"We've never danced." The reason for that was well known to Chakotay, but he had to say it anyway.

"What a shame," she half purred as she leaned forward and fixed his eyes with a challenging smile. "You can dance, can't you?"

While Chakotay wasn't sure she would be steady enough to actually dance, it meant she wouldn't drink anymore and, more importantly, he finally had the chance to hold her close.

"Of course, I can dance, Kathryn. You've seen me dance before at…"

"Shut up and dance with me."

He smiled when she pulled him to his feet and into the small space devoid of chairs and tables that served as a makeshift dance floor. There was no one else dancing, making Chakotay wonder if it was even meant to be a dance floor. But Kathryn either didn't notice or didn't mind as she turned to him, swung her arms around his neck and half-standing, half-hanging onto him, started to sway to the noncommittal relaxed music that blasted through the pub. Chakotay wound his arms around her back and holding her steady, smiled to himself when she tucked her head into the crook of his neck. He laid his cheek against her hair and inhaled her scent while he swayed with her and closed his eyes, simply enjoying her closeness for once.

To hours and the same amount of refills of Kathryn's glass of red wine later, they were back at their table when Chakotay said something that made Kathryn giggle. He was unable to hold back the sudden belly deep full-bodied belly laugh that erupted from him at hearing this previously unknown sound from her mouth. Sure enough he had heard her chuckle or laugh on occasion, but giggle?

His guffaw threw Kathryn into even more uncontrollable fits of giggles and, unable to stop, she had to wipe tears of laughter from her eyes and struggle for breath after a few minutes.

Chakotay stopped laughing when he noticed her flushed face and the gleam of joy in her eyes. This was a carefree side of Kathryn he had never been allowed to see before. He wanted her just as much as he had always wanted all of her other sides.

"I want you."

Her giggles stopped immediately at his sudden exclamation and her shimmering eyes rose to his in shock. She gulped and felt the knot in her stomach return. It was a mixture of anxiety and, as she recognized the familiar heat in his unwavering gaze, the first flutter of arousal. Kathryn felt her own cheeks redden further and the tingle spread from the pit of her belly all over her skin, making her shudder slightly.

She swallowed the lump in her throat and reached for his hand over the table. "I think you can take me home now." Her voice was raw and throaty.

He didn't hesitate to grasp her hand and pull her up and out the door.

By the time they reached the small apartment complex where Starfleet had temporarily offered them quarters they were both breathless. Chakotay tried to input her code without letting go of Kathryn's hand and when he failed the second time, her fingers tightened briefly on his. He took a deep breath, tried again and the door swung open.

They took a few steps in the darkened hallway, neither of them particularly eager to call for lights, causing Chakotay to run into one of Kathryn's crates from Voyager.

"Ouch," he grunted ungracefully and stopped, causing Kathryn to run into his back.

"Sorry," she giggled again. "I didn't have time to unpack."

"Didn't have time or didn't bother?" Chakotay mused that both were probably true.

"Both." Kathryn grinned in the dark although he couldn't see her. "I've been barely here."

Chakotay didn't bother ask where the bedroom was, since his tiny apartment had the exact same layout, as did every other apartment in the complex. He pulled her down the hallway, stopping once to push her against the wall, take her face between his hands and kiss her.

"This can't wait," Chakotay whispered staring at her before he pressed his lips against hers.

Kathryn's eyes had gone wide in aroused expectation when his face closed in on hers, but at the first touch of his lips against hers her eyes fluttered closed and a barely audible sigh erupted from deep within her. The first contact was barely a brush and over before she knew it, but then Kathryn felt Chakotay's hand against the back of her neck her head moved forward on its own accord and their mouths pressed together as if they had always belonged there. She felt the trembling of his lips and claimed them in a more insistent kiss, her hands going around his back and grabbing his shoulder blades to pull him closer.

Chakotay's tongue traced her lower lip gently and without hesitation her mouth opened to grant him access. Soft and beguiling her lips moulded to his as his tongue traced the inside of her mouth. Kathryn felt the heat of his body against hers as he pressed closer into her and her pelvis jerked against him when his body's movements against her became more and more demanding. When they ran out of air and had to break apart or suffocate, Kathryn tried to calm her racing heart and the tingling rush that overcame her. Her chest still heaved when Chakotay stepped away and grabbed her hand pulling her forward.

Once they reached the bedroom, Chakotay leaned her against the wall next to the room and just stared at her. Her hair was mussed, her lips swollen, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were wide with excitement. He wanted her so much that he needed to distract himself for a moment and calm down, so gave her a fleeting kiss and turned back into the hall. "I need a glass of water."

He went into the kitchen, downed a glass of ice cold water and sprinkled some on his face before he locked the door securely and returned to the bathroom when his pounding heart had calmed down enough. He had only been gone two or three minutes but when he stepped into the bedroom Kathryn was nowhere to be found.

