"The Care and Feeding Of A Muse"

SUMMARY: Muses, being very delicate creatures, must be handled in a certain manner. This is an accounting of exactly how these two kitausu handle their Muses in the BlueMoon TrekSmut method, of course.

Rating: NC-17. Explicit M/F consensual sex

"The Care and Feeding of a Muse...."
as recorded by T'Aitlu and Salatrel

**********

Taurik stood trusting T'Aitlu.

She said she had a surprise for him. She placed a blindfold over his eyes, then guided him through the corridors into a room. His guess was the tub room. He drew in a breath. Yes, the moisture content in the air was correct and the scent of burning candles reached him on the second inhale. He heard her footfalls as she approached him.

"And now...." She reached behind him removing the mask. She waited until he had blinked a few times then moved from his line of sight. "You wish your beard gone, I do not wish it so, but I have discovered a compromise and am willing to be of assistance."

Taurik grinned. He ran his hand over his full beard considering the issue again. He moved only his eyes towards her.

"A goatee perhaps?" she offered as she removed her outer robe. She placed it on the chair off to the side. "Or just a moustache?"

He looked around. "And where are you going to do this?"

"In the tub." She moved to him and began opening his robe. Her hands moved in to caress his warm body. Her hands moved up his chest, his shoulders then slipped the fabric from him. She caught the robes and added them to the chair. "I have everything laid out."

"You have done this before?"

"Not in this precise manner, but yes."

"Then which precise manner?" He allowed himself to be guided over to the tub. The scent of sandalwood in the water was strong.

"I was not in a tub."

Taurik smiled. "You will be in there as well?"

T'Aitlu nodded. She opened the shoulders and the undershift slipped to the ground. She indicated for him to get into the tub first.

He stepped into the hot water, his body shivered at the difference in the temperatures. He sat down, then slid under the water. He watched from under the water as T'Aitlu stood at the side of the tub looking in. He came up, brushed the water and the hair from his face, came up on his knees and offered her a hand to climb in.

T'Aitlu had her hair twisted up out of the way and she slid into the water slowly. She sat at one end of the tub, the surrounding cushioned edge was at the perfect height to rest her head against. She closed her eyes and relaxed for a few minutes.

Taurik watched her. He would much have preferred to move closer to her, close enough to lift her onto his lap and slip deliciously into her. To kiss her lips, her cheeks, her throat and to feel the touch of her hands all over his body. He felt his body reacting to his fantasy. He smiled slightly and then cleared his throat. "A goatee."

She opened one eye. "Very well."

"And leave the moustache as well."

T'Aitlu indicated with a tap on his shoulder that he should turn around with his back to her.

"How can you...?"

She placed her hands on his shoulders then asked him to move back, closer to her. She began to lightly massage his neck and shoulder muscles.

He felt her legs move on either side of him, she was on her knees. He leaned back slightly feeling her breasts against his back. He took a breath and mentally ignored the warmth against his back.

T'Aitlu took one of the small hand towels, then soaked it in the hot tub water. She wrung it out then wrapped around his face. She pulled him back to lean against her then took a sponge and began to wash his chest with slow gentle strokes. "Do you not trust me?"

Taurik nodded. His hand came up and moved the towel slightly so he could be heard. "I trust that your intentions are as you say."

She moved the sponge over to her other hand then continued to stroke his chest. "But...?" She removed the towel from his face then placed it high on his chest. She would use this to clean the razor of the hair as she removed it.

Taurik straightened then twisted to face her. "But..." He smiled slightly. "I do not know if you have the skills."

"Taurik, I have been a resident of his place for..." She hesitated, then noticed his eyebrow raising. He was interested in the answer, none of them had quite figured out when she came here or how long she had been kitausu. "... too long." She indicated with a spin of her finger that he was to turn his back to her again. "I have learned sufficiently."

"And if you have not?" He swallowed at the possibilities.

T'Aitlu sighed. "I will ensure that you do not recover." She was teasing him now. "Is that acceptable?" She had found the old style brush. She wet it then agitated it against the bar of sandalwood soap. She covered his throat and his beard with the suds.

Taurik closed his eyes, not sure whether to relax or question her more. He felt her lips brush his temple and her whispered promise that he would not come to harm under her touch. He whispered back that he was honoured by this.

She tilted his head back slightly, then warmed the razor in water. She placed it at the base of his throat and drew it up slowly until she reached his beard.

He felt her stop and her silence told him she was considering where to shape it. He sighed slightly, he did trust her and he relaxed against her to prove.

In the room, for the next little while, there was very little sound. Only the sound of movements in the water, the occasional splashing and whispers of either a comment or a decision. A few candles sputtered and the far off sounds of the other residents could be heard. Each stroke of the razor brought a scratching sound to his ears and it became soothing.

She had carefully trimmed the sides of his hair into the customary point then decided to square it off. It was far more suitable for him.

"It is done." T'Aitlu stated as she gathered up the towel carefully. She looked to the Vulcan as she placed the towel on the near-by table. She ran the back of her fingers over the newly bared skin along his jaw. His eyes were still closed. "This will be most interesting to see the other's reactions."

Taurik remained silent.

"You can not be in a deep meditation nor can you be sleeping." Her fingers drew a path down to the water's edge then her palm lay against his chest. Her hand moved down to his stomach... she felt movement as he pulled his stomach in, suppressing the urge to gasp.

T'Aitlu leaned back against the edge of the tub and stretched out her legs on either side of him. She tilted his head slightly, holding it with her shoulder as she leaned down and kissed a slow path along his neck and shoulder. Her hand ran down his arm feeling the muscles and the warmth of his skin.

Her lips brushed his ear. "I want you to grow your hair long." She watched his eyebrows for some reaction, there was a minute change. She drew her hand back up his arm, the water only slightly warmer than he was. Her finger tickled the back of his neck. "Very long."

Taurik suddenly turned to face her with a grin. "Tell me, does this have anything to do with the arrival of this new muse?" His hand ran the length of her leg, very slowly as they talked.

She shook her head. "No of course not."

"Since when have you wanted my hair long."

She shrugged. "Long enough for a ponytail."

Taurik shook his head. "No ponytail." He tilted his head. Then reached her ankle and neatly pulled her under the water.

T'Aitlu came up quickly, sputtering water. She brushed her hair back off her face. "Not fair." She splashed him.

Taurik grabbed her arms then pulled her close. "You like my beard this way." He held her tightly. One hand moved down her body, then her hip and on to her leg, then slowly back up.

"Yes."

"Then I will keep it this way." Taurik bent his head to kiss her but a noise caught his attention.

"Hope you left hot water for someone else?" Vorik stood there looking tired.

"Yes I did, Vorik." He stood, then climbed out of the tub. He wrapped a large towel around himself then held one up for T'Aitlu. "But the Vulcan comes with me." He grinned at his brother, aware at how easily he would blush.

Vorik shook his head then looked to the floor. He watched as Taurik set the tub to empty and then fill again. T'Aitlu picked up the clothes that had been dropped. They were talking of getting something to eat, wished him a pleasant sleep and then it hit him.

Vorik looked down the hallway then called to his brother. "You shaved?"

Taurik grinned. "No *I* did not." He ran his hand along the now bare skin on his face. "Like it?"

Vorik nodded then headed to the warm bath that was calling to him.

As Vorik slid down into the tub, he sighed, savouring the hot water warming his bones. He recalled the image that met him as he walked in earlier, Taurik and his mistress... he sighed again, wishing there was someone to share this with.

**Meanwhile down the hall.....

The still warm couple sauntered down the hall, arm in arm, their robes swaying gently with their relaxed strides. They were still quietly discussing their food choices when a fast paced Rihansu bumped into them.

"Oops, sorry..." Salatrel said as she put out her hands to steady T'Aitlu, whom she had managed to almost knock over. She felt the warmth from her t'hy'la and the still green flush on her cheeks from the hot bath. She looked to Taurik with a slight smile and noticed his damp hair. She started to look away, then looked back to Taurik and frowned slightly. "You look different."

The Vulcans looked at each other, then back to Salatrel. Taurik lifted an eyebrow and T'Aitlu tilted her head slightly, both wondering if the Rihansu would pick up on what was different.

Salatrel crossed her arms and looked the Vulcan male up and down. "New robe?"

"No." T'Aitlu stated.

"Haircut...?"

"No." Taurik recalled T'Aitlu's comment concerning his hair length, then added. "...but you are getting close." He added to the hint by stroking the newly shaped goatee.

Salatrel grinned. "Ahh, you have shaved... I like this." She reached out a hand to caress the freshly bared skin and new shape of his beard. "Nice job."

"T'Aitlu deserves the credit."

Salatrel looked to T'Aitlu and gave her a nod of approval. "The mark of steady hands." Her hand still caressed the softness of his skin and his beard.

"It was not accomplished under the most ideal conditions." She looked to Taurik who squirmed a bit as he suddenly realized that T'Aitlu had noticed the tip of his, at the time, very stiff member peeking up from the water's surface. Her eyebrow raised at him.

