Alekhine's Gun
Chapter 12
She was panting now, her face glistening with exertion, her movements painfully slow.
Determination.
She WOULD get this right! She'd show that pointy-eared slave driver she COULD do it!
Amanda was balanced on the very tips of her toes, knees bent in a mantis-like form, and she was absolutely still. The area around her was still. Waiting... and then…
STRIKE!
She lashed out quickly, spinning back on the balls of her heels as she turned to deliver a high kick. Unfortunately, just as the last 13 other times, she once again miss-calculated her weight and lost her balance, tumbling down to the floor in an ungraceful, and highly undignified lump.
"Ahhhhh!" She screamed into the mat, her wail slightly muffled as she lay there, panting for breath and so angry and frustrated she was torn between laughing and crying.
Sa'taan wasn't there, and she'd chosen to practice on her own in an effort to surprise him. And, if she were honest with herself, it was about old fashioned human pride.
But right about now, her ass was just as bruised as her ego.
"Dr. Grayson, are you injured?"
She started at the deep voice coming from the entryway to the gym and quickly felt her face flush as she looked up and into the face of Sarek.
He had moved quickly from the door to her side and was now so close to her she felt her body flush with his heat.
"No, no. I'm fine. I just fell."
She rose quickly to her feet, brushing her hands on her sweat pants as she tried to look anywhere but in his face.
Vulcan hearing was quite astute and no doubt he'd heard her scream.
To his credit, he did not mention her lack of decorum and merely stood in front of her, hands behind his back.
"I take it you are in practice?"
"If you call it that, then yes, I was practicing. But I think I am just going to go home now."
She moved to head to the exit and was halfway there when his voice stopped her.
"Perhaps I could be of assistance."
-xxx-
She stood stupefied and speechless as the Ambassador walked over to the far wall where a bar was mounted. Her eyes wide, she stared at him, watching as he removed his long coat and slip off his shoes.
A throb began to form at her core as he unbuttoned the tunic he wore and then the undershirt beneath it.
She was staring at a half-naked Vulcan, and it was the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen.
Inwardly, she groaned. Outwardly, she tried to pull her eyes away, but they would not move.
Now he walked back towards her and as he got closer her vision got better. Her eyes lowered to his feet and she refused to look up.
Either he did not notice or just did not remark on her change in demeanor but simply asked, "Are you ready to begin?"
Her mind screamed NO! No she wasn't ready. Because at that moment she wanted nothing more than to run out of the gym and jump head first into a cold shower. Since that was obviously not going to happen, and, coupled with the fact it was a rare moment for the ambassador to even be cordial with her— she reluctantly accepted his help.
"Yes."
"Very well."
He extended his hand to hers and she looked at him with surprise on her face.
"I thought Vulcans didn't like to touch?"
"Be assured, Dr. Grayson, I have no intention on intruding into your mind or thoughts. I am perfectly capable of blocking any emotional transference."
He spoke plainly, but for some reason, she frowned at the statement. It could be interpreted many ways. However, he was waiting on her, and she accepted his hand as they began.
Moments later, she was hotter than ever, her body pressed against his in a way that in ANY culture could be considered fundamentally inappropriate.
"Now, I will guide your arms. Down, slowly…there…"
His chest was against her back, her rear end pressed against his core. Had it been a human male, she knew she'd feel a poke but with him…
She tried to block the thoughts and mental images flittering through her mind…two bodies…much less clothing…
"Focus Dr. Grayson. Bend your knees…"
His knee moved between her legs, forcing them apart as they both bent lower now and his hands moved to her waist.
With ease and little effort, he was able to lift her slightly so she was once again on her toes, knees bent in the now-familiar form of the mantis that she had failed to conquer—yet.
His breath was hot on her neck and she could feel the smoothness of his face against the back of her neck as they moved in tandem, he guiding her through each step.
Then, as her leg rose into the proper position to make the final strike, he quickly spun her body around and released her—sending her flying on her own as the movements she'd tried and failed so many times before came automatically.
Flying leg strike, three punch… dip, roll… up.
With a flourish she came out of the final roll and jumped up with triumph, a smile lightening her face.
"I did it!"
She jumped up and down, the euphoria of the moment temporarily consuming her until she regained some sense and sobered up temporarily.
'Thank you Mr. Ambassador," she said with a slight bow.
He bowed back before her, before moving away towards the far wall.
"Thanks are not required, Dr. Grayson. And you may refer to me as Sarek. It will suffice."
She was surprised, but this time, kept it at bay as she watched the muscles in his back move as he walked.
He began to dress as she knelt on the mats and began a series of stretches. She did not need to do them. It was merely a reason to stay long enough to watch him dress again. She hoped she wasn't being too obvious.
As soon as Sarek had once again put on his long coat, he moved to leave without another word.
"Sarek."
He looked at her from the doorway.
"You can call me Amanda."
-xxx-
Sakketh had been walking through the halls when he turned in the direction of the gym. He peered into the room and quickly looked away from the two figures moving in tandem. He headed straight to Silek's office.
