The Book

The most precious times were when nothing was actually happening, when Kathryn got the chance to relax and forget about her duties for a few hours. She didn't really forget about them, but managed to push them out of her mind. Then she would enjoy herself in a hot bubble bath, soaking in it until her skin was all shriveled up. After it she would allow her skin the luxury of body lotion, slowly creaming every square centimeter she could reach. The ritual would continue with Kathryn changing into her nightgown and robe, settling on her couch where she would read a romantic novel. In order to make herself more comfortable there she would put all pillows she could get behind her back and under her feet. That evening was no exception.

Having gone through all parts of her relaxing ritual, Kathryn was now stretched out on the couch, reading as her door chime sounded. She let out a low groan. Apparently, her luck had left her. Even when she was supposed to not be bothered someone seemed to have such an important issue that only the Captain could handle. She walked to the doors, opened them and was about to ask whoever wanted to talk to her what the matter was. Her mouth shut again since the corridor was completely empty. Stepping back and letting the doors close again Kathryn noticed a book, lying near her doorway. Her curiosity woken, she picked it up and carried it inside, settling back on her couch. The book looked quite interesting. The fact that it was a real book, leather-bound and printed on paper, was the most interesting part, actually. Slowly, she let her finger trail along the surface, feeling the smooth material. That was when she first noticed the title, imprinted in golden letters.

Kamasutra.

The feeling that she had heard of it before nagged at Kathryn's mind, but she couldn't pinpoint when or where it had been. Unable to hold her curiosity in check any longer she opened it and began to read the first few lines. After two pages she came to the conclusion that it was some sort of textbook, teaching the reader sixty-four ways in which they could give their lover pleasure. That was when realization dawned upon Kathryn. She d heard about this work before, she was now certain of it, but where and when she couldn't remember. Maybe it had been back during her days at the Academy that she d heard about it from other cadets. Say, from one cadet in particular. Being the girls' prince charming, Will Riker was the name she associated immediately with things like love-teachings. That had been the reason she didn't want to have anything to do with this lascivious piece of writing, even if it was thousands of years old.

Kamasutra.

She had to admit, though, that the title of the book promised interesting in a mysterious way. And now that she d read a part of it, she also had to admit that she didn't find it as lascivious as she d deemed it to be. It was very down to earth and straightforward, but in no way was it offending, on the contrary. In addition to that, she wasn't a cadet of sixteen or seventeen years anymore, but a mature woman who s made her own experience in this regard. So what harm could it do to go on reading? If it aroused her, then fine. If not, she wouldn't lose anything.

The only missing thing was the reason and the person who had given the book to her. Kathryn's mind went through all possibilities. It could have been Tom Paris, for instance, yet he would dare to be demoted again. If she thought about it further, that was downright ridiculous. Paris was way too busy with B'Elanna and her pregnancy. Kathryn smiled at this thought, imagining her chief engineer scowling and yelling at the poor guy. Since the morning sickness had started B'Elanna's Klingon side had come out more often, and Tom always ended up in Sickbay after a fight.

Okay, it hadn't been Tom, but who else could it have been? Harry was still innocent and most likely not responsible. Sure, Tom had had some influence on him, but it hadn't been quite enough to become daring. Tuvok? No, it wouldn't have been the logical thing to do. Seven? Again a smile appeared on Kathryn's lips as she pictured Seven saying that copulation was irrelevant except for reproduction, maybe. So that left Chakotay, although she had never thought of Chakotay doing such a thing. It was just too bold a move on his part. Realizing that her only option to be sure was to ask him, Kathryn got up and left her quarters, the book in her hands. Having already taken a few steps, but not paying any attention, Kathryn bumped right into Chakotay. On a reflex he caught her to keep her from falling. The book, however, went flying to the floor. Noticing that, Chakotay's gaze changed between it and the exact replica of it he was holding in his hands.

"Let me guess. Your door chimed and you found that book in front of your quarters," Chakotay said.

"How do you know?"

He pointed at his copy. She hadn't noticed it until then. "Because of this. I got it the same way."

"Oh," was all Kathryn replied. After a moment she gestured to her quarters. Standing in the corridor any longer wasn't a appropriate behavior, considering that they were wearing only robes and were barefoot. Chakotay picked up her copy and followed her inside.

While he sat down on her couch Kathryn went to the replicator, ordering two cups of coffee.

"Any ideas as to who gave us the books?" she asked upon returning and sat beside him, shifting position until she was somewhat comfortable again. She sat with her feet tucked under her and took a sip of her coffee.

