Author's Note: This story is the third part of a series, starting with 'Getting to Know You' and continuing with 'A New Day Coming'. This one will make a lot more sense if you read those two first.

This story covers the second semester of Nyota's third year at the Academy and ends shortly after the movie does. This is DEFINITELY an M rated story!

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Countdown : Go for Launch.

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You Had Me From Hello

Chapter One : Kisses Sweeter Than Wine

Nyota

Starfleet Academy, San Francisco, Earth

Mid January 2258

It was finals week. She wasn't supposed to be in Spock's office, she was supposed to be studying. But she couldn't seem to concentrate anywhere else, so here she sat, at the desk she had been sitting at every morning all semester, books and PADDs spread out around her, earbuds in listening to the sounds of soft music to distract her, studying. Trying desperately not to pay any attention to that hot body so close to hers. That hot body that she desperately wanted to be plastered against. It was frustrating, exasperating, but exactly what she should have expected. He had been adamant - after that first wonderful embrace, lips and tongues and hands and wonder - that they must wait. And she did understand why - but it was still frustrating. Very frustrating. And she was fairly certain that it was frustrating to both of them. After all, she had spent so many hours in his presence that she knew his mannerisms very, very well. She could read the smallest twitch of his muscles, the faint changes of expression on his face - and there was definitely a lot of tension there this morning. Maybe she shouldn't have come here - but this was the last week that she would be sitting with him all morning and she just couldn't not be here.

Trying to rid herself of the tension that made her want to jump up and yell, she decided it was time to make tea. She rose and set the controls of the mini-replicator to make the boiling water, then turned to reach for the teapot sitting on his desk. As she twisted around him, he straightened up, bringing the top of his head under her chin, his shoulders back against her breasts. He gasped, but didn't move away. She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring his heat against her, then slowly straightened up with the teapot in her hand. He hadn't moved, his hands were splayed flat on his desk, rigid. She wasn't sure what to do, whether to say anything. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, then turned his chair around, so that he was looking at her.

"Nyota." Just one word, but the sound of his voice, low, rumbling, told her so much.

"I didn't do that deliberately." Her voice was very quiet - and she found that she was speaking in Vulcan.

"I am aware of that. It was my fault entirely." He replied in the same language. He sighed again, a very definite sigh, and shook his head slightly. "It does make it difficult." He stopped. Then he did something she really hadn't anticipated. He extended one hand towards her, two fingers held up. She looked at him, not really sure what he wanted. He just sat there, waiting. She let loose of the teapot with one hand, folded it into the same shape as his and extended those two fingers towards his until their fingertips just met. Sparks sizzled between them. She felt that those sparks should have been visible, they were so strong. She smothered a gasp. He raised one eyebrow and she couldn't help smiling at him. And then she felt that warmth that she remembered, flowing down from her fingertips, flooding throughout her, caressing, cherishing. Was there a way to return that? She searched around, trying to shape a response, sending it down to her fingertips, across to his. His face changed - she saw it - muscles around his eyes softening, creases in his forehead smoothing out, jaw unclenching. She must have been successful. Her smile widened. He quirked his lips up at her, slid his fingers down the side of hers, down the side of her hand, around her wrist, then dropped his hand into his lap and turned his chair around again.

Well, nice! She wasn't sure exactly what that had been, obviously something very Vulcan, but she was certainly looking forward to doing it again. Everywhere he had touched tingled. She realized that the mini-replicator chime was sounding and turned around to make the tea. When it had finished steeping, she poured out two cups, setting one on her desk and walking carefully around him to set the other beside him. He nodded at her, his lips quirking up again, and she sat back at her desk, put the earbuds back in and began to study, sipping slowly on her tea.

***

At noon she gathered up her belongings, dumping them all into her carrybag, rinsed her teacup, took her earbuds out and stashed them in the tiny player she had in her pocket. She was ready to leave when he turned towards her.

"You have a final this afternoon, correct?"

"Yes, one each afternoon all week. I won't be able to come to the gym - I'll miss it. But I'll be on the track in the morning." She gave him a small smile.

