She felt like a voyeur, like someone who was watching what she wasn't supposed to see. But then, so where about a dozen other people. None of them were even looking, or appeared to be sneaking a peek. It was just her. And for no apparent reason either.
Hoshi Sato twisted her fork into the pasta and picked up some of the noodles saturated in meat sauce. She chewed carefully, slowly, eyes involuntarily straying over to the two men sitting three tables away from her. The mess hall was mostly empty. There was a group of three sitting in a corner, discussing something or other. She knew them to be biologists and xeno-chemists, all studying the latest data Enterprise had collected on an uninhabited moon. Two more were standing in front of the food dispenser, looking at the desserts, trying to decide what to take. But Hoshi's eyes traveled back to the two men at the other end of the mess hall unbidden.
Commander Tucker and Lieutenant Reed were at the last table, eating. Pasta in Malcolm's case, some kind of meat dinner in Trip's. There was nothing noticeable about them, except... Hoshi couldn't put her finger on it. Even without actually holding hands, kissing, or exchanging affectionate looks, the two men were together. It was so obvious to her, as if they had just made out on the table.
She blushed at that thought and lowered her gaze, shooing away the unwanted image of the two senior officers, naked, together...
Okay, enough! she told herself.
To her best knowledge, Trip and Malcolm were the only male, same-sex couple aboard. Their coming out had been quite unspectacular and nothing had changed in the ship's routine. Same sex couples were no news anywhere, except maybe when considering that this was Starfleet's pride and joy, and they might run into trouble there. But nothing had happened. Hoshi had caught herself watching the two men more than usual after the revelation, looking for clues now that she knew, but like before, she wouldn't have been able to tell. Not that they were hiding. They just weren't running around like horny teenagers, driven by their hormones, unable to leave their fingers off the other.
But I doubt they really have that much self-control, she thought, another fork full of pasta rising to her mouth. I wouldn't be able to leave my hands off either of them, on duty or not.
She blushed again.
Not what you should be thinking, girl, she chided herself.
Still, some of the other female crew had mourned the loss of these two men as well. Trip had been a favored topic among the women. His easy-going, friendly nature, his looks, his smiles, his eyes, his body... speculations had raced each other along the grapevine as to who he might take to. As for Malcolm, some called him shy or constipated when it came to contact to the female kind. Some had claimed that they had gotten a smile out of him that was more than just a friendly one. Hoshi doubted it. Malcolm was polite and friendly, but the real smiles were kept under lock. Only for one person.
Damn, if I'm not jealous.
Trip said something to his lover and it drew one of those cute half smiles out of Malcolm. The armory officer knew how to smile. Hell, he had one of the sexiest smiles she knew when he wanted to. Hoshi could only imagine what a full-blown, happy one looked like.
There you go again, she sighed. He's taken. Both are. Oh what a shame...
Her thoughts strayed to Travis's birthday party a week ago, where she had for the first time seen the two men show affection in public. It had been a private little event. The big celebration, celebrating his 25th birthday, had been a day earlier, and Travis had invited some of them for a movie night. They had eaten leftovers, had had a great time, and throughout the movie, Hoshi had seen Trip lean back against Malcolm, totally relaxed, hands entwined, and she had watched Malcolm gently kiss one ear. It had been unguarded moment, a moment in time, and she had felt suddenly warm and somewhat touched inside.
None of it had shown when the two men had appeared on duty the next morning. Distance, professionalism, control. Hoshi would have categorized Tucker as the hopeless romantic, the man who would shoot love-sick puppy dog eyes at his lover, but none of that. Trip was his usual self, treating Malcolm as he always did. The same was true for Reed. She wished she knew where they took the strength from. She didn't know if she would be able to focus on her work with her lover not far away, remembering the nights... and damn if those weren't real hot ones.
Okay, braincell out of the gutter!
She cleaned her plate and concentrated on her tea.
No luck.
Hoshi was still watching.
You are a voyeur, admit it. You think of them, together, in private. What they do.
Yes, she did.
Hoshi shook her head, slightly disgusted at herself. But only slightly.
"Aren't they a cute couple?"
The voice startled her and Hoshi turned to look at Elizabeth Cutler, who stood behind her. "Hey," she greeted the biologist.
Cutler sat down across from her, her eyes straying to the two men. There was an almost dreamy expression on her face. She sighed.
"Liz..." Hoshi said slowly.
"Hm?" Another sigh.
"Liz."
"What?" Cutler wasn't looking at her, only gazing at the men.
"Elizabeth Cutler!" Hoshi whispered, finally drawing the other woman out of her day dreaming. "They are off limits! Both taken. Happy."
Another dreamy sigh. "But they look so nice together. Cute. Just to drool over."
Hoshi smiled widely. "Yes, they do," she admitted. "But we don't stand a chance."
"Don't I know it. Have you ever seen the Lieutenant in that black leather coat? God, I thought I'd expire on the spot. He was drop dead gorgeous! Commander Tucker is so lucky!"
Hoshi blinked. "Black leather coat? I heard something... some kind of undercover mission, right?"
"Yes. A while back. Sheesh, Hoshi, you should have seen the guy! I mean, dressed up as an alien he nearly gave me a drool attack, but when he was back to his old self.... in leather... Eat your heart out!"
Hoshi chuckled while Elizabeth stole little glances at Malcolm and Trip, who were completely oblivious to them.
Eat your heart out indeed.
 

