The Lab Geek - Geek Pride 2025

A/N - This is my first try at the Geek Pride Story Event. This is part Fantasy and purely Lesbian. In light of the theme I have submitted into the Fantasy category. I hope you, the reader, can see my fantasy intentions.

As always, all characters, names, and events in this storyline are purely fictional. Any resemblance to real life is purely coincidental and unintentional.

A big thanks to Nicole for her editing and suggestions. Any remaining mistakes are my own. My eyes aren't quite what they used to be.

***

Early May - Dr. Cobalt Wayne

I padded from the shower to the bedroom, still wrapped in my towel, and there on my bed was my darling baby girl, Marie Curie, my cat, not the physicist. My sweet, cream and white fluff ball of a Maine Coon cat laid curled up like a little queen right in the middle of the bed. I sat beside her, running my fingers through her soft fur.

"I promise you, my baby girl, mama's coming home on time tonight. We're gonna relax and stream your favorite movie, okay?"

I couldn't help but giggle. "Oh yes, baby girl, I will make up for missing our May the Fourth date last week. I promise, no interruptions, no work calls, the full saga, start to finish."

I leaned closer, grinning like a dork. "Mama doesn't have to work tomorrow, baby girl, so we're parking it on the couch and geeking out with Lieutenant Uhura all night long this time."

I stood up and walked over to the dresser, grabbing a pair of panties and a matching bra. Slipping them on, I reached for my slacks next. The blouse came after being buttoned neatly, with the top button left undone, just the way I liked it. I slid into a pair of comfy flats. Today was going to be full of standing, squinting, and getting lost in the details under my favorite microscope.

After a quick breakfast, I kissed Marie Curie goodbye and headed out to the lab.

Pulling into the lab's parking lot, I made my way inside and badged through security.

"Good morning, Miss Wayne," Edmond greeted me with his usual warm voice.

"Hi Edmond!" I smiled and continued on to the employee locker room.

I stowed my things, grabbed my lab coat, and badged in again on my way to the inner lab, passing my director, Dr. Leslie Geyer's office. Once at my station, I powered on my computer and officially began my day.

I noticed Dr. Geyer approach while I was pulling my samples from cold storage. As always, she stopped a few paces back, giving me space until I acknowledged her. That kind of professional courtesy never went unnoticed, and I respected the hell out of it.

I turned and greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, Dr. Geyer, ma'am. How's your morning treating you?"

The director of our lab, a seasoned, sharp, and undeniably brilliant individual, stepped closer.

"Well, Co ... " she paused, catching the look I gave her over the rim of my glasses. Just enough stinkeye to get the message across.

"Dr. Wayne," she corrected with a wink. "My apologies. I'm doing well. We've got a few guests coming in on Monday."

I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but I listened anyway.

"They'll be second-year med students, plus some undergrads with a strong interest in Hematology, much like you were, once. I'd like to introduce everyone on a casual basis."

I took a breath and answered steadily. "Dr. Geyer, I understand, but I'd really prefer not to use my first name. My father still haunts me for that literally and figuratively. Naming me Cobalt was his idea, and he never let me forget it." I smirked and turned back to the samples I'd been preparing.

She chuckled gently and reassured me. "He's not haunting you. He was a brilliant researcher and a devoted father. I remember that. He just happened to be, well, like the rest of us total lab geeks."

"Of course, Dr. Geyer."

With a kind smile, she moved along, chatting with others as they filtered in, Ph. D. researchers, residents, and the usual crowd. I suppose tenure comes with its perks. Dr. Geyer had come to me first with the news, and I appreciated that.

***

It was after 4:30 p. m. when my laptop's instant messaging app sprang open; Dr. Geyer had asked to see me before I left for the evening.

I replied that I had a meeting at 4:45 pm with Dr. Gerald Mason, my medical fellow, to discuss the cytogenetics and molecular biology markers he was reviewing to detect mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. I wanted this pushed forward for presentation to the Advisory Committee for the next round of the drug sensitivity assessments her husband's team was working on.

As I hit reply, I watched as my message was read immediately. The response frightened me as it would cut into my time with Marie Curie and our movie night.

'That is fine I will wait for you ' Dammit! I nearly screamed. I wanted to relax and spend the evening with Marie and either Leia or Uhura.

I had just finished with Dr. Mason. He was a truly bright and promising young physician, already board-certified in Internal Medicine. Mentoring someone like him should have felt like a proud moment, but my heart ached when he spoke of California. The way he lit up at the mention of the West Coast... that's when I knew. Once he completed his fellowship in just a few months, he and his wife were packing up and heading to her home in sunny San Diego.

As we wrapped up our conversation about test results, I gave it one last try, desperation creeping into my voice despite my best efforts to stay composed.

"Dr. Mason?" I paused, peering over my glasses. He looked up from his notes, smiling kindly.

"You are a spectacular and talented, soon-to-be board-eligible hematologist. Is there anything, anything, I can say to convince you to stay here with us in Maryland? Just for a few more years?"

He stood, that same gentle smile never leaving his face. "Oh, Dr. Wayne ... it isn't me you have to convince. It's my wife. San Diego is calling her name. She wants to go home."

That was it. My heart sank a little lower, resigned to what I already knew. I stood slowly, every movement weighted with disappointment. I extended my hand, managing a smile.

"If you ever need a recommendation, please seek me out. I would be honored to support you, wherever you go."

He thanked me, then walked out of the conference room, leaving for the day with the easy steps of someone who had already moved on. And me? I trudged back to my lab station, shut everything down methodically, hoping for a brief meeting with Dr. Geyer before heading home.

I knocked softly on her door. She glanced up and waved me in. The lab was quiet; there was no need to close the door. I sat, my small purse resting in my lap, suddenly feeling heavy.

"Cobalt," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "I need a huge favor."

I mirrored her smile, already wary. "Then please, Leslie ... don't call me Cobalt. You know I hate that name."

"Oh, dearest... your mother would be so proud of you. I hope you know that."

I flinched. There it was. She wasn't playing fair. The guilt train had left the station, and I was strapped to the front.

"You have dinner plans tonight?" she asked, casually.

"Yes," I said with a smirk. "With Marie Curie. We're cuddling on the couch tonight."

She chuckled, but then got to the point. "We have a new fellowship physician starting July 1st. I've selected you to be her mentor. Just wanted to thank you in advance. She'll be shadowing you for a while."

I raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, I'm honored to mentor a young mind, but there's a catch. You brought up my mother, which means something's coming."

She straightened her back. Here it came.

"Nia is a wonderful woman; she is just finishing her Internal Medicine residency. She'll be thrilled to work with you, but ..." Her voice caught with hesitation. "Cobalt, she has some financial struggles. I'd love to know if you'd consider letting her stay in your spare bedroom ..." My eyes opened wide!

She saw that and paused, but then continued. "Just until she finds her financial footing."

I stared at her, blinking in disbelief. "Leslie! How could you do this to me? You know how I like my life. My space."

I was spiraling more out of habit than reality. The truth? I'd never known struggle. My mother's untimely death and the life insurance that came with it left me comfortable and secure. That privilege never escaped me ... even if I didn't always say it aloud.

Leslie just waited. Calm. Silent. Letting the storm pass.

When I finally fell quiet, she stood and walked around her desk, her eyes soft and full of knowing.

"Cobalt," she said gently, taking my hands in hers. "I promised your father, at your mother's funeral, that he'd never need to worry about you. And still you chose this place. You chose to follow in his footsteps after his cancer and passing, instead of charting your own like your mother hoped."

Her words dug deep. I felt the sting.

"Dr. Nia Abara is special," she went on. "She's from inner city Chicago. Her mother was killed in a senseless drive-by shooting. Nia grew up bouncing between foster homes, surviving on grit and sheer brilliance. She made it to community college, then pushed through to a four-year degree, all on merit."

Tears welled in my eyes. Leslie had cracked me open, and she knew it.

"Okay, okay, enough with the guilt trip, Aunt Leslie," I whispered, burying my face in my hands.

I felt her breath as she leaned close. "My dearest Cobalt... I love you like the daughter I never had. You are a wonderful woman for doing this. Just until she's on her feet."

I nodded, defeated and touched all at once. "I will, Aunt Leslie. I'll welcome her. I'll care for her... like you did for me."

We both stood, and I pulled her into a hug.

"I'm going home to see Marie Curie. We have a date tonight," I said with a grin, brushing tears away.

She laughed and hooked her arm through mine. "I'll walk you to your car."

And with that, we stepped into the quiet hallway, two women holding decades of stories between us and making room for one more.

***

Hours later, prepared for a nice evening, I sat with Marie Curie stretched out across my lap like a queen surveying her domain, her thick, creamy tabby fur catching the soft flicker of the television screen. I nestled deeper into the couch, laying a lightweight fleece blanket over my naked legs. The first few notes of Star Trek: The Motion Picture played, a sweeping overture that always made my chest flutter with something nostalgic and tender.

When the camera panned across the Enterprise, my heart was already drifting far from the ship and into the depths of a particular officer's sultry, commanding presence.

Uhura. Gods, Uhura.

Even her name tastes like poetry on my tongue.

I watched the curve of her smile, the way her dark eyes gleamed with intelligence and quiet fire, and the commanding elegance of her voice. She wasn't just part of the bridge crew. She was the pulse of it, at least in my opinion.

Every time she moved, every time her fingers brushed the communicator or she swept her gaze across the room, I felt something tighten deep in my belly. She wore that crimson uniform like it was painted on, the cut framing her hips and breasts in a way that made my thoughts stray far from plotlines and warp speeds. My fingers twitched absently in Marie Curie's fur, but in my mind, I was imagining what it might be like to touch Nyota Uhura instead.

Oh! To feel the silk of her skin, to press my lips just beneath her ear, to whisper things that made her breath catch.

I let myself wander. I always do by the time we reach The Wrath of Khan. Marie Curie purred contentedly, curled like a heavy moon in my lap, but I was somewhere else entirely. In the fantasy, I was on the bridge with Uhura, leaning in too close, stealing glances I didn't hide. Her eyes found mine, that sly little smile playing at her mouth; she was in control. She knew the power she held over me.

She reached for me, her touch feather-light but with intent, trailing along the inside of my wrist before her fingers slipped up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I'd follow her anywhere. To the stars, through danger, even into madness.

I ached with want for her, this woman so utterly herself, so self-possessed, beautiful beyond reason, sensual in ways that made my throat dry. I shivered when I realized my fingers had crept under the lightweight throw and had been teasing my bald womanhood. My fingers gooey with my thick creamy nectar, all saved for her, one of the women I would love to give myself to.

As the credits rolled, I stood to use the bathroom and clean myself. I patted to the kitchen for another glass of wine and a treat for Marie Curie. I wrapped myself in the throw and settled back into my spot. Lazily, I left my fingers inside my panties, being careful not to excite myself too much.

By the time we reached The Search for Spock, my wine glass was empty and my thoughts were positively decadent. Uhura had fewer scenes, but every glimpse of her was a gift. Her voice, even when soft, commanded. Her skin, smooth and deep and radiant in the low lighting of Starfleet Command, seemed to glow. I imagined undressing her, reverently, unzipping that uniform and baring her body like it was a secret meant for me alone. The fantasy was hungry, shameless. I wanted to taste her.

My fingers seemed to have a mind of their own as I closed my eyes, seeing my fantasy officer melt beneath me. To hear my name in that voice, not barked across a comms channel, but moaned into my mouth in the privacy of shadow and breath. My obsession was gentle, yet there was a raw, almost primal, slow burning fire that simmered behind my quiet couch-sitting exterior, beneath the soft purrs of Marie Curie and the ancient throw blanket now pushed down, exposing my thighs and wetness.

Outside, the night went on unnoticed, and inside, I watched the stars sail by on screen, my body warm, my heart tethered to a woman who only existed in memory and flickering scenes, but who still somehow managed to leave me breathless.

The credits rolled quietly into darkness, and I let the silence settle like dust. Marie Curie had long since migrated to her favorite spot, the arm of the couch, her tail twitching in sleep, but I remained curled on the couch for a long moment.

I was still flushed from the fantasies that had slipped through my mind like silk. My thighs tingle, and my lips parted slightly in that heady, lingering way desire likes to cling. Eventually, I stirred. The clock blinked; it was past two in the morning. My body felt heavy and slow, like I'd been underwater.

I shuffled to the bedroom, the floor cool beneath my feet, the hallway dark save for the moonlight slicing in through the slats in the blinds. I needed to change. I pulled my shirt off, stripped from my sodden panties. I opened the top dresser drawer and pulled fresh panties, slipping into them. I crawled between the sheets in nothing but a pair of thin black underwear, the cotton already warm against my skin from my heat.

As I sank into the mattress, I pulled the other pillow over and held it close, allowing the thoughts of Uhura to cradle me to sleep. I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly, and let the fantasy pull me under.

My dreams were more realistic than I could imagine. Uhura was no longer bound to a starship. She was mine. She stood in candlelight, her uniform shed piece by piece, revealing skin that shimmered like the darkest onyx kissed by the moonlight. She pressed me down, her thighs strong against mine, her mouth trailing over my body with a hunger I'd never known outside of dreams. I moaned for her, begged for her.

I was willing. Her fingers knew my body like a song she'd sung a thousand times. I clutched her hips, I tasted her name, and she unraveled me with slow, purposeful grace until all that existed was her heat, her voice, her rhythm, the stars crashing down behind my eyes.

My body shook as my orgasm ripped through my core, and my thick cream spat from my love, oh the feeling, the euphoria of need, and the culmination of my desire.

I moved from the bed to my bathroom, warming a washcloth to pat myself clean. I grabbed a towel to cover the bedsheets. I made my way back to the solace of my lonely bed, knowing the fear of ever loving a woman in real life wouldn't happen as grotesque as a lover I would be.

That secret kept to me and only to me as Mother Nature played the cruelest trick on my body ... the flowing and overwhelming orgasms and the always involuntary expulsion of secretions from my Skene's glands.

How would any woman come to love me? This is why I will never seek a lover. I am a disgusting woman without the capabilities to stop this ... this curse of squirting. I wept in sadness, allowing sleep to overtake me in the waning hours of the morning, knowing I had a lazy day ahead of me.

***

The sun was high and warm against my bare shoulder when I woke. The sheets were tangled, my limbs stretched languidly across the bed like I'd been dancing in sleep. My body hummed, the memory of her touch ghosting over me like an aftershock. I didn't open my eyes at first. I just smiled, wide and slow, blissfully worn out.

Then my thoughts came back to my orgasm, how embarrassing it was that it always happened, every time. Tears crept from my eyes, knowing no woman would ever want me. I was destined to be alone from the hellish and embarrassing problem.

