Posted by Lieutenant Commander Ethan Nash (Chief Tactical Officer) in Ten Forward - Nash After Hours

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“Well, what’s your prize, then?” she murmured and then tilted her head back up to meet his eyes. She couldn’t resist continuing as her eyes flashed with her competitive spirit, “and I’ll have you know you won on a technicality.”

Ensign Lemann

“Technicality, maybe, but it still feels pretty good from where I am.” Nash grinned while he moved another strand of hair away from her face. He was enjoying her competitive streak, and the way she had blended it with both affection and an alluringly fiery attitude fascinated him. It wasn’t only because of their little race that his heart was beating faster, Jessica was making him feel like losing himself in her eyes every time he looked at her.

Right now, with her in his arms lying on the warm sand, the moon above them, Nash was feeling emotions that he hadn’t let himself feel for a very long time.

“My prize,” he said softly, “Is another date with you, somewhere I choose.” He smiled at her as he looked into her eyes and paused, then his fingertips moved from her strand of hair, along her jaw and to the tip of her chin, where he gently angled her face towards him more. Then he kissed her, softly, his lips just brushing hers as they lay together on the shore.

Lt Cmdr Nash, CTO

“I thought you chose thi…”

Jessica’s retort wandered off as his lips brushed hers. She shifted back slightly to look at him briefly, her face flushed in the moonlight. As she leaned back toward him, another wave came tumbling up the beach, drenching both of them as they lay in the sand. “Maybe we should move to drier land,” she giggled at him as she squirmed out of his grasp playfully. She studied him for a moment now that she had some distance and then laughed.

“On second thought, maybe not,” she commented as she sprung herself back at him, landing on top of him just as another wave trickled in around them. Her hands clutched his face with surprising firmness as she brushed her own kiss over his lips.

Ensign Lemann