"Not anymore," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Chakotay accepted the cup she offered him before he replied. "Well, the only person that came to my mind was you."

Kathryn almost choked on her coffee. "Me?"

"Uh . . . yes. Who do you think has done it?"

She actually blushed crimson when she remembered that she had thought he had done it. "At first I thought it was you," Kathryn eventually said.

He discharged his dimples, knowing full well what effect they had on her. "I see . . . and why would I do something like that?"

"I don't know. But you were the only person left after I had gone through all possibilities."

"Same here." Chakotay handed Kathryn her copy of the Kamasutra. "Want to read a little more? The book seems to give quite valuable advice."

*

Some time during their silent reading together Kathryn had placed her feet in his lap. Since she wasn't used to sharing the couch while reading a book or something she figured that she might as well get a little more comfortable. Chakotay, though, had been startled at first but soon had relaxed again and hadn't seemed to mind at all.

"Chakotay, what are you doing?" Kathryn asked curiously.

"I'm following my intuition. The author insists on getting relaxed before . . ." Chakotay hesitated a bit before he continued. His pause wasn't lost on Kathryn, though, who suddenly was getting fully aware of what the book and their joint reading might entail. But on the other hand was she sure that Chakotay would never do anything to her she didn't want him to do. "Do you want me to stop?"

His hands masterfully worked out all remaining knots in her calves, slowly massaging their way up to her knees and back down. His fingers alternated pressure from gentle to firm.

"Don't you dare. That feels good," she breathed. Although she knew it wouldn't be fair on him to let him in on her that much and make him stop then, did she not want to stop him right now. Besides, who knew what her decision would be once she d have to make it.

Sinking further into the couch, Kathryn remained reading the book and enjoying the feel of Chakotay's hands. He switched to long strokes of her legs, starting on the bottom and finally caressing the soft inside of her legs, careful to not touch anything but them. He repeated the movement several times, each succeeding one a little firmer in its touch.

"Kathryn, change your position. I'd like to help with your shoulders, too."

She did as she was told, turning her back to him, and soon she felt her robe being pushed aside. As his broad hands reached her shoulders, Chakotay took his time to gently knead the muscles there until he felt the knots loosen. All the while Kathryn kept reading Kamasutra, now coming to the part in which different positions of love- making were described in word and picture. The description of the various ways of kissing and caressing and biting had been harmless in comparison to what Vatsyayana was describing now and in full detail. Kathryn wasn't so sure any longer whether it was fine for her if her reading aroused her.

"Do you think this is humanly possible?" Kathryn asked, pointing to a specific picture that showed two people engaged in a rather bizarre sexual activity. The angle of their joining seemed strange and uncomfortable, but the author insisted it brought great satisfaction.

Looking over her shoulders, Chakotay realized what she was talking about. "It appears weird, but I suppose it can be managed. Though I don't know how, I've never done this before," he added with a chuckle.

Since he was finished massaging her, he leaned back into the corner of the couch, taking Kathryn with him and settling her between his legs. Her back rested against his solid chest while she put her head on his shoulder, allowing him to read together with her. Now and then one or both of them would giggle about the absurd yet interesting positions mentioned or pictured in the book, becoming more excited with each new paragraph they read. Eventually, Chakotay's hands resumed their earlier exploration of Kathryn's skin, more thoroughly this time, moving over her pale skin and over her pink night-gown. He was a little surprised that she allowed him to continue, but then again she had already allowed a lot to happen.

Kathryn arched her back slightly, granting him better access. She moaned quietly as his hands glided over her stomach and up her sides, brushing the sides of her breasts lightly in passing. Chakotay let his fingers graze over her small form, moving slowly to her firm breasts. He flattened his broad palms against her ribs, sliding them down and under her breasts, cupping them gently and brushing his thumbs over her erect nipples that were pressing against the fabric. A gasp escaped Kathryn's throat as the sensation sent a shiver down her spine. He blew his warm breath into her ear, making her tremble once more before his mouth captured hers. Working her mouth open, he pulled the bottom lip between his teeth and sucked on it before releasing it to let his tongue join hers. They explored the other's mouth thoroughly, learning the shape of their teeth and lips, their tongues dancing a dance that was as old as time. They finally parted, eyes locking as they fought to catch their breaths.

"You know Chakotay I really like this book. Care to follow some other instructions?"