Her fingers played in his beard then sighed. "You look so..." then teasingly added, "... so very Romulan in that beard." She added a low moan to the statement, just for effect.

Taurik's eyes went wide at the remark. "Do you really think so...?"

"Very handsome..." Salatrel's fingertip ran along his jawline, "... excellent technique." Her fingertips drew along the edge of his mustache, "A very nice choice." Her fingers now traced Taurik's full lips, and repeated, "Excellent technique." She then tugged on the end of his goatee. "Where is your brother?"

Taurik drew in the breath he had not realized he had been holding. His voice refused to work and was relieved when T'Aitlu answered.

"We left him in the tub room." She took a step towards Salatrel and leaned slightly towards her. "Perhaps you should join him. He did appear to wish company." Her hands teasingly joined Salatrel's in the exploration of Taurik's beard. Her other hand moved down his back, resting just below the small of his back. Her thumb felt the cleft of his cheek through his robes as he tried to remain the picture of calm. She felt her cheeks warm and her stomach growled reminding her of their intended destination.

Taurik looked to T'Aitlu, attempting to disguise his reactions to the touches, "Perhaps we should continue on before the inside of your stomach eats itself."

With that comment, Salatrel smiled, then dropped her hand. She stepped aside allowing the couple to pass. As they walked away, Salatrel noticed T'Aitlu glance back over her shoulder and mouth the words 'join him'.

Salatrel blew a kiss to her friend then, with a single nod, mouthed back her answer 'I will'. She watched as the couple continued their lazy saunter, enjoying each others company.

Salatrel drew a breath then continued on her mission with more urgent strides, this time heading towards the tub room.

As Salatrel approached the tub room door, she could hear the sound of bubbles being blown in the water. She peered into the room, but did not spy her Muse. She moved into the room quietly, listening. As she moved closer to the tub, she inhaled the scent of the sandalwood and lavender, then noticed Vorik under the water.

She perched on the edge of the tub and watched his image shimmer with the movement of the water. She thought to herself that he reminded her of a young child as he continued blowing bubbles under the water. She glanced around the room at the white candles at various heights, the wax forming in long drips then becoming encrusted at the base. She knew the stone walls echoed every sound within the walls, but she also knew once the door was closed, the room became soundproof to the outside. She waited patiently for her Muse.

Vorik suddenly immerged from the water with a splash. She watched the water run down his back in riverlets. He smoothed back his short dark hair with both hands, slicking it back over his head. He wiped the water from his face then opened his eyes.

"Hello there..." Salatrel called from her perch.

Vorik whipped around to see his mistress perched there, wearing all of her clothing and a wicked grin.

"Are you going to be long in the tub?" She asked as her eyes moved down to his chest. She noted that the water was still dripping from the tip of his nose then landing on his chest.

He wiped the water from his face and nose again then replied. "Actually I was hoping to have someone join me here in the tub." He moved over slightly. "Plenty of room..." He gave the water a slight splash towards her.

"Well..." Salatrel looked to her chronometer, "I am sort of pressed for time, but if I hurry.... I might have enough time." She grinned then walked slowly over to the chair.

Vorik moved to the edge of the tub, his folded arms resting on the cushioned edge as he watched his mistress undress in the far corner.

Her eyes locked with his as she opened the clasps to the heavier robe, then slipped it slowly from her shoulders.

**Meanwhile in the cafeteria....

As Taurik and T'Aitlu sat down with their meals, he asked, "Do you believe they will think to clean out the tub?" He opened the container of milk. "I have reminded him that I am not going to do his dirty work for him any longer."

T'Aitlu played with the salad, mixing in the dressing, "In this instance I am sure Salatrel will assume the upper hand..." The image they shared was one of Salatrel stretched out on top of Vorik, not quite the image their words alone conveyed.

In the Tub room......

Salatrel's fingers were at the first buttons to open her shift.

Vorik felt his pulse quicken at the sight of her outline through the thin light green shift. Her full hips and her fuller breasts always excited him.

Her fingers began to slowly unbutton the tiny pearls of the shift. She seductively swayed towards him, toying with the buttons, then dropping her hands. She stood in front of him, waiting.

His shaky hands reached for the tiny pearl buttons, slowly unfastening one then another. His wet hands dripping onto the sheer material of her shift, stopping only when it lay open for him.

Salatrel began to shake the fabric from her shoulders but he stayed her actions.

"No... come in with it..." he whispered then stood, the water running down his glorious green-tinged body in riverlets.

Salatrel felt herself start at the sound of the whoosh of his standing. The sound of the water dripping back into the tub echoed in the room. She could not help but watch the water trailing down his body. Her eyes widened slightly as she appreciated the fact that his arousal was for her alone. The water dripped from his stiff member then ran down his inner thigh.

She shivered in the chill of the room then offered her hand to him. The other gathered her long shift up holding it as she stepped into the hot water. She watched as he reached to add more oil to the water. The scent filled her head and soothed her senses.

She stood in the water, her thin shift floating around her. Her body was exposed and very close to him. As gasp escaped from her as he pressed his hot, wet body against her cooler, drier body.

His tight nipples dug into her cool soft breast. Her flesh began to warm to his touch. He drew her closer holding her tighter against his body. His arms wrapped around her body wetting the fabric further. Even the sheer fabric began to feel heavy as it clung to her body.

Her breasts flattened as she was pressed tightly against Vorik's firm chest. The tops of her soft flesh welled up and he looked down at the soft mounds. With wet, hot fingers, he caressed her mounds welling up beneath his face. The soft strokes left a warm trail of water on her skin. Her body molded tightly to his as she watched his fingers playing. Her breath quickened and her heart beat faster as his touch excited her.

She felt a quivering between her legs, he was always able to do this to her. She shivered and then asked softly if they could get into the water.

He nodded, then let her go and stepped back, sinking into the water. "A-h-h-h," he teased as he stretched out taking up the room.

She glared at him in mock anger. "Now where am I suppose to sit?"

He wriggled his eyebrows then replied, "Anywhere you like."

She grinned as she leaned down to lay on top of him.

**Meanwhile back in the cafeteria.....

Taurik and T'Aitlu were finished their meal. They were sitting back enjoying the last of their dessert and tea.

"What do you wish to do for the rest of the day?" T'Aitlu inquired as she savoured the last of her tea.

"I was thinking of the library...?"

She shook her head. "I believe I want something with more interest." She thought about it for a moment. "We spend most of our time in the libraries."

"We could venture off-world if you wish?" Time was not an issue for the moment, it was technically a day to themselves.

"Perhaps a walk in the garden?"

Taurik had expected something a little more exotic. He bowed his head. "As you wish, T'sai." He drained his cup then stood. "Do you wish to stop for your cloak?"

"I do not believe it will be required." She drained her cup then stood. They cleaned up their dishes then headed for the gardens.

The garden had been in place as long as there had been a residence here. The last garden had been put in place over three hundred years ago.

The pathway that twisted and turned through the garden gave the illusion that it was much larger than it was. Flowers and plants from all parts of the universe came with the kitausu and from the Ancient One's travels. He enjoyed gardening.

"It has been a long time since I ventured into this portion of the garden," T'Aitlu commented. She indicated the budding flower to Taurik. "This one was brought from Earth. It is a Lily. I do not know the variety."

Taurik reached to her hand then lifted it to his lips, he brushed the back of her hand. "Then perhaps it is time to make this a habit, a walk here in the evening would be most calming at times."

She slipped her hand from his and continued on the path. The area that they were in held a small fountain. She smiled slightly at her memories of this place.

Taurik studied the fountain. "Most interesting. I do not know if Surak would have approved..." He smiled as he noticed that the small fountain was a miniature of the phallus shaped fountain at the TSU grounds, that produces foam... every hour on the hour. The green tinted stone statue was an accurate duplicate of the 'real thing', double ridges included. "No wonder Elvira is out here every day."

T'Aitlu ran her hand along the edge of the cool stone bowl. She frowned, "There was something about this place..." She felt it just under the edge. She wasn't sure if the mechanism would still work. "The Ancient One had a meditation room." She pushed in the depression, something only Vulcanoid muscles could do.

The fountain shut off, then the entire stonework moved slowly to one side.

**Meanwhile in the tub room....

As Salatrel settled onto Vorik's prone body, her sheer green shift skimmed along the water's surface like a green lily pad. It felt a bit cumbersome, but she relished in still being dressed while submerged up to her neck.

His strong hands brushed over her raven black curls and he smiled as they bounced back. With eyes downcast, her hands roamed over his submerged dark-haired chest. He wrapped his arm around her and clutched her body to his, keeping her still. With a gentle hand, he cupped her face and drew her close. Their noses touched, her face brushed over his. Their cheeks caressed each other's, delighting in the warmth of the sensual water cocoon.

Vorik finally sat up to give her room to sit. He smirked as she settled on top of him, wrapping her legs around his waist trapping his hard member between them. His fingers traced the outline of her face. The lovely Rihansu woman closed her eyes, enjoying his delicate fingertip touches ruffling the hair of her eyebrows, tickling along her eyelashes, feather light touches down her nose. His wet fingers left water droplets in their wake. Her hands grasped his upper arms, clutching onto him, as she enjoyed this delicious exploration.

