A New Beginning

A New Beginning

Chapter 5
Author: Frosty the Night Owl
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Archer, Tucker, T'Pol, OC, N/C, AU.
Summary: After visiting a planet for supplies, the crew of the Enterprise leaves with more than what they expected.

*

Taking a deep breath, Captain Archer drummed his fingers on the dining table he sat at and stared at the plate before him. He couldn't help but think about last night. He knew Cosette had no regrets and had wanted to bed him out of her own free will, but it was only afterwards that he realized she really had done so only to thank him. There were no feelings behind the act, even if they had both enjoyed it. It irritated him to think that there were no feelings on his part, either, except for basic sexual attraction. He had been weak, letting his lower half do the thinking for him. She hoped she wouldn't think less of him now, or deny his help in other matters of her life. Part of him hoped that now she had moved past him, she would be able to continue her life in a way separate from how it had been on Oricon.

"You're pretty quiet this mornin'. Something on your mind?" Archer looked up at his tablemates, moving his gaze between the Engineer across from him, and the Vulcan on his left.

He shook his head and picked up his fork, stabbing at the eggs on his plate. "Just a long night."

"What happened?" Trip asked, taking a sip of his drink.

Archer fidgeted uncomfortably. "Nothing. So, I heard you gave our new guest a tour of the ship."

Trip raised his eyebrows. "Yeah. She tell you that?"

The Captain nodded. "We talked a bit yesterday."

"How is she adjusting?" asked T'Pol.

"Seems better," he replied, "It's good you've been making friends with her, Trip. I'm sure she needs the company."

Grinning, the Commander leaned back in his chair. "Well, it's been my pleasure. She's very interesting."

T'Pol raised an eyebrow. "And attractive."

Trip laughed. "Why, T'Pol, I didn't think you leaned that way." He winked when she tossed him a dirty look.

"T'Pol's right. She's an attractive woman." He sighed and leaned forward, looking intently at the Engineer. "I trust you, Trip, but remember what kind of life she came from."

The Commander immediately sat up and shook his head, frowning. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

Pursing his lips, Archer exhaled a breath. "I get the feeling she likes you. Don't ask me why."

"She talk about me?" he asked.

"A little bit. Not much." At Trip's expression of interest, he waved him off. "It's just a feeling I have."

The Commander narrowed his eyes. "And what makes you think I'd take advantage of that?"

His tone wasn't accusatory, but Archer nevertheless felt immediately guilty. "That's not what I meant. You've just been spending time with her, and she is an attractive woman..."

"The Captain has a point," interjected T'Pol, "You do tend to make poor decisions in regards to alien women."

Trip glared and leaned back. "That only happened...three times." Sighing, he crossed his arms and looked at the Captain. "Alright. I get what you're saying. I'll behave myself."

Archer smiled and took a sip of his water, feeling a little better. "I'm glad ear ear it, Trip."

*

It had been nearly a week since Cosette had been with Captain Archer. She was beginning to feel more relaxed on board Enterprise now, and was starting to enjoy her freedom. True to his word, the Captain had not come to her requesting her services. In fact, no one had. It was strange, but not unwelcome.

She had noticed Captain Archer treat her differently, though, which she was quite sure was because of their short evening together. After spending some time with the people on this ship, she learned humans tended to attach feelings to sex more often than not. When she had attempted to speak to the Captain about it, though, he had brushed her off, telling her to move on from it. She had obeyed him on that.

As it stood now, she was spending more time with others, people she had been making friends with. Hoshi had been very helpful in acclimating her to the ship, and introducing her to new people. Doctor Phlox had given her work to do, as she had begun to get bored during the long days. And Commander Tucker continued to spend time with her.

In her years on Oricon, she had never met anyone who sparked feelings other than fear or anxiety. Love was a foreign entity, one she knew of but knew she would never experience. On this ship, though, she felt more at ease with people. She began to have feelings for her friends, ones of fondness. It made her happy, and a little nervous. As she spent more time with one person in particular, though, the feelings turned slightly more serious.

Looking up as she sat across from Commander Tucker in the Mess Hall, she began to think about the reasons she was having feelings about this human. What was it about him that made her experience things she thought she never would? Thinking about it, she realized he was the first male she had met who was kind to her from the very beginning, and didn't ask for anything in return. She knew Captain Archer had been kind to her out of guilt for her plight. Lieutenant Reed had been kind to her, but hadn't made an effort to be more than just an acquaintance. Commander Tucker, on the other hand, had done more than was expected.

"Somethin' wrong?" he asked as his attention moved from the data pad up to her. Suspicious, his eyes narrowed. "Is there something wrong with the pie?"

