Daniel's fingers toyed with the soft, short locks at the nape of Sam's neck as he gently kissed her lips. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes and sought an explanation for the unexpected, yet pleasant turn of events. "Sam, not that I don't find this completely wonderful in a dream come true sort of way, but. . ."
As usual, Sam knew what he was going to ask. "You want to know where my sudden change of heart came from and to be sure that my feelings won't change in the light of day."
"Well. . . yes," he responded, a bit hesitant.
Sam smiled reassuringly. "You know, it's funny how a lifetime of hiding your emotions can make you not understand what you really feel. Remember when I told you that I'd kissed you to take my mind off my problems with Jack and Pete?"
His eyes darted away as he answered, "Yeah." Someone who didn't know him as well wouldn't have noticed the slightly pained undertone in his response. It tore at Sam's heart to know she had caused it.
Sam stroked his cheek and made certain that he saw the sincerity in her eyes. "It was stupid of me to say that. I just realized I wasn't using you like I thought. I've never done anything like that before, and I don't know why I thought I would have with you. I was so wrong when I said that, and if I had known how you. . ." She bit her lip hard, fighting back the swell of emotions as she realized how much she must have hurt Daniel. "If I had known how you felt, I never would have. I am so sorry."
He enveloped her in a hug, comfortingly stroking her hair. "It's okay. You didn't know."
Speaking into his neck, Sam finished what she'd begun to say. "I'm so sorry I didn't think about your feelings. I should have realized. . . . Maybe I did and was just so determined to deny my feelings for you that I didn't want to accept yours. I ignored the way I felt and the way that you made me feel. When I kissed you, Pete and Jack didn't even cross my mind. All I thought about was you." Sam swallowed hard then pulled back to look into Daniel's eyes and declared, "I need to know that you understand what I said then was wrong. Hell, everything I've said before ten minutes ago was wrong. I love you. I love you as my best friend and much more, and I'll love you just as much tomorrow as I do right now. I love you, and I never want to hurt you again."
Daniel brushed away the tears that had made their way down Sam's cheeks, ignoring the ones that had escaped his own eyes. "I know, Sam, and it's not all your fault. I should have told you a long time ago." His eyes glittered both with moisture and with a bright smile as he added, "I think I knew how you felt. I was just waiting for you to realize it." Then he pulled her closer into a tender kiss.
Breaking the kiss and settling into Daniel's arms, Sam asked, "How long do you think we can stay out here?"
He kissed the top of her head. "As long as you'd like."
Sam shifted to slip her arms around his waist and responded, "I doubt that."
She snuggled into Daniel, and they sat together for several minutes, simply enjoying the night and taking comfort in each other's presence. The silence was broken when Daniel asked, "So where do we go from here?"
Sam was tempted to say, "My place," but held her tongue. She didn't want things to move that quickly. "As much as it pains me to say this, I think we should sleep on it, give it a few days so we can sort things out before we take this into a full relationship. After all, I'm still engaged, and I'm your commanding officer."
A disappointed frown darkened Daniel's face. "So we just go about our lives like nothing's changed?"
"No, absolutely not. I just think we should do this right and not get carried away by our feelings too soon." A deep frown creased her brow. "I do still have to tell Pete, and we have to discuss this with the General."
Daniel's face scrunched into a grimace. "Do we have to tell Jack?" Sam wasn't sure if he was joking.
Sam nodded forcefully. "Yeah, we do. I don't want to run around being secretive about this. I feel like I've been doing that with my feelings for years, and I'm sick of hiding them like a dirty secret."
"All right. You're right, as usual." He squeezed her tighter for a second then added, "I'm just not looking forward to it."
Sam bit her lip. "Me either." That was an understatement.
"So when are you going to break it to Pete?"
Sam's frown deepened. "I could do it over the phone tomorrow, but if I wait to do it in person it won't be until later this week, because he's out of town until then." She toyed with the fabric of his shirt. "I don't want him to drive down from Denver just for that, so I'll probably drive up there Wednesday or Thursday night."
"Do you want me to come along?"
"No, I think that would make things worse for him. I'll do it on my own."
"All right, but if you change your mind, I'll be there."
"Thanks. I think I can handle it, though."
He ran his fingers through her hair once more. "What are you going to tell him?"
"Good question." She chewed her lip and stared at the ground as though the answer were written there. Then she looked up at him and said, "I won't tell him about you. . . er, us, if you don't want me to."
"That's up to you."
Sam nodded, not yet decided on whether it would be a good choice. That was something she'd figure out later. At the moment, though, she'd rather spend her time focusing on Daniel than such depressing thoughts. "Let's forget about other people for now," she suggested. "We'll have plenty of time to worry about them later."
A warm smile lit Daniel's face as he caressed her cheek. "All right. I can do that." His smile turned devilish as he added, "But I've got to warn you," his hand slid down her body, and he whispered in her ear, "if I focus only on you, I'm not sure I'd be able to stop myself from making love to you right here."
