1 year Anniversary (2/2)

Posted on Sat Aug 8th, 2026 @ 12:07pm by Cassandra Lennox & Nathan Crawford

3,997 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Before
Location: Nathan's Quarters
Timeline: 13th May 2012

Cassandra had tried to stay away but once she made the choice to not just leave for the night and to see things through she had decided to go into his quarters properly. She smiled at the photos on the walls being held up my magnets, it showed her more and more that the man was a diamond with a rough exterior. She glanced at the cloaked and sighed, it was hours since he had left but she was not going to just up and leave now as it was pitch black out there.

She smiled as she grabbed up the t shirt that was folded in a clean pile and changed out of her clothes putting it on. It was massive but it was perfect for bed and there was a double bed there that looked too comfortable to walk away from now. She smiled as she snuggled into the bed and noticed the book he had been reading. She started to read the page he had been but soon found herself asleep.

Nathan entered his office to find Cassandra gone. He let out a soft sigh. The last couple of hours had been somewhat hectic. Fortunately it had been a false alarm. The ship's muster had resulted in a 100% accountability for the entire crew. Then it had been run a second time as the search and rescue boat patrolled the water. The stand down order had gone out and everyone was released to resume normal duty or return to quarters.

Nathan crossed to the inner door and entered his private head. There he undressed except for his boxer shorts. He entered his sleeping quarters and crossed the room lit by a weak nightlight over the drop down panel where his laptop rested. He stood in the middle of the room for a moment debating if he wanted to have a shot of rum or just crawl into bed. He let out a long breath when an unexpected voice made the decision easy.

Cassandra had stirred when the toilet flush had gone off as the pipe cycled right over her head. She smiled as the man came out and had not of yet noticed her. She stayed perfectly still watching him as he looked frustrated and almost like he was having a debate within. “So did anyone drown?” She asked sleepily.

Nathan's eyes snapped to the bed in surprise. There lay Cassandra staring at him wearing what appeared to be one of his t-shirts as a night shift. He spotted all of her clothes draped on or sitting in his chair. He stood there for a moment trying to process. He shook his head as he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Ended up being a false alarm. Muster showed 100% accountability. SAR continued patrolling until we verified accountability a second time and secured from the man overboard watch."

Nathan gently laid a hand on her stomach and smiled down at her. "You seemed have made yourself comfortable. Care if I join you?"

The woman smiled and shook her head as she took in the smile on his face. She would have questions in the morning about how someone had declared code Oscar but that was not for now. “Only care if you do not join me.” She whispered shifting in the bed so she was snuggled against the wall. “When it got to midnight I decided I was in for a penny in for a pound.” She smiled. “You can work out how to explain me being here overnight.”

Nathan slipped under the covers and snuggled up next to Cassandra. He leaned down and kissed her softly, just a bare brushing of his lips to hers. One hand cupped her cheek as he deepened the kiss slightly, yet still gentle and slow. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. His hand that had cupped her cheek during their kiss slowly traced down her neck and torso in a slow, lingering caress. "I didn't expect you would still be here. I'm pleasantly surprised you are still here." He snuggled closer. Her bare thighs feeling what was happening beneath his boxers.

“Well I could have left but I wanted to wait as we did not really finish what we were discussing.” The woman pointed out gently as she ran a finger along his shoulder . She had seen him top less before but this was very much different. “Or doing.” She added in a whisper tone. “And it was dark I did not want you to worry that I walked back alone.” She had not been afraid of that but she did not want him worrying about her.

Nathan felt a shift in himself occur. It wasn't that his physical desire had disappeared or even lessened. He realized that what he desired at the moment was just her presence there with him. He shifted slightly and pulled her partially onto his chest. Her head resting comfortably. Her hand resting lightly over his heart. One hand lightly stroking her hair as the other planted in the small of her back holding her close to him. "I'm glad you stayed. This...feels...right. I...having you here in my arms. It's what I have wanted most of all for sometime right now. He cocked his head and placed a light kiss on Cassandra's forehead.

Cassandra smiled at the comfort he offered her. “I stayed for this moment.” She whispered gently stroking a hand down his side as she listened to the soft sounds of the quiet room and the external noise of water going through pipes and the hum of electricity.

