A/N: There's a scene in this chapter that may be either hard T or mild M...I'm not sure which it qualifies as, but I just thought I'd warn you if you don't like that sort of thing...I'm telling you, the scene is hot!

Chapter 16: Inflamed

He was planning revenge. She could tell by the way his eyes burned as he looked at her.

She smirked to herself as she lifted a cup of tea to her lips, her elbows resting on the table. T'Shan was serving them breakfast- plomeek broth. Spock sat across from her at the table...Sarek was already at the Embassy for the day.

When she had awoken that morning, she had found Vulcan gowns and robes waiting in her closet. She chose a white gown made of a thin cloth, with a gold-embroidered, beaded belt around the waist. Over that, she wore a high-necked light brown robe, with identical gold stitching. She had pulled her hair back in a simple ponytail to keep it off her neck to complete the look. The clothing was simple, but she enjoyed the modesty it afforded. She rarely got to wear anything aboard the Enterprise that shielded her legs from view...although she suspected that she would soon find the robe to be too much. It was only just after sunrise, after all- the day would get hotter.

Upon entering the dining room, she had gotten the feeling that somehow, Spock appreciated seeing her in Vulcan attire more than he did seeing her in the skimpy Starfleet uniform. Perhaps it was because he knew exactly what was under that gown...

She looked over at him, but he did not look away like anyone else would do when caught staring. He continued to look at her, his gaze not even flickering. She smiled slyly at him as she set down her tea and picked up a spoon. His elbows were on the table, hands clasped together in front of his mouth. He was definitely thinking about the night before.

"Do you have something on your mind?" Nyota asked as she dipped her spoon into the plomeek. She had tried the broth before, and knew it was going to be bland. She wished there was some salt or pepper nearby...

"Nothing that needs to be addressed." Spock replied. He was still looking at her. She decided to reach across the link.

"Then why are you staring at me?" she asked, tasting the broth- yes, definitely bland. It tasted more like warm water than soup. She struggled to keep her face straight as she swallowed it.

"T'Shan, does my father keep flavorings here?" Spock asked.

"He asked me to get some yesterday morning." T'Shan replied. She left for the kitchen, and came back a few seconds later. She carried several different kinds of seasonings...two of which were salt and pepper. Nyota thanked T'Shan as she took them.

"My mother often complained about Vulcan food...even after many years of eating little else." Spock said. "She insisted on having flavorings."

"You didn't answer my question." Nyota said, still amused. "Why are you staring at me?"

"You look particularly appealing today." he replied. She could sense that there was something else, something mischievous...but she didn't prod any further. She felt a thrill run through her, as she wondered what he had planned.

"You're probably still suffering from the after-effects of last night." Nyota said.

"I meditated away any possible after-effects."

"Are you sure?" she asked slyly. He did not reply, but he finally stopped staring at her.

"Osu Sarek suggested that perhaps you should investigate the city more closely today." T'Shan said. "He has taken the hover-vehicle, but it is not far."

"Do you wish to go, Nyota?" Spock asked.

"I wouldn't mind." she replied.

"If you go, you must return by nightfall. There is a gathering tonight at the Embassy, sponsored by a visiting Terran ambassador. You have been invited." T'Shan said, retrieving Spock's empty bowl.

"Is this thing formal?" Nyota asked.

"All such gatherings are, Nyota. It is a diplomatic occasion." Spock replied. "There should be formal attire in your closet."

Nyota did remember seeing a gown that was significantly fancier than the others. She wasn't fond of formal functions, but as long as Spock was there...

Once Nyota was finished eating, she and Spock went outside. The sand was almost blindingly white as they made their way down the road. Squinting, she looked up at Spock.

"Is this whole planet nothing but desert?" she asked.

"No. There are seas, and tropical climates as well. Vafer-tor'es was established here because there is a water source only fifty-seven minutes away. We find arid climates preferable."

"Is Vafer-tor'es the only city being built?" she asked, stepping aside as a Vulcan woman carrying a basket of vegetables passed close by to them.

