Chapter 3

Dukat woke up, his lips twitching into a smile as the smell of food tickled his nose. The room was already warm and inviting and he breathed in the sweet morning air. Unfortunately, stretching caused every inch of his body to protest, his limbs felt like they had been lite on fire, a raspy groan escaped his lips. The painful reminder brought his mind back to the present and his mood soured. Opening his eyes he saw that he was still on Bajor.

A pleasant voice broke into his revere, "I wasn't sure what you liked to drink so I just got you Raktajino," Kira motioned towards the cup and some food that was on his bedside table, "There's also some clothes that should fit you on the end of the bed."

"Thank you," Dukat's voice was gravelly with sleep and the activities of the previous day.

Dukat debated on speaking but held his tongue, still unsure about his current circumstances.

Kira sighed. She was due back on Deep Space Nine by the end of the day. When she first asked Sisko for a leave of absence she had expected to hear whatever happened, do what needed to be done and go home. Now she realized that she needed more time. She knew that she couldn't keep Dukat indefinitely. Both had to return to their appropriate commands. Kira's only problem was what happened when Dukat returned to Cardassia, she rubbed her face. In the end, she had accomplished very little. She had wasted any opportunity to get information from Dukat or have him answer for his crimes. He had just made her so angry and she had wanted to feel in control and with Dukat in his weakened state, he had played his part rather well. But now what?

She wasn't ashamed to admit it, her anger and arrogance had gotten the better of her and she was seduced by the idea of controlling him. Now she had to face the facts, there was no controlling him.

Her emotions fought within her, this might be her one chance to really help Bajor. She wasn't a captain or a diplomat, she was a resistance fighter and you used what you had available to you. Right now, she had Dukat. There must be something that she could do, he was in a powerful position on Cardassia.

If she did start a relationship with Dukat what would that even mean? Could she make love to him simply so she could control him? Kira was anything but innocent, Prophets, compared to some of her friends she was practically a monster. Not that anyone really knew, she never talked about her past. None of her friends really knew what it was like to be her, to have to live with the blood on one's hands. To take a life, to see the light leave someone's eyes. She had experienced things no person should ever have to experience and she did what needed to be done. This would just be one of those times, another sacrifice for Bajor. Kira glanced over at Dukat, rationalizing her thoughts, it wasn't sharing a bed with him that made her a traitor, no, it would only be if she enjoyed it. What scared her and held her back was her attraction to him, she feared that by giving in she would never come back.

When she was with Bareil she had enjoyed their time together but it was like being continually stuck in the past. They constantly talked about Bajor's growing pains. Their topics always drifted towards the occupation and every time Kira would be reminded of the screams, the blood and the pain. When they made love, she forgot for the moment but she never lost herself completely. Last night was different, last night was the first time that she had truly forgotten everything. For a couple of moments, she wasn't Kira Nerys, resistance fighter, survivor of the occupation of Bajor. No, she was simply Nerys, a woman. For a moment, she finally knew what it was like to be a normal woman.

She glanced over at Dukat who was eating slowly and sipping his Raktajino, he was still sitting half naked in bed and she took the opportunity to really look at his features. She traced his ridges with her eyes. How they continued down his shoulders to his elbows. How his pectorals were outlined, she licked her lips as she looked at the couple of ridges which started around his hips and ran down under the blanket. But soon Dukat would be returned to Cardassia, returned to his wife and her beast would be no more. This was it and yet, she was shocked by how much her heart ached. She was no fool, it wasn't love, but a yearning. Her pagh needed to heal and she felt that Dukat was at least part of the answer, she just didn't know how, she needed to pray for answers.

"What is your wife like?" Kira asked out of the blue.

Dukat frowned, this was not a conversation he expected, or wanted to have, "She is... a good mother. A fine woman."

Kira scrunched her face, "That's it?"

Dukat avoided her eyes, avoiding the question, "Family is important to a Cardassian."

"I asked what she was like Dukat, not cultural norms," Kira pressed, walking over to sit on the bed next to him.

Her red nightgown in stark contrast to his pale grey chest. Dukat bit his tongue, unsure if he should say anything. Cardassian's generally did not share cultural information with outsiders.

As Kira reached up to touch Dukat's cheek, he glanced over, stilling her hand, "It was an arranged marriage. A strategic marriage put together for political reasons. Arranged marriages are not uncommon on Cardassia. It partially depends on your class and station. Those of lower classes are more inclined to marry for love. Meanwhile, higher classes, such as myself, are expected to marry for strategic reasons, it is for the greater good of Cardassia. She is from a very important and prominent family."

Kira frowned, staring at Dukat, trying to see if there was a hint of a lie in his answer, "Do you love her?"

"She is loyal, and takes care of the family. I do the best I can and she does so in kind."

Dukat dared not say more. Kira's brain was running a mile a minute. It sounded like their marriage wasn't overly passionate. Which seems strange given seven children, but then again if they used no form of birth control then that was just the law of averages. It also explained why Dukat took a bajoran lover, one he appeared to care about deeply. Perhaps it is possible for this man to feel love, and for a Bajoran no less, how the world seemed no less cruel to him than it was to her.

Perhaps this was her opportunity. If he was not truly in love with his wife and he fell in love with his Bajoran mistress, who is no more, then perhaps his heart is searching yet again. As far as she was aware Dukat currently had no other lovers. Of course, she had to admit, she didn't know for sure, he could have hundreds. She just had to ask herself, what was she willing to do for Bajor? It didn't have to be real... and no one had to know... 'Prophets help guide me on this path' she silently offered up.

