Soren stood outside Deanna's door, mentally rehearsing his first movements and willing his breathing to slow.
He buzzed and waited.
The doors opened. 'Hello,' she smiled at him.
'Hello,' he smiled, breathed in her perfume and walked in slowly.
Her dark curly hair was loose and her lips were that distracting shade of red he had seen before.
'How are you?' he turned to face her, trying to match her body language. He always felt more comfortable following than leading.
He surmised that she had not gone to great lengths but she looked stunning. He realised he was staring and quickly thought of something to say.
'I love what you've done with the place.' Her quarters were roomy and inviting.
'Thank you, I was reading a design book by 21st Century designer Helen Remits. She had the theory of mixing minimalism and functionality with warmth.' She purred and he lapped it up, coaxing her for more.
'That's quite the library,' he gestured to her bookcase.
'Yes, I enjoy reading when I have the time. Would you like some wine?' She offered.
'Oh, yes, that would be nice.' He followed her to the kitchen.
They didn't speak as she poured the wine and handed him the glass.
He wondered what her expectations of the evening was. He watched her closely as he took a sip.
'This is nice, what is it?'
'It's a Summer Chinese wine,' she smiled.
Soren laughed quietly. 'Why not?'
Seeing him laugh, made her giggle.
They both knew about the Chinese WWIII back home on Earth. The war started by a water shortage crisis.
'Perhaps we should have rice for dinner…' Soren said, his laugh escalating. '3 billion Chinese can't be wrong!'
Deanna laughed out loud, looking even more beautiful as she did so.
'Careful!' Soren scolded as her wine threatened to spill onto the floor as she rocked with laughter.
As the laughter settled down, an easy rapport settled between them.
'I've been wondering…'
'Yes?' she answered, measuredly.
'Are you able to switch off your empathy or do you always feel what others are feeling?'
'I can turn it down, but not switch it off.' She folded her arms casually, still holding her glass.
'That must be tiring.'
'It can be, yes.' Her eyes pierced him.
'And dangerous, by the sounds of things.' He was aiming for conversational, but the tone was a little forced.
She smiled back at him. 'What about your work, is it difficult?'
'Ah, well… some days are challenging. There's always a lot going on. Organised Chaos, I call it.' He chuckled. 'It depends on what the project is,' he let out his breath and fidgeted with his hands.
'And do you enjoy it?' She emphasised the word 'enjoy'.
'Oh yes, for the most part. Having counsellors call into my lab was pretty exciting, though.'
Deanna merely smiled back at him.
'So, on the train…' Soren said, facing her again.
'Hmm?' Deanna answered, wanting him to finish his question.
He smiled. 'Did you mean to bump into me?'
'What do you think?' She looked over to the wine bottle again, waiting for him. Her poker face displayed.
'You did, didn't you!' he stepped toward her but she quickly moved.
'Would you like some food?' She left the kitchen and walked over to the replicator.
'I've thought about a few suggestions… may I?' he gestured towards her replicator.
'Certainly,' her kind eyes regarding him.
Soren quickly programmed the replicator for his choice of exotic foods.
'Do you have a mitten, please? There's a hot one.'
She collected a mitten from the kitchen and tossed it to him.
'Thanks.'
She took the green beans and rice dish from him and put it on the table she had prepared for them.
'Wow, this looks delicious,' said Deanna as she brought over their wine glasses.
They ate and chatted easily.
'Have some prad prick sod,' it was a Thai noodle dish with veggies. Deanna spooned some onto her plate.
'Mmm!' she let him know she was appreciating the meal.
He quickly wiped his hands onto his napkin, clearing the dishes away.
'Thank you, that was delicious.' She beamed at him, beside the sofa.
'It was your credits that paid for it.'
'We could do your quarters next time,' she flirted.
She sat down on the sofa and it was natural for him to join her. He considered whether the wine had been alcoholic and affected either of them, but decided that it hadn't.
Her olive skin was so alluring beneath her blouse. Soren could scarcely conceal his excitement.
She scratched a hand over her other forearm, batted her lashes at him again, daring him to speak.
'Is this a noisy neighbourhood?' he smiled at her, playfully.
She laughed at the question. 'No, why?'
'I don't know, I just thought this deck was heavily populated, people coming and going… that kind of thing…' he trailed off.
She watched him squirm as he grew uncomfortable with the silence.
She crossed her legs.
He shivered with excitement.
'How long have you been with Starfleet? What was your posting before this?'
She was watching him but she barely listened to his response. She knew she was older than him by 6 years, but he was intelligent and ballsy. His file had told her everything she needed to know.
Soren had one more temptation in store for Deanna.
He quickly ordered 2 macchiatos from the replicator. Handing one to her and he sat down again.
'Mmm, this is delicious! It's coffee and chocolate?'
'Yes, it a macchiato, from Italy on Earth.'
'It's devine,' she purred.
He nodded, hoping she would keep talking but she merely brushed a finger across her bottom lip.
'I have some holodeck time booked.'
Deanna raised her eyebrows. 'Oh?' she prompted.
'On Thursday at 1900 hours. Are you available?'
Biting his lip and willing his hand not to shake, he put his finished cup down on the table as he waited for her response.
'I could be,' still flirting. She set her cup down then stood up and took a step towards him. Something suddenly changed in her demeanour.
'Soren,' her hands were suddenly on his shoulders and around his neck and she kissed him and let herself fall onto him. She kissed him every which way, with no respite. She was the older woman and these were her quarters. She straddled him and continued her onslaught. She was playing by her rules and Soren had no footing.
She saw fit to cease and was beside him on the sofa now, adjusting her blouse.

'That was excellent foreplay earlier,' she told him when she had stopped kissing him.
He could only smile in response, his mouth agape.
'I've never eaten so well.'
'I was prepared to romance you further,' he managed, still out of breath.
'Oh don't worry, we will use that holodeck time.'
She stood up and pulled him to his feet. 'Thank you for a lovely evening.' She pushed him out of her quarters and the doors closed.