I pulled myself from bed and pulled my bed clothes as well, carrying them to the laundry, washing them as well as washing away, or at least trying to wash away the feeling of disgust from my orgasm.

I made my way to the kitchen, started some coffee, and pulled out Marie Curie's breakfast from the refrigerator, you know, the fresh food she deserves.

Back in my bedroom, I pulled on a pair of panties, shorts, and a T-shirt and patted my way into the bathroom for a shower to start my absolutely lazy day.

The rest of the weekend was pure embarrassment, guilt-ridden, and heavy. I couldn't shake it, no matter how hard I tried.

***

When Monday morning rolled around, I woke up, showered, and trudged my way back into the bedroom, still wrapped in my towel, hair damp and clinging to my shoulders. And there she was again, the queen of the castle, again she claimed the coziest spot for herself. I sat down carefully beside her, not wanting to disturb her royal slumber, and gently ran my fingers through her soft fur. She purred, and despite everything, I couldn't help but smile.

After a few quiet moments, I stood and tiptoed to the dresser. My cheeks flushed a bit as I reached for a pair of panties and the matching bra, but why I felt bashful while completely alone, I couldn't say. I slipped them on quickly, then pulled on my slacks, followed by a blouse I buttoned neatly, leaving the top one undone just the way I liked it. I slid into my comfy flats, knowing I'd be on my feet most of the day, getting completely lost in all the tiny details my work demanded. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and made my way out to start my day.

It wasn't until I was driving to the lab that I remembered what Dr. Geyer had to tell us about the visiting students today. Damnit. I wasn't in a business suit like she preferred for those days.

I greeted Edmond with the best Monday-morning smile I could manage and went through the outer lab to the locker room. I tucked my purse and things away and closed the locker. Walking past Dr. Geyer's office and badging into the inner lab, I headed straight to my station and got to work.

I had just pulled my testing tray from the vault when Dr. Mason walked over. He was wearing a shirt and tie under his lab coat.

"Hey, Dr. Wayne, all nerd casual today, I see," he said with a grin, giving me a wink. "Don't tell me you lucked out and aren't presenting to the kids touring today."

I lowered my head, shaking it with a sigh. "No, I am presenting, but it totally slipped my mind until I got here. So yeah, I guess it's nerd casual today."

I looked up and gave him a small smile. "Just don't tell Dr. Geyer. I really don't need her freaking out on me."

He made the classic gesture of zipping his lips, then mumbled, "Mum's the word, Dr. Wayne."

Just before ten o'clock, a pop-up reminder appeared on all our calendars. We were being summoned from the lab to the cafeteria, which had been set up for the presentation and Q&A session.

My young colleague, Dr. Mason, and I quickly stowed our blood samples and trays, then headed over. He shrugged off his lab coat and pulled on his suit jacket. With a wink and a grin, he looked at me.

"Traitor," I mouthed, smiling back at him.

He fell in step beside me, that familiar smirk on his face.

"I'm not the one who forgot her suit today," he teased. "Just keep the lab coat on, no one will know."

"She will and I will catch tons of stink-eye."

We both badged out of the inner lab, following protocol, and walked toward the event.

Dr. Mason held the door for me as we entered the cafeteria. My eyes immediately met Dr. Geyer's, and I saw her raise an eyebrow when she noticed my attire. It was her silent way of asking what my problem was. But I was prepared. I walked forward and took my seat beside her at the head table.

I murmured to Dr. Mason, "I told you."

There were seven of us in total. Dr. Geyer sat at the center. I was to her immediate left, while our other senior Ph. D., a hemoglobin researcher, sat to her right. The arrangement was always the same: MDs on one side, Ph. D. s on the other, and researchers on the other.

Dr. Geyer began the introductions, saving mine for last as usual since I was to speak first. I tensed slightly as she delivered her familiar closing line:

"And last, Dr. Cobalt Wayne, our Deputy Chief of Hematology and Cancer Research. Dr. Wayne?"

There was light applause from the front table and the thirty or so guests. I stood and walked over to the podium tucked into the corner of the U-shaped tables, pulling my note cards from my lab coat pocket.

"Dr. Geyer, research associates, and guests," I began, "welcome to the Quigley Laboratory. Please accept my apologies for not being properly dressed in my suit coat." I paused briefly and chose not to lie; I could have, but I didn't. "My mind was elsewhere this morning when I came to work."

That wasn't a lie; my mind was a wreck from my embarrassing orgasm, yet it was so powerful and satisfying. I shook my head and continued. I moved into my presentation, speaking about our current research, referencing my notes when needed.

I panned to the left, making eye contact with our guests, wondering how many of them could honestly imagine living like me, a nerd, or in my case, a nerdette.

Then I saw her, a younger woman of striking beauty. Her blouse was buttoned to her neck, yet she looked at ease. Our eyes locked. I paused, stammered, and caught myself.

"Lastly," I continued, "understand that we push our findings forward, and what makes our lab unique is the on-site Advisory Committee, which reports directly to the NIH and the NCI for Research and Development." I paused again, deciding to try my joke one more time.

"Why did the hematologist break up with the lymphocyte?"

I waited. A faint giggle broke the silence. I glanced towards it, toward her. She had covered her mouth, but her smile was unmistakable.

"That's right," I said, "because it had too many issues with commitment, it's always circulating, never settling." I giggled.

She laughed again, and I couldn't look away. I was snapped out of my daze by a light wave of applause. My four minutes of spotlight were over for now. I made my way back to my seat, feeling unexpectedly giddy.

As the other team leads began to speak, my mind refused to shift focus. It kept returning to her. Her skin was a deep, rich hue like the special roasted coffee beans I ordered. Her dark brown eyes were framed by lashes that could stop traffic.

Our eyes connected again. The edges of her lips curled, and I caught my breath. Her heart-shaped face and high cheekbones shimmered in the overhead lights. But then her expression changed. She dropped her gaze and covered her face with her hand, hiding from me.

More applause followed, and then Dr. Geyer invited everyone to network before the facility tour. We all rose together and moved toward the refreshments.

"Dr. Wayne, that was a good one today," Dr. Mason said in his usual jovial tone. As he walked off, I heard him muttering, "Ha ha... never settling."

I lingered where I was, letting others go ahead. Eventually, I made my way to a group of guests, answering their questions with a polite smile. But she wasn't there. I looked around discreetly, hoping to spot her, but no luck.

From across the room, Dr. Geyer announced the tour would begin in twenty minutes and encouraged everyone to wrap up networking. I seized the moment to duck into the ladies' room.

On my way back, I saw Dr. Geyer and her standing together. They both smiled as I approached.

"Dr. Wayne," Dr. Geyer said, "I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Nia Abara."

It was her! The moment I saw her, my breath caught in my throat, and warmth rushed to my cheeks. I nearly blushed—no, I did blush.

"Dr. Abara, it's a pleasure to meet you," I managed, folding my hands in front of me in a feeble attempt to maintain composure.

She stood just a touch taller than I, poised and luminous. She was grace wrapped in elegance. And up close, her skin... it wasn't just beautiful. It radiated. Rich, warm undertones glowed from within, a stunning testament to her African American and Barbadian heritage. She was incandescent.

Then she smiled, and I swear everything else disappeared. Her smile could stop time, bend light, and render me utterly useless.

"Dr. Wayne," she said, her voice honey-smooth and dipped in confidence and grace. "It is such an honor to meet you."

She extended her hand with a softness that contradicted the power I felt radiating from her.

I froze not out of fear, but wonder. I wasn't prepared for the jolt that pulsed through me as I reached for her. Our hands touched. Her fingers closed around mine, soft but assured. And in that instant, everything in me responded. A low flutter stirred deep in my abdomen, followed by a quickening, a heat that began to rise inside me like a tide that refused to retreat.

"Yes, Dr. Abara... Nia," I corrected myself gently, my voice quieter now, humbled by her presence. "The pleasure is all mine. I'm proud to offer you my home once you're settled."

She smiled again, and the way her name felt in my mouth made my skin tingle.

Her thick, natural hair was coiled in shoulder-length spirals that she wore pulled back into a full, commanding ponytail. It framed her face perfectly, making it regal, radiant, and very real.

Our eyes locked again as her hand lingered in mine longer than protocol and politeness allowed. It was deliberate. Or maybe I just hoped it was.

Her skin wasn't as soft as I'd imagined, but there was something earthy, anchoring, and profoundly real about her touch. It grounded me and unmoored me all at once.

She wore a charcoal-gray blazer, tailored to perfection, over a soft ivory blouse that closed neatly at the collar and cuffs. Every detail was thoughtful, refined, classic, and elegant. Her slacks matched, sleek and tapered, whispering confidence with every seam. She was the embodiment of grace and power, and it was dizzying.

I didn't know what came over me. My mouth opened before my brain could catch up.

"Dr. Geyer... what if Dr. Abara, Nia, and I stayed back for a bit? I'd be happy to give her a personal tour later."

I turned to Nia, holding her gaze. She smiled softly and gave a slight nod.

Dr. Geyer gave her approval, but I barely heard it. My whole world was narrowed down to Nia's eyes, the curve of her lips, the way she stood with effortless command of the space around her.

And then it hit me. My body had already betrayed me. My breath was shallow, my heart thudding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Heat pooled low in my belly, and my thighs clenched slightly on instinct. My panties were damp, and I blinked, trying to ground myself, trying not to lose all sense of professionalism.

God... what was this woman doing to me?

Nia and I remained seated as the room emptied around us, the lingering hum of conversation fading into silence. I kept my demeanor polite and professional, and determined not to intrude, but doubt tugged at me about what I had so readily agreed to.

For the first time, it was just the two of us. Alone, and yet, the air between us wasn't empty. It thrummed softly with something unspoken.

"I wanted to come and tour again to meet you. I will graduate soon and start my fellowship at the beginning of July." She spoke smoothly and softly, with a hint of a Caribbean accent.

"Nia," I began, my voice low and careful, "Dr. Geyer mentioned you might need assistance. And without hesitation or having even met you, I said yes. I just want you to know, if there's anything you need in advance ... "

I paused, not from hesitation, but instinct. My hand moved on its own, resting gently on top of hers where it sat on the table.

"Please let me know," I said again, my voice quieter now.

The moment our skin touched, a delicate heat stirred between us. Her skin was soft, warm, and alive beneath my fingers. A slight shiver passed through her, barely noticeable but unmistakable.

She felt it, too. I knew she did. Our eyes locked, hers wide and searching, mine unwilling to look away. And in that shared glance, something passed between us: silent, electric, undeniable. It was a fragile spark, fragile but real.

"Your sense of humor..." she said, my lips curling, "It got to me. I'm sorry if I was too forward earlier. You've made this day brighter than I expected."

I didn't move my hand. Neither did she. We were tethered now, quietly, gently.

"I should probably warn you," I added, smiling, "I have a cat. But I promise, she's well-behaved. Her name's Marie Curie."

Nia's face lit up, her smile radiant. "No! You named your cat after Madam Curie?"

Her laughter danced through me, a soft, musical sound that made me want to hear it again. I just nodded.

"Guilty," I said, mock sheepishly. "I'm a full-blown science nerd. But I mean, my parents did name me Cobalt. What do you expect?"

She leaned in slightly, her gaze flickering to my eyes. "Ahh. Your cobalt blue eyes. That's the reason, then perfectly named."

Oh my god. Was she flirting with me? My pulse surged, and I forgot how to sit still momentarily.

We talked like that for almost twenty minutes. It was easy, warm, familiar, and casual until she asked what I did for fun.

I gave a little shrug, a little shy. "Honestly? A glass of wine, curled up on the couch with Marie Curie, watching the Science Channel, or streaming something. I don't really go out much."

Her eyes gleamed, mischief sparking behind them. "So, if I were to, strictly with your permission, Dr. Wayne, take a peek at your viewing history... what would I find?"

I chuckled. "Well, Dr. Abara, you'd find every Star Trek series and movie, the complete Star Wars saga, and a smattering of sci-fi films, Dune, Lucy, Contact..." I trailed off with a soft shiver.

She leaned in, and her hand moved on top of mine. "Jodie Foster does something to my brain."

"And Mary Elizabeth Winstead to mine... but no one ever topped Carrie Fisher or Nichelle Nichols."

Her eyes widened in delight. "Oh, Dr. Wayne... you and I will get along perfectly. Though I have a special fondness for Zoe Saldana as Uhura." She winked.

I laughed, warm and a little dazed. "Well then... once you're settled in, we might need a weekend movie marathon."

Nia smiled, the kind that lingered in her eyes.

"Shall we start the tour?" I asked as I stood, suddenly remembering I was still holding her hand. I hadn't meant to keep it, but... I didn't want to let go.

Her fingers stayed in mine as she rose, and I shivered again.

But deep down, I hesitated because with her, and the secrets I carried in my body... true intimacy might never be possible.

Not in the way I wanted.

We wrapped up the tour of the inner laboratory, and before parting ways, I made sure to exchange numbers with her. We planned to talk soon about her moving in with me once her lease ended at the end of the month.

"Dr. Wayne, I was thinking of moving to Maryland near the beginning of June..." she said, her voice tinged with hesitation.

"Come whenever you're ready," I reassured her. "Just give me a few days' notice, that's all I ask."

Just then, my phone pinged again. I glanced at the screen and smiled. "Looks like lunch is ready, and I have a few other duties to take care of, Nia."

We headed toward the lunch that had been prepared for us, only to be deliberately separated by Dr. Geyer so I could mingle with the others.

Dr. Geyer leaned beside me during the meal and whispered, "Oh dear Cobalt, you're smiling like I've never seen."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. I stiffened and whispered back, guilt creeping in, "Aunt Leslie, I have no idea what you're talking about."

She straightened and floated off to chat with others in the room.

I scanned the crowd, disappointed not to see Nia among them. But there was no time to dwell on it I had to return to the inner lab. With a sigh, I tucked my phone into my locker and dove back into my work for the rest of the day.

***

Friday before Memorial Day Weekend

My alarm rang, but as I reached to silence it, I remembered the laboratory was closed for Memorial Day. Still, I had a list of tasks to complete before my guest arrived on Monday.

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, I finally sank into the sofa beside Marie Curie. I pressed play, and the opening credits lit the room like the flare of a distant star.

I took the last sip of my wine as Captain Kirk and his crew gathered around Mr. Spock, each one smiling while the soft glow of the Vulcan mood lit the backdrop. Bones pointed at Spock's head and gave a knowing nod.

