Committed

Posted on 13 Apr 2016 @ 11:58pm by Lieutenant Commander Temerant Bast & Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale

2,058 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Bast's Quarters
Timeline: MD6 - 1900 Hours

The day had been a long one. The news of the epidemic on New Risa had taken its toll on everyone, and they'd been running around trying to coordinate planetary assistance as best they could, while at the same time trying to ascertain their own level of contamination. But he felt perfectly fine, and Camila had assured him that she felt fine as well. Now that they were off-duty, he had asked her to dinner in his quarters, at precisely 1900 hours.

Bast's quarters were filled with all sorts of smells and aromas coming from the meal that he was cooking in the makeshift kitchen he had set up in one corner of the room. He had reduced the ventilation system to fifty percent, to preserve the smells, at least until they had finished their meal.

On the menu, he was preparing pan-seared steelhead trout fillets, with a balsamic reduction, grilled asparagus, and a potato and celeriac purée with sour cream and shallots. For dessert, strawberries with a basil chantilly, served on a shortbread crumble, with a balsamic syrup. All accompanied with a nice pinot grigio he'd picked up on his last trip to northern Italy. All of which was leading up to his last item for the evening, which he wanted to keep a surprise.

The table was set with a nice white tablecloth, candles, and replicated fine china. He had changed into proper attire, a royal blue formal tunic from Trill, with the collar embroidered with a pattern reminiscent of Trill spots, with black trousers. Everything was in place for a romantic dinner, and now all he needed was his guest to arrive.

* * *

Camila stood in her quarters as she pulled out and dismissed outfit after outfit from her wardrobe. Each one seemed either too tomboyish or not appropriate for the dinner date that Temerant had invited her to and she didn't want to appear too casual or too dressed up.

She finally picked a black form-fitting dress with straps coming off her shoulder, a plunging neckline and ended at mid-thigh. She looked at her long, wavy honey-blonde hair in the mirror and ran her fingers through it before she decided that the half-mussed look was good enough.

After she picked a pair of black kitten heels, she headed to his quarters which weren't located far from her new ones now that she was a senior officer.

Camila stopped outside of his door and wondered were she and the handsome Trill were heading or if it were just a matter of fun for both of them since neither had declared undying love or even a promise of a next time after their time on New Risa. She dismissed the thought and reached to press the chime while she took a deep breath and prepared herself for anything.

"Come in!" called out Temerant. He didn't bother checking the chronometer to see if Camila was on time - the fact that she was here was enough. He lowered the heat on the induction plates he was using, and walked to the door to greet his guest.

The doors opened, and Temerant stopped dead in his tracks, as his breath caught in his throat. She looked absolutely stunning in her black dress and heels. He found the deep-plunging neckline particularly inviting.

He smiled, and walked up to her, circling her slim waist with his hands. "Good evening," he said with a smile.

She smiled as she looked him over when he put his hands around her waist and then leaned in for a kiss. "Good evening, Temerant," she said. "You're looking very handsome tonight."

"Thank you," he said, smiling as he kissed her deeply. He backed away from her, and held her hand while he looked again at her incredible dress.

"Camila, you could make a good dog break his leash," he declared.

He reached at the table, picked up two glasses of wine, and handed one to her.

Camila smiled and accepted the glass while she fanned her face with her free hand after the kiss. "I don't know about breaking the leash," she said after she caught her breath. "But I don't think there's a leash on the entire ship that can hold you, Hot Stuff." She inhaled and looked around. "Something smells absolutely amazing and I am fully prepared to go through you to get it, but I'll do it in a way that you'd remember for the rest of your life."

Temerant smiled. "Is that a promise?" he asked with a wink. He pulled out a chair for her, and proceeded to describe the meal as she seated herself.

"Pan-seared steelhead trout, grilled asparagus, and potato and celeriac purée, with a balsamic reduction sauce. And for dessert, strawberries, with a basil and mascarpone chantilly, and balsamic syrup." He took her hand and raised it to his lips. "And a special treat for after," he added, nibbling on the tip of her little finger, before giving her another kiss.

She blushed when he kissed the back of her hand and shivered when he nibbled on her little finger. "If I didn't know better," she started before he kissed her again, which she wholeheartedly returned. "I would swear that you were trying to seduce me into moving in with you and having your children. It sounds as wonderful as it smells. Thank you, Temerant. I'm looking forward to the special treat if it's anywhere near as bold and grand as what you've laid out here. Especially if you're part of it."

