DISCLAIMER: The Star Trek characters
are the property of Paramount Studios, Inc and
Viacom. The story contents are the creation and property of Djinn and are
copyright (c) 2012 by Djinn. This story is Rated R.
Should You Know If I Never Tell You?
by Djinn
KirkÕs
tired, heÕs dusty, and heÕs sick of walking. But heÕs got five crewmen behind him,
and he knows they need him to be strong.
He glances back, sees Chapel trudging at the rear, taking readings of
everyone, probably him, too. She
shoots him a sweet smile.
Chris
is happy now. Even though KirkÕs
stolen the ship from Decker and demoted her. SheÕs happy because SpockÕs back. She can resume her goddamn crush on his
best friend.
She
has no idea KirkÕs in love with her.
Primarily because he never told her. But she should have figured it out,
shouldnÕt she? She was his plus one of choice for the months on
Earth after Lori dumped him and before the Enterprise
launched. They laughed, they
danced, they drank...a lot. He thought they connected. Even if they never
fell into bed.
Even
if she always seemed to pull back just when he was about to turn a chaste peck
on the cheek into something else, something more.
As
cockblockers went, she was goddamned effortless. And he doesnÕt honestly know if she did
it on purpose or with absolutely no clue that he wanted her—that he still
wants her.
That
he would break every one of his rules if he thought she wanted him, too.
But
she doesnÕt, so he keeps his stupid, lovesick mouth shut and carries on. Like now, walking across a goddamned
dessert because their hosts are suspicious sons of bitches who donÕt like
visitors beaming directly into their encampments.
ÒJust
a short walk,Ó they said. They
neglected to mention it would be over desert, in this ungodly heat, at
altitude.
ÒHere.Ó A hiss
and then cooling mist in his arm, and suddenly he can breathe better. Her voice, soft and low. ÒI read up on the planet. Brought some tri-ox. I figured youÕd have taken some before
we beamed down. You off your
game?Ó
No
censure, just curiosity. And the
easy familiarity of all those nights spent laughing and dancing and not goddamn
having sex.
He
shrugs. But sheÕs right—he is
off his game. He saw Spock and her
in the mess eating breakfast before beaming down. It threw him, and he forgot all about
the tri-ox heÕd laid out in his quarters. She and Spock were talking, actually
conversing. She looked...happy.
ÒThank
you,Ó he says.
ÒSure.Ó Her voice is the same as always. Low and soothing, and he wants to hear it in his ear as heÕs pulling her on top of
him. He makes a strangled sound and
starts walking faster.
ÒYou
okay?Ó
He
nods and is grateful when she falls back, is not sure what he would do if she
touched him again.
Good
God, heÕs obsessed with her. This
is not good. Not good at all.
##
Caldive is a paradise of a world. Two beautiful women—sisters, if he
understood them right—are sitting on his lap. HeÕs very drunk and heÕs laughing at
them but watching Chris.
Her
hair is shining like black silk in the torchlight. ItÕs not fair. SheÕs nowhere near as beautiful as the
women on his lap. They are drop-dead
perfection as far as he can tell, and he knows he just has to say the word, and
theyÕd lead him off to some Caldivian love tent, and
he could bury his lust in their very willing bodies.
ÒLadies,
IÕm going to have to call it a night.Ó
They
both frown at the same time. He
wonders if they do everything at the same time. That might be interesting.
He
sees Chris glance over at him. She
gives him a grin that isnÕt anything someone who is interested in you would
give you. Someone who is interested
in you would be angry that you have two gorgeous women ready to pleasure you.
ÒScram,
my lovelies.Ó He stands up, nearly
dumping them off his lap. He knows
heÕs being a jerk and gives them his best smile to try to make up for it.
They
look very confused as they wander off to where other crewmen cluster.
He
doesnÕt walk directly over to Chris, stops at the bar first. Downs a drink, then another. Then walks over.
ÒI
want to dance,Ó he says to her.
