend!"

"Hey, Habibah and Yasmin."Uhura greeted them, although aware she answered a recording.

Habibah revealed, "Yamsin and I are here at a club waiting for Shaniqua to meet us after her performance."

Temiz added, "We were going to drag you here, but then got a text from Amber that you and the Vulcan had finally come to your senses."

"You can thank me, later." Habibah chimed in. "I guess my talk with Spock this morning did some good after all."

Spock talked with Habibah, today? Uhura questioned. He didn't mention it.

"Oh, Habibah, stop patting yourself on your back." Yasmin retorted. "Remember, he's the one who came to you and, at first, you didn't want anything to do with him."

Habibah contended, "It doesn't matter, Yasmin. Obviously, my counsel ended up doing the trick."

"That's not even why we called, Nyota." Yasmin remarked. "We were just trying to settle a bet."

"His place or yours?" Habibah interjected. "Yasmin thought you would have convinced Spock to rock it in the Presidential Suite. But, I bet her that Vulcan would be dragging you to his own den."

"Habihah, this is crazy." Yasmin commented. "I told you we weren't going to be able to settle this bet, tonight. She's probably getting busy with him already. We'll have to ask her tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Habibah scolded her, "Yasmin, you weren't supposed to spoil the surprise."

"How did I spoil it?" Yasmin argued. "You said more than I did."

Habibah remarked, "Nyota, looks like we better go before Yasmin gives anything more away."

"Ha!" Yasmin exclaimed.

"Good night, Nyota." Habibah told her.

Yasmin added, "Yeah, Nyota. Sleep well . . . Oh, no!" She giggled. "I mean, have a good time."

"Computer, delete message." Uhura called out, as she thought about the call. She wondered, Why did they mentioned I'd be seeing them tomorrow?

With the Spock and Uhura back together in the waiting cab, the Vulcan told the driver, "The Hotel Britannique. Land route, please."

She asked, "How far away is it?"

"Only 4.1 kilometers from our present site." He informed her. "Until we reach our intended destination, you may occupy yourself by appreciating the aesthetic beauty of the city under a nocturnal perspective."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Uhura smile with his suggestion. Thinking him now being affected by a romantic impulse, she then surreptitiously reached over to take his hand. Yet, she surprisingly found he rebuffed her advance by depositing the wayward hand back onto her lap.

"You must behave, Nyota." He tersely told her in a low voice.

"I thought that's what I was doing." She replied, as quietly as possible. "The driver couldn't possibly see anything."

Spock would not say another word on the subject, as he was very much aware of the slight protrusion in the crotch. He thought, Had I not already made the limits clear to her. Even with his superior mental capabilities, the Vulcan recognized the potential for further involuntary genital swelling to even the slightest stimuli by Nyota.

"All right, Spock." Uhura told him with a sigh, as she tried to content herself to surveying the scenic Parisian sights. She told herself, Hopefully, the romantic vibe will pick up once we get to the hotel.

Ten minutes later, the East African began to believe her desires would soon be answered as the cab pulled up to the entrance of the Hotel Britannique. After paying the driver, Spock took charge of her bag, while Uhura scanned the building's façade. Although a small establishment, the quaint exterior with its warm colors served to lift her spirits.

"M. Spock." The hotel clerk warmly greeted the Vulcan as they walked inside. Yet, when he turned to Uhura, he did not fail to hide his surprise upon seeing her. Addressing Spock, he asked, "Is this the one, Monsieur?"

"Yes, I am the one." Uhura spoke up boldly. "But its true, I'm not Vulcan if that's what has caught you off-guard."

The clerk quickly came from behind his desk and told her, "Oh, Mademoiselle . . . and Monsieur, please forgive my rudeness. It's not my place . . . "

"To judge?" Uhura interjected. "Is this your usual attitude toward your guests, Monsieur . . . " She checked his name tag. "M. Nezzar?"

