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CHAPTER NINE

When Cam opened the door and saw who his visitor was, he let out a sigh.

"What now, Vala?" he asked as she invited herself into the room.

"I am here to continue that discussion of ours.  We are now in private."

"Vala, why can't you just leave it be?"

"Because I want to know why you believe that kiss should not have happened.  Is it because you did not enjoy it?  Did you feel nothing?"

Cam was so tempted to lie and say yes, but he just couldn't.

"Whether or not I felt something is not the point," he said instead.  "The point is that we were having an evening together as friends, and that's all."  He added emphasis to the last two words.  "The kiss was a mistake because all we are, all we will ever be, are friends and teammates.  You are most definitely not the kind of woman I want, not now, not ever.  So, go pick on somebody else.  I'm not interested."

Much to her surprise, Vala felt a sharp jab of pain.  She knew that Cam was physically attracted to her, but if his aversion to having any kind of relationship with her was that strong, no amount of seduction would change it.

Cam watched Vala closely and was surprised to see an expression of hurt flash across her face.

"Well, then if I am that abhorrent to you, I had better leave," she said, the same emotion in her voice.  She turned away and headed for the door.

"Hey, hey," Cam said, taking a quick stride forward and grabbing her arm.  "I didn't mean it like that.  Of course I don't find you abhorrent."

"Just not very likeable," Vala responded, not looking at him.  "I understand.  I have a very checkered past.  I know that I have done things that were wrong, that my old lifestyle was not up to the standards that people like you, Daniel, and Samantha live by.  I have tried to change, to put my old ways behind me, but, sometimes, it's very hard.  I understand if you cannot look past what I was.  I think that Daniel is the only person I have ever known who could."

Shrugging out of his grasp, Vala left his quarters and hurried back to her room.  As she sat on the bed, she was shocked by how much this was hurting, and it wasn't just because her hopes of getting Cameron into bed had been dashed to the ground.  Ever since their lunch together, Vala had believed that something great was developing between them, that the friendship she and Cameron had was growing closer.  They had been connecting, really connecting, first during that lunch, then the evening at his place.  It had felt good to have that connection, to have a friend with whom she could cut loose and have fun.  She hadn't had that with anyone in such a very long time, not since she was taken as a host.  Sure, there had been basketball games with her teammates and an occasional game of checkers with a couple of the scientists, but that wasn't the same thing.

Back when she was wandering the galaxy alone, she didn't care about things like that.  Her focus was on surviving and making money.  But now that she was here, part of a group of people who were trying to make the galaxy a better place, she was beginning to realize how much she wanted to feel like she was truly being accepted, checkered past and all, especially by all of her teammates.  But perhaps that was too much to hope for.  It was clearly too much to hope for that Cameron could look beyond her past enough to have any kind of relationship with her.

Vala swiped away the teardrop that had fallen down her face, angry at herself for the weakness of tears.  Okay, so she was not the kind of woman that Cameron could ever really want.  Fine.  It was time to move on yet again.  She moved on from Daniel, so she had no doubt that she could do it again.  It hurt a lot now, but the pain would go away.

Vala got undressed and slipped on a warm, soft, oversized robe that she'd purchased a while ago.  When upset, many people turned to comfort food.  When she was upset, she also turned to comfort clothes.

When a knock came on Vala's door, she was tempted not to answer.  She did so anyway and was surprised to see that it was Cam.

"What do you want?" she asked, now angry.

"We need to get some things straight."

"No, we don't.  I understand perfectly.  I am not good enough for you."

"Dammit, Vala.  I didn't say that, and it's not what I meant.  So, are you going to let me in or are we going to argue right here in the doorway?"

Vala wanted to slam the door in his face, but she let him in instead.  She kept her back turned to him, arms crossed over her chest.

