Unfinished Business
Chapter 45 : Entertaining Friends
May 2276
They had set aside one evening a week, when he played his ka'athyra in the rec room, and she sang. They enjoyed it, and so did their friends. They often got requests, most of which they could fill. And when they got a request for a song they did not know, often they would make an effort to learn it, if it seemed an appropriate song after they had heard it. Sometimes she would bring her own ka'athyra, and they would play duets. This was well received as well. And occasionally, someone else would sing, either with or without Nyota joining in. It was not the same to him, when someone else sang, but still, it was enjoyable.
He always felt relaxed after an evening spent playing in the rec room, full of pleasant memories. And afterwards, in the privacy of her quarters, or of his, they would curl together, and speak of many things, and touch each other, and caress each other slowly and gently, lingering over it, murmuring softly to one another, until they were overcome with ecstasy. And afterwards, they would sleep, curled about one another, deeply relaxed. He found he much looked forward to those evenings.
It was with some misgivings that he agreed to Nyota's request to hold a small gathering in her quarters, for just their closest friends. He was entirely unsure of this activity, having never done anything like it before. She assured him that it was a normal activity, and that no one would think it odd, but he was still uncertain. She looked at him them, and slowly asked if he felt embarrassed, or too exposed, by this joint activity, and he hastened to assure her that that was most definitely not the case, and that he felt no worry at all about that, for all their close friends were entirely aware by now that they were a couple. And so she relaxed, and smiled again, and was happy, and he was relieved.
The evening of the gathering, he was there early, helping her to move her furniture a bit, putting all the pieces back against the walls, giving more room for people to move about. She had her table filled with plates of small delicacies to nibble on, and a small bar set up, with several different options for people to choose from. She seemed nervous, checking everything over and over, until he came up behind her, and enveloped her in his arms, and told her that everything would go smoothly because she had planned well. She was fine after that, and he relaxed.
Their friends began to trickle in, and fill a plate, and fix a drink, and stand around talking. The room was just large enough that the number of people in it did not feel crowded. He moved about, as he had often seen his father do, talking to each small group, and then moving to another. He found this much more interesting than he had anticipated. Each conversation had its own merits. Perhaps there was more to being an ambassador than he had thought.
The evening ran very smoothly, with much laughter, and Nyota was extremely pleased. And when the last guest had departed, the clean-up went very quickly, and then she was in his arms, telling him how happy she was that they had done this. He found that his misgivings had been entirely unnecessary. He was not even sure at this point why he had had them. And most certainly, this evening had established the fact that they were together, publicly. He found that most satisfying. As did she. And her actions to show that to him were extremely satisfying to both of them.
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Author's Note: I have another obligation and will be unable to post new chapters again until Monday, August 23. Regular new chapters will begin again then.