The First Year

PART 3

Sarek slowly let his breath out and discretely fastened his pants while his wife busied herself with the dessert tray. He could not understand why his logic failed him so often in her presence. He would have to meditate on this subject. Just as his bio-controls returned him to a state of equilibrium, Amanda plucked his napkin up and settled onto his lap.

"The rest of the wait staff might return at any moment, Amanda," Sarek told her seriously. did did not want to repeat the encounter he just had with the headwaiter.

"Relax. No one will disturb us," she said, kissing him on the tip of his nose.

"The probability is quite high that they will return to clear the rest of the dishes."

"No it isn't," Amanda told him confidently.

"I must disagree, my wife. I would estimate that the probability is..."

"Zero," Amanda finished for him.

"Zero? My calculations indicate that it is 99.437 percent, based upon prior restaurant visits," Sarek maintained, rising slightly in the chair so that Amanda would return to her own seat before anyone else came into the room.

Amanda was undeterred, shifting her weight more solidly onto his lap.ell,ell, your calculations are wrong," she told him, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Wrong?" Sarek said in the voice he used when lecturing his junior aides on the finer points of diplomacy. He could not recall an instance of ever being wrong. His estimates were always correct given that the data he started with were accurate. Curious, he looked at his wife for an explanation.

"I know it's a shock to your system, but you're most definitely wrong," Amanda continued.

"Then perhaps you could explain the nature of my error, my wife. Logic dictates that I am correct."

"You are extrapolating without having sufficient information, my husband. I told our waiter that we did not wish to be disturbed after he served dessert," Amanda told him, a self-satisfied smile crossing her lips.

"That does not guarantee that we will not be disturbed... therefore my conclusion is sound." Sarek could see no flaw in his logic.

"I also told our waiter that you would leave an outrageously large tip. That *does* guarantee that we won't be bothered by anyone else," Amanda finished, leaning into him for another kiss.

Sarek sighed with exasperation. "Amanda, I have no idea how you always manage to circumvent my arguments no matter how logically I present them..."

"Well, it isn't easy, I can tell you!" Amanda rejoined, grinning at him fondly. She turned on his lap and reached for the dessert cart.

"Here. Have one," saidsaid, holding a large red strawberry by the green leaves to his lips. The berry was coated with dark chocolate.

Sarek had never had strawberries prepared in this style before. He found chocolate to be satisfactory, but much sweeter than he was used to. He tentatively took a bite of the proffered fruit. The combination of the bittersweet chocolate with the tartness of the strawberry was quite agreeable.

Amanda brought her lips to his. A twinge ran along his nervous system as her tongue entered his mouth, the taste of her blending with the chocolate and strawberry. She caught his tongue and sucked the remaining berry mixture into her own mouth. A most unusual sensation... pleasant in fact. Perhaps there was something to be said for the Terran concept of eating out of someone else's hand.

"Um. Tasty," she said, licking the last drop of chocolate from his lower lip.

"That was... agreeable," Sarek returned, loosely wrapping his arms around her slender form, his fingertips tracing the pattern on the back of her silk mandarin dress.

Amanda reached for another strawberry, this one coated with white chocolate. Sarek raised an eyebrow, then took the berry from her, holding it carefully to her lips by the uncoated end. Amanda bit into the delicacy and Sarek quickly clamped his mouth over hers, capturing a sliver of white chocolate that threatened to escape. Very agreeable. He offered Amanda the remaining half of the concoction, pulling her into a deeper kiss with his free hand.

"The e che chocolate is good too," Amanda said, her voice breathless.

"It is also quite satisfactory." Sarek chose one of the two remaining strawberries from the tray and dangled it in front of her. She slowly licked the chocolate from the bottom, then bit into the strawberry, feeling his tongue follow the berry.

After a few moments, Amanda picked up the last berry and held the green leaves between her teeth. Sarek looked at her with amusement in his eyes then began eating his way to her lips. She could feel his arousal beneath her as his arms drew her in tighter. Amanda caught the greenery in the palm of her hand as he bit off the last portion of strawberry. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back, tasting the remnants of chocolate. Pulling away, Sarek looked at her, his dark eyes on fire.