Nathan lay there happy. He couldn't remember a moment he'd felt happier. He felt the subtle press of her breasts under the t-shirt she wore with each breath she took. He wanted her, but he knew that would come in time. For now, this was not just enough for him. This was perfection. He snuggled her closer and tilted her face upwards to his. He kissed her forehead and then kissed her lips. He looked into her eyes and knew in that moment how perfect life could be despite them living in an oftentimes brutal and imperfect world. He was happy to just have this beautiful, strong woman here with him.

The woman said nothing as she stared at him just admiring him in the semi darkness. She touched his cheek, running her thumb over his cheek until she felt her body going to heavy. It was a familiar gesture that was sending her back to sleep.

Nathan watched as Cassandra’s eyelids grew heavy and finally closed. He felt her breathing deepen. He watched her sleep and felt the rise and fall of her chest against his. His own eyes grew heavy and he finally drifted off to sleep.

Cassandra slowly came out of her sleep and jumped at the wall she was facing. She had not expected to be that close but as she turned a little she smiled as she realised she was in Nathan’s bed and he was sound asleep. She turned over and looked at the clock surprised to see that it was nearly 6 am. She might not have worried last night about her mums opinion but this morning she knew she was going to be questioned.

The brunette slowly inched down to the bottom of the bed and sat there for a moment trying to wake up a little but that was stopped when the intercom chirped alive with a pipe and call to breakfast.

Nathan's eyes opened as the ship's bells chimed and the voice of the boatswain's mates called out that mess hours were beginning shortly. He saw Cassandra sitting on the foot of his bed. The night had been warm and his t-shirt clinged to her body like a second skin, leaving very little to the imagination. He sat up and the bedcover slipped off.

“Well that is loud.” She laughed a little as she turned a little to look at him and raised an eyebrow at the fact his boxers left very little to the imagination.

Nathan looked down and realized he had woken from his sleep with an erection that his boxers could only partially cover. He looked up at Cassandra’s expression and couldn't decide if she was impressed, startled or aroused by the sight of him poking out of the boxers. He did notice that the t-shirt had ridden up sometime over the night and she would be exposing herself if she pulled the covers off her pelvic area. He watched her staring at him for a moment before waving a hand in front of her face. "Hey, My eyes are up here."

Cassandra bit her lip and giggled as she looked up. “I’m sorry. It’s been awhile since I have woken up with a man and you are gorgeous.” She promised him as she crawled back up the bed. “I should let you get to duties and work out how I am going to make a walk of shame not so shameful.”

Nathan pulled Cassandra back into bed with him. He kissed her as their bodies pressed together. He broke the kiss and drew one finger down the side of her body. "I actually have no watches today. Just a few ceremonial tasks that need tending to this afternoon and evening. Your own agenda says it will be about 1030 hours before you need to be in townsquare. We have time if there's anything you want to...discuss this morning." His finger connected with bare flesh at her hip. His hand spread out as he gently massaged her backside.

“So you do not need to be there for colours?” She gasped surprised that he knew her routine and the tasks that she needed to do. She moved against him as his hands finally grabbed her close. “I want to discuss what this means,” she whispered as her lips pulled away from his abs ducked to his neck.

His breath caught for a moment as mouth moved from his chest to his neck. One hand reached down her backside to make gentle swirls on her womanhood. His other hand grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled up until her breasts were free. He pulled the t-shirt completely off as he lay her on her back. He kissed her passionately as one hand massaged a breast and the other light stroked her opening.

The intercom crackled once again and a voice announced that all mess areas wer now open for breakfast. He broke the kiss on her lips and gave her neck a kiss and lick before looking her in the eyes. "I think I want my breakfast in bed this morning." His mouth moved to her breasts as his index finger slowly probed into her.

“Nathan.” The woman whispered suprised that he was like this wanting to tease and test her so much. She had thought him to be a wam bam thank you maam type of guy. She had not many military folks but after York and the experience there she was surprised that she was even wanting anything to do with anyone connected.

Nathan's mouth began a slow descent from her breasts down Cassandra's torso. His every movement was slow and deliberate, meant to gradually build her up. His tongue finally arrived at her sweet center. Fingers and tongue worked in unison gently. The noises she made were music to his ears. He moaned himself when her hand yanked his boxers away. His tongue and fingers kept pace with her gentle strokes that began to quicken. He knew she was getting close when her breathing became labored.

Cassandra gasped trying to focus on something other than the way the man was between her legs and the things he was doing to her. She was unable to stop herself grabbing his boxers away and wrapping her fingers around him trying to tease him as much as he was teasing her. “Oh god.” She found herself moaning as she froze as the man helped her reach the point of no return.