He then turned to Spock and said, "I do apologize."

"Hey, you." She called to him sternly. "He's not the only one owed an apology."

"Of course, not." The clerk said, as he turned back to Uhura. "I am truly sorry for my unprofessional behavior. Is there something I can do to cause you to forget my faux pas?"

Uhura glanced to Spock who appeared amused by her handling of the situation. She then paused for a few moments as though giving the clerk's offer some thought. The East African then told him, "Let's just think of this unfortunate incident as a learning experience."

Nezzar replied gratefully, "Mademoiselle, you are much too generous. I shall certainly take the matter to heart and act accordingly in the future."

"Very well." She responded.

"With that episode now behind us, I would like to give you my warmest welcome to our hotel." Nezzar told her, "I have been expecting you for the past several days, but I am so glad your schedule has finally allowed you to join us."

Uhura shot another glance at Spock, who this time wore his usual indifferent expression.

The clerk continued, "Is there anything I can do at present to make your stay any more comfortable for you? We are a small family-run hotel, but you will find our amenities and service to be on par or exceeds the finest establishments in the city."

It was now Spock who spoke up. "Please schedule a female masseuse to come to our room at 10 AM tomorrow morning. Ms. Uhura will be requiring her services."

"We have a masseuse on call 24 hours a day, M. Spock." The clerk informed him. "She need not wait until the morning to take advantage of this service."

"10 AM, M. Nezzar." Spock reiterated sternly.

Uhura quickly covered her mouth to suppress her giggles at the thought of the activities she and Spock would enjoy that evening that would necessitate a masseuse for her in the morning.

A hotel attendant took Uhura's bag and accompanied the couple to their room. Upon their entrance, Uhura gasped with glee. Although it was only a fraction of the size of the Presidential Suite she had enjoyed, the room had a charming and intimate allure. Decorated with luxurious furnishings and linens, she remained speechless until the attendant left their presence.

"Spock!" She exclaimed, as she removed her coat and placed it on a chair. "How? . . . When? . . . I mean . . . This is . . . "

As he took off his jacket and placed it over her coat, he teased, "Nyota, I am awaiting a coherent sentence."

"Here, I was thinking you had taken up Spartan quarters." She remarked. "This is far from it."

He retorted, "Nyota, I am Vulcan. We are not unaccustomed to refined living."

"Refined living . . . yes." She responded. "But this room . . . this room actually has a romantic flair." The East African placed her hands on her hips and commanded playfully, "Admit it, Spock."

He quipped, "More information is required for me to consider your request."

She contended, "When you gave me that ultimatum on Monday, you thought I would immediately come running back to you."

He answered, "I do not claim to have expected an immediate capitulation. After all, you are quite a stubborn woman."

"Well, Baby, it takes one to know one." She countered.

"It takes one to know one?" He echoed. "Nyota, have you been so without sufficient intellectual stimuli that you have to resort to such trite clichés?"

Ignoring his last comment, she charged, "There's no way you would have rented this room, if you thought there was no chance I would acquiesce."

"This hotel is quite conveniently located to major cultural institutions, such as the Louvre and Picasso Museums." Spock noted. "More importantly for my activities over the last two days, this locale is only 1.9 kilometers across the Seine from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, where I have observed the work of Dr. Marini."

Uhura shook her head. "Spock, the hotel clerk said he had been expecting me for the past several days." She argued. "Why would he make that comment unless someone in this room gave him that impression?"

"Nyota, I have no control over the imagination of others." He replied. "They are free to entertain whatever thoughts come to mind."

"Spock, are you really going to stand there and act as though . . . " Uhura suddenly stilled her tongue, when she spotted something on the bed. She headed directly to the two items and picked them up.

Uhura held them up the skimpy items before him and revealed them to be, "A halter baby doll lingerie set! Spock, I doubt if this attire is part of the standard package of amenities offered by this hotel."

