THE AGREEMENT

By The Collaborators

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CHAPTER TWELVE

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She let out a long sigh. The gentle sensation coursing through her veins at this moment was exquisite, and she relaxed to enjoy it. As always, she felt a little regret that the moment was fading fast; all too soon her body would return to normal and the delightful sensations would vanish. She found some comfort in the thought that the feeling might be renewed in the near future. He was usually quite energetic once he had had a rest. The thought made her smile and she finally opened her eyes. The ceiling came into focus high above her, a surprisingly ornate pattern of metallic triangles which had become as familiar to her in the past six years as her bedroom on Bajor had been in her childhood.

She felt the bed shift slightly beside her. Not for the first time, she wondered about his need to distance himself from her when they were finished. Maybe he didn't like her to see him so vulnerable, perhaps it was some Cardassian pride that drove him away. Or was it simply that he didn't want her to see the sadness he felt in the moment they separated? Whatever the reason, she did not know it, and it pained her to think he was holding something back. Surely she had proved by now that she loved him, that he could trust her with his emotions, even if she could not share his convictions. Of course, she hadn't told him outright.

Yet. Somehow, she could not quite bring herself to look Gul Dukat in the eye and say "I love you".

Not until she was certain of his reaction. But Dukat must know. He would know her well enough to realise she wouldn't have done this without some strong emotions to back it up. After a moment, she turned her head and looked at him. He was beautiful, she thought, enjoying a chance to observe him when he was at his most relaxed, his face unguarded and happy. He was smiling right now, though his eyes were closed. As she watched, his lids fluttered open. He apparently became aware of her scrutiny, because his pale eyes swivelled round to look at her. They looked at each other in silence for a while. His smile widened and he suddenly rolled up close to her, placing his head on her chest, one hand cupping her breast in a silent plea for affection. He had never done this before, and she was tempted to ask him why, but she couldn't think of any way to ask without sounding silly. She decided silence was preferable to denigrating the moment and simply wrapped her arms around him. Who would have thought six years ago that Gul Dukat would turn to her for comfort? But then she was such a different person six years ago that even she found it difficult to believe there had once been a Kira Nerys so full of anger and hatred.

She rested one hand gently on his shoulder while she ran her fingers through his heavy black hair. His warm breath tickled the skin between her breasts and she could feel the bony protuberances of his face resting on the thin muscle across her sternum. He moved to bring more of his body into contact with hers, and she responded in kind, letting her legs intertwine with his as he lay half on top of her. She felt the residual humidity in his groin and wondered if she should be feeling revulsion. But she didn't. While his face was still concealed against her chest, she let her right hand roam down his back, safe in the knowledge that she could, for a moment at least, explore his body without being treated to the display on his grey face of every single emotion he was experiencing.

She found an interesting band of scales to investigate just above the small of his back, as far down as she could reach in her current position. Her hand had been aiming to go further, but short of changing the position of her body completely, and thus breaking the spell, its original goal was unattainable, and she had to be content with letting her fingers run along his spine. She had noticed these scales before, of course; in fact, by now there was very little on his alien body which she hadn't noticed. But she had never felt compelled to touch this particular area, and she wondered if it was sensitive at all.

She was so intent on the touch of the scales under her fingertips that his muffled voice took her by surprise.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his tone drowsy and relaxed, like a child asking its sleeping companion if they are asleep yet.

"I was wondering what you feel when I touch you here," she murmured, matching his tone.

"Oh." That was evidently not the answer he had expected.

"Well, you did ask," she said, unable to repress a grin. To her disappointment, he lifted his head off her chest and turned as if to look at the place she was caressing.

"If you really want to know, I can't say it's the most sensitive part of my body," he started, though he became quiet again as she gently placed her hand on his head to guide it back onto her breast.

He kissed the nipple nearest to his mouth and then laid his cheek flat against it for a moment. Then, as if he remembered something, he moved so that his head was on the top of her chest again. She was thankful that someone somewhere must have explained to him once that Bajoran breasts do not take kindly to having bony Cardassian heads resting their full weight on them. She could just about stand having his eye-ridge pressing against her sternum, but that wasn't particularly comfortable either.

She shifted involuntarily to relieve the pressure on her chest; he took the hint and both of them readjusted their positions in silence. He was now higher than her on the bed, the top of his head resting against the headboard while her face remained level with his chin. She had to lift her eyes to look at him now, and his smile became more confident, his earlier vulnerability apparently forgotten. It was easier to remember he was Gul Dukat when he was looking down at her, nearly as arrogant and supercilious as when he was wearing his armour. Under different circumstances, perhaps, his smile would have been intimidating. But she knew this man and his weaknesses; she wasn't going to let him have the upper hand.