"Let's get out of here," Amanda said, standing up and offering him her hand.

"That would be very acceptable."

"I have *other* plans for you the minute we get back to the Embassy," Amanda informed her husband, a wicked smile forming on her face.

Sarek looked deeply into Amanda's eyes and said, "I do not wish to go back to the Embassy tonight, Amanda. I have made...other arrangements for the remainder of the evening. Will you accompany me?"

"As long as it doesn't include swimming with our clothes on, I'm all yours, Mr. Grayson."

"I can assure you, it does not." His eyes twinkled in the candlelight. She allowed him to put her shawl around her shoulders, feeling the heat of his hands through the sheer material. "If you will come with me, I believe the driver is waiting for us."

"You seem to have this all planned, Sarek. Now I am intrigued," she teased. She held out her paired fingers, crossing them with his.

They left the restaurant and got into the groundcar, Sepek holding the door open for them. "Take us to the planned destination, Sepek," Sarek said, looking at Amanda.

"Of course, Ambassador." Sepek got into the driver's and and pulled out into traffic.

"Where are we going, Sarek?" Amanda asked as she looked out of the window.

"You will discover our destination when weive,ive, my wife. Until then, enjoy the ride."

She sat back into the leather seat, and pulled Sarek back with her. Amanda rested her hand lightly against the inside of Sarek's thigh as she watched the downtown landscape speed by in a blur. Feeling the firm muscle beneath her hand, she hoped that their destination was not too far away. Keeping her eyes on the downtown streets, she slowly moved her hand up his leg. She smiled slightly when noticed that her husband was most definitely aroused.

Sarek started at the contact, then looked at his driver. Sepek astutely kept his eyes on the road. Sarek subtly shifted himself out of Amanda's grasp, pointedly looking out the window on his side of the groundcar.

//We are not alone, my wife,// he reminded her over their bond.

//No, we aren't. That's what makes it so much fun.//

//I do not comprehend the human concept of 'fun' in this context.//

//I know. That's what makes it even *more* fun,// Amanda returned.

//I see,// Sarek responded mentally. He decided that he could also indulge in this 'fun'. Concentrating, he conjured up an erotic image he had glimpsed in Amanda's mind during an unshielded moment a few months earlier, then transmitted it telepathically over their bond.

Amanda breathed in sharply, then looked at Sarek, who was still gazing out the window on his side of the groundcar.

"Is anything the matter, T'sai Amanda?" Sepek asked, looking in the rearview mirror. He was prepared to divert to any one of several local hospitals if necessary.

"No, no. Nothing is wrong, Sepek. I just ate a little too fast." Amanda told him, meeting his eyes in the mirror. She could barely keep her composure, her face felt flushed.

"Then forgive my intrusion," Sepek apologized, returning his attention to their route. Judging from his behaviour earlier, perhaps the Ambassador had eaten too quickly as well.

//What are you trying to do to me?// Amanda shot over the bond.

//I was under the impression that we were having 'fun'// Sarek responded.

//Uh huh. You realize that there will be a payback for this, don't you?//

//Of course. I am counting on it, my wife.//

Before she could retaliate with a passionate image of her own, they arrived at their destination. Amanda looked at the building with awe in her eyes. "This is beautiful, Sarek," she breathed.

"I thought staying at the Fairmont would be a perfect compliment to our evening. I have a room already reserved for us. Sepek, I will contact you tomorrow at the Embassy when I wish to return."

"Very well, Ambassador." Sepek met Amanda's eyes knowingly, then looked briefly at the ground. If she hadn't known better, Amanda would have sworn that Sepek had a glimmer of a smile on his face.

Sarek led Amanda to a bank of turbolifts. Her eyes never left his for the entire ride, his fingers resting lightly against her wrist sending little thrills through their bond all the way along her nervous system. Her knees were weak by the time the turbolift doors opened.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The room was large and luxurious. It had a commanding view of the bay and Alcatraz. There was a sitting room with two comfortable-looking chairs and a table as well as a vid-unit. As Amanda took it all in, she noticed a large, colourfully-wrapped box on the middle of the king-sized bed. She looked at Sarek, who nodded, then went to the bed and picked up the box and shook it experimentally.