As the credits rolled, I powered off the television. Reaching over, I gently stroked Marie Curie's fur. "Come on, my dearest," I whispered. "Join me as I drift off to sleep."

I slipped off my top, removed the covers, and climbed into bed. Marie Curie curled up near my feet. I closed my eyes, comfortable, content, and exhausted. The day had been long, but I was ready for my guest.

Suddenly, I was there, on the Enterprise, not just watching from the outside but inside it, the hum of the engines beneath my feet, the lowlights of the corridors glowing like a heartbeat. I was no longer in bed, no longer mortal in the same tired world. I was Dr. Cobalt Wayne, newly assigned to the medical research deck, and I was walking into the officers' and crews' mess. The buzz of the crew faded the moment she walked in.

Lieutenant Commander Nyota Uhura, older now, was refined like a rare wine aged in starlight. Her presence was gravitational, and her eyes were on me. Her uniform was crisp red, her makeup subtle, and her hair perfectly styled, a picture of the rarest beauty.

She didn't speak at first. She smiled knowingly, her gaze dragging down my body in a way that made my pulse spike. I was already undone, and she hadn't even touched me.

"Join me for dinner, Doctor," she said finally, her voice a melody that vibrated in my ribs. Not a question. A command dressed in velvet.

The next moment, I was seated across from her in the observation lounge, alone together as the stars streaked by in silence beyond the glass. The table was elegantly set, the food secondary to the woman who sat across from me like a queen at her private feast. She sipped a deep violet wine from a crystal glass, her eyes never leaving mine. Every word she spoke was laced with suggestion, every laugh a spark that lit something low in my belly.

"You're trembling," she said softly, and I realized I was; it was my nerves.

"I am flustered, Lieutenant Commander, you shake my every nerve, you ... " Was this all from lust? From how her foot had slid, just barely, between my calves beneath the table, her knee brushed against mine like a dare.

"I'm not used to eating under observation," I said, voice thick.

"I'm not observing," she said, leaning forward. "I'm devouring."

My breath hitched. She reached across the table and took my hand slowly, her fingers tracing up the inside of my wrist. My fantasy had come true!

This time, her touch was warm. I felt it warm and electric, my skin blazing beneath her touch. Her thumb slid over the soft hollow of my palm, and my thighs pressed tight beneath the table, aching with anticipation.

"You've been dreaming about me," she whispered.

I nodded, unable to speak.

"I know," she purred. "And now I'm here. And you are mine, aren't you, Doctor?"

Her fingers slipped under the tablecloth. I gasped, the contact immediate and devastating, her touch firm, practiced, relentless. I arched, breath ragged, hands gripping the table's edge as she leaned in, her lips grazing my ear.

"Say it," she murmured.

"I'm yours," I gasped.

And then ... I woke, shaking like a young child brought to the grandest satisfaction.

Sheets tangled around me, sweat damp at the back of my neck, the air heavy and humid with want. My pulse thundered in my throat, my left hand clenched tight in the sheets where hers had just been. My right hand is still under my panties, my fingers soaked with my nectar and thick cream from my orgasm.

My body still pulsed with the dream of her touch, her mouth at my ear, her fingers...

I let out a soft, desperate laugh, dragging my right hand over my face. I quickly reacted as I felt the wetness and bathed in my aroma and scent.

"Oh god! It wasn't real yet, how real it was." Embarrassingly, I pulled the tangled sheet from my body, stripped off my panties, and trudged to the bathroom to clean myself. Once showered, I returned to my bed, pulling the sheets from the other side and curling against the pillow.

I closed my eyes, hopeful for another amazing dream of pure euphoria.

***

Monday - Memorial Day

The sun was shining again, bright and unapologetic, but today carried a different weight: an electric blend of nervousness and anticipation. We'd exchanged a few light-hearted texts, a gentle easing into what was coming. I told her I was disappointed I couldn't attend her Internal Medicine residency completion dinner. She was officially Dr. Nia Abara now, and she was moving into my home as she began her Hematology fellowship.

Marie Curie, my ever-intuitive Maine Coon, sensed the shift. She curled against my neck, purring softly to tether me in place, to remind me she was still here and grounded me.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," I whispered, running my fingers through her thick fur. "I promise she won't be a bother. And she definitely won't steal your cuddle time."

As if she understood, Marie Curie nuzzled closer, her affection warm and anchoring. Our bond was wordless, our deep love unshaken.

My phone pinged. I ignored it, letting my lazy Monday morning hold me a little longer under the safety of the sheets. Then a second ping made Marie Curie startle; she sprang from the bed, disappearing into the hallway.

I rolled onto my side and reached for my phone, still warm from the weight of my body in bed. The screen lit up with a message from Nia, and my pulse kicked a little faster.

I opened it.

A side-by-side photo of Nichelle Nichols and Zoë Saldana as Uhura lit the screen elegantly, powerfully, and magnificently. Her caption: "Wishful office Halloween costumes?"

As I stared at the image, a smile curled at my lips. Then, I typed back, "I don't think I could pull it off, but you definitely could."

She responded almost immediately.

"Mmm, I think you underestimate yourself. I can already picture you with that earpiece... tight red uniform... thighs exposed, teasing me for days."

I bit my bottom lip, heat blooming low in my belly.

"You're playing dangerous games this early in the morning, Dr. Abara."

"Just testing the atmosphere," she wrote, "seeing how much heat we'll be working with under the same roof."

I stared at her words, imagining how she'd say them, low, teasing, eyes sparkling with mischief. I slipped out of bed, my bare feet padding softly on the cool floor as I walked downstairs to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

As the machine hummed to life, I went upstairs to the bathroom. On the way, I slid my panties down my thighs, letting them drop to the floor before tossing them into the laundry basket.

My phone pinged again.

"Is there a dress code in your home?"

I smirked.

"You ask as if you don't already know the answer." I decided to tease right back. "I am wearing panties."

A beat passed, then she replied. "If you're trying to kill me before fellowship starts, it's working."

I replied with a shoulder shrug emoji.

"I am about four hours away, and I plan to be there after lunch, maybe one o'clock."

Back in my bedroom, I stepped into the shower, twisting the knobs until the water rushed over me, hot and enveloping. I leaned into the steam, letting it cascade down my breasts, between my thighs.

I tilted my head back and whispered to the empty room, "Last moments of my naked freedom and orgasms as far as I know, for a while."

But maybe it wouldn't be so bad, not with Nia. I imagined her walking through the house, maybe wearing a loose tank top and shorts that barely covered her curves. Perhaps she'd match my level of comfort. Maybe she'd need a little... encouragement.

I giggled, trailing my fingers over my slick skin. I closed my eyes, letting the water work, a slow smile curling across my lips.

When I came out of the shower, I saw she had pinged me and sent a gif of a woman running naked, you could just see her back.

"By the way," I texted one-handed, "clothing is optional in this household. Hope that won't be a problem."

Her reply came fast.

"In that case, I may need to unpack a few things ... and repack a thing or two, like my self-control."

It would be an exciting few weeks for her until she found a place to live.

***

Nia and I had talked several times over the past three weeks about what she might need for her stay, but she always brushed it off, insisting it was my house and my needs should come first. I always replied: it was Marie Curie's house, I was just a visitor.

I had just returned from the grocery store, fully stocked and prepared as possible for the week ahead and whatever Nia might need. While shopping, I'd sent her a couple of texts asking about her likes and dislikes. She didn't reply, and I figured she must have been driving. Honestly, I was glad; it was better to be safe than sorry.

The fridge and pantry were packed with essentials, including the organic fruits and vegetables I preferred, wheat pasta, and a small loaf of whole wheat bread. I ran the vacuum one last time and was putting away the final load of laundry when my phone rang.

I rushed downstairs. Nia's name lit up the screen.

"Hey!" I said, slightly out of breath. "How close are you?"

"I'm not too far off the exit for Silver Springs now."

I thought about teasing her, but let it go. "Okay, park on the right side of the driveway. I'll open the garage and be watching for you."

I opened the front door and kept an eye out. I figured she'd arrive in about ten minutes based on where she was. Sure enough, just over ten minutes later, a plain, older sedan with Illinois plates rolled into the driveway. I stepped outside and walked down the path to greet her.

As Nia got out just a tiny bit taller than me. She came around the open door and wrapped me in a hug. I was stunned, and at the same time, thrilled.

We lingered by the car for a few minutes, laughing easily, our conversation slipping into a natural rhythm with light teasing.

We walked inside before unpacking. Nia needed a bathroom break, so I gave her a quick tour of the first floor. When she came out, we agreed to start unloading the car and get her settled upstairs.

Once everything was inside, we headed up.

"This is you," I said, nudging the guest room door open with my hip while carrying two suitcases.

Nia brought in the other two, and then we hauled up canvas bags and a plastic bin stuffed with books, mugs, and a small BB-8 figurine.

Once everything was in the room, it felt small but cozy. I'd put fresh white linens on the bed, a nightstand stacked with a few sci-fi paperbacks, and a soft throw blanket folded neatly at the foot. A tiny vase of fresh flowers sat on the windowsill, catching the afternoon light.

Nia stood among her things. "This is perfect," she said, her voice carrying that quiet excitement that simmers just below the surface.

"I figured you might want a few familiar comforts," I said, eyeing the Star Wars mug poking out of one of her bags. "And maybe some coffee in my Star Wars mug, too, might help ease the nerves and make it feel like home."

Nia laughed, rolling her eyes with affection. "God, we're going to be such nerds. This house doesn't stand a chance."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," I said, grinning.

"Correction," Nia replied, kicking off her shoes and flopping onto the bed. "I imagined us as hotter, lesbian versions of Han and Luke, both vying for Leia's love."

I leaned against the doorway, still smiling in disbelief that this was happening. "Well," I said, crossing my arms, "come down when you're ready. I'll make a snack and put on some coffee, Nerd."

And the house didn't feel so quiet for the first time in years.

It hadn't been more than forty minutes when I heard Nia coming down the stairs. A flicker of trepidation stirred in me, not fear but the weight of uncertainty. I didn't want this to become a U-Haul relationship. Nia would work under me at the laboratory, and I knew the boundaries that should be honored. I was older, slightly more experienced. It should fall on me to lead this conversation to be honest, measured, and straightforward.

That was the plan.

But when I turned and saw her walking into the kitchen, my calm resolve and logical thinking evaporated and burned clean away in a heartbeat.

Nia walked in like a slow-burning fever. She wore thin white socks, soft against the floor, and nothing else but a plain white t-shirt. It was so sheer and delicate it looked like a breath-given form. It barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, leaving the full curve of her ass almost entirely exposed. The fabric shifted with her loose and lazy movement, teasing the eye with each subtle sway, awakening a deep, aching curiosity inside me.

And then... her breasts. Full, proud, and perfectly suspended beneath that whisper of cotton. The shirt clung just enough for gravity to conspire with my gaze. The darker shade of her areolas showed through like a hidden constellation, bold and impossible to ignore. Her nipples stood taut, as if aware of the tension in the air, and unbothered by it.

My brain, even the analyst, tried to break it down by contrast, curve, and symmetry, but my thoughts stuttered, looping uselessly. She was biology and poetry, anatomy and art, and I was utterly, hopelessly undone.

My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat. I couldn't look away. She wasn't trying to seduce me at least, I don't think she was but damn if she wasn't doing it anyway. Every step she took lit something up inside me, something fierce and electric. I stood frozen, suspended between awe and hunger, knowing that everything I thought I had under control had just slipped through my fingers.

Nia slid onto the couch like she belonged there, relaxed, legs tucked under her, that shirt still clinging in all the wrong ways. I handed her a mug of coffee, careful not to let our fingers touch. Still, something in her eyes caught me steady, curious, and a little amused.

"Thanks," she said, wrapping her hands around the mug. "Smells like real coffee, not med school sludge."

I smiled. "I grind my own beans. Perks of being a caffeine snob."

Nia laughed softly, and it was warmer than the coffee. "Noted. Dr. Cobalt Wayne, MD, Hematologist, researcher, boss, bean purist, and sexy when she blushes."

I sat across from her, trying to keep my gaze somewhere respectable. "So ... you really want to work in my lab?"

She nodded, blowing on the surface of her drink. "I've followed the laboratory's research for years. Getting to be part of it, it's kind of surreal."

I studied her for a moment. She wasn't bluffing. Sharp mind, steady voice, and ease made me wonder what else she could disarm without trying.

"Well," I said, leaning back, "I'll try not to disappoint."

She smiled over the rim of her mug. "Don't worry. I don't scare easily."

Captain James T Kirk, please help me, I believe her. "And I see you aren't modest and open to dressing as you want?"

Nia shrugged, "I thought you would be appreciative."

I smiled, but needed to bring things back to reality, and I thought this was a perfect time for total honesty. "I am ... very but."

I sat forward and placed my coffee cup on the side table. I turned slightly, looking at her.

"Nia, I am going to share a few things with you and probably shock you a bit, but please know I say this honestly."

I watched as her eyes widened and she looked worried. "There is no reason to worry." I paused. "I am thrilled you are here in my house, and you are welcome as long as you need. However, in my role at the laboratory, I have many responsibilities. One of those includes you."

I watched her expressions shift quickly. I needed to say this: "Around here, things are different." She smiled slightly, but she needed to know. "Here is what might shock you." I took a deep breath and sat straighter.

"Nia, I have never ... " I blushed deeply. "There are things about me that you will learn in time."

I watched as Nia's breathing paused; the sudden shift between us was enormous. The room had a new quiet hum as my words registered with her. I could see my admission landed like a slow-moving thunderclap. Her dark mahogany skin, usually composed in warm control, flushed with a subtle heat that traced the curve of her cheeks and down her neck.

Staring at me, Nia blinked, her eyes narrowing not in judgment but in stunned fascination. The confidence she wore like armor faltered just enough to reveal something more raw beneath: a flicker of awe and a surprising tenderness. Her lips parted as if to speak, but nothing came. Instead, her gaze settled on me. She was searching for something. But then I saw something shift profoundly.

No, it wasn't disappointment or pity. It was more curiosity, and frankly, as the corner of her lips curled, I realized this was desire and something dangerously close to reverence.

"Dr. Wayne," I reacted in shock, my eyes opening wide as if someone had taken something from me.

"I thank you for sharing." I saw Nia sit up slightly from her relaxed position and turn towards me, and she also placed her coffee on the table. "I promise my intentions and deeds will prove themselves here and in the laboratory. I would never do anything to jeopardize our careers and this important research."

She reached over and took my hand. I immediately shivered. "Her thumb stroked the back of my hand like she did weeks ago.