"Okay, first of all, I'm sorry," Cameron said.  "What I said came out wrong, and I understand why it hurt your feelings.  It isn't that I think you're not good enough for me.  How conceited do you think I am?  It's just that I have . . . a type, a kind of woman that I go for, and you're just not that type.  Beside, I think we both know that you're only interested in me because you can't have Jackson.  So, how about if we forget this whole thing happened and go back to the way it was before?"

Not responding, Vala walked away toward the nightstand beside the bed.  Not knowing what else to say, Cam took a step toward the door.

"You're wrong."

The words made the pilot stop and turn back to the woman who'd uttered them.

"You're wrong that I'm interested in you only because I can't have Daniel," she said.  "Yes, I admit that, in the beginning, that's how it was, but then. . . ."

"What?"

"I really enjoyed the time we spent together.  It felt like we were developing a closer relationship, and it felt good."  The volume of her voice dropped.  "But I guess I was mistaken."

Shocked by her confession, Cam stared at her for several seconds.  Then he walked up to her.

"I really enjoyed it, too," he admitted.

"You did?" Vala asked in a small voice, her gaze on the floor.

"Yes."

"Did you enjoy the kiss?"

Cameron paused for a long while before answering with the truth.  "Yes."

At last, Vala turned around, and her eyes met his.

As long as he lived, Cam would never know how it happened, but, all of a sudden, he found himself kissing her, and it was no shy, tentative kiss.  It was hot, and hungry, and explosive, tongues tangling in a wild dance.  Their bodies were pressed tightly together, hands clutching at clothing.

Click here to go to version with milder sexual content.

Vala pushed Cam back a step.  His legs hit the bed, and he was suddenly sitting upon it.  Vala wasted no time getting in his lap.  And that's when he made the discovery that she was wearing nothing at all under her robe.  The discovery raised the temperature of the fire raging through his body even higher.  He clutched at her thighs, unable to stop himself from running his hands up their length to the soft curve of her butt.  Vala moaned and rocked her pelvis against his.  She grabbed the hem of his shirt and T-shirt and began yanking them upward.  Cam let go of her, and the garments went flying.  She then untied her belt and all but ripped her robe off.  Cam's eyes raked over her naked body, his respiration growing ragged.  God, she was beautiful.  But this shouldn't be happening.  This really, really shouldn't be happening.  Those thoughts died a quick death when Vala pressed her body against his, the hardened nipples of her breasts brushing against his skin.

'Oh, God,' he groaned inside his mind.  His mouth found hers again.  Then it found her throat, and her shoulders.  Vala rose up onto her knees, pushing his head downward, and his mouth found her breasts.  She cried out softly as he sucked a nipple into his mouth.  She was going insane with desire.  She'd had many lovers in the past, yet never before had she felt so out of control while making love.  She wanted him now.  She couldn't wait a moment longer.

Vala's hands went to Cam's belt, then the fastening of his pants.  And then he was in her hand, hard and ready.  Cam gasped at her touch, his hips bucking upward.  She quickly guided him to her entrance, and, with a hard push downward from her and a thrust upward from him, he was buried deep inside her.

"Oh, yes!" Vala cried.  She began moving up and down, Cam meeting her on every downward stroke.  In no time at all, they were pounding against each other, the wild wave of passion carrying them inexorably upward.  And then the wave crested, Vala's orgasm slamming into her just seconds before Cam's hit him.  He grabbed her hips as he emptied into her in a hot rush, a low groan rising from his throat.

They clung to each other as their climaxes came to a conclusion.  It was a while before their eyes met.

"Vala—" Cam began to say, but she didn't let him finish.  Not wanting to hear any words of regret, she sealed her lips over his.

Cam returned the kiss wholeheartedly, a hand gliding up her back to bury itself in her hair.  He was still inside her, and, damn, it felt so good.  Their entire lovemaking had been spectacular.  Cam couldn't believe that this had happened, that he was actually sitting here, a naked Vala in his arms, having just had some of the best sex of his life.  But, right now, he didn't regret it one bit.

"I hope you are prepared not to leave this room any time soon," Vala whispered in his ear.