She slipped the note card from underneath the ribbon and read her husband's orderly, precise script. "Amanda, please accept this gift. It will perfectly compliment your eyes and this evening---Sarek."

"Oh Sarek! What is it?" she asked, her eyes bright with excitement.

"You will have to unwrap it in order to make such a determination," he told her.

Amanda tore off the ribbon and opened the box. In it she found the red, floor-length nightgown with the sheer covering. She held it up to herself then looked in the floor-length mirror. She couldn't believe that her reserved husband had actually gone shopping for something like this all by himself, evhoughough she knew that he was definitely aroused whenever she wore one of her more revealing pieces of lingerie. She was pleasantly surprised that he had taken the initiative. "Oh, it's beautiful!" She placed n thn the bed, and hugged Sarek hard. "I love you so very much, Sarek. Thank you!" She pulled his head down and kissed him. "Shall I put this on now? Or do you have other plans?"

"My plans are complete, Amanda. However, if you wish to put your gown on, I will not object." The corners of his mouth twitched in the slight smile he allowed himself around Amanda. He was gratified that she was pleased with his gift, and was eager to see her in it.

"No, I'll bet you won't," she teased him, running her fingertips lightly over the bulge that had suddenly reappeared in his trousers. She let her fingers make one more circuit before she turned away and went into the bathroom to change.

Sarek took a turn around the room, then stood by the picture window with his hands clasped behind his back, staring out over the bay. Earth's oceans had always fascinated him. When he was first posted to San Francisco he had spent nearly all of his off-duty hours watching wave after endless wave. He had found it to be quite meditative. Even inside the sound-attenuated walls of the Vulcan Embassy it was often difficult for him to truly escape the constant noise of the city.

Sarek became engrossed watching tendrils of fog snake around the base of the island in the bay. As he contemplated the swirl patterns formed be pre precipitation, Amanda's reflection appeared in the glass, looking ethereal against the misty background. He turned to view his wife in the flesh. She was stunning in her red outfit, the folds of material flowing around her ankles.

"Aduna," he breathed in his native language, then in English. "You are most attractive in that."

She twirled around, holding the edges of the sheer coverlet out. "Does it fit, Mr. Grayson?"

"Yes, quite well," he told her. It had not looked anything like this in the store display. The sleek, iridescent material accentuated her every curve. His eyes traveled the length of her body. The colour was perfect.

Amanda took in his gaze. "You like this? It feels so luxurious. Thank you so much, Sarek." She crossed the room and pressed herself against his firm body.

Sarek's arms wrapped around her slight form and he bent his head to kiss her. Her lips responded by opening slightly, allowing his tongue to enter. He glided his hands lig ove over the silky fabric covering her back. Her fingers searched for the clasps on his clothing and, finding them, began to undo them.

Sarek broke off the kiss and said, "Perhaps we should move away from the window, my wife."

"I suppose you have a point, " she agreed.

Sook ook his hand and started to lead him to the bed. Sarek stopped her progress with his resistance and, with a nod of his head, motioned to the cooling bottle of wine in the sitting area of the suite. "Can I interest you in a glass of wine, Beloved?"

She smiled at him, her eyes dancing. "I didn't even notice that there. Yes, please."

Sarek moved to the wet bar and took down two goblets. As he uncorked the bottle and poured the wine, he felt Amanda's arms slide around him from behind, the warm pressure of her face against his back. When he finished pouring he turned in her arms and held out the glass of wine. One arm still around her husband's waist, she accepted the offering.

"It's good," she said after an experimental sip. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him softly, just letting him taste the wine on her lips before she moved them away.

"It is a most satisfactory vintage," Sarek commented. Amanda took another drink from the glass. This time her tongue darted into his mouth when she kissed him. Sarek captured her mouth with his own before she could move away a second time, the wine tart on his tongue. This time he broke the kiss. "A most satisfactory vintage, indeed," he breathed. Lifting his wife easily, he carried her to the bed. When he felt his knees bump into the mattress, he lowered her onto the edge of the bed.