ÒYou
are very drunk.Ó But she follows
him onto the dance floor, seems to melt into him.
ÒYour
hair looks beautiful in torchlight.Ó
ÒItÕs
just this new conditioner I got.Ó
He
is not sure how to respond to that, and she laughs softly.
ÒI
guess IÕm supposed to say thank you.
But it really is the conditioner.
It costs a fortune. Makes it
thick and shiny.Ó She sighs as she
wraps her arms around his neck, having no idea apparently what that does to
him. ÒWhy are you so drunk?Ó
ÒGuess.Ó
ÒWell,
itÕs not because you couldnÕt find some good looking company, thatÕs for
sure. Were they unbearably stupid
or something?Ó
ÒI
donÕt know. Just
not my type tonight. Why are
you alone? Spock making love to a petri
dish?Ó Whoa, that came out way too
bitter.
Fortunately,
she laughs. And digs into the
pocket of her sweater. ÒOpen your
mouth.Ó
He
does as she says, and she pops in some antitox. He feels the familiar fizzing as it goes
to work. His head starts to clear
up.
ÒWhatÕs
wrong with you, Jim?Ó The music
ends, and she seems uncertain.
ÒI
want another dance.Ó
She
relaxes against him as he leads her into the next dance. ÒSpock is on the ship where he generally
is when there is a party like this and his attendance isnÕt required. You know that.Ó
He
sighs. ÒItÕs been a bad day. Indulge me?Ó ItÕs his old mantra from Earth. ItÕs unfair to use it here when it
hasnÕt been a bad day, but what she doesnÕt know wonÕt hurt her.
ÒIÕm
sorry.Ó She sighs and runs her
hands through his hair for a moment, the way he loves. ÒDonÕt drink so much. ItÕs not good for you.Ó
He
smiles, wishes it was Chris the woman who thinks that and not Chapel the
doctor.
##
He
cannot believe he is skulking through the marketplace of Gamma Alpha III following
Spock and Chris. Chris is laughing
as she walks with Spock, chattering the way she does when she is with someone
sheÕs comfortable with.
When
did she get so goddamned comfortable with Spock? Is she ÒI sleep with youÓ comfortable
with him?
They
stop at a table full of what looks like old books and seem to be debating the
merits of one over the other. He
thinks he sees SpockÕs lips tick up.
SheÕs made Spock smile?
Goddamn
it, this is worse than he thought.
He
knows he should turn and walk away.
But he canÕt force his legs to do it.
Oh
shit, theyÕve turned, so he ducks into a booth full of what appears to be
ladiesÕ undergarments, moves deeper in, smiling and nodding at the woman who is
asking him if he wants a present for a special someone.
He
imagines Chris in any of the items.
Decides that is not productive.
Glances out and sees her and Spock walking by. He waits a few moments, then peeks out.
They have stopped just outside where he is, and Chris sees him.
She
shoots him a puzzled look. He gives
her a strained grin and then ducks back into the booth.
A
moment later, she walks in.
ÒAh,Ó
the woman in the booth says. ÒHere
is the special someone?Ó
Chris
laughs. ÒWhat are you doing?Ó
ÒA
man can dream.Ó He gives her his
best smile. The suave and debonair
Kirk—or so he prays.
She
reaches past him, and he catches a waft of her perfume—God, he loves that
scent—and pulls out a rose nightgown. ÒThis is pretty.Ó
It
is pretty. It looks like it will
fit her. ÒYou should buy it,Ó he
says, imagining her in it. Then
realizes that he wonÕt see it—his best friend probably will.
She
looks at the price tag. ÒOh, I
donÕt think so. They donÕt bargain
on this world.Ó With a smile thatÕs
a little sad, she puts the nightgown back, another waft of perfume accompanying
her action. ÒWell, whatever youÕre
doing in here, have fun.Ó She leaves
him alone.
He
waits till heÕs sure sheÕs gone, then tells the
saleswoman, ÒIÕll take that. Can
you wrap it up?Ó
The
woman in the booth beams at him.