"I am honored to know your deepest secrets, which are locked away, never to be shared. I promise to not harm you here, in your home, but if something sparks outside of the inner lab, please know you are a woman of beauty and I would like nothing more than one day to kiss your sweet, loving lips."

I was embarrassed, I was shocked, and I was a damned fool. I wasn't ready to jump into bed, but I needed to explain how I felt to this twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old, so I threw caution to the wind and took a chance.

"Well, maybe ... as long as we keep things absolutely professional until we are here, we could ... I don't know, maybe start dating?" Or at least go very, very slow."

I smiled but pulled her hands to my lips and kissed them softly.

I could hear the hitch in her breath. Then I heard her say, "Good, I was afraid after our teasing texts, I would need more clothing around your home." She winked, and I knew we would be okay."

We both settled back into our seats and enjoyed our coffee, just chatting about what would come.

***

Two Weeks Later

I closed the lab and grabbed my things from my locker. Dr. Mason was moving on. He'd accepted a position at a cancer center in San Diego, which left a bit of a void, if I'm being honest. I was truly happy for him and his wife, but a bittersweet ache sat quietly in my chest.

When I turned my phone back on, I saw I'd missed a few texts from Nia. I opened the thread. 'Call me when you can.'

I texted back. 'I'm leaving the lab now, I will call from my car.'

Once I was settled behind the wheel, I started the engine and waited for my phone to sync. Then I tapped her contact, Dr. Nia Abara, and as it began to ring, I shifted into drive and eased out of the parking lot.

"Hello?" Her voice was softer, heavier, and sadder than I expected.

"Nia, dear... what's wrong?"

And then I heard it. The quiet, crumbling sound of tears, ones I knew too well. She was crying.

"Cobalt ... I was turned down for two places to live today." Her voice trembled, and she paused, crying harder. "Both told me my credit wasn't good enough ... that I'm a risk until I show a full year of employment."

"Nia." I was firm but gentle. "It's okay. You will find something, and if not, you can stay with me."

I wasn't exactly a mental health expert, but I knew I needed to help her re-center.

"Nia, have you had dinner yet?"

There was no answer, only the sound of soft sniffling. I pushed on.

"Listen. I'm fifteen minutes away. I want you to get dressed, just jeans and something comfortable. I'm coming to pick you up. We'll grab a bite to eat and talk about options."

There was a pause... then a quiet murmur that she was getting changed. I smiled, relieved.

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into her driveway. I hit redial, and before the first ring finished, I saw the front door open. She stepped outside, walked down the sidewalk, and slipped into the passenger seat.

I didn't drive off right away. I turned to her, gently took her hands in mine, and met her eyes.

"Don't worry, okay? I'm in no rush to have you move out. You're safe."

I offered a half-smile and a playful tilt of my head. "Marie Curie might be stricter, but me? I'm all heart."

She laughed just barely, but it was a start.

I put the car in drive and headed to a local pub known for welcoming everyone, especially science and, more importantly, science fiction nerds.

We were seated in a quiet back corner, which made me happy. Kara, our waitress, came over and took our drink orders; a white wine for me and a red for Nia. We both asked for dinner salads with light dressing.

About twenty minutes in, halfway through our salads, I reached across the table and motioned for her hand. She settled hers, palm down, on top of mine. I turned mine slightly, cradling hers.

I looked at her and spoke softly, but clearly. "You don't need to rush into anything. You're not alone in this, Nia. I'm happy to help and support you. You don't have to figure everything out tonight."

She nodded, eyes glassy but calmer now. I squeezed her fingers gently.

"I've got you," I added. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Then, after a moment's pause, I smiled and leaned in, voice dropping into a more teasing tone.

"Now let's finish dinner and head home for dessert. Honesty ... I've been in these slacks and this bra far too long."

Her lips curved upward, the first genuine smile of the night. I caught Kara's attention for the check, feeling the weight of the evening start to lift.

As we pulled into the garage, I reminded myself to keep things light. The day had already been heavy for Nia, and the last thing I wanted was to add any weight to it. We'd agreed during the ride home that ice cream could work some kind of sweet magic and erase the day's rough edges.

Once I turned off the engine, I leaned back in my seat and smiled at her.

"Let's change. I will be a bit longer than you. I need to clean the lab off of me. Can you grab the ice cream?"

She nodded, already halfway out of the car.

But before I opened my door, I turned back, mischief tugging at my lips.

"Nia? Have I ever told you my rule for eating ice cream with a female roommate?"

She looked at me curiously and shook her head. I slowly undid the top two buttons of my blouse, just enough to tease, not reveal.

"No bra, no shorts. T-shirts and panties only."

I winked and giggled, stepping out and closing the garage door behind me. Her soft laugh followed as her car door shut, too.

Upstairs, I changed and took my time, wanting to let the anticipation hang in the air a little. I froze when I finally came downstairs and turned the corner into the kitchen.

There she was, Nia, standing near the counter, the soft kitchen light pouring over her. She looked breathtaking. Her thin t-shirt hugged her just enough, outlining every curve that made her spectacularly beautiful. The cotton stretched slightly at her chest, her nipples teasing against the fabric, and the shirt itself ended daringly high, exposing the curve of her waist. The glimpse of her bare thighs and the hint of her hips made my breath catch.

And there on the counter was a single bowl of ice cream.

She caught my stare, her lips curling into a sly smile. "My rule?" she said, picking up the bowl. "When eating ice cream with a beautiful woman, share one bowl. Saves on dishes."

She reached for my hand and, without a word, led me to the living room.

We sank into the couch, close enough to share the bowl without much space between us. She took the first bite, then passed the spoon to me.

Giggles started small and quickly built into bursts of laughter. That kind of easy, joyful sound only shows up when your guard's down and your heart feels safe. When only a bit of ice cream was left, Nia held the spoon, then scooped a little and turned toward me.

"Open up," she said playfully, her voice a soft command.

I hesitated just a second, but my heart thundered in my chest. Her eyes locked onto mine, and suddenly the air between us thickened. I parted my lips, letting her feed me the spoonful as if it were the world's most natural, intimate act.

At that moment, time slipped. It was just her, just me, and the sweet, cold taste of something that felt like the start of something more.

Once the last bit of ice cream was gone, she began to stand and take the bowl away. But I gently caught her arm.

"That can wait," I whispered. "Just stay here a little longer."

She placed the bowl on the floor and nestled back into me. I wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close. The playful spark between us shifted, still warm, but now with an undercurrent of something deeper, slower. Her body curled into mine, the softness of her skin against me, the way her breath synced with mine.

We didn't need words. Two weary hearts, finding comfort in closeness.

And in the quiet, as our bodies molded together, warmth gave way to a slow, sensual, and unspoken need alive beneath the surface, affecting both of us.

***

July 1st - Fellowship Starts

When I opened my eyes fully, I realized the emptiness of my bed was greater than I had ever imagined. No, it wasn't Marie Curie I was missing; it was the presence of Nia that I was missing. You see, for the last two weeks, Nia and I have found some time to relax at night. There were nights when we cuddled on the couch, and others when we just sat and watched streaming videos.

I lingered in bed, moving a bit slower, savoring the warmth of last night's memory. Nia had dozed off, but a touch of tension still clung to her, understandably so. Today marked her first day as a fellow in Hematology at the Quigley Laboratory and Research Center. I remember gently nudging her awake last night.

Her head wasn't in its usual place. Last night, Nia curled up on the couch and fell asleep with her head on my lap. My nearly naked lap!

It felt so loving, so kind, like something I would become ... no, strike that, I was addicted to her and that feeling—a loving feeling. That loving word echoed in my mind like a fire alarm in a quiet room.

And then came the kiss.

A soft, lingering kiss, not on my cheek or forehead but gently placed on my upper thigh. My breath caught. My heart stopped. My brain went up in flames.

Moments after she sat up, we walked up the stairs to bed. Less than seven hours ago, I reassured her that everything would be fine. What fired the neurons in my brain even more was the hug I gave her and then the kiss on the cheek she gave me while thanking me for my friendship, hospitality, kindness, and love.

There was something about the simple kiss and hug. I was infatuated now; I was on fire, not only was my brain on fire, but my womanhood was as well.

My fingers daintily slid over my naked and swelling vulva. I was wet, I was swollen, and I couldn't keep my fingers away. I hadn't enjoyed self-pleasure since Nia had moved in, but I was in a place of no return. I needed this moment and this release.

My fingers played lightly with my outer lips as I closed my eyes, only to see Nia standing in front of me, her breasts prominent, her areolas dark, but what excited me even more was the kiss I placed on them. As I closed my eyes, I pursed my lips, tilted my head closer to her chest, and kissed the thin cotton that separated our flesh.

My mind was reeling as Nia's hand pulled my head closer and firmer to the swells of her breasts. I nipped at her hardened nipples as two fingers slid inside my soaked pussy.

"Nia!" I breathed out and hummed as my thumb found my clit as I imagined even more how Nia gently pulled my head back. We then kissed a deep lovers kiss then as I thumbed my clit even firmer I imagined lifting her thin shirt removing the barrier from what i wanted; I wanted to taste the dark mahogany shaded flesh of my fantasy lover.

I ached even more for her touch as I felt the needed and very rewarding tightening of my core.

I moved my thumb across my clit and my two fingers of my other hand faster as I arched my hips and spread my legs, knowing it was going to happen.

I squeaked out her name as softly as I could, but when I exhaled loudly, my orgasm overtook control of my body.

I was sedated; I was thrilled and hugged the sheet which covered my naked body, the sheet that kept the secret of my flowing nectar as secretions from my Bartholin and Skene's gland exited my body; I was suddenly filled with fear. I didn't excrete as much, but the orgasm was just as powerful and nearly as fulfilling.

Once I calmed down and regained my wits, I moved quickly. I moved from the bed and stripped the sheets. In my haste, I ran naked down the steps to the laundry. I quickly started the load of sheets and then ran back to the safety confines of my closed bedroom door.

I pulled a matching panties and bra set from my dresser and moved to the bathroom for my shower. Fresh from my shower, I slid on my panties and bra. I peered at the clock and realized I was running slightly behind. So today would be no makeup and a quick pull of my hair into a ponytail kind of day. I slipped into my slacks and my blouse.

After dressing, I made my way downstairs for breakfast. I was startled to see Nia dressed impeccably, hiding her sensual figure and looking totally professional. Once Nia was finished with her welcoming and onboarding, today would be a busy afternoon.

"Good morning, Dr. Wayne." Nia smiled.

"Nia, you do not need to be like that in the house. Hun, you fell asleep on my lap last night. I hardly want you to call me Dr Wayne here." I had to work and remembered my self pleasure this morning.

I wondered what it would be like to kiss her in real life. I wondered what it would be like for my first time to make love to her.

I was brought back to reality when she asked. "May I ride with you? I could use the assistance in saving gas and wear and tear on my car/"

"Of course." I nodded, but inside I was bursting with need.

"Nia, Dr. Abara, once at the laboratory, please maintain professionalism. I do not want your reputation harmed at all.".

"Of course, Dr. Wayne." She winked, "Cobalt."

I glared at her. "You know that isn't what you are to call me." I paused, knowing this was a near-defining moment with her.

"Nia, we have been cuddling on the couch nearly every night for the past month. Co, or something sweet, even dear, is acceptable here, but never Cobalt!" We both giggled and made our way out the door, heading to the lab.

***

Eight hours later, my instant messaging app blinked on my computer. It was from 'Dr Nia Abara, Hematology Fellow.' I opened the message and read that my housemate was finished with her first day. I smiled and replied that I was locking up my samples and would meet her in the lobby shortly.

When I finished in the inner lab, I gathered my belongings and moved out to the lobby. There, I saw Dr. Geyer and Dr. Abara chatted away, but I could see it was a very professional conversation. I badged out and walked over to them, smiling.

"Dr. Geyer, Dr. Abara, good evening. How was your first day?" I smiled as I turned to Nia.

It wasn't surprising, but Dr. Geyer interrupted. "It has been a long day. Why don't you two chat about things on your drive? I will see you both tomorrow." Dr. Geyer winked at me very subtly and turned, leaving us standing there.

"Shall we? My housemate and fellow nerd?" I turned and walked out of the building, heading home after a first good day for her.

As we drove home, I listened to Nia recount her first day at the lab. Her warm and proud voice lit up the car. There was a spark in her words, a vibrancy I could feel more than hear. She was alive at that moment, glowing from the inside out. I could have listened to her forever.

At one point, she turned slightly toward me, her hand resting casually on her lap, her body language soft and open.

"I'm babbling, aren't I?" she asked, a little self-conscious smile tugging at her lips.

I smiled back, easing the car to a stop at the sign just a few blocks from home. "No," I said, my voice low with sincerity. "It's wonderful. I can hear the love you already have for the work. That kind of passion ... it's rare."

I meant every word. As she looked at me, her eyes catching the sun's glow still high in the early evening sky, I felt something stir—something warm, almost aching. There was beauty in her, not just in her face, which was undeniable, but in how she existed in that moment.

Nia was radiant, unfiltered by the politics of research, yet she was present.

I felt the pull, then the sudden, overwhelming urge to lean over and kiss her, to close the space between us. But before I could act on it, a horn blared from behind, snapping the moment in two. I looked back at the road, pressing the gas with a sigh.

Still, even as we moved forward, the desire lingered. God, I wanted to kiss her.

We pulled into the driveway and then the garage. As I turned off the car, I pressed the button to close the garage door. I hesitated as the daylight slipped away, the last sliver of sun disappearing with a soft mechanical hum. The air between us shifted and thickened. Maybe, no, it changed. The air was thick like a charged molecule, a high-energy-rich molecule. This felt like an adenosine triphosphate molecule firing between us.

I reached across the center console and found her hand. Warm and familiar. I twisted in my seat to face her more fully, my heart thudding in my chest like it knew something I didn't.

"Nia," I began, my voice barely louder than a whisper. "There's something so special about you, and I fear what I'm about to do, but if I don't do it now, I don't think I'll have the ner ... hmmm ..."

And that's when she kissed me. Soft and sure. As if she'd been waiting for this moment as well.

Her lips pressed gently to mine. Not rushed, not hesitant either, it was just right. I let go of the breath I hadn't realized I was holding and melted into it, into her and the warmth we'd circled for weeks. The time on the couch, the quiet comfort of her head on my shoulder, in the nook of my neck and then last night, she fell asleep on my lap.

This was the culmination, no! It was the start and a continuation of the laughter, the silence, the little glances that lingered longer than they should have.

I brought my hand to her cheek, my thumb brushing the edge of her jaw, and deepened the kiss just enough to tell her I was there, I'd been there, and I wasn't going anywhere.

