The Promised Dinner (Part 3)

Posted on Sat May 3, 2025 @ 4:00pm by Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon & Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Edited on on Sat Jun 21, 2025 @ 7:19am

1,538 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Giuliani's
Timeline: MD03 - Evening

[Last Time on the "Promised Dinner"]

Matilda looked over towards the piano, then looked at Ace. "Do you happen to play the piano? If so, I would love to hear something." She leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"I do not," Ace admitted. "However, I have been known to sing on special occasions."

"You do? I would love to hear you sing. That is if you wish to do so." Matilda was genuinely interested in hearing him. "Please sing something for me." There were stars in her eyes.

[And now for the continuation]

"Alright, Red." He looked around. Where was that damn pianist when he needed him? "Give me a moment." He got up from the table and searched for the pianist. Finding him at the bar, he hastened the pianist away and to his piano with a few well timed words. The piano started to play and Ace stood near the table and started singing directly to Matilda, the restaurant falling silent as he hit his fourth line.

"Woah, my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me

Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea, yeah
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home, wait for me

Woah, my love, my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me"

Matilda felt as if she had fallen under a spell, his voice so rich, and she could feel goosebumps rise upon her arms. Her elbows were upon the table leaning her chin upon her hands which were almost in fists but not. Boy could he sing, she gently swayed side to side. Her eyes were locked with his. And it seemed that there wasn't anyone around them, just Ace and Matilda. She drew in a deep breath letting out a sigh, ohhh he was good. He was dangerous to a girl's heart. When Ace got to the end of his song, there was an eruption of applause. Matilda blinked realizing that they were not alone. A soft chuckle at herself. She waited for Ace to come to the table.

Ace smiled like the cat that ate the canary as he slid back in next to Matilda. "Did you enjoy that, Tillie?"

Before she could answer, Naomi arrived and asked, "Are you done with your appetizers?" She glanced meaningfully in Ace's direction.

Matilda looked down at the barely touched appetizers. She wasn't going to let those go to waste or maybe she will. Right now, though, she was starting to feel that dealing with Naomi was causing her to not want to eat a meal here. "You know something, Naomi. Cancel the rest of the order. And put this in a to go bag, if you would please. If not, oh well. And one more thing, Ace isn't someone you can possess unless he wishes that to happen."

Matilda turned to Ace, pulling him close to her, planting a rather deep passionate kiss filled with promise and fire upon him, then whispered. "I'm sorry I do need to go before I cause a scene and embarrass you. And I want to leave before I lose that loving feeling." She gave Ace a sultry come-hither look. Sliding out from the table. Let's face it, she just wasn't a fancy restaurant girl. Well, maybe she would have enjoyed this more, if Naomi wasn't there. Matilda walked out of the restaurant, to where there was a view of the stars, right across from the entrance of Giuliani's, wrapping her arms around herself, shivering slightly as she was starting to feel cold. Next time if she ever wore this dress again, she'll make certain to have a shawl.

Ace called after Matilda. "I'll be right there."

Once Matilda was out of earshot, Ace told Naomi, "Can you quickly wrap this up, please? Thank you for the evening, Naomi. We can dance another night. I promise."

Naomi sighed and said, "One day, you should take me to your quarters like that."

"You never know. Now hurry up, please?"

Naomi did as she was told, and Ace quickly exited Giuliani's to see Matilda shivering slightly. He came up from behind her, lightly pressed against her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind. "Does this help?" he asked sensually.

She felt the warmth from Ace and it was appreciated, "Yes, it does help. You are nice and warm," she replied, slightly leaning back against Ace. "I truly loved your singing. I felt very special in there. Well, until Naomi came into the picture." She let out a slight rueful sigh. "I know I poked at her but, Ace, it still got me riled up. And, also I wasn't kidding when it comes to eating. I take it rather seriously, and when I am hungry or famished, I am not nice when the blood sugar is down to a level its not supposed to be at. In other words, I can get rather cranky, or hangry."

"Are you still hangry?" Ace asked, concerned that his night might be scuttled due to a lack of food.

"I am hungry, only a couple of bites of the appetizer and that was it. Might have to get something someplace else and get it to go." Matlida turned around still in his arms. "Ace, want to just get a pizza or even oriental style food, We can eat the rest of the appetizers, and would be your place or mine. That is if you are still interested?" Her brow furrowed as she looked into his eyes trying to read what was going through his mind.

"Oh, I'm interested," he confirmed. "Not sure if you have your own quarters but I definitely have mine, and if food is what you require, we shall obtain it wherever you desire. Besides, my plans involve you burning off a lot of that food energy."

"Then, oriental food to go and then to your place." Pulling him in for a long lingering kiss, when the kiss ended, she said, "Your kisses are wonderful." She then leaned her forehead against his. Tonight, with him, was turning out to be what she wished and needed.

Ace relished the kiss and gave as much back as Matilda gave. "Alright, then let's get you some sustenance, there's a fusion place not far from here and it is on the way to the turbolift." He unraveled her, setting her parallel to him, with his arm around her shoulder. "This will keep you warm enough until you have food to warm your belly. After that, I'm sure we can think of more creative ways to keep you warm."

"That sounds rather promising," she said placing an arm around Ace's waist. Arriving at the fusion place to get an order to go, Matilda smiled at the speed that the order had been placed and was ready her mouth watering at the scent of the food. She ordered Honey Walnut Shrimp and Honey Sesame Chicken Breast with Chowmein noodles. Veggie Spring Rolls. Matilda wondered what Ace was going to get to eat. "Hope you order something that will give you energy for tonight."

I don't need it. I'm ready to go. However, can't let her eat alone. "Sure, I'll have the steak teriyaki entree. That should give me some long lasting energy when paired with the rice and veggies."

Matilda breathed a sigh of relief. He was going to eat. She wouldn't be eating alone. It would have made her uncomfortable if he hadn't gotten something to eat. She planned on making his night, one to remember, and she figured it would be one for the books for her.

Not knowing what to make of the sigh, Ace asked, "So, is Asian food your go-to?"

"It is when I want something more than a sandwich with all the fixings. I do like Italian especially when I need to get my carbs. Asian food, is my go to. Pizza comes in second then it goes to Mexican food. Or steak or--Okay my taste varies when it comes to food and what I am in the mood for. But Asian, it's, something delicious and healthy. I am glad you ordered something for yourself. If I am out with someone and they don't eat, it makes me self conscious and makes me feel that I am being rude," Matilda said, looking earnestly into his eyes. "Don't worry we'll be burning all of this off."

"I had little doubt of that, Tillie. Regardless, seems that you have quite the metabolism." He thought for a moment and then asked, "Do you ever slow down? You seem to always be on the go."

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Ensign Matilda Cromwell
Engineering Officer
Deep Space 5

and

Lieutenant JG Ace Cannon
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
Deep Space 5

 

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