Temerant smiled, enjoying his little secret. He moved back to the kitchen, finished plating the meal, and brought it back to the table. In front of her, he put down a white plate with a thin black trim, filled in the center with a soft pink fish fillet, sitting on top of a bed of cream-colored purée, with four grilled asparagus stalks laid down next to it. A few drops of a thick balsamic reduction completed the presentation. He then placed an identical plate on the table for himself, and refilled both their glasses of wine before taking a seat.

Camila inhaled deeply in appreciation of the meal and looked back up at him as she took a sip of her wine. "A man of few words as well as secret smiles, hmm? I think I'm going to enjoy spending time figuring each little mystery out. I feel entirely uncivilized and want to dig in with my fingers and stuff my face until my cheeks explode, but I will restrain myself." She picked up her fork and took a tiny piece of the steelhead to sample, her face lighting up as the taste exploded on her tastebuds.

It was after she had chewed and swallowed that she seemed to see him in a new light; the Trill was more than a boy toy and far more than a keeper. He was to be savored as much as the meal, the words and his appearance. He was an experience and she wondered if she were enough of an explorer to be able to fully appreciate what he offered and the many layers which lay hidden beneath his surface.

Temerant took a forkful of his meal, and placed it in his mouth. Part of him wondered what his sister, who was a top chef on Trill, would have to say about his execution of one of her classic recipes. And he was reminded that it was a more complex variation of something that he used to prepare for his children - that Lamorra had prepared for her children, rather.

"I suppose," he said, "that comes with the territory when you're in a relationship with someone who has a few lifetimes' worth of mysteries to explore. But you," he said, leaning forward to gaze into her eyes, "look like someone who also has her share of mysteries."

He lifted his glass in toast. "And the best part is, if you're willing, we get to explore them together."

Camile tried the potato and celeriac purée and took a moment to appreciate the flavor before she responded. "Me?" she managed as she struggled not to get lost in his hazel eyes. "Oh, perhaps I've a few mysteries, but surely not as many as you." She wondered if he had read her mind about exploring his layers and mysteries, but he could just as easily been referring to her comment. "Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Temerant?" She asked him as she set her fork down, then immediately wanted to kick herself for asking such a question. "I meant, I would like to explore them together with you. Girlfriend or not," she clarified.

"I don't much care for the labels," he said. "Girlfriend, boyfriend. That sounds a bit... cliché. I'm attracted to you, and I think the feeling is mutual. I like spending time with you, and getting to know you - the real you, the person behind the brave Security Chief façade. I would very much like to explore a relationship with you, if you're interested in the same. We can explore each other's mysteries, and discover the world, and the galaxy together. And do a little spot counting every now and then," he added with a wink.

She thought about it for a moment and gave a mental shrug; she could see here he was coming from about it being cliché, although it also freed both of them up to exploring other possibilities. Then another thought entered her mind that she didn't want other possibilities to come up in regards to other people and she fought hard to repress the thought. We aren't married and he isn't offering himself to me she told herself as she picked up her fork and took another bite of the trout.

"I am attracted to you, Temerant and this time, I can honestly say that I'm completely sober. I see where you are coming from and I'm looking forward to getting to know every spot on you." She paused for a moment. "The real me?" She gave a laugh. "I'm real whether I'm the Chief of Security or the person you see before you. One will just throw you in the Brig while the other will make you regret saying or doing something stupid."

"I don't doubt it," he said. "And I'm not planning on doing anything of the kind."

"If you do, rest assured that I will be the first to let you know," Camila said before taking another bit of her fish.

"The last thing I'd want, is to let you down," proclaimed Temerant. He reached across the table, took her hand in his, and gazed warmly into her eyes.

She met his hazel eyes and smiled as she gave his hand a squeeze. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Temerant," she said. "Rather say that you will do your best not to and I will do the same."

"I will do my damned best not to let you down," he said with a smile. He pushed aside their now empty plates and got to his feet. He walked around the table, still holding her hand, and pulled her to her feet. He embraced her, and kissed her again deeply.

"What do you say we take a short break before dessert?" he asked. His hands found the small of her back, and searched for the zipper on her dress.

He reached over the counter and produced a small jar, and a small paintbrush. "Caramel body paint. Now we can both count each other's spots."

Camila kissed him and her eyes went wide when he produced the caramel, a delighted grin splitting her face as she helped him get her dress off to reveal a lacy black bra and panties. She turned and took the jar and brush from his hand and set it down, then removed his tunic and started on his pants. "Body painting, Trill style? I had no idea you were such a naughty boy."

"There's so much about me you don't know," replied Bast, with a wink and a smile, as he led her into the bedroom.

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