"I am confident that you shall excel in your exams. You should not worry about them." He paused, exhaled, dropped his eyes. "Nyota." He paused again. Finally he raised his eyes to hers again. "If you do not need to study all evening, it would be extremely acceptable for you to come for supper and meditation." He stopped again, watching her.

Her smile was wide, her eyes glowing. "I wouldn't miss that, Spock. I'll be there." Once again, she saw the tiny signs of tension released. Glancing towards the door to the office to be sure the hall was empty, she raised one hand and swept two fingertips across the back of his hand before leaving the office.

***

She stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear. That seemed to be a problem more and more often. It was funny, because she never used to pay that much attention to her clothes. And she wasn't even sure how much attention he paid. Well, he had liked that red dress with all the little ruffles. And the green one. She grinned to herself.

"What are you grinning about now, girl? You look like the cat that got the cream." Gaila broke into her reminiscing. "What are you trying to dress for now?"

"Um, just going over to help Spock cook dinner, read a little poetry, practice meditation. I just need to pick something comfortable."

"Yeah, and as sexy as all get-out while you're at it! You need to push that guy some, girl, let him know what he's missing." Gaila was beside her now, pawing through her clothes. "How about this?" She pulled out a tiny halter-top sundress.

"Gaila, that's for summer! For the beach!"

"Well, it's summer somewhere. I think it's perfect."

"Well, it's not. I need to be much more covered up than that." She went back to pulling things out to look at them.

Beside her Gaila thought hard. "Covered up - you want to be covered up? Why?"

She was flustered now. She ducked her head and mumbled, then at Gaila's glowering look, spoke louder. "I read this old article that said that you should 'increase anticipation' - and one of the suggestions was to cover everything up. And since our uniforms are so short - " Her voice trailed off.

"Oh. Hey, that makes a bunch of sense. Okay, then, let me look again." She rummaged again, this time coming out of the closet with something entirely different, a look of glee on her face.

"I think you've got it!" She practically danced now, thinking of how he would react to this.

Spock

He was pulling vegetables out of the fridge when she came through the door, so he didn't see her until she was right next to him in the kitchen. When he did, he straightened up in shock. She was almost completely covered - and almost completely uncovered, at the same time. Over her shoulder, he could see her coat, where she had dropped it on the end of the couch, so she hadn't come across the campus like that, fortunately. He couldn't quite figure out what she was wearing, but it was almost the same color as her skin, but seemed to be made of some very soft fabric, almost plush. He wanted most urgently to run his fingers over it. It covered her from wrist to ankles and almost up to her chin. And was so molded to her body that she seemed to be wearing nothing at all. A low growl came from his throat, unbidden. He took one step towards her, hands reaching forward. He almost had her within his grasp when she opened her mouth and spoke.

"Spock, you said not yet." Just a few words, spoken with almost no inflection, but they stopped him cold.

He stood there, shaking, burning. Why had she worn this? To deliberately inflame him? If so, it had certainly done the job. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. He couldn't think. That hot swelling was back again, uncomfortable. He did not know how to deal with it. Her fingers reached out, touched his cheek so gently, so lightly. He tilted his face against her hand, desperate for any contact. Through her cool fingers came calm, peace, soothing. Like a drowning man, he grasped that contact and pulled it into himself, settling himself with the feelings she was sending him. He inhaled deeply, breathed out slowly, centering himself again. When he felt that he was back in control of himself, he lifted his face from her hand and looked into her eyes once more. "Thank you, Nyota. I seem to have no control."

"I think maybe this is something we need to practice." She was looking at him, something tentative in her eyes.

"Yes, I think you are right. I think I need to practice how to control myself around you." He paused, took another breath, captured her hand again. "I am much stronger than you, Nyota, and I have no desire to harm you in any way. I need to learn control - by stages. I will need your help."

She nodded her head, stroked his cheek again, softly. "Yes, I think so, too. And I will help, Spock, we will work on it together."

He took another deep breath and released her hand, turning back to the vegetables set on the counter. What was it that he had meant to cook?

***

Somehow he managed to prepare supper with her working beside him, continually startling him when he caught glimpses out of the corner of his eye of what looked like a completely nude Nyota. This was extremely difficult. And sitting across from her while they ate was not much better. And when she said she wanted to meditate instead of reading poetry because she needed to return to her dorm and get a good night's sleep, he was disappointed and relieved at the same time. And then she did the second thing that both shocked and delighted him that night.

