by C. M. King
That British accent of his sounded so lovely, or maybe the better word was sexy. There was that little half smile of his that just barely tugged at his lips. That slight sarcastic humor of his, those deep blue eyes that kept looking so intently at her, as if they would pull her in if she only let them. Then there was his true smile, the one that played fully over his mouth, making his eyes sparkle.
He was gracing her with just that sort of smile right now. They were sitting on his bed that doubled as a couch, talking about Taylor Tipton, the ship's Chief Engineer and a friend of both, and his preoccupation with certain comic book heroes. Stuart had commented that Taylor seemed to think of himself as Superman, and Rieko had jokingly added that he probably even owned a blue shirt with the red and yellow ‘S’ on it.
As Stuart's chuckle died down, the smile faded from his features and he seemed uncomfortably close. His blue eyes burned with intensity and his face was now unreadable. “Lavender?” he asked with a rough voice as he leaned in closer, his body just barely touching hers.
"My perfume.” Rieko forced herself to look directly at his brilliant blue eyes. She could smell the scent of his aftershave between them, now mixed with that of her perfume. His eyes held such uncontrollable desire in them; they captivated her, holding her attentions as her breath caught in her throat.
Then his lips were on hers, one hand in her hair the other on her cheek, any space between then dissolved in passion. His tongue played across her teeth asking for entrance and she opened herself to him. Her hands gripped his strong shoulders. Stuart's tongue delved into her mouth. Rieko felt a hand roam down her side to her waist pulling more of her to him, his other hand tightly clenched in her hair. She met his tongue with hers, trying to match his passion with hers. She ran a hand through his hair and ruined the order he had given it. Her other hand gripped the back of that brilliant blue shirt he wore.
Then as quickly as he had begun, Stuart pulled away. She gave a soft moan of protest as he physically disentangled himself from her and pushed himself further from her on the couch.
Rieko looked at Stuart, knowing her face was full of confusion. Her breaths still came fast and hard. That kiss was...amazing. Who knew Stuart was such a great kisser? Why had he stopped?
Stuart's breathing sounded as labored as hers. His intense eyes bore into her still as if they wished they could give her all the answers with just a look. “I can't,” he gasped between breaths.
"What do you mean, you can't?” Rieko asked when she finally caught her breath. Was Stuart somehow incapable?
Stuart just shook his head. “I don't...,” he started, his breath coming more evenly.
"You don't find me attractive?” she finished. If he didn't want her that way, why kiss her? Why ask her to dinner?
He still looked at her intently. Stuart shook his head, his eyes pleading with her. Rieko moved closer to him, and reached out a hand to touch his shoulder. Stuart almost reflexively flinched from her touch. His blue eyes now filled with fear.
What was he afraid of? His intense look once again returned. She made herself back away and let him find the words to say whatever he wanted to say.
"Rieko, I do find you attractive.” He paused, his face pinched in thought, his eyes looked elsewhere. His face relaxed, he closed his eyes, and his breathing grew deep and calm. Then his eyes shot open again, catching her in a stare now full of determination.
"I want to let...” His soft voice filled the silent air before he paused again. “I want to let myself let someone in,” he quietly told her. “Let myself really be known by someone.” Let himself, as if there was effort he had to give to do so. “This.” He struggled with words again. “The...” He gently waved an open hand between them.
"Kiss?” Rieko supplied a word.
"And more,” he added. Rieko wondered where he thought that kiss would lead. How far would she have let that kiss lead?
"I can't, not yet,” he said. “I...” He paused again and his look of determination shifted into something softer, gentler. “I don't want to hurt you, Rieko."
She wondered how Stuart could possibly hurt her. “I can,” he answered her look of doubt. “I could hurt you a great deal.” Rieko thought about protesting his admission, but the sense of truthfulness to his words, the hint of past experience caused her to remain silent. What would make him think he hurt people?
"Why me?” Rieko asked instead. If physical stuff, sex was going to be a problem, why pick someone he was attracted to. “Why not Taylor?” she added. Stuart was closer with Taylor than her, friendlier, more relaxed, more himself.
Stuart looked at her for a moment his lips slightly puckered. “I like you, Rieko.” He shrugged his shoulders. Then again, she already knew that much. “You're sweet, and friendly, and not as innocent as you seem,” he continued. None of that was helping his case.
"You don't find Taylor attractive,” Rieko spoke. There was a real answer and she wanted it.
Stuart looked shocked. Then his left cheek tugged his mouth into a small crooked smile, his eyes twinkled. “No, I do not find the lieutenant commander attractive, at all,” he answered. The smile faded from his lips. “I can't tell everything to another man.” Rieko wondered what he could tell a woman and not a man. Better yet, why could he?
"You were the only person that seemed right,” he softly added.
They sat there in silence for a bit. Maybe Rieko should feel honored Stuart had in an odd way asked for help. She wasn't entirely sure what he wanted, but for some reason, which he swore was important, he didn't want kisses, sex, or anything in between.
"Maybe next time we could meet in public,” Rieko spoke. Certainly he wouldn't think of making a move in public. Stuart nodded in reply. He looked at her awkwardly, and fidgeted. He was too polite to demand she get out of his quarters. “Would you like me to leave?” Rieko asked. “I'm okay with that."
