4 House of Cards by Peter David

Author:Peter David [David, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Interplanetary voyages, Psychology
ISBN: 9780671013950
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1997-07-14T23:00:00+00:00

The Joining Place had been in Voltak's family for generations. Whenever one of Voltak's line took a mate, it was there that the Joining was consummated.

The room was ornate and sumptuously furnished, in stark contrast to the typically more spartan feel of most Vulcan domiciles. The lighting was low, the room temperature moderate. There was not the slightest discomforting element to distract them from each other although, considering their mental and physical state of mind, nothing short of a full-scale phaser barrage could have pulled their attention from one another.

Voltak pulled Selar into the room and closed the heavy door. They stood apart from one another for a long moment, trying to focus on something other than the drive that had taken hold of them although they could not, for the life of them, figure out why they should be interested in anything but that.

"We are not animals," Selar managed to say. "We are intelligent, rational beings."

"Yes," Voltak agreed readily. He hesitated. "Your point being?"

"My point," and she tried to remember what it was. It took her a moment. "Yes. My point is that, rather than just giving in to rutting impulses, we should should talk first."

"Absolutely, yes I have no problem with that." In point of fact, Voltak looked as if he were ready to paw the ground. But instead he drew himself up, pulled together his Vulcan calm and utterly self-possessed demeanor. "What shall we talk about?"

"We shall discuss matters that are of intellectual interest. And as we do that, we can introduce ourselves to the physical aspect of our relationship in a calm, mature manner."

"That sounds most reasonable, Selar."

They sat near each other on the bed, and Voltak extended two fingers. Selar returned the gesture, her fingers against his.

It was such a simple thing, this touch. And yet it felt like a jolt of electricity had leaped between the two of them. Selar had trouble steadying her breath. This was insanity. She was a rational person, a serious and sober-minded person. It was utter lunacy that some primordial mating urge could strip from her everything that made her unique. It was not logical.

"So tell me, Selar," said Voltak, sounding no more steady than Selar. "Do you feel that your medical skills have been sufficiently challenged in your position on the Enterprise? Or do you feel that you might have been of greater service to the common good if you had remained with pure research, as I understand you originally intended to do."

Selar nodded, trying to remember what the question had been. "I am quite fulfilled, yes. I feel I made the the right decision." Her fingers slowly moved away from his and reached up, tracing the strong curve of his chin. "And you you spoke once of teaching, but instead have remained with with fieldwork."

He was caressing the arch of her ear, his voice rock steady but not without effort. "To instruct others in the discipline of doing that which gives me the most satisfaction did not appear the logical course.

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