A/N: Welcome Back Koffee! I have missed you! and yes we are going to see people happy! Its is about time! ! GirlyQ96, this story keeps extending itself through no fault of mine. I don't know if we'll get a Sarek hammered on Hot coco in this story, but it does sound rather tempting to do as a one off if I don't...hmmmm...Anyway, here we go, and yes I am a bit of a tease in this chappy, especially if you like Vulcan kisses ;) Much love!
The moment Lilibeth took Sigik's wrist he was shocked. He noted that she grabbed his wrist in such a way that she was not touching his skin. Then, she held up her two fingers for him, and looked him in the eyes. She slowly released his wrist and there was a pregnant pause.
Sigik stood a bit straighter, he smoothed out his suit, and he went to his knees beside her lounge chair. He looked deep into her eyes, asking for permission even though she instigated the moment. Wordlessly, she moved her upheld two fingers a little closer to him.
The harsh angles of logic that were well worn and very sharp on his face softened, and he held up his fingers. Very gently he held her hand still, instinctively knowing that he was about to give one of the finest ladies he had ever known her first kiss. True, she had been married, and bore children, but she had never experienced this, and he wanted to make it a gift.
He gently touched her arm with his opposite hand to steady it, but not to trap her incase it became overwhelming and she needed to pull away. Then he placed his fingers at her radius, just below her actual hand, where an elegant round end of her bone joined her arm to her hand. Very slowly, he dropped his mental defenses to her and allowed her to begin to feel the thrum of electrical mental energy. His own eyes hooded slightly as the essence of her began licking at the corners of his mind. With great tenderness he slowly slid his fingers over her wrist, and then up over the backs of her fingers, until the tips of their fingers touched.
Only letting the tips of his fingers linger for a moment, he once again moved his fingers down her fingers, into the palm of her hand, and then finally resting at a soft pulsepoint of her wrist.
He could hear her gasp at his touch, sense an even deeper mental moan as he painstakingly washed his devotion over her through the innocent touch of the skin of her hand. Her thoughts and emotions were strong and unguarded, but not as distasteful as some had taught. In spite of the wanton internal moan, her control was admirable, especially when the beast that haunts all vulcan roared in his ears to make her his mate.
With a slow breath he released his touch, and looked at her, searching her face for approval.
Lilbeth had seen Amand and Sarek do this gesture in public many times, it looked simple enough and very chaste. If this was what was happening between the two of them there was nothing simple or chaste about the seemingly innocent gesture.
She looked to Sigik with surprise, once she got herself together. In her mind she was frantically trying to think of how to ask for another of that without sounding, well, trampy. She swallowed hard, trying to get her mouth to work, "That was…"
"Satisfactory?" he ventured to finish, but his voice, like his face, was much softened.
"That is...one way to put it, Sigik." She replied, a gentle smile washing over her face as she reached out and touched his cheek, and moving to kiss him on the mouth.
It was then that Sigik saw and felt all that she did not say. He had always thought humans said whatever came to mind, no matter the circumstance, but she had subtext in her mind and thoughts she wanted to express, but did not in an attempt to maintain their shared dignity. She was trying to suppress the rampant desire she felt for him physically, to appease the repressed logical man he was. It was endearing.
He leaned in and allowed their lips to linger together. Neither one of them moved to deepen the kiss beyond the softly parted lips that allowed their breath and mouth to mingle.
No vulcan woman would allow her mate to feel as much desire as Lilibeth was radiating to him, it was more intoxicating than the chocolate brownie he had consumed last night.
Sigik pulled from this kiss, slowly, and kissed the palm of her hand still lingering on his cheek before he stood up again. Looking down at her, he cocked his head, "I will do this in Earth standard in respect to your race and home. I would like to declare my intention of making you my mate. " He held out his hand to her, which she took. "Will you become my mate, my aduna, she who is my wife?"
Amanda had told her that Vulcan men did not "play" around like so many other cultures of men. Once they decided who should be their mate, that was pretty much how it was. It had also taken Amanda and Sarek several more years than Sigik to become mated. She hardly knew him, he hardly knew her, and yet Vulcan marriages were very successful, and looking into his pale blue eyes she saw as much devotion as she had after years of marriage to Amanda's father.
"Your silence does not suggest you favor this idea." Sigik said, just a little stiffer than he had been moments ago.
"Oh, no!" she said, standing up to face him. Taking both of his hands into hers she lifted them up to her mouth and kissed his knuckles, which drew the smallest of gasps from him, "My answer is, yes. Against my own human understanding of romance and courtship, my answer is yes." she placed his hands over her heart and looked up at him, "Sigik, you...have swept me off my feet, to use a human expression. I don't know how vulcan marriages really work, but" she paused and ran her hand over his cheek and neck, "I am willing to take a risk."