"At this time, yes. But once Vafer-tor'es is sufficiently established, other Vulcans will move on to other parts of this planet." Spock replied. They walked silently along the road for a few minutes, and Nyota ventured across the bond again. She sensed his sadness.

"It must be hard, to see your people like this." she said.

"It is difficult." Spock replied. "These people have set their lives aside to rebuild their world. Many of the Vulcans you see before you, once held prominent positions in Vulcan society...now they are no more than laborers. Their sacrifice speaks for itself. I once believed I should take my place among them...and perhaps I should have."

Nyota didn't reply to that...she knew he was right. Both she and Starfleet had prevented him from taking his rightful place, and she felt guilty.

"I do not regret my decision, ashayam." Spock said, soothing her. "Even if I did, you cannot be held accountable. It was my decision to make."

They walked silently side-by-side, so close that occasionally their arms brushed against each other. No one on the crowded street noticed them.

She looked around her...there were more Vulcans around today than there had been the day before. Men, women, and children walked along the road, toward the city...their steps disturbed the fine, powdery sand, which rose in a cloud around them. Others were returning from work already, covered in sand which coated their clothing, settling in their hair and severely arched eyebrows, aging them by decades.

Skeletons of unfinished buildings loomed ahead out of the sandy fog. She heard orders being relayed in flat tones, the answering voices just as emotionless. Scaffolding rose high up into the sky, and she watched as stones were raised and lowered into place with machinery that ran on portable energy supplies. She had half-expected them to be using nothing but hammers and saws, but now that she thought about it, she almost laughed aloud at herself. Of course Vulcans wouldn't rely on such primitive tools.

"It would take much too long to finish a single structure." Spock said, looking over at her, raising an eyebrow.

"That's why I want to laugh at myself." Nyota said, and she gestured toward a building nearby that was finished. "What's that?"

"That is the supply center." Spock replied. "Freighters arrive every day to beam down fresh supplies of food, cloth, tools...everything New Vulcan requires, and is so far unable to provide."

"So it's basically a charity center." Nyota said, looking away from it, toward a different building. "Vulcans have never struck me as the type to accept charity willingly."

"It would be illogical to deny help when it is so obviously needed." Spock replied.

"Then why did the ambassadors turn down the offer for Terran workers? I'm sure they could use more workers."

"Perhaps Vulcan pride is still present enough to prevent that." Spock replied. He led her out of the crowd of workers, toward a relatively quiet stretch of road that lined a row of unfinished houses. "There are humans present here on New Vulcan, but they are mostly long-term ambassadors and their families."

They spent the morning and early afternoon surveying the work around them. The more she saw, the more Nyota felt sympathy for the Vulcans. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose everything she held dear, to have to start her whole life over again. This could just as easily have happened to Earth...and it almost had. If Earth had been destroyed as well, neither of them would have homes...

"I do have a home." Spock said as they skirted around a half-built school. "My home is on the Enterprise...with you."

This comment moved her so much that she had to turn away to compose herself.

___________________________________________________________

They returned in time for a midday meal of vegetable stir fry...something Nyota had not expected.

"It was a favorite of my mother's." Spock told her when T'Shan retreated to the kitchen. "T'Shan and my mother were exceptionally close, for a Vulcan and a human. T'Shan learned how to prepare several Terran dishes for her."

T'Shan had yet to speak more than a handful of words to Nyota. She was not impolite, but sometimes she felt like T'Shan was eying her too closely, watching her every move...she wasn't sure that the Vulcan woman liked her.

"She heard you come to my room last night." Spock told her, raising an eyebrow. "I did try to warn you...my father instructed her to listen for any attempts at either of us joining the other. While we are already bonded, we are here for the official ceremony, and normally Vulcans do not sleep together beforehand."

"What makes you think she heard me leave my room?" Nyota asked.

"I heard her tell my father before I came in to breakfast." Spock replied. "It is not only you who is being watched, Nyota. She watches me closely, as well."

"Isn't it illogical to be this overprotective about our virtues?" Nyota asked with a smirk. "We've pretty much destroyed the meaning of virtue."

