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Chapt. 18

Will cradled her face in his hands, searching her shining black eyes to be absolutely sure this was what she wanted, for there was no going back. Her smile grew a little wider when he was ascertained. With her face still cradled in his palms he bent towards her, brushing his lips against her with the utmost tenderness.

~Love me Will~

Her needing plea fueled the desire within him and quickly their kiss turned from tender and exploring to passionate and needing. Deanna reciprocated joyfully, pushing her tongue into his mouth to dance with his. His hands moved from her jaws into the light tresses of her hair, reveling in the sweetness of her soft lips and softness of her hair. She was so perfect, so immensely desirable that he couldn't keep his hands from moving to her waist, pulling her body flush against his as their kiss became torrid.

She seemed sure of herself, and when she kissed him all hesitation he might have had fled his mind. Her skin felt so soft under his hands and everywhere her hands traveled his own skin burst into Goosebumps. When his mind registered her hands working on loosening his shirt he launched a counterattack by drawing his hands up from her waist, skimming her breasts to eventually reach the catch of her dress.

A ripple of trepidation reached his mind, but when Troi deepened her next kiss he forgot all about it and relished in her hands gently pulling the hairs on his chest. He had succeeded in loosing her white dress and was about to slip it off her shoulders when suddenly her entire body when ridged.

"No" she breathed and used all her strength to push him away "this isn't right!"

Riker could do nothing but watch as Deanna spun around and practically ran out his quarters, barefooted and with her dress half unfastened. Staring at the door that had closed behind her Will didn't know whether to cry, laugh or ram his fist into the nearest wall.

Forgoing the decision, he sat down and ate.

In her own cabin Deanna fell down in the comfortable chair that stood facing the view port and buried her face in her hands, tears already escaping. "I'm sorry." She whispered, mentally chiding herself for the silly gesture, but repeating it nonetheless, glancing at the photo of her family.

She had been so sure she was ready. She loved Will, she loved him enough to harbor hope that she would get back together with him again and she knew he loved her too; he'd shown her that in every way imaginable. Their kisses earlier that evening had set her body on fire, he had always been a terrific kisser and he had only grown better. If she wanted him so much, why had she pushed him away?

The smiling eyes of Worf danced in front of her eyes. She smiled, remembering how he could smile and look annoyed at the same time.

That unusual mix of emotions had often mystified her during the first years she had known him. Most other species experienced conflicting emotions at the same time almost constantly, yet by Klingons two opposite emotions could be so thoroughly tangled with one another it was difficult to discern which emotion rules.

That uncertainty was often a reason for telepaths and empaths to avoid them, yet Deanna had found it a challenge to come to understand the Klingon psyche. Seeing she married one, she would say she succeeded pretty well.

And for the first time since the occurrence of the other Worf, Deanna smiled at a joke involving Worf or Klingons, even if she made it herself.

It felt good.