Just a little kiss

Estellio

Rating: Pg-13 (Or T, whatever, this new system sucks!)

Summary: T'pol thinks she's in love with Trip but after seeing a kiss she shouldn't have, maybe she's wrong. I mean, how can she tell what love feels like, she's never felt it before…right?

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"I forgot to thank you." Alita turned and smile at the Captain, her ornate, ebony curls now out of the royal tiara and falling down wildly in front of her face. Archer's breath was taken away by the sight of her in the moon light. The green dress she wore wrapped around her body in slim strips, covering the necessities but showing so much promising tanned flesh that glowed like finely polished wood in the moon light. He didn't think he had ever seen someone so lovely and something deep inside him compelled him to brush away the curtain of dark curls from her face.

"Everything you've done for us is thanks enough. We owe a lot to you, your eminence." Her bright smile lit up her face and her laughter sounded like music to Archers ears.

"Please, call me Alita. If I may call you John?"

"But of course." He smiled in return, gently stroking a curl entwined through the fingers of the hand, still raised. He should have taken it away, he was sending out all the wrong signals…

"Then…John…" She licked her lips, staring at him with an intensity in her amber eyes he had almost forgotten a woman could have. It had been too long. "Allow me to do one more thing for you." Her lips sealed over his and tasted like honey. It had been far too long and when she opened his mouth he found his tongue greedily delving into hers.

His hands were now entangled in her hair as he brought her closer. Her arms slipped around his shoulders as their bodies moulded, her hips making jerks against his with the motion of his tongue and John knew that very soon, if he didn't pull away, then something very improper would start happening between them.

"Akita, no. Stop. We can't." He said, a tab breathless from the kissing. It had indeed been too long.

"Why not, what is there stopping us? Just you and me and nobody else. No rules or regulations, no uniforms or crowns, no high council or Starfleet command. Just a man and a woman. The way it is supposed to be." She urged, trying to bring their lips back together.

"No, it's not that. I just…can't."

"Your species is equipped to procreate ourside of a mating cycle, yes?"

"Uh…yeah!"

"So, do you not want me?"

"Oh, yes! Yes, very much so." He laughed, his jumpsuit didn't really do much to hide his 'need' "But, it's just that. I don't do the whole…falling in and out of bed with random alien strangers. It hasn't worked out well for me. Not that I think you're going to steal my DNA or anything it's just…if I sleep with a woman. I want it to be out of love, out of need for them."

"I…see…" From the look on her face, it was clear she did not.

"On my world, a man and a woman don't just mate once and forget about it. We don't have mating cycles like your world, once a year kind of thing. A man and a woman they…they bond together in ceremony. Become exclusive so that they only mate with each other." She looked shocked.

"What? No one else? What about the man family, or friends."

"NO! Definitely not! It is the most heinous act one can commit, it's one thing if it's a stranger but if you know the guy…" Archers face was dark. "It hurts so much more if it's your friend, a man so close to you he could be family…if he takes your girl. Then…you don't think you can ever trust him again. But you try and put it behind you, try to deny you're in love and try so hard not to let it show that you want to throttle him ever time you see him. Try not to knock the smile of his face and the spring out of his step because you know he got what you wanted, you needed and worst of all…that she gave it to him." Alita was silent for a few moments, staring at him.

"Okay, now you have lost me. If this is not what you want then this is where we part ways. It has been an honour knowing you Captain Archer. I hope our people become good friend…and that they are all not as celibate as you." She reached up again and kissed him, it was chaste but the moment her lips touched his he opened his mouth. The anger from his words earlier, the emotion surfacing. He knew why he wasn't sleeping with her and it was a stupid reason. He could let this stand in his way, not forever…but neither was he going to use this woman to take out his anger or his sexual frustration on. He was going to take a long shower and regret this in the morning.

Parting, she gasped for air.

"That was the most amazing kiss I have ever had. Are you sure you do not wish to spend the night?"

"Positive. I better get back to my ship. Thank you for all of your help, Alita. I hope we meet again." The transporter beam took him moment later and Alita smiled.

"Do you enjoy voyeurism?" There was no reply, she knew there wouldn't be, but she could hear the clicking of heels as the woman walked away.

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