A/N: Pretty short, yes, another transitional one, but I'm almost finished with the next one. Had to change a few details, and this was a natural place to stop. I know I promised something citrus-y, but things come together (he he) in Chapter 11.

Thanks again to all who've put this little story on your favorites lists and story alerts!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, nor any of its characters. This is written by a fan for fans, with no intent to infringe upon any copyright or trademark. All original characters are mine.

Chapter 10: Golden Touch

Amanda thought they would never finish dinner, even though she was fascinated when T'iranhi got involved in a conversation with Britt. Britt, having as usual imbibed too much ale, remarked out of nowhere that Vulcans had a reputation for preferring isolation, even insularity, and glared a bit at Sarek. Amanda wondered, not for the first time, how on Earth anyone ever thought Britt was suitable for the diplomatic service! But neither Sarek or T'iranhi displayed the slightest sign of being offended, and the latter began to speak to Britt in a gentle tone. T'iranhi's face almost became animated as she rebutted Britt's statements, reminding him of the Vulcans' early interest and prowess in space travel.

"Many Vulcans have an innate curiosity and need to explore. This is not shared by every Vulcan, you understand, we are all individuals, just as you Terrans (Alex narrowed his eyes a little bit at that term) are not all the same. We have long life spans, and a great deal of time to study various areas of interest. I, of course, share an interest with Amanda and Sarek in the study of humanoid life forms."

Amanda was happy to hear her name coupled with Sarek's name, but pasted a polite smile on her face as she continued to listen to T'iranhi. She especially delighted to hear the Vulcan Elder reveal Sarek's early studies in astrophysics, and she watched Sarek as he tried to maintain a bland expression as his accomplishments in that field were recounted. Amanda had wondered if he were even listening to anyone at the table, he'd seemed to deep in thought about something.

Sarek simply responded to T'iranhi's remarks by stating that he had many interests. He then said that he had wondered about something himself--the origins of Andora's name. Elena smiled at his rather obvious ploy of casting the attention upon someone else at the table, but added her queries to his.

"Andora, obviously you are not blue, nor do you have white hair, but I admit I did wonder about your name, as well."

"Well, Elena," and Andora cast a general smile upon her dinner companions, "My parents had a great fondness for all types of music, but they particularly liked jazz. My father was just crazy about Andorian jazz. So, no great mystery, and no historical context. My mother said they just wanted to avoid using family names, but wanted to call me something that had meaning for them." And the, casting an arch look at first Sarek, then Amanda, Andora then said, " Amanda, when you have a child, will you want to use a family name?"

A flushed Amanda stole a quick look across the table at Sarek--a glance that was observed with disapproval by Britt, and with resignation by Alex--and said, "Andora, that is not something that I've thought about just yet." Which was a lie, because she had spent several nights awake, wondering what a child fathered by Sarek with her would look like, and she thought she might like to name a child after one of her parents. "If you and Britt had a child, what name would you choose?"

At that, Britt snorted, and Andora paled. Elena, sensing some deep tension, hurriedly leapt into the conversational breach, and queried, "Ambassador Sarek, do you like jazz, or any of the music you've heard here on Earth?"

Sarek simply replied, "I appreciate the complexities of jazz very much, but I do enjoy listening to Mozart."

After a few more desultory remarks, punctuated by more unexplainable snorts from Britt, Elena stood up and asked to be excused. Andora took the opportunity to announce that she was tired, and wished to leave. Britt protested volubly, saying that he wanted to stay a bit longer and discuss something with Alex, but finally stopped grumbling and agreed to take her home.

That left Amanda, Sarek and T'iranhi standing behind their seats at the table.

"Sarek, will you share transport with me?" asked T'iranhi.

Sarek looked at his old friend steadily, and responded, "No, thank you, I am going to remain here for some time."

T'iranhi then turned to Amanda and said, "I thank you for welcoming me into the home you share with your brother. I wonder if you would allow me to come and visit you tomorrow morning?"

Amanda, a bit taken aback, looked at Sarek for some guidance, but could read nothing from looking at his face. So she said, "Of course, I would be very happy to see you then." T'iranhi nodded briefly at Amanda as they fixed a time, and then she lightly touched Sarek's arm and left the room, joining Alex, Britt and Andora at the door.

