A tired Commander Chakotay headed towards his quarters.  Given the
ending to this business with those two Ferengi, he fully expected the
next few weeks to be trying indeed as the crew came to terms with yet
another setback in their attempts to get home.

Thank the Spirits the corridors were mostly empty at this hour and he
did not have to put on the brave front he was not, in the slightest,
feeling.  As his cabin doors swished closed behind him, he sighed with
relief.

Damn.  Chakotay rubbed his eyes and wondered for only a split second,
if a generous shot of whiskey would do him any good.  In the end, he
settled for fruit juice, pulled off his boots and settled into the
sofa.  He was Voyager's unofficial counsellor but he realized that
before he could help anyone else, he had to sort out his own
feelings.

Kathryn had warned him.  He smiled at the memory  --  as if he needed
to be told that there would be fallout from this latest disheartening
development!  But that was why the woman wore four pips.  Her attention
to detail was staggering.  Nothing escaped her notice.  He sometimes
wished that she would let him get alittle closer.  Now was one of those
times.  She must be feeling disappointment too, more than likely,
doubly so.  Despite having done everything that could be done, she
would be feeling responsible.  Who could have predicted how devious
those two would prove to be?  If anyone was to blame, it was him.  He
should have realized just what the Ferengis' greed would make them
capable of doing.  Security around them should have been heavier, the
opportunity to escape, to destabilize the wormhole by taking their
craft through it, should never have arisen.

Even as these thoughts pressed in upon him, Chakotay recognized the
futility of 'should have.'  What was past was past.  The most
reasonable thing to do was to accept it and watch diligently for the
next opportunity.

He sighed and finished his juice.  It was time for bed.

He made it as far as the doorway to his bedroom.  The sight that
greeted him made him freeze, shock and a familiar tingling in his groin
warring for dominance.

"I was just about to give up hoping that you'd ever come to bed."

"How the hell did you get in here?"

Chakotay tried hard to ignore that bright "come hither" smile Tom Paris
sported and tried equally hard to ignore that fair chest, sprinkled
with blond hairs and looking so inviting above the turned down bed
clothes.  He didn't want to think about the rest of that body lurking
beneath the covers.  Holy Spirits, he thought and the thought was like
a prayer.

"I have lots of hidden talents, Chakotay."

In spite of himself, Chakotay chuckled.  About the only good thing to
come out of this fiasco was the fact that he and Tom had work well
together and Chakotay suddenly realized that he was still basking in
the glow in which the close interaction with Tom had left him.

"Lieutenant...."

"Geez.  You certainly know how to ruin the mood!  A naked guy in your
bed and you address him by rank...."

Chakotay laughed.  "Tom, I appreciate the gesture.  I really do.  Now
get the hell out of my bed."

Tom's smile changed subtly.  It was a knowing look, a look Chakotay
knew could only mean trouble.

"You know, Chakotay, before you can be there for everyone else, you
really do need someone to be there for you.  I know this must be a
disappointment for you, the fact that we lost yet another chance to get
home."

There was suddenly a far away look in his eye but Tom held Chakotay's
gaze and continued, "Hell, I suppose I'm just about the only one on
board who doesn't *really* care whether or not we ever see the Alpha
Quadrant again.....  But I know that you do.  And....  that's important
to me."

Chakotay hesitated.  He knew he really should insist that Paris vacate
his bed, knew he should tell Tom that this wasn't really necessary  -- 
was it?

"Come sit down,"  Tom patted the bed beside him. 

Only to make Tom see reason, the Commander told himself, ignoring the
fact that his feet had been moving forward almost as soon as Tom issued
the invitation.  Tom did look inviting, hair tousled, skin glowing from
the warmth of the bed.  *My bed,* Chakotay thought and there was a
tightening in his chest, a flutter in the pit of his stomach.  He
settled himself beside Tom and flushed when Tom gave him a gentle,
approving smile.

"We handled that assignment pretty well together, didn't we?"

"I've got to admit that we did,"  Chakotay smiled.

"Surprised, weren't you?"

"Not really.  You have to realize we've come a long way since those
first months we were trapped out here.  Even though things did not turn
out the way we planned this time, I enjoyed working with you."

"I know," Tom said softly.  He waited a heartbeat, then continued, "You
never missed an opportunity to touch me, lean in close to me, soak up
alittle of my body heat.  Did I get the signals crossed?"

It should have been Paris' smart-aleck tone of voice, Chakotay vaguely
wondered, but it wasn't.  He should have had a smirk on his face but
Tom's face was open, and expectant.  This should have been the last
place in the galaxy Tom Paris wanted to be but here he was, awaiting an
answer to his question.  The tingle in Chakotay's body suddenly became
an ache and he felt he might expire with the effort to control it.

"Was I that obvious?"

Laughter was the response he got and Chakotay bowed his head to hide a
sheepish grin.