He informed her, "If you must know, I purchased this for you the morning after our first sexual interlude when I arrived in Paris."

"I appreciate the thought." She commented. "However, it really is not my style."

"Oversized Academy t-shirts may be acceptable Starfleet sleepwear." He remarked drily. "However, it is not the style I find appealing when alone with my woman."

Feeling the insult, she protested, "Of all the nerve!"

"You will indulge me in this, Nyota." He commanded. "You will be sure to thank me, after the attire has served its purpose."

"You mean this little outfit is supposed to act as some kind of sexual turn on? Uhura tossed the articles on the bed and crossed her arms. "Do you really think that's necessary? If you haven't noticed . . . " She lowered her eyes to his swollen crotch and reported coolly. "You don't seem to need much more encouragement. Looks to me you're already ready to burst."

Ignoring her comments, he instructed her, "You may take your shower now. After you have completed bathing, cover yourself with one of the robes furnished by the hotel and inform me of the shower's availability. After you have dressed yourself, remove your ponytail accessory from your hair. Tonight, I prefer your tresses hang about your shoulders. Do you have shoes in your possession with at least 3-inch heels?"

"I do." She answered. "With all the walking I've been doing, I really have not had a chance to wear them."

"You'll have occasion to wear them this evening." He told her.

"Is that all?" She asked incredulously of his detailed demands.

"No cosmetics." He told her. "I want to taste you in your natural state."

Uhura realized she had rarely seen the Vulcan so intent. She then asked, "Baby, why don't we just shower together? Then, there would not be any delay. Don't you think that sounds sexy?"

"Nyota." He began dispassionately. "Do you not realize the bathroom is still ranked as one of the most dangerous facilities in one's living quarters? How sexy would it be to engage in activities that would most probably end with a trip to a medical treatment center?"

Uhura started to open her mouth to argue with him, but soon realized how silly she would sound. The source of her knowledge of such behaviors came from feature films and novels. And, she was sure Spock would quickly counter any arguments with cold statistics of bathroom slips and falls. She decided it best to try another approach.

"OK . . . then why even bother with a shower?" She asked. "You certainly had no problem with getting down to business without either of us washing up first for most of our previous encounters?"

"Each one of those instances included conditions which made such preparations most inconvenient." He commented. "In contrast, we now have the time to do all according to . . ."

"Our plans?" She interjected.

"According to decorum." He stated.

"You mean, Vulcan decorum." She retorted.

Spock looked to her sternly and remarked, "You are not using our time wisely, Nyota. It would be better spent in the shower. You must not hurry your toilette."

As she stood across from Spock, Uhura recognized the truth to his earlier label of her as a stubborn woman. She certainly wanted him to make love to her that night. She wondered, Why do I hesitate?

Spock watched as Uhura finally resigned herself to his directives, walked into the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. He knew what he was asking of her that night. Yet, he believed their relationship would remain in an off again, on again holding pattern, if something was not done to move it forward. The Vulcan knew he took a significant risk with his machinations, but he believed, My Nyota is a strong woman. I know she will rise to the challenge.

Uhura took longer in the shower than she expected. The warm water felt good against her body and served to soothe old apprehensions about her sexual inexperience that once again had come to the surface. She turned off the water and took her time to dry her body with a towel.

After 37 minutes, Uhura came out of the bathroom with her hair piled on top of her head and a plush robe tied about her body. She found Spock in a meditative trance sitting cross-legged on the floor in a meditation robe. Gently, she called to him. The Vulcan opened his eyes, rose up, and without a word moved to the bathroom.

The East African picked up the lingerie from the bed. It seemed too small, even for her petite frame. Touching the black sheer mesh fabric, she could tell it appeared to be made of a combination of nylon and spandex.

Perhaps, it will stretch. She told herself.

Uhura set down the top and then examined the v-string bottoms and giggled.

This isn't going to cover much.

