This should really and truly be it. I think.

One Thousand Poets

Chapter Four

"We need food," he says as he rolls to his feet. She admires the way the firelight shines on the well-defined muscles of his body, and marvels at the pure beauty in it. She offers a wolf whistle as he strides away from her towards the kitchenette. He laughs, and she is pleased to see the hint of blush that travels from his shoulders to his hairline. She stands and wanders to where he is examining the contents of the small refrigerator. She peeks over his shoulder as she absently begins rubbing her hand along the side of his torso and over the smooth, pale skin of his hip. Letting her hand wander forward over his hip bone and down the line that separates his thigh and groin, she leans in to purr in his ear.

"I'm soooo hungry." She nips lightly at his earlobe to reinforce her point.

"And I'm afraid we'll both pass out if we try that again on an empty stomach." He reaches over his shoulder and pops a ripe, sweet strawberry in her mouth. She closes her eyes in bliss as she bites into the rare fruit.

"I see your point. What else is in there?" She claps as he pulls out real cheese, juicy tomatoes and a bowl of luscious Picon cherries. "We should get married every day, if it means we get to eat like this."

They share their meal picnic style by the fireplace. As the plate of food dwindles, she slides over to lean against him. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her lightly on the head. He mumbles an "I love you" to her hair.

"Mmmm," she replies. "Me too." She feels so safe, so content here with her naked body pressed against the length of his. For the first time in her life, she feels like she is exactly where she is supposed to be. Next to him she doesn't doubt herself, she doesn't feel the need that compels her to keep everyone else at arm's distance. The tickle of his chest hair against her back brings her back to the moment. A slow, deliberate roll of her hips causes a stir at the small of her back as he responds to her. "Race you to the bedroom."

She darts up and covers the distance to the doorway to the bedroom in just a few strides. Finding it awkward to run in his current condition, he laughs and makes his way to her slowly and gingerly. She throws open the door and pushes him gently inside. She has barely crossed the threshold when she pulls him to her and covers his mouth with hers. She kisses him deeply, with a heat and force that takes his breath away. Lips mash together and teeth scrape lightly across sensitive skin; her tongue darts along the inside of his upper lip, then the lower. One hand in his hair, the other wrapped around his waist, she breaks the kiss to inhale, but quickly moves her mouth to explore the angle of his jaw, the curve of his ear, she drinks in the smell of him. His hands are everywhere at once, stroking her back, her arms, over the smooth curve of her ass. All grace gone at the expense of their passion, they tumble to the bed. She lands half on top of him, with her thigh wedged between his with the most delightful pressure. Noting his body's reaction, she slides her leg up and down, feeling each to and fro increase his passion for her. With regained grace she moves down him, pressing his erection into her stomach, then her breast, before taking him into her mouth. The wet heat makes him gather a fistful of the bedspread in each hand as he moans her name. He feels her slight laugh, obviously pleased with herself, before she increases in both speed and depth, working him up and down until he fears he may go blind from the pleasure.

"Stop." His protest is weak, but he cups a hand around her cheek. She slows her techniques, and then slithers up the bed to lie next to him. His hand quickly finds the soft curls covering her center and he rubs her rhythmically until she begins arching her back to press into his palm. His thumb slips between her folds and rubs smooth circles around her clit. "Now?" He asks, as he rolls between her knees.

"Oh, gods, yes. Now." She opens her thighs wider to accept him as he presses into her. He goes slowly, the feel of her causing his eyes to roll back into his head. With each thrust, he speeds a little, until they are rocking hard and fast against each other and she is screaming (ohmygodsshesscreamingmyname) his name and digging her nails into the tender skin of his ribs. She brings her legs around his waist and he feels the beginnings of her orgasm as he pushes even deeper inside of her. Her hips roll to meet each of his thrusts and they are both slick with sweat and she comes around him with a force neither one of them expects. He follows her into his own explosion of pleasure, and then falls to her side. She looks at him, eyes wide and green and true, and smiles. Wordlessly, they crawl beneath the blankets, still tingling and warm, and snuggle together in the center of the large bed. He is sure he is the luckiest man in the galaxy as he falls asleep with his wife nestled in the crook of his shoulder.

………………………………………………………………………

The next morning is a flurry of activity as they prepare for the public ceremony. They steal a moment early in the morning to share a shower and a quickie before he leaves her to make his own preparations. She slides into a robe and makes a cup of tea in the kitchenette. She has a few hours before the ceremony, and about twenty minutes before Dee and Racetrack are due to help her pull off the act of getting into a wedding dress. She feels herself grinning, and giggles to herself. It should be a crime to be this happy. She notices the spread of clothing around the salon, and hastily gathers it up and tosses it in the bedroom closet and quickly hides the dishes from their picnic in the small oven. Three people in the entire fleet, well, four, if you count the hotelier who was in on the plan, knew that the two of them were already married. No need to fuel any gossip.

She is rinsing out her teacup when her friends arrive.

"We have a lot to do, and not a lot of time. Sit down, Starbuck. Racetrack, you start on her hair, I'll start on nails." Dee scoots a chair next to Kara and plops down in it. "Hand?" Kara complies, offering her right hand to Dee.

In what seems like only a few minutes, the women complete their transformation, and a glance in the mirror gives her pause.

"Wow. Nice!" She nods her head and high-fives her companions. The effect is subtle, but she likes it. Her hair is swept back from her face and held with a simple clip. Dee had only buffed her nails, explaining, as far as she was able to ascertain, there was no more polish anywhere in the fleet.

"We have a minute before you need to get your dress on, and I brought a little present from Cally." Racetrack pulls a flask out of her pocket and offers it to Kara. "I figure you may need a little liquid courage." Kara laughs loudly and takes a good-sized swig before passing it to Dee.

"You have no idea how much I needed that." Kara takes another small swig. "Let's get this show on the road before I chicken out and elope."

………………………………………………………………………

"Its time, son." His father nods towards the door to the conference room that has been converted into a temple for the day. "You ready?"

Lee nods and checks his pocket for the ring for the hundredth time. "Don't screw up. Don't screw up," he mutters under his breath. Stepping across the threshold, he is shocked at the number of people in attendance. Every seat is filled. He realizes quickly that he has no idea who most of these people are. He raises an eyebrow to his father, who smiles slightly. The crowd quiets as the President is escorted to her seat, then turn expectantly towards the back of the room as the processional begins to play. Dee comes first, and smiles at Lee as she makes her way to the front of the room. The music changes, and the crowd stands, blocking his view of the doorway where Kara will enter. He shifts slightly, then he sees her, elegant and beautiful, on the arm of the chief. He can't stop the big, goofy grin spreading across his face, and is tickled to see a matching one on Kara's. At the end of the aisle, the chief hugs her and whispers something in her ear. She laughs then turns to him, reaching out her hands.

"Can you believe this shit?" She whispers so only he can hear, nodding her head slightly at the crowd behind her. He grins at her, and then the ceremony begins.

……………………………………………………………

"Wanna get out of here?" He whispers in her ear as they share a dance. "The cake is cut, the speeches are over, I think it's time for me to make love to my wife."

"I thought you'd never ask."

The end. Finally.