"Vala, I can't stay here.  If somebody saw me coming out of your room in the middle of the night, they'd know what happened."

"I'm sure you could come up with a reasonable explanation."  She began to run her fingers up and down his side.  Cameron gasped as her touch migrated to his right nipple.  She started to kiss and nibble her way down his neck.  Her other hand slid down his back and went under his boxers.

"God, Vala," Cam moaned.  "You're not gonna let me do the sensible thing, are you."

She lifted her head and smiled wickedly.  "Of course not, dear Cameron."

"Yeah, that's what I figured," Cam murmured before crushing his mouth to hers.  He laid back on the bed, taking her with him.  They stripped off the remainder of his clothing, then went on an intensive search of each other's bodies, first with their hands, then with their mouths.  Cameron soon brought Vala to her second climax.

Afterwards, she lay still on the bed, a very happy, very satisfied smile on her face.  She felt incredible, her whole body thrumming with pleasure.  Cameron Mitchell was turning out to be a fantastic lover.  However, it was now her turn to show him how great a lover she was.

Vala proceeded to do that very thing.  By the time she brought Cam to his second climax, he'd learned that all of her previous boasting about her skills in lovemaking had not been exaggerated.

"This time, I really do need to go," he said sometime later.

Vala twirled a few strands of his chest hair in her fingers.  "And will I be getting the pleasure of your company again tomorrow night?"

Cam very much liked the idea of doing this again tomorrow, but, unless they were prepared to inform General Landry right away about the change in their relationship, it would not be wise to do it again so soon.

This brought up some other questions.  How exactly was their relationship changing?  Was this a temporary thing, a brief affair, or would it be continuing?  Did he want it to continue?  What he'd just shared with Vala had been fantastic, but great sex was one thing, an actual romantic relationship was another.

Cam rolled onto his side and looked down at the woman beside him.  "I think we need to discuss where this is going, Vala."

"Going?"

"Yes, and don't pretend like you don't know what I mean.  Are you only interested in a bed partner or something more?"

Not meeting his eyes, Vala asked.  "What is it that you want?"

"To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure.  I was not expecting this to happen.  I'm still shocked that it did.  So, I'd say that, at this point, we're going to have to wait and see where it goes.  But just sex and nothing more is not the kind of relationship I've ever had, so I think it's best if I know right now if you have any interest at all in a real boyfriend-girlfriend relationship."

"And if I don't?"

"I don't know.  We'd still to have to wait and see what happens."

Vala fell silent.  What happened between them tonight had been amazing, but was she willing to have a real relationship with Cameron?  No romantic relationship she'd ever had with a man had survived for long, and most of them ended quite badly.

Vala lifted her gaze and stared into the eyes of the man with whom she'd just had some of the greatest sex of her life.  Though she cared about him as a friend and sexually desired him, she was not in love with him and really didn't know if she could ever feel that way.  But what she shared this night with him had made her feel really good, and she wanted to keep experiencing that.

"I'm really not sure," she answered honestly.  "I won't say no to something more than sex, but, right now, I can't say yes either."

Cam nodded.  "Okay.  I guess that will do for now.  As for your first question, no, I think it would be a bad idea if I came here again tomorrow night.  Until we are ready to go to General Landry and tell him that our relationship has changed, we need to do all we can to stay under the radar."

"Wouldn't we get into trouble if he found out?"

"Probably so, though, since you're a civilian, there are no regulations against us dating.  The main issue would be the fact that we're on the same team, and I am, technically, the team leader, although that's up for debate more often than not.  A case could be made that, since Sam and I are of equal rank, and all the other team members are not in the military, the usual hierarchy does not apply.  For instance, I do not write evaluation reports on Sam because she's of the same rank.  Actually, she has seniority over me by nearly a year.  So, though Landry would likely be pissed and might go as far as putting an official reprimand in my record, I'm not going to be court-martialed, and I seriously doubt that he'd take me off SG-1."