Vorik was delighted to have his mistress cling onto to him. His fingers trailed over the curves of her small, lovely face. Her lips parted slightly as he ran a soft fingertip over their fullness, soft full lips, now moist from the bath. Through his fingertip, he let slip a short, light burst of psychic current onto her lips... in a soft Vulcan kiss. His fingers continued to caress her lips as his mind caressed hers. She let her head drop back and she sighed at the pleasure he shared with her... contentment... joy... as well as growing excitement.

Even anticipation of what they were to share this night. To tease her, Vorik let her see few secrets for what he was planning. A flash of her straddling his lap as he was now. Moaning in ecstasy. A flash of her on top of him out of the water...as he balanced on the edge of the tub. Her muse had plans for her, the revelation of those plans excited her as well.

Her pulse quickened and her breathing deepened, as he released her from his Vulcan kiss. As she opened her eyes, she licked her lips. Her eyes flashed in sudden hunger, and her greedy mouth captured his in a fierce kiss. She sucked his thick tongue into her small mouth. They moaned and he held her tighter to his body... holding her fast... and not letting her go.

**Beneath the Fountain....

They moved quickly down the stone spiral stairs, Taurik's head just clearing the opening as the fountain slid back into place.

T'Aitlu gave the verbal command for the lights and the room filled with a very bright light. "Intensity at fifty percent." The lights dimmed to tolerable levels.

"What is this place? You know of this place?" Taurik asked one question on top of the other. He looked around what appeared to be a private library.

"This is where the Ancient One would come to meditate. To see to the running of the Shop." Nothing had changed from the last time she was down here, even his meditation matting was rolled and placed off to the side. "It would get so busy at times that he could only find calm by coming here." She spoke softly, remembering the times that she accompanied him here. "I was the youngest. He said I showed promise and he would instruct me here."

Taurik smiled. "Always entering this way?" He indicated the stairway.

T'Aitlu shook her head. "There is another passageway. At one time there were a great deal of kitausu, solitude was a difficult thing to find. The Ancient One would come here to meditate."

"No doubt to renew his energies." Taurik had read some of the journals left behind and envied the Ancient's stamina if the accountings were accurate. "Did you come here often?"

T'Aitlu recalled her last visit here, the day before he died. He had asked her to accompany him often in the last month or so, he was not well. She recalled how peaceful he did look when he meditated. She was the only one that was invited here because of her adherence to the Vulcan disciplines. No one else had suspected that he was dying. He hid his gradual frailty well.

He watched her as she continued to move around the room. She picked up a small bound book and after reading the title, held it close. "What is it?"

"My first story. I had forgotten that he kept it here." She replaced it on the side table.

He came up behind her, pulled a strand of hair back tucking it behind her ear. "What else is here?"

"There is an extensive library here and a bedroom beyond." She indicated the ornately carved wooden door.

**Meanwhile back at the tub room...

Salatrel stood before her muse, teasing his eyes with the sight of her shift clinging to her voluptuous form. She peeled the fabric from her body, slowly revealing herself to his hungry eyes. She draped the soaked shift over the tub edge, then stared down at her muse still submerged in the tub. He grabbed his jeweled goblet reserved for wine in the tub, scooped up a cupful of water then stood before her. With the goblet full of bath water, he smirked looking down at her smaller form. Holding it over her head, he threatened to pour it on her.

She closed her eyes bracing herself for the wetness. The water slowly streamed over her head flattening her dark curls, cascading over her face, flowing down in between her breasts over her belly then soaking the dark lush curls of hair in between her legs. Again Vorik scooped the water and poured it over her head. This time her hair was soaked. Her curls were completely flattened and her body soaked with warm wet water. Her body glistened in the fire light. With wet hands she slicked her hair back and wiped the water from her face. Her eyes were bright in merriment as water droplets still clung to her lashes.

Vorik smiled as he scooped up another goblet of water.

She put out her hand and requested, "No more."

Instead, she drew towards him pressing her warm wet body to his. Her hands grasped his upper arms and she sighed, savoring his closeness. She smirked silently and closed her eyes as she felt the water splash in between them.

She crinkled he nose in mock complaint, "Thanks."

"My pleasure," her naughty muse grinned as he dropped the goblet on the tub edge.

He drew her closer to his body again and his mouth suddenly captured hers in a deep warm kiss that parted her full lips allowing his hot tongue to once again enter her mouth. Her desire for this beautiful man before her was mounting. Heat spread through her, as her heart rate increased. Her breast were aching to be touched. And deep within, the beginnings of twitches, as her sex tightened and created juices in anticipation of intercourse. Her head felt heavy as a light euphoria rippled through her brain. He teased at her senses as each kiss consumed her.

**In the chamber of the Ancient One...

The second chamber had been a surprise to Taurik. He called back over his shoulder to T'Aitlu. He took the lighter out of his sleeve and held it to one of the large candle wicks. He tapped the control and the wick jumped to life. The room filled with the eerie glow until he had a few more lit.

The room was dominated by a large bed. The cover was of a deep green. The numerous pillows were of every colour, shape and size.

"A four poster." T'Aitlu stated. She smiled at the stories she had heard of the going ons in this place. "I am amazed that it isn't dustier in here." She ran her hand along the satiny fabric. She looked into the shadows to the rest of the room. "Quite an extensive library."

Taurik moved over to the semi-cicular shelves and the large armchair which faced them. His hand ran along the firm fabric of this chair, as he glanced at the titles, some in languages he had never seen. "He was a linguist?"

"I do not know." She moved to where Taurik stood. She reached to one of the books. "It would appear so." She opened the book, scanning the pages. She replaced it.

Taurik was flipping the pages of another. "Were the contents of that book as interesting as this?" He seemed to have found an instruction book. He tilted the book so that she could see the pages. "I gather these were used for his own... " He hesitated at finishing as he met her eyes. "... amusement?"

"I do not know." T'Aitlu pulled out another book and translated the title as "The Klingon Warrior and his Mate". She opened the book and exchanged a look with Taurik as he peeked over her shoulder.

"A bat'leth is not my idea of a night's entertainment."

"If you were Klingon, it would be the second most important piece of equipment." She sat down in the chair resting the book on the arm of the chair.

"And the first would be...?" Taurik sat next to her.

T'Aitlu shook her head. "A dagger."

Taurik smiled then almost whispered. "Ahh yes, for those gentle lacerations." His fingernail traveled down the side of her neck. He leaned towards her then kissed her.

She lifted her eyebrow, "I do not believe so." She replaced the book.

Taurik flipped a few more pages on the book he had then replaced it. He knelt down to view the books in Vulcan. He smiled then pulled out a large volume. "Ahh, now here is one that should be of interest."

She looked to the book's title, then shook her head slightly. "You will make an excellent TaskMaster... one day." She teased him. She crossed the room slowly, her nose still in the book. She lifted her robe as she settled on the edge of the bed. She curled up leaning back slightly and began to lose herself in the text. Her eyes would widen at some parts, then her lips would smile at others. She had even felt the green flush of excitement as she got further into the book.

Taurik strolled to the bed with his large book. He settled on the opposite side of the bed. He moved onto the bed sitting cross-legged, the book resting on his legs. He was flipping through the heavily illustrated book with interest. He sucked in his breath at some of the detail and intricate positions.

Taurik glanced over at T'Aitlu, checking her reactions to her text. He had not failed to notice the high green tinge to her cheeks and the blush that was travelling down her throat. He was curious as to what could effect her to that degree.

T'Aitlu looked up to check on his progress only to find him catching a glimpse of her. "What have you found?"

He turned the book so that she could see the illustration. He smiled slightly anticipating her reactions.

T'Aitlu sucked in her breath then held it for a moment. "It is not possible."

He met her eyes. "It is. The confirming text in on the next page... must be possible."

**Meanwhile in the tub room....

As the Muse and his mistress were locked in embrace, Vorik's hands roamed up and down her back, drifted to the curves of her hips then rested on her round bottom. His senses delighted in her voluptuous curves, exciting his member to erection. She smiled as he buried her mouth on the flesh of his shoulders. His hard bulge in between them pressed against the front of her hip. She ground her hips back onto his hardness. Vorik moaned then grasped her flesh in large hand-fulls. She raised one of her legs to the tubs edge then glided a palm up her outer thigh. Her softness molded to his body as he held his mistress close to his hard warm wet body. His eyes closed as her lips planted tiny kisses on the wet skin of his shoulders.

She loved his strong arms: how firm and muscular he was. And young! The Romulan hru-hfe (bonded servant)greatly appreciated this Vulcan's youth in many way. One of which was his youthful good looks. Her kisses grew in passion, her mouth opening wider, moving hungrily, licking, savoring his skin as her tongue rolled around on his flesh.

