James Bond glazer

With her standby shift over and he still off-duty, ever the gentleman, Paul walked Dianne back to her cabin. 

“Dianne?” he asked as they strolled a meandering path that took at least three times as long as the expected route from Amber Room to her cabin. 

“Yes?” 

He indicated towards the book in her other hand. “Out of curiosity, why do you hate that line so much?” 

“Oh, it’s the context.” Dianne shook her head. “Every single time I’ve seen that line the man’s started foreplay, or he’s only just stepped past flirting with her, and he says or does something, and then she says that line.” She made an indelicate noise. “It’s presented like he’s found some sort of magic button or secret phase that triggers an immediate ‘oh dear my clothes fell off’ from her, and she always acts very… very passive during it all. It’s his idea, it’s his advances, it’s his action, and she’s just reacting. It’s…” she hunted for the right word, “..it’s demeaning.” 

“So you mean there isn’t a magic ‘oh dear my clothes fell off’ button?” Paul teased. “Bother.” “Only when it comes to James Bond and his love interest du jour,” Dianne teased back, smiling broadly. How she loved moments like these, when they could smile and laugh with each other and just be two people in love. Moments like this were far too rare for her liking - and his as well, she knew - and she knew they both treasured them all the more for that rarity. 

There was a comfortable silence as they passed a cluster of people going here and there on their duties, then Paul ventured another question. “Have you ever seen it in a non-passive setting?” 

She had to think about that. “No, I don’t think so.” 

“A pity.” 

“Why do you say that?” was her question in response. 

“Well,” she didn’t have to look at him to know the sort of smile he was doing his best to hide - they were still in public after all, “something like that could be powerful. A woman commanding her paramour to her bed, declaring her desire for him, and he responds in kind.” That smile of his was fighting very, very hard to break out. “I’m sure you’ll agree it’s much more fun when there’s give and take, not just active and passive.” A thoughtful pause. “Unless that’s been agreed on in advance, of course, but not all the time. Variety, spice of life, and so on.” 

“Indeed.” Dianne would have said more, but they were still in public. Ideas, however, were something she could let bubble freely.     

Finally they reached her quarters. Dianne put her code into the keypad, stepped inside, then turned to face him. “Paul?” 

“Yes, love?” 

Dianne knew her smile was sultry as she tossed the book at her couch, looked up at him and hooked her finger into the ring pull on his tunic zip, using it to draw him into her quarters as she purred out the words “Take me now.”