Work Text:
Sitting in the Ceritos’ mess hall with her friends and celebrating the end of another crisis is one of D’Vana Tendi’s favorite activities. (While she does have a lot of favorite activities, it’s one of her most favorite.)
She’s always loved hanging out with Rutherford and Mariner and Boimler, and the additions of T’Lyn and Jennifer have made it even better. (Even if the booth is a bit cramped with six people--that just makes it cozier!) Tendi is thrilled Mariner and Jennifer have made up, and even more thrilled at her own new relationship with her study buddy.
Or, courtship, as T’Lyn puts it. Their courtship has progressed to kissing and cuddling in private, and occasional hand-holding in public. Tendi doesn’t mind the slow pace, she’s thrilled at what progress she’s already made in getting closer to the Vulcan, and she doesn’t want do anything T’Lyn isn't ready for. But she’s also very much looking forward to more, once her girlfriend is ready.
So while Tendi’s having a great time with everyone at their usual table, when T’Lyn says quietly in her ear, “Would you come back to my quarters? I would like to discuss a next step in our courtship,” Tendi finds herself giving an excited squeak and trying to launch herself out of her seat.
Of course, wedged in the booth between Rutherford and T’Lyn, her attempt to stand isn’t very effective. She falls back into her seat with an “oof”, and catches T’Lyn looking at her with a raised eyebrow. (She fucking loves that sassy raised eyebrow.) “Sorry!” Tendi says. “I just--we need to--”
T’Lyn comes to her rescue. “Please excuse us. Lieutenant Tendi and I have another engagement,” she conveys smoothly, and eases herself up out of the booth before giving Tendi a hand to allow her to exit more gracefully than her first attempt.
“Yes,” Tendi adds with a sheepish grin. “Another engagement, gotta go, see you guys!” She ignores the looks of confusion (Rutherford and Boimler) and amusement (Mariner and Jennifer) from her friends, grabs T’Lyn’s hand, and definitely doesn’t run (maybe it’s a speedwalk) out of the mess and down the corridor toward T’Lyn’s quarters.
When the door closes behind them, Tendi takes a deep breath to calm herself. It’s entirely possible T’Lyn wants to discuss acceptable pet names or something, and she wants to be supportive of even the smallest step that T’Lyn might be ready to take.
She moves to sit on the small sofa, figuring T’Lyn can then choose if she wants to sit beside Tendi, on the chair, or on the bed.
But T’Lyn doesn’t sit. She looks at Tendi from her position just inside the door, hesitates for just a moment, and says without preamble, “You had said you did not wish to pursue sexual activity until I was ready to speak about it.”
Tendi feels her breathing quicken, and she tries to keep it under control. “I did, yes. I don’t want to rush you.” After a beat, she adds, “But, um, ... are you?”
“I am not ready to speak about my sexual desires.”
Tendi tries really hard not to let her disappointment show on her face. “That’s okay, really. We--”
“I do, however, have an alternative proposal.”
Tendi blinks. “An alternative to...”
“Speaking,” T’Lyn says simply.
Tendi frowns. She had tried to be as clear as possible that she only has sex when she is sure she and her partner can communicate what they’re comfortable with. She needs T’Lyn to be comfortable speaking about sex so they can be sure they’re on the same page. “Oh! Would you be more comfortable putting it in writing? Do you have it on a PADD?”
“That would be logical,” T’Lyn agreed (and damn Tendi’s libido for finding that compliment a major turn-on now), “But I have something more... unconventional... in mind.”
“And what unconventional alternative is that?”
“I could project my interests to you through touch telepathy. If that would be acceptable to you, of course.”
Tendi gasps in excitement. “You mean a mind meld??” she squeaks out.
“No, not technically. A full melding of minds can be invasive and even dangerous, especially to non-Vulcans. But it is possible for us to form a simpler bond to project--”
“That’s so cool! I’ve never had a mind meld--”
“Again, it will not be a true mind meld.”
“Right, sorry--I’ve never had any form of telepathic bond before! I bet it’ll be incredible! Even if it weren’t for--but I mean, especially when it’s for--and to do it with you...” She knows she’s babbling, but she’s now filled with adrenaline. Combining scientific curiosity and the potential for not just sexual stuff with her girlfriend, but telepathic sexual stuff, which she doesn’t recall being a kink of hers before but suddenly it’s all she wants--
“Please stop talking and breathe,” T’Lyn says, and Tendi realizes her thoughts have all been pouring out of her mouth without her even realizing it.
