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Disclaimer time once again!   Ninetieth verse same as the 
first . .everybody *sing*:

I don't own these characters, (chorus) Paramount does!
I don't own this venue, (chorus) Paramount does!
I am making no money off of this, (chorus) Paramount does 
not either!

This story will eventually involve love and sex and affection 
between two men, aka: slash.  If that is *not* your cup of 
tea, sweet as it is, then don't read it! (simple, ain't it??) 
Feedback is *very* much appreciated, and always 
answered.  Flames will be passed around to friends and 
chuckled over.  :)

Thirty-seventh story in the Stage Direction series.  Sequel to 
'Ssst', 'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 
'Whisper', 'Groan', 'Hover', 'Waffle', 'Comfort', 'Fidget', 
'Grimace', 'Sizzle', 'Glare', 'Shrug', 'Doze', 'Snort', 'Whack', 
'Stretch', 'Snicker', 'Pace', 'Hug', 'Clink', 'Wonder', 'Kiss', 
'Doubt', 'Surprise', 'Cuddle', 'Ahem', 'Confer', 'Recover', 
'Rant', and 'Soothe'.

'Hold' by Amirin <groh@iquest.net>


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Sweet.  So sweet.

<sigh>  <shift>  <inch closer>

I can't move. And I really don't want to.  Maybe we should 
have waited until later tonight, when we could take our time 
recovering.  But, I'm glad we didn't.

<stroke bare shoulder>

There was an inevitability about all of this.  I've thought so 
for quite a while.  Like we were fated to come together.  To 
hold. To have. To keep.

<light kiss>  <another>  <yet another>  <sigh>

I can't get enough of him. I'm glad it seems to be the same 
for him.  He can't stop touching me. Not that I'm 
complaining.

<run fingers down arm to hold hand>

His hands are amazing.  Strong, gentle, tender.  Infinitely 
careful.  And they were shaking when he touched me. 
Running through my hair, caressing my skin, cradling my 
face.  He was actually trembling.  Such restraint, such . . .

<sigh>  <kiss sweaty forehead>

Such a beautiful creature, lying here beside me. Alien?  Yes.
Undoubtedly.  Yet beautiful.  That hair, almost the same 
color as mine. Completely different body type than anything 
I'd ever encountered before.  Eyes a color I didn't know eyes 
could come in.  

<smile>  <soft kiss>

I didn't dream I would find him so attractive.  But, I do. 
Because he is.

<sigh>

So incredibly unusual.  Exotic.  And those spots . . . I can't 
remember what he called them, all over his body.  There's a 
name for them, I know, he told me. It's right on the tip of my 
tongue, but I can't remember for the life of me . . .  Oh, 
never mind. I'll think of it later.

<grin>

I insisted on counting them with kisses.  He just let me. Like 
he could say no.

<smile>  <sigh>  <stretch>  <lingering kiss>

I know people wouldn't see him as I do.  I know it.  Others of 
my own narrow-minded species would take one look at him 
and think him ugly, if they saw him right now, glowing and 
sated, tousled and wonderful.

<caress cheek>  <slowly kiss path down neck>  <hold> 
<hug> <cherish>

They'd be stunned if they saw me with him, at this moment. 
And wonder if I were out of my mind.  The expressions on 
their faces ranging from disgust to shock.  Simply because 
of the way he looks.  Not like them.  Not like anything they'd 
ever seen before.  A creature from an alien quadrant.  

<kiss warm lips>  <enjoy growing heat> <sigh at gentle 
touch>

So careful with me. Like I were something fragile.  I love this 
feeling.  Treasured.  Adored.  Can I say 'loved'?

<soft smile>

All the things I've seen, I've never seen anything like the 
smile on his face.  The warmth in his eyes.  I've never felt 
anything like his hands on me, or the yearning ache that fills 
my heart when I hold him close to me. I've never tasted 
anything like him either.  The salt of his skin, the heat of his 
kiss, like nothing I've ever known, before.  

<internal grin>

I'm 'waxing poetic' as they say.  I can't help it.  I find him 
beautiful.

<sweet, passionate kiss>

I find Tom Paris absolutely beautiful . . .


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