"If that's alright."
Rieko stood with a smile. “Good night, Stuart."
"Good night, Rieko ,” Stuart replied.
Rieko saw herself out, feeling Stuart's eyes on her back. It had been the oddest dinner date she'd ever had.
* * * *
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Chapter Three
* * * *
Since that night any other “dates” were in public. Truthfully she had seen a good deal of Stuart since then. They started eating lunch and dinner together. Something they had often done before, but now they made a point to do it. They found a great deal to talk about, more than Rieko ever thought possible.
They talked about their true passions in life, their work. Rieko knew that Stuart understood as much about her work as she did about his, but it was nice to see him talk about something he loved so much. His endless desire to get his weapons all working correctly. He actually enjoyed the time he spent calibrating his precious pistols and rifles and cannons. He talked about his hours worrying about ship safety, and the readiness of the security crew under him.
Stuart likely knew or cared little about his crew's personal lives, but he knew all of their weaknesses, strengths, and abilities. He seemed to be a demanding boss, but he fully trusted his security crew.
He also spent a great deal of time working on new technology. How to improve the weapons he had. How to make new weapons. When he talked about that stuff, she most enjoyed listening to his work. He often lost her in all the engineering and technical details, but he looked so inspired, so alive, she couldn't tell him to slow down and explain it better.
Then there were the movies. He wasn't a fan of many of them. If he wished to entertain himself, he would probably prefer reading a book, but Rieko had managed to drag him to a few movies during the ship's weekly movie nights. There were uses for sweet eyes, and other womanly ways of manipulation, although it helped that he was crazy about her.
It was at one of those movies, lights turned down in the rec hall, everyone's concentration on the screen before them, that Stuart had held her hand. Okay,
it seemed like such a small gesture, and truthfully she couldn't remember the last time she'd been excited about such a thing.
They sat beside each other. Her right hand lay loosely on her leg. She was a little surprised by the flesh touching her. She quickly looked down to see Stuart's left hand tentatively touching hers. She sneaked a look at his face before turning back to the screen. He looked forward the same as everyone else.
As the movie proceeded, his fingers played over the top of her hand. She slightly raised her hand allowing him access to her palm, wondering why such a simple action made her heart beat so strongly. Eventually they interlocked their fingers, fully touching palm to palm. She would have liked those long fingers of his to play over other areas of her skin.
To thank him for seeing a few films she knew he not only didn't wish to see, but didn't really enjoy seeing, she agreed to see an American movie about World War II. Any of the other guys Stuart would have normally asked were busy. Mike worked night shift, making up a favor for a fellow helmsman. Taylor was busy with repairs. So, that left only Rieko to ask.
Rieko should have been wary the second she learned she was his third choice. She probably should have told him ‘no thanks,’ and left when he informed her as the lights were getting ready to dim that he'd been told the first fifteen minutes were very real, ‘almost like being there.’ Instead she stayed and watched the opening credits turn into a battle scene.
The scene had the eerie feel of reality, as if one were walking in the shoes of the character on the screen. She braced herself enough to be okay until she saw a man trying to drag a friend to safety, not knowing he was carrying only the top half. With a light yelp and a strong fight to keep her stomach settled, she turned to hide her face in Stuart's strong shoulder.
Stuart put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. He placed a hand gently on her head. “Shhh,” he whispered. “It'll be over soon. I'll tell you when it's okay to look up.” She sunk into his arms, and tried to bury herself in his strength as the sounds of war still blared from the movie. It had felt good to be in his arms of safety.
* * * *
Rieko shook her head. Earrings, she needed to find earrings. They were around here somewhere, she knew it. She wore a red dress, cut low in front and barely coming to her knees. Her high heel shoes sat beside her bed ready to wear. Her hair was down and right now getting in the way as she searched her room for those damn earrings. Her quarters weren't large enough to lose something in.
While she cursed her lack of earring finding abilities, she might as well throw a few choice words Taylor's way. Why again had she let the man talk her into this?
"Ah, come on Rieko. A little ship get-together with music and dancin’ and refreshments,” he said with his Southern drawl. “It'll be fun.” Then he flashed that damn charming smile of his. That was the reason she frantically searched her quarters for a stupid pair of earrings.
The door chimed and Rieko yelled, “Come in.” She knew that was because of her frustration to get ready and not the man who would enter the room.
"Ready, Rieko?” Stuart asked as he entered as requested.
Rieko had her back to him, taking apart the stuff on the shelf above her bed. Those earrings had to be in here somewhere. They didn't just walk off. “In a moment,” she replied. “I just need to find earrings."
"Aren't these earrings here?” Stuart asked. Rieko turned to find him holding a pair in his hands.
"After I've torn my quarters apart looking for a specific pair of earrings,” Rieko told him. “Those are the ones I'm wearing."
Stuart shrugged his shoulders slightly, and put the jewelry back. As she moved on to look elsewhere she noticed his eyes around her room. It must look a mess right now. Her uniform was thrown on the bed along with several dresses discarded in the selection process tonight. Then there was the disorder she had left in the wake of her search for the misplaced item of jewelry.
