Title: "The Chess Game"

Author: Islaofhope

Rating: NC-17, m/m sex.

Codes: K/S, PWP

Summary: On a cold, rainy afternoon in San Francisco, Kirk finds a way to keep Spock warm. This is sort of a sequel to T'Aaneli's and my story "Champagne."

Archive: Yes

Feedback: Both negative and positive feedback is welcome; either post to ASCEM or KirkLovesSpockFic or send to Islaofhope@aol.com.

Disclaimer: All that is Star Trek belongs to Paramount. The rest of it well, I just made it up. This is fan fiction, and I won't make any money from it.

Thanks to my betas, Jat Sapphire and T'Aaneli, who gave me great suggestions, and, sometimes, I even listened to them. For all of my K/S stories please go to my website at: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/7382



"The Chess Game"
by Islaofhope

The first thing that Spock planned to do when he arrived home was find additional sweaters. It was January in San Francisco and, while it was certainly not as cold as he knew that Iowa was in this month, the temperature and humidity were quite uncomfortable for someone who had not left Vulcan in fifteen Standard months. Nine point three minutes before he reached the front door, the "humidity" in the air turned into rain that soaked through his completely inadequate robe.

Notwithstanding the interesting morning that he had spent in Berkeley, he experienced some regret that he'd left behind his warm, dry office at the Vulcan Science Academy for this ill-conceived trip to Earth. His last trip to San Francisco had been in September, and the temperature had been bearable. It was difficult to believe that he had lived in this city for several years, but he had been younger then and less sensitive to the cold and damp.

He wondered if Jim would insist that they go out into this very uncomfortable weather. One of the major drawbacks of being bonded to a Terran was that they did not feel the cold as severely as did a Vulcan. Because Jim had been very patient with Spock's neglect of him during the time that Spock had been busy at the Vulcan Science Academy, he wished to show Jim his appreciation. However, this afternoon, he found it difficult to suppress his irritation at being uncomfortably cold and wet.

When he walked into the house, he heard the sound of the shower being activated in their shared bathroom. He decided that a shower would be most satisfactory.

He keyed the privacy lock behind him as he walked into their bedroom. He noted without emotion that Jim had strewn exercise clothes on the chair beside the bed and left muddy running shoes on the floor, but he nodded with approval when he saw a small blaze kindled in the fireplace. Spock threw an additional synthetic pellet - fabricated to resemble a birch log - to cause the flame to burn hotter.

Spock pulled off his damp clothes, shivering slightly as he unfastened the tie from his bedraggled hair and shook it loose. The feel of it damp and lanky on his naked back added to his discomfort. Perhaps it was time to end that experiment by cutting his hair short again.

He wrapped himself in a dry robe, and strode to the window to contemplate the gray fog and rain while he waited for Jim to exit the shower. A private shower would allow him to turn the water up to a temperature that would be too uncomfortable for his human mate.

However, as he stood there, he felt Jim's mind reach out to his. //Spock? You home, love?// The gentle touch reminded him that there were alternative methods to restore warmth to his chilled body.

//I am here, Jim.// He left his robe on the hook beside Jim's and slid open the shower door, and was greeted by a cloud of steam through which he could make out the naked form of his beloved.

"Spock." Jim engulfed him in a damp embrace and lifted his mouth for an all-too-swift kiss before reaching around to turn up the water temperature. "You're shivering, love."

"It is raining." He attempted to keep his annoyance out of his voice as he slid his hands down Jim's shoulders and cupped Jim's buttocks to pull him close. He felt fractionally better with that familiar beloved body fitted against his as though they were two pieces of a puzzle.

He savored the feel of the muscles under the silk of the skin, and the taste of the damp flesh as he nipped at Jim's neck - hard enough to make Jim start, but not hard enough to break the skin. He had a moment of regret that he had paused for a last conversation with a colleague. That delay had prevented him from arriving home before Jim jumped into the shower directly after his run. Jim's flesh after exercise was distinctly salty, but clean and refreshing, and it was a flavor of which Spock never grew tired. Jim now tasted more of pine-scented soap, but his distinctive musk was a faint tang.

Jim's touch was firm but caressing as he squeezed Spock's shoulders and said, "My poor Vulcan. I know that you're just like a cat, and you hate to be cold and wet." The sound of Jim's voice in his ear combined with the warm touch of his mind just barely brushing against Spock's, sending waves of love and contentment through him. Both did as much to increase his body temperature as Jim's strong fingers massaging his scalp.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy the sensation of the warm water flowing over him, and the hands sliding down his shoulders. Jim's touch communicated his pleasure in being together. No words were needed between them.