Stepping into the bottoms, she pulled them up under her robe and giggled again.

I can't even tell if I have them on the right way.

Opening her robe slightly, she looked down at her crotch.

Is this really the front? Or, should this be the back?

Going to her bag, Uhura retrieved her heels. She started to place them on her feet when she felt the roughness of her soles.

Vaseline. Uhura told herself. Didn't Shaniqua once tell her it was a woman's miracle ointment? Applying a generous amount of the petroleum jelly onto her feet, she began to rub it in.

What you say, Baba, if you saw me now? She asked rhetorically. I wouldn't be your Hazina Kidogo1 anymore, would I?

And, she realized soberly . . .

You would hate him, wouldn't you? Baba . . . you would hate Spock.

She questioned . . .

Would you hate me, too? Baba, would you have me, too?

Uhura ran her hand across the soles of her feet, which now felt softer and suppler. She then slipped on her shoes and took off her robe.

Picking up the lingerie once more, she said jokingly. I might have to use the Vaseline to grease up my body to get this little thing on. Uhura then slipped the article over her head and pulled it down over her torso.

All right. She told herself. Time to deal with the hair. Reaching up, she released her hair from a single band and felt it fall about her shoulders. She reached in her bag for a brush and headed toward a full-length mirror set on a stand. When she arrived, she looked up and . . .

Was stunned . . .

Looking at the image . . .

She saw . . .

A woman . . .

A brown-skinned woman . . .

With tousled hair framing the sides of her face . . .

This woman wore a black babydoll negligee . . .

With a plunging neckline . . .

And sheer fabric that clung to her body showing off her curves . . .

The curves of her breasts . . .

The curves of her waist . . .

And, the curves of her ass . . .

Even her legs seemed long and silky to the touch . . .

Appearing to belie their actual length . . .

Although hesitant at first . . .

The East African reached her hand toward the mirror . . .

As if to verify the truth of the vision . . .

And she found . . .

She could not keep the revelation to herself . . .

As she spoke aloud . . .

"I'm pretty . . . I'm a pretty girl."

But, her statement was soon contradicted by the Vulcan who stood behind her.

He told her, "You are not a pretty girl . . . Nyota, you are a beautiful woman."

"Me?" She questioned in a whisper.

He asked, "Can you not see yourself through my eyes?"

The East African saw his face above hers in the mirror. And, she could see it . . . she could see his eyes filled with awe at the sight of her.

"Yes." She told him. "Now, I can see me as you do."

He commanded, "Tell me what you see."

"That's me in the mirror." She answered. "And, I'm beautiful . . . I'm a beautiful woman."

Nyota could now feel his body pressing up against hers from behind . . .

And, she knew he was naked . . .

But, this woman . . .

This newfound woman confident in her own sexual power . . .

Did not shirk from his touch . . .

But reveled in her own transformation . . .

Her skin aglow with a new life force that permeated her body . . .

Her dark brown nipples standing erect beneath the sheer fabric of her negligee . . .

And, the wetness between her legs that had begun to dampen her panties . . .

As though it were second nature, the East African reached up behind herself to access the Vulcan. She then laced her fingers behind his neck to unashamedly expose her body for her pleasure . . . and for his.

Eagerly picking up on her amorous cue, he pulled down one of the straps of her halter to bare one of her breasts. Taking the nipple between his thumb and middle finger, he rolled it gently . . . adding just a little more pressure at strict five second intervals.

As he played with her body, initially, it all seemed too much for her. The erotic sensations all seemed to come to quickly for her to process and enjoy. Feeling her knees begin to buckle, she felt she might fall out of his reach if he did not more firmly support her.

But . . .

This was no longer the old Uhura . . .

The one who was only a mere bystander in their sexual encounters . . .

Somehow . . .

Nyota reached down within herself and found the strength to withstand his sensual provocations. Opening her mouth, she no longer cared what sounds were emitted. For now, they were all sounds of love for him . . . her everlasting love for Spock.

