“You’re drunk, Deanna.”

Troi gave Riker a devilish wink. “Not so drunk, Commander,” she replied while maneuvering him further into her quarters.

Riker let out a sigh as he was forced backed into the couch. “Deanna, we can’t. I mean I’m not…”

“Do you think it’s possible for two people to go back into the past; fix a mistake they made?” Troi asked, fixing Riker with a questioning stare as well.

“Oh no you don‘t. You’re not going to use my words,” Riker said as he spun around Troi, headed towards the door.

“You said it,” Deanna replied, stepping nearer to him and probing further into his mind and then thought, {not me}.

Riker’s exit was summarily blocked, so he tried negotiating his way out. “That may be true, Miss Troi, but you said, not while we’re serving on the same ship.”

Troi offered him a smile, “Touché , Commander. But I also said I’m not so drunk. I know what I’m doing,” and Troi closed her lips over his, teasing Will’s mouth open with a mere flick of the tongue.

Unable to endear further assault, Riker relinquished to Troi’s desires, and it didn’t take long for the couple to divest of the clothing obstructing their needs.

Will smiled down at Deanna’s nude form with a jovial sparkle in his eyes. God, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, he thought. The smile curving her lips, proving she read his mind. For a moment, Will turned away. He forgot how unsettling that was and how intoxicating.

Deanna turned him back towards her. “I need to feel inside you, Will,” Deanna said as she brought her hand up to Will’s temple. “Inside here,” she pleaded.

In response, Will took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. So many thoughts, so many emotions were swirling in his head right now, he couldn’t distinguish hers from his own, nor did he think he wanted to. “You’ve never had to ask permission.”

Troi locked her eyes on his. {I want you, Imzadi. All of you.}

With sobering clarity, Riker realized where he was and who he was with wasn’t exactly thinking clearing. “I think I should be going,” he said, trying to figure out how to get dressed without awkward silence.

He can’t… Deanna panicked. Ever since they left the Briar Patch, she wanted to broach the topic of their relationship, but so many years have gone by. And with the metaphasic radiation behind them, she and Will slipped back into the ease of friendship they were familiar with, Deanna having no guts to start a what if conversation.

Manhandling him while you’re blotto wasn‘t exactly real mature; she rebuked herself. What were you thinking?

Deanna stepped in front of her door. “Will, please, you’re not taking advantage of anyone here.” He looked over at her, and she realized the reason the conversation hadn’t come up since leaving the Briar Patch was because he was as scared of what if as she was. How did I not see that; she wondered.

She walked tentatively back over to him. “We’re both mature adults here, Will.”

“One of whom is…”

“Absolutely sober, now. The thought of you leaving,” Deanna stopped and redirected; “We left the Briar Patch more than two months ago. I think it’s time we had a talk.”

Will looked down at himself, still undressed, and then back at Troi. “What we were doing wasn’t what I’d consider talking.”

“Well I was a little intoxicated,” Deanna admitted, closing the gap between them and running a finger through his chest hair. “But as I said, we’re both mature adults here, and I don’t see anything wrong with a little physical contact while you’re talking.”

Will couldn’t help the laughter. “I’m familiar with your physical contact conversations, Counselor.”

Troi found Riker’s laughter contagious, and as they laughed together, she felt the tension in both of them recede. She pressed her body up to his, looking up at him with a smile. “Will you stay?”

Will shook his head and ran his fingers through her hair, “Yes. But are you sure you won’t regret this come morning?”

“Positive,” Deanna replied, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss him once more.

The End.