"Taylor probably wanted you there about five minutes ago,” Stuart told her while he finished taking note of the chaos. The first time she actually got him in here and the place was a mess.
Rieko moved to yet another nook the earrings might have been put in. “Well, Taylor, and that damn charming smile of his will just have to wait.” Wait a minute she did remember putting some earrings in here. If she wore things like this more often they wouldn't get so lost in between wearing. Maybe she should be cursing the space fleet and their dress code. Rieko smiled brightly as she successfully pulled a pair of red rose earrings from the container she had been checking.
"Found ‘em,” she shouted.
It was about that time Rieko realized how close Stuart was. Her back was turned to him and he was standing with his chest almost touching it. One of his hands ran through her hair, his other rested on her waist. He pulled the loose hair from the left side of her neck bringing it behind her ear and onto her back. She heard him breathe in deeply as he bent his face to her neck. His nose grazed her ear. He leaned his body closer, his chest now fully against her back.
Rieko wasn't surprised when his lips kissed her neck and trailed nibbles up to an earlobe. She placed the long sought after earrings on the desk, and brought a hand up and behind her to curl her fingers through his hair. Stuart's hand tangled in her hair gently turned her head to face him. He captured her mouth with his. She allowed his tongue between her teeth, and met it with hers. His hand slid up her side running over the side of her breast before fully cupping it. Rieko arched forward into Stuart's touch as he deepened the kiss.
He twirled her around, and graced the other breast with caresses from the same hand. Rieko's hand twisted in the hair at the back of his neck. Her other hand around his waist pulled him closer. Stuart turned, and backed Rieko toward the bed. His long fingers deftly undid the buttons on the back of her dress.
The intercom chimed and they fell onto the bed, bodies entangled. Stuart's tongue delved deeply into her mouth. He worked the top of her dress down enough to release her breasts. His hands rubbed them through the fabric of her bra, and pinched the hard nipples.
The intercom chimed again, then a voice sounded, “Uh, Rieko, this is Taylor."
They ignored the message, too caught up in other things. Stuart unfastened her bra, pushing the fabric down to join the fabric from the top of the dress. Rieko scraped her nails over Stuart's back. He bent his head to capture a breast in his mouth and his skillful tongue teased her nipple. Rieko's hands pulled his neatly tucked shirt from his pants. Her hands ran over his stomach and through the light covering of hair on his chest.
The intercom spoke again, “I really need your help, Rieko.” The southern voice of Taylor echoed through it.
Mouth now on her other breast, Stuart slid a hand up the underside of her thigh, and slipped under her panties to fully cup one butt cheek. His hand moved around to the front and rubbed at the fabric between her legs, already moist with anticipation.
Rieko used one hand to pull his mouth back to her mouth, while her other hand gripped his butt though his pants. She pulled his hips closer to hers and moved a leg to rub against the hardness she knew she would find.
"Really, Rieko,” the intercom spoke again. “I don't know where the decorations are, and I got this thing with the music to fix, and there's ah, twenty minutes to pull this all together."
Stuart halted his action of grinding his hips into her leg, and released his hand from her breast, his mouth from her lips. He rolled off Rieko onto his back.
"Answer him,” Stuart told her, his voice rough. Rieko just stared at Stuart, her body still reeling from the attention it was getting. “Go on.” He motioned with his head in the direction of the intercom control.
Rieko struggled to get her breathing back to normal, and slightly quelled the giddy feelings in the stomach. She pulled her dress back up to cover herself as she walked on unsteady legs to the intercom.
"You're having problems, Taylor?” she asked. Taylor began telling her about the numerous problems, big
and small, he was experiencing and thought only Rieko could solve. Rieko found herself tuning him out, looking instead at Stuart lying on the bed.
He had propped himself up on an elbow, his hair disheveled, his shirt untucked and still pulled up enough to show a bit of bare flesh at his waist. The look in his crisp blue eyes was still full of desire. She almost felt like telling Taylor she was busy and running back into those strong arms of Stuart's. She turned her back to his gaze, even if she could still feel it on her back.
Taylor finally got to a stopping point. “Okay, Taylor, I'll be there in another five minutes,” she said. “I promise."
Rieko refastened and straightened her bra, and put the dress back on her shoulders. When she turned back around, Stuart already had himself mostly put back together. He ran a hand through his hair to get it back in place. She picked up a hairbrush to make order of her hair.
"Let me get that for you, Rieko,” Stuart said, offering to re-button her dress. As she fixed her hair and makeup, Stuart went out of his way to avoid touching her in the process of buttoning. “And earrings.” He dropped the miniature red roses into the hand she held out for him.
Rieko put on her the earrings and then her shoes, giving herself a final look in the mirror. She had dozens of thoughts and questions she wanted to share with Stuart, but his eyes pleaded with her to not say a word, and she obeyed.
* * * *
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Chapter Four
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At first Rieko had thought Stuart was just busy doing other important things than spend time with her. Then she realized he avoided her, skipping lunch, eating dinner too early or too late for her to be in the mess. She knew he did it all on purpose.