Chapter Nineteen: Cooling Down

During my last quarter at the academy, I received repeated requests from Beverly and Capt. Picard to sing lullabies and to read stories to Shinzon, via various communiqués. It was a pleasure for me to do so, but it cut into some of my study time since Shinzon would cry bloody murder whenever I got ready to end each communiqué. Data came up with an idea to replay my old communiqués, but Shinzon was very bright, even as a toddler. He knew the difference between my live voice and my recorded messages. Eventually, Shinzon got used to me being gone, but I found myself heartbroken. I no longer had a child to depend on me. I felt deprived, and the thought of children dominated my mind. Data and I had spoken about the subject several times. Clearly, it was impossible to have a biological child together, but we discussed numerous options; adoption and creating an android together topped the list. However, hearing about Data's experience with his daughter, Lal, unnerved me. I didn't want him to go through the pain of losing another child, but realized that there was an element of risk with all our options. We decided that the most reasonable option we had was to adopt… when the time was right. After all, we had yet to marry.

Once I graduated the academy, I was surprised to be temporarily assigned to the Enterprise. The word 'temporarily' concerned me. I approached Data about it, but he reassured me that nothing would get in the way of our relationship. It felt odd that my fiancé was also my superior officer. Nevertheless, we always managed to maintain a professional relationship when on-duty. I often slept over in Data's quarters since I had unofficially moved in after our engagement.

However, for a number of weeks since my return to the Enterprise, he seemed to avoid being intimate with me. He would often make excuses that I needed to rest, even though I didn't feel tired. Seeds of doubt sprouted in my mind as he spent more and more time working at his console and in his lab — even when it wasn't demanded of him. He seemed to prefer work in lieu of being with me. I felt insecure and thought he no longer felt attracted to me. I thought that his feelings had changed during our time apart. He even mentioned that he no longer wanted to discuss the possibility of adopting a child, but he still wanted to marry me. I became terrified that we were headed for a childless, sexless marriage.

I usually avoided speaking to anyone about my personal matters; particularly my relationship with Data, but I became desperate. I spoke to Counselor Troi to figure out what I had done wrong. She mentioned that couples sometimes go through a rough patch and that it could take a while to overcome it. She also mentioned that communication was critical and suggested I speak to Data about my concerns. Somehow, I just knew she would say that! I spent an entire day working up the courage to speak to him and figuring out just how I approach him about the uncomfortable subject.

Later that evening, after a soothing shower, I dressed in the silky blue negligee Data had given me on the night he proposed. I wore my hair in loose waves instead of the twist I usually kept it in. I was very nervous about approaching Data about the subject of our recent dry spell. He was sitting at his console, studiously entering commands and analyzing information. Hearing my soft footsteps enter the room, he looked at me with a smile as I approached him. However, he quickly pressed a button to switch the information on his screen. It was almost like he was hiding something from me. I was too distracted to pay full attention to it though.

"Data, can we talk for a moment?" I asked gingerly.

"Of course." He answered and he pulled me to sit on his lap, "What is on your mind?"

"I'm not exactly sure how to say this. It's kind of an embarrassing subject for me to talk about."

"Is this about the fact that we have not been intimate since your return to the Enterprise?"

"Well, I guess we can add telepathy to your list of abilities." I joked nervously.

"Kadalynn, I merely used the process of elimination to determine the nature of your concern. Since there are very few subjects you are uncomfortable discussing with me, it was simple process."

"Of course." I replied still averting his gaze, which he raised to meet his by lifting my chin with his hand.

"Do not feel ashamed. It is perfectly normal to feel concerned about that aspect of our relationship. Please know that you have done nothing wrong. I was simply… working something out, but my love for you has not changed. Nor has my attraction, desire or need for you." He said as he softly planted a trail of kisses from the nape of my neck to my shoulder, pulling the strap of my gown down to do so. I closed my eyes and cradled his head before nuzzling his hair, taking in the fresh clean scent left behind from his shampoo. His lustrous locks felt like silk against my face. I breathed deeply in anticipation and he nudged me to stand up. I made a move to walk towards the bedroom, but he gently took hold of my arm and regarded me with a naughty smile. My heart began to palpitate as I wondered what he had in mind. While he held my arm with one hand, the other rapidly entered a string of commands into his console.