ÒIt will look lovely on her.Ó
ÒYes,
it will.Ó ItÕs monumentally stupid
of him to waste his money on it.
But he does it anyway.
##
Kirk
charges into Sickbay, nearly runs into a nurse. ÒWhere is she? Doctor Chapel?Ó
The
nurse points to the isolation ward.
He sees Bones there and hurries over.
ÒHold
on there, Jim,Ó Bones says, stopping him before he can go into the room where
Chris lies unconscious. ÒSheÕs all
right. I think.Ó
ÒYou
think?Ó
ÒIÕll
know for sure in twenty-four hours.
The antivirals appear to have taken effect. She should sleep for the next eight
hours or so. Come back when your
shift is over. IÕll have more
news.Ó
Kirk
runs his fingers through his hair, paces a little. ÒWhat the hell happened?Ó
ÒI
donÕt know. They told us all the
cases were well contained. They
observed proper protocols. She was
down there longer than the rest of us, wanted to stay and work with the
kids. I shouldnÕt have left her
there.Ó He looks down and
sighs.
ÒI
let you. We both left her
there.Ó Left her there, ran a
routine supply drop-off, and picked her up on the way back. Already sick. He elected to bring her aboard, using
the special medical transporter—against her wishes but with BonesÕ
blessing. Two old fools wanting
their girl back.
ÒSheÕs
gonna be so mad at us when she realizes we beamed her
back on the ship. It was stupid,
Jim. The disease was already on Dirella V. The Enterprise was clean.Ó
ÒIt
still is. We were careful. And we werenÕt leaving her there.Ó He looks at Bones. ÒWe werenÕt.Ó
ÒNo. We werenÕt.Ó
They
both stand and watch her for a long time before Kirk goes back to the bridge.
##
Bones
wasnÕt wrong: mad doesnÕt cover how angry Chris is with them. Fortunately, thereÕs a limit to how much
she can do from isolation.
Kirk
sits in the small booth between the main window and the isolation chamber. ItÕs meant to give some privacy to
whoever is visiting the patient.
SheÕs done chewing him out, has slept some, and now she lies watching
him.
ÒWhyÕd
you bring me back? Really?Ó
ÒI
donÕt leave anyone behind.Ó
ÒA
nice safe answer, Jim.Ó
ÒRemember
that dinner you went to at Admiral DullahanÕs?Ó
She
starts to laugh very softly. ÒOh,
holy crap. The
most boring night of my life.
They sat us at separate tables.
The guy next to me was a spitter. The guy across kept trying to play footsie with me.Ó
ÒExactly. And you got food poisoning from the
chicken.Ó
ÒYes,
I did.Ó She sighs. ÒI said you owed me, didnÕt I?Ó
He
nods. ÒI pay my debts.Ó
ÒThis
was not that kind of debt.Ó
ÒChris,
shut up. IÕll never leave you
behind. And neither will
Bones.Ó It suddenly occurs to him
that Spock has not been by in the hours heÕs been in the booth. ÒAnd neither will Spock,Ó he says,
unsure why he feels it necessary to include her boyfriend if he canÕt bother to
get his ass down to see her.
She
shakes her head. ÒIÕd give anything
for a gin and tonic.Ó
He
laughs. ÒAs soon as youÕre free,
IÕll buy you one, all right?Ó
ÒI
canÕt drink on these antivirals.
IÕll be on them for several weeks.Ó
ÒAs
soon as you can, then. First
G&T is on me.Ó
Her
eyes are closing. She smiles at
him. ItÕs a beautiful sight. ÒIÕll hold you to that.Ó
She
can hold him to anything she wants.
##
Chris
comes into the mess, looks shaky and he motions her over to his booth.
ÒSit. What do you want? IÕll get it.Ó
ÒI
should get sick more often. Get
waited on hand and foot.Ó
He
grins. ÒJust tell me what you
want.Ó
ÒIÕm
not very hungry. Just get me things
that taste good so I want to eat.Ó
He
realizes sheÕs lost weight and nods.
