A New Beginning

A New Beginning

Chapter 4
Author: Frosty the Night Owl
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Archer, Tucker, T'Pol, OC, N/C, AU.
Summary: After visiting a planet for supplies, crewcrew of the Enterprise leaves with more than what they expected.

*

Pursing her lips, Cosette sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the door. It was evening, she had finished her dinner, and was fighting the pull within her that was telling her to do what she had been trained to do. Speaking with Commander Tucker earlier, during her tour of Engineering, she had come to understand that humans were considerate of others to the point of denying their own feelings. The Commander had told her about Earth, about his own history, and she had enjoyed listening to him. She liked him. He was friendly, very unlike most of the people she had ever met, and she could tell he was attracted to her. The training she had received on Oricon made her, if nothing else, very observant of the opposite sex. She could read them well. And Commander Tucker showed several signs of sexual attraction.

What struck her most, though, was how he did not act on any of it. If any man had those urges on Oricon, she would have been used immediately. Here, though, the humans denied their attraction. They set it aside.

It sounded reasonable to her, then, that Captain Archer would do the same.

He had told her, in not so many words, that he was attracted to her. If it was under different circumstances, he might even have followed up on that. But he was the Captain. She understood that. The humans' values were different than her peoples'. Archer would not take advantage of her.

It seemed logical to Cosette that she should approach the Captain in a different way. It was her responsibility to do so, since he was denying himself something he was owed because of the way he was raised.

She wanted to show her appreciation. She wasn't sure she could attempt a life of her own without repaying him.

Having already asked the computer wherchercher's quarters were, she stood and headed out the door. Brushing her hands down her sides, she silently wished she was dressed more properly for this.

All through the turbolift ride and the walk to his quarters she thought about what she was doing. Cosette never enjoyed what she was forced to do on Oricon, even after so many years. She had never become passive to it, either. It had always bothered her, having to service men who usually treated her no better than an animal. Captain Archer, though, had been kind to her. In reality, he had saved her life. Part of her wanted to thank him. She was slowly growing used to the idea of a free life. For periods with Trip, she had not thought about how out of place she was, or why she was here. She had been in the moment, happy.

Captain Archer had done that for her.

Taking a deep breath as she stood out his his door, she pressed her finger to the button beside it and listened to the chime.

The door opened to reveal Archer clad in civilian clothes. A black shirt and gray pants. Somehow, it made him appear softer.

"Cosette," he said, knitting his brow, "Is something wrong?"

"No," she replied, "I was just wondering if I could speak with you?"

He nodded and stepped aside. "Of course."

Upon entering, Cosette scanned his room, looking for any signs of what kind of person he was. She was taken aback when a small animal approached her feet. Unsure, she stepped back.

Archer laughed. "Don't worry about him, he won't hurt you. His name is Porthos."

Cosette frowned. "What is it?"

"He's called a dog," he replied, patting Porthos on the head. "Go on, Porthos, go to your bed." She watched in interest as the animal did as he was told.

"We don't have many animals on Oricon," she said, "And none that are trained so well."

Archer smiled. "Yeah, he's a good boy. So, what can I do for you?"

He looked down on her with a pleasant smile. She wondered if he would turn her away again. "I wanted to thank you again, Captain, for what you have done for me. I'm beginning to see the appeal of a free life."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. And please, call me Jonathan when I'm off-duty."

"Jonathan," she nodded, speaking quietly. "I know we come from two very different cultures, and I understand why you turne awe away before, but I can't forget everything I learned so quickly. I want to thank you properly."

Her heart fell when his smile faded. "Cosette," he said softly, "What can I do to convince you that you no longer have to submit yourself to everyone?"

"Not everyone," she said, "Just you. I do this of my own free will."

He sighed and shook his head. "No, you don't."

Touching her hand to his chest, Cosette looked up into his dark eyes. "I know you're attracted to me, Jonathan. I've seen you look at me. I want to do this."

Her hand trailed up to his neck as she stepped closer. "Cosette...," he said, not pushing her away.

"This will be between us," she breathed, massaging his shoulder, "I can make you happy." Stepping up on her toes, she gently pulled his neck down and met his lips in a soft, gentle kiss.

Their parting was quick. He looked down on her with hazy eyes and she could tell he was wavering. "You don't have to do this."

"I know," she replied, smiling. Taking his hand, she drew him towards the bed and sat him down. Sitting beside him, she pressed her mouth to his again. This time it was less chaste as he opened his mouth to her advances and her tongue met his in a warm embrace.

She felt his hand on her cheek as he cupped her face gently and began a soft search of her mouth. Moaning quietly against him, she allowed herself to relax. He wasn't going to injure her, as most used to do. He was gentle.

A little too gentle.

Cosette pulled from his mouth and removed his hands from her face. Her fingers took hold of his shirt and pulled it upward over his head. When he was free of it, she threw it to the floor. "Don't hesitate," she said, resting her hand on his leg, "I want you to make love to me."

