'Are you avoiding me, Commander?' No . . . no she couldn't say that. 'May I join you?' No . . . no too formal. She shook her head as she edged past people in the hallway. Some seemed to acknowledge her presence others must have figured they were seeing things. She heard quiet voices and some gails of B'Elanna laughing as she neared an open door. She peeked around the corner seeing that it was just their small group and was slightly relieved until her gaze focused on Chakotay.
Chakotay noticed Kathryn at once, peeping around the corner like a shy but curious elfin. He smiled and she moved forward as the others greeted her.
"Kathryn, sit by me," Kes said and she started to do so before Chakotay surprised everyone when he reached out, grabbed Kathryn by the waist and guided her down to sit by him, and Kes, both.
Kathryn felt her heart-rate increase and noted that the others had gone back to a card game they had been playing. Feeling a little bit bold, she leaned forward and whispered in Chakotay's ear, "Are you avoiding me, Commander? You wouldn't believe the hell that some people put me through to even get here."
He chuckled and leaned over, brushing back her hair from across her ear. She wanted to shiver as currents of electricity filled her body when his fingers brushed against her lobe, all the way to the top of her ear. His breath was warm and promising as he whispered his response, "I would follow you night and day, Alpha quadrant and delta quadrant, if I could."
"Are you two in or out," Tom raised an eyebrow.
Before Kathryn could say anything, Chakotay spoke up, "Out." He took Kathryn by the hand, she could do little but follow his lead, as they stood up. "We'll see you later," he said and they left.
Kes grinned and B'Elanna snickered, "I wonder what's going to -finally- happen next."
Tom jumped up, "I gotta go make some more bets."
Chakotay looked down at Kathryn where she lay on the ground amidst a patch the Hotel's garden flowers. They were surprisingly soft, sprinkling reds, purples and bright yellows amidst the green patches of turf. The mist on their petals mingled with Kathryn's dress, letting it cling and shine against the curves of her body. She reached her hand up to Chakotay's face, drawing her mist-dampened fingers down the side of it. He reached up, still looking into her eyes, as he took her hand gently and kissed it . . . then took each of her fingers into his mouth, caressing them with his tongue.
He stopped when she started to laugh, slightly, "Here?"
He dropped his head into her neck and chuckled softly in between kissing her soft skin, "What, is the moonlight too bright for you? Well if you want to tell Paris and the rest of them to vacate . . ."
"No!" She protested laughing, knowing he had done that on purpose.
"Actually," he smiled down at her, "For now, I only want to shower you with kisses amidst the moonlight."
"Are you a romantic, Chakotay?" She teased.
"Perhaps . . . when I am around you -- and kisses are involved," he stated.
"And then you'll be a 'satisfied Commander'?" She teased.
He paused, with exaggerated thought, and then leaned down to playfully bite her earlobe. She yelped with surprise and laughter before his taking her into his arms and holding her tightly to him quieted the moment. What more did she need . . . for now.
"Of course, I wouldn't refuse any love-making tonight," his words crashed the silence and she smacked him playfully before their lips resumed their dance.
"Set the timer for the following sequence," the man pulled his darkened hood closer around his form.
"If this causes any damage," the other man warned.
"I've told you," he smacked the table with his fist, causing the wood to shudder. "I personally specified its design - do you mock my abilities?"
"No. But there would be 'problems' if the package was harmed," he stated stiffly.
"This is merely a distraction that will allow you to claim your prize," he pointed at the mechanism that was being carefully concealed under a table. "It has been confirmed that the afternoon meeting with the Starfleets will take place. We've feigned interest in not only their medical knowledge but their diplomatic procedures as well. It was enough to guarantee a common ground, one that you will use to take the advantage," his voice was filled with pleasure. "And that will enable *us to do what *we must, as well."
"Janeway is no easy opponent," the Raylexian stated as he set the components.
"She has overstated her presence in this quadrant and I will be happy to see her pay for it. It was never my intention for the Vavarie Race to be set free from the mining colonies," he spat. "They are now a curse on our economy. Their Starfleet-influenced ethics seeping into my well crafted societal structures - makes me sick."
"It makes you worried, Tandrum," the other man laughed. "This woman threatens your power as well as ours."
"Not for long, she doesn't," he hissed.
CONTINUED IN PART 16!
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