He goes through the line, picking anything he thinks looks remotely good
and comes back with a tray full of food.
She
laughs as she takes in the bounty.
ÒIÕll get sick if I eat all that.Ó
ÒIÕll
help you eat some of it. IÕm still
hungry.Ó
She
picks at the food, but smiles at some of the more sinful bits. ÒThank you.Ó
ÒYouÕre
welcome.Ó He studies her. ÒYou sleeping okay?Ó
ÒDo
I look like IÕm not?Ó She
sighs. ÒDonÕt answer that. I know I look like shit.Ó
He
shakes his head. ÒYouÕre
alive. You look beautiful to me.Ó
ÒWhen
you put it that way...Ó
She takes another bite of a particularly good Danish heÕs helping
her eat. ÒThis is yummy.Ó
ÒIt
is, isnÕt it?Ó He looks down. ÒI was afraid we were going to lose
you—that I was going to lose you.Ó
ÒIÕm
too mean to die.Ó She smiles at
him, a goofily sweet smile that gives lie to the declaration of mean.
ÒI
would be lost if you died.Ó
She
studies him. Then she nods. ÒI know. Me, too. If you did.Ó There is one bite left of the
Danish. ÒYou take it.Ó
ÒNo
way. YouÕre the patient here.Ó
She
doesnÕt argue, just eats it happily.
ÒDo
you want another?Ó
She
nods, and he gets up and cuts the line, grabbing the last one and not feeling
the least bit guilty about it.
##
Kirk
is sitting in the rec lounge watching Chris sitting with Spock and Uhura. She is drinking something clear with
lots of ice, and he can feel his mood darkening as he sees the lemon in
it.
So
much for him buying her that first drink.
He motions the bartender over for a refill on his scotch, decides not to
have him make it a double. This is
not Earth—he does not need to drink his troubles away.
He
is meditating on that concept, staring deeply into the amber liquid of his
single malt, when he feels a soft hand on his shoulder, her husky voice murmuring, ÒBuy a girl that drink?Ó
ÒLooks
like Spock beat me to it.Ó He
doesnÕt even look at her.
ÒThis
is water. Taste it.Ó She pushes the glass toward him.
He
does taste it. After the scotch,
lemon-flavored water tastes horrible—but not as bad as gin would
have. He meets her eyes.
ÒYou
said youÕd buy me my first drink.
So I waited.Ó She smiles at
him, and he thinks he could drown in that smile.
He
turns to the crewman tending bar. ÒBarkeep, one G&T for the lady.Ó
She
slides onto the stool next to him.
ÒWhy are you sitting alone here?
You could have joined us.Ó
He
shrugs.
ÒYouÕre
acting very weird these days. You
know that, right?Ó
He
shrugs again.
The
crewman slides her drink to her, and she picks it up and says, ÒHereÕs to a Jim
whoÕs not quite so strange.Ó
He
softly clinks his glass against hers.
ÒI canÕt promise that.Ó
ÒTry.Ó She leans in and kisses his cheek. ÒThanks for the drink. And thanks for not leaving me on that
planet all alone.Ó
As
she eases away, he has a mad urge to pull her back to him, to kiss her the
right way, on the lips, a deep, fierce, show her how he feels and make no mistake
about it kiss. He resists the urge.
They
talk about safe things the rest of the evening.
##
He
is sitting in his quarters when his chime rings. ÒCome,Ó he says.
Spock
walks in, holding a package. He
hands it to him and says, ÒHappy Birthday, Jim.Ó
Kirk
smiles in surprise and opens the package.
It is a book—antique and very beautiful. ÒDid you get this on Gamma Alpha III?Ó
ÒI
did. Christine helped me pick it
out for you. As you know, Vulcans
do not celebrate birthdays as a rule, but I wanted to make an exception this
year, and I thought she would know what you might like.Ó
ÒVÕger made you sentimental?Ó
Spock
nods a little sheepishly.