.
.
Sarek retreated quickly to his rooms. Upon entering his suite, he quickly removed his clothing, dropping the garments into the fresher as he headed into his restroom and stepped naked into the sonic shower. A thin film of mist began to coast his body and the slow rumble of the sonics relaxed his body as he tilted his head up and back, resting against the warming tiles. He closed his eyes and exhaled, trying to block the images Amanda had inadvertently transferred to his mind.
II
Sleep was evasive this evening. Amanda tossed and turned in her bed. The night was warm, and a cool ocean breeze made the curtains billow.
Amanda was sweating as she got up and threw off the covers, placing her feet on the soft, plush carpet as she rose and walked out of the room and into the kitchen.
Her condo was luxurious. It was her home, her place of comfort, and she'd worked hard to buy it, and furnish it with all of her favorite things.
Steel and glass, warm teaks, dark browns, bold splashes of oranges and reds as well as mod black-and-white prints adorned the walls.
It was a perfect mix of the ultra-modern and ancient- a blend of late- 20th century and the present. Everything she had, she had earned. It was a work ethic instilled in her from the beginning.
Her home was all she had.
Another breeze blew through the windows, grazing over her moist skin and causing her to shiver. Immediately the sensation brought with it a memory of large, hot hands around her waist, and for a moment, she found herself wanting to know how those hands felt in other places…
With a sigh she opened a cabinet and pulled down her favorite tea blend. Once she'd turned the kettle on, Amanda walked back out to the living room and settled down on the couch.
She looked around her apartment filled with trinkets from her trips, awards and certificates decorating the shelves, and tables.
No family pictures.
Her heart tightened and the familiar pangs of grief hit her. She had not thought about her family in years and had buried those thoughts deep within her mind.
Other people had family. But Amanda had realized long ago that it was not something for her. She was an only child, the product of two only children.
She was only four generations removed from Earth's population control program of the early 21st Century.
It was a time when the governments, in an effort to stop the bleeding of mineral resources, had implemented a one-child policy. First created in the then- Eurasian country of China, it had eventually spread to the rest of the world.
And, while the population dropped by 500 million in the first 100 years, the program had been abandoned when researchers began to notice an alarming increase in mental illness among women and societies, and cultures began to deteriorate. Crime rates spiked as the family structure began to crumble.
Even now, Earth still bore the remnants of that troubled time, though humans had come a long way since then.
But people still had small families, and nowadays, no more than three children.
Her parents had been older when they'd married, and she had been an unexpected, though welcome child. They were later killed in a flitter accident; her grandparents, who had taken her in, had died when she was 15, leaving Amanda to attend boarding schools, and then eventually, off to university. She was a self-made woman.
No family pictures.
No family.
In the background of her thoughts, the tea kettle began to whistle.
-xxx-
Now, settled back into bed, sleep came easier. She quickly welcomed it.
It was hot. Her body was on fire and around her were flames. She ran, the thin, wispy fabric around her body catching the flames and burning off into the heated air around her until she was naked. She tried to outrun the fire, but if pulled at her, drawing her back.
She fell, and began to crawl. Her lungs burned, her eyes stung. Around her the sky turned black with soot and ash. Each motion, each agonizing pull made her shoulders scream. Her knees scraped against the hot ground…and she was tired, so, so tired…how easy it would be to just…sleep... In a ring of fire, her eyes slowly drifted closed and her body stopped its struggle for freedom.
The fire began to ebb and flow, growing at once bright and bursting into a brilliant nova and suddenly, she was aware of falling…down, down… Through the haze of light, she screamed as her body crashed.
Water.
Cool waves crashed over her body as she began to sink deeper and deeper into a tide of blue, the water wrapping around her, enveloping her…holding her…
And then, the waves began to still…and the droplets around her solidified into warm, solid arms….and she felt her body begin to slide into a heated embrace, harder…larger…warm lips tickled the base of her neck…and she turned into their touch…to meet…a mouth that greeted her own with just as much longing…
She opened her eyes and, upon seeing her savior, gasped.
The sun streamed brightly into her room, blinding her as soon as she opened her eyes. Amanda woke up flailing.
She rolled and then fell to the floor and sat panting, trying to forget the image of Sarek she'd seen in her dreams.
Author's Note:
As "She Who Lurks" so eloquently put it in her review, it was indeed in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream where Lysander told Hermia, "The course of true love never did run smooth" . Although my story is no way a Shakespearean fairy tale, that particular line holds true. You'll notice that their story is happening in phases. First, they are drawn intellectually. Now, physically, later on, emotionally. I won't even begin to cite to you the numerous studies but the system of attraction is pretty consistent. Physical, intellectual, emotional.
Also, please note that this story serves as a preamble to my "Prince" series. Many of the elements and themes, especially Sarek's emotional control (or lack thereof depending on how you see it) directly correlate to that storyline.
If you have questions, I am happy to answer them. All comments, good, bad, ugly or indifferent are welcome. This chapter was edited by SpockLikesCats