"Perhaps." Spock replied. He was looking at her in that way again, the same way he had eyed her that morning, his eyes burning and calculating at the same time. That look alone was enough to make heat flood the lower region of her body. She cleared her throat and continued to eat her lunch. Well, one thing was for certain...there would be no more of the 'game' around the house. T'Shan was paying too much attention.

________________________________________________________

Sarek returned to the house as the sun was setting, and by that time both Spock and Nyota were getting ready for the 'gathering'. Nyota stood before the full-length mirror in her room, examining herself from every angle, admiring the gown she was now wearing.

It was dark red, and made of a velvety material that was incredibly soft as she smoothed it against her body. It was simple, with no fancy embroidery or beading, with diamond-shaped cutouts in the back. A sheer, lighter red material covered her arms, collar bones, and the cutouts on her back. The effect was both modest and sensual, showing only glimpses of her skin.

She had straightened her hair and pulled it back in a simple bun after her shower, and with that done, she was ready.

There was a very light knock at the door. "Come in." she called, turning away from the mirror. Spock entered, and stopped at the sight of her, his eyes taking in the snug-fitting bodice and teasing panels of sheer fabric.

"You look..." he seemed to be unable to find an adequate description. He decided on the simple, obvious truth. "Beautiful."

"Thank you." she said, smiling at him. "What do you want?"

"It is time to leave." he said, straightening up and clasping his hands behind his back. "I am to escort you to the hover-car."

She slipped on the red slippers that matched the gown and joined him by the door. "I'm ready, Commander." she said, teasingly.

"I still do not understand why you call me by my rank when we are obviously not on duty." Spock replied as he led her down the hall and to the front door.

"Because it's sexy." she whispered the words into one pointed ear, her breath tickling the sensitive skin. She could have sworn she saw him shiver, just the tiniest bit, and she smiled as she pulled away.

Soon they were seated in the hover-car, and taken to the Embassy. On the way there, Nyota leaned closer to Spock.

"Isn't this kind of conceited? I mean, all the other Vulcans in Vafer-tor'es are poor, barely scraping by...and we're going to a fancy dinner at the Embassy? Wearing formal attire? I feel like a snob."

"The clothing and dinner are sponsored by the same Terrans. Despite the current condition of New Vulcan, diplomacy is ever the same." Spock replied.

"And so is the way diplomacy is presented." Sarek said from the front seat. "I agree that it is 'conceited' as you say...but as we are currently in debt to the Terrans, it would be rude to point that out."

Soon, they were exiting the hover-car and entering the Embassy. Like the buildings surrounding it, it was made of crude stone...but like Sarek's home, it was more than it appeared. It was lit brightly, with a long table along one wall that held a buffet, with smaller tables opposite. A Vulcan woman played a ka'athyra, a Vulcan lute, in a corner. The hauntingly beautiful sounds it made floated over the Terrans and Vulcans that stood talking in small groups.

"It's been a long time since you've played your ka'athyra for me." Nyota commented to Spock as she listened.

"Perhaps I will again for you." Spock replied.

"If you will excuse me, I must speak to someone." Sarek said. "You are free to do as you please."

He left, and Nyota looked around...she didn't know anyone else there, and wasn't sure what the protocol was for introducing oneself to ambassadors and Vulcans. She assumed that she must wait to be introduced. She was about to ask Spock to take her around the room, when she spotted someone...he was exactly Spock's height, and his hair was gray, but there was no mistaking him, even from this distance.

"Spock!" she said, turning to him, her eyes shining. "Why don't you introduce me to yourself?"

Spock followed her gaze across the room, to where his elder self stood conversing with a human ambassador. He nodded once, and they started across the room. Elder Spock saw them coming, and excused himself from his conversation to turn to them.

"Spock." the Ambassador said, and then his eyes fell on Nyota. "I was uninformed that you would be on New Vulcan. Is the Enterprise on shore leave already?"

"No, it is not." Spock replied, clasping his hands behind his back, mirroring his elder version's natural stance. "We are here for the wedding ceremonies."

When Elder Spock's eyebrows shot up, and he looked over at Nyota, she knew right away the answer to two of her questions; this Spock and the Nyota of his time had not been married, and therefore most certainly did not have children.