ÒAnd
being with Christine made you all mushy inside?Ó
Spock
looks slightly less sure how to answer.
Kirk waves that question away. ÒNever mind. Thank you, Spock. This is beautiful.Ó He gives his friend the best smile he
can. ÒWhatever the reason, I
appreciate it.Ó
ÒChess
tomorrow?Ó
ÒYouÕre
not busy with Christine?Ó
ÒNo.Ó Again Spock seems unsure.
ÒIÕm
sorry. ItÕs none of my damn
business, now is it?Ó He gets up,
claps his arm around SpockÕs shoulder, and says, ÒThen, yes, chess tomorrow. IÕm glad to have you back on the ship,
my friend.Ó
Spock
doesnÕt seem to have any problem answering that. ÒAs I am glad to be back, Jim.Ó He gives Kirk one of his rare almost
smiles and leaves.
##
Jim
carries the wrapped nightgown under his arm, feeling like a damn fool but
knowing he has to do this. He stops
at ChrisÕs door and rings the chime for admittance. The door slides open, and he walks
inside.
ÒJust
the man I was going to hunt down.Ó
She grins at him and then sees the package. ÒOh, no, toots, youÕve got it
backwards. ItÕs your birthday, even if you are the
biggest birthday grouch IÕve ever met.Ó
She gets up, walks over to him, and leads him to the bed, pushing him
down, and for a moment he is willing to swear everlasting devotion to any god
that will make her his birthday present.
But she walks away and grabs a package off her desk and he sighs.
ÒOpen
it, grumpy.Ó She sits down next to
him.
He
sees a small card affixed to the present and opens it first. It says ÒJimÕs Birthday Gift, Part
1.Ó He glances at her and asks,
ÒPart one?Ó
She
laughs and nods.
He
tears open the package, stops when he sees whatÕs inside. The beautiful crystal glasses that
reminded him of the ones his dad used to drink scotch out of. ÒOh, Chris.Ó
ÒYou
admired them so that day. At the antique shop on the way to DullahanÕs
house. I couldnÕt go back
the next day...obviously.Ó
He
laughs gently. ÒSorry about that.Ó
ÒYou
didnÕt prepare the damn chicken.Ó
She rubs his arm. ÒI went
back the day after that, though.
They were still there.Ó
ÒThese
must have cost you a fortune.Ó
ÒWhy
do you think I couldnÕt afford that nightgown?Ó She grins and reaches behind her
pillow. ÒWell, this might have set
me back a bit, too.Ó A
twelve-year-old Macallan lies in her hands with a
little card that says ÒJimÕs Birthday Gift, Part 2.Ó
ÒAre
you kidding me?Ó
ÒI
am not. Only the best for you,
mister.Ó She leans in and he
turns. The kiss he imagines she
meant to go on his cheek lands on his lips.
It
stays on his lips for a long time; he thinks both of them are too surprised to
do much with it.
She
pulls away first. ÒHappy birthday,
Jim.Ó
ÒThank
you.Ó He knows heÕs staring at her, probably a little more helplessly than is smart.
ÒSo,
whatÕs in that package youÕre carrying?Ó
She laughs a little self-consciously. ÒNormally, since itÕs your birthday and
all, IÕd just think it was another gift for you, but seeing as how itÕs pink
wrapping paper with high heels on it...Ó
ÒOh,
yes. This is for you. I got it...I got it because you liked
it.Ó He thrusts it at her almost
angrily. ÒJust...open it.Ó
She
does. She stares at the nightgown,
then at him. ÒYou got this for me.Ó
ÒFor
you...and for Spock.Ó He looks at
the floor, canÕt stand to look at her when he says it.
ÒFor
me...and Spock?Ó She starts to laugh. ÒUmmmmm?Ó She starts to laugh harder.
He
does look at her then—glares at her, in fact. ÒWhat is so goddamned funny about that?Ó
ÒIÕm
not with Spock.Ó She is studying
him as if sheÕs never seen him before.