When we finally parted, she didn't pull away. Her forehead rested against mine, and in the dim quiet of the garage, we just breathed together.

No more pretending. No more waiting, it was just... us.

As the moment slowly passed, in amazement at our first kiss, I moved my hand from her cheek to her hand. In the darkness, I saw so much light and, frankly, lust. I didn't want this to end; I needed this, but in due time. This wasn't warp speed; this was slow, cool, calculated—yes, this is what Mr. Spock would call logical.

"Nia, I need to make this deliberate and slow calculation, this could be clouded by emotion, yet it requires methodical movement in execution, unhurried in its progression. A purely logical course of action."

She giggled, "Okay, geek, it was our first kiss."

I exhaled, "Yes, but it can not be our last; there is more to consider."

Nia leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Then let's go inside, figure out a light dinner, and afterwards, change into home clothing, and relax before bedtime."

As we entered the house, we chatted briefly about dinner. We settled on a light salad with the salmon from leftovers two evenings ago. She turned first and looked into my eyes.

"I am going to shower quickly and change into something I have waited to share with you and only you. I knew I wanted something special with you ever since we met."

I shivered and reached for her hand. "Nia, you must know something first."

She turned and placed her hands on my hips. Her touch was comforting and very assuring, as I knew that no matter what I said, I would be received with kindness and compassion.

"Nia ... I have never." I swallowed and slowly inhaled a shivering breath. "Nia, I have never been with ... anyone." I closed my eyes, exhaled my held breath, and lowered my head, slightly unsure of what she would say.

My heart leaped and skipped several beats when her fingers touched my cheek and gently lifted my chin. She looked into my eyes and nodded.

"Co, my sweet, I have wanted nothing more than to love you, to make love, but I will wait until you are ready. Together, we will walk down a path where even the nerdiest of nerds will find the joy of love with another who thinks not of themselves but of their lover."

She bent down and kissed my lips. "Whatever you desire, Co, slow and steady, my dear, slow and steady."

I smiled and nodded as we walked up the steps. Nia knew the strain I was under; she knew about anticipation and would seemingly guide me to where I wanted to go. We paused at the top of the stairs. She turned to me and held my hands.

"I am going to change into something special for you, but there are no expectations. Believe me, I want to show you what I am feeling." She softly kissed my lips.

I leaned into her kiss and wrapped my arms around my younger lover. I pulled our bodies closer together. I pressed my breasts against hers. I yearned for more as I took a step closer.

My tongue teased at her lower lip. I knew what I was doing, and I wanted in my own nerdy way to try and seduce her.

I felt her lips part, allowing our tongues to intertwine slowly. Our kiss deepened, but her hands moved to my ribs and pushed me away.

"Slow down, my lover. Please slow down. I promise you, but let's slow down." Nia softly spoke and then kissed my cheek. She whispered, "Change into whatever you want and come down for dinner, and then we'll cuddle."

I whispered, "Okay, I have the perfect outfit. I will take a quick shower, get dressed, and then come down."

I turned and hurried to my bedroom. I closed the door and removed my slacks, blouse, and undergarments. I moved quickly to the bathroom and turned on my shower. I pinned my hair up; there wasn't time to wash it. I had a need, and I hoped she did as well.

Once I showered, I made certain I was freshly groomed, leaving just a thin strip of my tuft for her. I shaved my legs and other spots. I just hoped that I was what she wanted, and my problem wouldn't be too great of a concern.

Out of the shower, I hung my towel and came into the bedroom to see Marie Curie on the bed, the queen was in her spot.

"Oh, dearest, I hope you understand that your mama wants to have a lover tonight, but we shall see." I bent down and kissed my loyal friend and constant companion.

I walked to my dresser, pulled my black lace panties, and slipped them on. I turned and looked in the mirror and smiled. I ran my fingers around the outer curve of my breasts, and my thumbs grazed my nipples.

"Oh god, I hope she isn't freaked out," I said to no one as I opened my bedroom door and went down to the kitchen. As I passed the second bathroom, I heard her humming and the shower still running. Perfect, I thought to myself, my timing would be perfect.

In the kitchen, I prepared our salad. I pulled a bottle of wine from the cooler and opened it to decant it, and this Chardonnay would pair perfectly. Once decanted, I returned to the salmon but put on an apron first. I heated the pan and started to sear the salmon.

"Co? Dear?" I heard her over the crackling sound of the salmon being cooked. I turned and smiled.

"Yes?" I turned my head back to care for the salmon as it was almost done.

"Sweetie ... umm did you forget something?"

I turned my head and winked. "No, I don't think so. Would you grab the salads from the fridge? The salmon is nearly finished. I decanted a Chardonnay for dinner as well."

I turned back to finish the salmon. I finished the salmon and turned from the stove, ready to plate it, when I paused and gasped, nearly dropping the pan as my eyes saw the beauty and my sensually dressed, hopefully soon-to-be lover.

She stood in the doorway like a dream someone dared to make real. Red silk hugged every curve like it had been poured onto her, and black lace traced the edges of her body, leaving just enough to the imagination but not too much. Her skin, deep and warm like polished mahogany, made the red glow richer, bolder. Her long coils spilled down her shoulders, wild and soft, like something you'd get lost in if you weren't careful.

My breath caught. My fingers loosened on the handle, and the pan clattered back onto the stove. She didn't flinch. She knew what she was doing.

"Nia," I said, or maybe whispered. I wasn't sure if it was out loud or just a thought that escaped.

She stepped in slowly, deliberately, her eyes never leaving mine. There was a quiet confidence in how she moved, like she already knew the effect she had on me and was enjoying it. Her hips swayed just enough to make me forget what I'd been doing. Food? Fire? Nothing mattered but her.

"You like it?" she asked, voice like velvet.

I couldn't lie. "I'm trying not to fall apart over here."

Her smile curved, soft, and wicked at the same time. "Then don't."

And just like that, the kitchen wasn't a kitchen anymore. It was something electric. Charged with those firing molecules again.

I smiled, breath still shaky, and reached behind my back to untie the apron. The fabric slipped off, soft against my skin, and I let it fall. I hadn't bothered with clothes under it, too hot in the kitchen, too tempting not to keep things... simple.

Her eyes traveled down my body, slow and hungry, and neither moved for a second. The air between us stretched thin.

Then I picked up the plates, trying to act like I wasn't burning from the inside out, and said, "Dinner's ready, you should thank me properly later."

Nia grinned and followed me to the table, her silk whispering with every step. We sat across from each other, the candles flickering between us, casting gold on her skin. I poured the wine, passed her a glass, and we clinked without words.

"I had the best day," I said, taking a sip. "One of those rare ones where everything just... flows. The sun was right, music hit differently, even the errands felt easy. And now you're here, looking like that." I tilted my head at her, smiling. "I feel like the universe is spoiling me."

She laughed low, sultry. "Maybe it is."

We ate slowly, not just because the food was good, but because the moment deserved it. Between bites, we traded little stories, nothing too deep, just the kind that made us lean in closer.

As I set down my fork and reached for more wine, I looked at her, still smiling. "After this, I want to curl up on the couch with you. No phones, no distractions. Just you, me, and maybe a blanket that'll end up on the floor."

Her eyes softened, lips parted like she was about to say something sweet or start something dangerous.

I winked and threw caution to the wind, thinking warp speed. "Or, we can just go to bed ... together and spend some time in a nice ... well, you know what I am asking."

Nia smiled and reached her hand across the table, covering only a short distance. Her eyes were locked on mine. There was purpose and tenderness. At this moment, even though the dinner table setting was more intense and nearly intimate, I knew she needed to be aware of my perceived issue.

"Nia, I have to share something else which is personally embarrassing, but you need to know."

She smiled. "Co, my dear, as I am falling for you, nothing could deter me from wanting you."

I blushed. "But Nia ... medically, my Skene's gland can be really overactive." I blushed as her fingers stroked the back of my hand. "Like really overactive." I turned a darker red.

Nia smiled softly, closing her fingers around my hand with more love and tenderness.

"Co, that is a blessing of Mother Nature and I certainly will accept anything you share with me ... if we make love tonight."

"If?" I asked quickly as I was confused. "But I ..."

"Co, if we make love." Nia softly cut me off. "Us making love tonight is all up to you. I want nothing more than to accept your love, but I want you to be certain you want this." She leaned forward from the table and kissed my hand.

I slid back in my chair and slowly stood, "These dishes can wait until later. Will you please come with me?

Nia stood and held my hand, but pulled me into a deeper hug and kissed my cheek and then my lips. I felt my entire body tingle, and I felt a surge of moisture flowing, soaking the gusset of my tiny panties. I was on edge and felt as if I would climax at our first touch.

"Co, I would like something first." Her dark eyes never left mine, her hands caressed my naked back, I pressed my body against hers, my moist panties touching her thigh.

"Oh, Nia, anything to love and feel you with me."

"Why don't you got freshen up, gather a towel or two," she kissed me softly and then with her teeth nipped at my neck, just below my ear, and then lower, and then a last little nip which caused shiver throughout my body her nipped at my skin just at the base of my neck and hairline.

"Why don't you get a few towels? You will need them when I am done loving you because I will feel your gift, and yes, your essence is a gift I so want to enjoy. I will be up to see you very shortly."

She pressed her lips to mine and with a soft hug as her hands slid up my sides and her thumbs teased the curve of my breasts, she kissed my lips and whispered, asking me to hurry, she would be up soon, but not to take off my panties. She stood straight and released my body, which our separation had already caused me to miss her touch.

"Please do not make me wait long, Nia." I turned and hurried up the stairs.

It wasn't that long, but as I was getting a towel or two and after I turned down my bed, I thought I heard dishes clanging. I giggled but knew how detail-oriented she was.

I was also very aware that she was giving me this time to ensure I knew what I was doing, to allow me to think straight.

I was certain that not only was this what I wanted, but that even over these short months, this was the woman I wanted.

I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. I must have been daydreaming. I looked up and there she was, this beautiful woman. Her red camisole ignited the constantly smoldering fire in my soul. I stood and walked towards her. With my hands extended, I reached out and took her hands in mine.

"Nia, I know why you had me come here alone. I love you even more for that allowable personal moment of reflection."

I leaned forward and kissed her. "But please come into my room and allow us to truly become the lovers I seek in you."

Nia smiled, stepping closer, "I promise to love you and give you the gift of my physical love, tonight and as long as you shall have me. There is no one I could ever imagine, yet in these few months, I have become physically attracted to and fallen in love with you."

Hearing her words, I shivered, but then her kiss and hug as we came together in my bedroom were more than my body could handle. I shook in her arms. Nia could feel it. She sensed this and kissed me softer and held me firmer as we made our slow movements to my bed.

I was trembling. I had never been with a lover before. My world was made of lab notes, fantasy movies and novels, and the cool glow of microscope light. I was a nerd, a dreamer... different, safe in my solitude. And then I met Nia.

Something inside me stirred the first time I saw her. My heart, usually reserved and quiet, began to hum, and my body responded before I understood why. And then we talked. She didn't flinch at my quirks. She laughed at my bad science jokes. She didn't mind my near-naked wanderings around the house, the ones I always called "freedom" and others just politely ignored. Nia didn't just accept them. She called them wonderful.

So when she took me in her arms and gently guided me to my bed, I felt the nerves flood like a crashing tide. Her lips touched mine, and I felt everything I had ever read about in my hidden books or dreamed about in my fantasies. She was gentle, patient, very loving, and yes, Nia was real. She lay beside me, her hand brushing mine, her voice whispering in the soft stillness.

"Co? Are you okay? You're shivering."

I buried my face against the curve of her neck, needing the comfort of her warmth and the steadiness of her breath. I wanted this and her, but didn't know what I was doing. I murmured something, muffled and uncertain.

"This is amazing," I whispered, almost afraid to say it aloud. "But I... I don't know what I'm doing. I've only ever known... myself."

The air between us didn't change. She didn't pull away or laugh or freeze. Instead, she wrapped her arms tighter around me and kissed my cheek, her words pressing softly into my skin like silk.

"Then let this loving nerd take you on a journey you'll cherish with me... forever."

Her lips moved down, slow and reverent, from my neck to the curve of my shoulder, to the edge where my breathing began to catch. Her touch was delicate, more caring than anything I'd ever let myself imagine. It wasn't just physical; she, Nia, was here. . it was safe, and suddenly, I needed and wanted more.

When her thumbs brushed places I hadn't known were aching until that moment, I let out a sound I couldn't hold back. It wasn't just pleasure, it was relief, it was my desire to be loved. Something that finally, finally felt like being seen.

My back arched, instinctively drawn closer to her, but it wasn't the intensity that overwhelmed me. When she kissed the tender place under my breast, her lips kissed and licked my nipple. I closed my eyes and started slipping into euphoria.

The way she kissed the space just beneath my breast, reverently, like even that part of me deserved to be adored. She kissed me there, then moved to the other side, and I could feel the unspoken promise in every breath between us.

I was still trembling. But I wasn't afraid anymore.

"Niiaaa!! I cried in joy.

I shivered and opened my legs as the feeling in my core started to erupt.

I squealed again. "Nia! Love!"

I never knew a kiss could be so powerful, but it wasn't just a kiss; it was everything. It her, our touches, our relentless teases, our endless cuddles, and then this .. my lover was taking me, and then suddenly I shook and I felt my orgasm overtake the control I had over my body.

I felt Nia wrap me tighter in her arms as my legs instinctively tightened around her body. I arched my hips, needing to touch her, and she knew! Nia knew as she gently held, kissed, and loved me.

I squeezed my lover tighter as my breathing seemed to stop, and my world went completely euphoric.

I felt her kiss my cheek and then my lips as I calmed down from my first lover's orgasm. Then I heard her whisper. "Welcome to the world of ultimate love and physical pleasure. Now, my sweet, I get to enjoy the rest of your extremely sensual and erotic body.

In a manner which I could only describe as wonderful, caring, and erotically loving, Nia caressed my body with her kisses and touches. From my shoulders to my fingertips, from my neck to my navel, and from my hips to my toes, Nia covered my body with intimate touches, kisses, and surprisingly highly enjoyable nips to my skin.

I heard myself begging for more as her fingers curled under the sides of my panties. My lover made me the center of her world as she slid them down my hips. When I arched my hips, lifting my bum from the bed, she winked at me.

"Are you in a hurry, Co?"

"More anticipation and trepidation than hurry, but I give you my body, your trust as well as my virginity. "

As my panties dropped to the floor and as Nia kissed the trimmed tuft strip, I nearly exploded again for the second time in less than twenty minutes. But when her lips closed over my electrified clitoris and her fingers caressed my swollen outer lips, I wasn't able to hold back.

