Chapter Eleven: Real
The sound of the slap was like the sound of shattering glass. In her mind, Hoshi kept hearing the sound, over and over. It wouldn't stop.
She looked at him, really looked at him. She wanted to cry; he looked like a man broken.
Hoshi willed her feet to run and she did. Before she made it to the doors, she felt him pull her back.
She turned to him. "I…I am so…"
He placed his finger on her lip. He leaned in closer and she quivered. "I should be the one apologizing," he whispered. He looked at her intently, and his mouth slowly descended on hers.
"Stop!" She pushed him away. "Why?" she asked in agony.
"Why, what?"
"Is this some sort of way for you to get me into bed?"
"Hoshi…"
"Shut up and listen to me. I am not, and I mean not, going to be another one-night stand for you. Isn't it enough that you get an alien-babe-of-the-week?"
"Alien-babe-of-the-week?"
"Yeah. Let's see, there was Liana, Kaa'itama, Feezal, am I forgetting somebody? How about your shore leave time on Risa? I could keep going on if you want me to."
"Hold it!" Trip said defensively. "Why are you asking this? Why does it even matter?"
"Why shouldn't it! You were about to make me another one of your flings!" She looked away. "I am not just another fling."
"No." Trip shook his head. "You're not another fling. You're real." He closed the space between them.
She could feel his warmth; his body, his breath.
"And this," he lifted her chin, "…this is real." He kissed her.
Trip's mouth was exquisite; his tongue licked her lips, prying it to open, and when they did, his tongue furiously tangled with her own.