[USS Charon, Eris Deck, Lounge]
Favoring Brent with an eloquently raised brow, Sakarra stretched her legs on the couch, causing small silk-covered foot and ankles to briefly show from under the heavy dark red fabric of her skirt.
"I should appreciate a fair warning before said celebration so I may initiate the proper precautions."
As in keeping flammable and fragile items far out of reach and possibly send a ship-wide memo to enter the lounge only after due consideration.
Still, it would do the Marines and perhaps some others of the crew good to be granted one evening when senior officers would … not look so closely. After what they had been through, and with their current situation of being 'stuck' as it were, even a Vulcan could pick up on the ever present sensation of a crew getting restless. She would have to breach the subject with the CO and the Security Chief.
The expression on his face was an all too familiar one and the young Vulcan could not help but experience another surge of good humor. Still, he was also exhibiting signs of minor fatigue and no matter how comfortable Sakarra was in the here and now; it would hardly do to make him suffer in return. "While I do find our conversation most agreeable, I believe it is getting rather late, no?"
"Ahh of course. You're right," Brent said as he looked up at the clock that was present on the wall of the lounge. "My apologies for keeping you out so late," he said as he stood up. He waited for her there as he leaned against the wall, waiting for her to put her shoes on join him before they left. "Thank you for coming out with me. I always greatly enjoy your company," he said quietly.
"As I yours." She responded in an equally low voice, and then blinked in mild surprise at herself.
Gathering at least some small measure of her composure, the young Vulcan gracefully got to her feet and decided there was no reason to fuss over stating a simple truth.
Since she did not really want to walk back down the stairs to deck three and through the still sizeable crowd, she motioned towards the lounge doors and the turbolift outside before moving to the tall Marine's side. Lifting her face to study his expression, Sakarra tilted her head slowly to the side "No more apologies for tonight, please. You have been nothing but courteous and if it is late, I might as well claim it was my fault for not noticing sooner."
"As you said no more apologies," he said as the two of them moved out into the hallway. The hour was later than normal and so the ship was on night watch and no one was around to see them. The two of them entered into the turbolift without incident and the ride was uneventful.
He walked with Sakarra, resisting the urge to take her by the arm again as he felt that it would be improper to do it at this time. He exhaled, happy and actually a little bit intoxicated. He smiled as they came to her door. "I believe this is your stop," he said.
"So it is." She could not fail to notice that his demeanor, while polite as ever, indicated he might be experiencing the effects of the drinks and then had to admit that in a way, so was she. Because even though physically Sakarra was just fine, the smile that had appeared in her eyes in response to Brent's, slowly but inevitably lit up her face as well, and for once she did not care.
Even when she noticed a brief flicker of surprise, she merely exhaled softly and murmured a "Good night" while lightly placing her fingertips against his shoulders.
The smile still echoing on her lips, she half-turned towards the door to her quarters.
Brent reached out and stopped her from moving completely. He smiled at her as she still had a smile on her lips. He moved till he was in front of her, his hand moving up and gently cupping her cheek. Since she was a touch telepath she received what he was about to do before a few seconds before he leaned in and kissed Sakarra. His free hand moved around, resting at the small of her back as he held her against him kissing her in the dim light of the corridor outside of her quarters. His hand on her cheek moved down and she felt him lightly place it against her back.
She could have just walked on. And every shred of reason still making itself heard at the back of her mind said she should have. But from the moment the gentle hand touched her face and made her inhale sharply, her body had been way ahead of her mind. Even before he'd pulled her close, the young Vulcan's head fell back and small hands reached up to rest against his shoulders.
Molded against his tall frame, she realized she was already answering the kiss, a familiar warmth slowly rising in her veins, while his arms still held her lightly, almost tentatively.
Unsure whether the jumble of feelings swirling through her mind were his or hers, or maybe both, she knew she should break free now and did not want to. She was dimly aware that her grip on the fabric of his shirt had tightened and ached for the hands pressing against her back to hold her even closer.
Oh damn.
A wave of mirth washed over her when the thought 'Should have expected that, too' flashed through her mind and dispersed, and finally the overwhelming current traveling across her skin won out and she exhaled, allowing herself to simply … feel.
What was the worst that could happen? Even off guard as they both were, she would be able to stop before hurting him, right?
When she responded so favorably he continued. He held her there longer, letting his lips press against hers as pulled her against him in the embrace that felt simply too good to let go of. He held her against him so much that he had threatened to take her off of her feet, as it was he was able to stop as she still stood on the tips of her toes.
It was only after a few minutes that he finally broke the kiss. He drew in his breath slowly but noticeably. It was as if he was inhaling her scent. He was still close to her, dangerously close and his arms still held her almost as tight as they did during the embrace. He wanted to move forward again, to kiss her again. He stopped himself though as a slow smile crept over his face there. "Wow," was all he could manage at first. "Thank you Sakarra," he said softly as his hands began to slacken again to let her go.
"Thank you?" grateful that he was still able to let her go and wishing he would not, she reasserted as much of her will as she could and loosened her hold on him, forcefully pushing back the heat that was already traveling up her spine. Black eyes lit with good humor and something else, contained but waiting, regarded Brent in silence for several heartbeats. How strange she had not noticed before.
And had it not been for his bold move, she still might not have realized it.
So careful still, the way his hands slid across her back as he released his hold, like she were a fragile being. Slowly and deliberately, she raised a hand to his face, lightly tracing a line from his temples across a cool, smooth cheek and another brief smile played across her lips.
She would never understand humans.
"I guess I'm still a little tongue tied," he said leaning his head against her hand as she brought it up against his cheek. "Thank you for the wonderful evening Sakarra. I hope we can do it again soon," he said. As she touched him his hands stopped moving still resting against her back. The urge to kiss her again rose or even just to stay here and hold her like this.
Still so unwaveringly polite.
Awe and curiosity were lingering in the light thread sparked by her warm hand trailing slowly over his features, and a deep, sudden desire she recognized as her own. Whether it was the answer to the arms tightening around her again or simply the inevitable result of lingering so close she could feel his heartbeat, enveloped by his dusky, warm scent – it would be most unwise to continue.
"Yes. And thank you, as well, Brent." Her fingertips slowly moved downwards, until they rested against a shoulder again. There were no words for the joy he had made her feel, and she knew that if she were to show him, things would inevitably … get out of hand. Although Sakarra strongly doubted it would be easy to frighten the man whose clear blue eyes still rested on her upturned face, it would only be polite to let him… consider things.
If only she could get herself to be reasonable.
She moved to gently get him to release his hold and wrapped her arms around him instead, running a hand through already mildly ruffled hair and pulled him down. Just one more kiss. Just one.
Brent could see the signs in her eyes. He leaned down as she ran her hands through his hair. His grip on her strengthened again, pulling her to him. Again their lips met in the passionate embrace in the dim corridor. For whatever reason he considered slowly moving forward, into her quarters. No, best to be polite. She had not invited him in, and he liked her. He did not want to ruin something with her by being so forward. Instead he continued the kiss there his arms holding her against him.
[To be continued …]
Brevet 1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
Lt Cmdr Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm Officer
USS Charon