I squealed and begged for her kisses and her tongue as I had only dreamed of in my deepest fantasy. What I felt was nothing that I could have imagined. The tender kisses of her lips on my clit and then how her tongue swirled and teased me only pressed my desire deeper.

I felt her finger gently touching my entrance, it was at that moment my entire body quivered again, and as her finger slid inside!

"Gaawwwd!!" I screamed and while her tongue swirled around my clit, I felt my body shaking and then I felt my orgasm start from so deep inside my core, I wasn't sure where it had started from.

"Nia!! I am cumming I am cumming!,"

I closed my fingers on the bed sheet and felt the first squirt, which caused me to squeal again, but this time I felt something I had never felt before. I felt Nia, my lover, devouring me, licking me, kissing me, and wanting more.

Her hands opened my thighs a bit wider as her fingers opened my lips as I squirted again, but this time so much stronger than ever before.

"Nnniiiiaaaa my looovveee!"

And everything went gray, fuzzy, and then, seeing stars in my eyes, things went black."

***

The world was quiet, and for the first time in what felt like forever, so was my mind.

I felt her fingers caressing my cheek. I heard her whispers, then I felt the bed move slightly. Next, I felt her head back in place, resting on my body.

Our breaths were slow, soft, and in sync, like waves finally reaching the shore. My skin still tingled from her touch, not just where she held me but everywhere she'd kissed me with care and reverence. I never knew I could feel this... held.

Not just by her arms, but by her presence, her love.

Nia rested her head on my chest, her hair spilling over my shoulder like warm silk. I could feel her lips graze my skin in lazy, gentle kisses. Not urgent. Not teasing. Just... there. Like she was reminding me, she was real, that this was real.

I wrapped my arm around her, my fingers trailing along the small of her back. She fit perfectly, like we were made to fold into each other. I didn't speak. I couldn't not yet. My throat was too emotional, and my heart, oh gods, was too full.

I stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open, still adjusting to the idea that someone could see me like she did. That someone could know all of me, the awkward, the nerdy, the bits I tried to hide, and still kiss me like I was something to be cherished.

I finally squeaked out. "I am so sorry, I am so embarrassed."

She placed her finger against my lips and whispered loving hushes and kind words of sweet love. Then her fingers brushed over my ribs, tracing aimless patterns that sent little shivers up my spine. I felt her smile against my skin, and then came another kiss, right over my heartbeat.

"You're glowing," she whispered, voice barely above a breath.

I didn't know how to respond. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. Instead, I turned my head and kissed the crown of her head, tasting the scent of her hair and the memory of her touch.

"I've never..." I started, but the words caught. I breathed in. "I've never felt this safe before."

Nia nuzzled closer. "I've got you for as long as you will have me, and I promise never to leave you," she said.

And somehow, I believed her.

In that quiet afterglow, where the world outside faded and only her warmth remained, I realized love wasn't just a feeling, it was a place. And I was finally there.

With her, with Nia, I could see us being here forever.

Months later - Halloween

My alarm clock sounded, and I slipped from my bed, pulling the top sheet and blanket up. I fluffed my pillow and placed it where it belonged. Marie Curie remained curled at the foot of the bed. I was certain that when I returned from the shower, she would take 'her' space in the center, which she felt was rightfully hers.

I patted over to my dresser and picked out the camisole and panties I had intended to wear today. After much discussion and frank contradiction, it was settled that I would dress up this year for the lab Halloween party. It seemed I didn't have a choice. I dressed and made my way downstairs.

In the kitchen, I stopped and turned. I was breathless as I saw her standing there, her back to me.

I walked up and kissed her exposed cheek. "You left bed early, I was about to kiss you, and now I want to ravage you, my love."

Nia turned and smiled widely, her eyes floating over my "uniform", my costume for the day. "Well, Lieutenant Uhura, I can see you needed me, yet this surprise was well worth it." Nia leaned forward and kissed my lips softly.

"And just wait for the surprise I have for you this evening when we return home for the little trick or treaters."

I shivered as we separated and poured our coffee, heading to the car in the garage. I giggled. "Are you ready, Commander Uhura? The lab awaits us."

The lab was unrecognizable.

Paper bats dangled from the ceiling tiles. Beakers were filled with candy corn instead of reagents. Someone had rigged the intercom to play theremin-heavy sci-fi music between research updates. Even the usually stern Dr. Geyer had traded her lab coat for a surprisingly accurate Frankenstein's lover costume.

After a meeting, I stepped through the door and immediately saw her. Nia.

She stood at the far end of the lab, leaning over a terminal, completely absorbed in her work. She was wearing the modern Star Trek uniform like it had been made just for her: a crimson tunic, black leggings, and her communicator badge perfectly aligned. Her coiled hair, wrapped in a thick ponytail swayed slightly as she worked, the curve of her neck visible where the collar dipped just slightly. The sight stopped me cold.

I was glad I'd committed to my vintage Lieutenant Uhura, right down to the high boots and hoop earrings. A few coworkers complimented me as I passed, but my focus was fixed on her.

When she finally looked up and spotted me, her smile widened instantly.

"Well, well," she said, crossing the room with a slow, appraising glance. "Lieutenant."

"Commander," I replied with a little bow of my head, playing along. "I take it that communications are functioning smoothly?"

"They are now." We exchanged winks and a knowing look of keeping things here absolutely professional.

The rest of the day passed in flurries of half-serious research, candy-fueled debates about the best Sci-Fi movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, was the obvious choice. Others countered with other films, such as Star Wars, which I shivered when Princess Leia's name was mentioned. Of course, Avatar, I second Tron or even 2112. Blade Runner was mentioned, and The Day The Earth Stood Still.

There was the occasional lab-wide vote on who wore their costume best. I was thrilled inside, but of course, on the outside, I smirked as Nia won, unanimously.

But there were quieter moments, too, her brushing past me at the bench, the way our hands lingered a little too long, passing pipettes, a glance that lasted just a beat longer than it should have.

By the time we left for home, the novelty of the costumes had faded into something quieter. However, we had two hours of little trick-or-treaters to get through before considering our intimacy.

***

The doorbell rang again, followed by the delighted squeals of children in tiny vampire capes and neon-colored pumpkin buckets. I handed out candy with one hand and adjusted the communicator badge on my chest with the other.

"Captain's log," I muttered with a smirk, "Dr. Wayne is two hours into her first mission as Lieutenant Uhura and is beginning to regret the heeled boots."

"Hey, classic Uhura didn't complain," came Nia's voice from behind me. I turned, and there she was, still the modern-day Uhura, sleek and stunning in the crimson-lined uniform from the newest Star Trek films. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, a silver earpiece clipped to one ear, and a look on her face that could have easily landed her on the bridge of the Enterprise.

My breath caught for a second.

"You look..." I blinked. "Like you just walked out of a transporter."

She laughed, striding over confidently, taking the candy bowl from me. "And you look like you've been beamed straight from 1967. The go-go boots, though? Bold choice."

"I am committed to the cause," I said, hands on hips.

We stood side by side at the front door, greeting kids, comparing uniforms, and quoting lines from memory. And the air between us shifted between pretending to open hailing frequencies and explaining to a very confused ten-year-old what "Starfleet" was.

As the street quieted and the last of the trick-or-treaters wandered off into the night, I leaned against the doorway, watching her as she closed the candy bowl.

"You know," I said softly, "I used to watch Uhura and think she was the kind of woman I wanted to be: smart, graceful, fierce. I never imagined standing here with someone who makes her look... well, almost ordinary."

She turned, the teasing edge gone from her smile. "Co my love," she said, walking over. "You always know exactly what to say."

"I had to dress as a communications officer just to get my message through."

She stepped closer, her fingers finding mine. "Message received."

And there, under the soft orange glow of Halloween lights and the faint scent of sugar in the air, she leaned in and kissed me softly, sure, and just as right as that night in the garage, even better than our first kiss.

It wasn't the stars, the transporter beams, or the swirling drama of space.

It was just us. Two women, a shared love for science fiction, and a night that made the universe feel like it had aligned perfectly.

"Happy Halloween, Lieutenant," she whispered.

"Happy Halloween, Commander." I mumbled as we turned off the porch light, ending our first Halloween together.

I still held her hand. "Shower and cuddle?"

Nia shook her head, "No, my dear, it is time for me to enjoy your nectar, yes, I want you to squirt covering your young lover Lieutenant ."

We ascended the stairs and made our way to my bedroom, where the evening of love was just beginning.

Late December

I woke up, and we were still curled into each other. I was mostly under the covers, tucked into my flannel pajamas, while Nia had only those thin ones on. The chill of a Maryland winter had completely captured me, holding me hostage in our little cocoon. Like every winter before, going outside felt like a punishment, I only did it when necessary. Even as a kid, the cold had always made me retreat inward. But Nia, my girlfriend and lover, was almost the complete opposite.

A memory sparked in my mind: the morning after we first made love, just a few months ago. I remember begging her not to leave. I didn't want her to move out. In those tender waking moments, we kissed, touched, and held each other, wrapped up in skin, warmth, and vulnerability. No promises were spoken, but everything felt full of potential.

Now, everything feels different. Better. So much better.

I want to make her a promise. I need to show her what she means to me. She deserves more than just words. But how? How do I ask her? How do I show her without scaring her or myself?

We had talked about getting away for Christmas or New Year's a little weekend escape. But I'd checked the forecast, and that fantasy was quickly shut down. A blizzard was tearing across the country. Chicago had been buried in thirty inches of snow, Nashville was freezing over, and the meteorologists were forecasting chaos for the coming week even as far south as Virginia Beach.

Just thinking about it made me shiver. I pulled the comforter tighter around my neck.

Then I heard her murmur, something soft and unintelligible.

I kissed her forehead as she rested on my flannel-covered chest. "I'm sorry, love. I'm just cold."

Her hand moved slowly, sleepily, from my side up over my torso, settling beneath my breast.

"I didn't mean to wake you," I whispered, kissing her again.

She wrapped a leg over mine, pressing her bare skin closer, her body melting into mine. Her hand cupped my breast so gently that it felt like a dream. I could hear her soft humming, those beautiful little sounds she made in sleep, full of love.

I couldn't help but tease her. "Okay, if you saw Princess Leia, Ellen Ripley, Gamora, or Jyn Erso in a bar... who would you take home and make love to?"

She stirred, her hand caressing me again, and then shifted her leg, draped further across me, her heat pressing against my thigh even through my flannel pants. I could feel her warmth and wanting.

"That's not fair," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep and desire. "You didn't include Uhura. You know I love your long hair... and the way you licked my body the other night, oh God..."

I grinned. "Maybe your lust for Uhura's faded. Maybe you're ready for a new lover."

She lifted her head, arching her body against mine. "You tease," she breathed. "My lust and my love for you will never end." Her lips brushed my neck, her teeth gently grazing my skin. "I want you, my lover. I need you right now."

And just like that, we were moving, melting into each other again. Our kisses deepened, lips and hands and breath tangled together. I'd learned so much with Nia how to give her everything. How to feel everything.

As I lifted her top and began to explore her skin, my fingers remembered exactly how to love her.

When I heard her shift in her breathing, I kissed down the sides of her breasts and let my nose tease her nipples. As I kissed her lower and slipped her Jammies and panties down, Nia opened like a blossoming flower.

I could feel her heat as her aroma and essence filled my senses. I nipped at her thigh and teased a bit more by lifting my head and staring her straight in the eyes. I winked then trailed my nose across her smooth vulva down and around her hooded clit and outer lips.

I paused, kissing my lover's bright pink inner lips. The sharp contract of her mahogany skin and her inner pussy made me shiver even more. My lover is the most beautiful woman ... but then I felt her lift.

"You damn nerd! Just eat me, please fuck me, I am dying here!"

I blew softly on her skin, which I had learned over the past months would spur her on. This time, Nia arched her hips and squealed, pressing herself into my mouth. It was near perfection.

"Please, Co, my love, I need you, please?"

I flattened my tongue and as she taught me she loved it, I licked from the bottom of her entrance pressing as I moved higher and then pointed my tongue as I swirled her clit.

After a few figure eights, I flattened my tongue again and started back down, but I stopped because I was in a mood.

"Nia, do you love me?" I teased sucking her outer lips. I gently blew on her clit.

"Baby" kiss "Baby" kiss swirl kiss "Do ... you ... love ... me?"

"Gawwd, Co, you know I love you!" She slapped the bed flat. "Please, Co, baby!"

I swirled her clit and closed my lips over it and did my best to love Nia as best as I could. So don't ask me where this came from because I have no idea but I flattened my tongue and licked down her pussy stopping at her entrance and I pressed my tongue in.

Nia slapped the bed again, begging for more. I slid in slowly this time and froze, realizing how much I loved this, her, and my current life.

I pulled back slightly, breathless, my voice trembling with intensity. "If you love me and you love this ... Nia ... marry me."

My hands wrapped around her waist as I drew her even closer, needing her near, needing her to feel how much I meant it. I gave everything of myself in that moment. Her moans filled the room like music. I felt the tremors ripple through her body, felt the exquisite surrender of her release, the way her essence poured into me like a secret, sacred offering.

And still, the most profound reward wasn't the sound or the sensation it was what came after.

Nia curled into me differently this time. There was a softness, a stillness. She shifted down so we were face to face and wrapped her arms around me as if she were holding something precious, something fragile. She kissed me gently, her lips full of gratitude and wonder, and our noses brushed in the sweet quiet of our shared bliss.

She smiled widely and a little mischievously. "Did you mean it? Or was that just a clever little kink to tip me over the edge?"

I kissed her slowly, deeply, my eyes locked to hers. "I meant every word," I said. "And when I truly ask, you'll know. The next time I ask ... be ready."

I kissed her again, then nestled her closer, wrapping her in all the tenderness I had. "But I need it to be a surprise. It has to be a surprise when I propose." My lips brushed her forehead and cheek, and I whispered, "I promise, Nia. I promise."

***

An hour later, after a long stretch of dreamy cuddling, we showered, dressed, and made brunch together. She was radiant, glowing in a way I'd never quite seen before, as if love itself had wrapped her in golden light. She floated through the morning, a grin tugging at her lips, that unmistakable look of a woman who felt adored and knew it.

While we stood at the sink washing dishes, she slipped behind me, arms circling my waist. Her lips found the sweet spot below my ear, the place that always made me melt. I shivered at the warmth of her breath and the tease of her whisper.

"You know..." she murmured, "I could ask you first."

I spun around, mock-serious, staring up into her eyes. "Young lady... dear lover... Dr. Abara, don't you dare." I pressed my finger playfully to her lips, then kissed her cheek, my heart full.