"But what about me?  Might he take me off the team?"

"I really don't know, Vala.  We are presently the only SG team with more than four members, so some higher-ups could push for you to be transferred to another team or made a consultant only."

Vala hated the idea of losing her place on SG-1.  She didn't want to be on another team, and the thought of going back to the way it was before she became a member of SG-1 was almost unbearable.

Seeing the look on her face, Cam said, "I guess this really is something we should have talked about first.  If this thing between us is going to continue, eventually, Landry will have to be told.  It cannot be kept a secret forever.  Are you willing to take the chance that you'll be pulled off the team?"

"I have to admit that it would upset me a great deal if I was taken off SG-1."  Vala looked back up at him.  "Can we just wait for a while and see how things go?"

"All right."

Cam got out of the bed and began putting on his clothes, very aware of the fact that Vala was watching him.  Once he was dressed, he leaned over the bed and gave her a kiss, one that she returned quite enthusiastically.  A big part of him was wishing that he could stay here with her, especially since he had no idea when they'd be able to get together again.  If Vala lived off base, there would be no problem, but that was not the case.  Therefore, it could be that the only time they'd be able to be together were on Cam's days off, that is unless they were willing to risk discovery by doing again what they did tonight.  At least tonight, he was leaving early enough that the reason for his presence in Vala's quarters could be something perfectly innocent.  In fact, he was planning on making it appear as if he'd just been spending a social evening with her.

As he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, he turned back and said, "Thanks for the movie and popcorn, Vala.  See you in the morning."  He gave her a little wave, shut the door, and strolled down the corridor to his own quarters as if he didn't have a care in the world, when, in reality, he was as taunt as a bowstring.  He didn't relax until he was in his room.

As he got dressed for bed a while later, Cam couldn't help but wonder if what happened tonight would turn out to be a very big mistake.


'Lord help me.  This woman is going to drive me insane!'

That was the thought that ran through Cam's brain as he sat in the commissary the next morning.  The reason for the silent cry was the person sitting next to him at the table.  He had been eating for a few minutes when Vala came over and, instead of sitting across from him, chose the seat right next to his.  Why she made that choice soon became apparent, for, not long afterwards, the touching began.  When she reached for the salt shaker, she deliberately ran her fingertips down Cam's forearm.  She adjusted her position on the seat, and not-so-accidentally touched his hip.  When she dropped her napkin on the floor and reached under the table to retrieve it, her breast came in contact with his thigh.

And so it continued, Vala coming up with all sorts of imaginative ways to touch Cam's body without making it look inappropriate.  To the casual observer, nothing would look amiss.

At last, after putting up with it for around ten minutes, Cam couldn't take it anymore.

"Vala, stop it!" he hissed under his breath.

"Stop what, Cameron?" she asked oh so innocently.  He looked at her and saw an expression of sultry desire in her eyes.  That's when the mental cry issued forth.

Cam turned back to his food and rather forcefully cut off a chunk from his waffle, shoving it in his mouth.

When, a minute or so later, Daniel and Sam joined them, he breathed a gigantic mental sigh of relief.

"So, are you all ready to exercise your negotiation skills tomorrow?" he asked the archeologist.

"I suppose so, although I still think that SG-9 would do a better job.  That's what they're trained for.  Being a diplomat and negotiator are definitely not things that I studied in college."

"No, but you're a natural born diplomat, Daniel," Sam responded.  "We've all seen it.  Colonel Edwards still talks about how you kept everyone from getting slaughtered by the Unas on P3X-403.  I know you'll do great."

"Thanks, Sam."

They all turned their attention to their meals.  They'd been eating in silence for perhaps a minute when Vala suddenly said, "Cameron and I watched a very enjoyable movie last night."

Cam, who'd been in the process of swallowing, promptly choked.  As he gasped and coughed, Vala patted his back.

"You okay?" Sam asked him in concern once he could breathe properly again.

