A/N: Okay, it seems that the majority of my reviewers think I should just switch the story to M...so I'm going to switch it after this chapter. Just a heads up.
Minimal steaminess in this chapter, although there is fluff...I'm waiting for the next one, so I can be a bit more free with the descriptions ;)
Chapter 17: Provocative
Spock wondered if he had gone too far. Nyota had been much more quiet than usual all evening, and had gone to bed without even saying good night to him...it was illogical to be disturbed by something so simple as the absence of two words, but he was.
He had watched her closely throughout dinner- he saw that under her brown skin, she was still flushed, and if he inhaled deeply as he stood beside her, he could smell her arousal. It did not seem that anyone else had noticed...in fact, no one even seemed to have noticed their absence.
He had overheard his father telling T'Shan about the gathering that morning, and later on he and Nyota had walked past the Embassy. He had taken note of the alleyway, which would offer privacy in the darkness of night. It was then that he began to plan his next move in their game...the entire venture had been planned, start to finish, save for the ka'athyra. That, he had done almost on impulse. Nyota had wanted to hear him play...and what better song to play for her, than one that symbolized their lovemaking? It had been a risk to play such a passionate, personal song in public, but he was sure that no one had recognized the hidden connotations in the song. Only his Nyota had known precisely what it was about.
He did feel slightly guilty for bringing her to the very edge of climax before abandoning her. He was usually much more concerned with her pleasure than his, and had never left her needing completion before. But it was a game...and she had started it. He had wanted no part in this from the very beginning, and he was determined to show her that he could contain himself better than she could- he was teaching her a lesson: never tease a Vulcan.
Now it was time for breakfast. He watched as she sat across from him and began to pile her plate with the fresh fruit T'Shan had just gotten from the food center. She was barely meeting his eyes...he had not thought that she was truly angry with him the night before, but perhaps he had been wrong.
"Nyota?" he said her name in a low voice. She looked up from her plate, her dark eyes meeting his without wavering.
"What?" she asked. Spock tilted his head.
"You seem agitated." he replied. She rolled her eyes and speared a piece of fruit with her fork.
"Hmm. Wonder why." she said. Then she smiled. "I'm just trying to think of a good way to get you back."
He wondered what her plan was thus far. He would never admit it her, but he was looking forward to her next move. This game did have its merits...Nyota was very creative, so there was no knowing what she would do...
"Have you formulated any possibilities as of yet?" he asked. Nyota picked up an unsliced, skinned kiwi from her plate, and placed one end of it between her lips, her tongue darting out to taste the fruit, sliding over the green flesh slowly as she kept her eyes on him.
"I'm getting some ideas." she said, her eyes sparkling. Spock watched as she took the kiwi partway into her mouth, sucking on it gently, tongue laving the underside seductively, before biting down.
It did give him certain...thoughts.
He continued to watch her consume the kiwi, until T'Shan came in from the hallway. He tore his eyes away from the enticing scene before him to look at the Vulcan woman.
"T'Pau has contacted me. She requests that Miss Uhura come to her today at 1000 hours for instruction." T'Shan said, her hands folded before her, head bowed as she stood at the head of the table.
"And she shall." Spock said, looking back at Nyota- he was relieved to find that she had finished the kiwi. T'Shan left again- she had errands in the city. They would be alone for at least two hours.
"What sort of instruction?" she asked curiously. "I mean...I don't think she's going to teach me how to seduce you." She grinned.
"I do not believe you need training in that area." Spock replied dryly. "T'Pau must guide you through the particulars of the ceremony. She will also instruct you on how to behave as a Vulcan's wife."
"I see." Nyota said, and pushed away her now-empty plate. She took a sip of her tea before continuing. "And what will you be doing all day, my adun?"
"I do not yet know." Spock replied, folding his hands before him. "I may go to the Embassy."
"Will you be taking any Vulcan women down the alleyway for a quickie?" she teased. Spock rose an eyebrow, which she smiled at. For some reason, she always smiled when his eyebrow went up. It was a mystery he would inquire about at an opportune time in the future.