She did not change her clothing to meditate. She waited until he was almost settled, and then she stepped between his feet and settled herself in front of him, touching everywhere, folding her legs about his, resting her back against his chest, the top of her head under his chin, her hands laying on top of his on his thighs. He could not breath, he could not ever have imagined anything as wonderful as this. She gave a little sigh, wiggled about a little, settling herself, and began her relaxation exercises. He could feel her relaxing her muscles, starting at her feet and working her way up her body, each group of muscles tensing and then relaxing against him. Waves of calm flowed out of her, into him, settling him down, helping him find his center again. And then she drifted off into a light, floating trance, breathing evenly against him, while he held her, unable to move a single muscle, afraid to move or say a word and ruin this wonderful thing that she had done.

***

They walked to her dorm through the soft darkness, their fingertips twined about each other, soaking in the glow of happiness at being with each other. At the door, they paused, facing each other and the hand he was not holding came up to cup his cheek again. He bent down to her, touching his forehead to hers, feeling her emotions wash over him. He rolled his face sideways and brushed his lips against her temple, trailing down her cheekbone, down to her lips, caressed her lips softly, his tongue brushing against her lips, so gently. She sighed, her breath soft against his face. Then he straightened up, away from her, and brought their joined hands to his lips, brushing her fingers softly with his lips before letting her hand go. She sighed again, then opened her eyes and smiled at him, so happy.

"I will see you on the track in the morning."

"Yes, I'll be there." She turned and entered her dorm, leaving him alone. But some part of him was with her as she walked the short distance to her room. He could feel her, a tiny presence in the back of his mind. Strange, they had not melded, he should not be able to feel that. Odd, but very nice.

Friday

For the last time, she gathered up her belongings to leave his office. The office that was going to be so empty without her sitting there beside him. He rose as she turned to leave, stepped in front of her. "Nyota."

She raised her face to his, waiting.

"When you walk out of this office, you will no longer be my aide." He saw a shiver run over her. Her lips parted slightly. "May I escort you to dinner this evening to celebrate the end of your finals?" Her eyes were large and liquid. "I would find it extremely acceptable." His voice was much lower than he intended it to be, but she had heard.

"Yes, Spock, that would be ... lovely." There was a hitch in her voice that he heard quite clearly. She did recognize the significance of what he had said then. "What should I wear?"

Almost he said the brown thing she had worn on Monday evening, but he stopped himself in time. That was not something he wanted her to be seen in outside of his quarters. He found that he could not picture any of her clothing, his mind had gone completely blank at the memory of her in that brown suit. Casting about for a suitable answer, he finally decided to just tell her where he intended for them to go. "If you would like, we could go to that Indian restaurant. The one that we went to the first time from the message array lab."

She smiled widely at him. "Okay. I will be ready at 1700." And then she was gone. But he would see her in five hours.

Nyota

Once again she stood in front of her closet, trying to select something to wear. Gaila was already gone - off to celebrate with drinking and dancing and the three male cadets who had arrived at the door almost together, not the least bit upset to discover that they would be sharing her. She shook her head, not understanding how her friend could do this. Different biology, different behavior. Spock's biology was different, too. She remembered that growl Monday evening. That hadn't been exactly what she had expected. Sexy as all get out, though. She'd had chills up her spine when he'd come at her, growling like that. Maybe that bodysuit had been overkill - on the other hand, the meditation that night had been outstanding. But that wasn't helping her now - what was she going to wear? It had been very cool, today, foggy. It wasn't likely to be any better tonight. So, maybe some nice slacks and a sweater? They were going to be in that nice Indian restaurant, she wasn't going to wear anything flashy or revealing. She thought, again, running through things she had worn before - that honey colored sweater, she had worn that and he had come right out on the dance floor to her, even though Pike was there. Yes, that was a good choice.

