First he saw one bare foot, a delicate ankle, the smooth muscular calf all too familiar from the times she'd worn skirts or dresses to the UEO functions and meetings. He'd had the ability to enjoy the sight of her legs publicly at those events but was sure to remain respectful and not stare for too long but stare he did. That was another place and time and in this moment he couldn't help but openly drink in the sight of her. His eyes followed the line of her leg but the familiarity ended at the knee and still the bare skin continued up clear to mid-thigh before disappearing behind the sheet. His eyes settled for a moment where the delicate yet strong fingers of her hand gently lay along her hip. He'd noticed how the sheet had gathered at her small waist fanning slightly wider and shielding the most private parts of her body from his gaze. Continuing onward his eyes took in first her arm then her shoulder and neck.

She had propped herself up on her right elbow allowing her body to angle slightly in his direction and her auburn tresses were down and loose around her face. A gentle smile graced her lips as his cerulean blue eyes locked in on her sable brown ones and in that moment, both could feel the electricity in the air between them.

In a word Nathan was awestruck – My God she's magnificent he thought to himself unconsciously he licked his lips.

Kristin broke the silence first. "Do you intend to stand there all night Captain?"

Nathan's eyes were still locked on hers but he wasn't talking or moving.

"Nathan…?"her voice faltered.

Kristin was becoming uncomfortable with the silence and his lack of any visible reaction. She had known this was risky but could she really have misunderstood the situation that much? She knew she was reaching into the unspoken truths that she was certain lingered between them but she didn't expect stone cold silence. She felt herself flush with embarrassment as her mind raced to determine her next move.

"Uh, I'm sorry, mmmm…perhaps this wasn't…Captain…umm, I mean Nathan…could you…I need a minute to ummm….Oh bloody hell what was I thinking! Could you please hand me my clothes?" she gestured to where she had folded and placed them near the bunk yet out of the way.

As the words tumbled from her lips, he finally calmed his body's reaction to the sight of her before him and as his brain began to catch up, he realized she was asking him for her clothing. In that moment he finally found his voice.

"No..."

"What? Nathan, please, I….I told you, I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have…look if you'll just turn around I'll…."

Before she could finish her sentence he was upon her. His right hand grasped her left shoulder pushing her back against the mattress as his lips crashed against hers and his left hand came up to reach behind her head and neck as he brought his body down beside hers on the bed.

As they broke apart slightly breathless Nathan found his voice again …."I…said…No." the words came out barely louder than a whisper pausing just a moment in between each as he tried to steady himself.

Both of their breathing had become shallow and labored as their bodies reacted to the newly discovered feeling of touching in ways they never thought would ever really come to pass. Nathan allowed the fingers of his right hand to slowly slide from her shoulder, down her arm, tracing the back of her hand before sliding from her fingertip continuing down her thigh as far as he could reach before returning the same path in the opposite direction but instead of stopping at her shoulder they trekked their way deliciously slow across her collarbone before dipping lower on their return to gently glide across line of the sheet grazing the top swell of her breasts before settling back on her left shoulder.

After a few moments, Nathan spoke again. "I must say Doctor, you're trembling."

"I am?" Her voice questioned in a whisper.

Nathan nodded his head before continuing…"Your breathing is a little fast too."

Kristin couldn't tear her eyes away from him as she replied simply with "It is…"

"Kristin…."

"Yes Nathan..."

And with that her head dropped back and her eyes closed as Nathan's lips descended upon her again leaving a blazing trail down her neck.

TBC….