HIdden Agenda (The Art of Kissing)
It had been exactly two weeks since Spock had asked Nyota Uhura to resume her lessons.
He was glad that she still maintained the utmost professionalism on the bridge after their talk. She continued about her daily tasks and acted like their meeting had never happened. There were no stolen looks or quick smiles as he had seen between other humans who were involved with each other. Nothing had changed.
She resumed her lessons, but she had not tried to kiss him again nor bring up the conversation of their relationship. She had kept the conversation directly on the lesson and exited his quarters immediately thereafter. He was somewhat surprised.
Spock had studies human behavior, especially females. His studies had revealed that females, once they knew that a man they were attracted to was also interested, acted differently towards the man once they became involved in a relationship. He had braced himself and had expected a change in her behavior towards him, at least when they were off duty. Nyota's behavior remained the same as before and he was a bit perplexed.
He didn't want to admit it, but he was a bit disappointed. The kiss she had given him had unnerved him a bit. It was not logical, but he wanted her to kiss him again even though he didn't know exactly why. After all, two people pressing their lips together, exchanging saliva and possibly bacteria and germs was not appealing to his logical mind. Yet he found it pleasant and stimulating. He wished to explore kissing more, however she made no attempt to repeat her previous actions when they were in his private quarters and he had no logical reason to seek her out in hers.
He had taken some time to do some research on kissing. Kissing: a touch or caress of the lips as an expression of affection. The word is was from an old English word 'cyssan' from the proto-Germanic 'kuss' which was probably based on the sound it makes. He wanted her to try to kiss him again, however she made no such attempt.
He looked up when the door chimed that evening and she stood there smiling.
He noted that she was exactly two point five minutes early for her lesson.
"Lieutenant" he said nodding his head as she entered his quarters.
"Hello Spock" she replied. She picked up the lute. "What do you wish me to play for you today?"
She sat there looking at the lute and strumming it, humming a tune as she did so.
He stood there looking at her for a moment and didn't speak. He was watching her lips move. She looked up at him wondering what was going through his mind. Finally he broke the silence.
"I wish to ask you a question, Nyota."
She looked up from the lute surprised. "Yes Spock?"
"Since you've resumed your lessons, do you find my company satisfactory?"
Nyota smiled. "Of course, Spock. Why do you ask that?"
He began to pace back and forth.
"Do you wish our relationship to continue on the same level as before you ceased the lessons, or do you wish for it to advance further?"
He was looking at her intently. She was wondering what was going through his mind.
"I am willing to proceed at whatever speed you are comfortable with" she replied running her fingers along the strings of the lute.
Spock raised an eyebrow but continued to stare at her with his hands behind his back.
"Please explain why you feel it necessary for me to be the one to control the speed in which our relationship progresses." He walked over to her and stood before her his face unreadable.
Nyota plucked the strings trying to hide a smile. "Well Spock, since I am the illogical human female in this relationship, I felt that we should move along at a speed that is comfortable for you. I will just adjust. After all, I am an emotional being and since displays of emotion are not acceptable to you, I felt that this would be best."
Spock took the lute out of her hands. "Is this why you have made no further attempt to kiss me or display your feelings towards me?" he asked not looking at her.
Nyota smiled to herself. "Yes, Spock. I didn't want to upset you."
"It is illogical for you to feel that way. I know that you are human therefore I expect to see some emotionalism from you. You should not try to change that because of me. My mother, you must remember was a human and I am accustomed to displays of emotion in private settings."
Nyota watched as he paced back and forth.
"I see" she replied trying to hide her smile. "Are you saying that you wish for me to display affection towards you as long as it is in private?"
He stopped pacing and looked at her.
"That would be a logical move considering that we wish our relationship to progress further" he responded.
"Alright Spock. In what way would you like it to progress. What displays of emotion would you consider to be appropriate? Do you wish to embrace, do you want a caress or do you prefer to kiss?"
She stood up and walked over to him. She wished that he would not wait for her to be the one to instigate things. He apparently was unsure of exactly what to do. Why did everything have to be so logical? Why couldn't he be spontaneous sometimes?
He looked at her, his face serious. "I believe that kissing is appropriate. It would be logical for you to kiss me when we are in our private quarters."
Nyota smiled. Leave it to Spock to think of a logical way to ask for a kiss.
"Why don't you instigate the kissing then?" she asked. "You don't have to wait for me."
Spock looked away. "I must confess that I am not proficient in the art of kissing. Kissing is a human form of affection. Vulcans do not kiss."
"Your mother was human. You should be familiar with kissing, Spock." She sat back down and leaned back on the sofa.
He walked over to her and sat beside her. "I am familiar with kisses that a mother gives her son. Those were primarily on the cheek or on the forehead. I am speaking of kissing on the lips."
Nyota moved closer to him on the sofa. "Have you kissed a girl before Spock?"
"I have been kissed, however I have never been the one to instigate kissing. That is why I felt that you should be the one to do so." he confessed looking at her.
"You should not have to wait to be kissed Spock. If you want a kiss, you should be the one to instigate it." She looked at him. "Why don't you start now and kiss me?"
She leaned in close to him and he looked away.
"I must confess that I am somewhat ignorant in the art of kissing when it comes to intimate human relationships. I would not, however, object to you teaching me."
Nyota leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips. "How's that" she asked teasing.
"I prefer a kiss like the one you gave me before."
"Oh really?" she said snickering. "You mean like this?"
She kissed him harder drawing his bottom lip between hers. Her tongue sought his and he responded. He pulled her into his arms.
Nyota broke the kiss.
"I gather that this is the type of kiss you like?" she said running her finger across his lips.
"I find it quite stimulating." he confessed.
"Yes, it is. Why don't you try it now?"
He leaned forward capturing her lips. He was a fast learner as he mimicked her previous actions. He seemed reluctant to break the kiss when she pulled back from him.
"Was it satisfactory?" he asked looking at her.
"Very much so" she said smiling. "I think that I will enjoy teaching you the art of kissing as much as I enjoy the lessons you give."
"I find kissing you much more enjoyable than instructing you." he replied.
Nyota stood up and walked over to the lute.
"I still want my lessons, Spock." she said teasing. "I don't want them to be replaced with kissing lessons."
He walked over to her pulling her into his arms. "Not replaced...I believe that the two can work together harmoniously. We will begin and end each lesson with a kiss not lasting longer than ten point five seconds each."
Nyota laughed. "Ten point five seconds? Are you sure that's long enough?"
"Ten point five seconds is satisfactory I believe." he said "However I am not against testing my theory in order to determine if that amount of time is sufficient. Are you in agreement?"
Nyota wrapped her arms around his waist. "Oh, you can be sure that I am all for testing your theory" she replied.
He took the lute from her and sat it down. He then pulled her closer and kissed her again.
Nyota pulled back. "The lesson Spock, the lesson."
"Of course" he replied.
She sat on the stool with the lute and smiled to herself.
It appeared that the unemotional, cool Mr. Spock had once again reacted just as she'd hoped. She did not miss his response to her initial kiss and she had made up her mind that he would pursue her and not the other way around. She was not about to be another Christine Chapel. She planned on using all of her feminine know how to move the relationship along without being direct or pushy.
If he was serious about a relationship with her, he was going to have to move out of his Vulcan comfort zone and she knew that she was just the woman to help him do so.