Spock breathed out his tension and allowed Jim to scrub hard at his skin to increase his circulation. His beloved knew just how to touch him to increase both his external and internal temperature to a comfortable level.

"Yes, I know just what you need to warm up again." Jim brushed his lips against the nape of Spock's neck, and, briefly, molded his chest, his belly, and his groin against Spock's back, one hand sliding around to pinch Spock's nipples and the other to stroke Spock's penis.

Frequently when they showered together, Spock turned Jim to face the wall, slid his knee between Jim's thighs to spread them, and - lubricating both of their bodies with bath oil - slid his penis into Jim. Joining their bodies in this way, whether it was a slow, sweet fuck or a quick, hot plundering, was a favorite way for both of them to start the day.

However, because Jim was now standing behind him scrubbing his back, Spock could feel Jim's erection poking against his hip. He flattened his hands against the wall of the shower and spread his own legs. "Yes, Jim."

But instead of feeling Jim's hard penis slide into him, he felt Jim's mouth on his shoulder and Jim's arms slide around him for one quick embrace. Jim's tongue briefly teased at his earlobe.

"Spock, I have a fire going, I've got some hot soup for lunch, and I thought we could play a game of chess to while away this gloomy afternoon."

Spock was startled when Jim slipped out of the shower. It was highly unusual for Jim to refuse an opportunity for sex. The tremor that went through Spock as he clutched at the wall had nothing to do with being cold. A flame seemed to be consuming his internal organs, and the sudden absence of Jim's body wrapped around him appeared to added fuel to the fire rather than banking it. Spock took several calming breaths before he recovered his composure enough to exit the shower.

Jim had already left the bathroom, and the bedroom was similarly deserted. The cold, damp air seeped through his body again. Briskly toweling dry did not warm him. Neither did choosing thick trousers, a turtleneck, and a warm sweater to cover his chilled body. He stood in front of the fire combing his hair and found himself nursing the beginning of resentment. Jim was at turns impatient for lovemaking and content to draw out the anticipation. Even after thirty years, Spock found his mate's responses impossible to predict.

As he efficiently braided his still-damp hair, he absentmindedly noted that Jim had piled a multitude of pillows and cushions on the floor in front of the fireplace. A chess game had been set up on a low table between the cushions and the fireplace. Spock thought regretfully of the table and chairs in the kitchen but decided to accept Jim's plan.

The fire was inviting, and he sank into a pile of cushions to wait for Jim. Stretching out his hands, he felt his palms begin to tingle slightly with warmth from the flames that licked at the pile of logs. He closed his eyes to better concentrate on the sensations that now flowed through his body. The heat recalled the fire that licked at Spock's groin when Jim kissed his mouth and wrapped his arms around Spock. That flame now spread slowly outward until it seemed to reach his fingertips and the soles of his feet.

He felt the softness of the cushions beneath his body and imagined molding his hard angles against Jim's body. Almost without realizing it, Spock licked his lips and imagined opening Jim's mouth with his tongue to taste the sweetness of his beloved's kisses.

Compared to the greater strength of a vulcanoid, the humanoid form was designed to be weaker and more fragile, but Jim's body was strong and muscular even though the flesh bruised more easily. However, Jim's flesh was so very responsive - as though he had a hundred-fold more nerve endings that sang at Spock's touch. Somehow, Jim had taught Spock to allow his nerve endings to sing the same way. Perhaps it was no more than allowing himself to relax enough to *listen* to the message from his skin to his brain. Or perhaps it was that its joining to Jim's mind had subtly changed Spock's mind. Whatever the reason, his whole body was trembling with eagerness to be once more in Jim's beloved presence.

He did not have long to wait. Jim re-entered the room with a tray containing two steaming bowls of soup, several slices of bread, and a variety of fruit. "I wanted to be sure that you kept your strength up." Jim sat down on the cushions next to Spock. "And I haven't eaten since my run, so lunch seemed like a good idea."

Spock fought back his impulse to snake his arms around Jim. He remembered that he had not eaten since breakfast. Jim was correct. It was logical to refuel his body. After a nod of thanks, Spock began to spoon the squash soup into his mouth. The flavor and the warmth were pleasing. Nearly as pleasing as the sight, the scent and nearness of Jim, his thigh pressed almost casually against Spock's as he attacked his own bowl of soup.