(It’s kind of funny, she thinks, that for T’Lyn telepathy could be easier than putting her desires into words, while Tendi’s thoughts so often come out as words whether she wants them to or not.)
Tendi takes a couple of deep breaths, then says firmly, “Yes. If you’re comfortable with sharing something like that with me, then I’d love to.”
T’Lyn’s mouth quirks up in her adorable little half-smile. “So I had gathered,” she says dryly.
They sit together, cross-legged, in the middle of T’Lyn’s bed. Tendi feels herself nearly vibrating with the effort not to bounce in excitement, and instead to follow T’Lyn’s lead in taking slow, steady breaths. Her girlfriend seems to have been waiting for her to calm, because it’s only once she’s been sitting still for a minute or so that T’Lyn reaches out to touch her face.
Her index fingers rest on Tendi’s temples, her thumbs on Tendi’s jaw, and Tendi wants to kiss her so badly, but she sits and waits because she suspects what’s coming next will be even better.
(And holy shit, she’s right.)
“Ready?” T’Lyn’s voice is almost a whisper.
Fighting the urge to nod enthusiastically, not wanting to disrupt the fingers on her face, Tendi answers in the same near-whisper, “Ready.”
The images seem fuzzy and overlapping at first, but then they seem to come into focus, some appearing in a brief flash, others lingering for longer. Some are still images, some have movement, and some are just sound or feeling rather than visual.
And they’re all... hot.
Knots of rope, tied around pale wrists.
Breath held in anticipation.
The swing of a flogger through the air.
Soft, pale skin with the darker shape of a handprint.
Tendi’s own face, expression stoic but eyes flashing.
Gasping. Moaning.
Teeth teasing at a dusky nipple. Then biting, hard.
Tendi in her traditional Orion attire, her hand buried in wet warmth between trembling thighs.
A firm voice, words unclear, but with a tone of command.
Pleas. Tiny, delightful whimpers of pleasure.
So much mind-blowing pleasure
oh god oh god fuck yes...
Fuck!
Tendi’s eyes fly open, her mouth open, her breath panting but slowing as she comes down from--holy shit. Did she really just orgasm while sitting fully clothed on her girlfriend’s bed, the only touch a few fingers on her face?
Well, plus the incredibly sexy thoughts projected into her mind.
She realizes T’Lyn has pulled her hands back, resting them in her lap. She looks... well, about as calm and composed as ever, but Tendi swears there’s a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.
Tendi should say something. “Uh. Wow,” she manages.
“I apologize.”
Tendi blinks at her. “Wha--why?”
“That was too extreme. I should have realized, I should have warned you.” T’Lyn has only a slight frown on her face, but with those words Tendi’s pretty sure she’s doing the Vulcan version of spiraling in guilt.
Entirely unnecessary guilt. Tendi takes T’Lyns hands, then leans forward and presses a firm kiss to her lips before pulling back. “That was incredible, T’Lyn. It was--well, not what I was expecting, but it was hot. I would love to do that with you, if that’s what you want. Thank you for sharing that with me.”
T’Lyn studies her for a moment, then nods. “In that case... I am ready.”
Tendi blinks in surprise. “Tonight? Are you sure?”
“I would not have said so if I were not.” After a beat, T’Lyn adds, “If you are not, of course--”
“No, I mean--tonight is fine--great!” Tendi stumbles over her words, not wanting to seem hesitant at all. “It’s just--I’d like to grab some things from my quarters first.”
T’Lyn raises an eyebrow. “Curious. Very well, I shall await your return.”
“I’ll be fast,” Tendi swears as she moves toward the door, “Stay right there! I’ll be right back, I promise!”
Tendi more runs than speedwalks to her quarters and back. She makes a mental note to apologize to that ensign later.
When the doors open to let her back into her girlfriend’s room, she sees that T’Lyn had apparently taken her “stay right there” instruction literally, as she’s not moved from her cross-legged position on the bed.
T’Lyn eyes the cross-body bag Tendi places on the table. “You have... supplies?”