"Kathryn?" Chakotay called out into the dark room.

"Here," came her reply from the bathroom.

The door stood open and when he peeked through the door, he almost laughed out loud again.

"Kathryn, what are you doing?"

"Taking a bath," she snickered and rolled her eyes at him as if it was the most ridiculous question she had ever heard.

Chakotay smirked. Taking a bath had quite obviously been her intention before she must have gotten distracted.

"You forgot to turn on the water." He gestured into the empty tub acting as if she wasn't sitting in it fully clothed and cradling a cup of steaming coffee to her chest.

"Oh," she said surprised looking down and only just noticing the missing water, then giggled again and reached for the tap.

Chakotay stopped her before she could reach it and pulled her to her feet with one hand while taking the cup of coffee from her with his other hand. "Why don't you let me run you a bath while you finish your coffee?"

"Coffee," she sighed blissfully at the thought, following him into the bedroom. "I would die for some coffee."

"Lucky for both of us you don't have to." Chakotay handed the cup back to her after she had slumped unceremoniously into a chair, and instructed the computer for low lighting.

"You wonderful man," she sighed as she took the cup with both hands closing her eyes as she inhaled the aroma. "You're so pretty."

"Are you talking to me or the coffee?"

She looked at him with a devilish grin before she answered. "The coffee, of course."

"Is that so?"

"You're not pretty," she pointed out.

"Oh, I'm not?"

"I have many words for you, mister, but pretty isn't one I would use." Her eyes had fixed him again as if he was her prey and Chakotay felt a shudder run down his back.

Chakotay didn't reply but sat down on the bed and watched her drink her coffee, following the cup as it touched her lips, his pupils widening whenever her tongue peeked out to lick traces of the liquid off her lips. He noticed that her gaze was glued to his face, watching him as he watched her. From the periphery of his vision he saw her uncross and cross her legs, speaking volumes about what his stare was doing to her.

Kathryn's chest heaved under the uniform she still wore and Chakotay let his gaze drop down to the gentle rise and fall of her bosom, licking his lips as he imagined her underneath all those layers of clothing. His eyes travelled back up her body, pausing at the juncture between her shoulder and her neck, picturing the bite mark he would leave there, to mark and remind her there was no going back, and further up to her mouth.

Half of her lower lip was drawn between her teeth as she was riveted to the longing and heat in his face as he was openly ogling her and obviously already mentally undressing her. She set the cup on the small tablet beside her, got up and sauntered to where Chakotay sat on the bed. She stopped just out of his reach and felt tremors run through her at the thought of what they were about to do.

"I want to see you." Chakotay's warm voice was soothing on her nerves and the fact that he stayed where he was, allowed her some measure of control and strengthened her resolve.

Chakotay's eyes stayed on hers the entire time as she removed her pips one by one and let them fall to the floor, took off her uniform jacket, turtleneck and undershirt, followed by her boots, socks and pants. Not once did his eyes stray to the rest of her body until she removed her bra and panties with trembling hands. Standing in the puddle of her clothes, she clenched her hands against her thighs.

She felt an overwhelming urge to cover herself up, but she resisted it. Instead she stiffened her spine, raised her chin and waited.

He didn't say a word, didn't let out a single sound as he openly scrutinized her naked form. His thoughts were hidden behind an inscrutable mask and for a moment Kathryn feared what he might think of her, that it might be too late

That she was too withered after all.

"Say something," she uttered in what she hoped would be her best command voice, but only came out as an insecure whisper.

"Spirits," he said at last, his hand reaching out to her but not quite touching. "You're beautiful."

"You should let the Doctor check your eyes," she said with conviction, looking down at her once flat, now slightly rounded middle and the breasts that had their best years behind them. She knew she wasn't beautiful, but his words flooded her veins with relief nonetheless.

He laughed a throaty chuckle and blinked, his hand finally reaching out to her and, leaning forward, gently situated itself on her hip, giving a gentle tug towards him.

A little hesitantly, she allowed him to draw her in and stepped between his knees. Both his hands trailed from her hips up her waist and her ribcage and rose up to cup her breasts, his dark hands covering the pale orbs completely as he lifted their weight.

"Beautiful," he whispered again and this time she didn't argue, but smiled and stayed silent, unable to think of anything to say.

Her breath hitched when his thumbs flicked across her nipples and without moving his eyes from hers he kissed her belly just below her navel, causing a flutter of her muscles and an involuntary jerk of her pelvis in his direction. The small movement put him into action and in one fluid movement, Chakotay stood up, grabbed Kathryn by the waist, turned them both around and pushed her back against the bed.