His breathing grew ragged as her kisses excited him. With his member quivering between them, his hand grasped her thighs, trailing further up to her soft round behind. He teased at her cleft as he crept his wet fingers further towards her puckered hole. She gasped and nipped at his shoulder as he lightly touched the soft delicate skin of her soft tight hole. With feather-light teasing, he toyed with the sensitive skin reveling in the nips and the gasps he elicited from his Rihansu lady.

As her puckered hole contracted in response to the stimulation, she felt a quivering in her head, euphoria crept through her body. As his fingertip brushed along her hole, her body tensed. A delicious torture of pleasure and anticipation. She wanted more. But was she was willing to savor this. She enjoyed the wanting of more. But she enjoyed the ability to prolong this pleasure even more.

"Mmm, I like that," she murmured as her small white teeth slightly bore into his flesh.

"I come to serve thee, Lhhei," Vorik murmured as his face was enveloped in her mane of drying curls.

**Meanwhile in the Ancient's Chamber...

T'Aitlu's shoulders were shaking with rarely heard laughter. "No it is not possible. No one is that flexible..."

Taurik pursed his lips as he felt the empathy for the male in the illustration. "Perhaps with a great deal of practice." He lifted an eyebrow considering the balance and the flexibility that would be required. "If this were one's profession, I am sure..." He rotated the book to get a better look at the angle of penetration. "...this position could be achieved easily with practice."

"Perhaps." T'Aitlu

's fingers were skimming the binding of the book she held. The book was beautifully finished; the white velum, soft and supple. Graceful Vulcan script was etched in silver along the spine. The inside was lined in a deep green velvety paper.

"And the gem you hold?" Taurik was curious as to what had held her interest and why she seemed to be guarding its contents. He lifted the spine of the book to read the title. "'The Mastery of Passions'." He looked to her face. "A most interesting title."

"The book deals with the exercise in passion's mastery." She considered what she had said. "In a different manner than is usually accepted."

"In what way?" Taurik flipped a few more pages in his book. "Passion's Mastery... I had assumed that is what we practiced as is?"

"No. Not the mastery of passions..." She looked up to him, her face flushed and the candles sputtered off in the corner. She turned the book so he could read the text.

**Meanwhile back in the tub...

Salatrel rolled the soap in her small hands. The lovers licked their lips watching in excited anticipation, as the white lather built up in her small hands. With a commanding finger, she requested that her muse turn around. He smiled as he awaited her soapy touches.

He looked down as he saw a small hand creep out from behind him, trailing long his hip then down his thigh, back up, then finally across his belly. She brought her soapy treasure up his chest, then from one to the other breast. Her fingers slipped over his nipples. She felt a sigh escape from Vorik as his body again reacted to her touches. He felt the lather slide down his body. Together her hands slid down his body. Vorik almost sucked in his breath as her white hand suddenly seized his hot hard member. With her other hand, she lathered up his groin. The white velvety foam covered his member, his sac and suds slipped down his legs. Her small wrapped around his member, gripping him firmly, slowly stroking his length all the way up to his tip, then back down, finally cupping his soft sac.

She peered over his shoulder to witness this. She took in a breath and felt her sex quiver at the sight of his dark green member covered in a ring of white foam. With just his tip revealed, she thought he looked like a deep green jewel hidden in the clouds. As her hand slowly pulled down the length of his shaft, her eyes grew wide as she thought she was witnessing the revelation of the spire of Tr'krana's; when the receding tide would reveal a gleaming spire of green stone in the far off horizon of the Romulan sea of Gre'thu.

Vorik closed his eyes to enjoy the slow stroking of her hand on his shaft. He lifted a leg to the tub edge and grasped the firm flesh of her behind. He let out a surprised groan when her other hand, reached up, from beneath him and tickled his soap laden sac. Her fingers glided over the surface to slowly encompass his soft sac, as her hand cupped them, they tightened. Her slick fingers flicked along his underneath ridge, stroking and pinching the firm lines, making him groan louder. He began to thrust into her embracing handhold, as he felt the rise of the thrusting instinct well up within him.

"My love... you must stay quiet..." Salatrel whispered in his ear. He quivered as she gave his ear tip a quick flick with her tiny hot wet tongue. She smiled, secretly pleased that she was able to pleasure her muse to this extent.

The helplessly aroused muse nodded his head in acknowledgment and bit his lower lip to stop his passionate utterances. The sight of her small hands all over him merely magnified his arousal. It was all he could do to control himself lest he turn her around and plunge into her. But he remained silent as she fondled his body sweeping the soap over him. Then she began to creep further into his cleft.

"That is much better my muse, " he heard his mistress whisper to him as her fingers descended deeper into his cleft.

A slick slippery fingertip, slithered along the crevice of his buttocks. From the small of his back, along the tender rippled flesh, then across his puckered hole, he gasped as she quickly passed over there, then lingered along the underidges of his sac. As she pinched again at his ridge, her other hand slipped over first one then the other flared ridge of his rock hard member. Drops of precum, oozed from his tip as she let it pool then drip down the front of the head. As her finger began its slow climb back up his crevice, Vorik's twitched as the shivers of delight coursed through his body. Her fingertip hovered over his puckered hole prolonging the anticipation. Vorik steeled for the touch. But it did not seem to be forth coming. Salatrel let the soap work its magic as it slipped off his body and dripped into the water. He held his breath and tensed his body as a feather light touch grazed his hole. Then there was no denying her intentions. Her finger circled around his puckered hole, slowly ringing once, then twice. A slight pinch on the edge of the hole caused him to contract.

Vorik moaned, "Please, do not, not with the soap," and he bit his bottom lip to hold back his moans as she had commanded him to do.

He shivered as he felt her warm breath on his ear, "Vorik..," her low voice began, "It will be all right, " and despite himself a soft groan escaped from his throat as simultaneously the grip on his shaft tightened and his hole was slightly pressed open

"Mmm, alright," the handsome Vulcan whimpered surrendering to his mistress' desires.

"All I am going to do is fuck you with my pinkie, Vorik, " and he gasped as her small slender pinkie slowly pushed him open. She licked his ear allowing him this moment to calm down and relax around her tiny intrusion.

"Are you OK?" she asked tugging at his ear lobe with her tiny teeth, off setting the twinge in his puckered hole.

He silently nodded his assent and relaxed. He began to enjoy her taking of him. Her fingers trailed up and down the shaft of his hard member, rimming the flared ridges along the underneath of the head, then along the thick vein as her hand joined the other.

As her pinkie finger moved in and out of Vorik's tight hole, her other finger stroked along the outer edge of his hole. He was sent into delirium. He stumbled slightly as his knees buckled. Salatrel chuckled and commented that it was fortunate that she was Romulan and his equal in strength. Vorik rocked his hips to the rhythm of her probing pinkie and her stroking paired fingers.

**Meanwhile back in the Ancient's Chambers...

Taurik re-arranged his robes as he listened intently to his mistress. He drew closer to read the ancient scripting. There was subtle difference in the translations but he could see that it could mean something totally different. "And the difference is?" He arched his eyebrow as he waited for an explanation.

T'Aitlu shifted slightly, her robe parted slightly to reveal her leg. She sighed unsure of how to explain it. "The meaning is in the mastery or the control of the passions. The other meaning is in the mastery of the passions... how to use them to the fullest."

"You mean," Taurik began as he drew closer to T'Aitlu, "... that there is pleasure in the experience of control?" His eyes were drawn to the curve of Aitlu's legs.

"Yes and there can be a control over the passion. Controlling even the slightest of urges to prolong the enjoyment. To do so without a physical touch."

Taurik brought his gaze from her legs up to her face. "I have never before tried attempted technique. Do you partake in that technique?" He forced himself not to stare at her legs as she shifted it again.

"It would take a great deal of mental control to perfect any of those methods."

"I would be willing to share in an exercise, if you are aware of these methods."

"Do you mean trying to prolong the pleasure, the rise and fall of a climax? Or of the ability to resist taking the next step?" She turned another page in the book, partially to keep herself occupied.

Taurik was unsure of exactly what she meant. "I was rather hoping for demonstration."

"It would mean feeling every path your sense of touch would take... following it to its intended destination." T'Aitlu turned a few of the pages, then indicated to Taurik that the nerve path from his fingertip to his brain was exacting. "... that would have to be controlled."

Taurik looked to his fingers, then rubbed two together. "I have never coupled with another telepathically... that is what you mean?" He reached for the book hoping that T'Aitlu had found a page that would give him a clearer understanding. He wished only to be prepared for anything his T'sai wanted to explore and she seemed interested in this course of action.

T'Aitlu reached with two fingers to the contact points on his face, here she would reach only his surface thoughts. She touched the internal points that would give him that sensation of a gentle touch on his face. She moved her hand away and waited for his reaction.

His eyes widened in surprise. "That was most intriging." he responded and ran his fingers down his face, where he had felt the phantom touch. "I have never had a mate, I have not explored the possibilities." The phantom touch on his face, and in his mind, had dissolved, only a tingling remained just beneath the surface of his skin.