He straightened up and took another sip of his wine, the aroma filling his nostrils. "When was the last time I told you I cherished thee?" Sarek asked, his eyes dark with passion.

"I'm sure you can tell me down to the exact second if you wanted to," she replied. "But I'm sure it was yesterday sometime."

"If you cannot remember with any accuracy, then it has been too long. Happy anniversary, Amanda. May we have many more and may they always be as pleasant as this one."

"Oh my, aren't you poetic tonight." She smiled at him.

Sarek removed his heavy outer tunic, leaving only a silky shirt on.

Amanda stood up and undid the buttons, baring his muscular chest. She untucked his shirttails, but did not remove the garment from his shoulders. She slipped her hands under the fabric and hugged him close to her, resting her head on his chest. "Oh, I love you so much," she whispered. "And who knew that Vulcans are such romantics, or at least one is." She looked up at him and smiled.

Sarek's mouth turned up slightly at the corners. "It would not be wise to inform anyone of this...tendency. It would destroy our image," he told her with mock sernessness, enunciating the words carefully as the wine finally insinuated its way into his nervous system, his gaze becoming wistful. "The verses of the romantic Pre-Reform poets resonate in the hearts of all Vulcans. Very few offworlders are familiar with their works. There was a time, I must admit, when I was quite taken with the a'rip'an of Sorel. I went so far as to inquire into the Classical Literature program at the University of Shi'kahr. My father did not consider this to be a logical course of study for his oldest son, however..." Sarek told his wife in a confidential, almost shy voice, as if he were uncertain that he should make such a confession.

"It will be our little secret then, I promise." Her eyes twinkled in amusement. She had not known that Sarek had ever considered seriously studying anything other than high-energy physics and the coursework necessary for his diplomatic training. This explained his fascination with her collectof Tof Terran poetry.

He took her glass and placed it with his own on the nightstand, then pushed her gently onto the bed and lay beside her. She turned to face him, her fingers tracing circles around his erect nipples. Sarek's eyes closed briefly when she flicked one with her thumb and rolled it between her fingers. She looked down and admired the noticeable bulge in his pants. She continued to stroke his nipples, alternating between them.

Finally Sarek sat up and grabbed her hands, stopping her. "It is getting decidedly uncomfortable for me."

"Yes, I can see that. Perhaps it would be logical to remedy that situation, Mr. Grayson." She lowered her hand to massage his groin through his pants. Sarek sank back down on the bed moaning softly. Amanda slowly undid the fastenings on his trousers, pausing every now and then to kiss his erection through the fabric, deliberately exhaling her warm breath along his shaft. Finally she undid the last clasp and his erection sprung free of its confines. Lightly kissing the tip, she wrapped her fingers around his hardness and pumped him.

Sarek raised his head and watched his beautiful wife of one year stroke his penis. As he kicked off his pants, Amanda never broke her rhythm. Amanda looked at him wearing only his opened shirt and leaned over to kiss him deeply.

As they kissed, Sarek delicately ran his fingertips over her nipples through the satiny fabric of her anniversary gift. The texture of the gown and her warm roundness underneath sent ripples of delight from his fingertips directly to the pleasure centers of his brain. He hoped that she found her gift to be as satisfactory as he did. Sarek cupped one breast, then the other, this time rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. He felt her grip on his erection increase slightly as he flicked them and became even more aroused.

Amanda let go of Sarek's cock and stood up beside the bed. Sarek looked at her, his eyes questioning. "I don't want this brand new outfit to become soiled so soon, Sarek. I think it would be best if I took it off," she said, sliding the sheer robe from her shoulders. As she slipped her fingers underneath the straps of the gown, Sarek sat up and restrained her hands for the second time that night. This time it was her turn to look at him curiously. His fingertips caressed the silky straps and moved down the length of fabric, finally settling his hands on her buttocks.

"Leave it on," he breathed in her ear so softly that she wasn't sure if he'd actually spoken or if his request came to her through their mental bond.