"What are you doing up there?" she teased gently. "Come back down here where I can see you."

He seemed surprised for a moment, but then complied, shuffling his long body further down the bed so that their faces were level. "Is this a better view?" he asked, leaning up on his elbow. "I wouldn't want you to miss a chance to admire me."

"I said nothing about admiring. I prefer to see people when I'm talking to them."

"So now you can see me, what do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know. You're the one who's always talking. I didn't say I wanted a conversation."

"You did say you needed to see me to talk to me, so I presumed you had something to say to me."

"I don't."

"I see. You just wanted to admire me, then," he said with a grin. "Well, by all means, go ahead."

He swept his free hand over his body to encompass the view she was to admire. She was reluctant to take him up on his invitation. He would probably make fun of her for being so transparent in her desires. But there was something fascinating in the complex pattern of tiny scales interspersed with smooth grey skin; she could not help trailing her eyes up and down his person. Her mind brought up the memory of the pleasure this alien body could give her and she shivered involuntarily. Her face must have betrayed her emotions as usual, because he cupped her cheek with his hand and leant forward to kiss her lips. She could feel the narrow ridge which ran down his nose press against her cheek as she kissed him. Once their mouths had parted, she placed her lips on either side of the thin line of cartilage. He let out a barely perceptible moan of pleasure as she moved her lips up to the bridge of his nose and then onto the meshavar on his forehead. His arms wrapped around her slim body as she maneuvered him onto his back; it was soon her turn to moan as his hands brushed lightly down to her hips. They kissed again. She wondered how long it would be before she got used to this, to needing him so much, and knowing he needed her. Or would she always be amazed by the intensity of her feelings whenever they touched? Either way, there probably wouldn't be much time to find out.

These last few days had been an unusual respite, a calm before the storm. The Federation would soon be coming. Dukat would be defeated. But all that mattered now was the taste of his mouth, the feeling of his scales and ridges against her naked skin. Lifting herself up for a moment, she straddled his midriff and then resumed the kiss. He groaned as the tips of her breasts brushed against his chest. His hands on her hips tried to push her backwards; it didn't take much to figure out what he wanted. But she was enjoying this, having Gul Dukat at her mercy, and she wondered just how far he would let her go.

She straightened up, sitting heavily on his lower stomach, and ran her hands flat on his ornate chest. Sweet Prophets, he was beautiful. She slid her hands down his arms to his smooth-skinned wrists, pulling them off her hips to place them flat against the bed. She was surprised at how passive he was. He had only been like this the very first time, and had proved far more forceful on subsequent occasions. That suited her fine most of the time, she enjoyed the chance for a struggle, but right now she was in the mood for some variety. His eyes narrowed, as if he realised what she was doing.

In typical Cardassian manner, he was waiting to see how things would unfold before taking any decisive action, letting her clarify what she wanted to do before he joined in or put an end to it. Considering how flushed his skin was, she could appreciate his self-control. Still holding his wrists, she lowered her mouth onto his right neck ridge. Knowing how sensitive this area was, she started off by carefully licking the interstices of each narrow bone. His body shuddered convulsively under her, sending a corresponding shock wave through her slim frame.

Encouraged, she changed her method, alternatively nibbling and licking her way back up from his shoulder to his jaw line. He let out a groan, more like a whimper of frustration as she bit down a little harder. This was evidently more than he could stand; his right arm struggled to release her hold on it. He soon managed to get his hand off the bed, but she still didn't let go of his wrist. "Shecheval," he swore between clenched teeth, swivelling his arm around to break her grasp and then seizing her own hand in his. She tried to use her weight to push his hand back, but this meant she was now exerting less pressure on his other wrist and he was soon able to straighten up and topple her over. She immediately rolled over to face him, ready if necessary for a wrestling match. There was no reason for her to put up a fight; after all, she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. But she just wasn't going to give in so easily. He knelt on the bed, glaring at her angrily as he visibly fought to control his irregular breathing. She could see how aroused he was and felt a thrill at the sight of his darkened skin. She remembered vaguely one of her aunts telling her there could be nothing less appealing than an aroused Cardassian. The old biddy must have been lying; Kira had rarely seen such an exciting sight.

"What are you doing?" he growled, though his expression softened into a half-smile when he realised what she was looking at. This seemed to excite him even further; he took in a deep breath as he waited to see what she would do.

"I thought Cardassians liked playing games," she said flirtatiously.