"Yeah.  Just went down the wrong pipe."  Wanting to stop any questions about the nonexistent movie, Cam then said, "Hey, I understand that Siler got hurt again.  Something about a pipe wrench?"

Daniel answered the query.  "Yeah.  He dropped it on his foot.  It didn't break anything, but he's going to be hobbling around for a while."

For the rest of the meal, Cam made sure to keep the conversation flowing so that Vala would have no more opportunities to make any seemingly innocent remarks that were anything but innocent.  He escaped from the commissary as soon as he'd finished eating.

He'd been in his office for around an hour when Vala came in.

"I hope you enjoyed yourself at breakfast," he said, subjecting her to a glare.

She sat on the edge of the desk.  "Yes, the meal was quite enjoyable."

"That's good because what you did is not gonna happen again."

"Now, don't be a spoilsport, Cameron.  I was just having a little fun."

"At my expense.  You have to stop doing things like that, Vala.  While we are on duty, we need to act professionally.  I know that will likely be impossible for you to do, but you do at least have to act toward me like you did before this got started."  He shot her another glare.  "I mean it, Vala.  No more playing around."

The dark-haired woman gave a dramatic sigh.  "Very well."  She stood up.  "Are you certain that you cannot come over tonight?"

"Positive.  Besides, we've got a mission tomorrow, so we both need to get plenty of sleep."

"So, no staying up late, watching movies."  She put just the slightest bit of emphasis on the last two words.

"Nope.  Sorry."

"Perhaps another night, then."

After she was gone, Cameron sighed and shook his head.  "This is not going to be easy," he muttered, wondering if anything involving Vala was ever easy.


As SG-1 stepped out of Hedavin's Stargate Tuesday morning, a small group of people came forward to greet them, led by a thin man in his late fifties.

"The Hedavi welcome you back to our world," the man said, bowing to them.

Daniel returned the bow.  "Thank you, Nitiren.  We are happy to be back and hope that our time here will prove to be fruitful for both your people and ours."

"That is our hope as well.  Come.  We have prepared lodgings for you.  I will take you there first."

SG-1 was led to a place near the edge of town.  A row of tiny cottages sat nestled against the forest that surrounded the township.

"These cottages are reserved for visitors to our town," Nitiren explained.  "They are small, each one containing little more than a bed, chairs and a lavatory, but I hope that you will find them comfortable."  He paused, studying them.  "Was it correct for us to prepare a separate cottage for each of you?"

"Um, yes, that's fine, Nitiren," Daniel answered.

The five teammates checked out one of the cottages, finding the interior neat and clean, around the size of the average motel room.  It had a bed just a bit smaller than a queen, two chairs, a small table, and a closet.  Through a door was the bathroom, which had a tub but no shower.  Since they would likely be staying on the planet for two or three days, it was nice that this was among the few cultures they'd encountered that had indoor plumbing.

Each member of the team selected a cottage and left their packs there, then they followed Nitiren to the meeting hall.  On the way, Daniel thought about the job that lay before him.  When SG-1 first visited this planet, they discovered the inhabitants in possession of stones that somehow glowed, yet produced no heat.  Fascinated by the glowing rocks, Sam borrowed one and had some tests done, which indicated that the light was being generated by an unusual chemical process that was taking place right inside the rock.

A lot of people became very interested in the rocks, thinking that they could be a new source of energy.  The SGC was given orders to procure as much of the rock as possible.  The problem was that the stones were of religious significance to the Hedavi, playing an important role in many of their ceremonies, so getting them to part with a large number might not be easy.  Daniel had been given permission to offer the Hedavi just about anything they wanted, short of weapons and other technology that would be too dangerous to give them.  At the same time, however, he was told not to be too generous.  In other words, give the Hedavi only as much as they demanded, and not one thing more.

As SG-1 entered the meeting hall, they saw that the other four members of the town council were already there.

"When last you were here, you told us that you wanted some of the Wani, the stone that glows," the lone woman on the council said.  "Is this still true?"