Was Jim truly oblivious to the heat he was inspiring in Spock's body and mind? His moods were unpredictable. Spock would not have been completely surprised if Jim had now put his lunch aside to insinuate himself into Spock's arm and demand to make love immediately. Or perhaps that was only wishful thinking on Spock's part.

After he finished his soup, Spock said, "Although it is logical to refuel our bodies, I must confess that I have a different kind of hunger that you have left unsatisfied."

Jim smiled as he put down his bowl. "As to that, I thought a chess game would get us in the mood."

Spock reached out to run a finger along the line of Jim's jaw. A spark flowed between them at even this slight touch. "Although I do admire your mind and have always found our games to be most stimulating, would you consider delaying our game? I would prefer to - "

"Fuck my brains out?" Jim laughed and captured Spock's hand to kiss it.

"Crudely put but essentially accurate."

"The chess game is...foreplay."

Spock nodded. "Yes, I recall. The winner is entitled to a kiss, and the result is equally satisfying for both the winner and the loser."

Jim smiled and collected their bowls to put them aside. "Yes, that's fun, too, but I was thinking of 'strip' chess this afternoon. We have a few hours before we have any social obligations, so..."

Spock's eyebrow lifted - in truth, he could feel his penis jump slightly, too. "It has been some time since we have played that variation...perhaps you would be willing to reacquaint me with the rules. At least, with the rules that you wish to follow this afternoon."

"Are you saying that you suspect me of making up the rules as I go along?"

"And you do not?"

Jim did not deny the accusation. "Okay, one article of clothing comes off whenever one's opponent captures a chess piece." He surveyed Spock. "Looks like you're cheating as usual. I bet you have twice as much on as I do. Maybe I should put on a couple more layers."

Spock grasped Jim's hand to prevent him from rising. "I believe that would be deliberate cheating. I had no knowledge of your plans, so I dressed myself as I felt was appropriate. Am I correct in my suspicion that you knew how you wished to spend the afternoon when you dressed?"

"You're right, of course." Jim frowned slightly, considering. "I'll just have to recklessly attack your pieces to get you naked, Vulcan." He rubbed his jaw. "Or we could have certain pieces worth more articles of clothing. I don't know how much fun it would be for me to be naked and have you mostly dressed."

"Sometimes, it is a desirable strategy in chess to sacrifice certain pieces - as you well know." He did not voice his opinion that he had no objection to seeing Jim unclothed as quickly as possible. However, it *would* be more satisfactory to be largely undressed himself.

Jim's eyes lit up - a sure sign of an idea. "Remember how we played it that time on Rigel? In addition, to an article of clothing coming off their opponent, the person who captured the piece is entitled to a kiss. Any exposed part of the other's body?"

"My recommendation is to permit any touch technique - whether the body part is exposed or not." Spock slid his eyes down Jim's body while allowing a slight smile to touch his lips. He wondered whether it would be considered "cheating" to allow his hands to follow the path that his eyes had just taken. He had not specified any list of acceptable touch techniques.

Jim laughed softly. "Who's making up the rules now?" He paused to consider but then nodded. "And, of course, the winner of the game chooses how we make love."

It would be a difficult choice. Spock considered how pleasurable it was to slide his penis into Jim's body. However, Spock also thought of Jim's penis opening up his own body. Then he remembered something else. "Lasha, we have been playing this variation of chess for 30 years. I do not believe that we have ever declared a winner."

"There's a first time for everything, isn't there, love?"

/////////

Jim sprawled comfortably on the cushions and watched Spock make his first move. He smiled to himself, thinking of Spock's request that they postpone the chess game and make love first. It was nice to know that, after all these years, Spock was still as "hot" for him as he was for Spock.

When he had put his arms around Spock in the shower and kissed that spicy-sweet mouth, Jim had needed all of his control to avoid giving in to his desire for Spock. He had known that Spock had been more than willing - in fact, he'd very clearly felt the annoyance when he'd rejected the offering of Spock's body.

But Jim wasn't thirty-three years old any more. He knew that if he'd fucked Spock in the shower, he would've ended the afternoon falling asleep in front of the fire right after lunch. No, he wanted to savor the sweet, hot desire between them. And, more importantly, he wanted to appreciate the leisure they now had to explore that desire for each other.