Nathan froze as her back arched ans she let loose with a moan that seemed louder than the ship's engines running at flank speed. He felt her body spasm, her muscles contract on the two fingers inside her, the uncontrollable quiver as his tongue simply rested against the surface of her love canal.

It was nearly two minutes later before he dared move. He first lifted his head to look up her torso. He noted how her chest still heaved from the labored breathing. He looked at Cassandra's face, her head still propped on the pillow. Her expression one of shock and awe at what he had done to her. He simply stared at her face with a smile until she seemed to regain control her breathing finally. His smile grew. "It seems...you quite enjoyed that."

Cassandra gasped loudly as reached down to stop him teasing anymore and finally got her body to respond to anything other than trying to get breath back into her body. “I did. Thank you. I… come here.” She whispered as she took ahold of him and started to stroke him slowly.

Nathan gasped as Cassandra took hold of him, first with one hand, then both. He felt tingles erupt through his body as she handled him gently. He took long, deep breaths in and sighed with ecstasy with each breath out. He pulled her onto his chest and kissed her deeply as she made him grow to his full 25 centimeters. His breath caught when she broke the kiss and asked him the question.

“Do… do you have any protection?” The woman whispered as she pulled back from the kiss and looked at him relieved that in the light he would not be able to see the blush on her face. Condoms were not hard to come by and she wanted to avoid anything nasty or complicated.

Nathan looked at her. She was right in wanting to take precautions, but it took him a moment to remember where it was. His hand stretched out and he opened the drawer of his nightstand. His hand dug through the contents of the drawer and he finally pulled out a sealed box. He held the box up and studied it for a moment. "I got these from Doc over a rear ago. Never had the opportunity to use them before." He looked at Cassandra. "Despite what you may think about us sailors having a woman in every port. I don't." He appeared thoughtful for a moment. "Last time I was intimate with someone was my late fiance about a month before the collapse. By the time my ship arrived back at Portsmouth she was...."

The woman took the box and looked at the date. They would last a few more years. “Getting hopeful last year huh?” The woman teased trying to not let the mention of fiancé dampen the mood even if her kiss to his should tried to offer some comfort. They had all lost people, she had no idea if her own fiancée was alive seeing they had parted ways once they had gotten out of the south west.

Nathan shook his head with a soft sigh. "Had nothing to do with wishful thinking. The Chief Medical Officer gave every officer and crew member to take a box whenever we made port anywhere." He looked her in the eye as he brushed a stray hair back behind her ear. "Wasn't ever sure I would ever need them. Until this very moment." He leaned close and kissed her lips gently.

“Mmhmm.” The woman whispered as she shifted to sit up and shakily took out the condom and ripped it open. “Come here.” She instructed and slowly rolled the condom down and lay back down under him.

Nathan's breathing came in short, quick gasps as she carefully placed the condom on his manhood. His breathing grew heavier as she lay back and gently guided him to the entrance of her love canal. He slowly entered her, their eyes locked on one another's expression. Nathan rested his weight on his elbows as he slowly filled her. He then pulled out just as slowly. He matched his breathing to the slow cadence of his strokes. Breath in, hold as he filled her, breath out. He knew his expression mirrored hers as they finally consummated the desire they had for one another.

Cassandra moaned softly against his lips as she tried to ignore the feel of being filled. It was not a position she always liked but for a first time together it was not back especially when the man seemed to not want to rush things.

Nathan lost sense of time in their deliberate ritual. In for a ten count, hold for ten and out for ten. He felt her hand on his back, roaming, caressing. Their eyes locked on one another. The ebb and wane of sensation as the they tried to reach that perfect moment of simultaneous release.

“Don’t stop.” She begged softly as she wrapped her legs around his hips running her hands over her shoulder trying to ignoring the building she was feeling. She wanted it to happen with him this time.

Nathan looked down into Cassandra's face as he slowly pushed in. He knew the moment had finally arrived. When he paused to hold, he pulsated inside. His mouth found hers as her muscles clamped around him and he released inside the condom. The world seemed to slip away as the kiss, their mutual and simultaneous climax, sent waves of euphoria from their core to every part of their bodies.

