Janeway wrapped
arms and legs around Seven and held her in place.
She was not about to let go of this wonderful
creature who, against all odds, seemed to care for
Janeway almost as much as Janeway loved her.
Love. We never
spoke of it.
Janeway cleared her throat. “Darling. Are you all
right?”
Seven lay still
for a moment, obviously catching her breath. “I am
very ‘all right.’”
“You’re sure?”
Janeway scrutinised Annika , wanting to be sure
herself.
“Yes.”
“No regrets?”
“No. Do you
harbour any doubts?”
“Of course not.”
Taking another leap of faith, Janeway spoke the
words that was engraved onto her heart since more
than a year. “I could never regret loving you.” She
paused to caress Seven’s damp cheek. “And I do love
you, Seven, with all my heart.”
Seven missed a few
beats before replying. “Kathryn…I am a fortunate
individual.”
But does she
love me?
Janeway swallowed against the sudden dryness in her
throat. “How do you mean?”
“For you to
reciprocate my feelings for you, is indeed
fortunate. I would have had to face many years in
emotional solitude if you had not.”
Janeway tried to
wrap her brain around Seven’s words. “Are you saying
that you love me too?” she asked, quite confused.
“Yes.” Sounding as
it should have been obvious, the single word still
made every difference to Janeway.
Happiness,
combined with an onset of nerves, for knowing that
Seven felt the same, warmed her soul, permeated it
with volcanic heat that ignited everything inside
her body as well. Her desire for the beautiful woman
in her arms soared to new heights and Janeway rolled
Seven onto her back, kissing her deeply and
thoroughly. “My heart,” she murmured against the
soft, full lips under her own and then placed small
kisses over Seven’s face. “My love.”
“As you are mine,”
Seven whispered. “I am very pleased you invited me
over for dinner.”
“It was my
pleasure, Seven,” Janeway quipped.
“I have yet to
digest any solid or liquid nutrition, however, which
would constitute the criteria for 'dinner'.”
Janeway let go of
the clavicle she was kissing. “Oh. I’m sorry!”
“I am being
facetious.” Seven’s face melted in a broad smile.
“Oh.” Her cheeks
colouring, Janeway returned the smile. “I should’ve
guessed that your sense of humour would assert
itself when least likely.”
“No one else has
filed a complaint regarding my wit.” Seven’s hands began caressing Janeway’s
back in an intricate, hypnotising pattern.
“And I certainly
don’t want to be the first. Come here.” Moving them
onto their sides, Janeway cupped the back of Seven’s
neck and pulled her into yet another searing kiss.
After the kiss,
which
left them both completely breathless, Janeway
settled once again on top of Seven, who wrapped her
arms and legs around her captain. “I love you,
Kathryn.”
Janeway’s breath
caught in her throat. “I know. I can feel it.”
“And I want to
give you more.”
“More what?”
Again, Janeway felt at a loss as to what Seven
meant.
Seven looked up at
her from where she lay with her blonde hair spread
across the pillows. She smiled again, this time an
almost bashful, enigmatic kind of smile. “Your
invitation said ‘It would be the captain’s pleasure
to…' And that is what I will give you. More
pleasure.”
Janeway laughed
out loud, for the first time in years feeling
utterly happy.
~