Daniel nodded.  "Yes, it is, but we would only take as much as you are willing to let us have.  We respect that the Wani has great significance to you.  As we told you, we are willing to trade for it.  We have medicines and technology that could be of tremendous benefit to your people.  You said that you needed a month to decide."  He looked about at the five council members.  "Have you made a decision?"

Nitiren gave a nod.  "We have agreed to begin trade discussions."

Daniel smiled.  "Good.  That's great to hear.  We're prepared to begin the discussions immediately."

The council members all looked at each other, then back to SG-1.

"First, there is a grave matter that we are hoping you can help us resolve.  We would not expect it to be part of the trade agreement."

"What's the problem?" Cameron asked.

"There is a group of raiders that comes during every harvest.  They steal our crops and livestock, attacking anyone who stands in their way.  The time of the summer harvest is upon us, and, soon, they will be back.  We have seen your weapons and know that they are powerful, and we hope that you can stop them from raiding us again."

The members of SG-1 shared another glance.

"We'd like to help you out," Cam said, "but, even if we could stop them this time, we're not going to be here to stop them next year or any year after that."

"We know where their encampment is.  It is a day's walk to the east.  We had hoped that you could go there and show them your might.  If they know that we are trading partners with you, they may choose to leave us alone for fear that you will retaliate if they attack us."

"So, you're suggesting that we go there, demonstrate that we could wipe them all out, then make them believe that, if they don't leave you alone, we'll make them sorry they bothered you?"

"We would be forever grateful," Ania, the female councilor, said.

"How many are in the raiding party?" Sam asked.

"We have never seen more than thirty men," the man named Davan replied.

Cam frowned.  "We couldn't handle that many on our own.  We'd need at least one other SG team, two to be on the safe side."

"It will be necessary to speak with General Landry," Teal'c stated.

"Yeah."  Cam looked at the council members.  "We're going to have to get permission for this from our superior, so we'll need to go back to Earth."

Nitiren nodded once.  "Of course.  You may go now and return when you have an answer."

When SG-1 came back through the gate after having been gone less than an hour, Landry was quite naturally puzzled.  In the briefing room, the team explained everything.

"I definitely think that we need to consider helping them," Daniel said.  "Not only is it the right thing to do, it might go a long way toward getting them to agree to us taking some of those stones."

Landry thought it over.  "All right.  SG-5 and 20 can go with you.  But I want to make it clear that you are not to put yourselves at risk.  If the situation looks like it could get dangerous, you are to back off.  We're on that planet for a trade agreement, not to get into a fight with raiders."

"Yes, sir," both Sam and Cameron said.  Cam then added, "Nitiren said that the raiders' camp is a day's walk from the town.  We'd never make it there before dark today, so I suggest that we head out first thing in the morning.  With the time difference, that would be. . . ."  He looked at Sam for help.

"If we got started at dawn, that would be around 0400 Colorado time," she said.

Daniel spoke up.  "I don't want to delay getting the trade talks started, so I'd like to go back there now."

"Actually, I was thinking that, with SG-5 and 20 to back us up, Teal'c, Vala and I can handle the raiders," Cam responded.  "I think it's more important for you and Sam to get that trade agreement done."

Landry nodded.  "All right.  SG-1, you go on back to the planet.  I'll send SG-5 and 20 through at 0400 our time."

The council members were pleased to hear that General Landry had agreed to helping them with the raiders and were happy to get started on the trade negotiations.

Figuring that he and Teal'c would be of no use in the negotiations, Cam asked if there was someone from whom they could get more information about the raiders.  They were introduced to one of the men who acted as the town's law enforcement.  As the pilot and Jaffa went off someplace to talk with the man, Daniel and Sam got started on the negotiations.  Vala chose to wander around town, knowing that she'd soon be bored to tears by all the talking.

It didn't take long for Sam and Daniel to find out that the council wanted details on each item that was offered for trade, as well as explanations and examples on how the things could be used by and benefit the Hedavi.