"Wedding ceremonies." Elder Spock repeated slowly, looking back at his younger self. "Fascinating."

"Do you mean..." Spock also glanced at Nyota. "In your time, you did not marry Nyota?"

"Lieutenant Uhura was a very capable Communications officer, and an excellent colleague. But I assure you that our relationship did not extend beyond our professional one." he replied. "This development is interesting, to say the least."

"I wonder what happened differently in our timeline to change that." Nyota said, frowning slightly. She looked over at her Spock. "I don't think Nero affected anything in my life before entering Starfleet. It must be something to do with you."

The three of them were contemplative for a moment. Then Elder Spock spoke again. "When will the ceremony occur?"

"In five days." Spock replied. He paused. "As the Enterprise is now in the Rigel system, I was unable to have Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy attend. Perhaps you could."

"That would be an honor." Elder Spock replied. "To indulge in a human colloquialism...it is not every day that you have the chance to be a guest at your own wedding."

Nyota grinned at that. Yes, although much older, this was still Spock, with the same dry sense of humor.

"Would you like a drink?" her Spock asked her now. It wasn't until then that she realized that she was even thirsty. He must have felt it over the bond.

"Oh...yes, thank you." Nyota said, and Spock turned to pour her a glass of blue-green kaasa juice. She accepted it with a smile. "You're too sweet." she added. He rose an eyebrow.

"Sweet refers to a flavor. I do not believe I am made of glucose." Spock replied, and she stifled a laugh before taking a sip of her juice. Elder Spock watched the exchange closely.

"It was a pleasure to see you again, Lieutenant Uhura." Elder Spock said. "It had been many years since I saw your lovely visage. However, I must go now...this is, after all, first and foremost a chance for ambassadors to 'mingle'."

He left, and Nyota rose her own eyebrow at Spock. "Lovely visage? Looks like you were smooth in both realities." she said. Then she realized that she had missed out on her opportunity to ask what had become of her other self. Had she ever married at all? But on second thought...now that she knew she didn't end up with Spock, she wasn't sure that she really wanted to know. What had changed in this reality that brought the two of them together?

She was still thinking about this, trying to find even the tiniest change in their fates, when Spock brushed his arm against hers.

"I believe you said earlier that you had not heard me play my ka'athyra in some time?" he asked. Nyota nodded.

"Ye-e-es..." she said, drawing the word out. "What about it?"

Spock looked into the corner, where the Vulcan woman was finishing a song. "Perhaps I could play now. It would not be unacceptable."

"What song will you play?" she asked. Across the link she felt something akin to mischief. She had never thought Spock was capable of mischievousness until they had bonded.

"I will play a song you have not heard before...it is my own invention." he replied. Her interest piqued, she smiled.

"Well, go on, then." she said, gesturing toward the corner as the last notes died away. Spock approached the Vulcan woman, and spoke quietly with her for a few seconds. Nyota saw her nod and then stand, giving Spock her ka'athyra as she moved to the buffet table to get a drink.

Spock seated himself in the recently vacated chair, and warmed up by playing a few random notes. She came closer as he began to play an unfamiliar song.

It started out slow, and Nyota was surprised when it was accompanied by an image in her mind...an image of Spock gently kissing her, one hand cupping her cheek. She closed her eyes briefly, savoring it. She did not open them again until the tempo of the song changed subtly- and with it, so did the image, like a movie...a music vid, almost. As Spock's fingers began to strum slightly faster, the Spock in her mind took the hairband out of her hair, tangling his fingers in the long tresses as he deepened the kiss, massaging her scalp sensuously.

She stared in disbelief, her whole body starting to heat up, as Spock's fingers moved expertly over the ka'athyra strings, just as expertly as the Spock in her mind was now stripping them both of their clothes in between hot, desirous kisses, his fingers all over her body, stroking all of her favorite pleasure points.

