I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the story - I have to be honest, I wasn't sure if you'd enjoy it because of the Sci-Fi setting - but it seems that I have achieved my goal...
So - my course finishes tomorrow and I've really enjoyed myself - and learnt a few things - as well as consolidated my own knowledge it's been great, but tiring..
So just because I'm in a really good mood - and I really don't care when I finish the story.... You can have the next chapter....
Enjoy..
Lucy
Chapter 45
“Dinner?”
Ehliena smiled. “Of course, where did you have in mind for this evening?”
Horatio blushed, over the last couple of months he and Ehliena had investigated various restaurants around the galaxy – courtesy of the holodeck - and generally met for lunch in 10 Forward. Free time was spent in each others company – walks in holodeck parks or challenging each other to games in the gym, mostly they returned to Symehk to talk, though generally their visits to the holodeck on those occasions were spent in companionable silence. Their friends had said nothing, giving them the space they needed to develop their relationship.
Ehliena gave him a thoughtful look as he nervously contemplated his shoes, but for once she couldn’t read him – it had taken a while, but he could finally shield his emotions from her. “Horatio?”
“I was thinking… Maybe, my place?” As he spoke his head lifted and she was caught by the intensity of his eyes. It was Ehliena’s turn to blush and she gave a shy smile before nodding her head slightly, accepting the invitation.
“Would 8 o’clock be ok? I have some reports to prepare first.”
Horatio nodded, a smile spreading across his face, “Eight would be fine.”
&&
Ehliena sighed, checking through her wardrobe had not taken long – but she suddenly found the need to wear something different, something special for the evening, something that Horatio would like. A smile crossed her face as she had an idea.
“Computer, give me a catalogue of female clothing circa early 21st century.” For the next 20 minutes Ehliena scrolled through different styles of clothing before something caught her eye. The dress was calf length, silk, in a dark red. Putting on the dress after selecting it from the replicator, Ehliena sighed at the feeling of the soft material against her skin. It was perfect.
&&
The chimes rang exactly at 8 o’clock; Horatio moved to the door and opened it, stunned by what he saw. As he regained his voice he smiled, “You look beautiful. New dress?”
Ehliena chuckled softly, “I took a leaf out of your book, by a designer popular in the late 20th and early 21st century. I believe the name was Versace. I take it you approve?”
Horatio smiled his answer and escorted the empath to the dining table, collecting each serving from the replicator as it was required. Ehliena found herself talking about memories she had of her childhood, especially of her late father, also a Starfleet officer.
Horatio himself talked about life on Symehk as a ‘lesser’ entity, until he had been chosen for Sentinel detail and received the knowledge acquired to use the ancients communications relay. He also passed on messages from the rest of the Symehk, now living happily on Earth, though some of the older entities had found the adaptation a little difficult.
“Your Aunt was instrumental in helping them. Apparently, if she couldn’t get what she needed diplomatically, she coerced, bullied and threatened people with all sorts of consequences.” Ehliena chuckled, knowing that Lwaxana Troi would certainly do anything for her ‘new’ friends.
After moving to the couch after dessert their discussion continued in more general areas, Horatio asking about the many planets that he had never seen and the people that inhabited those planets. Ehliena had to admit that she herself hadn’t seen that many, but talked about her favourites giving Horatio the reasons why.
At around midnight Ehliena made a move to leave, Horatio escorting her to the door. For a moment he hesitated, thanking her for joining him before touching her lips with the softest of kisses. Ehliena froze for a moment, in all their earlier meetings, Horatio had been careful not to push her into anything, at the most a kiss to the cheek or the back of her hand. Recently his kisses has travelled to her lips, but were always gentle and usually given as they parted for the evening – each to their own quarters.
This one was different, instead of a goodbye or a goodnight, the kiss was accompanied by a hint of sensuality that she had not felt before. Glancing up she noticed a slight blush to Horatio’s cheeks as a shy expression crossed his face before he gave her a soft nervous smile.
Taking a deep breath she gave a warm smile to indicate that she was not afraid of his decision to take the next step and returned the kiss softly. She was not prepared for the reaction of that contact, it was as if a gentle breeze had for a moment caressed her bare skin and left her nerve endings tingling. She had meant to turn away, but the sensation made her hesitate, Horatio catching her with an arm when he sensed she was slightly off balance.
Looking up she caught a glint in his eye that she had spotted before when he was teasing her, though outwardly he showed nothing else. As she gave him a searching look, he gently placed his free hand on her cheek and smiled, but said nothing. She was more convinced than ever that he had been the cause of the sensation of the breeze, but couldn’t work it out.
Breaking all her own rules Ehliena entered into a mind contact, not wanting to spoil the moment with the noise a verbal comment would make.
Did you do that?Horatio gave a deep chuckle,
do what? She gave him an arch look intrigued by his answer, then dropped her head feeling a little shy once more. For a moment indecision haunted her, she knew she could turn away and Horatio would not be hurt by her actions, they had just taken another step towards a deeper relationship and he would wait, but her curiosity was aroused.
She nervously bit her lip then lifted slightly to her toes kissing Horatio once more. This time it was not a breeze that she felt across her bare skin, but the softest of caresses from the lightest of finger tips. She sighed at the feelings the caress evoked, but now she knew for sure that Horatio had done something.
How do you do that?Why do you want to know? Seeing the look she gave him made Horatio laugh quietly,
oh, you like it…? Once again Ehliena felt the soft caress moving along her arms and across her shoulders, though his hands did not move – one remaining on her cheek the other holding her waist - the sensation making her close her eyes in enjoyment.
Sweetheart, have you never been intimate with one of your own, another empath? Ehliena blushed a little and shook her head. Horatio smiled,
someone told me how it could be done – but I wasn’t sure – now I guess I’ll have to believe them.“You weren’t sure?”
Ehliena’s surprise made Horatio laugh, “I guess we can find out together…” seeing the look of hesitation on her face he smiled softly, “but maybe that’s for another time.”
Ehliena dropped her head, about to say something when she felt Horatio’s arms wrap themselves around her, pulling her close. He said nothing, but held her tightly for a moment, sensing the conflict going on inside her mind.
You don’t have to decide anything Ehliena, you know I will wait until you are comfortable.But that’s not fair on you – to keep you waiting… Horatio could almost hear the bitterness in her tone and took a deep breath. It was time for him to admit the full extent of his feelings.