ÒIs that why youÕve been acting so weird lately?Ó
ÒI
havenÕt been weird.Ó
ÒYouÕve
been beyond weird. YouÕve been
bizarre.Ó
ÒWell,
you try watching the woman you love with your best friend and see how normal
you act.Ó Oh shit, did he just say
that out loud?
She
starts smiling, and itÕs the most amused and happy smile heÕs ever seen her
make. ÒI think IÕm going to go try
on this lovely present. Do you
think thatÕs a good idea?Ó
He
is not entirely sure heÕs heard her right.
ÒTry on...that?Ó
ÒUmm
huh.Ó She is grinning. ÒUnless you think I shouldnÕt.Ó
ÒNo,
no. I think thatÕs an excellent
idea.Ó He stops her before she can
go. ÒI think IÕm going to open this
lovely bottle of scotch. Do you
think thatÕs a good idea?Ó
ÒI
think that is also an excellent idea.Ó
She smiles and itÕs the most seductive smile sheÕs ever given him, and
then she turns and heads into the bathroom.
He
wipes off the beautiful glasses, admiring the way the lights hit them, then
opens the scotch, pouring them each a finger. They donÕt need much—he doesnÕt
want this evening dulled by alcohol, just enhanced by the perfection that is
this amazing bottle of scotch she gave him.
ÒI
think it fits,Ó she says.
He
turns and nearly drops the glasses.
It fits. It
more than fits. ÒOh my,
yes.Ó ItÕs form fitting and he can
tell she has nothing on underneath but itÕs opaque enough that it hides the
good bits for later.
She
blushes and he loves that. She
walks to him slowly. ÒWhy didnÕt
you just say something?Ó
ÒWhy
didnÕt you?Ó
ÒMe? IÕm famous for my inappropriate crush on
Spock. Did you think I was going to
compound it by having one on you?Ó
ÒWell,
IÕm in love with you. It wouldnÕt
have been unrequited.Ó
ÒHow
was I supposed to know that? You
never even tried to kiss me.Ó
ÒI
did. But it never worked out
right.Ó
ÒYou
are a legend, Jim. You get the girl
every single time and you could not close the deal with me in six months?Ó She moves closer. ÒIÕm sorry but all I could think was
that you werenÕt interested in me that way. And I was having so much fun with you
that it was okay if you just wanted to be friends.Ó
ÒBut
you do want more, right?Ó
ÒYes,
I want more, you big idiot.Ó
He
hands her a glass. ÒTo having
more. Right damn now.Ó
ÒHere,
here.Ó She clinks very gently. ÒThese really are beautiful
glasses.Ó She drinks slowly. ÒOh my God, thatÕs good.Ó
ÒWorth
every penny? I know that nightgown
is. I wish IÕd bought you one in
every color.Ó
She
laughs. ÒEvery color would not have
gone with my skin tone.Ó
ÒDetails.Ó He smiles, suddenly in no hurry,
suddenly feeling like himself again.
ÒWow,
you finally look relaxed. Is that
what good scotch does for you?Ó
ÒNo,
thatÕs what you do for me, Chris.Ó
He puts his glass down, takes hers and puts it aside, too, then pulls
her into his arms. ÒDo you think we
can improve on that last kiss?Ó
ÒDead
people could improve on that last kiss.Ó
He
laughs and has to wait a moment to kiss her because she starts laughing, too.
ÒIf
you hadnÕt turned when you did,Ó she says, as she moves in, twining her arms
around his neck, playing with his hair until he moans. Then she kisses him, and it is a great
kiss, and he opens his mouth and lets her play at will, enjoying the feeling of
her wanting him, of her reaching out for him.
Then
he sweeps her up, carries her the short distance to the bed, and lays her down,
following her onto it, easing the lovely rose nightgown up her legs, then up her
thighs until he can see her. He
knows in baseball terms heÕs rounding the bases backwards, but heÕs beyond
caring and he stops at third and feels her arch into his mouth as he sucks and
licks.