As Spock had said, they'd never yet finished a game of strip chess, but Jim didn't feel any particular urgency to finish this afternoon's game. Jim just wanted the excuse to make love slowly, stretch it out over an afternoon. An afternoon they could remember the next time they let their responsibilities get in the way of appreciating each other.

Besides, chess was one of the ways that they had first connected. The simple act of holding a chess piece in his hand and looking across at Spock's serious face brought back a flood of pleasant memories. They had been friends first, of course, and the games had led them to appreciate each other's minds. And he also remembered the first time that he had watched Spock caress a chess piece - it was a bishop - in a way that made Jim think of Spock's fingers caressing his cock. At the time, he'd been terrified that Spock would realize what Jim was thinking, but it wasn't long after that they'd both realized they were thinking the same thing.

And Spock still got that same serious look when he was caressing Jim, intent on Jim's pleasure. The serious look usually vanished when Jim returned the caresses, but...

His reverie was interrupted when Spock selected a piece from the board and captured one of Jim's pawns. Jim grinned as Spock deliberately caressed the head of the pawn and lifted an eyebrow at Jim.

The first piece - and it was just a pawn - should have resulted in something as innocuous as a sock being removed. But Jim was warm sitting by the fire, and, besides, he did want Spock to look at him and touch him. He watched the eyebrow climb higher as he opened his tunic and tossed it aside. Jim lifted an eyebrow back at Spock and waited.

He didn't have long to wait. Spock pushed him back on the cushions and straddled his body. He opened Jim's mouth with his tongue and slid his hands down Jim's body, pausing to pinch each of Jim's nipples before he captured his hips.

Jim wondered if it was cheating when he returned Spock's kiss and slid his own arms around Spock. Apparently so, because Spock unhanded Jim and sat up, but his beautiful dark eyes sparkled when he said, "Admiral, I believe the next move is yours."

Spock was far more of a tease than any Vulcan had a right to be. He did choose to remove his socks for his next two articles of clothing. Jim paid him back for his reticence by limiting his two touches to long, lingering kiss on each of Spock's ears, punctuated by a nip at his ear lobes.

When Jim responded by removing his own socks when his next two pieces were captured, Spock took his time massaging each of Jim's feet. Of course, that massage was erotic enough to inspire a molten sensation in Jim's still-fully clothed groin.

He realized that neither of them was really paying much attention to strategy in the game. They were so intent on either capturing a piece or having a piece captured. Maybe it was only his imagination, but Spock seemed just as determined to move his pieces into jeopardy as Jim was.

When Spock's sweater came off to reveal his lean, muscular torso, wrapped in a black turtleneck shirt, Jim let out a sound almost like a growl and pushed his mate back against a cushion. But instead of kissing Spock's mouth and allowing his hands to run over that much-loved torso, Jim lowered his mouth to Spock's black-clad groin.

Spock gasped as Jim used his tongue to trace the bulge in Spock's trousers. He tongued the outer edges vigorously, and then delicately nibbled at the head. Spock arched his back to press his groin against Jim's face. Jim continued his caress, enjoying the sound of Spock's ragged breathing. The black fabric didn't allow Jim to taste what he craved, but the scent of Spock's arousal was detectable as he soaked the fabric with his saliva.

When Jim captured one of Spock's knights, Spock astonished him by removing the tie around his braid. Did that qualify as an article of clothing? Jim decided not to object as he combed his fingers through the long silky hair and kissed Spock's right temple.

When he captured one of Jim's bishops, Spock broke the rules by assisting Jim in removing his trousers. He then rolled Jim over onto his stomach and slid his hands along the sides of Jim's silky briefs. For a moment Jim was torn between wishing he hadn't worn briefs and pleasure at the warmth of Spock's hands which seeped through the heavy silk. Spock's fingers crept under the legs of the briefs to caress Jim's ass, but Spock appeared to reconsider that action as "cheating," and he withdrew his fingers.

Instead, Spock slid his hands along the insides of Jim's thighs to spread them. Jim murmured his pleasure as he felt a hot tongue wet the silk along the crevice between his buttocks. But then he nearly yelped in astonishment when he felt something hard nudge up against his opening. He gasped as Spock carefully teased the very tip of the bishop sheathed in the silk of Jim's briefs into his achingly aroused body.