***

She answered the door with her coat in her hand and he held it while she slid her arms in, smoothed it down across her shoulders, breathing on her neck, giving her goosebumps everywhere. They walked across campus side by side, not touching, his hands behind his back in his customary pose. But he was close, so close, beside her, keeping her warm with his radiated body heat. When they entered the restaurant, the owner recognized them - after all they had been here many times now - and came bustling up to escort them to a booth in the back, out of questioning eyes. He must have seen something different about them tonight because he made a suggestion he had never made before. And so they ate the same dinner that his wife had prepared for their own family that night, more highly spiced than the food on the menu. Spock practically purred with delight, savoring the flavors. She would have to remember that he liked more seasoning than she had been giving him. They lingered over the food, relaxed, happy just being together. Finally they rose, and once again he held her coat, breathing on her neck. The goosebumps were bigger this time, took longer to fade away. Something different was soon to happen.

***

They crossed the campus, back to the building that housed his quarters. Side by side, they climbed the stairs to his floor. At his door, he tapped the touchplate, then waited for her to enter first, stepping in behind her to remove her coat, his hot breath on her ears, her neck, so close. She shivered.

"Are you cold, Nyota?"

"No." she shook, just slightly. "But you could raise the temperature some. I know you turn it down for me, but you don't have to turn it down this far. Remember how warm it was in Africa?"

He tilted his head, considering. "Would you set it where you would like it?"

She grinned at him and told the computer to reset the temperature, knowing that from now on, the temperature would be set to this setting every time she came here. There was absolutely no reason that he needed to be cold just because he thought that she would prefer a cooler temperature. She had lived in heat all her life.

He took her coat into his bedroom and hung it in the closet. She was still standing in the living room, near the couch. She wasn't sure exactly what he had in mind next.

He came back across the floor, stood so close to her, looking down. "Computer, lights at 50 percent." The lights softened, dimmed. He took her hand in his, causing those little tingly sparks again. He lead her to the couch, drew her down beside him, his eyes never leaving hers. He was so warm against her. She could hardly breathe, she wanted him to kiss her so bad. His arm slid around her shoulders, turning her more towards him, so that the side of her breast brushed against him. She felt her nipples contract and then expand, peaking against the soft cotton of her bra. His other hand rose to touch her temple softly. She felt him then, that spread of warmth that she recognized as distinctly Spock, accompanied by definite feelings of desire, need, apprehension.

She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, trying to calm herself, to stay in control. "Are we going to practice control now, Spock?" Her voice was so low, so thick, she almost didn't recognize it.

"Yes." His voice was even deeper, softer, huskier, than hers. His forehead came down until it gently touched hers. For a moment, he held that position, then he rolled his face against hers, his lips brushing down the side of her face, softly, softly tasting her skin, turning her core to liquid heat. In response to the change in her scent, he made a soft noise deep in his chest, a low growl of sound. It echoed in her ears, vibrated through her body, loosening her, making her wet for him. He sniffed. Something changed, he tensed around her, inhaled more deeply. "Nyota" The syllables of her name were elongated, drawn out, deep, vibrating.

"Yes." Whatever he wanted, that was the answer. There was no response. "Spock, you have to talk to me, tell me what you need. I..I can't help if I don't know what the problem is."

"Your scent has changed. Can you explain?" His nose was in her ear, then on the side of her neck, searching.

She quivered as his breath passed over sensitive skin. "Ah, Spock, you.. you're turning me on. You're smelling my response."

He paused. His face returned to hers, his lips ghosting down her cheek again. "What exactly is it that has changed your scent? It is very... compelling." His breath was against the side of her neck now, making goosebumps all over her scalp.

She moaned softly at him as his lips lingered over the sensitive skin on her neck. "Wet. You're making me wet."

"Wet?" His fingers caressed her face, her neck, he sniffed again, his nose in the curve between neck and shoulder. "You are not wet, Nyota, you are perfectly dry."

"Not there." She almost giggled. "Lower." She gasped as his hand trailed down from her shoulder, across her breast, seeking the moisture she described. "Ahh, lower." His hand descended further, brushed the top of her hip, hesitated. Trembled. "Lower. In the center." Her voice was so low now that she could barely hear herself. His hand trailed slowly across her belly, jerky now, moving in little spurts, coming to rest just below her belly button, so hot. "Lower."