"As you know, Vulcans are intensely monogamous, Nyota." Spock said, as he stood from the table. "We mate for life."
"It was a joke, Spock." Nyota said, and she stood also, reaching out to take his hand, leading him out into the living room.
"I did not find it humorous."
"Sometimes jokes aren't." she said with a shrug. She pushed him down onto the sofa and joined him, sitting sideways with her legs draped over his lap. "I want to just sit with you for a moment." she explained, somehow knowing even through the closed link that he was wondering what she was up to. She leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her eyes.
"I do not understand. It was my belief that jokes are meant to be humorous." he said, sliding one hand under the long skirt of her gown to stroke one smooth calf.
"Most of the time, yes. But sometimes a joke can just be something that you say without meaning it." Nyota replied, eyes still closed. They did not say anything for several minutes. Spock continued to stroke her leg, almost absentmindedly, and she simply sat there with her eyes shut, enjoying the sensation.
"Nyota, I have been considering what Elder Spock said. I believe I know what happened differently in this time line to bring us together." Spock said. Nyota opened her eyes to look at him.
"What is it?" she asked, and he knew from her tone that she was interested.
"Do you recall what you were studying in Lieutenant Braxton's Physics class when you fell behind and required tutoring?" he asked. Her brow furrowed as she struggled to remember. He really did pity humans for their poor memories.
"I'm not sure. I think it had something to do with black holes." she replied. Once she had said it, her eyes widened. "Oh." she breathed.
"You had been given an assignment about the U.S.S. Kelvin and the theory that the enemy ship came through a black hole." Spock said, moving his fingers up her leg to her knee, drawing idle circles around her kneecap. "The assignment had been worth half the quarter's grade. You sought out my help to explain black holes so you could complete it."
"Huh." Nyota said, now smiling. "Imagine that. All it took was one instructor who assigned me to that project..."
"If Nero had not disrupted this time line, you would not have been assigned to that thesis. You would not have sought my instruction." Spock said. Nyota leaned forward to kiss him, one hand coming up to stroke his jaw.
"I guess something good did come out of all this." she said quietly. "I'm glad I had to do that assignment, even if I hated it at the time. I almost feel sorry for Elder Spock, because he never got to have this." she gestured between them to indicate their relationship.
"He appears to have no regrets. He lived his life well without you." Spock replied. Nyota's eyebrows shot up.
"Are you saying that you're okay with that? You don't care that in an alternate reality, we were never together?"
"It is unnecessary to concern ourselves with it. That reality no longer exists, Nyota. All of that has been changed." Spock replied, sensing danger. What had he said to provoke the anger that was now flashing in her eyes, making her jaw clench, her chin jut out defiantly?
"So you think you would be just fine without me." It was not a question.
"In that reality, I was quite obviously able to exist independently. If we had never been together in this reality as well, I would even now be content with my life. But as we are together, that is quite different." Spock said. Her features softened, and he was relieved. She moved further up on the sofa, so that she was now partially sitting on his lap.
"Of course. I'm being stupid." she said, and laid her head against his shoulder. "It's just...I don't like the fact that it was a fluke that we ended up together. If things had happened like they should have, I would never have had you, and this just feels so right, that I can't imagine my life turning out any different."
"This line of thought is illogical. There is no need to worry over what may have happened. What does matter is what is happening now." Spock replied, placing an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. He opened the link to send her love, and she reciprocated.
"You're very logical, you know that?" she said, and he felt her amusement.
"Thank you, adun'a." he replied, and she gave a short laugh. She laid a hand on his chest, and moved it down to where his heart was. "As for your earlier statement...perhaps the 'fluke' was that we were not together in the other reality...not that we are together in this one."
"What makes you say that?"
"We are obviously very compatible. We are attracted to one another, we are both dedicated to our careers and to Starfleet, we share many interests and have stimulating conversations often. Humans believe in 'soul-mates' do they not?"
Nyota smiled. "Some of us do. I know I do."
"Then you must believe that we are soul-mates. If that is so, we were meant to be together in the other time line as well...something prevented us from it."
"That is a very good theory, Commander." Nyota said teasingly. "And speaking of 'stimulating'..." she smiled as she trailed off, and her hand slid from his side down to his thigh, resting there.