"Trip?"
"Hm?"
"You know we're being watched?" Malcolm asked casually as he stirred his tea.
"Hm? Oh yeah. Hoshi and Ensign Cutler. Nothin' new there. Girl needs a hobby." Trip grinned.
"Who? Hoshi?"
"Nope, Cutler. She keeps oglin' you." Trip raised his brows. "Ah'm getting' jealous of that."
Malcolm smiled, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Jealous? Of Ensign Cutler? Why, Commander, how charming. But she's not my type."
"No?"
"No."
"What is your type?" Trip teased.
"Don't know. Still looking."
It earned him a mock annoyed glare.
"Well, they're still lookin', too. Maybe we should give them somethin' for their money," Trip mused.
Malcolm frowned. "Trip, what are you talking about?"
"Y'know... here... off duty... the girls all bothered..."
"Tucker...." There was a warning in the lieutenant's voice.
"What?"
"Whatever you're suggesting, the answer is no."
Trip looked stricken. "Oh, Mal! Burst my bubble, will ya! Just want to help those girls out!"
"With what?!"
"Their vivid imaginations."
Reed coughed. "Pardon me?"
Trip rose, smiling, and carried his mug over to the recycling unit. As he came back, the smile was impossibly wide and full of promise. A hand rested on Reed's neck, a thumb ever so lightly brushed the back of his neck, sending a shock of pleasure down his spine. Trip knew just how much pressure he could apply to get his lover going. Malcolm craned his neck to look at the other man.
"Tri..."
The rest was swallowed in a sweet, gentle kiss, one that promised everything and touched something deep inside. It wasn't one of those soul-searching, wet hot ones. It was a caress of lips against lips, the tip of a tongue ghosting over them, a mouth whispering against his. Malcolm opened his lips in return, felt their tongues touch ever so briefly, then Trip was gone, straightening. Reed inhaled sharply, feeling a tingle race through him. Damn if that man didn't know how to kiss him!
 

Trip smiled widely, pleased with the reaction of his lover. His eyes went over to the two women. Liz Cutler gazed at him, wide-eyed, mug in hand, halfway off the table. Her mouth opened as if to say something, then she turned away, a faint flush appearing on her cheeks. Hoshi just raised her eyebrows and gave the senior officers a knowing smile. There was an appreciative expression in her eyes.
Tucker left the mess hall, aware of the few others looking briefly at him. He wasn't worried about what had just happened. Both he and Malcolm were off duty; what the crew did in their off time was up to them. Everyone knew about him and Reed anyway, and it wasn't as if he had thrown Malcolm across the table.
But hey, there was an idea, he thought to himself, chuckling. His lover would surely kill him if he tried, but it would be worth it.
 

Liz Cutler tried to get her heartbeat back under control. Damn, if that hadn't been the hottest sight! Just a little kiss. Mere seconds of human contact, of two lovers exchanging affections, in public. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen people kiss before. It wasn't as if she hadn't kissed someone before herself! But, oh heavens, it was getting hot in this part of the ship! She had seen the loving expression on Tucker's face, the surprise and then the reflected emotion on Reed's, the way he had melted into the kiss. A second where their guards had been down. Just a second.
It was a long second that still left her reeling.
"Liz?"
Hoshi waved her hand in front of her face.
"Hm?"
"Earth to Liz! You in there?"
"Huh? Yes. I... ah... that was... whoa!"
Hoshi nodded. "Definitely."
"Those two look hot together," Cutler went on. "Makes you think what's going to happen now... behind closed doors..."
Oh no, here we go again, part of Hoshi groaned as her imagination supplied her with the picture show, in color, Dolby surround. Through her stays in DeCon, she had seen both men in various states of undress before. Little left to the imagination, but, boy, could her imagination do with that! She swallowed as her mouth went dry, memories of Malcolm in his underwear, skin covered in the blue gel, popped up.
Oh my....
Let's not ... go.. there... Too late!
Cold shower! she decided and rose.
“I…errr… got some stuff to do.. back at my cabin,” Hoshi stammered.
Liz nodded. “Same here. Uh… right… See you.”
They both left the mess hall and quickly went their separate ways.

