Dedication: To Kristina {{{thank you, Kristi}}} for her encouragement, and to one of my best buds, Shai, for convincing me to get into Voyager when we were still twerps in high school. Never could have made it here without you.

Rating: This story is NC-17, for the sex (duh). If this bothers you or you're under 18, stop now. You've been warned.

Timeline note: This is set between "Darkling" and "Rise".

Moonlight
by Lily

       B'Elanna Torres stopped in front of Holodeck 2's massive double doors. A quick tap of the keys on the wall console revealed that the object of her search was indeed within. She touched the key that would open the doors. But the computer refused.
       "Privacy lock is engaged."
       "Wanna bet?" she murmured to herself, tapping another key. On command, the doors opened, then closed. She then re-engaged the lock and turned, expecting to find the street outside Sandrine's. But instead she found herself surrounded by trees, in a forest at night. A soft breeze blew, the rustling leaves mixing with the night sounds, and through the trees, a full moon could be seen.
       Brow furrowed in thought, she climbed up the small, sloping hill and continued through the trees until abruptly, she came to a large clearing. Moonlight shone down on Tom Paris, who was resting comfortably in a hammock strung between the only two trees in the clearing. He had been looking up at the moon, but turned his head at the sound of her footsteps.
       "Hey B'Elanna," he said cheerfully. "Come on over, pull up a stump." He indicated the tree stump located near the foot of the hammock.
      "How did you know it was me?" she asked.
       "I recognized your footsteps--and you are the only one who would override my privacy lock without permission."
       She smiled as she perched on the edge of the stump. "What is this place?"
       "My aunt and uncle's summer cabin in Canada."
       "Canada?"
       "Mom's brother did his Starfleet physical training in Vancouver and he loved the surrounding area. When he and my aunt were married, they bought the cabin and eight acres of the surrounding land."
      "Where is the cabin?"
      "Over that way, about 100 meters." Tom gestured to his left.
      "How come you're not at the cabin?"
      "This clearing was my little spot whenever we came to visit Aunt Denise and Uncle Pierce. In fact, except when it rained, everyone else slept inside, I slept out here. I would fall asleep listening to the owls and wake up with the sunrise."
      "Since when do you ever get up that early? I'd never guess with the way you slog around in the mornings these days."
      He laughed. "Too true. But back when I was fourteen, fifteen, I didn't seem to mind it." He looked over at her and smiled. "Sometimes, my favorite cousin would come out and talk to me if she couldn't sleep. You sitting there reminds me of Libby."
      "Her name was Libby?"
      "Short for Liberty Dawn. She and my other cousins were all born on or around holidays, by some coincidence. Maia, the oldest, who we called Mamacita, was born on May 5, which is--"
      "Cinco de Mayo," B'Elanna finished.
      "Libby was born on July 4, Nick, the day after Christmas, Patrick on St. Patrick's Day--no pun intended--and Jasmine on April 10, which was Easter that year."
      "Why was she your favorite cousin?"
      "We were only five months apart. My sisters would always hang out with Maia, Pat and Nick were best of friends and preferred each other's company and Jasmine would spend all her time reading. Therefore, that left Libby and me. We could talk about anything. We were always close."
      There was a sad note in his voice. B'Elanna leaned forward. "What happened to her, Tom?"
      "She got married. She might have a kid or two by now. I haven't seen her in about ten years--since I got thrown out of Starfleet. She was the only one who tried to contact me when I was in prison. I refused to talk to her--in fact, I probably drove her away."
      "You don't know that. If we get home, she might still be willing to talk to you."
      "I hope you're right" He sighed and returned his gaze to the dark sky. But after a couple minutes, he looked back at her.
      "You remind me of Libby in other ways. She was always headstrong and opinionated."
      "Well thanks," she laughed.
      "That's not the way I meant it," he said with a laugh of his own. Then he grew serious again. "But maybe that's what draws me to you."
      She turned surprised eyes to him. His gaze, that incredible warp core blue gaze, was locked with hers. Slowly, he got out of the hammock, just as she rose to her feet.
      Leave! her mind shrieked.
      But B'Elanna couldn't move, except forward--toward him. He reached out, gently taking her by the shoulders, bringing her closer. His lips touched her forehead, caressing each ridge before leaning down to capture hers.
      She returned his kiss with surprising passion. Her heart began to pound as she felt him undo her uniform jacket. He slid it off her shoulders, then kissed her again. She kicked off her shoes, the only non-uniform thing she was wearing and lifted her arms so he could pull her turtleneck over her head. He discarded the t-shirt he had on, then slowly lowered her to the ground.
      They sat facing each other on the soft grass. Neither knew what to say, but he decided no words were necessary. He kissed her forehead again, then he brought his hands up, his fingertips tracing her bra straps, down to where the soft satin cups were. Lightly, he ran his fingertips across them. She drew in a ragged breath and closed her eyes.