"T'Aitlu, will you teach me more?" and his fingers reached out to her contact points, seeking, with a quirk of his eyebrow, for her permission for an attempt. He felt the last of the mental ember glowing in his thoughts, it was slightly disorienting and then it winked out.

He wanted more.

His fingers brushed long her face, his thumb along her lips...

She lifted her hand to his and brought his fingertips in contact with her temple. She moved them back slightly placing them in the proper alignment. "Now you try..." She opened her own thoughts, making her mind receptive to his. They had touched minds before, but nothing so exacting as this.

He felt a sudden warmth beneath his fingertips then he 'reached' along the nerves to her thoughts.

A soft glow flowed in her mind, in the center of her consciousness then ripples of laughter reverberated through her head to her ears... or rather along the nerve endings. 'It is tight in here.' she heard him say in her mind. 'You have a lot to think about.'

She shared his joy of discovery, then waited patiently for him to attempt the technique. She sensed his presence but he had little direction and none of the finite path-making this entailed. She brought her hand up to his face, she reminded him gently of his purpose. To find the nerve center and then to activate the correct one with the correct message.

Taurik felt her sense of control and strong sense of self, he envied that. 'I had forgotten... you are most fascinating.' He continued to the place she was directing him to. He memorized the pathway for the next time, if there was to be a 'next' time. He concentrated and with a gentleness barely felt, he activated the pathway to the nerves on her face, just as she had to him.

She felt the lightest single stroke down her left cheek then across her chin. Feather-light but warmer than a feather would feel. She felt her face flush and her eyelids fluttered. "Perhaps you should cease... for a moment." She released the touch on his face then removed his hand from hers. His pathway was not precise and it was affecting other nerves and sensations.

Taurik opened his eyes, his face felt flushed with the exertion. He drew in a breath, "It was most exhilarating."

She nodded her head as she removed her outer robe. It was getting uncomfortably warm. She had forgotten this place was warm and their activities only added to it. She felt beads of perspiration on her upper lip. "Yes. Most exhilarating. You are a quick study but you must be more precise." She opened the top few buttons of her pale green shift. "Do you wish to try again?"

Taurik slowly unclasped his outer robe as well, his gaze holding hers. "Yes, I would." He tossed his robe off to the side and his boots were slipped off then he sat cross-legged on the bed. He wore only a snug undershirt and thin loose pull-on pants both in a deep red. He folded his hands in his lap awaiting T'Aitlu's next set of instructions.

**Meanwhile back in the tub room...

The tiny Romulan woman circled around her muse, she stopped to stand before him, " I want to see you as I take you, Vorik," she declared to her Vulcan muse with determination as her hands trailed down his chest over his belly and finally curling around his rock hard member. His breathing deepened as he watched her soap up his member. It was long hard and green surrounded by a ring of soapy white foam.

"You are proving to be a very nice lover, Vorik and I believe you should be...rewarded."

The small Romulan woman gave him a low chuckle as her hands slicked up and down his hard soapy member.

Vorik's soap laden fingers flicked Salatrel's nipples to hardness. The jade gems peeked through the thick white suds. Single bubbles and streams of filmy soapy slid down her flushed breast coursing down her flat belly, finally getting caught within the strands of her dark tuft of hair. Vorik's member bumped against her belly, leaving a sticky string of precum on her tinged hot flesh. The T'Khasian's pressed their hot soapy bodies together. Vorik's hands roamed up and down her slick body, feeling her firm bottom working the lather in between the clefts in her cheeks. Her breasts pressed and slipped again his firm flat chest. The slicking sounds of their bodies slipping and sliding together added to their arousal.

"Salatrel," Vorik murmured as he squeezed her body to his, slipping and sliding as he attempted to hold her tighter. "All of this seems familiar. Does it seem so to you?"

"Vorik," she replied as she pulled his body closer to her feeling his member slip over her belly, she pressed against his chest. "I believe we have done this before, in another story."

And the lovers chuckled about this realization.

Vorik grabbed the wine cup and filled it again. Slowly he poured the water over her again. Salatrel closed her eyes as she enjoyed the luxurious feel of the soap sliding down her body. Vorik drew his fingers down her body, trailing over her nipples causing her to gasp. He wiped away the excess and looked at her with appreciation. She opened her eyes and Vorik once again left the cup on the edge of the tub.

As the two lovers dropped to their knees into the water, Vorik leaned closer to her, encouraging her to lay back. His hands rested on the tub edge as she settled onto the tub floor. With the water up to their necks, Salatrel was totally submerged with her handsome Vulcan muse hovering over her. His dark brows arched above deep soft brown eyes, fine aquiline features, full lips, licked by a hot thick tongue. All pulled together, made for one hell of a face.

Vorik's hands gripped onto the tub's edge, bracing his body, bringing his lean figure almost out of the water. He lowered his body slowly to hers. She smiled in growing excitement as his lips brushed along hers softly, the tip of his member rippled along the water's surface.

Salatrel enjoyed his soft and supple loins as they kissed, over and over again. She reached up for more as he lifted away from her. With his hands busy supporting his body up in the tub, he was at her mercy as she caressed his body. She was kind to him as her T'hy'la T'Aitlu has been telling her to be. Thus she refrained from torturing him. Her hands roamed over his furred chest. The soap from his back slipped over his sides and she wiped the suds away. Her breasts floated in the water, as her nipples pierced the water's surface.

His chest met hers and their nipples teased each others. With hungry eyes, he gazed at her jade green nipples in the water then his lips grabbed them. He sucked them in just lightly.

"Mmmm nice," Salatrel murmured as she moaned and arched her back.

Encouraged by her reaction he tugged them and held them firm in between his lips, holding them for as long as he could. He raised his body from hers once again. She arched her back following him, attached to his mouth. As the nipple slipped from his lips, they fell to her body and jiggled and splash in the water.

"Hmmm I like that one.." Salatrel commented breathlessly.

With her back arched, more of her body broke the surface of the water, her tuft of hair was exposed to the cooling air. Vorik brushed his thick hard member against her wet tuft. They both smiled at the erotic sound of wisping wet hair. They moaned in unison, as they rubbed their genitals against each other. Vorik fervently captured her mouth with his and she settled back into the water. His lips now attached to her he followed her descent into the water. An impassioned moan resonated through his throat as her mouth opened to let his tongue thrust deep into her eager mouth in hungry oral explorations. He relaxed his grasp on the tub's edge and settled onto her body letting the warm water cover his body and both of the lovers submerged into the water to their necks. He parted her legs letting his knees settle between them.

"I wonder how lunch is going for my brother?" Vorik murmured to his mistress

**Meanwhile back in the Ancient's Chamber....

They began slowly with only slight touches, nerve endings were discovered and teased. Teasing was the only word for it for the moment, light touches, most were accomplished easily then some took a little more planning.

Taurik sat back frustrated. "I will never manage it." He looked around the room and felt the stiffness in his neck and shoulders.

"You need to relax and not force the path." She brushed her hair back over her shoulders. She moved the book closer to Taurik indicating the area they were working on 'activating'. She left him with the book and slipped off the bed and over to a small cabinet.

Taurik scanned the page then turned the next few pages, scanning the contents of each one. He understood the theory, it was putting it into practice that was difficult. He heard the sound of drinks being poured. He looked over to T'Aitlu. "What have you found?"

She sat on the bed handing over one of the large tall glasses. "It is a wine." She sipped on the liquid. "It has become a little stronger but seems to be drinkable." She swirled the dark wine around in the goblet. The strong bouquet was released with the motion of the wine.

Taurik watched as she stood and began pacing the room, still swirling the goblet. He sipped the wine. "T'sai, have you been... here before?" He drained the rest of the wine, he took a deep breath almost regretting his actions. He was getting light-headed. Taurik placed the goblet on the stand beside the bed.

She halted her stroll and it caused her thin shift to flutter around her full form. In the candle light Taurik admired her silhouette... and spied her black undergarments.

Her delicate lips sipped from the rose toned goblet, an ancient drinking container. The Ancient One had treasured these. She swallowed the wine, then licked her lips savouring the fruity taste. "No. I have never been in here before."

Taurik sat back in the bed watching her as she admired the object d'art. The pair were ancient and no doubt priceless hidden away in the cabinet.

Her bright lips curled slightly as she identified the ancient carving on the cabinet. Her fingernail traced the intricate form of three T'Khasians, a symbol of the ancient triad from the Pre-Reform days. The dark pink glass glittered in the dim candlelight. She let her fingers slip over the smooth cool glass, following the lines made by the intertwining forms. The mental, the physical and the control that is required to maintain the balance.

Taurik shifted on the bed and the rustle of his pants drew her attention. She smiled as she noted his new look. The goatee suited him well and she felt a sudden compulsion to stroke his beard. She sensed that he was already aroused and to provoke him would not be wise... or fair in fact.

"Taurik..." she began in an even tone as she placed her goblet next to his. "Shall we continue with our exercise?"

