Bells Through the Leaves, chapter 7
"Azizi, slow down," pleaded Yusufu. "I ate too much to keep up with you."
"See? That's why I only had a salad. You're too lazy now to even walk at a reasonable pace. Don't you dare start snoring during the recital."
Grinning at the teasing banter, Uhura glanced up at Spock as they followed Yusufu and Milele across Trafalgar Square. The restaurant had been excellent but slow, and now they were rushing to make it to St. Martin-in-the-Fields on time. He wasn't at all ruffled by their pace, those long legs allowing him to cover ground easily, but she noticed that his cheeks and ears were flushed green from the brisk wind.
"It's hard to believe you're leaving tomorrow," she said breathlessly. "We didn't have nearly enough time in the National Gallery or Westminster Abbey. There's just so much that we didn't get to do. I'm not ready for you to go!"
"Except for choosing Saavik's book, you have had little opportunity to shop. You will enjoy exploring the outdoor market tomorrow and spending some time alone with Milele."
"Yes, I know, but I'll still miss you."
From ahead of them, Milele announced, "Here we are! If you all hurry, we won't miss a single note."
They dashed up the marble steps and through the heavy wooden door, but Uhura was only able to take three paces into the interior of the church before she slowed and looked overhead. Milele grabbed her arm and dragged her along while she gaped at the high, vaulted ceiling. Adorned with elaborate, gilded plasterwork, it shone every bit as brightly as the orange and yellow autumn leaves on Sefu's maple tree.
Spock handed her a program as they slid into a long wooden pew, but before she could open it, Milele leaned close and whispered, "Did you see the cherubs?"
"No! Where are they?" Uhura craned her neck, trying to find them.
Pointing, Milele said, "There's one, and there's another."
"Oh, yes! This is incredible."
Suddenly the lights on the walls were replaced by the lights on the stage, so she took one last look at the ceiling and grabbed her program, squinting as she tried to read in the dark. Before she could find what was to be played first, however, the pianist came out and attacked the keyboard without a moment's delay. Uhura smiled and put the program back in her lap. She didn't need it to know what this was. "Bells Through the Leaves." One of her favorites.
She relaxed against the hard seat and basked in the exotic chime-like tones, letting them surround her and take her to a time far away. The thickly textured layers of the music swirled throughout the cavernous room, bouncing off the walls and rising to the ceiling, filling it with sound. She looked up, almost expecting to see that the very atmosphere had changed, but all she found was a murky grayness, the patches of darkly shining gold seeming to dance in the low light. Even the cherubs had all but vanished, peering out of the shadows like tiny angels looking down from heaven.
Barely turning her head, she looked over at Spock. He was intent on the pianist's dazzling technique and didn't realize that she was studying him. As she traced his strong profile with her eyes, a sudden lump constricted her throat. She could look at him like this forever and never get her fill, yet tomorrow they would go their separate ways once more, and she wouldn't see him again until who knew when.
Taking a deep breath, she scooted a little closer and faced the front of the church.
...
Stretched out in bed, Spock listened as Nyota hummed and brushed her teeth at the same time. Although the sound was rather unique, he had no difficulty recognizing the melody. She was still humming when she came to bed.
He turned out the light and pulled her into his arms.
"I am pleased that Ling Chih Yong played 'Clare de lune' for you tonight."
"Me too. I was disappointed that it wasn't on the program, but I should have known that she might save it for the encore. What really surprised me was that she played it twice."
"It is quite amazing how a single member of the audience can encourage the rest of the audience to keep clapping until the musician is obliged to play again."
Pretending to push him away, she said, "You know that it wasn't just me!"
He tightened his grip around her back. "Yes, I know. But you tried your best to encourage her to play it a third time."
Chuckling, she slid her hands around to the back of his neck and gazed at him, her eyes bright in the low light. Her parted lips invited his touch, so he lowered his head and kissed her, savoring the softness of her mouth against his own.
Pressing her back against the mattress, he deepened the kiss, and he felt himself begin to grow hard as she rubbed her torso against him. The thin fabric of her nightgown was slick against his fingers, teasing him with the hint of the flesh beneath when he snaked his hand between their bodies and cupped her breast.
She moaned as he slowly began to undress her, unbuttoning each tiny button down the front as his lips trailed behind his fingers. When the nightgown was open all the way, he slid it off her shoulders and gazed at her nakedness. She was beautiful, her lush breasts rising softly with each breath.
He felt her fingers open the front of his shirt. She skillfully eased it off his shoulders and caressed his chest, then worked her way downward. Ah, yes. Soon. Soon, he would bring her to ecstasy without the dangerous edge of four nights ago. Soon, he would enter her mind with confidence, and not hold himself in check like he had three nights ago. Soon, he would make everything right again for her, and he would express with his actions what he could not express with his words.