He trembled against her. The hand on her shoulder closed briefly in a spasm, gripping too hard for just an instant before releasing again. The hand on her belly did not move. "Nyota, I..I cannot." His voice was so low, so soft, so thick. His face against her neck was so hot. She felt him trembling against her.

"It's okay." Her hands rose, clasped his head, rubbing against the soft, short hairs on his nape. "You don't have to do everything all at once. It's just... you wanted to know."

"Yes." He was silent for a moment, then again he spoke, his face still resting against her. "I wish to know how to please you, Nyota. I..I have very little.. experience in this area. I feel...inadequate." He was still trembling against her.

She ran her hands over him, brushing softly from the back of his head, down his neck, across his back, pulling him softly against her. "You are not inadequate. You are Spock and you are what I want." She tried to control the desire welling within. "We'll get there, Spock, we will. One step at a time. And I wouldn't call myself the most experienced, either. I've been pretty picky about who I let get this close to me." She was quiet again for a moment. "I want to please you, too. I want to learn what you like, as well." She bit her lips, then continued, her voice so low that only his ears could have heard. "I need to please you."

Once again she heard that low growl vibrating through him. Wet, that made her so wet. She moaned softly into his ear. His lips roamed over her neck, his tongue lapped gently against her skin, leaving behind damp patches that chilled when he moved on, increasing the goosebumps. She sighed and shivered. His lips moved up her neck, across her cheek, moved soft across hers. Finally. She moved her lips against his, the tip of her tongue darting out to slide along the crease between his lips, teasing him to open for her. She felt his tongue coming to meet hers, sliding into her mouth, wet, hot. She moaned against him, opening more, wanting to feel him. Her heart was pounding now, trying to match the staccato of his, against her ribs. She tried to breathe, but it was harder and harder. Her hands rose again, caressed the back of his neck, holding him close to her. He growled softly again, his tongue sliding over hers, his lips hot against hers, his fingertips on the side of her face, gentle. Her right hand slid along the side of his neck, fingers finding his earlobe, rising up the curving side of his ear, around the pointed top. He froze against her. Her fingers faltered. Had she done something wrong? Then through the fingertips against her face she felt a wave of heat, so hot, so consuming, lust rushing through her, overpowering. Oh, wow! Something very right! Very slowly, she caressed that point again, feeling him vibrate against her. And then he was moving, back, away from her, dropping his hands, leaving her alone and bereft. "Spock?" Her voice was still, querulous.

He sat so straight and still, hands clenched into fists on his thighs, face taut, almost panting. She realized he was struggling for control. She inhaled deeply, let it out slowly, trying to settle herself, calm herself. Her ragged breathing slowed, her heart beat settled back to normal. She kept her hands folded in her lap, although she wanted to reach out, to touch, to sooth. But she didn't think he could handle that now. For some reason, as she calmed herself, it seemed to help him. He was still stressed, but not as badly now. His breathing was settling back to normal, his hands, although still in fists, not clenched as tightly. She sat and watched him, not making a sound.

Eventually he sighed, long and slow, and relaxed just enough that she could plainly see it. His hands unclenched and lay flat against his thighs. He turned his face to her, where she sat beside him, turned towards him. "I am sorry, Nyota. I did not know that would happen. It was... Strange... Overpowering." He shook his head. "I am not familiar with this feeling." He paused just a moment, collecting himself. "That is not entirely correct. I should have said that I am not familiar with the intensity with which I felt this.. This... I do not know what to call it - but I have been feeling this for some time... And it keeps getting stronger. But it was SO much stronger - it threatened to completely overtake me. I could not control it while you were touching me." His eyes were so dark, so large.

"That's lust, Spock. Physical desire. You're supposed to feel that." She spoke quietly, although inside she exulted.

"That is lust. That explains much." His focus was turned inward now, musing. Again his gaze sharpened on her. "I must learn to control this."

"Well, most people struggle with that." There was a bit of laughter in her voice.

"But if I cannot control it... Then I will injure you. And I do not wish to do that."

"Okay, I understand. No ears ... yet."

"Maybe just a little." He leaned towards her again, hands lifting, sliding around her shoulders, pulling her towards him, his face descending to hers again, lips touching softly. "Just a small touch. Practice."