Alone at last, Amanda thought. She took the opportunity to stare at Sarek openly and hungrily. He returned her look, and never took his eyes from hers as he slowly strode around the table to reach her side. For a long moment, they just looked at each other, saying nothing. Then Sarek bent until just his forward was touching Amanda's. Both of them let out audible sighs as their skin made contact, as though something that had been restrained could finally be released. Amanda closed her eyes as every cell in her body seemed to react to his touch, and had to strain to hear Sarek's soft words.

"Why do I need to touch you so much, so often?" he almost groaned. " Do you know how unusual it is for even those Vulcans who are lovers to touch with more than two fingers in public?"

"But, Sarek," said Amanda in a whisper, because she didn't want to break the spell she was under, "we are not in public no--."

"Yes, we are in the house of your brother, in a room that can be filled with others at any time. Amanda, I have touched you, more than just touched you, in so many places where we could have been easily observed by anyone." His body tightened as he recalled not only the locations in which they'd touched each other--on a terrace, on a crowded dance floor, in a shared transport, and in rooms of her brother's house when they were not alone--but how they'd touched each other, and how her skin had felt against his lips and under his hands. Drawing a ragged breath, he continued. "We must talk of many things, but I now ask you again: will you become my wife, my Bonded? If you are still ready to be with me, I will speak to your brother."

Amanda opened her eyes, and took Sarek's face between her hands.

"Sarek, I want to be your wife in every possible way. I want to be with you wherever you are, wherever you go, always. I want to spend my life with you. I will naturally have some questions for you, but never doubt what I have said. And I feel that we already have a bond. I've felt it every time we've touched each other." I love you, she thought. Amanda reached up and kissed the side of his mouth gently, then removed her hands as she stood back to look up at him.

Sarek closed his eyes for a moment, but then he opened them and they seemed to blaze down at her. He took both of her hands in his before he said, "I touch you and know that you speak the truth. I show respect to your brother by speaking to him as the head of your house, but it is your opinions and decision that are paramount." Sarek could tell that Amanda believed what she said to him. He could read that as he touched her.

Sarek bent his head again and kissed her mouth. He'd intended the kiss to be as gentle as the one Amanda had given him, but she threw her arms around his shoulders and pressed her body to his. With a muffled sound, he gathered her close and deepened the kiss.

Amanda moaned into his mouth, standing on tiptoe to try and reach more of him. "Sarek, I can't reach all the parts of you I want to touch,' she whispered into his mouth almost fiercely. He laughed, and took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth, and then he picked her up into his arms. Her legs automatically wrapped around him and he braced her against the table, wrapping her hair around his fingers and pressing himself against the juncture of her thighs insistently as she began to suck on his tongue.

"Ahem, ur, hello," came Alex's somewhat dry tones as he came back into the room, interrupting their display of passion. "Ambassador, I believe you wished to speak with me? Why don't we go into the study?"

Alex raised his eyebrows as he took in at his rather disheveled-looking sister, who had pulled away from Sarek's mouth reluctantly at her brother's interruption. He gave an almost amused look at Sarek, who at the moment, certainly bore little, if any, resemblance, to the picture of the unemotional Vulcan that Britt had tried to paint earlier. Sarek had blinked his eyes as he slowly moved from his position in between Amanda's legs, and his chest was heaving. He nodded in Alex's direction as he fought for control.

Amanda felt she could barely speak, but managed, "Alex, call him Sarek. I'm going up to the roof. Sarek, I'll be waiting for you." Her eyes glittered with promises as she met his eyes and quickly left the room. As Amanda rounded the corner, she stopped and wrapped her arms around her quivering torso. She was proud of herself for getting out of the dining room on her shaky legs. Hopefully, Alex wouldn't play with Sarek too long before sending him up to the garden on the house's topmost level. She wanted to lie in his arms in the moonlight.

________________________________________________________________________

TBC

A/N: In the next chapter, Amanda and Sarek meet on the roof-top garden. They will show their, ahem, regard, for one another, and Amanda will get the answers to some of her questions (like, just how much older is Sarek than she? And what are the finer points of Vulcan physiology! ) And, yes, I do remember that Sarek has some 'splainin' to do......