Taurik sat up, tucking his knees underneath him. "Yes... I would like to." He took in a deep breath and watched his mistress climb onto the bed next to him. Her thin green shift clung to her form as she crawled on her knees closer to him. She too settled on her knees and took a deep breath in preparation for the next meld. He had to use all his will to bring his eyes up to her face, breaking his gaze from her lovely enticing cleavage.

T'Aitlu pressed her fingertips together and brought them to her lips. She closed her eyes then took a deep breath. She stated in a firm voice. "When we do this, I will guide you but you must inform me as to your destination." She released her breath and the accompanying tension.

Taurik mirrored her gestures and in a soft whisper he replied. "I understand," and he waited for her direction. She was more experienced at than he was, than most of the Vulcans here. She had always been drawn to the intriguing areas of Vulcan myths. She studied the Pre-Reform time. He had only learned what he had been taught by his family, and he was beginning to realize how little they knew.

Thus far, Taurik cha'Doshik of the Nissus Colony had allowed himself to indulge only in the pleasures of his mistress. He had witnessed many of the pleasures that were used in the shop, but he had never explored his own desires. In all the times that he had indulged, there had been something missing from the experience. Today he was hoping he would discover what that was. He had yet to experience the consummation with his bondmate, perhaps never would, and his Pon farr was not something he would experience any time soon.

Taurik knew one fact about himself, it was not the physical sexual experience that he was curious about... it was the mental intimacy with another that he wished for. To wish for this was illogical but here before him was T'Aitlu... she was willing to be his teacher but would she also become his student? Of late, his mistress had been exerting a most enviable mastery of her passions and now she was offering him a lesson or two. He had had his first taste, it was delicious... and he wanted more.

T'Aitlu explained to him that the savouring of the passions and the control of the desires were the objects of the exercise.

He wanted to try this again so he cleared his mind and awaited his T'sai T'Aitlu.

She gently placed her fingertips against his face, he did the same on her face. "Make the touches simple."

"Yes, T'sai." Taurik thought about it for a moment. "Your cheek again."

She nodded and then felt the pathway become charged then felt the touch.

"Your neck," Taurik stated softly, close to her ear.

She nodded and the feather-light touch made a path down her neck. "Yes," she whispered.

Taurik drew in a breath, "Your arm."

She felt the draw of paired fingers travel up her arm. She shivered.

"Hand." His mental caress caused her palm to feel his touch and then to feel his kiss. He felt her body straighten in reaction but she did not stop him. His hand flinched in response, he had not expected to feel her touch as well.

She asserted her control and withstood the tingling down the center of her hand. The soft warm sensation and the slight suction in the center of her palm. The air in the room felt cool in that one place on her hand.

The touches continued, each whispered in her ear as he managed to touch to each of her extremities. He was getting the idea and perfecting his skills.

Her lips barely parted as she whispered, "You learn quickly, Taurik-kam." She felt his phantom touch along the swells of her breasts. She held her breath. She had not expected this touch, but rode the sensations and the shock passed. She felt the sense of paired fingers travelling down her body from her throat to her stomach. It was so real that she had to remind herself that she was still clothed. A slow touch of light fingertips moved down her throat through the thin skin over her collar bone, down over her breast bone and the slight touch in between the snug flesh of her breasts, over her soft stomach ending just past her waist.

A brushing of his lips against hers caused her to actually back away. She wet her own lips and began her own gentle assault. She opened her eyes, peeking to verify that the kiss was from his mental touch and not actually from his lips. Taurik was still seated and immobile, his face the picture of calm and too far away to have managed it.

Taurik had up to now used only the sensation his fingers would have given, he wished now to use the sensation of his full hand caressing her skin. He felt his body tense as the resulting pleasure was 'fed' back to him and his body caressed by phantom hands. Hands that he knew were stationary against his face.

This attempt was slightly more complicated as he mastered his skills to activate the proper sequence to ignite the neural cord. As he struck her nerves, the instant reverberation that her body felt was sent through him. His 'hands' roamed up her thighs then slowly back down again. He lingered on her kneecap, as he found his bearings again. The tickling of the fine hairs on her leg caused her to shiver slightly and then he felt her muscles twitch.

The strength of her control asserted itself, then they felt the shared satisfaction of the control. An almost pride. Neither body was satiated, or willing to relinquish control. Both exerted effort in maintaining the balance between the desire to proceed and the satisfaction of remaining within the confines they had assigned themselves. They could not allow the tipping of the delicately balanced scales.

Taurik reached with his thoughts to run his fingers up her back. Each bump on her delicate Vulcan backbone was rolled over with a soft fingertip caress.

It took everything she had not to react to his touch. She conceded somewhat by shifting ever so slightly on the bed, unforgivable under normal conditions but she trusted that he would not notice.

Touches that began as feather-light were becoming heated. The mutual arousal being bounced back and forth, their fingers seemingly glued to one another's face. Now the contest was becoming a test of control rather than a testing of the pathways.

Taurik now knew which pathways he could stroke... and he concentrated on the varying types of touches... the intensity of the heat. Taurik pressed his temporary advantage if only to impress upon T'Aitlu exactly what his passions could be.

T'Aitlu was beginning to realize the potential of the abilities of her muse... and she kept this satisfaction to herself. He had chosen to serve her and it was her good fortune to have him by her side. The satisfaction was short lived as his phantom touch again brushed over her breast. Her nipples instinctively hardened beneath her robes, the soft flesh contracted and was now rubbing against the softness of her robe.

Taurik felt this sensation as she did, he enjoyed being able to stimulate her, but she reminded him that this was an exercise in self control as well. He forced his member not to react to his excitement. She guided her phantom touch over his chest and lower on his body.

She too could play this game of teasing; it was not one she was unfamiliar with. She knew what his body felt like, tasted like and even these sensations could be recalled to enhance this 'experience'.

Taurik held his breath as he felt the non-existent hand of his T'sai touch his body... the wonderfully familiar feel of her palm gliding down his furred, flat chest. His nipples being flicked by her 'ghost' fingers. His soft hair being stroked as her hand, palm down, stroked the front of his stomach. His breathing returned in short gasps as her phantom touch glided lower and lower. He tensed his body, then he remembered the lesson... controlling the reactions. He let out his breath and relaxed. The phantom touch dissolved within an inch of his triangle of hair between his legs. He began to understand how this could be more than the physical act itself. If they became skilled enough, this could go on for some time.

Her touch lingered on his nerve endings, a true melding of their minds, touching each other without physical contact. The mere reaction of the implied touch, or the igniting of the nerve endings... from within the body... and the ability to tolerate the teasing. The delicious teasing. To sustain and draw it out...

She felt his fire begin in the back of her thoughts. She mentally cautioned him that it could go no further. To go further would make it a bond. She withdrew reluctantly from his thoughts. She had to be the one to stop this.

He wanted to grasp at her... to pull her back to him and tell her that is precisely what he wanted... but he let her go. He would not want her like this... to be tricked at a vulnerable time. Inwardly, he sagged as he felt the loss... the loss of what could be. And then he was alone, with the lingering memory of her essences swirling in his mind. Then like before the embers of her touch began to dwindle then winked out. He experienced the disheartening hole of emptiness once again.

She looked to the young Vulcan and wondered if there would be a time when it would be right and correct to share all they had to share. She felt the emptiness again, just as before.

He saw that she was still dealing with her withdrawal and he closed his eyes again to give her some privacy. He heard her soft voice, a voice he had grown very fond of, calling his name. He opened his eyes and looked at her. He wished to reach out and touch her face, but he mastered the impulse.

She reached out and caressed his cheek.

Relief flooded through him, but he kept his face impassive, gladly accepting her caress. He touched her hand gently, pressing it against his cheek.

"We should go." It was barely a whisper from her.

Unwilling to spoil this moment, he merely nodded then waited for her to be the first to move. He did not want to be the first to move from her.

She suddenly reached for the glasses then poured some of her wine into his glass, then handed it to him.

When she had turned from him, he had let out the breath he was holding. He attempted to regain some of his control. Her presence always evoked a passion within him, but this shared intimacy and the sudden withdrawal was almost more than his heart could bear. As she handed him the goblet, he took in her appearance and was relieved to note that she was moved by the experience as well. He kept that note of satisfaction to himself to savour.

Taurik was beginning to understand, comprehend and absorb the allure of this exercise. He cleared his throat. "So, this is what Vulcans have thrown away for logic?" He drank down the wine then smiled. "Not very logical."

Her lips lingered along the goblet's edge, enjoying the feel of the cool stone pressing against her lips. "I believe that our practice of the mastery has in fact intensified the passions. With these exercises, we can enjoy the extreme passions in short bursts. The confidence in one's control is most satisfying." She sipped on the liquid, the intense flavour slipped over her tongue and down her throat.

"What do you wish to do now?" Taurik played with the last mouthful in his glass.

T'Aitlu lifted her eyebrow, drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. "A bath."

"A bath." He repeated. His lips pursed together holding back his smile.