He was doubtful as to what she was suggesting. Was she really willing to take their relationship a step further? He knew he wanted to, but she had always been so rejecting. His uncertainty must have shown in his eyes for Kathryn turned slightly in his arms, giving him a genuine smile that lit up her whole face.

"I'm serious," she said.

He decided she was and it didn't take him long to come to that conclusion because she had slid one of her hands under his robe, caressing his hairless chest with her slender fingers. His response was a tender kiss.

Kathryn then slowly untangled herself from his strong arms and stood, helping him to stand as well. Chakotay watched in wonder as she untied her robe and let it fall to the floor. Letting one, then the other spaghetti strap of her nightgown slide off her shoulders, she allowed the gown to join the robe with only the merest of movement from her. It was the first time he saw Kathryn Janeway in all her glory and as she reached for his robe it nearly knocked him down.

His throat and mouth were suddenly very dry when his eyes traveled her body. The uniforms didn't conceal much about a person's figure, or at least had he always thought so. Now he knew just how wrong he had been about this. Kathryn was even more beautiful than he'd imagined even in his wildest dreams. He instantly fell in love with the tiny freckles that covered her otherwise creamy skin like the stars strewn over the dark velvet of the universe. He simply had to kiss every single one of them, beginning at the spot right below her ear and ending at the spot that guarded the edge of the triangle of auburn curls beneath her navel. The dark tips of her breasts stood proud and beckoned for being touched.

"Chakotay?" she asked self-consciously as she recognized her lover's stillness. She'd never experienced anything like this before, and truth be told, she felt a little uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny. She stood hesitating in front of him; he was still dressed in his robe and boxers. Eventually, Kathryn closed the remaining distance between them and put her hands at the collar of his robe. She gave herself a hard time not trying to let her eyes wander beneath the line of the strings around his waist. Of course had she recognized the bulge there, but somehow she felt uncomfortable about it. It had been years since she'd last had sex, and Mark hadn't been the type to make love to her in the open. Not that they were in the open here, it was just that him and her had always retreated to the safe darkness of either of their bedrooms.

Chakotay eventually caught her by her wrists. "You are so beautiful, Kathryn," he said, his eyes looking for something in her eyes. She felt mesmerized by the dark liquid irises of his eyes. An iris was a beautiful flower, but with Chakotay's eyes she felt the comparison to the flower inadequate. But she couldn't think of a better simile either.

Now it was her throat that had gone dry. She hadn't heard these words in a long time, and only one man had told her about her beauty. "I . . ." she began, but Chakotay quieted her with a soft kiss on the mouth, his lips barely touching hers.

"Don't, Kathryn."

Kathryn raised her right hand to touch the indigo lines on his left temple, again wondering what they meant. She let them trail across the side of his face until she reached his lips. She tentatively followed the lines of his lips, but growing more confident she suddenly dipped one finger deep into his mouth, past the sharp edge of his teeth her tongue knew so well. She quickly withdrew her finger, drawing a wet line across his chin and down his neck. Tilting her head, she pursed her lips and blew her warm breath gently over the wetness on his skin. Her fingers then began to caress the skin of his face, memorized the curve of his jaw, the tendons and the muscles of his neck until she felt certain enough to slip her other hand beneath the fabric of his robe. Her fingers almost found his pebbled nipple, and although she brushed over it ever so slightly did this elicit a soft moan from him, and it made him close his eyes.

Kathryn had had enough then. Her courage woken, she slid her other hand under the robe, and with one demanding movement of her hands she pushed the robe over his shoulders. Somehow Chakotay disentangled his arms from the sleeves and then he stood naked in front of her, naked except for a pair of gray Starfleet-issue boxers.

"You are beautiful, too," she returned the compliment. Her fingers trailed across the bronze skin of his smooth torso, finding their way to a few little scars that told her about his life as a Maquis. He'd never told her about his life back then, but the scars alone told her more than she cared to know at least at the moment. Kathryn bent to kiss and lick every single one of them, giving in to the same urge Chakotay had so hard tried to suppress earlier. When she reached the elastic waistband of his boxers, Chakotay stopped her by pulling her to her feet again.

"Kathryn, please. I don't want you to give that much to me already," he told her, holding the steady gaze of her cerulean eyes. "You've already given so much of yourself to me tonight. Let me give to you, too."

Without waiting for an answer, he began his journey to discover her body below her ear, kissing as much of her freckles as possible on the way down. His hands were roaming her skin, touching and caressing as much of her creamy skin as possible. But he, too, never let himself come near the center of her desire. Even without this, he soon had the woman in his arms moaning and sighing with the gentle pleasure he was giving her.

