Matchmaker

See part 1 for disclaimers, etc.

Matchmaker, by Ginny Powell

Part 3: Private Picnic

Mallory McCain walked slowly down the corridor, tool box in one hand, shoulders lightly slumped. It had not been a good day. The night before, a crisis had thrown the ship into chaos. Mallory didn’t know most of the details – if you weren’t senior staff, you seldom got the full story – all she knew was that her planned early morning rendezvous with the Captain had been preempted. Most of the day had been spent in repairing damage done to the ship during the mysterious crisis, and then, at the end of her shift, Commander Tucker had given her a last-minute assignment – inspecting the Pipe Room. It was the most hated job of all among the engineers, making sure the waste disposal and recycling processes went smoothly. Privately, they referred to it as “The Shit Job”. The fact that it was actually her turn did not make her look forward to it any more.

She reached the heavy, hatch-like door. Setting her tool box down, she half-heartedly turned the reluctant wheel until the seal released. She swung the heavy door inwards, stepped over the sill, turned back to retrieve her tool box, and swung the door closed again.

“Go ahead and seal it,” said a masculine voice, very close.

“Jon!” she exclaimed, a hand going to her heart. “What are you doing here?”

“Meeting you,” Captain Archer said smoothly, stepping up to her, his hands rubbing reassuringly up and down her arms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay, really.” And to make quite sure, she leaned forward just a bit, until their lips met in a soft kiss. “Although,” she continued as she pulled back, “this isn’t exactly my idea of a romantic spot.” They both glanced around at the maze of pipes, blinking panels, and warning signs that filled the room from floor to ceiling with only a narrow access corridor snaking in between.

“True.” Jon let one hand travel from her arm to her back, urging her away from the door and down the corridor. “But I’m pretty sure we won’t be interrupted. And, it dresses up amazingly well.”

“Oh!” Mallory gasped.

They had turned a corner around a bank of rather warm pipes, and suddenly there before them was a picnic for two. A red and white checkered blanket was spread on the floor, on which were several containers of food, a bottle of wine with two glasses, and a vase containing a single, large flower.

“Do you like it?”

“Do I? It’s wonderful! It’s…wow! How did you do all this?”

Jon smiled, looking a little relieved, and reached over to take the tool box out of Mallory’s hand. “I told chef I was really hungry and wanted to eat in my quarters, early. I also mentioned that Porthos had, well, stunk up the place, and he offered one of his carefully preserved blossoms.” Mallory sniffed the air; now that she thought about it, it did smell rather better in here than usual. The flower was working. “The wine,” Jon finished, “is from my private stock. Would you like some?” As he spoke, he flopped down on his side on the blanket, picked up the bottle.

“Yes, please.” Mallory eased herself into a similar position across the blanket from him, and looked over the food, deciding what to sample first. She chose a tiny pastry and popped it into her mouth.

“So, I thought we could talk,” Jon began as he twisted the corkscrew. “You know, get to know each other.” With a practiced flick, the cork came out with a satisfying “pop”. “There hasn’t been much time for that.”

Mallory looked up at him, watching him pour the pale liquid into both glasses as she chewed. When she could speak, she asked, “Is that what you really want to do, or is that what you think I want to do?”

Jon smiled, replaced the cork loosely. “A little of both, I guess.” He handed her a glass across the buffet.

Mallory thought a moment as she took the proffered glass. It was dinner time, and she was hungry; they might as well talk as they ate. There was always after dinner for…other things.

“Alright. I already know a lot about you, though. All those in-depth specials just before we launched. You’ve never been married, you always wanted to be a starship captain, you like water polo.”

“What about you? Ever been married?”

“Nope, not even close. Guess I’m picky.”

“Always want to be an engineer?”

“Hmmm.” She savored a sip of wine as she considered. “Well, I was one of those kids who was always taking things apart, so I guess you could say so. Although as seldom as I got them back together, a guidance counselor probably would have warned me away.”

Archer chuckled. “You seem to have learned how to put things together, and very well. Trip speaks very highly of you.”

“Really? Even before…”

Jon paused, a vegetable stick halfway to his mouth. “Mallory, he chose only the best for his staff. You do know that.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.” She looked away, slightly embarrassed, took a long time choosing just the right bread roll.

“So, do yave ave a favorite sport?” Jon gamely changed the subject.

“Not really. I was kind of a geek girl as a kid.” Archer tried to picture the vibrant woman across from him as a pasty, bespectacled nerd, but completely failed. “I can see how water polo might be interesting, though. All those guys in tiny Speedos.” She smiled and cocked an eyebrow as she slipped a small fruit between her lips.

“I never really thought about it that way,” Archer replied, with a wry smile. “But, yeah, perhaps that is part of it for some people. Hey, maybe we could watch a match together some time.”

It was Mallory’s turn to stop, food halfway to mouth.