The Vulcan watched . . .

As his woman reveled in their sexual heat . . .

He felt her . . .

Tremble against his body . . .

And he listened . . .

As her short gasps turned into to uninhibited pants of aroused pleasure . . .

Empowered by their love for each other . . .

He watched as her body danced to their song . . .

Twisting . . .

Pushing . . .

Rubbing . . .

He watched . . .

Greedily breathing in the resulting carnal air . . .

And, when the time came . . .

His woman neither asked or begged for it . . .

His Nyota demanded it . . .

Pushed her hips back against him . . .

She began to grind . . .

Up and down . . .

And . . .

Up and down . . .

Again and again . . .

Fully engorged . . .

The Vulcan's sword cried out for relief . . .

Lifting her garment . . .

And, taking hold of her panties . . .

He let her undies down just enough to set himself up at her welcoming entrance . . .

With her warm juices dropping down and coating his tip . . .

She became anxious to feel him inside her . . .

But, the Vulcan told her . . .

"No, Nyota . . . I will not take you in haste.

"Wait too long and you might be sorry." She snarled.

In her ear, the Vulcan whispered darkly, "I think not."

Grasping several locks of her hair, Spock pulled her head back to expose her neck. He then brought the tip of his warm tongue to her right clavicle and slowly drew a line up her neck as her body shuddered underneath him.

"Once more." She ordered him, "Do it once more."

He obeyed, but added deliciously, passionate nips at her skin to send her writhing against him.

"Never knew . . . " She managed to say haltingly. "Never knew . . . you had such . . . a malicious streak . . . What? . . . What must I do . . . to be find relief from this . . . this torment?"

Recognizing the lust-filled subtext, the Vulcan wondered if he actually could rein in his fervor any long. Yet, he found it within himself to restrain his passions long enough to use a gentle hand to turn the East African about to face him.

Spock told her, "Let me have, but one more drink of the sweet intoxicating wine that lay upon your lips and I shall do your bidding?"

Nyota smiled and then steadied herself by placing her hands on his shoulders to bring her lips up to meet his. The Vulcan returned her tender kiss, as he cupped her buttocks with his hands in ardent anticipation of their joining.

A wide, naughty grin came across Uhura's face as the Vulcan bared her other breast and greedily sucked it, before lifting her off her feet and laying her upon the bed. As he again readied himself at her entrance, she told him, "I have to admit . . . ahhhhhhhhhhh." She sighed happily as he came inside her. "Our plans . . . worked out better . . . than I could have ever imagined."

As Spock quickly found his rhythm and thrust his sword deeply inside her, he answered, "What gave you . . . the impression . . . the activities of this evening . . . constituted our plans?"

"Ahhhhhhhh . . . " She struggled to make a intelligible sound. "Spock . . . what . . . Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! . . . Oh . . . Oh . . . Oooooooooooooooh, Baby . . . What do you mean?"

"At the moment . . . less talking . . . would be advisable, Ashayam.2" He replied, with what appeared upon his face as a hint of a devilish grin. "First one thing, then the other."

"Spock, that's hardly . . . Oh . . . Oh . . . Oh . . . Oh . . . Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, BABY!" She screamed.

Nowhere near tiring of his current task, Spock added, "Don't worry, Nyota . . . I'll make sure . . . you're more than ready . . . for our plans . . . as they unfold tomorrow."

The Vulcan intensified the delivery of his strokes, taking extreme pleasure in feeding off of her orgiastic journey into sheer carnal bliss.

Oh, yeah . . . Uhura thought, just as she found herself slipping totally out of the conscious world. Massage at 10.

Author's Note: In Chapter 38, Spock and Nyota's plans are revealed.

I will try to have the next chapter up in 7-10 days.

Your comments are always welcome.

1 The Swahili words translates as Little Treasure.

2 The Vulcan word for Beloved.