"Now come on," I said, slipping my hand into hers. "We're going shopping."

"Wait! What? You don't like going out in this weather and the storm ... !" I turned and looked at her.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Christmas is coming, you can drive. Aren't you used to this stuff? And yes, you can keep me warm and safe."

Christmas Morning

The first thing I felt was her hand, warm and soft against my bare skin. The Christmas morning sunshine was beginning to slip through the curtains, casting soft golden ribbons across the bed, across her naked mahogany skin. Nia was curled against me, her body pressed to mine, her breath slow and even against my throat. I stayed still, savoring it.

It is what I had become so accustomed to. The quiet weight of her love, the way her legs always tangled possessively over mine, her fingers splayed just below my ribs like she was staking her claim. This needed to be forever, but I couldn't find the ring she deserved.

I had been shopping twice, both with her, and when we looked, we saw nothing that sparked her eyes. I knew what she was hoping for this morning. But she also knew or thought I hadn't gotten her anything special.

I could feel it humming from her skin, even in sleep the quiet, hopeful ache. The question remained unspoken.

I exhaled softly, kissing her forehead, lingering there because I didn't want to lose the moment. No, not today. I hadn't found the right ring yet. And besides, she deserved something more than an expected Christmas morning proposal. She deserved a story she'd tell forever, our story, separate, unique, and a story as unforgettable as she was.

But how could I explain that to her heart without bruising it?

Nia stirred under the covers, pressing closer, her naked thigh sliding between mine. A small, sleepy moan escaped her lips as she shifted, her hips brushing against me in a way that made my whole body tighten with longing. I ran my hand slowly down her back, feeling the curve of her spine, the delicate line of heat where her thin pajama top had ridden up.

"Merry Christmas," I murmured against the coils of her hair. She had recently gotten it trimmed and the braids redone. When she came home and when I saw her, I nearly came. There is just something so refined, erotic, gorgeous, and so sexual about her.

She lifted her head just enough for me to see her eyes still half closed, shimmering with something else entirely. "Merry Christmas, Co, my love," she whispered, her voice rough and velvet-soft.

Our lips met, and the world outside our bed dissolved.

The kiss started slow and was sweet, our mouths learning each other again in the soft morning hush. But there was something underneath it, something urgent. She pulled me closer, her hand sliding beneath my flannel shirt to stroke the bare skin of my waist, making me shiver.

I answered her touch with my own, letting my fingers trail under her thin pajama top, finding her back's warm, inviting skin. She arched into me, a breathy sigh falling from her mouth into mine.

God, she was beautiful. Every sigh, shiver, and unconscious little sound she made was music to my ears, lifting me higher than I could ever be lifted.

I rolled her gently onto her back, brushing her coiled hair from her face, gazing down at her as if I could memorize every detail. "You're the only gift I want," I said, my voice low, rough with emotion.

Her smile broke me open. "Then take your gift," she whispered.

I kissed her again, deeper this time, pouring everything into it: the love, the promises I hadn't spoken yet, the future I was already building in my heart. Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging me closer, needing more. I felt her body rise to meet mine, soft and eager under the thin barrier of her pajamas.

We moved together, slowly, sensually, every touch deliberate, every kiss a signal for more. I slid my hand along her thigh, finding her panties and pulling them down as best I could, exposing Nia's womanhood. She gasped into my mouth, her hips lifting instinctively toward my touch.

I wanted to savor her, to unwrap her slowly like the precious gift she was, but the way she clung to me, the way her body trembled and opened for me, she spurred me on and unraveled my self-control.

Our kisses broke as I lifted her top over her head. Her eyes were amazing as I looked over her face, her smile, the depths of her beauty as I revealed her to the morning light. She was radiant, skin kissed with gold, lips parted in silent invitation. I needed her and kissed down her neck, over her collarbone, across the top of her breasts, worshiping her with my kisses and holding her body closer, but trying to give her my heart and soul.

I was so entranced with loving her, I barely realized her hands were stripping me of my flannel pajamas. Her kisses covered me as well, and her warmth pulled me closer as we now lay naked, skin to skin.

She wrapped herself around me, a sigh of pure wonder escaping her lips. We moved slowly at first, savoring the feel of skin on skin, the delicious friction, the unbearable closeness. She whispered my name like a prayer, her hands gripping my shoulders, her legs tightening around my hips.

I held her face in my hands, staring into her eyes as our bodies found that perfect, aching rhythm. "I love you," I whispered. "I love you so much."

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she whispered it back, her voice breaking on the words.

We found our soft release and orgasm together, trembling, gasping, clinging to each other as if the world might fall away, but we'd still have each other to hold onto.

Afterward, I cradled her against me, our bodies tangled, our hearts still racing. I kissed her temple, the corner of her mouth, the line of her jaw.

"I haven't asked you yet," I murmured. "But when I do... it will be everything you deserve. I promise."

She smiled into my chest, her fingers tracing lazy circles over my heart, occasionally teasing my still hardened left nipple. "I can wait," she whispered. "As long as it's you."

I closed my eyes, holding her tighter, feeling more full of love than I ever thought possible. Christmas morning had never meant much to me before.

But now? Now it was everything.

Nia showered first while I went down, cared for Marie Curie, and started coffee. I walked back into our shared bedroom, watching Nia slip on her comfortable jeans. I hurried and ran up behind her and caressed her firmly toned bum before it disappeared, being covered by denim.

She giggled but continued dressing. "You can have more later."

She turned her breasts, still exposed, perky on her chest. I bent and kissed the valley between her breasts. I looked up and kissed her lips. "I better." Then turned and walked to the shower.

After I showered, I dressed in a soft, cozy sweater. Of course, I was braless. I tugged my hair into a messy bun and made my way downstairs.

As I came into the kitchen, I saw Nia at the sink. We each stopped and looked at the other and grinned. Playfully, she tossed a dish towel at me. She murmured that she preferred me topless but understood the colder winter prevented that. I moved over and hugged her and whispered how I loved her topless as well, and I couldn't wait until spring when we could return to our new standard, house uniform.

We then went to work cooking breakfast: scrambled eggs, buttery toast, and coffee that smelled so good it felt like a hug all on its own. We sat side by side at the table, eating slowly, stealing glances and little kisses between bites, like we couldn't stand even a few inches of distance.

Two loving women, as silly as could be on Christmas morning.

Afterward, we carried our mugs into the living room. The Christmas tree twinkled in the corner, the soft, colored lights casting a warm glow across the room. A few small presents waited under the branches. There was nothing extravagant, just thoughtful little things we'd picked up, knowing each other's hearts better than our own sometimes.

The queen of the house, Marie Curie, was already prowling around the tree, sniffing at the gifts, her fluffy tail flicking like she was judging each one.

Nia laughed, kneeling and scooping her up. "You're just as curious as your namesake, aren't you?" she cooed, rubbing her face against her soft fur. Marie Curie gave a contented purr and nestled into her arms like she owned us.

We settled on the floor together, Marie Curie eventually sprawling across Nia's lap like she'd decided Christmas was officially hers. I handed Nia her first gift, a simple, elegant necklace with a tiny silver star pendant. She gasped as she opened the rectangular box and touched it reverently, already unclasping it to put it on.

"For my star," I whispered, fastening it around her neck.

Nia kissed me, slow and sweet, before passing me a small, rectangular box wrapped in green paper. Inside was a vintage leather-bound notebook, which I loved but never splurged on. I ran my fingers over the cover, feeling its texture and weight. Inside, she'd written on the first page:

'For all your dreams, my dreamer. Love always, Nia.' I could barely see the words through the sudden sting of tears.

Marie Curie meowed pointedly at the next gift, her tail swishing across the boxes as if nudging me. I chuckled and reached for the next gift.

As we finished, I reached far under the tree and retrieved a small, crushed velvet box nestled deep under the tree. It was a rich, royal purple, just waiting.

My heart thudded harder than it should have. "This one from me means more to me than you can ever imagine. I hope you understand," I said quietly, handing it over.

Nia tilted her head, curious, her fingers tracing the velvet before she lifted the lid.

A simple silver house key was inside, resting against the black silk lining. Attached was a keychain I'd picked out after too much deliberation: a tiny replica of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, our second favorite series and starship. A ship built for freedom, partnership, and going wherever love and trust could carry it.

For us.

Nia gasped, her hand trembling slightly as she lifted the key and the little Falcon into her palm.

"It's not a proposal," I said gently, my voice catching. "Not yet. But it's a promise. My home is your home. My life is your life. You don't ever have to wonder if you belong, Nia. You do. You always have. You belong in my heart, my soul, my mind, and yes, in my home forever."

She looked up at me, eyes shining, and for a long moment, we breathed each other in. Marie Curie purred again, batting at the ribbon dangling from the velvet box, oblivious to the moment's gravity.

Nia laughed through her tears, cradling the key against her chest. "I love you so much," she whispered.

I leaned in, resting my forehead against hers. "I love you more."

We stayed like that, wrapped around each other, while the Christmas tree lights blinked softly, and Marie Curie rolled onto her back with a dramatic flop, like she, too, had given herself completely over to love.

I barely had time to breathe before Nia suddenly leapt up from the floor, the key still clutched in her hand like it was the most precious artifact in the galaxy.

She let out a giddy laugh, a sound so full of pure joy it made my chest physically ache. She bolted down the hallway, her socks sliding slightly on the wood floors. Marie Curie chirped in outrage at the sudden movement, her tail puffing up like a little bottlebrush as she scrambled upright.

"Nia?" I called after her, laughing as I scrambled to my feet.

"I have to try it!" she shouted over her shoulder, her voice half a squeal, half a battle cry, like she was about to lead a daring mission.

The front door swung open, and with a thud, she slammed against the wall as she tore outside into the crisp morning air. I followed, grabbing the hem of my sweater and trying to keep up.

She stood on the porch, shivering in her thin sweater but absolutely undeterred. She bounced on the balls of her feet, holding up the key triumphantly, like she was Rey igniting her lightsaber for the first time.

"I need to make sure it works!" she insisted, giggling as she wiggled the key toward the lock.

"You're a ridiculous human being," I said, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.

"You love this ridiculous human being," she fired back without missing a beat.

I crossed my arms and leaned casually against the knoll post of the steps. I closed the door, watching from the tiny window. She was the most beautiful, chaotic, perfect thing I'd ever seen. "Yes, yes, I do."

With a dramatic flourish worthy of a sci-fi heroine, Nia inserted the key into the lock. She turned it slowly, almost reverently, and when the bolt slid back with a satisfying click, she jumped like she'd just discovered some ancient Jedi secret.

The door opened with a whoosh of air. "It works!" she shrieked, spinning around to face me, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "It's real, Co! I have the key to your home. To our home!"

I stepped forward and scooped her up into my arms, spinning her once before setting her back down. "Of course it's real," I whispered into her ear. "You're real. This, us, is the realest thing I've ever known."

Having finally decided that her humans weren't being attacked, Marie Curie padded cautiously into the foyer, giving us both a long, unimpressed look before plopping herself down in a patch of sun.

Nia wrapped her arms around my waist, holding the keychain in one hand, letting the tiny Millennium Falcon dangle between us.

"Co," she whispered, her voice suddenly soft again, "this is better than any proposal. This... this is you trusting me with your heart."

I kissed her forehead and pulled her even closer. "It's just the beginning, my love."

We stood there, hearts pressed together, while the Christmas morning chill tugged at our hair and the world spun quietly around us.

Home had never been a place to me before. Now it was standing right in my arms.

Sunday, May 25th

The early morning sun poured through the window, casting golden light across the room and warming our skin where the top sheet had fallen away. I woke up before Nia did; she lay there curled behind me. I kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose. I opened my eyes to the kind of gentle stillness that only follows a night of shared love, and again, there was no embarrassment, only pleasure, a quiet euphoria humming beneath my skin.

Marie Curie, still resting near the foot of the bed, lay forgotten as I shifted slightly, stirring the warmth beside me. I felt Nia's soft and rhythmic breath feathering across my back, her arms wrapped lazily around my waist.

I turned slowly, needing to see her and feel her even closer than she already was. As I moved, she murmured a half-sleepy protest, her voice thick and soft.

"Co, sweetie... I'm not awake yet." My lover murmured.

I smiled and kissed her gently. "Then why, my brilliant, nerdy girlfriend, are you talking?" My hand glided from the curve of her hip, up the delicate arch of her back, threading into her soft coils, cradling the base of her head.

Her lips curved into a sleepy smile. "Usually if you're talking and moving, you're not asleep," I whispered, brushing another kiss over her mouth.

This time, Nia kissed me back. A soft kiss and one that sparks the soul of any woman, as we lay naked together, our legs starting to move and intertwine together.

Her fingers brushed my cheek, reverently, trembling slightly, as if she had touched something divine. I kissed her again, soft at first, then deeper, fuller until the world narrowed to the space between our mouths. My loving devotion for her bloomed like fire beneath our skin.

After all these months, I was still in awe of how she accepted me.

Our bodies fit like verses of a loving poem, moving in rhythm only we knew. I traced her slowly, worshipfully, savoring every shiver, every inch of her body I'd memorized again and again. Not claiming her, but to offer myself. In her warmth and rising breath, I found everything: my solace, my sanctuary. Each sigh is a vow, each touch, a homecoming.

Our legs wrapped and now tangled together without effort, our bodies remembering each other's rhythm. The kiss deepened. What had begun soft and tender bloomed into something hungrier, richer, a yearning that echoed through our bodies.

My devotion to her burned low and steady beneath my skin, but now it began to flare, catching light with every sigh, every touch. I kissed her harder, my hand sliding down the familiar curve of her spine, loving the way her body pressed closer, her breath faster against my lips.

"Nia..." I whispered, my voice a little broken with need. "You spark my nerves, fire my brain, make my whole body forget anything but you."

She silenced me with a giggle, kissing me again as she shifted, pressing her thigh between mine. "You're such a damn nerd," she teased breathlessly. "I thought I was teaching you how to be a normal sexual woman."

As she talked, her left leg moved and pushed my nearly closed legs open. I felt the warmth of her full, firm, youthful breasts pressing against mine. Her thigh was moving against my heated and now wet vulva.

My reply was lost as her body moved against mine, heat meeting heat. "You make me worse," I murmured, overwhelmed. "You make me even more nerdy, you make me want to love you even more if possible, my dearest Nia."

I pressed my lips to hers as she flexed and pressed her heated womanhood against me.

Her hand moved from my back down to my hip, then to cup and cover my bum. Her strength pulled our bodies closer together. The sudden need for my lover was intensified as I felt my moisture start to flow.

