First Date Part 2
Previously: Aalin stood staring at the cliff face. "Rock climbing?" she asked for the third time.
"Yeah." Chris added, "The view from the summit is amazing."
"And we didn't simply transport to the top because?"
"Getting there is the fun part," Chris promised as he attached a safety line to his belt and then hers. "It's a novice ascent and should only take three hours."
"You are taking me rock climbing for a date and still believe there will be sex for you at the end of the evening. You truly are an optimist. It's a good thing for you I've already married you."
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He flashed a grin. "Dates aren't about sex."
She rolled her eyes and echoed his statement in skeptical tone of voice, "Dates aren't about sex? What kind of dates were you going on before meeting me?"
"When married dates aren't about sex," Chris amended then continued without providing an opportunity for counterpoint remarks, "rather they're about spending time together, companionship, sharing interests. This week we're indulging in one of mine, next week I'll listen to the Mary Kelly performance you adore."
"Maria Callas?"
"Whatever. One of the ones with screeching," Chris replied.
"Opera."
"So Spock explained to me in a fifty-minute dissertation replete with vocal demonstration when I made the unfortunate mistake of asking a question about Camden after a briefing."
"Carmen," Aalin corrected again.
"Whatever." He stepped nearer, wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her against his body. "And after the concert I'll see to it you hit high C multiples times," he promised with a whisper in her ear then nuzzled the spot on the back of her neck which invariably elicited a deep sigh and ended with her nestling closer.
Except this time. Aalin placed hands on his chest and pushed away. "What happened to married dates not being about sex? And for the record, I can hit the A about high C without external stimulation."
"Prove it."
She stepped back and lifted her chin. "Not here. Besides, I do have to warm up first. No one can hit that note cold. At least no human."
Chris leaned against a tree and crossed arms over his chest. "We have plenty of time. And I like hearing you sing."
Aalin's cheeks pinked. "Later." Assuming it was hers, she picked up the smaller backpack. "What happened to romantic dinners and slow dances?"
"When we reach the top, you can have the energy bar of your choice. Any flavor." He straightened, held out a hand, and after taking hers led her to their starting point at the base of the cliff. Chris kissed her temple then said, "And for the record, just because married dates are not meant to be about sex doesn't preclude it." A dimpled grin. "If you insist on it."
Her eyes trailed up. And up. And up. Her expression turned unsure. "If I manage to reach the top, which is a big if, a long soak in a hot tub is the only thing I'll want."
His expression turned serious. "That's one of the things you miss most from civilian life, isn't it?"
"Baths?" she asked.
Chris nodded.
"Yeah."
He reviewed basic climbing techniques with the meticulosity of an eagle scout. "Don't worry, the safety rope connects us. If you slip, even if you fall a few feet, just take a few minutes and catch your breath. No matter what happens, I've got you. If I go too fast, give the rope an easy tug. If there is a more serious problem, yell the word canter. Got it? OK. I'll go first. Follow my handholds and footholds path."
Several times during the first hour Chris nearly aborted their climb as Aalin struggled finding and maintaining secure footing and the sharp rock edges scraped her hands. Three times she slipped and dangled mid-air, swinging back forth on the safety rope. After the third mishap, he descended and gathered her onto a narrow ledge. Standing in front of her as an extra measure of protection, he rubbed soothing circles across her back while murmuring reassurances as her breathing slowed. "Want to beam back to Enterprise?" he asked.
"Not yet, I think I'm getting the hang of it." She winced. "Literally at times."
He chuckled. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but you're doing good for a beginner. Just take it slow."
Her lips parted preparing to speak.
"Don't apologize," he said firmly.
"But …"
"No. One day I am going to meet the woman who pronounced you clumsy, and she and I are going to have words. I may know nothing about parenting, but such a comment is out of line when speaking to a child. And you still struggle with that erroneous label."
Aalin decided not to reveal the one insisting she was awkward and graceless was her mother.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded. The next half an hour preceded without incident. Since the beginner ascent required only minimal effort from Chris most of his attention focused over his shoulder on his wife. She called out, "Shouldn't you be looking where you are going?"
"The view below is much prettier."
"Flatterer." She hid a secret smile.
"My mother and father raised me well."
As the sun began dipping below the horizon, Chris reached down from the summit and helped Aalin up. She sagged against him. "Well done," he praised. Resting his hand on the small of her back, he guided her away from the edge. "Drink," he instructed while handing over a water ration.
Aalin downed a third the bottle in one long swallow. She waved her hand towards the north where most of the sun remained visible atop snowy mountains, its refracted light filling the sky with blues, reds, oranges, pinks, and purples. "You're right this is beautiful. Well timed sir."
Chris sat in front of a tree, he reached up and gently tugged Aalin to the ground. She settled between his legs and leaned against his chest; he embraced her, his head resting against hers; she reached up and caressed his cheek. Hands then clasped, they watched sunset fade to twilight.
"Walk a bit?" he asked when only the moon's light shined.
"I'm happy here," Aalin muttered, sleepy and content.
"Please."
"Why is it so hard to refuse you anything?"
"The dimples," Chris replied in his most serious tone of voice.
"But I can't see them."
He kissed the top of her head. "That's how powerful they are. Just aim and shoot. Line of sight is irrelevant."
"And people say you don't have an ego. If only they knew," she teased.
Chris nudged her.
Aalin protested with a groan. "This better be worth it."
Fifteen minutes later standing in front of a small pooled hot spring she admitted in a tone near a gleeful squeal, "This is so worth it."
He gestured. "It's safe, get in."
Not needing to be asked twice, Aalin stripped to her bra and panties and waded into the water. "Join me?"
"Too small for more than one."
Her eyes looked up at him without raising her head, one corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "I don't mind cuddling." She playfully splashed water towards him. "No?"
"No."
"Okay." Aalin settled against the mossy bank where Chris had thoughtful draped a soft towel, closed her eyes, and sighed. "We should have brought champagne." One eye opened as she twisted towards Chris. "Did you?"
"I've seen you drink. Two sips of anything with bubbles and you're tipsy. And I have no desire to spend the rest of the night explaining to the ship's CMO how my spouse almost drowned while on a date."
"This is a really good first date," Aalin said. "I'd go out with you again."
"That's good since we're spending the next eight plus decades together."
She smiled.
He trailed his hand through the water then stroked her outer and inner thigh. "Do you grade on a curve?"
"Hmmm?" she asked distractedly.
"If I earn extra credit tonight, must I still listen to Carnivore next week?" he asked.
"Carmen," she patiently corrected.
"Whatever."