"It depends on the game," he answered, his voice surprisingly controlled. He seemed determined to let her call the shots again; in spite of his obvious desire, he remained in the same place, watching her as if he had all the time in the world, nearly as calm and collected as when he was ensconced in his carapace. She decided to see what it would take to make him lose that control. Kneeling on the hard mattress, she straightened her back, arching it slightly as she lifted her arms to place her hands at the nape of her neck. The position was blatantly wanton, designed to display her breasts and smooth slim stomach to their best advantage. She had rarely had such a desire to display her nakedness, but at least her chosen audience was appreciative.

Dukat's smile had vanished and his lips were parted as he followed every movement with the avidity of a child watching its mother bake a cake. She knew that if she beckoned for him to approach, he would be with her in a moment. But she chose not to ask; Dukat was adamant about being a gentleman and letting her initiate their encounters, but she was curious to see how long he would wait. The thought of making him lose his carefully constructed Cardassian control made her shiver with anticipation. Fixing her eyes on his attentive face, she slid her hands slowly out from behind her neck onto her shoulders and then her chest, before bringing them down to cup her breasts. She saw Dukat swallow hard and couldn't repress a little smile of satisfaction.

He noticed it, and anger momentarily flashed across his features. She knew he understood exactly what she was doing and that he was determined not to let her win. She was pretty sure she would win, though. Her right hand moved down onto her stomach, and she immediately knew she would win. His features were an open book of emotions: bewilderment, surprise, perhaps, but most of all a silent anticipation of her next move. Some remnant of her moral education complained that this was how prostitutes behaved, and that a good Bajoran woman would not demean herself like this. But Kira had never been a good Bajoran woman anyway.

Her hand slid in between her thighs. "You damned Shecheval!"

He wasn't the only one who lost control. She had wanted to see him, to savour her strange victory, but all she could think of in the moment he touched her was how much she wanted him.

Sweet Prophets, but this pagh-wraith was good for her.

All she could see was a blur, all she heard were the moans he seemed to tear from her throat, all she could think of was him, Dukat, her Narai. And then even he didn't matter anymore as her whole world was reduced to sensations.

"You're going to drive me mad," he murmured finally.

He tried to draw away as usual, but this time she held him close, tightening the grip of her legs around his hips. He didn't struggle to break away, instead resting his body against hers. They remained silent for a long while. She relaxed her hold on him and he rolled on his side, still close to her.

She rested her head against his shoulder. "Narai, what is a 'shecheval'?" she asked drowsily.

"That's a long story," he said with a sigh. She shook her head gently against his shoulder.

"Tell me. The translator doesn't pick it up, but I know it's an insult. I want to know what it means and why you called me that."

"Starfleet has very polite translators. But it doesn't translate because Shecheval is a name, not a noun... Has a Cardassian ever called you that before?"

"Yes. Once." She remembered the Cardassian soldier hissing the insult as Shakaar and Furel dragged him away. It wasn't the word for 'bitch', or 'whore', or any of the other insults she had had hurled at her by the Cardassians her cell executed. In fact, this was only the second time she had heard it.

He was silent for a moment, then, when he spoke again, his voice was low and grave. "I see."

"What do you see?" she asked a little defensively. She was surprised at his serious tone.

"Who called you that?" Why was he so bothered, she wondered.

"A soldier, a Cardassian," she specified, though that much should have been obvious.

"You seduced him."

"More or less," she replied evasively, unwilling to give all the gory details. Now she really wanted to know who this Shecheval was. She lifted her head off his shoulder and leant up on one elbow to look at his face. "Is that who Shecheval is, a woman who seduces men?"

He was looking up at the ceiling, avoiding her inquisitive gaze. "What was the 'less'?"

"Are you jealous?" she exclaimed incredulously.

Again he responded with a question. "Did he rape you?"

"No." The soldier had barely had time to touch her, to take her hands in his, his round grey face bright and hopeful. That was not an incident she wanted to remember, and she felt herself grow angry at Dukat for reminding her.

He lowered his eyes, his face set in an apologetic expression which immediately calmed her temper. "I'm sorry," he said. "I worry about you... about the past."

His pale round eyes rose to look at her leaning over him. She let her gaze explore the folds and curlicues of his weathered features. She had hated Cardassians all her life, and yet there was now so much tenderness in her heart as she looked into Dukat's familiar eyes, it was difficult to believe she could once have loathed the entire race.

"Forget the past, Narai," she murmured. "What matters is the present -- you and me."

He nodded, and she kissed his cheek before placing her head on his wide shoulder again. They remained silent for a while, both on the verge of dozing after the night's efforts.