Considering what she’s planning to do, Tendi feels silly for blushing at the question. “Yeah, I didn’t know if I’d end up using this stuff on the Cerritos, but I figured it could be awkward if anyone saw me replicating it.”
“I see.” T’Lyn seems intrigued, but does not ask any further questions, perhaps wanting to enjoy the anticipation.
“I’m not actually planning to use much of it tonight,” Tendi admits. “Not for our first time. We can always do more another time, if you like it. Or not, if you don’t.” She unzips the bag, but doesn’t open it yet, moving instead to sit half on the bed, taking T’Lyn’s hand and looking her solemnly in the T’Lyn’s eyes. “Anything you don’t like, you tell me, okay? I need to know that if there’s any time you want to stop, you’ll tell me, no matter what.”
For a moment she’s concerned T’Lyn will disagree, but then the Vulcan nods. “I will.”
“Good.”
Tendi stands up and walks over to the table. Facing away from the bed, she closes her eyes, takes a few slow, deep breaths and allows a cool aloofness to wash over her. It’s easy to fall into, but she pulls back, not wanting to fall completely into the Mistress of the Winter Constellations mindset. She’s here to dominate, yes, and even to hurt, but not to harm. It’s been some time since she’s had to balance that line, but she’s going to do it. For T’Lyn.
Well, not just for T’Lyn. She’s confident she’s going to enjoy this, too.
She opens her eyes, and turns back to level a hard look at her girlfriend. “Stand up. Clothes off.”
T’Lyn’s brow quirks. “Would you--”
“I didn’t ask you to speak,” Tendi interrupts, and T’Lyn’s mouth snaps shut. “Clothes. Off. Now.”
There’s a moment in which the Vulcan doesn’t move, and Tendi has a second to worry if this isn’t really what her girlfriend wanted. Then T’Lyn gives a short nod, and there’s the tiniest hint of a smile on her lips as she begins to remove her top.
Tendi struggles to keep her face impassive, her breathing steady, as she takes in more and more skin, parts of her girlfriend she hasn’t yet had a chance to see. (Or, she’s seen only in flashes--momentary images in the not-mind-meld hotter than most of the actual sex she’s had.) T’Lyn removes the standard-issue tank bra, revealing small but lovely breasts and firmly erect nipples that Tendi immediately wants to lick and suck and bite.
T’Lyn folds each piece of clothing to place onto her sofa, precision in her movements even as her eyes dart to Tendi, possibly waiting for an order to go faster, or slower, or not to bother with folding. But Tendi stares back with her best mildly-interested-but-imperious gaze, waiting.
T’Lyn has her (very nice and toned) backside to Tendi as she finally removes her underwear. It feels like a deliberate tease, but Tendi can’t help but appreciate both the view and the anticipation.
But when T’Lyn doesn’t turn back after carefully folding her underwear (folding her underwear--is that a Vulcan thing or a T’Lyn thing?), Tendi feels a growl slip into her next command, “Look at me.”
It is definitely, absolutely Vulcan sass that has T’Lyn simply tilting her head just to meet Tendi’s eyes for a long second before finally turning her body to face her. And Tendi would call her on it, if not for the fact that she’s suddenly overcome with emotion.
T’Lyn stands bare before her, and she’s lovely of course, soft curves, firm muscle, a tempting mound of short hair at the juncture of her legs, smooth skin with a small round scar on her right hip that somehow only makes her beauty feel more real. But what really has Tendi’s blood thrumming in her veins is that T’Lyn is baring herself for Tendi. She’s standing naked before her because Tendi told her to. This isn’t some flunky back on Orion obeying her because of a stupid title, it’s not an ensign following an order because she’s a lieutenant now. This is a strong, willful Vulcan woman who is doing as Tendi asks because she wants to, because she trusts her. Has already trusted her enough to offer a glimpse into her intimate desires, and now trusts her to fulfill those desires for both of their pleasure.
That thought is heady, and it has Tendi on the edge of a hysterical giggle to release the tension of it, but she takes a deep breath and gets a hold of herself.
There had been a cockiness in T’Lyn’s bearing when she first turned around, but now that Tendi’s been looking at her in silence for some time, there’s a hint of something else. Uncertainty, or concern?
