Chapter Text
When Karveth figured out who was responsible for this, someone was going to be installing vent manifolds with a pair of tweezers.
The chain of reports painted a bleak picture of miscommunication and traded blame, and it was making his eyes cross. He glared down at the PADD, willing the words on its screen to be less stupid, but it didn't work.
Then he felt it, the sense of approach from behind - his antennae twitched at the change in air pressure, but before he could turn his head, a pair of soft, warm lips pressed a kiss to the back of his neck, just below his hair line.
His head lolled forward involuntarily; Monica kissed him again, a little to the left of the first spot. "Am I paying insufficient attention to you, sh'tal?" he asked, his eyes closing.
"Well...yes," she said, kissing him again, right behind his left ear. "But also, you were all frowny-faced, and your antennae were mad. I thought maybe you could use a distraction."
He felt himself smile as she planted another kiss at the corner of his jaw, and then another, slowly working her way towards the corner of his mouth. He set down the PADD, turned in his seat, and grabbed her into his lap. She yelped with surprise, and his smile spread; it was always fun to turn the tables on her.
"Distraction achieved," he informed her. "Now what?"
She shrugged guilelessly. It was also fun how quickly and gracefully she could recover from those turned tables. "That depends. What's it going to take to make those antennae happier?" She stroked the right one with a delicate fingertip, and he exhaled slowly.
"Hold on to me," he said. She wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders; he gripped her waist and under her legs and stood, rewarded by another surprised laugh. He carried her a few steps towards the bedroom door, pausing to kiss her smiling lips. She was such a pleasure, in every sense. She was laughter and light, and he treasured the way she made him feel.
And maybe that was why some stray spark caught in what had been a fond, delighted kiss, kindling it into fervor. Her right hand slipped from his shoulders to hold the back of his head as their mouths pressed harder - he lowered her legs down, backing her against the doorjamb, pulling her tight against him. He treasured the light, and he treasured the fire, too.
They parted for breath, foreheads resting together. "Much happier antennae," she said, pleased, then added cheekily, "And other things too." He chuckled, and returned her earlier favor, kissing along her jaw up to her ear.
"I'm not finished with you yet," he murmured, and felt her smile.
"I'd be so disappointed if you were."