They took a break for the midday meal and met up with the rest of their teammates.

"So, how's it going?" Cam asked.

"Slowly," Daniel replied.  "What did you find out?"

"From what we learned, the raiders are fairly organized in their attacks, but a bit lacking in self-control.  They don't tolerate anyone standing in their way or trying to stop them.  They've beaten some people pretty severely, though there have not yet been any deaths.  Their weapons are the same as what we've seen around here: mostly swords and knives, with a few clubs thrown in.  They've likely got bows and arrows as well."

"So, what's the plan?  You go over there, shoot a few rounds into the air, and tell them to leave the town alone or else?"

"More or less.  We can't really make any concrete plans until we see what we're up against."

After eating, Daniel and Sam returned to the meeting hall and resumed the discussions.  By the end of the day, some progress had been made.

"I can pretty much guarantee that we're not going to have an agreement tomorrow," Daniel said as he and his teammates sat gathered around a large table near the cottages.

"Well, since we're not gonna make it back here until day after tomorrow at the earliest, I guess that means you'll be keeping busy while waiting for us," Cam responded.  He stood, taking a piece of fruit from the basket on the table.  "I'm going to walk the perimeter.  Teal'c?  Care to keep me company?"

The Jaffa inclined his head, got to his feet, and walked off with Cam into the darkening township.  Daniel and Sam went off to their cottages, wishing each other and Vala good night.

After writing in his field journal for a while, Daniel began to feel a little restless, his mind not on the events of the day, but, rather, on the woman who was in the cottage right next to his.

Deciding that a short walk might help him relax, Daniel went outside.  He ended up not walking far, only to a large tree that stood in a grassy area around thirty yards from the cottages.  He leaned against the tree and gazed at the silent town.  The people were all home for the night, with their spouses and their children.  After Sha're died, he had given up hope of ever having that in his life.  Now, that hope had returned . . . but was is a foolish hope?

"Daniel?"

The archeologist turned to see Sam coming toward him.  He stood up straight.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked.

"Yeah.  I just came out for some air.  I've got a lot on my mind."

"Don't worry, Daniel.  I have confidence that we'll be able to work out a trade agreement."

"Maybe, but that wasn't what I was thinking about."

Guessing what it was that he had been thinking about, Sam said, "Oh.  I have to admit that it's been on my mind a lot, too."

Daniel searched her face.  "It felt really good to kiss you like that, Sam."  He smiled slightly.  "It sure was hard waiting for it, though.  I wanted to kiss you on our first date.  On our second date, I almost couldn't stop myself."

"So why did you?"

Daniel's gaze dropped, and, for a while, Sam thought that he wasn't going to answer.

"I was afraid," he finally admitted in a low voice.

Surprised, Sam stared at him.  "Afraid?  Of what?"  When it became clear that Daniel wasn't going to reply, she touched his arm.  "Please tell me, Daniel."

"I was afraid that you wouldn't feel anything."

Sam kept staring at him, saddened by his confession.  How could he think that she wouldn't feel anything?  She then answered her own question.  Because he had been afraid that she would never feel more for him than friendship.

"Daniel?  You don't have to be afraid of that anymore."

Daniel's head came up, and he looked into her eyes.  She gazed right back at him.  Realizing what she was telling him, he closed the distance between them, cupped her cheek, and lowered his mouth to hers.

Their second kiss was just as good as their first, maybe even better.  They drew apart fractionally, lips mere millimeters apart.

"Yes, I'm definitely feeling something," Sam whispered, which was probably the biggest understatement she'd uttered in her entire life.  She wanted another kiss, and, this time, she didn't wait for Daniel to be the one to close the distance.  As she felt his lips part beneath hers, his breath mingling with her own, the heat that had kindled inside Sam blossomed outward, alighting every part of her.  She opened her mouth, inviting Daniel inside.  He eagerly took the invitation, and the flame exploded into a Naquadah-fueled inferno.  As he consumed her mouth, she did likewise to his, their tongues mating over and over again.  Daniel moaned low in his throat and tangled a hand in Sam's hair as the kiss continued growing in passion, his whole body feeling like it was going to go up in flames.

