Her lips were soft. Softer than he’d first imagined. The smell of her hair, moist with sweat, filled his nostrils and only strengthened his resolve to hold her close and taste her lips. Katherine’s hands moved to the back of his neck and seemed to pull him in deeper, confirming for him the heat and mutual attraction between them. Scott followed suit and slid one hand to the back of her neck to tangle his fingers in her hair and his other hand, which had wrapped around her to pull her closer, slid slowly down her back to rest on her hip. The thin material of her t-shirt was suddenly an enemy to vanquish as it seemingly conspired with the whole of the world to keep his fingers from touching her flesh.<br/><br/>Her lips nibbled at his and pushed the pounding of his heart into overdrive. Blood rushed to his groin swelling his erection as if he were a schoolboy seeing his first centerfold. There were no sounds aside from her breathing, no smells other than her sweat, hair and sweet perfume. There was nothing except for that kiss. And that’s all that he had ever wanted.<br/><br/>Just as quickly as it had started, she suddenly pulled away. He stood motionless, holding her tightly as she traced her fingers across his face. There was desire in her eyes and he was sure she could see the passion and desire in his. But the world slowly materialized around them again and he felt the cooler breeze which had picked up. He could smell moisture in the air and sense a darkening sky, and out of the corner of his eye he could still see the body of the creature that had almost killed them both.<br/><br/>The absurdity of it all finally hit him. They were billions of light years from the familiar, nearly killed and eaten by a creature most people could never imagine. The safety of this beautiful woman before him, as well as everyone aboard the ship soaring through space above them, was his responsibility. And here he was acting as if the world was theirs and they had nothing but time to enjoy each others company.<br/><br/>Still, there was something between them. Something he had watched grow, just as he had seen their friendship grow. There was something connecting them that was bigger and deeper than he would have thought possible. He took a cautiously deep breath and though he wasn’t ready to let her go, to put distance between them, he knew he must. He stepped back, struggling to find words to put voice to the unfamiliar feelings swirling around in his head and his heart.<br/><br/>The sound of a rumbling thunder broke the silence and he felt a few drops of cold rain land on his hand. Scott smiled sweetly and shook his head slowly back and forth, his eyes full of compassion. It seemed even the planet itself mocked the way their relationship had changed.<br/><br/>“Looks like we’d better find shelter of some kind.” He said finally, as the wind blew harder and the sky grew even darker. “We have no idea what this storm will bring.”<br/>