But there was still a question which remained unanswered.

"Who was Shecheval?" she asked in a half-whisper.

He guffawed.

"You are so stubborn!" he exclaimed.

"And you're not answering my question. I'm beginning to think this is some hideous insult that you don't want to tell me about. Tell me what it means," she ordered.

"All right. It's an old legend... I hope I can remember it properly."

"A legend? I didn't think Cardassians had legends."

"We used to. We even had religions that went with them in some cases. Though most of the legends were like enigma tales, stories people would make up and tell on the marketplaces, things like that."

"So what about Shecheval?"

"I'm getting there, don't be so impatient. Shecheval... Can I put my armour on before I tell you this?"

"No, but you'll definitely need it if you don't get on with the story!"

"Right. A long time ago, when the stars were young and Cardassia was whole --"

"What does that mean?" she snapped. It sounded like something out of his propaganda.

"That's how most stories start," he said irritably. "There's another legend that star people came later on and broke the planet into smaller pieces, stranding people all over the solar system. This was supposed to explain how people ended up on different planets like Cardassia IV and so on…"

She leant up on her arm again and smiled brightly. "The 'star people' weren't the ancient Bajorans with their solar ships, by any chance?"

He shot her an annoyed look.

"Don't be silly," he said shortly. "Now, do you want me to tell you about Shecheval, or are we going to analyse every Cardassian legend instead?"

"Go ahead." His voice took on a different inflection, the soft tone of a storyteller, and she wondered if storytelling was a Cardassian tradition, or perhaps something they had to learn in school. Either way, Dukat's voice was remarkably suited to the task, though she didn't like what he was saying any better for it. The universal translator insisted on making the protagonists into 'demons' and 'angels', which reminded her of the pagan deities of non-Prophetic Bajoran cults.

Fortunately, as Dukat told it, it was a short story.

"A long time ago, when the stars were young and Cardassia was whole, the mountain tops were populated with evil demons, and the clouds with beautiful angels. Both would help the mortals who invoked them, but the power of the demons was in killing and the power of the angels in healing. It came to pass that an angel and a demon mated, and their daughter was Shecheval. She had the beauty of a cloud angel, but the deadly powers of a snow demon. Being neither demon nor angel, she could not find a husband in the Heights, and so came down into the valleys to assuage her demon passions with mortals. She would find a handsome, unmarried warrior and use her angel beauty to seduce him, but every man she slept with would be sure to die in the very next battle he fought. She gradually deprived them of their strength when she made love to them… so now you know who Shecheval was." He paused and then added, "You're going to kill me, aren't you?"

The thought that she could easily murder him had occurred as he told the story, but she decided she had rather give him an earful instead. "That's what you think of me? That I'm some kind of demon... that I... I'm depriving you of your strength?" she spluttered, sitting up angrily.

He looked rather amused by her outburst. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on dying in my next battle," he said with a grin. "As to me calling you Shecheval, that's just an idiomatic expression. No one pays any attention to those old legends anymore; they make us sound like a bunch of Klingons. I just said that because your teasing was a little more than I could stand."

"Hmm." She couldn't quite make up her mind whether she should sulk or lie down beside him again.

Perhaps understanding that she was too proud to back down, he sat up and took her in his arms.

"I always preferred the demons in those old legends," he said gently. That made her smile. Most people in the Quadrant considered that he was the demon, not her.

The touch of his skin against hers calmed her anger again and she hugged him back. He pulled her gently down onto her side, so that they were lying in each other's arms again. She buried her face against his relaxed neck ridge, her forehead resting on his neck, and gave out a little contented sigh. It was remarkable how someone as irritating as Dukat managed to soothe her so easily.

"I wouldn't have fallen in love with you if you were an angel."

She felt the words vibrate through her forehead and the vibrations seemed to shiver through her entire being.

He loved her.

He had just told her he loved her.

She had guessed that, of course, but had not known for sure; who could tell with a damn Cardassian?

But now she knew.

"I love you too," she answered, her voice muffled against his scales. He didn't say anything; for a moment, she thought he might have fallen asleep. Cardassians had a remarkable ability to fall dead asleep within a couple of minutes, regardless of the circumstances.

But after a moment, she heard his voice. "Computer, lights off," he ordered.

The room was immediately plunged into darkness. They lay in the same position for a while longer, and then she felt his arm slide off her back. He sought out the hand she had rested on his chest, gently lifting it up to his lips. He then shifted into his usual sleeping position, pulling his left arm out from under her to lay it straight by his side. But this time, he kept a hold of her hand as they both fell asleep.

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TBC