Sarek pulled her back toward the bed, but Amanda stopped him. "No. Lie back down. I want to look at you," she told him, silently transmitting a telepathic request of her own.

His eyes widened slightly but he did what he was told. As shechedched, he took himself in his hand and continued what Amanda had started. Her eyes flashed pure cobalt with desire as she watched her proper, Vulcan husband fondle himself. His thumb rubbed his pre-cum over the spongy head, causing it to glisten in the subdued lighting of the bedroom. His other hand lowered to his testicles and he rolled the orbs with his fingers. "Does this please you, my wife?"

"Oh, more that you can image," her voice hoarse with longing. "Can't you tell over the bond?"

"I can feel your passion. I can feel you burn. I burn for thee as well." Sarek quickened his pumping, then thrust into his hand as her raw hunger became indistinguishable from his own. "I need thee, aduna," he whispered urgently.

Amanda knelt between his legs and let the satin hem of her garment brush against his ridges. She stroked his erection with the sleek cloth until his body threatened to spill over. Pulling the gown up to her thighs and letting the silky, red material puddle around them, she straddled her husband. Her folds were wet with anticipation and Sarek's penis slid into her warmth easily. She sighed as he filled her. She rose up so only the tip of his cock remained in her warm cocoon. She sat back down as Sarek thrust upwards, burying himself to his dark, black curls. He reached for her breasts, sensuously caressing them through the gown. He sat up and took one into his hot mouth breathing onto it through the fabric, just as she had done to him. Through the satin he sucked an erect nipple and flicked it with his tongue in time with their thrusts. Sarek's fingers slipped gently between her legs, his feathery touch causing her to arch backwards until his fingers found exactly the right spot. Amanda moaned and threw back her head, her hands gripping the material of his shirt.

Soon, Sarek's propulsions inside of her became quicker and more erratic. Amanda's juices covered his lap and the faint whisper of her wet, silken channel slapping against his steel was the only sound in the room. Suddenly, Sarek arched his back and shot his seed deep inside his wife. Amanda's muscles clenched around his rock-hard cock as he drove upward once, then again, his semen filling her and flowing out onto his groin.

Amanda's orgasm ripped through her slight form. Her vaginal muscles milked Sarek's penis of its precious load before she collapsed onto him, her chest heaving from the expelled passions. She straightened her legs and moaned softly when Sarek's cock slipped out of her.

Sarek stroked her back, his sensitive fingertips once again luxuriating in softness of her lingerie, waiting for her breathing to return to normal. Finally, she shifted her weight and rolled off of him to lay beside him. "Oh, Sarek. It has been too long." She raised herself somewhat shakily onto her elbow and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you so," she said and kissed him on the tip of his nose.

"Happy anniversary, my wife," he returned, as his bare ankle softly rubbed against the satin hem of her gown, his leg finally wrapping around her calf.

"Happy anniversary, my husband," she said reveling in the warm, solid weight of his leg thrown over her own, a contented smile on her lips as sleep overtook her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Amanda was roused from her sleep by the smell of fresh coffee. As she opened one eye experimentally, she found her husband looming over her wearing one of the hotel's terrycloth robes, holding a cup of coffee directly in her line of sight. Opening her other eye, she raised up in the direction of the steaming liquid. The smell was intoxicating. Sarek moved the mug farther away, and she followed the brew to a sitting position. She held out both hands and Sarek placed the cup in them, first making sure that she had a firm grip on the china. Amanda sipped and closed her eyes in ecstasy.

"Oh. Ummmm. Good," she finally managed, taking a bigger sip this time.

"Ah. It moves. It speaks. Anthropologists have been debating its cognitive and linguistic capabilities," Sarek commented. Amanda tried to muster up a glare for him. Morning people could be so annoyingly sanctimonious, particularly if they were Vulcan and happened to have a perfect free-running internal clock. She concentrated on her beverage instead.

"Very good," she said, wanting to make sure that he knew her vocabulary was larger than just one word. She was the linguistics authority here, after all.

"I am pleased to see that you find the coffee satisfactory, my wife. Perhaps you will find brunch equally gratifying."