Cassandra moaned into the kiss, surprised at the kiss and the depth of it, but it did have the effect of silencing her. She had no shame, but Nathan was nowhere near as open as she was. “Are… Are you okay?” She asked softly, wanting to make sure he was okay.

Nathan slowly recovered control of his breathing. He nodded at Cassandra's question and gave her a light kiss. "I am." His facial expression was hard to decipher for a moment. "I...I don't want this to be a one-off. I hope you...uh...feel the same way."

Cassandra smiled at the way he spoke; it was soft and almost scared. She had not seen him that vulnerable before. "I do, but... we will have to see how things go." She whispered, not sure what the future would bring for them both. "But... I want to keep this just between us if possible?"

Nathan considered Cassandra's words for a long moment before giving her a nod. He could see the potential backlash if general knowledge that Thistledrift's Mayor and Europa's First Lieutenant were in an intimate relationship that may cause a conflict of interests for the town or ship. "Very well. We keep this between us." He wondered if they really could. Secrets were the hardest thing to keep aboard a ship. Thistledrift was sometimes no better, what with the community as close knit as it was.

"Hey... hey... I just want something private, nothing more." She whispered, turning his face to look at her as she slowly moved her legs from around him. "You are not a secret or anything, I just... I want something selfishly that is mine." She said gently, trying to explain fully what she was thinking.

A warm smile spread across Nathan's face. He shifted slightly so they lay on their sides in bed and held each other's gaze. "So? I'm yours now?" He gave her a brief, soft kiss. "I could learn to like that idea."

Cassandra arched against him as he pulled out of her and shifted off her. She wiggled to grab the sheet up and pulled it up over them both. "I am not saying that, I am not tying you to anything, Commander." The woman giggled softly.

Nathan brushed Cassandra's hair back as they shifted onto their sides. "I know. I'm just teasing." This was a new and significant shift in the dynamic of their relationship. "I don't want to lose the good working relationship we've built this last year. Taking it slow with this is probably best. Not just for us, but for Thistledrift and Europa as well.

"See that works." She agreed gently. She wanted nothing more than for things to work, but she did not want to be that vulnerable after the last 12 hours. "I should shower and dress." She whispered, thinking she could leave the ship without to many people noticing her.

Nathan nodded in agreement. "We both do." He glanced over his shoulder to the door to his private washroom. He briefly entertained the thought of showing together, but dismissed it. Things were complicated enough at the moment. He slid out of bed and stood naked as he gestured. "You go first and dress in my office. I'll shower and change quickly after you and walk you out. Anyone asks, and we'll just say we worked together through the night to finalize details for today's events and lost track of time."

The woman laughed as she admired him a little and bit her lip. "I can walk myself out." The person on the gangway won't know where or who I have been." She said, slowly sitting up and rising without the sheet. She did not dare look at him as she tried to pass him without catching his gaze or bringing it to the scars on her body.

Nathan glanced at Cassandra as she rose from the bed confidently and crossed the cabin to the wash room. He was curious about the scarring on her lower abdomen, but said nothing. He had seen the scars by the dim light the night before. Cassandra had never been the kind of person who felt a need to explain herself. He busied himself with pulling out his uniform and underwear for the day as he heard the water start in his shower. He finished laying things out and then looked at the door. Part of him regretted not being in the shower with her, but they were both going to be hard pressed to meet the commitments they both had for today. He stood by the door as the shower turned off and waited patiently for her to return.

Cassandra smiled as she quickly showered and washed herself properly in scorching hot water for the first time in months. It was heavenly. She came out, towel drying her hair and stopped dead as she saw him standing there. "So I will see you later?" She wondered.

Nathan chuckled. "Of course. Today is a special day for all of us." He couldn't help but give her towel clad torso an appreciative glance. "Plus I don't want to miss your opening ceremony speech. Europa was at sea during the election so I wasn't here to hear your acceptance speech."

"It was mostly. Let's go and have our scran and thank you." Cassandra did not get where she was with words; she had gotten there through action. She said, turning away from him to where her clothes were and carried them out to his office. She turned one of the lights on so it was slightly lighter and they could see each other better.

Nathan stepped into the washroom room. "Give me two minutes." He stepped inside the shower stall and the water start

The woman shook her head as the man disappeared. She quickly tugged on her clothes and used her fingers to brush her hair a little. She glanced at the bathroom door and quickly put on her boots and slipped out of the room. They could talk more another time, she wanted to have a moment to herself before she had to be the leader again.

 

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