A Walk in the (Artificial) Moonlight - Part 4

Posted on 10 Mar 2017 @ 1:43am by Lieutenant Commander Alexei Joran & Chief Petty Officer Bianca Donati
Edited on on 10 Mar 2017 @ 1:51am

1,200 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: Gardens
Timeline: Current - ED 5 - Evening - Immediately after A Walk in the (Artificial) Moonlight (Part 3)

ON:

OLD:
"You know, I remember once when I was about 5 years old going to visit my grandparents in Russia," Alexei said. "Near their house was a wide raging river with a very long,, high bridge across it. I was so scared of that bridge that there was no way I would walk across it." He chuckled at the thought. "Years later, as an adult, I went back there and saw my "big" bridge. It was a freaking footbridge about twenty feet long and three feet or so high--over an IRRIGATION ditch...!"

Bianca snorted her amusement, and shook her head "I believe I understand."

Alexei grinned as they walked on. The next area they came to was a desert-like setting. There were various types of cacti and other flora that flourished in an arid environment. It reminded him of holo-vids he had seen of the high deserts of the western United States.

NEW:
Taking a deep breath of the drier warmer air, Bianca seemed to relax a little as she gazed out on the desert plants. It was lovely here as well. Was there anything here that was not lovely to lay one's eyes upon?

Alexei walked up behind her and slipped his arms lightly around her. "Let me show you how the desert would look in the evening..." he whispered lightly. Then, to the computer he said "environment, late evening sunset." Then as the lighting gradually dimmed, he asked "How do you like this setting?"

"I thought this area would be set so that the plants don't get their circadian rhythms maladjusted. It's lovely however.

"Normally it is, but I overrode the program as CEO to show you how it would look." he said, his lips still just barely away from her ear. "Your perfume smells wonderful..." he whispered, the urge to kiss her again running through his mind.

"It's beautiful. Now put it back the way it's supposed to be. You can show me in the holodeck, not here where the plants could be harmed."

"Okay," he said before addressing the computer once again. "Resume normal settings..." he called out. Once the lighting had returned to the proper setting, he looked at her for a long moment, unsure of what to say next. Finally, getting up his courage, he asked "Bianca, what would you say if I told you I wanted to kiss you again?"

"I believe we addressed that question a few minutes ago." she challenged softly, a smirk coming to her lips.

"Did we?" Alexei asked. He knew they had but he was using this hesitation as a means of judging what her response might be. "Oh yes--I guess we did. I believe we determined that a little more research into the subject was definitely warranted," he finished as he leaned in to kiss her once again.

Her surge of amusement was lost in a surge of something else entirely as he drew her into his arms and kissed her quite thoroughly.

As the kiss deepened, he felt her respond to him and he knew she was enjoying the kiss as much as he was. Finally when it ended, he continued to hold her in his embrace. "You are a beautiful woman, Bianca..." he said slowly as he reached up and lightly stroked her cheek with his fingertips. "And if it is agreeable with you, I would like to see where this might lead to..."

"I might indeed let you do so. But that is not within the second date protocols that I am aware of. Unless this is intended to be a one off, which I doubt from your tone that it is." Her cheeks were flushed softly.

"I don't believe in one-offs..." he said quietly, looking directly into her eyes. "But I also was not aware that there were protocols for second dates," he added. "If I am involved with someone, it is for the duration. I don't play the 'wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am' game."

"There are protocols, when you don't understand the underlying social structure of dating. For example, there are certain things that it is impolite or improper to do on a first date. I've done quite some reading on the subject."

"I see," Alexei said. "Then perhaps you would enlighten me so that I don't overstep my bounds?" He smiled at her. "Because I have to admit, I DO have some ideas..."

A gentle smile touched her lips "I think I will let you flounder, after all watching you do so amuses me. " It was clear she wasn't being malicious, just that not being the only one uncertain of herself was pleasing for her.

Alexei grinned at her for a moment. "Then if there are these protocols in effect, I suppose it would be against those protocols for me to ask you back to my quarters for a drink later?"

"No. You may ask. " Bianca's lips rose in a full smile as she shook her head "You are not guaranteed a positive answer however."

"I see..." Alexei said, his own smile mirroring her own. "But if a positive answer is not a foregone conclusion, would it not be pointless to pose the question?"

"Nope, because if you do not ask the answer is always in the negative."

"Good point," Alexei said after a moment of thought. "So once our time here is through, would you care to come back to my quarters for a drink?"

"I think that I would." she answered, her eyes glued to his face.

"I understand what you were saying a few minutes ago about the protocols of a first date. But seeing that our first date was dinner the other night, and this would be considered our second date and the boundaries have already been set for that, perhaps we should discuss what might be appropriate for our third date?" He said it half in jest but with a kernel of truth at the core.

"We might over the drinks." her smirk settled onto her lips. "You are lucky you are attractive and charming, or this would have gone much differently."

"Find me attractive and charming, do you?" he asked rhetorically. "I happen to find you the same way. In fact, I think you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." He chuckled a bit, then continued. "And now that we've established our mutual admiration society, what would you like to see next?"

A laugh, full and wholehearted escaped her "Perhaps tropical plants?" o

"Sounds good to me." he said as they started down the path once again. "I've always wanted to kiss a beautiful woman while in the midst of a tropical rain forest anyway..."

"You and your kissing" she laughed softly "I hear this is something that affects males more..."

"I've never studied any statistics on it--if there are any--but you could be right," Alexei said. "All I know is it pleases me greatly. Especially when I kissed you just a short while ago. Did you not find it pleasant as well?"

"It was." she grinned at him as they continued to walk towards the tropical barrier.

To be continued...

OFF:

LtCommander Alexei Joran
Chief Engineer
USS Redemption

CPO Bianca Donati
Marine/Diplomatic Officer
USS Redemption

 

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