Cosette raised her eyebrows and looked down at her plate. "No, the pie is fine. I'm sorry I was staring. I was just thinking."

Setting the pad down on the table, he turned his full attention to her. Another reason why she liked him. "What were you thinking about?"

"You." She smiled softly. She had promised herself that since she was free, she would deny herself nothing.

"Me?" His eyebrows raised as he grinned. "What about me?"

Cosette bit her lip. "I was thinking about how nice you've been to me since I got here. I was thinking about how much I've grown to like you."

His grin faded into a sincere smile. "Well, the feeling is mutual."

"You like me?"

He laughed. "Of course I do."

Leaning across the table, she lowered her voice slightly. "How much?"

Trip knit his brows softly. "How much do I like you?"

"Yeah. Because I like you a lot."

Upon realization, his eyes darted around the room before he moved forward. "Are you saying you...like me?" He raised his eyebrows again.

Cosette smiled shyly. "I realize I'm being forward, but I've learned never to take anything for granted. You've become someone I value, Trip. A lot."

Sighing, he leaned back and once again looked around the room. "This isn't the kind of conversation I ever thought I'd have in the Mess Hall."

"Would you prefer to go to your quarters?"

A moment of panic flashed across his eyes. She wondered what he was afraid of. "That might not be a good idea."

She frowned. "Why?"

He leaned forward again and lowered his voice. "Because," he started, "Because I value you, too."

Cosette licked her lips and sat back, not understanding. Trip picked up his data pad and tapped it on the desk. "I have to go to work. Can we talk about this later?"

She nodded and watched as he rose quickly and left without speaking. Sighing heavily, she wondered if she had done something wrong.

*

Cosette was nothing if not persistent. Biting the inside of her cheek, she stood in front of Commander Tucker's quarters and thought about what she was doing. She wanted to apologize, if nothing else. She knew he would be off his shift by now, so she pressed the ringer on the door and waited.

The door opened quickly. He looked surprised to see her. "Cosette," he said, darting his gaze down the hall. "What are you doing here?"

She frowned. He was dressed casually, but the attractiveness of that didn't help her mood. She was beginning to think he didn't want others knowing that they were close friends. "Can I come in?"

When he looked like he was going to say no, she scowled at him. Sighing and stepping aside, Trip allowed her entrance. "So...how was your day?" he asked when she turned and crossed her arms.

"Are you ashamed of me?" she asked bluntly. At his stunned expression, she continued, "Do you worry what others will think of you if you become too close a friend of mine?"

"What?" he exclaimed, "No, of course not! Why are you asking that?"

She dropped her arms and rested her hands on her hips. "You didn't want anyone to see me coming into your quarters."

Groaning, he rubbed a hand over his face and lowered himself to a chair. "It's not that, Cosette," he said, looking up at her.

She pulled a chair to where he was and sat down across from him. "Then why don't you want to talk to me? I'm sorry for what I said in the Mess Hall today. I only came here to apologize."

He placed a hand on her knee and squeezed softly. "You have nothing to apologize for. You just...caught me by surprise."

Cosette smiled self-consciously. "I may have been too straightforward. I figured I should make my feelings known. I know how quickly good things can be taken away."

He removed his hand and she noticed immediately. Looking up, she watched as he studied her. "I'm sorry if I hurt you when I left so abruptly."

"I understand. I made you uncomfortable."

Knitting his brow, he shook his head. "No. No, you didn't."

Confusion settled over her. "Then why did you leave?"

Trip leaned back and ran his hand through his hair. "I have a...difficult track record with women. I promised the Captain I wouldn't take advantage of you."

Cosette blinked and looked off to the side, thinking. When she looked back, her expression was curious. "Are you saying you have an interest in me?"

A smile pulled at his lips. "You could say that."

She leaned forward even closer, feeling brave. "So you denied me...out of nobility?"

He laughed and she found herself grinning. "Yeah, I'm just a noble guy."

"So what would I have to do to convince you that you aren't taking advantage of me?"

His face softened as he leaned forward. Clear blue eyes met hers. "I don't know."

Trip was only inches from her. Biting her lip, she lowered herself off the chair to her knees and grasped his face in her hands. His gaze down at her was heated as her eyes travelled his face. Taking a breath, she rose up to meet his lips, lowering her hands to his shoulders as he cupped her face.

Cosette opened her mouth as his tongue traced her salty lips. As he delved deeply into her warmth, she groaned quietly and tensed her hands around the collar of his shirt.