**Meanwhile in the tub room...

With a light kiss, the small dark Rihansu women felt the longing to share more with her handsome muse. The ache in her sex urged her to take more, give more, feel more. She knelt beside him. Her hands reached beneath his body cupping his firm buttocks. She lifted his hips from the tub floor drawing him from the water. Slowly his thick member broke the water's surface rising, like a green spire in the Seas of Romulus. Her lips planted tiny kisses along his delicious length, then her tiny tongue licked him up then down. Her hot tongue tip flicked his tip then ran along the edge of the first then the second flare of his glorious ridges.

Tiny kisses she planted along the soft velvety steel of his shaft. His arms and legs began to quiver from the exertion of holding his body up from the water. She compelled him to present his member to her, for her pleasure to taste. She asked him to remain as he was and she stood. He watched as the water streamed from her body. She straddled his hips, with her rear by his face. He gazed at her green flushed sex, thick lips and a darker hole. She bent over then grabbed him, clutching his fine buttocks as she raised and lowered his body. She mimicked the rhythm of the thrust, teasing him, getting him ready.

"Close your eyes, my muse," she whispered, her breath breezing on his glistening member. Her lips brushed over the head, giving him a mind numbing kiss. He gasped at the gentleness and urged her to give him more.

"Mastery, my love," she offered as a consolation. "You must learn to enjoy the pleasure of the anticipation."

With a thick tongue, she swirled around his ridges. Then as she lowered his body, her tongue gave his member a flurry of light flicks. She drew his body back up to her mouth. His swollen dripping head passed through her tight lips. Then she lowered him again. At the next rising, he was met with tight lips again. But this time the wetness engulfed him fully. His first ridge had the pleasure of being encased in her wet mouth. Vorik's chest heaved as he gasped for air. He had been holding his breath in the excitement of the pleasure. Once again his body descended back into the warm water, his member withdrawn from her tight mouth. A moment to catch his breath. Through her legs, he gazed at his shaft, throbbing with each pulse of his beating heart. It too seemed to need to catch its breath. Then she engulfed his shaft. He arched his back as he felt himself encased in the tightness.

He whimpered as she drew him further into her mouth. He held his breath as his Tip... then his first ridge... then the second ridge, slowly he sank deeper and deeper in. His mistress's lips remained taut... as they glided over the edges of his rims. She clutched his flesh and pulled him deep into her mouth. Its tight warmth made him gasp in sudden pleasure. Then she sucked on him hard and holding him deep in her mouth, sucking him, keeping the pressure firm all over his member. He thrust his hips up higher, craving to get into her deeper. Her fingers clutched his buttocks, inflicting bruising pain onto his flesh adding to his pleasure.

Vorik's body and breath held in anticipation as her long sustained suction tugged on his long hard member. His breath let out slowly as her warm tight cocoon began to withdraw from around him. He felt the pressure from around his groin begin to release as his hips and legs relaxed. Slowly his entire member was released, mouth and lips skimmed over his skin, his ridges... then his tip. He slipped from her mouth like a snake slipping off its skin. He sank into the water, his bottom hitting the tub floor. Marks remained on his buttocks where his mistress had clutched his flesh in passion.

Salatrel turned to face him, then straddled his body. Her smiling face filling his view as her weight settled on his belly. She took his large hand in her smaller one and brought it to her mouth. Her tongue licked his palm, she then gently drew it to her breast. Vorik eagerly palmed her breast in gentle circles, then rubbed her nipples. She took his other hand in hers. This time she drew it in between her legs. He lovingly caressed her tuft, tugging at her hairs.

With a devilish smirk, and a slight tug, he encouraged her to draw her sex closer to his face. His other hand touched her breast, drawing down her fullness. With his thumb and forefinger, he took her hard, jade- green nipple and tugged it. At first gently, then firmer. With each tug, her body climbed to his mouth. In growing excitement, she lifted a knee onto the tub's edge, her sex hovering over his mouth. Vorik's hand tenderly stroked her thigh, his lips gently kissed her hair.

She murmured to him and he nodded his head in agreement. His gentle kisses roamed over her outer folds then his tongue tip began to delve in deeper.

"Patience, my love, " Salatrel murmured to him. Her eyes remained closed as her fingers played in his wet hair. "We must go slowly and prolong our pleasures, savor them, allow them to grow and build."

"But you taste so good. I can smell your sweetness and wish to taste thee," Vorik murmured in between kisses on her wet hairs.

"I know you do," she cooed to him and seethed through her clench teeth as his tongue tip accidentally on purpose flicked the tip of her nub. Her thighs momentarily squeezed his face. Vorik smirked to himself because he knew that he had hit her sweet spot. Without any warning to her, his fingertips gently twirled her fine nipple and plucked it like fruit.

She moaned at this delightful surprise and pressed her sex a bit firmer to his face. Her fingers clenched in his hair a bit tighter, as his other hand began to trail down to her sex then gave long strokes to her most sensitive inner thigh. She quivered as he hit her nerves, close to the surface of the thin skin of her inner thighs.

With one thumb, he flicked her nipple while his other thumb stroked against her thick outer lips, tickling the hair. His warm lips planted tiny soft kisses, as his thumb stroked her flesh. Further and further he parted her. With each stroke he revealed more of her hot, green flesh. She shivered as she felt her juices from within begin to descend down her vagina in preparation for intercourse. She felt her vaginal walls first tighten and then quiver, in the excitement of being tasted and aroused by her sexy muse with his soft tongue tip.

He teased her succulent inner lips with short licks. Back and forth across both soft inner lips. All the while his fingers tugged on her hair, holding her open for him to taste. Salatrel did not stop him. She looked at his fingers as they further aroused her already thick nipples. She desired to feel them for herself. She moaned, excited by the feel of her own thick green hard nipples. Then with a tiny light strokes across her nipple tip, Vorik began to arouse her even more. She moaned and tensed, bracing herself for the onslaught of ecstasy.

"You are quiet. You must like this," he murmured to her with a thick, wet lips in between his own lips. With a plucking, he released her lips, then licked his own lips, savoring her taste. She clutched his hair, then let out a sigh, in this moment of respite. Suddenly, his tongue flicked her inner lips open, releasing her juices. His eager tongue lapped them up then smeared the liquid around her sex. Her breathing increased as his tongue hurriedly licked all over her folds. He would at times flick her nub, causing her knees to buckle slightly as the nerve ending was struck.

"Suck me," she requested in a breathy moan.

With both hands, he grasped her buttocks and drew her sex into his mouth. Both of her knees now rested on the tub edge. Vorik held her to his mouth as he sucked hard and long on her thick, short, fat nub. He sucked, then flicked her with his tongue, a flurry of flicks back and forth and then up and down. She wanted to buck against his mouth, but knew that any movement on her part would make her fall. She exercised control, remaining still, secretly relishing in the ability to master her desires.

Vorik touched his tongue to her nub and reached into her mind through her nerve bundle between her legs. He brought her to the edge. As they both felt the slow wave of her climax, she pulled her clitoris out of his mouth before she came.

Salatrel quickly stood up before her muse, her chest heaving in deep slow breaths, calming herself from the edge he had brought her to.

He drank in the sight of his flushed, edgy Mistress, as her own hands roamed over her breast pinching her hard green nipples then caressing her quivering sex. Overwhelmed with hunger, he reached up and gave her nub one last swipe with his tongue.

With a thump, a panting Vorik fell back into the tub. He licked his lips watching Salatrel slip back into the water. She, too, took a moment to calm down.

Like a little fish, he swam over to her. He smiled as his face leaned close to her. She leaned back keeping her lips just out of reach of his. Then Vorik leaned back as she sought his mouth. They almost kissed, their lips only an inch away. So close they felt the others breath. Salatrel nuzzled Vorik face with her little nose. Her nose tip tickled his cheek, their noses touched, then they reached out with their tongues to give the other a light brush.

Salatrel sat up then slid up the back of the tub. Vorik followed her, his tongue firmly held within the vacuum of her mouth. She perched onto the tub's edge, hands grasping the sides. Her mouth released her hold on tongue. They exchanged smoldering lustful gazes and shared tiny light kisses.

"Now, Vorik. " she suggested to him in between kisses.

Vorik drew himself up from the tub. Salatrel smirked as the water streamed down his body and ran off his elongated member, like a small waterfall. His fingers dug into her fleshy hips as he pulled her body to his. His aching member sought her tightness. He gasped as his tip brushed along her hairs. With ease he was able to part her already thick lips. He prodded at her entrance then sheathed himself within her depths. The dark skinned T'Khasians both sucked in their breath at the sudden joining. Hands ravenously clutched at each other as Vorik began an agonizingly slow rhythm. Salatrel moaned as the searing pain of being suddenly cleaved open rushed through her pelvis. After three firm thrusts, it gave way to pleasure as Vorik's hard, hot cock relieved the ache her vaginal walls felt from being clamped tight in arousal. The Vulcan man grunted in pleasure as his long rod slipped easily in and out of her body, his double ridges catching her nub in their wake.