When he finally came back to nuzzling her nipples between his lips and tongue, a shudder went through Kathryn's body, and he was surprised to find just how much he had been tormenting her. He was also surprised to suddenly find himself completely naked. A gasp escaped from between his lips when he felt her hands massaging the length of his erection.

"Chakotay . . ." she softly said, catching one of his hands and placing it on the auburn triangle between her feet. His fingers had a will of their own, and so he found them probing the curls until they reached the moisture of her arousal, and eventually the tight bud that craved so much for attention. Kathryn took in a sharp breath when she felt his fingers touch her.

Raising her head after she'd thrown her head back earlier, she looked directly into her lover's eyes that were dark now with desire, the gentle brown of his irises had given way to his desire. They kept their eyes locked while their hands were playing with each other's arousal.

"Chakotay, there was that position," Kathryn moaned, feeling her knees go weak because of the magic his fingers were working between her legs.

"There were many of them," he replied, very much in control of himself despite the sweet assault of her hand traveling the length of his shaft.

"You . . ." Kathryn groaned. "What was it called . . . churning curds."

"You mean like this?" Chakotay replied as he gently caught her wrist, keeping her from further exploring his throbbing member. He slid one knee between hers and forced them apart. Deliberately slowly, he lifted her off the floor with apparently no effort at all, holding her small form tightly to him.

Kathryn could feel him, her every sense coming alive as if she was being born again, could feel his member as it brushed along her folds, wet from desire. Delicious sensations were flooding every cell in her body; low moans were escaping her throat as she was overwhelmed by her feelings.

Chakotay lowered her onto his long shaft, piercing her folds and she could feel him sinking into her, inch by inch, all the way inside, feeling herself being stretched open by him. When she had steadied herself on the soft carpet he leaned to her face, kissed her passionately, and neither of them moved to prolong the wonderful sensations their joining let come to life. In the few breathless seconds when their eyes were locked neither dared to breathe for fear of losing the magic of the moment, savoring the sensations of their union. But their need grew and eventually they started moving at exactly the same time, moaning into the other's mouth as their tongues were mimicking the actions of their lower bodies.

Kathryn let out a cry, oblivious to her surroundings except for Chakotay's thrusts as he alternated between a slow, steady rhythm and a more demanding one. Her hands, that had been clasping his behind, came up to lock behind his neck, needing something solid to hold onto as he assaulted her senses. When his hands squeezed her buttocks, pressing her further into his body, Kathryn bit gently down on his shoulder to keep herself from crying out once more. Never before had she experienced such strong emotions, and she was momentarily overwhelmed as the first heralds of orgasm built up in her body, a comforting warmth spreading out in her lower abdomen. Unconsciously, Kathryn rubbed her breasts against his hard chest, feeling the nipples tighten and pebble in an almost painful sensation.

Chakotay increased the pace, his thrusts growing more powerful, and she groaned with each stroke, moving her hips against his, meeting his every thrust. He still had an iron-like grasp on his control, whereas Kathryn already began to tremble, feeling herself nearing climax incredibly fast.

Then, in the few breathless moments when even time seemed to stand still, Kathryn stopped any movement, her body tensing as it prepared itself for the following orgasm. Chakotay's mouth came crushing down, locking on hers in a passionate kiss to prevent her from crying out as she reached her peak, her orgasm washing over her, the exquisite sensations running through every cell in her small body.

Her inner walls were gripping his member tightly, but with some effort Chakotay kept himself from giving into his own release. He bent his knees a little and allowed her to slide down his broad from, but otherwise made sure they remained joined. He took hold of her right knee and pulled it up. He immediately felt Kathryn look it around his leg just below his buttocks, but nevertheless he held it in place. Thus having steadied their balance, he began to thrust anew.

Kathryn's eyes began to grow wide as she realized his intention. "Chakotay . . . What are you doing? I can't . . ."

"Shhh, Kathryn . . . Yes you can. I'm merely showing you a different kind of position, called tripod," came his whispered reply, closely followed by a tender kiss on her lips. The kiss, however, soon grew in its intensity as the aftershocks turned back into foreshocks.

She let her slender fingers caress his smooth hairless chest and soon was scratching his proud male nipples, adding to his desire. A wicked smile was tugging at the corners of her mouth when Chakotay groaned in exquisite pain, the grip on his control slowly slipping away. But two could play this game, so he slipped a hand to the point where their bodies were joined, fingers seeking her tiny bundle of nerves and finding it. He caressed it frantically, making sure she peaked with him.

