This story is a work of colorful and slashy fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents have been long-standing slaves of Paramount Pictures. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is probably because the author has written too many of these already. Forgive her. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE is a Registered Trademark r of Paramount Pictures. Copyright (c) 1996 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. No infringement was meant. Well, not consciously anyway. TITLE: ADORATION AUTHOR: BGM RATING: NC-17 PAIRING: Garak/Bashir WARNING: Since there have been some people anxious about the contents of a story, let me be extra clear with my own little coding: CONTAINED THEREIN: MUSH (Ergo: Romantic) SLASH (Ergo: M/M) --------------------------------------------------------- The shadows which played across his lover's face streaked across every single scale, lifting them to contrast where the golden light traced the fine lines with a warm embrace. Eyes closed, fine lashes brushing against the smooth, now bronze skin which lined each eye, he looked like the rested dead. A positively frightening sight, yet the man whom admired his serene friend knew better. He tilted his head, unprepared to reveal his presence just yet. He indulged in a languid scrutinity of this beautiful alien, his gaze tracing every line and curves he knew so well by now. He presently had no possible idea what exactly his lover was doing ... though he had seen him often like such, from the shadows of the bedroom where he was supposedly sleeping, at rest after a long day's work at the infirmary. Now he stood at the open doorway, shoulder touching the frame as he remained still and silent. In front of his lover stood a small, though intricate chandelier, its flames flickering with each relaxed breath of their adorer. Julian Bashir tilted his head again, sighing so softly he thought for certain he hadn't been heard. The eyes opened slowly, and even from his distance Julian nearly gasped at the pearls of absolute sapphire that stared back. Without a word, he walked toward the kneeling alien, and sat crossed legged opposite him, his bronze skin painted even more golden by the muted light of candles. Across from him, Elim Garak made no move. After a prolonged moment, Julian finally shifted uneasily and nodded down at the candles. "I ... I couldn't sleep." "I apologise," whispered the Cardassian, delicate traces of sweat glittering over his featureless cheeks. When Julian looked up, he frowned. "What are you doing?" asked the young man, feeling the heat from the fire rising up to caress the underside of his chin. "Praying," answered the Cardassian, to Julian's absolute amazement. Praying ... that was not what he had expected. "I see this disturbs you," he added, his lips forming a pout to prepare in blowing out the lights. Julian stilled him with a shake of the head. "No, no that's not true. You just ... never told me," he said quietly. "I thought by now you would know better." There was no hint of irony in the Cardassian's voice, and Julian suddenly felt guilty. Of course ... they weren't sharing everything quite yet. He let his eyes trail down longingly to the exposed chest of his lover, the sweat gleaming over each flared scale. Close enough to reach out and touch them, he did, his fingers gliding easily over the leathery skin. The Cardassian closed his eyes again, inhaling softly at the touch. So long ... so long he had opened himself completely to a lover. He lolled his head to the side, sighing. "Perhaps ... too soon," he murmured, his own rising lust clouding his hesitance. "We've done this before," insisted Julian, rising to his knees as he pushed the chandelier with gentle consideration. Garak did not protest the gesture, merely remained unmoving as Julian leaned down to capture one of the lifted scale between his lips. The Cardassian gave voice to a low moan, his breath quickening in his chest as he reached up with his hands to touch Julian's hair with reverence. *How you are innocent ...* he thought, losing ground as Julian's mouth offered gentle nibbles over his chest. *How you cannot possibly recognise the difference between love and lust ...* He brushed away the thoughts and embraced his lover with both arms, drawing him with him as he lay back on the harshly carpeted ground. Julian uttered no protest, merely resumed his administration ... his adoration of his lover as he touched each of the Cardassian's thigh to part them. Garak pressed the back of his head against the floor, complying without a second thought to this act of submission he had once so loathed ... *You have rewritten my history,* he thought, his neck cords tightening as he felt those supple lips tease at his aching member. *No ... you have rewritten _me_*, he corrected, and let out a lustful gasp as his cock was engulfed completely between Julian's lips. He arched his back, his movements sinuous with lust and love, his fingers curling and unfurling over the short bristles of the carpet, moaning and letting go. *Yes ... with you my love .... with you I can let go ...* he thought, and felt his release spill into his lover's mouth with an ache that pierced beyond spirit ... beyond heart. He looked down, and never thought Julian looked so beautiful. *No,* he amended as he watched his lover close his eyes and embrace his waist, fluttering kisses over his stomach. *I have not submitted ... I am being adored ... with every word, with every look he offers me ...* He widened his eyes slightly. *I was the innocent ... all along ... I waited and ached and longed ... while he knew long before me ... he loves me ...* He gathered the doctor in his arms and brushed his lips to Julian's ear. *He loved me all this time, and I never knew ...* He wept silently, their entangled bodies one in the still dancing light of candles. THE END