Sam was now up against the tree, one hand at the back of Daniel's head, the other fisted in his jacket at the small of his back.  They were pressed so tightly together, yet they both wanted more, desire rampaging through their minds and bodies.  Neither one of them wanted to stop, but the need for air finally made it necessary.  Breathing heavily, they stood unmoving, Daniel's forehead once again resting against Sam's.  They were both trembling.

A couple of minutes had passed when Daniel said, "I need to go."

No!  Sam didn't want him to go.  "Why?"

"God, Sam.  Do you really have to ask?"

That's when she became aware of the tension in his body.  And then she felt something else, something that told her how much that last kiss had affected Daniel.

'Oh, God,' Sam moaned in her mind, the hard ridge of his arousal making her already elevated temperature shoot up even higher.  This was crazy!  Two kisses, and she was actually considering taking him to her cottage and finding out if he was as passionate a lover as she suspected.

Sanity managed to return to Sam, and she let Daniel go.  He took a step away from her, giving her the opportunity to look into his eyes.  She gasped at the sight.  They were burning into her like blue fire, making a hot, tingling feeling wash through her body.  God, she wanted him.  Whether or not she was falling in love with him, her body was telling her in no uncertain terms that it wanted him naked in bed with her.

Sam swallowed, trying to wet her dry throat as she desperately reined in her rampant desire.

"I-I-I'll see you in the morning," she stammered.

Daniel nodded, not trusting his voice.  His need for her was clawing free of his control, and if he didn't leave now, he was going to be in a whole lot of trouble.  He turned away and strode quickly toward his cottage.  Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught a flash of movement several yards away, but he was too intent upon his destination to look that way.  At last, he reached his cottage and went inside.

Daniel recalled the thoughts he had after their second date, that kissing Sam would be a real test of his self-control.  So much for that self-control.  He'd just about devoured her with that last kiss.  The thing was, though, that she'd been kissing him with just as much passion.  So, what did that mean?  He didn't dare to think it meant that she'd fallen in love with him.  However, he did recognize that she must be feeling desire.  You didn't kiss someone like that if you did not want them.

So, could he make love to her knowing that she wanted his body, but didn't yet love him?  He knew the answer was yes.  It would be a dream come true if, when they had sex for the first time, it was an act of mutual love, but his physical desire for her had been unleashed by those kisses, and if she invited him into her bed, he'd accept without hesitation.  Just the thought of it was making him hot.  What he wouldn't give for a very long, cold shower right now.


Sam lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.  Fifteen minutes had passed since she and Daniel parted, and she was still feeling the effects of their kisses.  Wow.  She'd heard about mind-blowing sex, but mind-blowing kisses?  She had yet to experience the former, but she now knew what the latter felt like, and if just kissing Daniel was that good, then it was very likely that she would soon find out what the first thing felt like, too.  That thought made heat rush through her.  She began to imagine Daniel's hands gliding across her skin, his lips on her breasts, her stomach and lower.  Her respiration increased as the fantasy continued, Daniel lying naked upon her, going deep inside her, the two of them rocking together in shared passion.

This really was insane.  Less than two weeks ago, she was wondering if she could ever feel more than friendship for Daniel, and, now, she was fantasizing about making love with him.  How did this happen so fast?  The sensible thing to do would be to slow things down, but Sam didn't want to slow things down.  She felt high, like she'd just taken the most potent stimulant known to man.  She hadn't felt this good even after she and Pete had sex.

These overpowering feelings of desire couldn't possibly be all in her head.  They were real.  So, what was she going to do about them?  Be her usual cautious self, who never jumps in with both feet when it comes to romance, or throw caution to the wind and go for it?

Deciding to put off answering that question until after they were back home, Sam got off the bed and headed for the bathroom.

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