But the Enterprise, for him, is not only 1) transcendence, consuming his identity and doing so in a way that gives his life purpose and meaning, but in addition, 2) he himself, as well as his colleagues, as well as the events of the universe (as in Elaan of Troyius), explicitly describe his relationship with his ship as a romance.

See also 'The Naked Time'. "Now I know why they call it a she..." etc. etc.

I do also really like Troi/Riker even though things didn't work out for them. They had great chemistry together. Also, Jadzia/Worf.

ETA: oops, I see melannen already cited "Naked Time".