Both gasped and groaned, small whimpers and cries echoing through the room, mingling with louder shouts and demands, bodies slippery from perspiration as Kathryn was once more absorbed in the intensity of her climax, shortly followed by Chakotay whose member was twitching inside her when he finally allowed his body the long denied release. Bonelessly, they sank to the floor, shuddering from the aftershocks, hearts pounding in their ears, breathing ragged and broken.

Chakotay's head rested on her soft breasts as he listened to her rapid heartbeat.

"Wow," was all Kathryn managed to say for the moment, running her hands lovingly up and down his back, placing soft kisses on his head.

*

Kathryn and Chakotay were sitting at the table in Chakotay's quarters, sharing their dinner. Or at least this had been their intention when they had decided not to go to Neelix' realm an hour or so ago. They were sitting facing each other, but they didn't look at each other. Each of them was immersed in their reading, pausing only every now and then to semi-consciously take a sip from their by now cold drinks. Kathryn had, as always, ordered a mug of hot black coffee. The Commander had replicated herbal tea.

Kathryn stopped reading. She finished the remainder of her coffee, and then put her empty mug down next to the padd on the table. Her eyes and thoughts had wandered off to the cold of the universe outsides. It always was there that she sought for inspiration when she had a problem at hand she couldn't solve easily. In her thoughts she traveled back in time, while with her eyes she observed the stars passing by in colorful stripes that indicated that they were traveling at warp-speed into their future. At the moment, though, the Captain of Voyager was more concerned about her past than she was about her future.

The memories of a few nights before were still clear in her mind, replaying themselves in a series of pictures that flashed in front of her inner eye at a high speed as well. Nevertheless she did not miss any of the details in any of the pictures. There she was with her First Officer, first reading an ancient writing form Earth, then following its instructions. The highly erotic writing had seduced both of them, and they'd made love to each other in a way none of them had ever thought possible. Even the memory of the intense feelings on and in her body still gave Kathryn the shivers, and involuntarily she pressed her thighs together when she felt a warm wave of desire wash through her, centering between her legs.

Now, now, Kathryn, concentrate, she scolded herself. There was a problem at hand that had to be solved. Someone had played matchmaker by sending both her and Chakotay a copy of the Kamasutra, the ancient writing that had let them make the experience of having life-changing sex. When her younger sister Phoebe had first told her about this experience, Kathryn had thought her a hopeless romantic. But now she'd made this experience for herself, and she had the sudden wish of being able to tell Phoebe that after all she'd been right. But Phoebe was a thousand light-years away.

The question was who had played matchmaker and put the copies of the book on their thresholds, and to top it off had had the nerve to press the chime to draw their respective attention to the gift. For a gift the copies certainly were. But just as the other day Kathryn had to dismiss most of the names that came to her mind for a potential generous donator, for each of them occurred to her as highly unlikely.

But wasn't this unimportant, now that she'd given in to her desire? Or for heaven's sake what had made her drop her shields and ask Chakotay to try out some of the instructions of the Kamasutra in the first place?

"Freckles?" Chakotay asked for the fifth time. "Hey, Freckles! What's the matter with you?" he asked, covering her hand with his to draw her attention on him.

"I'm sorry, Chakotay," Kathryn smiled at him. His calling her Freckles combined with those irresistible dimples of his got the better of her. There she was sitting face-to-face with the man she could completely trust, and whom she loved so dearly. And was she doing? She wondered why and how all of this had happened, not wanting to let her scientist's mind come to the conclusion that the events of the past days and nights had just been the result of a long but ongoing development of feelings between them. One didn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Why not just appreciate the intimate relationship they were sharing, and thank whatever Gods were responsible for this?

The answer to this was easy: Who had given the copies of the Kamasutra to them?

"I've been wondering about that, too," Chakotay admitted, finishing his cold tea. "But unless you want to run a ship-wide inquiry I think we should just accept it and be grateful. I, for one, couldn't be happier. So why can't you?"

"Chakotay," she sighed. Kathryn knew she had to choose her words carefully. She didn't want him to get the wrong impression. "I am happy and grateful. Who knows how long it would've taken me to finally come to the conclusion that I'm in love with you. But you know me, I must find out who's given us those copies of the Kamasutra. If only to die peacefully," she added with a chuckle.