She had never met a man who could resist a woman offering herself in such a way. As his uncertain eyes travelled over her face, she slowly took hold of her own shirt and pulled it off her body.

His gaze flickered to her naked chest and then back up as she placed her hand back on his leg. He had made no move to stop her undressing. "Jonathan," she whispered, sliding closer to him. Taking his hand in hers, she placed his palm on her breast. "Touch me."

He responded to that. Cosette could see his resolve fade as his thumb brushed over the sensitive flesh of her breast. He moved forward quickly, capturing her mouth with his and kissing her with the kind of intensity she was used to.

Her hands reached for his pants as his kiss slipped from her mouth and along her jaw, lingering near her ear. He made husky sounds of pleasure against her skin as she brushed his hardness.

"Cosette," he mumbled, trailing kisses along her neck. He paused her hands and pushed her back to the bed, pulling her legs up and laying over her. As his mouth moved downward to her breasts, she gasped and arched, closing her eyes at the feeling of his tongue swirling around her upraised flesh.

Her hand reached for his head and she entwined it in his hair as he nipped gently. Continuing his downward trail, he ran his tongue around her belly button and paused at the rim of her pants.

Looking up with dark eyes, he fingered the button. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low.

Cosette bit her lip and nodded, moving up on her elbows to watch him as he slowly undressed her lower body. As she arched her hips, he pulled the fabric down her legs and dropped the pants to the ground.

Warm hands slid up her thighs as he approached her lace panties. Hooking the edges around his fingers, he drew those down as well, baring her body before his eyes.

"You're beautiful," he murmured, drawing himself up over her and attacking her lips again, sending his tongue deep into her mouth. He sucked slowly as his hand fumbled with the zipper on his pants. When he was free, Jonathan pulled his mouth away, parted her legs with his, and pushed himself into her waiting body.

Cosette groaned low and laid back, sending her hands over his muscled body. A hand gripped her thigh as he entered as far as he could, then began a slow rhythm. As her eyes fluttered open, she could see him watching her, moving for her pleasure. It made her arousal that much better.

His mouth found hers again, his tongue caressing againers,ers, moving in tandem with his body. Cosette found herself thrusting upwards to meet him as she tangled her hands through his hair and clenched his back as he rolled over her. "Harder," she breathed when he parted for breath. He did not hesitate in complying.

Jonathan's own breathing became laboured as he increased the intensity of his thrusts. Curling her legs over his, she pressed up to him, trying to increase her pleasure. "Like that?" he asked, breathless, as she moaned quietly.

"Yes," she replied, biting her lip, "More."

Laying his mouth to her shoulder, he adjusted his concentration to only the act. Cosette could feel the burn in her abdomen as she approached her release and tightened her grip on his body. When she could take no more, when the feeling of him within her pushed her over the edge, Cosette moaned out and arched back, whimpering his name.

Her release only succeeded in hurrying Jonathan towards his own climax. A low groan escaped his lips as he continued moving within Cosette's shuddering body, meeting his own bliss a few short seconds later and jerking into her.

As he laid against her, the only sounds their harsh, heavy breaths, Cosette released her legs and relaxed on the bed. His body was hot on hers, but she immediately felt the cold air around them chill her sweat-slicked skin.

"Thank you," she said, licking her dry lips. Jonathan took a second to look up, but when he did his eyes looked sad.

"Thank you?" he asked, pushing himself up and removing himself from her body. He did his pants up and offered her a blanket.

Cosette was not self-conscious, but took the sheet all the same. "For not denying me again," she responded, smiling, "Thank you."

He laughed softly and leaned back against the bed, running a hand through his damp hair. "You make it sound like I was witholding in order to punish you." He glanced at her quickly and knit his brow. "You didn't think that, did you?"

"No," she said, shaking her head, "I know you were doing it because you didn't want to take advantage of me." He nodded, his his expression turned reflective. "You didn't take advantage of me."

Her assertion seemed to relax him. "You're a remarkable woman," he said, smiling again, "And very beautiful."

Blushing softly, she felt her body warm again. "Thank you."

Cosette sat on the bed and watched him closely. He seemed slightly at a loss for what do to next. Truthfully, she had never had a partner who remained with her afterwards, or at least never one who remained awake. "So," he began, "Did you get a chance to look at the ship?"

"Yes. Commander Tucker gave me a tour."

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows and nodded slowly. "Good."

"He's been very helpful," she said with a soft smile, "And very kind."

Jonathan lowered his eyes. "I'm glad."

Her thoughts flickered to the Commander when he looked back up at her. Reaching down to her clothes, dropdropped the sheet over her body and dressed. She noticed Jonathan watched her with soft eyes.

"I will leave you to your sleep," she said when dressed, "Thank you again, Captain."

He nodded, and his eyes took on their familiar look of introspection. "Goodnight, Cosette."

Smiling, she said goodnight and left his quarters.

*

TBC