“Jon, is this wise?” He looked confused, but she cut him off before he could speak. “I mean, this whole romantic, getting-to-know-you scene. Aren’t things difficult enough already? I thought we said no strings attached.”

Jon pushed himself up into a sitting position, looking a little hurt. “Does that have to mean no friendship? No…nothing?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Mallory hastened to answer, sitting up too. “If circumstances were different, I’d- But as it is… We have friends, Jon, in other people. That’s not what we’re about. We’re about…” She hesitated, unable to find the words. Then she decided actions spoke louder. re are about this.” And she leaned over, took him by his uniform, and pulled him in for a deep kiss.

At first he seemed resistant, but she was persistent. Her tongue sought entrance into his mouth until he could not help but admit it. Soon whatever argument he might have been about to make was forgotten, and he was falling backwards onto the blanket.

Jon’s arms came up to embrace Mallory as, without breaking the kiss, she maneuvered herself to a straddling position over his hips. She could feel his erection growing, pressing against her groin through too many layers of cloth. She ground herself against it.

“Mmmm,” she half-moaned, half-growled. Then she lifted her head, gazed down at the panting Captain. “Or did you want to finish your dinner?”

“Actually, I was just about to start dessert.”

“Oh? What did you bring?”

“I didn’t. You did.” And masterfully, he rolled her onto her back angan gan kissing his way down the open neck of her uniform.

Mallory, realizing his intent, smiled and relaxed onto the blanket.

Jon took his time unzipping Mallory’s coveralls, unbuttoning her turtleneck, raising her undershirt, but it was all worth it when he could finally place a warm kiss on her bared abdomen. That first trapezoid of skin grew as he wrestled her coveralls from underneath her, finally pulling them down her legs and off. Her blue shorts followed. For a while, Jon just looked at her, laid out before him, his hands trailing up and down the length of her trembling body. Then he leaned over and placed a kiss on her belly button.

Mallory took in a hissing breath as the kiss became a trail of kisses, heading south. The trail continued down one inner thigh, up the other. Until, at last, he reached his goal, and placed a soft kiss on the pink folds of her labia.

Even though she’d known it was coming, it was still a sweet surprise, and Mallory’s hips bucked involuntarily. But Jon’s strong hands were on her thighs, holding her just where he wanted her, so that his mouth never lost contact with her flesh. A few more kisses, and his tongue came out to circle the area before delving deeper, finding her most secret places.

Under his hands, he could feel the muscles of Mallory’s thighs quivering, hear her appreciative noises. It was almost as good as feeling the pleasure himself, and it drove him on, his movements becoming a little faster, a little firmer. He knew he had found just the right tempo when Mallory cried out and bucked under him so that he could barely hold on. Just to be sure, he did it again, and again. Yep, that was the spot.

It didn’t take long after that. As Jon kept up his sweet assault, Mallory’s trembling grew stronger, her hands came down to tangle in his hair. Finally, she was crying out “Oh, Jonathan, yes!” as she came.

For a while afterwards, he continued to pet her softly with just the tip of his tongue, until her movements and breathing calmed, and she let go of her death grip on his head. Then he slid up to lay beside her, nuzzling her cheek.

“Mmm. I should ask for that dessert more oft he he whispered, his lips brushing Mallory’s earlobe.

She giggled breathily. “It’s always available.”

Jon chuckled, pulling her against him with one arm. After a minute of companionable silence, he spoke again. “I hate to say this, but I think you should put your clothes back on.”

“Hmmm? I was thinking it was about time for you to take yours off.”

“Wish I could, but I’m afraid I’ve already been away too long. T’Pol could be looking for me to give me some report right now.”

Mallory sighed. “Yeah, and I suppose I do have to actually inspect this place.”

Though they seemed to agree, it was a few more minutes before either could bring themselves to move. With a regretful kiss, Jon rose first and began to pack away the leftovers. He decided to take them back to his quarters with him. What he’d had to eat had been tasty, but not exactly filling. Smiling to himself as he finished, he turned to find Mallory zipping up her coveralls.

“So, shall we reschedule our 3 a.m. appointment?” she asked, with a lilt on the last word.

“Not tonight; I need to catch up on my sleep.” At Mallory’s disappointed look, he added, “How about tomorrow night?”

“Okay,” she agreed readily, smiling once more.

“See you then.” And he took a step towards the door.

“Wait,” Mallory called behind him. Pulling a scanner from one of her pockets, she preceded him down the access corridor. “Let me make sure you won’t be seen.”

Holding the scanner before her, watching its screen, she reached the door. Seeming satisfied, she opened it, peeked out, swept the hallway with the scanner.

“Okay, you’re clear.” She stepped back to give the Captain room.

“Thanks. ‘Bye.” And with a peck of a kiss, he was gone. Mallory pushed the heavy door closed behind him, and with a sigh, turned back to her work.

~~~End Part 3~~~