ÒJim,
IÕve thought of this so much.Ó
SheÕs writhing underneath him and thatÕs really just the best thing she
could say, that sheÕs imagined this.
It spurs him on to add fingers to the mix, to change the tempo and hold
her legs apart until he hears her calling his name as she comes.
He
moves up to lie beside her, watching her face as she
comes back to him. Her chest is very
flushed—no faking for this girl—and she is breathing hard and the
smile on her face as she looks at him is wondrous.
ÒI
wasnÕt expecting that,Ó she says.
ÒI
like to improvise.Ó He grins and
eases the nightgown straps off her shoulders, pulls the fabric down so her
chest is bared. He has fantasized
about her breasts more times than he would want to admit. His fantasies fell far short of
reality. ÒI am officially in love
with the girls here.Ó
ÒYou
and every other man.Ó She rolls her
eyes as if very bored with the whole thing, but then she moans when he begins
to kiss and lick and suck. He likes
to think heÕs good at this. From
the sounds sheÕs making, he believes he can go on thinking that.
He
is moving back and forth between the two girls, contemplating names for them,
when he feels her trying to take off his shirt.
ÒJim,
take some of these goddamned clothes off.Ó
ÒI
will, donÕt worry. We have all
night, Chris.Ó He shoots her a
grin. Jim Junior is echoing her,
though. He is more than ready to
jump into the action, but Kirk wants to play, wants to get to know her body
this way. There will never be a
first time again.
ÒPlease,
I want you inside me.Ó She seems
quite sincere, and he does like to make his ladies happy, so he allows her to
strip him.
SheÕs
a bit rough and he laughs at her efforts.
ÒA little help would be nice,Ó she mutters.
He
pulls her to him, kisses her, and lets his fingers walk down her body, back to
the place where orgasms are born.
She
throws back her head and moans.
ÒNot that kind of help.Ó
He
admires her level of commitment to his pleasure. But he doesnÕt let up on her, and she
abandons undressing him, is soon writhing under his touch.
Once
she is done, he gets his clothes off, is on top of her. ÒIs this what you want?Ó
ÒFinally,Ó
she says with a smile. ÒJesus, itÕs
like pulling teeth.Ó She looks too
sated for the statement to have much weight.
He
eases into her and closes his eyes.
ÒJim?Ó
ÒItÕs
like coming home.Ó He kisses her,
sighing in relief. ÒI was going
nuts, Chris.Ó
ÒIÕm
right here.Ó She wraps her legs
around him, pulls him into her deeper, and he groans and begins to move. ÒHarder. As hard as you want. I wonÕt break.Ó
He
takes her at her word, secure sheÕll tell him when to
back off. Her eyes are wild and she
has her fingers twined with his.
ÒI
love you,Ó he gets out and she echoes it back as he comes.
He
collapses on her, trying not to crush her but held in place by her strong legs
and arms. ÒChris, IÕm too heavy.Ó
ÒIÕll
say when youÕre too heavy.Ó She is
kissing his neck. ÒI canÕt tell you
the number of times IÕve sent myself to sleep thinking of you doing that to me,
touching myself. I thought it was
one sided. I had no idea you wanted
me.Ó
ÒIn the future, we say what we want, when we want it. No more being quiet and assuming.Ó
She
laughs. ÒOh you think thereÕll be a
repeat of this?Ó She kisses him as
if she wants him to know heÕs kidding.
HeÕs
figured that out already—the stranglehold of her legs holding him close
is a huge clue.
She
lets him go and he slips out, nestles next to her, playing with the girls. She watches him with a grin, then says, ÒYou love them more than you love me.Ó
ÒIt
is possible. I think IÕm going to
name them.Ó
She
laughs. ÒLet me guess: Sis and
Tine?Ó
ÒOoh, I like that. But maybe a bit
too...religious?Ó He sighs as she
plays with his hair. ÒBest birthday
ever, Chris. Best birthday ever.Ó
FIN