"Major? Is something wrong?" Dukat inquired, unsure why Kira appeared to be staring at him.

"Dukat... Let me love you," Kira whispered, as she reached up to caress his cheek.

Dukat grinned and Kira instantly knew what he was thinking, that finally... everything was going his way. He looked more alert today after having slept but his chest, lip and neck ridges were still swollen and bruised. She felt a flush of arousal thinking about how she was, at least partially, responsible for that situation.

This time the kiss wasn't as fierce. It was still a desperate, hungry kiss but the fire was temporarily cooled. Kira pushed Dukat over and started to kiss down his body. She kissed down the angry tracks that she had made the previous day, soothing the fire there. She kissed along his neck ridges. Her lips licking the bite that she had left, soothing its presence. Dukat moaned at the feel of her lips. His neck arched back as he brought his hands up to explore Kira's body. They still felt heavy and weighted but he forced them to work as he trailed his hands along her arms. Catching his mouth again they kissed. This time they took their time, exploring each other's bodies. This time nothing was stolen or taken.

Kira crawled on top of his lap, straddling him. Dukat groaned as he felt the moisture between her legs, knowing she was wet for him, his member twitched. Kira took her time to trail down his body, removing the sheets from his waist as she went. She was happy to see that Dukat was at full attention as she continued her kisses. She thought for a second, then quickly kissed the tip, Dukat groaned in pleasure and surprise. After a quick lick along his length she brought herself back up his body. Looking him in the eyes she grabbed his member and helped guide it into her. Dukat placed his hands on her hips, keeping her gaze. This time she stayed close, she leaned forward grabbing a kiss, which he eagerly returned.

He had always wanted Kira, like this, in his bed however, he had never expected that dream to come true. Their bodies pressed together. He rolled his hips up towards her as she rolled against him. This time it was slow and they stroked each other at leisure, tasting each other's skins. Dukat leaned back a little, using his fingers he found her clitoris and added some extra stimulation. He watched as Kira's eyes closed, her face contorting in pleasure. It wasn't long before Kira yelled out, her orgasm ripping through her as she continued to ride him. Soon after Dukat gave his own yell as his orgasm followed. She waited until he was done, his body relaxing back on the bed. She leaned over, snuggling against his chest and pulled him into a leisurely kiss.

They both laid like that for a moment, neither knowing what to say, but Dukat was never one to be silent for long, "I knew you couldn't keep your hands off me," He teased.

Kira leaned back so she could consider his face, she raised an eyebrow and pinched his side, "Why do you have to ruin everything?"

"Oww!' Dukat exclaimed.

Kira frowned, there was bad ideas and then there was this. What had she gotten herself into?

"When will I see you again?" Dukat inquired, trailing a finger down Kira's arm.

Kira couldn't help but laugh at his smug attitude. 'Prophets!' His ego was already suffocating her.

"I don't know. I suppose when you're on the station next."

"Well then, I suppose I will be visiting the station more frequently," Dukat smirked.

"Good. You should also bring Ziyal sometime. It would be nice to see her again."

Dukat frowned, before quickly schooling his features, Kira however, caught the movement.

"I thought you were a family man," Kira inquired.

"I am a family man. I would do anything to protect them," Dukat argued, insulted at the slight.

Kira frowned, his statement not ringing true in her head. When it came to Ziyal he had only been looking to protect himself. However, when the time came his actions spoke louder than words, he brought Ziyal back to Cardassia and once again she had a family.

"I really think you should consider it," Kira grinned, leaning in to kiss Dukat.

Breaking away from the kiss, Dukat beamed, "Then it's settled. I will visit the station more often and I will bring Ziyal... at least once."

"And what if I want to see you?" Kira inquired, not quite liking the one-sided nature of this relationship.

"My dear, you can see me whenever you want. Far be it for me to deny a lady pleasure," Dukat teased.

"I better be the only lady you're pleasuring," Kira responded by default, as soon as she said it she cursed herself, this was Dukat they were talking about.

Dukat laughed, "Well, aren't you demanding, but it is as you say. Only *you*."

His smile reached his eyes and he leaned over to capture her lips in a kiss. A small thrill ran through Kira at hearing him say those words, quickly followed by a sickening sensation. His words dripping through his lips like a venomous poison. She recognized it for the lie it was, she was not delusional enough to believe that when he returned to Cardassia he would not be sharing his wife's bed, how easily he lied and how quick her heart was to believe him, she schooled her features, she must never let her heart win over her head.

A small knock on the door once again reminded Kira that real life still existed outside of this bed and that she had some major explaining to do. For one last moment, she pushed everything from her mind and leaned her head back down on Dukat's chest. A hand made its way to the back of her head and cradled it there, a kiss was placed on the top of her head. For a split second, she imagined that this was as it should be, that she was cradled in the arms of a stalwart lover, destined to be one, she desperately ignored how her heart echoed his beats.

(^_^)

Kira did her best to explain to everyone why Dukat was not tied up and was instead happily walking out with Kira to be transported. The looks they gave made Kira second guess her plan but it was the best she had and besides they had suggested it in the first place, Kira huffed. Dukat, for some miracle, merely stood beside Kira, silently watching. Kira turned her attention to the man beside her, smirking.

"What are you grinning about?" Dukat questioned.

Kira couldn't help but laugh, "What are you going to tell your people when they come and collect you?"

Dukat lifted his eyes in obvious surprise, "Perhaps I'll say I got carried away by a lustful Hara cat."

Kira burst out laughing, "And here I thought you would lie."