"I understand your curiosity, share it even. But our options are limited. You know as well as I do that no one of the senior staff is responsible. So what do you want to do? You don't plan on knocking on everyone else's door, do you?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes in that 'man are you stupid' manner. Although she knew Chakotay was just joking it didn't help matters. "No, but we could check sensor logs. There has to be some evidence. And if we don't find any we'll know who isn't responsible at least."

"We could give it a try," Chakotay eventually replied. "But we shouldn't expect it to be an easy task. Whoever's given us the books surely doesn't want us to know who he or she is."

"Or they," Kathryn added.

"Or they," he repeated.

Finding out who their generous donator had been was easier said than done. For two long hours they had checked all sensor logs of that eventful day, but no indication as to who it had been had presented itself. Kathryn was frustrated to say the least. She had never been anyone with much patience and was running low of it now.

"Freckles?" Chakotay asked.

"What?!" She didn't mean to snap like that, but couldn't help herself.

Chakotay's hands came up in a defensive posture. "Hey, I haven't done anything wrong."

Immediately, her tone became soft. "I'm sorry. I suppose I'm just a little tired and frustrated as hell. There has to be some evidence! Why can't we find it?"

Chakotay had thought about that, too. Their inability to find some clues as to who had had the nerve to give them the two books was nerve-racking. On the other hand, it did reduce the circle of people who could be responsible.

"See it like this. We can't find any evidence, so someone with above-average engineering skills, excluding B'Elanna, has to be responsible. There aren't that many on Voyager."

Kathryn's expression had gone from frustrated to excited during his remarks and now she was beaming with newfound energy. "You're right. Let's check the personnel files then." She had already started downloading them, not paying attention to Chakotay anymore.

"Kathryn?"

"Hmm?" she replied absent-minded, not bothering to look up. When he didn't respond she finally laid aside her PADD and glanced at him. What she saw on his face got her worried. "What is it, love?"

"Have I ever told you that you're beautiful when you are immersed in your work?" Chakotay confessed, whereupon Kathryn blushed deep crimson. A blissful shiver ran down her spine, warming her core. She quickly averted her eyes from his loving gaze, and tried to concentrate on the personnel files again. But it was hopeless. She felt his eyes rest on her. She closed hers to drive that wave of emotions away that threatened to overwhelm her any second.

"Freckles, what is it?" Chakotay asked, having no idea why she reacted so strangely to his compliment. Had he put his foot in it? He could hardly believe that, how could one put one's foot in it by complimenting a woman? He gently cupped her chin and made her look at him. "Hey?"

"I'm just not used to this anymore, that's all," she tried to reassure him. Not quite knowing what to do, she closed the last remaining distance between them and kissed him.

"I love you, Chakotay," she whispered after the kiss. "Let's call it a night, okay? I'm tired."

"But what about finding the generous donator? Don't you want to find him?" Chakotay asked, surprised that Kathryn let go of the matter now that they were so close to finding the solution. It just wasn't like her.

"No one can leave the ship, Chakotay," she smiled at him. "We'll get him, don't worry. I'm just not in the mood to chase him right now."

"What mood are you in, then?" her lover asked.

"The cuddling mood?"

"Sounds like a great idea," he said warmly, his dimples making an appearance. He loved the way she never failed to amaze him anew, his smile even grew in its size. Since Kathryn was literally sitting in his lap by now he had no problem at all to grant her her wish. Chakotay's lips found his lover's, closing over them in a passionate kiss. Their tongues began exploring the other's mouth as if it were unknown territory, which in a way it was. The change in their relationship was still so new to them that both had a hard time believing it was real. From enemies to forced colleagues to friends to lovers. That was quite an impressive way to go, but fate had a unique way of showing people that they belonged together.

When they finally drew apart their faces were all flushed, their breathing labored.

"Are you too tired to have a little fun?" Chakotay asked her, knowing full well what her answer was going to be.

"Not for what you have in mind," Kathryn huskily replied, yelping as he stood without warning, holding her securely in his strong arms. Her arms locked behind his neck and she listened to his fast heartbeat while he carried her into the bedroom. He put her back on her feet in front of the bed. There they stood, looking deeply into each other's eyes, before they were drawn to each other again. Lips locked and eyes closed they began to slowly undress the other, not being in a hurry at all. Both trembled in anticipation of another night shared. Only a few days into their relationship, neither Kathryn nor Chakotay knew what had kept them apart for so long. Everything seemed just so right when shared with the one you loved.

