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By Gun Brooke Janeway knew her hands had taken over, greedy for Seven’s satin skin. Sliding them up and down, she memorized every hill and valley, and how her touch affected Seven. When Seven finally broke into sobs, Janeway took a step back. “Sweetheart? What’s wrong?” “Nothing. I am feeling—so much. I fear not being in control of these emotions.” Janeway had to smile at the vague disdain that was in Seven’s voice when she uttered the last word. “So you rather we stop?” “No!” Seven’s head snapped up. “No, Kathryn. That is just it. I do not.” Confused by the unusually incoherent Seven, Janeway let her hands fall away from her body, immediately missing the sweet aching feeling. “You sound very unsure,” Janeway said. “Perhaps…” “I said no. I do not want to cease this activity, but I know it will stop. It has to.” This startled Janeway. She wants to experiment when she has the chance, away from Voyager. Janeway realized that she ought to be grateful for this opportunity. The fact that they were here, on Vegasol Prime, and the only thing that stood between Voyager and that wormhole was if she and Seven put on a good enough show for the Vegasolians to think they were life-partners and true in their feelings. Janeway wanted to smile at Seven, reassure her that they’d be quite fine just pretending, and go through the motions during the “exercises.” One more look at Seven, and a second look into her ice blue eyes, now dark with passion and conflicting emotions put a stop to Janeway’s attempt at reasoning rationally. They’d gone too far already, bared more than their skin in front of each other. “Honey, please. Don’t look at me like this. You know I want you more than anything. I ache for you.” Seven gasped and reached for Janeway’s hands, holding them in a tight grip. “Kathryn. You are not merely saying this on behalf of the Lady Graynce?” Janeway shook her head. “No. I’m saying it because it’s the truth. I want to be with you, and I’m willing to for it to be solely on your terms.” Janeway knew that she would have to live a long time on these memories, once they were back on Voyager. Four more nights. “Shall we go back to our room? It’s time for dinner soon. We should get ready.” “Very well. But we have only the robes.” “True. But I think we can sneak in the back door that leads in from the garden.” They hurried out of the pool and Janeway wasn’t very worried that they’d skipped part of the basin experience. She wanted to be alone with Janeway, but dinner was in just a little bit, so any more sweet caresses would have to wait. The dinner turned out to be uneventful. They sat in their given seats, around circular tables and were presented a feast, again. Janeway could hardly eat and the same went for Seven, which was less worrisome since she normally ate very little. The Lady Graynce eventually stood, clapping her hands twice, to get everyone’s attention. “Good people who travel past our home world. I have to commend you for your efforts today. We are so proud of the way you are treating your spouses and life-partners. Especially one couple has come a long way since yesterday morning. I will therefore bestow upon them a very special present. A gift that will prove to be pleasurable for years to come, if handled correctly. “Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine, please step over here and receive your gift.” Janeway wanted to groan out loud, but the shine in Seven’s eyes made her clench her teeth around the exasperated sound. She walked up to the podium and let Seven receive the gift, a box wrapped in marbled paper and with sewn in gold threads and flowers attached to the stitches. “Thank you,” Seven said and bowed to the Lady Graynce. “You are most kind.” Proud of Seven for how she carried herself, Janeway bowed for good measure. “Yes, thank you.” Returning to their seats, several of the people they shared the table with were curious ad wanted them to open. The Lady Graynce must have overheard them, because she spoke once more. “The best part of this gift is that it’s wholly personal, meant to be open in private by the recipients. So are the rules.” Relieved Janeway stood when the staff let them know the meal was over, and motioned for Seven to start walking to the door. “I’m exhausted,” Janeway murmured. “Time to go back to our room. Besides, I can see that you’re dying of curiosity.” “I am not dying of anything. I am however quite excited about this present. I wonder what it might be. It is not very large. And it is supposed to be pleasurable.” “All the more reason for us to get out of here.” Janeway took Seven by the hand and they walked back to their room together. Inside, Seven placed the small package on the bed and eyed it carefully. “Shall I open it?” she asked, flexing her fingers. “I think you better before you explode.” Janeway smiled and sat down next to Seven, looking over her shoulder. “Go on.” Seven unwrapped the package and revealed a small wooden box with intricate patterns on the lid and sides. “Very beautiful.” “Open it!” “Now, who are about to explode?” Seven teased Janeway and did something she’d never done before. Seven wrinkled her nose very faintly at Janeway, who was so charmed by the childish grimace that she could hardly wait to hold Seven tight. Seven opened the lid and uncovered an emerald colored velvet-like fabric. She unfolded it slowly and Janeway, who still hung over Seven’s shoulder, could only stare at the objects. “Gods,” Janeway breathed. “We must have played long time lovers better than we thought! They expect us to try out those?”
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