Trip's eyes were hazy when Cosette pulled from him and rose up, pushing him back on the chair and climbing up over him. His hands rested on her hips as wrapwrapped her arms around him and captured his lips, plunging her tongue against his in a heated embrace.

He took a deep breath when she broke their kiss and moved her fingers to his buttons, undoing them with a heated fervor. His warm hands moved up into her shirt as she worked. Cosette inhaled sharply when he smoothed over her breasts, then pulled her hands away from his shirt for a brief moment so Trip could pull the shirt off her body. His eyes looked over her torso as he fingered the strap of her bra.

She ignored his gentle touch until his shirt was undone and parted. Her hands ran over his naked chest and to the rim of his pants as she kissed him again, biting at his lips and inserting her tongue in swift, teasing strokes.

Reaching around her, Trip undid her bra and let it slide from her arms. After throwing it aside, he molded her breasts into his hands, cupping the supple flesh and squeezing. Cosette whimpered into his mouth, then ad bad back as his lips travelled down her jawline to her throat.

He pinched the sensitive centres of her breasts before moving his hands down her waist and plunging his lips over them. His hot tongue lapped at the warm skin and Cosette bit back a moan, closing her eyes and resting her hands on the arms of the chair. Trip was equal in his exploration, moving over both breasts and sucking until Cosette cried out in a pleasured whimper.

Raising her hands and shoving him , Co, Cosette attacked his mouth. Her kisses were rough now that she felt her need build up, and Trip matched her movements. Pushing her pelvis downward, she rolled over the hardness growing in his pants. He groaned heavily into her mouth.

Her hands numbly pried at his pants until they were undone. "Get up," she breathed, pushing herself up on her knees so he could move.

Trip laughed. "Are you giving me orders?" he questioned, doing as she asked. When he raised his hips up, she pulled his pants and undergarments down so they rested at his feet. When she sat back down on him, he kicked the material away.

Cosette grinned and fingered his throat. "Do you want me to stop?" she asked mockingly.

He gripped her hips and pulled her downward. She gasped when his hardness rubbed against her. "Not at all."

She sent her mouth over his, massaging her tongue softly against his. He was growing more needy as he opened her own pants. Unexpectedly, he slid one finger down into her panties and began stroking her moistened flesh.

Cosette groaned into his mouth when sparks of pleasure shot through her legs. Her head moved to his shoulder as she bit her lip and rested against him, allowing him to pleasure her with his hand.

"You like that?" he breathed into her ear, rubbing along her, sending hingernger into her body. It was a teasing touch, not nearly enough for Cosette, so she began to move against his hand. He laughed softly.

"Trip," she purred when he pinched and sent a jolt of tension through her abdomen. Her body pressed downward, eager for him to enter her further. Her clothing, however, prevented it.

"Come on, sweetheart," he said, removing his hand and pushing her up by the shoulders. Her eyelids were heavy as she smiled and got up from him, unclothing the lower half of her body. When she climbed back on, he gently maneuvered her down over top of him.

His flesh entered her slowly. Cosette inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, listening to Trip's heavy groan as she sat down upon him, burying every inch of him into her.

When her eyes opened, he was looking up at her win exn expression of utter want. Wishing to see more of that, Cosette held his stare and pulled back, moving him out of her wetness until he gripped her hips and took control, jerking her body forward. The sheer force of his re-entry caused her to cry out and fall against him.

"Oh God," she breathed as he began moving her slowly over his lap. Steadying herself, she braced her hands on his shoulders and moved along with him, increasing their desire.

His hands moved up to her face as he took hold and pulled her lips to his. His tongue darted into her mouth, moving in tandem with his hips. Cosette hissed in a breath and pulled back, then brought herself down closer to his body.

Fingers brushed the hair back from her face. "Beautiful," he murmured as she rocked over him. His hands dropped to her breasts and he teased the upraised flesh until she bit her lip in bliss.

Soon Trip's eyelashes fluttered and, moving his hands to her hips, he held her steady as his thrusts increased in force. Cosette moaned quietly as she tightened her hold on his shoulders, allowing the pleasure to overtake her. Shuddering in his grasp, she cried out when he jerked into her and fell against his moist body as the feelings overtook her senses.

She heard Trip groan deeply in her ear several moments after as he met his own release, thrusting into her writhing body twice before his grip on her hips loosened and he settled back against the chair.

The warmth from his resting body was comforting. Slowly, Cosette moved him out of her and sat across his lap, resting her head against his shoulder. "This turned out to be a very good evening."

He laughed softly as he massaged her leg. "Yeah. It was nice."

Closing her eyes, cuddling into his warmth, she let his breathing lull her into a deep and restful sleep.

*

END