       Reaching down, he helped her slide out of her pants, then brought his hand back up to caress one breast. She gasped. Letting go, he carefully released the front-hook clasp, then slid her bra off her shoulders.
      When the cool night air hit her bare breasts, B'Elanna gasped again, only to moan softly as the chill was replaced by the warmth of his hands as he cupped them carefully. Her eyes closed and her head fell back.
      He pressed soft kisses along the line of her throat as he slowly lowered her onto her back. Kneeling above her, he quickly took off his shorts, then slid her panties down and off, leaving them both naked.
      This can't be happening. This has to be a dream, B'Elanna thought. But when Tom leaned down to kiss her once more and pressed his warm, naked skin against hers, she knew she wasn't dreaming. Her hands reached around to clutch at his shoulders as he slid lower to take one dark rose peak into his mouth.
      She moaned, arching her back, offering herself to him. He swirled his tongue around it, then sucked gently, drawing out another moan. He did the same to the other, then continued downward.
      Her nails dug into his shoulders as he showered soft kisses down her stomach. Gently, he parted her thighs and knelt between them.
      A shocked cry escaped her as she felt his tongue delve inside her. Instinctively, she reached down, intending to clutch his hair, but his hands caught her wrists, gently pushing them down as he continued, kissing and nipping lightly at her sensitive flesh.
      Helplessly, she began to writhe beneath him as her cries grew louder. Releasing her wrists, he took her hips, holding her still as he tasted her sweetness. Her cries continued to crescendo, until suddenly he felt her tense. He rose up. He didn't want her to go there just yet. He moved over her once more.
      "Tom," she gasped softly.
      "Shh," he murmured. He cupped her face in one hand and slid the other beneath her, lifting her up as he entered her in one slow, gentle thrust.
      B'Elanna cried out as she felt him inside her. Kahless, she had never felt anything like this! Of course, she had had lovers before, but never had she experienced this intense ache that made her head swim. Forcing her eyes open, she looked up at Tom. His warp core eyes gazed down on her face with such tenderness that it took her breath away.
      When he began to move inside her, with strong deliberate thrusts, the ache intensified. Moaning his name, she clung to him. She could feel him deep--so deep inside as he made her his.
      Her gaze drifted to the night sky. The stars and the moon seemed to be stable for a minute--then they blurred as her senses swam again--becoming a swirl of night sky and moonlight.
      The tempo of his thrusts increased and he reached a hand between them, stroking her outside as he pressed deeper within.
      It came so suddenly that she was overwhelmed. But then the shock burst and consumed her, like nothing she had ever felt before.
      "Oh, Tom!" she cried in wonder.
      "'Lanna, 'Lanna," he groaned, pressing his face into her shoulder.
      Her internal muscles clutched him, bringing him to the peak. He thrust twice more, almost in desperation. She writhed beneath him, her head rocking back and forth. Then he collapsed on top of her, drawing her close.
      For several long minutes, they lay silent, letting the soft breeze cool their heated skin.
      "Tom?"
       "Hmm?"
       "How did you learn to do that?"
       "Do what?"
       "Make me feel that way."
       He lifted his head to look into her eyes. "What do you mean?"
       "I mean what just happened."
      Puzzled, he was about ready to say that it was what normally happened, when it hit him. He cupped her face in both hands. "You mean that none of your other lovers ever gave you pleasure?"
      She shook her head.
      A wave of infinite tenderness swept through him. "Oh, 'Lanna," he whispered. Moving onto his side, he gathered her trembling body close. Then he lovingly traced the contours of her face with soft kisses.
      B'Elanna closed her eyes. She had been wrong to deny her feelings for Tom. She had been a coward in the worst way--afraid to let him know, afraid he would use her and toss her aside.
       But he hadn't.
       "I love you, B'Elanna," he whispered.
       "I love you, too," she said softly.
       His lips met hers and all else was forgotten for a long while.

      An hour later, the two lay in the hammock, B'Elanna's head resting on Tom's shoulder, her hand on his chest. His fingertips lightly caressed her arm as they listened to the night sounds around them, the hammock swaying slightly with the breeze.
      "B'Elanna, tonight was amazing--even wonderful." He moved his hand to her face, tilting her chin up to look into her eyes. "I don't want it to end here, to be just this one time. I meant it when I said I loved you, and I want to be with you."
      "I do, too." Her hand moved up to caress his cheek. "I was afraid to admit my love for you--but now I can't see why."
      "It's all right." Tom twisted his head around to kiss her palm. "What matters is now."
      "You're right. I love you."
      "I love you, 'Lanna."
      B'Elanna closed her eyes and eventually the sway of the hammock and the steady rhythm of Tom's heartbeat lulled her to sleep.

=/\= End =/\=

Send all comments and constructive criticism to Lily