Spock's other hand slid under to massage his balls through the heavy silk, and Jim heard himself moaning softly as he spread his legs wider to receive Spock's touch.

"Is this touch...welcome?"

Jim jumped at the sound of Spock's deep voice. They'd been so intent on enjoying each other's bodies that they hadn't said a word in several minutes. Jim's voice was muffled against the pillow under his cheek. "Love, you're fucking me with a chess piece, and you want to know if it's welcome?" He spread his legs wider, and rubbed himself against the hand that was now creeping up to stroke his cock through his briefs. "Any way you touch me is welcome."

The hardness of the chess piece was withdrawn, and Spock rolled Jim back over again, his hand continuing its slow massage of Jim's cock and balls. "I wish to please thee." He supported himself with his other hand, so that he was not crushing Jim.

Sliding both hands into Spock's hair, Jim pulled him down for a long, sweet kiss. "I don't recall ever complaining any time you touched me," he said with his lips a half a centimeter away from Spock's.

"I believe that there was the time - "

He kissed Spock again to silence him, savoring the taste of his mouth and the incredible warmth. Jim opened his eyes and said, "Do you know how much I love you?"

"I do." Spock kissed the right corner of Jim's mouth, his eyebrow, his chin, and his shoulder, which was marked with a brand from their bonding ceremony so many years before. "And, I, thee."

He pulled Spock close, urged the dark head down on his shoulder, and raked his fingers through his hair. Spock was down to a pair of briefs and his turtleneck, and Jim rubbed his hip against the bulge that was threatening to burst out of Spock's briefs. Spock continued to caress the head of Jim's cock through the thin fabric. Jim felt that his control was hair-trigger...he would come any second... if Spock brushed his thumb across Jim's nipple one more time.

Pulling aside the silky, dark hair, Jim kissed the nape of Spock's neck and felt a shiver go through Spock's body. He crept one of his hands under Spock's turtleneck, and was surprised to discover that he wasn't wearing an undershirt.

"I believe that it is your move." Spock sat up suddenly and pretended to study the chess game.

Jim felt a flash of annoyance that Spock was no longer wrapped in his arms, but realized that it was just as well... that he wouldn't have been able to last much longer if Spock had continued to caress him.

He sat up to face his mate. His mind was barely on the chess game. Just how was he going to capture another piece and get Spock's damn briefs off him? He took a deep, calming breath and made another move, trying to think forward. Of course, he didn't mind if Spock captured another one of his pieces.

In fact, they made a series of moves before Jim captured another piece. Jim looked up, met Spock's dark eyes, and grabbed his hand when it went to the hem of his shirt.

//////////

Jim's grip on Spock's hand and the look in his eyes told Spock very clearly: Jim desired Spock to remove his briefs next. Spock hid a smile. In the bedroom - as in every other area of their life together - each still fought the impulse to exercise control over the other.

Although Spock considered thwarting Jim's desires in order to tease him for a time, he was also far more interested in joining his body to Jim's than he was in completing the chess game.

Were he given to such emotional outbursts, Spock would have laughed at the way that Jim's eyes widened when his briefs joined the neat pile of his other clothing. Affection and amusement welled up inside of him as Spock watched Jim drag his eyes away from Spock's penis to meet his eyes.

"Will you claim your prize, t'hy'la, or will I make my next move?"

"My prize?" Jim appeared to require a moment to recall that he was entitled to bestow whatever sort of touch he chose.

Wondering what Jim would do next, Spock felt a tremor of excitement steal through him.

Jim's fingers caressed Spock's cheek, and Spock closed his eyes. Soft lips brushed against his. Jim's hands caressed Spock's shoulders. "My sweet, hot Vulcan, I love you so."

Spock gasped wordlessly as the tip of his highly sensitized penis pressed against Jim's silk-covered hip. Spock's hands slid down Jim's back, and his fingers dipped into the waistband of the briefs, which were the only garment that now kept Jim from him.

After another swift whisper of a kiss, Jim extricated himself from Spock's grip. "It's your move, love."

Spock's murmur of frustration appeared to bring a sparkle to Jim's eyes as they once more faced each other over the chessboard. He did not doubt that Jim saw the choice of moves as clearly as Spock did. Knowing Jim's near-wizardly grasp of chess strategy, Spock did not doubt that Jim had predicted - or had engineered - this particular choice of moves for him. Spock was fascinated to realize that he *had* been thinking far more about the touch of Jim's body than he had been about the game.