"A big sign saying 'I want Tom Paris' is about the only thing I can
think of that would have been more obvious, Chakotay."

When Chakotay looked up, Paris' face had changed, flushed slightly, his
eyes royal blue with desire and Chakotay felt his heart jump in
response.  Only the blood roaring in his ears interrupted the silence
of the room . Though his body screamed for Tom's attention, what little
rationality Chakotay still possessed warned him that now was too soon,
that this was too fast.  He had to get Tom out of his bed. 

"Hmm, Tom,"  his voice was too hushed:  where was the steel that had
kept unruly Maquis crews in line when he needed it?

"What?"

"I don't think...."

"Then don't."

Tom's hands reached for his, travelled up to grab Chakotay's wrists. 
With a strength the big man wouldn't have guessed he possessed, Tom
pulled Chakotay towards him slowly, eyes focused on his target,
Chakotay's generous mouth.  Lips met and Chakotay ignited.  He deepened
the kiss, crushing Tom to him, all thoughts of getting the young
lieutenant out of his bed vanishing as he plundered Tom's mouth.

Tom broke the kiss with a groan and threw his head back.  Chakotay
responded by nuzzling that long exposed neck, nibbling gently as he
began to rub his body against Tom's.  Tom began to pull at Chakotay's
uniform and when he finally divested the Commander of it, Tom smiled
with satisfaction.  Chakotay's burgeoning erection, velvet and duranium
to his touch, banished any hesitation either might have felt.

Chakotay gave the bed clothes an impatient yank, exposing Tom's perfect
form, Tom's  long thick cock already hard, rising up against his belly.
 Chakotay settled between those muscular legs then returned his
attention to Tom's mouth and Tom began to move with some urgency
against Chakotay's solid body.  One long leg was thrown over one of
Chakotay's legs, anchoring them together securely.  Paris gave a grunt
and before he knew it, Chakotay found himself beneath Tom, his wrists
held firmly down on either side of his head and Tom Paris' tongue
tracing his lips, his tattoo, leaving a wet trail to an ear.  He could
have easily broken Tom's hold but the thought never occurred to him. 
All he could do was lie there, feeling that delicious weight pressing
him into his bed, Tom's hardness pressing into his belly and his own
cock, just as hard against the light fuzz that began at Tom's navel. 


When Tom stretched down and lazily licked a nipple, Chakotay groaned. 
When Tom's attention focused on the other nipple, nibbling until it was
a hard point, Chakotay arched his back, nearly throwing Tom to the
floor. One hand released Chakotay's wrist and produced lubricant from
somewhere.  Ever so slowly, he prepared the man beneath him, finding
that one spot inside him to give him wave after wave of pleasure. 
Chakotay was beyond words, beyond actions, could only lie there
bonelessly, barely seeing Tom through a haze of desire.  He couldn't
quite control the little sound that escaped him as he watched Tom take
his own cock into his slick hand.

Any second now he will be buried deep inside me, Chakotay thought and
raised his hips in expectation.  Tom pushed Chakotay's legs up to his
chest, positioned his penis at the opening to Chakotay's body and
pushed slowly, steadily inside.

It was a slow and steady dance of desire:  each of Tom's thrusts took
him alittle deeper and Chakotay began to gyrate his hips to increase
their pleasure.  Soft sighs filled his bedroom.  He knew he was close: 
the explosion to rival a supernova waiting, just out of reach for now. 
It started deep in the centre of his being, rushed out through his
chest and everywhere Tom's body moved against his to gather in his
cock, trapped between them.  Tom pressed down harder against Chakotay,
began to thrust with just alittle more urgency, his body hair
sensuously rubbing the older man's sex.  Finally, Tom nuzzled that spot
where Chakotay's neck met his shoulder, licking slowly.  Licks became a
gentle bite and Chakotay threw his head back and came.  Lost in the
heat, feeling Chakotay spasm around him, Tom thrust deeply a final time
then came hard, light like the centre of galaxies dancing at the edge
of his vision.  With a cry he collapsed onto Chakotay who clasped him
to himself, raining kisses on his closed eyes and all over his flushed
face.

Neither knew how they came to be under the covers, wrapped so tightly
together it was impossible to tell where the ivory of Tom's skin became
the bronze that was Chakotay's.  One of them called to extinguish the
lights and the two men were instantly asleep.

In the early morning hours, Chakotay awoke, deliciously aching from the
antics of the night before.  But the warmth and contentment fell away
as sleep retreated. Tom had already gone.  Too soon, Chakotay heard
again the voice in his head and he sighed deeply.  He ran a large hand
across his bed where Tom had slept, still faintly warm, still smelling
of him.  He closed his eyes, pressed his nose against Tom's sleeping
place and remembered how perfect last evening had been.
*******

Like what you've read? Have suggestions or constructive criticism? Email me! tlyr (at) tlyr.co.uk