He rose an eyebrow, which she again smiled at, but he did not stop her as her hand inched higher, higher...until she reached her goal. He could have easily suppressed his reaction, it would have taken hardly any effort to control his arousal...but he did not. He closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling slowly as she squeezed him into hardness. She leaned forward and began to nibble on the tip of his right ear...Her hand moved against him slowly, massaging the stiffening flesh...he did not tell her to stop. He could have, but he did not want her to...he fought back a groan, instead using the link to express how much he enjoyed it.
Suddenly, he heard something from outside the house. He shoved her hand away hurriedly, moving her off his lap swiftly, at the same time concentrating on making his lok soften. Nyota was puzzled.
"Spock?" she questioned. He did not reply- there was no time. The front door opened and his father came in. He heard a small sigh from beside him, and felt her disappointment.
"Father." Spock said, standing, completely composed once more. There was not so much as a hint that he had been highly aroused only 20.8 seconds before.
He knew it was illogical, but he resented his father at that moment. Although he knew Nyota would not have finished him off, he had been enjoying it all the same.
"Spock." Sarek said. He glanced to where Nyota still sat, rearranging her skirt around her legs, pointedly not looking up. Spock was satisfied to find that her plan to arouse him had 'backfired'. She had been just as aroused as he had been- and while the effects of his were already gone, she was still grappling with hers.
From the way Sarek's eyebrows rose, Spock knew his father had deduced that they were not as innocent as they tried to seem. He said nothing- much to their relief.
"I have come from a meeting with the Terran ambassadors." Sarek said, turning to walk into the hallway. Spock followed him. "They have agreed to loan five billion credits more. It is not what we hoped for, but it must do."
"How much funding does New Vulcan currently have?" Spock asked. Sarek turned to his son solemnly.
"Thirty billion credits. A dismal amount. Much of that is used to pay for necessities, not for building. If we do not garner more financial support, we will be unable to continue."
"The Terrans do not seem willing to assist us further." Spock replied. "Have you considered turning to other sources? There are other planets in the Federation willing to help, although none as wealthy as Earth.."
They sat at the dining room table to continue their conversation.
___________________________________________________________
Nyota listened in disbelief. Barely a minute ago, she had been feeling him up...and he had definitely liked it...how was he able to talk about finances already? She was barely composed, herself. She wished she had that Vulcan ability.
She stayed on the sofa, listening to the low rumble of masculine voices in the other room. She laid back and closed her eyes. Why did Sarek have to come home right then? She had just been putting her newest plan into action...and it definitely would have left Spock wanting more. But maybe it was good that he had come in before things got too carried away...it would have been extremely embarrassing if he had walked in on a different scene...her plan would just have to wait.
She was almost dozing by the time Spock came back. He sat beside her, touching her cheek.
"I am to escort you to T'Pau's." Spock said. She had almost forgotten that she was supposed to go. She yawned and sat up, pulling at the high collar of her dark gray robe. As she did, she felt something from Spock...
"What are you so smug about?" she asked, frowning. He reached out and pulled down her collar, exposing her neck...and the dark love bites he had left there the night before. She moved his hand away and covered them back up. "Well, those are better than that bite mark you left that one time. I think everyone saw it."
She was talking about a bite mark he had left on the space between her neck and shoulder, shortly after his return to the Enterprise three months before. Ever since then, he had made sure to bite below the clothing line...she didn't understand why he insisted on biting her, but she had grown used to it- she even liked it. It marked her as his.
He was still feeling rather pleased with himself as he led her outside, to the hover-car. Nyota rolled her eyes at him, but she was smiling.
T'Pau's home was clear on the other side of Vafer-tor'es. It looked no different from any other domicile on New Vulcan. It was a one-story, tan-colored stone structure.
"You must go alone." Spock said, and reached over to catch her sleeve just as she was about to leave the hover-car. "I will be here at 1400 hours to get you."
"And?" Nyota asked. The corners of his lips twitched upward.