Before she realized what he was doing, Kathryn was already falling and gasped as she landed on her back, bouncing on the soft mattress. She collected herself and pushed her upper body up on her arms when her gaze met that of the fully clothed man staring at her naked form. With her legs slightly open and Chakotay so wantonly ogling her, Kathryn suddenly felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, so she rolled slightly to the side, bending her upper leg at the knee and laying her arm over her chest effectively hiding her most crucial parts from his view.

"You're overdressed." Her eyebrow rose in challenge at his disappointed snicker. She felt the situation was entirely unfair in his favour. While she was completely naked for him to enjoy, he was still fully dressed.

Kathryn held his gaze as he shed one piece of clothing after the other. His linen shirt and pants, his socks, and finally his briefs. Her mouth fell slightly open when her eyes finally travelled down his lean, muscular form. He hadn't lied. He very obviously wanted her. Kathryn swallowed hard and felt a shiver run down her spine and a shot of arousal bolted straight to her lower extremities when she saw his eyes darken and pupils widen as he took in her reaction.

He crawled up on the bed next to her, one of his hands running along her leg, up to her hip and around to her backside until he was aligned with her. Kathryn reached for his neck and pulled him in for a kiss pausing briefly when their lips almost touched.

"Are you sure you want this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything," he replied before pecking her lips once. "And I've never wanted anything as much as this."

Before Kathryn had time to reply or ask another question, she felt the warmth of his lips against hers again. With her eyes wide open in delight, she watched his eyes flutter closed at the contact.

With gentle pressure against her hip bone he rolled her onto her back and leaned over her, their lips still locked. His hand wormed down the outside of her thigh and back up on the inside of her other thigh, where it rested not even an inch from where she wanted him. She felt the warmth of his rough, calloused hand and squirmed a little, but he wouldn't be rushed.

The gentle pressure of his lips against hers made her open her mouth slightly, allowing him to run the tip of his tongue along her lower lip, before subtly grazing it with his teeth and drawing it into his mouth to suckle slightly. Kathryn moved her hand along his waist, up his back and finally grabbed his shoulder, pulling him closer to her. The gentle eroticism of his kiss distracted her just enough so she didn't notice his hand moving again until his fingertips graced her folds and clit, making her gasp and buck against him.

Chakotay swallowed her gasp and as his lips held hers captive, his fingers moved against her, tender and deliberately slow. When he felt her folds slick with want and her squirming against him intensified, he released his hold on her mouth and drew back, leaning on his arm and watching her face closely as he slowly and gently pushed two fingers into her heated core. He felt her walls constrict around his fingers and curled them upwards against her front wall, slowly pulling them back towards his palm. At the rush of wetness, he repeated the come-hither motion while putting slight pressure on her clit with his thumb.

Sweat slowly gathered over Kathryn's upper lip and nose and her skin reddened as her breath came in shorter and shorter puffs. Her mouth opened as she held Chakotay's gaze and her hands found his upper arms, trying to hold on to something as he continued his deliciously slow assault. He wouldn't be deterred and took his sweet time getting her more and more worked up.

Chakotay waited for the moment when Kathryn's eyes started to flutter closed and her grip on his upper arms strengthened. He felt her muscles start to grip his fingers rhythmically as he held his hand still and pressed his thumb harder against her clit while pressing his fingers against her front wall from the inside. Kathryn's mouth tore open and she sucked in a long sharp breath as she felt her whole body tense, her chest pushing upwards in an attempt to get enough air. Her legs shaking violently, her pelvis pushing hard into his hand and her fingernails digging painfully into his skin, Chakotay's eyes were glued to her body, drawn tight as a bow, her chest suspended in mid-air and her breath held until finally she opened her eyes wide, released her breath in a long throaty moan and fell back against the mattress.

Kathryn's eyes were unfocused and glazed over as they searched for Chakotay's face. Her chest was heaving as she was taking gulps of air, trying to calm her racing heart down. When she could finally focus and his face came into view, she felt the overwhelming urge to laugh and pull him flush against her.

"That was…" her voice came out rough and throaty and she had to swallow.

"Not over," Chakotay interrupted her.

His hand came up and he slid his arm under her shoulder as he settled in between her open thighs pulling one of her legs up over his hip. Kathryn's hand sneaked down to grasp his penis, licking her lips when he jerked against her.

"Don't," he rasped, his control dangerously on the verge of slipping.

Understanding, she let go of him and wound one arm around his neck instead, pulling his face to the crook of her neck as her other hand trailed up over his stomach, along his ribs and over his chest.

He let out a small gasp as her fingertips found his nipple. "Do that again."

And she did, revelling in the knowledge that she could provoke such a reaction from him. She grinned against his skin, when his breath hitched once more as she dragged her fingernail over his dark nipple and her teeth slightly nipped on the skin of his shoulder. His hand on her thigh wound around to the small of her back and pulled her hips flush against his, his throbbing manhood hot against her lower belly.