"Mmmm. Get me another cup of coffee while I freshen up, do ya mind?" she mumbled. Amanda got up from the bed and stumbled into the bathroom, sipping her coffee as she did.

As she was doing her toilet, Sarek set the table and brewed another coffee for his wife. When she emerged from the bathroom, she looked like the woman he married a year ago. He handed her the cup of steaming liquid. Looking beyond the rim of her coffee mug, she was delighted to discover an entire dining cart filled with delicacies. She walked over to the table that Sarek had set and sat down in one of the two chairs that Sarek had placed on either side of the makeshift table. She took the napkin from her plate and dropped it into her lap. Picking up her fork, she looked at Sarek expectantly. Raising an eyebrow at her, he held up a platter of fresh fruit. Amanda motioned with her fork and he spooned the largest strawberries she had ever seen onto her plate, along with plump blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

"Thank you," she said, popping a juicy blackberry into her mouth. "Oh. Ummm," she enthused. He removed the cover from another dish revealing scrambled tofu with mushrooms, onion, and tomatoes.

"Um. Yes, please," she said, holding her plate out. Before returning it to her, Sarek took the lid off of a fluffy pile of Belgian waffles.

"Ooooh. Definitely," his wife commented. Sarek placed a waffle in the middle of her plate, then handed it back to her.

"Ah. Fabulous," she told him around a forkful of scrambled tofu. As she drenched her waffle in syrup and began cutting into it, Sarek fixed a plate of food for himself and sat down to join her.

"Ahhhh," Amanda said as she polished off what was left on her plate, dragging the last forkful through the remaining puddle of syrup. She poured another cup of coffee for herself as Sarek poured tea for himself. She then sat back to look at her husband. "Good morning," she finally told him after her first sip of the third cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Amanda. I see that the coffee is starting to have the desired effect," he teased.

"Yes it is. This is wonderful. But I'm stuffed," she said, patting her belly.

"You did consume considerably more food than your customary breakfast. Perhaps you can find a way to balance your caloric intake with vigorous exercise," he offered, his mouth curving upward by a millimeter.

"Oh? And what exactly did you have in mind, Mr. Grayson?"

"This," Sarek told her authoritatively, as he knelt in front of her, bent over and began nibbling on her toes. She giggled, and then squirmed. He knew perfectly well how ticklish she was.

"Oh no. Stop. I'll get you back for this, I swear," she managed, catching her breath between giggles, trying to pull her foot away.

"As you wish, my wife," he said, moving his mouth up her leg and under her gown. She continued to laugh as she felt his lips brush their way up her body.

"Oh. On second thought, don't stop," she insisted as she felt his tongue against her growing wetness.

Much later, Amanda lay on her stomach on the bed idly flipping through the catalog from Moira's boutique. When she heard Sarek turn on the shower unit in the bathroom, she tiptoed across the carpet and punched a number into the communication unit, searched for the desired item, and minutes later placed her order. She hit the final commands for delivery to the Embassy just as Sarek turned off the water. Hurriedly, she deleted all traces of her purchase from the unit's memory. There were some distinct advantages to being married to a security-conscious computer expert.

As Sarek emerged from the bathroom drying his wavy hair with a towel, Amanda had returned to her spot on the bed, continuing to flip through the catalog with great interest. Sarek peered over her shoulder as he wrung the last of the water from his hair.

"Did you find something to your liking, Beloved?" Sarek asked, kissing her bare shoulder.

"I believe so," she told him cryptically.

"It is good to see that you found your anniversary present to be so gratifying," he murmured as he began to kiss his way up her shoulder to the hollow of her throat. He would be pleased to buy her several outfits like the red one.

"Yes, I did. In fact, it was so gratifying that I decided to order something for you," she mentioned in an offhand way as she arched her neck into his lips. Sarek continued to nibble, this time back down her collarbone. As he did so, his eyes shifted momentarily to the open page of the catalog. Stopping mid-nibble, his eyebrow flicked upward. It was the very item he had handled at Moira's boutique.

~~~~~~~~~~~

END PART 3