The uniform jackets came off and hands found their way under turtlenecks. Kathryn felt a new wave of desire wash through her as her hands came in contact with his already erect male nipples, making him groan and her smile. In return Chakotay's hands ran up and down her back. The touch was so incredibly soft that she felt the goose bumps rising and she sighed happily. Yes, all this felt so right.

Chakotay sat on the bed and drew her close, so she came to stand between his legs. Dazed she watched as he slowly freed her of her underwear. Her heart skipped a beat when his gaze so full of desire and love fell upon her breasts and eventually his face came to rest in the valley between them. Her hands found their way into his soft hair because she needed something to hold on to, especially as his tongue made contact with her hot skin. It began to play with her painfully erect nipples and she flung her head back. Her legs felt like jelly and she feared that they would give way any moment. The feeling of warmth and desire that flooded her body was new to her and yet so familiar. It still was a miracle to her that she could feel so deeply, desire so deeply . . . love so deeply. But she was unable to think anything else when his mouth so very slowly moved downward, let alone stand any longer when his tongue reached her hot center. With a small cry of pleasure her knees gave way and she came to kneel between his legs, her head comfortably resting against his chest. Her breath came in short gasps and thinking was out of the question. All she wanted to do was feel. She sighed deeply, happily as she started paying the same attention to Chakotay's needs.

Chakotay's trembling increased when he felt her lips and hands on his chest, moving so lightly over his heated skin that is was pure torture, exquisite torture. He wanted it to never end. He wondered how he deserved such a wonderful woman, but quickly lost all ability to think when her lips closed around his male nipples, sucking them. Groaning in pleasure, he let her push him down onto the bed until he rested on his back. But after she had pulled down his pants and underwear and started concentrating on his already erect member he had to stop her or everything would be over before it had begun at all.

"Let me ease the burning desire," he whispered so passionately that Kathryn wanted to break down and cry of love.

Instead, Chakotay sat, and pulled her towards him to sit between his legs. It was all he could do to pull himself together when her curls pressed into his erection. With an expert movement from her hips Kathryn managed to make her stomach touch his, thus giving his member a squeeze that was almost too much to bear. He couldn't see the smile on Kathryn's lips as he sucked in the air and groaned. "Gods, Kathryn, you sure know how to spoil a guy," he managed from between gritted teeth.

"Mhm," Kathryn purred seductively and wrapped her arms around his neck. Again their mouths joined for a long and passionate kiss. His hands were kneading the muscles of her back.

"But I know about that, too," Chakotay whispered between two gentle bites at her earlobe.

"What, how to spoil a guy? Gee, I always thought you were a ladies' man only," Kathryn moaned, enjoying the assault of his lips on her neck. She bent her head back to grant him better access. In the same movement, she caressed her back with her own hair, and she could feel the shudders running through her lover's body as the tendrils brushed over his forearms.

"You are an incredible woman," Chakotay laughed. Without warning her, he slid his arms down to her waist and gripped it hard. Then he lifted her and when he let go of her, he felt himself being buried within her inner walls bit by bit.

It elicited a prolonged sigh of pleasure from him, and a surprised cry of protest from her. But Kathryn didn't make the slightest move. She held herself perfectly still; at least she didn't make any movements that were visible. Actually, she was tensing and releasing her inner muscles rhythmically. A wave of pleasure surged through her, but not of a caress she was enjoying, but one she was giving. Looking at Chakotay's face was pure joy to her. He had closed his eyes, and he was breathing through his half open mouth, purring with pleasure, a rich dark sound that came from the pit of his stomach.

Kathryn trailed her fingers idly across his face, brushing her thumb over his lips, dipping it into the wetness of his mouth, feeling his soft tongue, feeling the sharp edge of his teeth. But her sense of touch wasn't enough for her, she wanted to taste him, too, and so she pulled close enough to kiss him again. After a lingering kiss, Kathryn smiled sweetly at her lover.

This smile didn't mean any good, and Chakotay knew it. But he also knew that she was only being mean because she wanted him to enjoy the pure bliss of her love. Several nights before, he had led their lovers' dance, now it was up to her to take the lead.

"Chakotay," she whispered. "Please lean back and prop yourself on your hands."