Spock closed his eyes as his fingers moved faster on the strings, the tempo definitely starting to pick up now, sounding almost like a heartbeat as the notes were forcefully struck, the music that came from them passionate and erotic, speaking of desire and need, love and fire. She struggled to remain composed as the images in her mind became even more erotic...Spock was now picking her up, setting her down on a bed, kissing her everywhere, pausing between her legs...her own moans of pleasure indistinguishable from long, drawn out notes in the song, accompanying the feverish pitch of the melody...

The notes became hurried, almost flowing together completely as the Spock and Nyota in her mind joined together, bodies hot and slicked with sweat, his breath warm against her neck as he said her name like a chant, biting her deliciously hard.

The song hit its climax, and at the same time, so did the couple in her mind. The notes died away, and there was a pause before it started up again, once more slow, sweet, loving...as the Spock in her head was now gently kissing her again, tucking her hair behind her ears, kissing her eyelids, her cheeks, before sliding off of her and holding her in his arms.

With one last, long note, the song ended. As applause broke out around her, Nyota was startled out of her trance. She looked around...she had almost forgotten that they were not alone...that song had not been for them, it had been for her...but they probably only thought it was a beautifully crafted, passionate song...even the Vulcans did not seem displeased by Spock's talent with the ka'athyra.

It was much too warm in the room. She had to get some fresh air, some time to compose herself...the song still reverberated in her body, as she replayed the images in her head. That had been the single most seductive thing ever...and it had been for her.

She made her way to the door, finding herself short of breath. As soon as the cool air hit her, she sighed in relief...and since it was still overly warm outside, that said something about her current body temperature.

She leaned against a wall to catch her breath, her heart still pounding. Why did he have to do that in front of so many people? If they had been back at the house when he played that- T'Shan be damned- she would have had her way with him right there on the chair.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the wall as a breeze cooled her hot cheeks. She heard a door open, but did not open her eyes until she sensed a warm body in front of her.

"Walk with me, ashayam." Spock said, and she felt his hand on her arm, pulling her away from the wall. She sighed as she followed him.

"When did you write that song?" she asked as he led her away. She dimly realized that he was leading her down an alleyway.

"I did not write it...it simply came to me as I envisioned you." he replied. "I doubt I could replicate it precisely again."

"Where are we going?" Nyota asked.

"Somewhere we will have little chance of being seen or overheard." Spock replied, and she felt his hand on her lower back, guiding her.

"Why would you want to do that?" she asked suspiciously, but he did not reply, and she realized that the link was closed. She began to formulate a theory.

After they had walked some ways away, Spock turned to her. It was almost completely dark in the alleyway, the only lighting being the stars and a distant street light. She was a little intimidated and a lot turned on when he slowly advanced on her, until she was pressed against the wall again, his arms on either side of her so that she had no chance of escape. With his hot body this close, it was hard for her to focus on anything other than the heat again pooling within her.

"Spock?" she questioned, slightly nervous. He was nuzzling his cheek against hers.

"Yes, my Nyota?" he asked.

"What are we doing here?"

He touched her cheek, caressing it, his fingers leaving trails of heat as they slid down her jaw, her neck, and now her collarbone.

"You know why we are here. My father and T'Shan prohibit fraternization in the house. This is one of very few chances for us to be alone."

"What if someone comes this way?" she asked.

"No one will. I estimate only a 1.3 percent chance that anyone will come this way. And even if they do, my hearing is acute enough that we will have plenty of forewarning."

"And what are you planning on doing while we're back here?" Nyota asked, finally allowing herself to touch his chest as she felt reassured of their relative privacy.

"I have realized something." Spock said, as he now ran a finger along the top of her gown's bodice. "I have an unfair advantage over you. I am able to meditate away any desire you may invoke in me...yet you are left to suffer. There are means of achieving your satisfaction that do not require mating."

She felt herself get even warmer as she realized what he was suggesting. So he was going to pleasure her anyway, then? This wasn't quite the point of their game, but she wasn't about to let him in on that fact...

"Oh?" Nyota said, and he kissed her, his lips and tongue hot against hers. She was unable to stifle a soft sigh of satisfaction.