She kissed me deeper, her hand finding its way from my hip to the curve of my rear, holding me to her, grounding me even as my desire spiraled higher.

"I need you," I whispered against her lips.

"You already have me," she breathed, kissing a trail to my throat. Her teeth grazed my skin, tender and claiming all at once.

I moved my thigh against her heated body, feeling her moisture, and I panicked slightly, knowing what this could cause. Nia sensed it as she pulled me closer.

She pulled back from the kiss and nipped at my neck. "Don't I love you, which means all of you."

I pressed harder against her thigh. "I am being selfish, Nia."

"You aren't; this is what I want!" Her lips kissed my skin, and her teeth lovingly scraped it.

I moved with a firmer motion, I was soaking her thigh, my lover wanted me again, and the amazement was almost too much. Her lips found mine, and she wrapped her arms around me in a deeper kiss, pulling me tighter.

Nia pulled my leg over hers and with her fingers delicately caressed my womanhood. That was nearly all it took as I arched my head, I squealed and exploded in a soaking orgasm. My nectar flowed and coated my lover's thigh and lower body.

I moved against her, body aching, trembling as I soaked in her warmth. Her name became a chant in my breath. Then her fingers slid down, slow and reverent, touching where I needed her most, and I shattered, arching into her, gasping her name as pleasure overwhelmed me.

I trembled once more in her arms, as my substantial squirting orgasm overtook me and soaked our connected bodies. I shivered as it continued. My core tremored, my stomach cramping as I felt the surge releasing from me.

My lover kissed me, deep murmuring and wanting more. She was strong and sure, her body wrapped around mine, never letting go.

Nia held me tighter, hugging me, fully aware of the physical exhaustion this caused. My lover knew how to care for me and what I needed when my body betrayed me.

I woke up feeling her caressing my back and softly kissing my forehead. "Good morning again, my beautiful love."

As I prepared to speak and apologize, she sensed this was coming and placed her finger on my lips. "I will share with you again. Your gift is the most loving and special present you could ever give to me. Never apologize for the wonders of Mother Nature."

Her kiss was soft. I pulled back and smiled. "Who is the nerd now?" I kissed her once again. "Nia, can we shower now?" She shrugged, "First, I must care for Marie Curie."

"Hmm we can shower later, I want to cuddle but yes the queen of your house needs your attention."

I was so tempted to do it right then, but it wasn't possible; this wasn't the right time, so I would wait until tonight.

After caring for Marie Curie, I returned to bed. It was our typical Sunday morning lazy day. She didn't know this wouldn't be a typical day.

We lay there, skin to skin, hearts syncing up like some beautiful secret code only we could read. I wanted to ask her right then. I nearly did; I could slide easily up to where I hid the ring in my nightstand drawer. But I had a plan. I hoped it would be perfect. Tonight, under the stars, like we always talked about. I could wait. I had to wait.

We finally dragged ourselves out of bed around noon. As real life crept back in, grocery shopping and some light cleaning were needed.

Two hours later, we wandered the aisles at the grocery store. I tried to act normal, but inside my organs were spinning, in flux, and wracked with nerves. She debated brands of coffee like it was a life-or-death decision, one she wanted to try, our favorite, or the newest brand. I stood there clutching the cart like an extra in the movie The Wrath of Khan.. My heart thudded so loudly in my ears that I barely caught it when she asked me, laughing, which sounded more "cosmically energizing."

"Uh, this one?" I said, pointing randomly.

She grinned and tossed it into the cart. "Good choice, my daydreamer."

I smiled back weakly. My palms were sweating. Over coffee. "Get it together, Cobalt." I chastised myself.

Nia paused and looked at me. "Co?" Her hand caressed my back. "Love, are you alright?"

I nodded and shivered, pressing forward, clinging to the cart. Finally, I stepped forward, continuing our shopping.

When we arrived home, we put the groceries away and chatted about a very late lunch or a snack before dinner. We cleaned and did what we needed to do. Nia pulled out every book we owned and insisted she dusted the shelves before vacuuming.

I vacuumed in a daze, the ring burning a hole in my brain the whole time. Every time she looked at me, my chest squeezed tighter. Every time she smiled, the floor shifted a little under my feet. I checked the weather forecast on my phone like a woman possessed. I exhaled. The skies were clear, still clear, and still good.

When we finished, I suggested that we clean up and that I wanted to take her to dinner.

"Let me pick out something for you and me while you use the bathroom." I kissed her cheek. Her eyes were glistening. 'Damn' I muttered in my brain, I gave it away.

She kissed me and smiled. "Sure, my love, whatever you want." Nia spun on her feet, pulling off her clothes, stripping in front of me.

I lay on the bed in a light blue blouse and jeans I knew she was comfortable in. For me, I selected a similar outfit: a coral button-up blouse. This one would require at least a bra, if not a cami.

We arrived at Kate's restaurant for dinner, our favorite little place, tucked away down a side street where the tables were close and the food was just perfect. I just kept looking at her, trying to memorize how she laughed when any of us, including our server, cracked a bad joke, the exact tilt of her head when she listened to me babble about nothing.

And then, finally, finally, we were here. We paid our check and left, and as I closed the passenger-side door, I shivered. The drive to Wharton State Park was easy. The evening sun had set, and it would be a perfect night.

We drove wordlessly and as we parked she looked at me. I leaned over. "Trust me, please?"

Almost immediately tears welled in her eyes. "Oh, Co! How could I not?" Then the tears streamed down her cheeks. With my thumb, I wiped them softly from her skin.

"I love you more than you know, but I want to do something. Come with me."

I opened my door and grabbed the pre-placed bag from the trunk. We walked to the center of a grassy area where the darkness enveloped us. The sky is bottomless black, pierced with the silver sliver of the waning crescent moon.

She assisted as we placed the blanket on the grass. I asked her to sit, and when she did, I curled up behind her, wrapping her in my arms.

"The waning crescent moon turns to the new moon, and each day we wait for the miracle of the new moon," I whispered in her ear. It felt as if we were the last two people on earth.

We laid there for a while just staring up at the stars and the clear sky. Nia curled closer, lying beside me, her head now on my chest, her fingers tracing invisible shapes over my ribs under my blouse. Her body is so familiar against mine, and it still feels new. Every time. Every breath.

The stars stretch above us, scattered and infinite. She tipped her head up, staring into them like she was trying to read the entire story of the universe.

I shifted slightly. My heart was hammering in my chest. I kissed her and then moved to kneel in front of her. I reached into the bag and pulled the little velvet box from it, my fingers clumsy. For one terrifying second, I worried I'd drop it.

But when she looked at me, I knew she knew. I smiled and nodded but held a finger to her lips. "Nia," I said, my voice low and trembling.

She blinked, her breath catching in her throat.

"I've been trying to find the perfect words," I paused, my words caught in my throat. "You already know all of them. You know every part of me. You are every part of me. You're my constant. You're my favorite planet to orbit."

She giggled and murmured, "Nerd!" But then the tears flowed. Her breathing was a soft song, not a broken sound, and as I pulled the box open, her hand rose to cover her mouth.

"I want to wake up with you every morning," I say. "I want to argue with you about the best movie, I want to agree and disagree until we're old and grey. I want to stargaze, spill coffee, laugh at terrible jokes, and build a life where you are my home."

I held out the ring, hands shaking. "Will you marry me?"

For a second, the whole world went silent. Even the stars seem to pause, waiting.

And then Nia launches into my arms, nearly knocking me flat, her laugh wet with tears, her hands frantic against my shoulders, face, and hair.

"Yes," she whispers against my mouth. "God, Cobalt Wane, yes I will marry you."

I slid the ring onto her finger, clumsy and laughing and crying all at once. We kissed a kiss of deepest love. Then she kissed me as if pulling me back to life, and I kissed her as if she were the reason there were stars at all.

Above us, the universe hummed. For the first time, I feel like the cosmos is complete because I'm here, holding my whole world in my arms.

We stayed under the stars until the night turned heavy and cool against our skin. Until kissing turned to laughing, and laughing turned to just holding each other and breathing each other in. Neither of us wanted to break the spell, but eventually, we stood from the blanket-covered grass, hands still knotted tight together, and drove home through the empty, sleeping world.

***

Inside, we don't even bother turning on the lights. We stumble to our bedroom. What felt like the most romantic yet it was a haphazard dance, we shedding blouses, jeans, bras, panties, shoes, Nia pulling me close, our naked bodies pressed together in love, her eyes shining even in the darkness.

The way she kissed me was slow and reverent. Her fingers slipped through my hair. I shivered as it made me feel like every part of me had finally found its place.

We fell into bed laughing against each other's mouths. "We're engaged, we are going to get married, but first, this body belongs to me, Co."

Nia rolled above me, hair coiled, falling like a curtain around our faces. Her hands were sure as she touched me, like she was memorizing every inch of me again, even though she already knows me better than anyone else ever could.

I pull her down to me, and we move together, slow and endless, like tides drawn by a gravity older than either of us. There was no rush at all, just the deep, aching kind of love that reaffirmed she was mine, I was hers, and we were going to be together forever.

Her kisses wandered across my skin, slow and possessive, circling my breasts without fully claiming them, driving me wild. I needed more.

"Dr Geyer knew today was coming; we are off work tomorrow."

There was a sudden shift in her, a more profound feeling and sudden hunger simmering beneath her touch. Her mouth moved down my body, over my sides, across my hips, each kiss dragging a thread of fire beneath my skin.

"Behind my back, you are sneaky." She murmured.

Then, without warning, her hands gripped my hips and flipped me onto my stomach, her strength thrilling me.

"Nia!" I gasped

"I love you more than you can imagine," she whispered, her voice rough with emotion. I felt the soft, warm weight of her breasts pressing into my back, her lips grazing my neck, her breath hot against my ear. I shivered beneath her.

She paused and nipped at my ear and then my neck.

I exhaled, "More!" I urged her in.

Her kisses fell lower, tracing the curve of my spine, her hands splaying wide over my hips, claiming me, steadying me as she moved. I stretched my arms forward, submitting to her touch completely, every nerve alight and trembling.

Her fingers skimmed my skin, her mouth setting fire to every place it touched. I moaned, desperate already. "Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yes!" I murmured, begging her.

Her only answer was her tongue hot, wet, and deliberate, moving lower, tracing the dip of my back, the swell of my ass, until she found the tender place no one had ever touched this way before.

"Nia!" I gasped, the sound ripped from me as she spread me open, kissing and tasting every inch with aching, reverent slowness. She gripped my hips harder, lifting them slightly, positioning me exactly how she wanted.

This was different. This was claiming. This was worship. She was owning my body, and I was giving it freely.

I trembled, panting as her mouth teased me, as her tongue flicked and pressed and coaxed pleasure from places I never knew could feel this way.

"I love you," she whispered again, voice fierce against my skin. "Tonight, I'm giving you everything I've held back. Everything I've saved for this moment."

Her body moved higher, and I was suddenly empty down there, a void ... I felt empty until she bit the soft flesh at the base of my neck.

"Nia!" Baby!" I murmured again. Then she nipped my skin again, harder, marking me, branding me with her love.

"I give myself to you," I breathed, offering her everything without hesitation.

The bed shifted as she pulled away. I heard the faint slide of a drawer and the whisper of fabric. Then, the cool kiss of silk wrapped around my eyes, blinding me and magnifying every sound and touch a hundredfold.

"Trust me, my love." She whispered in my ear as she knotted the scarf.

The bed dipped behind me. Her hands returned firmer now, more commanding, holding then releasing and then finally grasping at my hips, spreading me wider.

Her fingers found my folds, slick and needy. I was leaking my essence, and my Skanes were glad in overdrive. But she parted my folds and was gentle as a summer morning breeze.

Then I gasped as something cool and firm pressed against my entrance. "Nia... is that ...?"

She pushed in, slow but relentless, filling me with a new sensation, something foreign but beautiful, and overwhelmingly intimate, erotically amazing. Her body molded to mine again, her breasts pressing into my back, her hands caressing my sides as she sank deeper.

"I want you," she whispered in my ear. "I want all of you, tonight, every night we can and always."

A desperate moan broke from my lips. "Oh, love..."

She held herself deep inside me, steady and still, waiting, letting me adjust and feel the enormity of what we were sharing.

"I will never harm you," she vowed. "You are mine. And I am yours."

"Take me," I begged. "Please, Nia, take all of me for our pleasure and love."

She began to move, her thrusts slow and devastatingly deep, each one stealing the breath from my lungs. I cried out, my body helpless to the pleasure she wove around me.

Her mouth found my back, biting, kissing, marking me as hers. She thrust harder, more sure now, riding the ragged edge between tenderness and raw need.

"Please," she growled low in my ear, "let me have you this way, not just tonight, but forever. Let me own your pleasure."

"Yes," I gasped. "Yes, Nia. I'm yours!"

The rhythm between us built, our bodies a single, desperate rhythm. I felt it rising inside me, bigger, hotter, faster as she drove me toward a peak I couldn't escape.

She nipped my ear sharply. "Cum for me," she demanded. "Seal yourself to me."

That was all it took.

The orgasm tore through me, violent and all-consuming. I screamed her name as my body clamped down around her, my essence flooding out of me, soaking the sheets beneath us. Stars exploded behind the blindfold, my mind obliterated by pure, white-hot pleasure.

In the dreamy state and euphoria of my sexual high, I succumbed to letting myself go as I fell limp to the bed. I collapsed beneath her, weightless, spent, and entirely hers, knowing she would hold, protect, and love me for the rest of our lives.

I knew I was safe as she stayed with me through it all, holding me, rocking me, filling me. Her voice, now soft with loving emotions, whispered repeatedly, "I love you. I love you. You're mine."

***

I woke up as we lay tangled in the soft wreckage of the sheets, our breath still catching sometimes. We were not speaking because words felt too small for all of this.

And then, with a quiet little sound, Marie Curie hopped up onto the bed our beautiful cream colored queen, my loyal, judgmental Maine Coon. She gave us both a once-over like she's checking for damage, then very primly wedges between us, purring loud enough to rattle the mattress.

Nia chuckled, stroking Marie Curie's long fur with one hand, her other arm still tight around my waist.

"I guess she approves," Nia murmured sleepily against my shoulder.

I press a kiss to her forehead. "She's a tough critic."

We drift off like that, skin to skin, heart to heart, her ring catching a sliver of moonlight from the window.

Marie Curie curls against us, purring a lullaby as the three of us fall asleep together, our little family, safe and infinite in the quiet hum of the night.

~~~ The End ~~~

I hope you enjoyed this story. If you have the time, please share your thoughts in feedback.

All my love,

Aoife