"Chakotay," she rasped between puffs of air against his skin when she felt the tip of his manhood brush against her lower lips, unable to move her hips freely in his grasp. "Engage."

He growled deep in his throat and pushed into her. She moaned loudly when she felt his length stretch her and she lifted her leg to allow him deeper. Slowly he pulled out of her until only the tip remained inside and then even more slowly he pushed back in, eliciting a long drawn-out groan from Kathryn as she clenched her teeth, and a deep moan from within himself. Kathryn's brow furrowed and her nose scrunched up as she ground her sex against him whenever he pushed all the way in, a challenging look in her eyes. His pace was maddening and Kathryn tightened her legs around him to force him closer.

Chakotay slipped his hand between them and caressed her clitoris at the same slow pace, alternating between pinching and drawing circles around it as he lazily thrust into her. Kathryn growled, knowing he was holding back and wanting him to give her all he had, but unable to move against him with the way he pinned her down into the mattress.

"Tell me," he gasped between thrusts. "Say it."

"Harder," she commanded, her voice low as her hands clenched his buttocks. "Faster."

He obeyed her command by pulling out again and slamming into her, drilling her deeper into the bed. Not giving her a break, he drove himself home again and again at a furious pace and by the sounds she was making it was exactly what she had in mind. Kathryn's eyes widened in shock as she felt another orgasm approach rapidly. Her legs closed like vices around his waist and her mouth opened in a silent warning, her nails clawing his back and with a shaking sob she bit into his shoulder as her body quaked against him when he buried himself deep within her with a loud growl.

The muscles of her vagina gripped him violently and she felt his vigorous thrusts stop and the pulses of his release against her cervix as he panted against her neck. His pelvis continued to jerk involuntarily against her as he shuddered, causing her own sex to twitch with aftershocks.

It seemed to take forever until they could catch their breath, and his hand on her breast, his lips against the pulse point of her neck, and her tongue soothing the bite mark on his shoulder did nothing to help them calm down. When his heartbeat and breathing had finally regulated enough, Chakotay lifted his head and wiped the damp hair from Kathryn's forehead.

"Wow," she breathed, her face flushed and her eyes bright.

"Wow," he agreed before rolling off of her.

They just lay next to each other for a while, the only sound in the room their heavy breathing, until Chakotay noticed her eyelids getting heavy and fluttering closed only to have her tear them open again. He quickly got up and returned with a warm, damp washcloth. He gently cleaned their combined juices from her and threw the washcloth through the open bathroom door.

At Kathryn's raised eyebrow Chakotay just shrugged and lay back down next to her, gathering her in his arms. "Tomorrow!"

He felt her grin against his chest and when her mouth opened to say something he tightened his grip around her back and pulled her closer. "Sleep now, woman."

Kathryn chuckled at his command, but kept her lips shut, settling against him instead and closing her eyes. It didn't take her long to fall asleep and Chakotay listened until her breathing had evened out before he pulled the sheet up around them and closed his own eyes in contentment.

=/\=

She opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the bright morning sun of early June. Although the sun filtering through the large windows was warming her skin, the tiny hairs on her arms stood up and she shuddered. It took her a moment to realize that it wasn't only the warm rays tickling her skin that had woken her, but the figure next to her. She looked up at the dark handsome face looking down at her and felt her chest tighten as she saw the raw emotion clearly written across his features. It was only a moment before he noticed her curious eyes on him and the expression was replaced by a wide grin that he had rarely shown in the past months. His dimples deepened and Kathryn couldn't help but reach out to him and snuggle her face against his chest, one of her thighs insinuating itself between his legs.

"How long have you been watching me?" Her lips pressed against him, her breath warm and moist against his skin.

"Not long enough," he whispered against her hair as he pulled her even closer.

A lump formed in her throat and Kathryn felt the emotion rise up in her chest as she realized that no matter what happened in the past months and years, no matter what they had said or done - this may just be what she had journeyed towards all these years.

"I love you," she whispered barely audible, her mouth still pressed against him, her eyes closing and her nose taking in the sweet musky smell of him.

"I know." Chakotay's hand roamed soothingly over her back, drawing wide circled with his fingers as he placed tiny kisses along her hairline and her brows, the tip of her nose and finally her mouth. "I love you too, but I can never serve as your First Officer again."

Kathryn searched his features with a confused expression until it suddenly dawned on her what she had said the night before and she had to chuckle heartily.

After a few minutes, Kathryn drew her head back a little and looked at him for a long moment, her fingertips gently tracing the lines of his tattoo. "As long as you're my person, I can live with that."

"I'll always be your person." There was not a trace of doubt in his reply.

"Here begins a new life," she whispered solemnly before cradling his neck in her hand and returning her lips to his.