"That gown is quite tantalizing." Spock said as he moved to kiss her jaw, and then her ear, neck..."Perhaps you should keep it...when you tire of it, we can dispose of it in the same manner that we did the gold one."

She couldn't formulate a reply as he sucked gently on a certain spot on her neck. Her eyes closed, as her arms wrapped around his shoulders, bringing him closer to her. She didn't even consider the fact that anyone might come looking for them, anymore. As far as she was concerned, they could mind their own damn business.

She felt his hand move over her breast, and slide down her waist to cup her rear, much as he had done the day before. As he did, he switched to the other side of her neck, finding the sweet spots on that side, too. She dimly became aware that he was inching the skirt of her dress upward...she could feel a breeze on her legs. But she didn't pay any mind to it until she felt his palm against her bare hip.

"Spock..." it was both a plea to stop, and a plea to urge him on. She wasn't sure which she wanted, but as his hand moved to touch the place where she so desperately needed him, her mind was made up. She couldn't restrain the faint whimper that escaped her lips, which was swallowed by him as he kissed her again.

His fingers worked her the same way they had worked the ka'athyra not twenty minutes before. Soon, only her arms around his shoulders were keeping her upright. Her breathing was fast, hard, as she felt a glorious crescendo within her, rising ever upward, her nerves tingling in anticipation, desperate for release. She buried her face against her arm, and she felt his hot breath ghosting against her cheek as he focused on his task.

She could feel herself becoming ever closer, nearing that breaking point, anticipating the waves of ecstasy that would soon wash over her...

And then, right as she was on the verge of completion, he stopped.

She cried out, not in ecstasy, but in frustration.

"Spock!" she said angrily. "What the hell?"

He had allowed the skirt to drop. As the haze lifted from her mind, she felt strength returning to her legs, and she pushed herself away from him.

"This is precisely what you did to me last night." Spock said calmly, stepping away. She glared at him.

"Well- you weren't- I mean, you weren't about to-"

"This is a game of temptation, is it not?" he asked. Her chest was still heaving as she stared at him.

"You said- you said that you had an unfair advantage."

"Yes, it is unfair- for you. But as you initiated this illogical game, I assumed that you would be able to cope with the consequences. I admit, I did mislead you- but I did not lie. If you will recall, you employed similar tactics last night, by saying you had 'changed your mind' in order to get me to allow your actions."

She opened and closed her mouth, and then swallowed hard. She had to admit, he did have a point...he had only done what she had done, albeit to a harsher degree. But this was a game. That still didn't stop her from wanting to strangle him.

"I can't believe you did that to me!" she said, folding her arms over her chest. She still ached for him...

"I promise I will make it up to you in the caves." Spock said, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. "Many times." he added in a whisper against her ear.

"I'm still mad at you. I was so close..." she sighed, and turned away to begin walking back to the Embassy...she just hoped no one would be able to notice her state of arousal. "They're probably wondering where we are."

"I believe we are even once more, Nyota." Spock said as he caught up to her.

"No. We're not." Nyota replied bitterly. "The song of seduction and the torture you just administered counts as two. It's four to three now."

"You are surprisingly fair." Spock said, and slid his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to his side.

"There's still five days, Spock. I guarantee that I will get you back. I don't know how I'll outdo you, but I swear I will."

"You seem surprised that I have played this game well." Spock said.

"I guess I underestimated you." she said darkly. She could see light up ahead, and knew they were getting closer.

"This is only another game of strategy, Nyota." Spock said. "Much like chess."

"I really dislike you right now." she said, but both of them knew that she didn't mean it. He stopped her, and pressed a light kiss to her lips as he reopened the link.

"Five days will not be so long, my ashayam." he said.

But to her, five days had never felt more like an eternity.

And she really, really needed to get back at him.

A/N: So, how was my first attempt at intimate scenes? And it's Poll Time!

Should I:

1. Switch this whole story over to an M rating (because I think after the previous chapter and this one, I may need to show some steaminess in the caves).

2. Just have the caves as a separate chapter and keep this one where it is.

Or:

3. Not do any steaminess at all.

If you want your opinion counted, please vote! Majority rules, so make yourself heard!