Chakotay hated losing the closeness they were sharing, but he knew that what he'd get in return was going to be more than enough of a reward. So he did what she 'd told him to do, never breaking eye contact with her. He looked at her curiously when she locked her arms firmly around his neck, thus closing some of the distance again. "You . . . are going to split the bamboo . . ." she explained, and couldn't help letting out a prolonged moan when she felt his erect member massage her inner walls. But that wasn't all there was to it. Chakotay had to force his eyes open, and what he did see was quite hard to believe. Kathryn was lifting one of her legs and put it down on his shoulder. He felt the weight of her calf press down on his shoulder, and knew why she had asked him to brace himself. But to his great amazement, she repeated the same movement with her other leg as well, and then she shifted her arms to hold tight right under his arms.

The massage she'd given him thus was almost too much of bliss, and it was all Chakotay could do not to give in to his release. Not yet. Instead, he vented his delicious agony in a long groan. He couldn't keep his eyes open any longer, so he was surprised when he felt her lips touch his forehead, her breath hot and ragged on his skin.

Then one leg slid off his shoulder, very slowly, giving his member another squeezing caress that made sparks fly behind his closed eyes. "Gods," he moaned. He didn't have time to wonder how the hell Kathryn had suddenly become this agile, and how very much she was in control of her body, even now.

"This . . . is pure . . . heaven," Kathryn murmured when she lifted her leg yet again to put it back on his shoulder. She repeated the movement with the other leg, and the need for release almost tore them apart, but they wouldn't give in. Not yet.

Kathryn managed to keep the torture up for three or four more strokes, the movements made easier with the slick sheen of perspiration that beaded their skins. The warm illumination of his bedroom let their skins glow in warm terracotta shades. Their breathing and moaning were filling the small room, to be interrupted by small outcries of each other's name every now and then, or by a guttural sequence of words in a language Kathryn didn't understand. She'd answer then in the language of her ancestors as well, an ability that she lacked when fully conscious. Their lovemaking had thus become some sort of meditation.

At some point, Kathryn let her legs rest on the bed and she let herself fall back into the tangle of sheets, feeling Chakotay withdraw from her a bit. Strands of her hair were plastered to her damp forehead, some translucent beads of her passion pooling on her upper lip. She breathed deeply, but it was hard for her to find a regular rhythm.

"Give me your hands, Kathryn," Chakotay asked her, his speech sounding laborious, too. He wrapped his fingers around her slim wrists to get a secure hold of her. He pulled her up, and buried himself deeply within her once again. Kathryn almost screamed with ecstasy. Chakotay knew that it would take only few movements of the swing to take her over the edge, and it was all he could do to pull himself together. He wanted to share her climax. He rocked her gently back and forth, meeting her halfway with as much of a push from his hips as he was able to.

Chakotay soon felt the first ripples of pleasure surge through him, the sweet dragging pain heralding the release. He heard Kathryn cry out loud, a mixture of his name and some strange words, and she collapsed heavily against him as he let himself go. The world around him exploded into a million stars, more stars than there were in the velvet darkness of space. Everything around him feel victim to oblivion, all that mattered to him now was the trembling body of Kathryn in his arms and the bliss of their shared joy, the relief of the release as he spilled his life into her.

*

Some time later Kathryn woke from the oblivion into which she had so trustingly fall herself earlier. She was lying flat on her stomach, and had, which was so typical for her, curled her hand under her chin. She woke to the tender caresses of Chakotay's fingers trailing over the skin of her back. He was lying next to her on his side, propped up and drawing idle patterns on her back with his free hand. He had spread a colorful quilt over their exhausted bodies. He smiled down at her with those incredible dimples of his.

"Hey there, Freckles," he whispered, moving his hand to caress her cheek.

Kathryn murmured something unintelligible.

"Care for a midnight snack?" he asked.

His lover didn't move, she just responded with yet another unintelligible murmur. Eventually, she turned to lie on her side as well, facing him, but doing so was not a good idea. "Gods, I'm so sore you can't believe it," she groaned.

Chakotay chuckled softly. "No wonder after that stunt you've pulled."

"I don't think I'll make it to Sickbay," she complained.

Her lover smiled secretively at her. "It'll suffice to turn around and hand me that hypospray."

Kathryn's eyes went wide in surprise. "What?"

"Obviously, our generous donator has forgotten something," Chakotay pointed out.

Panic showed in Kathryn's face. "He was here?" Gods . . . but something in her urged her to turn around and get that hypospray. She moved as little as possible and fished for the damn thing. To her surprise, there was a note attached to it. She flipped the card open, still unbelieving.

There were only three letters written on the card in a most careful way.

Kes.

And on the back it read: "Thanks for everything. All my love to the two of you."

THE END

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