Sam's eyes grew large and a smile mirroring Daniel's formed on her lips. This was a new side of Daniel -- to Sam at least. And she liked it a lot. She kissed him hard and deep. He returned everything she gave. . . until Sam's mind began to argue, and she decided she couldn't allow herself to be overcome by impulses. Quenching the fire that seared through her body, she pulled her lips from his. In a throaty whisper, she called out, "Daniel. . . ." Not quite having succeeded in her intent, she quickly found her lips back on his, savoring their feel and taste. Steeling her resolve, she pulled away once again and added, "As much as. . ." Before she had the chance to finish, she interrupted herself with a moan of pleasure at the feel of his lips nibbling just below her ear. With great regret, she managed to breathlessly get out the words, "Daniel, as much as I enjoy this, I don't think it's a good idea."
His response was a muttered, "Mmmm. . . ." His hand brushed across her breast as he recaptured her lips. Sam did not object. She let herself melt into his arms as his lips trailed their way down the opposite side of her neck. Much to her disappointment, the sensation soon stopped, and she heard the words, "You're right." Then he placed a long, soft kiss on her lips, which made Sam realize just how deeply she regretted having stopped him.
His lips drew away, and with eyes still closed, she took in a deep breath and bit her lip. Her eyes fluttered open, and she whispered, "Well, if you keep doing that, I might just change my mind."
Placing his hands around her bottom and pulling her into his lap, Daniel nuzzled her ear and responded, "I'd better stop then. This bench doesn't seem like the most comfortable place for that."
Sam tilted her head back and ran her fingers through his hair. "My bed would work much better," she cooed.
"Mmmm. But it's half an hour away." He ran his hand up her bare thigh as he kissed her neck. "This bench is right here." With his free hand, he slid the thin strap of her dress off her shoulder and began giving it the same treatment he'd given her neck.
Pushing her body against his and reveling in his touch, Sam didn't think there was any way she could refuse at this moment. "I should stop you before I actually consider it," she breathed.
Daniel spent a little more time on her shoulder then slowly slipped the strap back into place as he worked his way back up her neck and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. I would never think of making love to you any place other than a warm, comfortable bed." After a soft nibble on her earlobe, he added, "The first time at least."
Only a few caresses away from pulling him to the ground and tearing off his clothes as they went down, Sam responded, "Daniel Jackson, I think I underestimated you."
Regretfully, the kisses that had made her body tingle stopped. "Oh?" Daniel asked as he pulled back to look her in the eye.
Sam stammered then immediately wished she hadn't spoke. Admittedly, she'd never really given much thought to how good Daniel might or might not have been in bed. It'd always been a mental image she'd sought to avoid. Whenever the thought had inadvertently crossed her mind, she'd always pictured him as being somewhat awkward and clumsy. Looking back, she realized she'd never properly updated her assessment from that of the sneezy, almost clumsy man she'd first met. Even now she certainly never would have guessed he would be able to take her from ice cold to sticky, sweaty, steaming hot in the course of ten minutes. It'd taught her there might still be some things she had to learn about Daniel Jackson, and she was eagerly awaiting her lessons on the subject.
When Sam didn't respond, Daniel smiled and promised in a low tone, "Well, I'll have to demonstrate just how much you underestimated."
Sam noticed his eyes seemed to crackle with electricity as he spread his fingers through her hair and guided her lips to his. He kissed her intensely, as though he had nothing more to do for the rest of his life than to finish that kiss. He paid careful, detailed attention to her lips and mouth, but the rest of her body did not go neglected. She felt his warm hand on her outer thigh gently squeeze her bare flesh, slowly sliding its way up to become completely hidden beneath her dress.
Sam forgot all notions of waiting until they got matters in order. Hell, she was a few seconds away from forgetting her own name. Then he pulled away. She kept her eyes closed, hoping it wasn't over. As she realized it was, extreme disappointment rushed in and she tried to grasp onto the intense sensations that had flooded her body. Eventually, her eyelashes fluttered open as she tried to regain her breath and slow her pulse.
She opened her eyes just in time to see Daniel look at his watch and state, "It's really late. I should take you home."
Sam looked at him through confused blinks. Why, after the most arousing kiss she'd ever experienced, would Daniel suddenly check the time and say they had to leave? Then realization hit. He was punishing her for thinking he would be bad in bed. He was punishing her by giving her exactly what she'd asked for. They were going to wait to be together. The bastard. She wasn't sure whether to be angry or pleased. He was, after all, agreeing to her original terms, despite the fact that earlier he hadn't seemed too fond of the idea.
In the end, she decided that even if this was a punishment, it was one she'd gladly accept. It was, after all, best to be cautious and fight her impulse to throw Daniel on the grass and have her way with him.
Sam climbed off Daniel's lap and offered her hand to help him up as she said, "You're right. It is late." As Daniel accepted her hand and pulled himself to his feet, she added, "I'm glad we don't have work in the morning."
"Me, too, but it's not like we haven't gone in with less than a few hours sleep before," Daniel answered with an amused smile and just a hint of surprise, which told Sam he hadn't actually expected her to give in so easily.
"Or stayed on base and not slept at all," Sam added as they made their way down the path, falling back into their usual dynamic and leaving the kisses and caresses behind them on the bench.