"My father believes that I will get you at 1500 hours...and I must go to the Embassy before then. He will be unaware of our whereabouts before 1500."
She slowly realized what he was suggesting. She grinned.
"Oh, you just wait, Mr. Spock." she breathed before leaning forward to kiss him. "You'll regret that hour."
"I intend to allow you to exact revenge for my behavior last night." he said in a low voice, and nipped her bottom lip playfully before pulling away. She had to force herself to get out of the vehicle- and when she did, her legs felt like jelly. She hated that he had that effect on her- and all it took was a few words in that low tone he reserved just for her, and one piercing, burning stare.
She made her way up to the house, and paused at the door. Before she could decide whether or not to knock, it opened. She glanced back at the hover-car, where Spock watched her, and walked over the threshold.
The house was dimly lit with candles, the windows covered in heavy drapes, casting everything into semi-darkness. The orange flickering of the candlelight was eerie, and so was the silence.
"The candlelight eases me into meditation when my mind is troubled." came a voice from the shadows. Nyota looked around, and spotted a woman kneeling on the middle of the floor on a cushion. Nyota came closer, and raised her hand in the Vulcan salute.
"Dif-tor heh smusma, T'Pau." Nyota said.
"Sochya eh dif, Ms. Uhura." T'Pau responded. "Sit." she added, gesturing toward a cushion before her. Nyota smoothed her gown over her knees and knelt as T'Pau had. From only three feet away, Nyota had a better view of the Vulcan. She was old- much older than T'Shan. Her hair was heavily streaked with gray, and braided back in an elaborate style. Her robes were simple, with very few embellishments. Her face was heavily lined, her eyes sharp as they reflected the flickering flames that surrounded them.
"S'chn T'Gai Sarek has consulted me regarding your illegitimate bonding to Spock." T'Pau said. Nyota wasn't sure whether or not she was supposed to respond, so she settled with a nod. "I have agreed to assist in the correction of this sacrilege. Know this- I have only agreed because Spock came for the elders on Vulcan before it was destroyed. I still have my life because of him, and Vulcan still has what remains of its culture. What you have done- while not entirely your fault- is despicable to all Vulcans and an insult to our efforts to preserve tradition."
Nyota wanted to wince at the bluntness of T'Pau's words, but she didn't want to convey weakness. She did not look away as the elder continued to study her.
"I shall speak to Spock before the ceremony, also. He will hear much more about this than you will- you are human and cannot be held entirely accountable. Spock was aware of the importance of the wedding ceremony when he established the bond."
T'Pau finally looked away, and Nyota let out the tiniest of relieved sighs. Her dark eyes were cold and hard...not at all like Spock's, which radiated at least some warmth.
"Now that I have properly reprimanded you, I must instruct you on how to behave around Vulcans. You are human and therefore cannot be expected to be one of us...but there are Terran mannerisms that you must abandon when on New Vulcan..."
Nyota listened to the old woman's voice as she ennumerated the many things Nyota could no longer do...she was no longer allowed to smile or touch anyone other than her bond mate in public...she could not speak to elders before being spoken to first...while other humans were allowed to wear Terran clothes on New Vulcan, she was not allowed because by marrying Spock, she was 'becoming' Vulcan...
The list went on. And on. She would have to struggle to remember it all...and then T'Pau made her practice different forms of greetings and demonstrate proper behavior in certain situations.
She decided that she was quite glad that she wasn't going to live on New Vulcan. The restrictions on her behavior and lifestyle were ridiculous.
Once T'Pau was assured that Nyota had learned all of this, she then told her what to expect of the wedding ceremony. By the time 1400 hours came around, she was mentally exhausted.
She said the appropriate farewells to T'Pau and walked out, blinking, into the bright sunshine. The heat, which she had forgotten about while in the surprisingly cool house, stifled her almost immediately.
Nyota had never been happier to see Spock waiting in the hover-car...and she grinned as she got in. They would have a whole hour to themselves...and she planned to use it to torture Spock...
A/N: I know, not much happened in this chapter. But there will be some definite hotness in the next one...don't forget, I'm switching it to M!
I think there is one more chapter after this before the wedding ceremony, and the caves...