With a sudden thrust, he knocked her off balance and they slipped into the tub. Vorik and Salatrel snickered realizing that they were still joined. He pinned her back to the tub edge, the water barely covering her shoulders. With her neck resting on the tub, she lifted her hands above her head grasping the tub sides. Vorik's hands joined hers as he began to thrust in and out of his mistress' hole. Salatrel raised her hips and matched him thrust for thrust, pushing against him, wanting him to plow her deeper and harder. She bit her lower lip and her body shook with each bang. Her breasts smacked together as the Vulcan banged her harder and faster.

With her neck braced against the back of the tub, she used that leverage to bear down onto Vorik's' member.

The Rihansu grunted out commands to her muse, "Harder!"

Vorik eagerly complied as his buttock's contracted in the effort. He plunged harder and faster into his mistress depths. His soft sacs, warmed from the heat of the long bath, now hung low, rapping against his mistress's puckered hole.

While slamming into Salatrel, Vorik wished he had a free hand to rub her nub. But he had his hands full with fucking her to oblivion. His T'Khasian counterpart looked oblivious as well. With closed eyes and throaty groans, she bit her bottom lip, then breathlessly whimpered her command to do it harder and faster.

Vorik rocked his body so hard and fast, that he lost his grip. Salatrel fell from his grasp and together they slipped into the tub. With a rush, Salatrel jumped up and fell onto him, pushing him to the other side of the tub. The couple toppled deep into the water, only their heads above the surface. In one swift move, her sex caught then captured his member. Salatrel hopped on him and her hole swallowed him up, a hole that had been tightly sheathing him just a few moments ago. Vorik groaned as he once again enjoyed being encased within her hot cocoon. The thrust instinct took over and his hard member slipped in and out of her snug hole. He gritted his teeth as Salatrel, his Romulan mistress, pounded his body beneath hers.

Vorik's hands grasped the tub's edge above his head as his feet bore his weight on the opposite end of the tub. He smirked at his mistress as he watched her grasp the sides and brace her upper back against the tub's edge. Salatrel pushed her body onto his member. She bent backwards slightly so he could hit the front of her uterus. She bit her lower lip, then moaned as he hit a far too sensitive spot in her body.

"Oww! Let's try this," and Salatrel sat up further on Vorik's lean submerged body.

She hopped up and down on his rock hard member, her hands clutching the sides of the tub. She rode him like a fvai (Romulan pony). The water splashed up and over the sides of the tub as they created a tidal wave, soaking the stone floor around the tub. She banged him so hard that his ass hit the bottom of the tub. He bounced back up to plunge deeper and harder into her.

Vorik quipped, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction..."

She giggled at his clever comment. With the water's momentum, Vorik plunged deeper and harder into her body.

Vorik reveled in being helplessly ridden by his mistress. He closed his eyes surrendering to her whims.

He whispered to her to slow down.

But she shook her head and in a threatening whisper, "No, I am going to take you and you are going to like it."

Forcefully, she held his hands up by his head. She rode him hard and fast, her body undulating to their final rhythm. Once again, the water splashed up and over the tub sides in a tidal wave of sex.

"I need your fingers," she commanded and released one hand. Vorik's hand began to travel down her body to her nub. "No." She shook her head and gave him three hard fucks. He almost came from them. Leaving him breathless from the sudden rise, she took his hand and placed it on her face along her neural points. "I want you to make me cum from... here."

His eyes widened as he grew excited at this prospect. He gently entered her mind. A simultaneous whimper escaped from them both at the immediate intimacy. Her smaller free hand rested upon his face, completing their melding.

Her body writhed vigorously on top of his. She shared with him the pleasure of being filled by his long hard member. He imparted to her the delight of begin enclosed deep within her thick snug walls. Vorik's energy swept through his Romulan mistress' mind. As he grew closer to his climax, tendrils of pleasure seeped through their brains. He triggered her climax; she had been close, to close. On the fringes of their awareness, sparkled the ecstasy of instinct driving them on and on and on. Then, the feather quiverings of sexual delight rippled through their spines, surging forth over and over again.

As Vorik drove hard and fast into her body, his member spasmed, then his brain came. Within their meld, he attacked their pleasure spots and drew forth a tremendous orgasm. Waves of pleasure wracked her body. Salatrel quickened her pace on him as she impaled herself harder and deeper with his rock hard shaft. Her hot, wet walls tightened around him, constricting, squeezing all the fluids from him. The primal instinct to thrust overcame them taking over their controls. The sudden onslaught of crashing pleasure brought them over the edge.

The nerves in her nub exploded with a frenzy of sexual euphoria. Waves of pleasure coursed through her body, shaking her, like one shakes a tree to loosen their acorns.

Vorik watched in appreciation as she suffered her little death. Her lovely face contorted in agonizing pleasure, her head shaking with each crash of climax rippling through her body, her fingers clenched into his flesh as she held on for her orgasmic ride. The waves of writhing began to slow to rolling crashes, then gently subsided to the ebb and flow of euphoria. They slowed their pace as their climaxes began to slow. Salatrel's hole throbbed, as Vorik's member began to shrink. With a hard thrust, he pushed back in, wishing to remain enveloped inside her warm cocoon.

Their fingertips fell from the contact points, relinquishing the meld. The satiated Rihannsu wrapped her arms around his neck, as the Vulcan wrapped his arms around her body.

They kissed long and slow, tasting each other as the lingering euphoria drew over them like cloaks. With a final kiss, she slipped off of him and lay next to him in the tub. In unison, they released a long breath, as they shared the relief and the satisfaction of a very good climax. Vorik drew her body back on top of his. He enjoyed her smile and her body as they shared these few moments together.

"Hungry?" Salatrel asked her muse while giving the tip of his nose a light kiss.

Vorik looked to his mistress. "How can you be hungry?"

"Well, I am. My stomach is growling so much I am surprised you haven't heard it." Salatrel slipped from his arms, stood up in the tub, then stepped out. She pulled on a fresh robe then held his out for him.

**The Ancient's Chambers....

"As you wish." He drained his goblet and asked her if she was ready to go.

She placed her empty goblet down behind her on the stand. "Yes. I am."

He slipped off the bed first then extended his hand to assist her. She did not need the help but he wished to extend her the courtesy that he always had and to treat her as one should treat a kitausu of her standing.

She directed him towards the other entrance to this chamber, the stairway opened into the short, rarely used hallway beside the office behind the large tapestry. She turned to him before they began up the stairs and shyly requested. "Let us keep this place to ourselves." She looked around the room, then directly at him.

Taurik tucked the book under his arm. "My lips are sealed," he replied as her fingers reached to his lips.

They climbed the stairs and listened for a moment before they drew the tapestry aside. They stepped into the quiet hallway, the door disappearing into the stonework and the tapestry was smoothed back into place.

Taurik opened the book and was quietly discussing a definition with T'Aitlu as they walked calmly down the hallway towards the main hallway.

T'Aitlu was busy pointing at the phrasing in the book when they turned the corner and she walked right into the Rihansu.

Salatrel had been occupied with Vorik in a kiss and had just moved from him to continue down the hall when she was bumped into by the Vulcan. She steadied herself then looked to the woman and teasingly said. "Hey, I thought Vulcans never bumped into anything...." She grinned. "Other things on your mind?"

T'Aitlu bowed her head. "Forgive me. I trust you are uninjured."

Vorik reached to the book his brother had and frowned at the title. "Interesting." He questioned him with a look and a slight tilt of his head.

"It is an old book." Taurik closed the novel, his finger holding the place, then clasped his other hand over it. "Your bath was enjoyable?"

"Yes, most enjoyable. You two could not have been eating all this time." Vorik quirked his brows in a Vulcan smile. "Where are you heading?"

"We went for a walk in the garden." Taurik tilted his head. "We are going that way." He looked down the hallway that they had just come down.

Salatrel giggled. "Don't tell me you have decided to shave more of that beard off?"

Taurik shook his head. "The walk was... dusty."

T'Aitlu raised her eyebrow as she looked to Taurik.

Salatrel grinned. "Sure. Come on, Vorik. I am hungry." She grabbed his hand and began to lead him towards the dining room.

"You know, it isn't like your stomach won't be there when we get there." Vorik sighed then caught up with Salatrel. He called over his shoulder to the others. "I even cleaned it out this time."

Taurik smiled slightly at the comment, an ongoing one since childhood. He tucked the book under his arm. "Perhaps we will wait to look at it."

T'Aitlu looked down the hallway. "It appears to be clear." Taurik placed his arm around her waist as they started down the hall.

**In the dining room....

"As if we wouldn't realize they were going to have another bath?" Vorik took their trays of food to the table.

"I don't think they were trying to hide the fact." She drew the tray towards herself. "What was the title of that book?"

"Something about mastering the passions." Vorik had not had time to work on the exact wording.

"Passions?" Salatrel poured the cream into her kafik. "Why would they be reading a book on mastering passions?"

Vorik shrugged, he would ask his brother later. "Unknown." He looked up to her. "What did you want to do after this?"

"A walk in the garden sounded nice."

*********

Finis

Comments cheerfully accepted
at the terminal of
T'Aitlu or Salatrel


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