* * *

Trip was about ten steps away from the mess hall when his lover caught up to him.
"What was that all about?" Malcolm whispered, slightly flustered.
"Told ya. Helpin' the girls." He grinned widely. "An' I was up for a kiss renewal anyway."
"Kiss renewal," Reed echoed.
"Yeah, you know. Old kisses fade. Memories get blurry. You need a refresher course now an' then, a renewal."
"For a kiss."
"Oh, for all kinds of things. Kisses. Touches." Trip's voice lowered seductively as they entered the turbo lift. "The feel of you with me... on me... in me...."
Malcolm stared at him, eyes barely containing the fire inside. "I think I'm getting the idea..." he managed roughly.
"See? Not that hard... Wanna try one out yourself? Up for a renewal in a certain area?" Trip leaned closer to his lover, lips brushing over the skin of his cheek, close to the ear.
"I think there are one or two," Reed moaned.
The blond engineer trailed a hand down one flank toward the firm butt. The fire in those gray eyes rose.
The lift doors opened and the two men left, both apparently in a hurry. With Malcolm's quarters closer, the choice wasn't all too hard to make. The door had barely closed when Malcolm pushed his lover against the wall, suddenly all over him. Trip grabbed the slender hips, holding the little whirlwind he knew so well, answering the demanding kiss.
"Which areas?" he asked when Malcolm let up, giving them the chance to breathe. He pulled the only slightly smaller man flush against him, feeling the bulge against the leg he pushed between Malcolm's. "Here?"
He moved the leg and Reed groaned. "Yes."
"I think we can do something about that...."
"Please."
Trip nibbled at his lover's neck and gently bit the juncture of neck and shoulder, drawing a groan.
"Think they see us like that?" His breath tickled Malcolm’s ear, teasing him with his closeness. Trip placed a little kiss onto his lover's nose.
Breathing hard, gray eyes locked with his. "What?"
"Hoshi and Ensign Cutler. Think their imagination goes that far? Us? Like this.... or naked? In bed."
Malcolm swallowed, trembling slightly. "Naked..." he echoed, need in his voice.
"Yeah," Trip breathed, hands slipping underneath his lover's sweater.
Clothes were shed in a hurry and Tucker pushed his unresisting man onto the bed. "Well?" he asked, trailing his lips down the quivering flanks.
"I don't care!" Malcolm gasped. "God, Trip... please!"
"Well, I think they try..." Trip went on, suckling at the twitching skin over Malcolm's sensitive belly button.
Reed bucked his hips.
"But they'll never get close to the real thing."
With that he engulfed the hard length with his lips, drawing an appreciative moan from his lover. Malcolm spread his legs wide, pushing himself up on his elbows to watch Trip as he let his hands, fingers and tongue play over the rigid arousal Tucker looked up and met the smoky gaze, drawing his tongue over the sensitive underside. Malcolm bit his lower lip, eyes hooded. Trip kept his play up as long as he dared, slow and meticulous, keeping his lover away from the edge. He released the hard length and scooted up to taste the delicious lips.
"Want you," Malcolm murmured.
Trip kissed him again, almost blindly reaching for the lube that was always close by. His lover's deep moan as he entered him was the sweetest sound. His panting breaths, the utter bliss on his features, it all urged the blond on, as he moved slowly at first, then speeding up. Hands entwined, Trip pushed deeper into the welcoming warmth, reveling in the tightness, the feeling that was Malcolm Reed around him. His release hit him like a tidal wave and a raspy groan escaped him, not much later followed by a soft exclamation from Malcolm.
They lay together in the afterglow.
"I doubt they can imagine what it's like," Malcolm murmured, stroking Trip's sides lovingly.
"Hm-mh."
"I didn't know until I met you."
Trip smiled, blue eyes lighting up. He bestowed a little kiss on the already very much kissed lips. Rising, he left the bed long enough to get a towel and clean them up, then he crawled back to his lover and wrapped himself around the pliant body.
"Maybe we should invite them over," Trip murmured after a while. "Let them watch. Whaddaya think?"
"Charles Tucker..." Malcolm started, not even trying to raise himself to glare at the other man.
"Ye-es?"
"You're a pain in the ass."
"Ah hope so."
Reed lightly smacked his head. "Incorrigible."
"That's me."
"Then again, we could rewire the cabin sensors..." Malcolm mused.
Trip snickered. "Ya warmin' up to it?"
"Just the technical part..."
"I think our technique's just fine... gets me all hot and bothered...."
Malcolm chuckled and rubbed a hand over the warm skin of his lover. "No complaints indeed. But I doubt the educational value of this endeavor."
Tucker grinned. "You never know, love. Might just satisfy their curiosity."
"Might make them even more curious."
"Could be."
Malcolm pushed himself up and looked into the dancing blue eyes. "Are we actually discussing what I think we're discussing?"
"Dunno. What is it we're discussing?"
"Letting two members of the crew watch us."
Trip laughed and wrapped his arms more tightly around him, pulling him into loving kiss. "I guess we are."
Malcolm answered the kiss. "Thought as much. Why?"
"You started it."
"Me?!"
"Yep, you. I always thought the British were so stiff when it came to sex."
Malcolm looked at him again, brows dipping into a mild frown. "How long have you known me now?"
"Is that a trick question?"
Reed scowled, but there was a smile in his eyes.
"Okay, okay," Trip chuckled. "Known you long enough. You're my own special breed of Brit."
The armory officer brushed his lips of Trip's. "Very much yours."
The kiss became deeper and Tucker rubbed himself against the slender body. "Only mine," he rumbled, hooking one leg around Reed's. “Mal?”
“Hm?”
“You were joking about that rewiring stuff, right?”
The dark-haired man chuckled. “Of course. Do you I look like I want to share?”
Trip only grinned.
The temperature began to rise again and both men weren't inclined to cool down once more, losing themselves in the feeling of each other.