He struggled not to wantonly rub his face harder into her hand. Feeling what she felt, he understood, and her pause was logical. She was a woman of devotion, and did not want to give the devotion lightly and risk harming...him, he felt the concern was for him. He felt fortunate. "In my home you will be content in every way possible. It is only logical, since my life is in your hands." he searched her face to see if she knew what he meant. The Pon Farr conversation would be shameful if she did not, but something she needed to accept.
Lilibeth did know what he meant, and she nodded. Amanda had not painted a complete word picture of the "shame" vulcan's carried, she did know enough though, as she had given her some pointers on stamina and wisdom. "I know." she replied, without further need to explain, not wanting to embarrass him. "I will be there in your hours of...fire." she called it fire so there would be no doubt she understood.
He was relieved. "And do you know," he moved his hands from over her heart. Using his index finger he gently ran the length of his finger over her jaw bone, "That we will create a mental bond? Does this, hold problem?"
She knew that as well, Amanda had spoken of how strange it was at first, and then how now she would likely not be able to live without feeling him with her in their way. "I do." she whispered, "My daughter, it seems, has prepared me well."
"It is a fortunate circumstance." he nodded and gently ran his hands down her bar neck, "I wish to make a base bond with you. In human terms it is more than engaged, and less than married. I suggest this, because I will give you a real vulcan wedding. I have been…" He paused, not wanting to say what he was about to say, but knowing he must not keep secrets, "I have been vocal against the integration of humans into Vulcan society. As a matter of logic, and principle, it is right that I publicly change this, and your family deserves this."
She grinned, "You know, Sigik, for sometime I held a similar belief about our two cultures. My daughter and her husband changed my mind, now let me change yours." She slid her hands over his, placing them around the area she saw Sarek make a base bond with her daughter many years ago. "I think it's only fitting." She closed her eyes and did her best to just relax into his touch.
Though his hands were on the front of her throat, the tingle began in the base of her skull. For a long moment it felt like the warmth one felt as a shot of strong liquor washed over one's body. Then the lifetime of solitude was gone, she was no longer alone. Even the pain of her joints was lessened. She wondered if he got anything from her.
Of course I have, ashayam.
She heard it, distantly in her mind. "Are we connected so that we can talk silently?"
"Our bond is young and weak, if it is allowed to be nurtured, it will grow, and we will be able to feel each other from great distances." He said, releasing her neck and holding his fingers up to her again, "Just relax, focus on me."
She ran her fingers over his, all her focus on him, which turned into them together. Some day, she knew, she would not be able to sense where he ended, and she began.
888
Amanda had dropped young Spock off at the learning center before heading back to Sarek's estate. All Spock would talk about all the way home from Earth was getting back to Vulcan so he could take a test. She changed flights to make sure it would happen, and it did. She was grateful, because that meant she had time to rest. It had been a long trip.
Then, just as the flitter was landing at their estate, the theater manager who had been on tour with her mother contacted her to let her know that her mother was...missing. Her heart was fluttering when she entered the house looking for Sarek. She needed her husband to help her find her mother.
"You are bothered," Sarek said, sitting at his desk looking over documents for his next peace talk.
"Yes, I am." Amanda said, "My mother is missing, according to her stage manager."
He swiveled his chair and steepled his fingers under his chin, "She is only missing to him, my wife. I know where she is."
Instantly Amanda relaxed, "Thank heavens! Where is she?"
"She is on Risa." He said flatly, "Perhaps taking a new mate."
Amanda's jaw dropped, "What did you do?"
Sarek stood, his eyebrow cocked upward, "It is interesting that you assume I am involved, my wife, as if meddling in the affairs of mating are something I do frequently."
"Sarek!" She said, with more force, "Your humor, husband, needs so much work."
"It is simple, a vulcan male has chosen her as his mate." He said no more.
"You had something to do with this, I can feel it." Amanda approached him.
"I may have provided the means for the male and her to explore the possibility of a bonding." Sarek replied, as if it was the most benign thing in the world.
Amanda covered her mouth and chuckled, "When did my husband become such a softy?" she asked, now more amused than even she expected. After all, they had been married more than a few years now, and being a matchmaker was not something she ever saw her husband doing. "Who is the possibly lucky man?"
Sarek didn't answer as smoothly as he had the other two things, "The...Director."
Amanda blinked, "The...Director of what?" she said mimicking the pause.
"Now my wife, at this time we need to keep the principles of Infinite Diversity…"
It was then Amanda knew exactly who he was talking about, "No. Oh heavens, no!" she said with a little more disgust than even she expected, "That stodgy, even by vulcan standards, white and silver haired man who looks at humans so poorly?"
"Your lack of enthusiasm for this means, I think, that you are missing the…."
She held up her hand, "No, we are not having this conversation now. I have a headache, I am tired, and….This isn't happening!" She shook her head at him, "Impossible…"
Sarek watched her as she stalked off. He was in trouble, but if her mother did not accept Sigik, the trouble may pass over. If Lilibeth accepted Sigik, he may be sleeping with the sehlat for an unspecified period of time. He would have to wait and see.