To his dismay, he felt his erection begin to subside, and he realized too late that it had been a mistake to think of their earlier difficulties. This could not be; he could not allow his body to betray him. Such a physical response, or lack thereof, was unacceptable. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the sensations, determined to recapture the mood of just moments ago.
He could smell her perfume, its earthy scent combining with the unmistakable scent of her arousal, as she untied the drawstring on his pants and ran her hands around to his back. Sliding her fingers underneath the fabric and grasping his buttocks, she moved close, her breasts brushing his bare chest so that she could whisper moistly in his ear.
"Take your pants off."
His erection faded completely.
A Terran epithet sprang unbidden into his mind. Damn. He pushed it away, along with the other thoughts that threatened to crowd back into his consciousness. Tonight must be memorable, as it would be their last night in the same bed for what might be a long time. Obviously, however, the current approach was not working. Therefore, he must alter his approach.
He took a deep breath and unclenched the muscles in his jaw, then removed his pants and tossed them onto the floor. Instead of returning to her arms as she expected, he slid down to the foot of the bed and touched his tongue to her clitoris.
Her reaction was instantaneous and rewarding. Arching her back, she wrapped her legs around his neck and hissed, "Yes."
He began to lap her gently, and when she moaned, he intensified his efforts. Within moments she tensed and clutched his shoulders, and although she was very quiet, he knew that she had reached orgasm. Very good. This he could do, even if he could not do more. Although tasting her and bringing her such pleasure had not helped him to become hard again, he could be certain that he satisfied her using other techniques. He continued until she cried out softly again, and again.
Finally, she grasped his arms and pulled him up, eager to have him inside her. He still held out one faint, illogical hope that his body would cooperate once in this position, but when she reached down to attempt to guide him into her, she did not find what she sought.
She opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Uh... Spock?"
He turned his face away so that he did not have to look at her. "I am sorry, Nyota."
She moved her other hand between them and fondled him. "Maybe if I do this."
He pulled away and rolled heavily onto his back. "It will not work."
She was quiet for a long moment but finally said, "Don't worry about it, Spock. It happens to all men sometimes."
"It has never happened to me."
She smiled gently. "Well, as I've heard you say before, 'for everything there is a first time.'"
"No." He shook his head in frustration. "I am sorry, Nyota. I seem to be saying that overmuch recently..." Unable to suppress the impulse, he rubbed his forehead. "It was highly important to me that tonight be good between us, since it is unlikely we will be together again for many months. I wished to compensate for the fact that our sexual relations on this trip have been less than satisfactory—"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute." She propped her forearms on his chest and forced him to look in her eyes. "Maybe things have changed between us a little recently, but heavens, we've been together a long time and we're bound to have our ups and downs. The sex was just fine. And it will be tonight, too. Can't I just try?"
He studied her face. Although she was trying very hard to keep the tone of their interaction casual, he could see the concern beneath her gentle smile. He feared that the experience would end up being even more disappointing than it already was for both of them, but he could not tell her no.
"Very well."
"Good. You just relax. Close your eyes."
She watched him until he complied, then he felt her shift on the bed. Uncertain what she was going to do, he jumped slightly when he felt her cool lips on his penis.
"Spock." Exasperation tinged her voice. "Relax."
"Forgive me." He settled back down onto the pillow.
This time, he was not surprised when she took him into her mouth, and as he focused on it, he decided that the sensation was rather stimulating. He ran through a series of basic relaxation exercises, and when he completed them he was pleased to discover that he had become semi-erect. Nyota was good at this. Very good...
She drew the full length of him into her mouth, sucking with increasing pressure, and he groaned. He was not fully tumescent, but perhaps this would be enough.
"Nyota... Ah, yes, yes. Now..."
She quickly straddled him. It took a small amount of effort, but soon he was inside her and they were moving together. The wind was blowing outside, and he could hear the leaves slapping against the window as she stroked him with her body, her hands resting on his shoulders and her eyes holding his own.
Reaching for her face, he touched the contact points and eased his mind into hers. Her thoughts were in turmoil—worry, relief, love, alarm, longing. He could not distinguish where one emotion ended and the next began, so he simply wrapped his thoughts around hers in an effort to reassure her.
Their separate tensions built quickly, and he saw in her mind the same fear he had in his own, that if they tried to delay their release the tension might simply dissipate without resolution. She nodded to encourage him, and with a final, quick rush he threw his head back and emptied himself deep into her body. An instant later, he knew through the link that she had followed him, and he continued to pump until he could not move again.
She lowered herself onto his chest and kissed him. They did not speak. Although they had achieved their goal, it was less than satisfying for both of them, and he understood that neither of them knew what else could be said.
Finally, she rolled onto her side and he pressed himself against her back. It took them both a long time to fall asleep.
End chapter 7