Tendi smiles slowly--not a friendly or reassuring smile, but a sharp promise of something harsher to come. She prowls up to stand barely a breath away from the other woman, and rests the fingers of one hand lightly at the dip of T’Lyn’s throat. She sees the Vulcan swallow and lick her lips, pupils wide. Though T’Lyn stands several centimeters taller than her, the power Tendi has here is palpable.
“You’ll do anything I ask, won’t you?” Tendi asks, aiming for a mocking tone rather than show the wonder she really feels.
T’Lyn’s lips part, then she closes them, seeming to remember the command not to speak. She nods.
“Good girl,” Tendi praises her. She runs her fingers down the center of T’Lyn’s chest, then moves both hands to cup her breasts. She brushes her thumbs lightly over the pert nipples, then without warning, pinches the little nubs and twists.
The gasp that startles out of T’Lyn is a beautiful sound. Tendi finds herself pressing her lips to the other woman’s to see if she can catch another gasp as she twists again, harder, biting T’Lyn’s lip at the same time. This time she gets a moan, even sweeter.
Tendi pulls back and sees T’Lyn’s eyes flutter open. She already looks more wrecked than Tendi has ever seen, eyes wide and panting slightly.
Tendi keeps eye contact as she lowers her mouth to suck and nibble at T’Lyn’s left breast. T’Lyn’s eyes close again, her chest pushing ever so slightly forward into Tendi’s mouth.
Then Tendi feels a hand at the back of her head, and pulls back immediately. T’Lyn blinks and looks surprised, like she hadn’t even realized she’d moved her arms.
That doesn’t matter, of course. It’s an action that deserves punishment.
(Or, well, reward, Tendi supposes, considering it’s what T’Lyn wants.)
“I didn’t tell you to touch me. If you can’t keep your hands to yourself, put them on the bed. Bend over, ass out, and you’ll get the kind of touch you clearly need.”
T’Lyn nods jerkily, moving to assume the commanded position. Tendi first places a hand gently along the curve of the woman’s ass, and feels very slight tremors beneath her fingers.
With a gentler voice than she’s been using, Tendi asks, “Is this okay? Do you want to keep going?” After a moment, she adds just in case, “You can speak. You can always speak to tell me to stop.”
“Don’t,” comes the quick reply, and Tendi’s about to pull back when T’Lyn roughly adds, “Please don’t stop.”
Relieved, Tendi gives a soft squeeze of the flesh under her hand.
Then she pulls the hand back and brings it down hard.
T’Lyn makes a sound between a grunt and a whimper. Then she nods, perhaps worried Tendi will stop after all if she doesn’t make it clear that was a good sound.
Tendi’s body certainly thinks it was a good sound, and wants to see what other sounds she can evoke.
She brings her hand down again in the same spot twice more, softer and then even harder. The second gets a soft cry.
Her next slap lands on the other cheek, getting only a gasp. Still good, but not enough.
Tendi continues with the impacts, varying position and intensity and pauses in between to keep T’Lyn guessing. Soon she’s getting a moan at almost every hit, and whimpers when she pauses for too long between blows.
The skin beneath her hand is getting hotter, turning white immediately after a strike but a greenish tinge where it’s been struck multiple times over.
The skin of Tendi’s hand is feeling hot as well, and she blows on it to cool it. She should definitely use something other than her hand next time. (Fuck, she hopes there’s a next time.)
She then blows cool air over T’Lyn’s swollen skin, and gets a gasp in response.
“I think we’re done with that,” Tendi states.
T’Lyn doesn’t move, but she’s trembling more than she was before.
Tendi rubs a soothing hand along her back like she’s a pet targ. “I’ll be right back.”
She steps over to her bag, finds what she’s looking for, and returns.
“Okay, stand up, then lie on the bed. On your back.”
T’Lyn carefully stands from her bent-over position (Tendi doesn’t help, but she’s paying more attention than she lets on, just in case she does need to step in). She looks over at Tendi, sees what’s in her hands, and then lowers herself to the bed. She hisses as her tender skin is pressed into the mattress, but she doesn’t squirm at all, simply lies back, placing her hands above her head and quirking an eyebrow up at Tendi.
Tendi grins, feeling a bit more playful now than smug, though she’s not done controlling T’Lyn just yet. She takes the soft rope and wraps it twice around each wrist before securing it to a bar just past the head of the bed. “How’s that feel?” she asks.