He's working at a time like this?! I've heard of multi-tasking, but this is ridiculous! I thought.

Once he was done, he pulled me close to face him and I now stood between him and his console, my rear just grazing the edge of it. He gently parted my legs with his powerful thighs as he guided me to straddle him, lifting my gown to my mid-thigh to reduce restriction of movement.

"Data, what are you doing?" I asked, but he silenced me with a passionate kiss as he lowered me onto his lap and pressed my body against his. I could feel his sculpted muscles through his uniform.

He trailed another path of kisses, this time down my throat to my cleavage before burying his face in my bosom, breathing in the scent of my perfume. Caressing my body anew, he slowly peeled the top of my gown from my shoulders letting it drop around my waist. Slowly, I opened the front of his uniform before he shed it off, revealing his chiseled body. I glided my trembling fingers down his smooth chest before trailing kisses from his pectorals up to his mouth. He stood up, taking me with him and proceeded to lower me onto the console.

"Data, wait. Your computer…" I said with concern that having me sit on the console might push the wrong buttons.

"There is no need for concern. I have locked out the controls." He whispered between kisses as he leaned me backwards, causing me to arch my back slightly.

My gown still draped from my hips as he slid a hand underneath to remove my panties, letting them drop to the floor.

We held each other tightly as we converged and expressed our love for one another.

I don't know what got into Data that night, but he was insatiable. It was like he was attempting to make up for lost time! By the next day, my body was slightly sore and I was exhausted, but very satisfied. This turned into a routine that went on daily for nearly a month. It gradually took its toll on my energy. Every time I tried to tell Data that we needed to tone things down a bit, he'd get me in the mood before I could finish my statement. I just couldn't say no to the guy! The dizzying heights of passion he'd repeatedly take me to were just too addicting to give up.

I wish I could say that our experience was private, but our intense lovemaking was a distraction to one other member of the ship and it was embarrassing when we were approached about it one day.

Data and I had just finished making love one day before we were to report for bridge duty. There was enough time for both of us to shower together, which wasn't such a great idea since we barely made it out to report for duty in time. When we arrived on the bridge, everything was dead silent and everyone had uncomfortable looks on their faces. Counselor Troi had tears in her eyes and a look of wide-eyed arousal on her face. She was breathing rapidly; her face was flushed as sweat glistened from her forehead. She trembled and hung from Cmdr. Riker's arm as she was escorted to her quarters to recover. It was clear she was embarrassed. Before they entered the turbolift, she stopped to address me and Data with pleading eyes.

"Please… just stop it, you two. At least for a little while. I can't work like this!" she exclaimed tremulously.

For a while prior to the incident, Data and I suspected the counselor may have been picking up minor, occasional echoes of our passion and excitement. She never told us about it, we she didn't need to; our suspicions sprang from her sudden change in behavior around us. Counselor Troi would often become flustered in our presence, sometimes even blushing. However, that day, the echo was apparently so intense; she alarmed everyone on the bridge by screaming and writhing in her chair. Cmdr. Riker seemed particularly upset with me and Data for causing his future wife to be seen in such a vulnerable manner in public, but we honestly didn't know it would happen. I felt just as embarrassed as the counselor, if not more. I decided that Data and I should cool off for a few weeks. After all, Cmdr. Riker and Counselor Troi would be leaving the Enterprise after their wedding and Data would be the new first officer.

However, cooling things off took more work than I thought. I had temporarily retired all my gowns and wear oversized, dull looking pajamas. However, that wasn't enough since one night while I was asleep; I accidentally brushed up against him. I awoke to passionate, intoxicating kisses and caresses which I eagerly returned. We almost surrendered to them before tearing ourselves away from each other. After that night, we decided to sleep separately; I on the bed and Data on the sofa in the next room. Even still, we both experienced erotic dreams about each other during our modified sleeping arrangement. It became unbearable for us to be around each other yet not able to touch. It became a cruel, yet intriguing game of how long the other could last without tasting the sweet, forbidden fruit of our passion.