T’Lyn gives a few test tugs, the rope seeming to hold perfectly well. She gives a small smirk of her own. “It may hold,” she states.
At that, Tendi debates tying her legs as well, possibly more, but decides that too can wait for another time. She’s quite eager to get more of her own skin against T’Lyn’s, now.
She removes her own uniform, revealing another preparation she’d undertaken on her trip back to her quarters: she’s changed from the regulation grey Starfleet underwear and bra, to much skimpier Orion lingerie. She’s pleased to see T’Lyn’s gaze tracking over her body, and she decides to keep the underthings on.
Tendi crawls up onto the bed, positioning her knees between T’Lyn’s legs, her arms holding her up to look down at her lover. “You handled that punishment well,” she says, “So I think you’ve earned a reward.”
Maintaining eye contact, she rests her weight on one arm, lifting the other to trail down T’Lyn’s body, this time heading all the way down to the mound of soft hair between her legs, then dipping inside.
T’Lyn’s eyes close and her head falls back with a moan as Tendi runs her fingers in small circles in the warm wetness she finds. When T’Lyn’s hips buck up, Tendi pulls back, waiting for her lover to still before dipping in again.
Tendi feels her own need growing, but she ignores it. She moves her head to her lover’s chest, mouthing mindlessly at one of T’Lyn’s breasts as her fingers dig deeper into her warmth.
After some time of bringing T’Lyn both close and then easing back, Tendi suddenly feels fingers on her face, tilting her chin up. She’s startled to see that T’Lyn has in fact broken the ropes binding her, though she’s having a hard time remembering why that matters.
It also takes her a moment to understand what T’Lyn’s asking when she murmurs, “May I?”
Her fingers are on Tendi’s temples, and she realizes-- “Oh! Yes, please, yes,” and she doesn’t know exactly what she expects, but suddenly the pleasure is doubled, then tripled, waves bouncing back and forth along a mental link that joins her physical feelings with T’Lyn’s in an overwhelming waterfall of pleasure and closeness and ecstasy and love and oh...
Tendi gradually becomes aware that her heart rate is coming down, that she’s warm and cozy and maybe wet and sticky but too heavy and comfortable to care.
She’s still on top of T’Lyn, their legs wrapped together and her face pressed into her lover’s chest. She hums in satisfaction, then in question. Was that good? she wants to ask, but getting words past her lips seems more effort than she can manage at the moment.
Besides, based on the link T’Lyn had initiated at the end, there, she’s pretty sure of the answer to that question.
Then, suddenly, she’s being tipped to fall on her back on the bed, as T’Lyn deftly shifts out from under her and pads away.
“Nnnn-mmmm...” Tendi whines in protest.
“I shall return in a moment,” T’Lyn’s voice reassures her, and Tendi feels oddly grumpy that the other woman has recovered so swiftly.
Then T’Lyn returns with a wet cloth and a glass of water, and Tendi feels guilty instead. “I’m s’pos’ta be taking care of you,” she mumbles.
“There is no need,” T’Lyn states, as she efficiently but gently wipes away the stickiness. “I have recovered sufficiently to tend to you.”
Tendi waves an arm in the direction of her bag. “I brought cream to soothe your skin after...”
“While the thought is appreciated, it is unnecessary.” T’Lyn disappears again for a moment, then appears by the bedside without the cloth. “Vulcans heal quickly from such minor damage.” She turns her backside to Tendi to illustrate, and indeed, all sign of swelling are gone. “You’d need to use a more powerful instrument for any soreness to last more than a few minutes.”
Tendi reaches out and pulls T’Lyn to topple back onto the bed with her, spooning her and putting her chin on T’Lyn’s shoulder.
“Is that your way of critiquing my performance?” she teases.
“Not at all,” T’Lyn replies. “It was... very pleasing. I am merely stating a fact you may wish to keep in mind for next time.”
Tendi grins. Next time. “I’ll keep that in mind. You can always tell me if there's something you want me to do differently.” When T’Lyn doesn’t respond, she adds, “Or show me. However you’re most comfortable.”
“Thank you,” T’Lyn says quietly.
Tendi squeezes T’Lyn tightly and nuzzles into her back. She decides that telepathic sex is probably one of her new favorite activities, but holding T’Lyn like this might be her absolute favorite.