One possible move would result in checkmate. Spock's prize for winning this game would, of course, be Jim's body in any way he chose to claim it. In addition, it would widen very slightly his lead in their lifetime series of chess matches. However, as he had pointed out before, neither had ever emerged victorious in a "strip" chess game. And he was not planning to be the first.

He moved his piece, captured the second white rook, and looked up into Jim's eyes. Spock was amazed to see a blush suffuse Jim's face as he dropped his eye and removed his briefs. After all these years, to have Jim blush when he was naked, his desire showing in every line of his body, filled Spock with a curious mixture of tenderness and heat. Swiftly, Spock pulled the turtleneck over his head so that he too was completely naked.

And then Jim was in his arms, and they were kissing, pressing their bodies frantically against each other - almost as though they could merge into one being if they strove hard enough.

"My sweet Jim," Spock said against Jim's temple, before he toppled him over into the cushions and covered Jim's body with his own. He devoured Jim's mouth again, before he slid his lips down to bite and lick at his shoulder, his right nipple, and his flat belly.

Jim arched his body against Spock's and made a sound that was nearly a whimper. "Oh, Spock. I want you. I want you so bad. I can't wait...Oh, Spock."

His words were cut off by a gasp of pleasure when Spock slid his tongue along the underside of Jim's penis. His hands grasped at Spock's bare shoulders; his grip would leave bruises.

In truth, he did wish to comply. The desire that flared up inside him was fascinating to contemplate. He remembered very clearly the first time that he had felt this overwhelming need for Jim's body, and the strength of the hunger still astonished him. So different than the fires of pon farr, and yet so fierce.

He swirled his tongue around the head of Jim's penis, taking pleasure in the way Jim's breath was beginning to stutter. Jim's fingers dug into Spock's shoulders again, and he cried out harshly when Spock's tongue slid down to the base of Jim's penis. Spock tongued at Jim's testes for a moment. The taste and scent of human male musk flooded his senses.

"Spock, please. I want to come with you inside me. You have to stop...oh, Spock." Another sharp cry escaped as Spock plunged a delicately pointed tongue inside Jim, preparing the path that his penis would soon follow.

He bathed it in saliva for a moment longer, astonished by the pleasure he took in the taste and texture as well as in the enjoyment that was evident as Jim thrashed beneath him. He knew that he was pushing Jim dangerously close to the edge, so he reluctantly withdrew.

Jim opened his eyes, and, for a moment, he looked as though he were too weak to move. His look of dazed desire was suddenly replaced by a sultry grin as he watched Spock apply lubricant to his penis. "Is all that for me, Mr. Spock?"

Spock allowed a slight smile to touch his lips. It had been many years since Jim had addressed him thus. "Affirmative, Captain Kirk. It is my intention to penetrate you."

With a chuckle, Jim said, "You've never said anything that ridiculous to me in your life - not even when you were that shy, serious Vulcan that I was so desperate to seduce that I had to pretend that McCoy drugged me before I could tell you that I loved you."

Kneeling between Jim's spread thighs, Spock said, "I am still a shy, serious Vulcan. However, as I recall, I was forced to seduce you myself when you lost your nerve...after you propositioned me." He positioned the head of his penis in Jim's opening, and they both breathed in sharply at the intimate contact.

"Stop talking and start fucking, Spock," Jim said with a laugh as he pushed himself forward to invite Spock's penis inside.

Spock slid himself the rest of the way in and effectively cut off the laugh and the subsequent cry of pleasure by capturing Jim's mouth. However, in spite of his wish to prolong their pleasure, it required only three hard, deep strokes before Jim cried out to signal his orgasm. One more stroke completed Spock as well.

He sank down on top of Jim, resting there for only a moment, before rolling them both on their sides and repositioning them so that Jim's back was against his chest and Jim's head was under his chin. "Forgive me, t'hy'la. I intended to - "

"Spock. My sweet love." Jim turned his head slightly to kiss the left corner of Spock's mouth. "That was amazing. The whole thing." He settled more firmly against Spock, and he reached back to twine his fingers lazily, lovingly, into Spock's hair, and he wrapped it like a scarf around his throat. "I need to rest. Here or on the bed?"

"I am quite comfortable, Jim." The fire had died down, but, fortunately, there was a heavy quilt nearby that he drew up around them. The softness of the cushions cradled their exhausted bodies, and he felt absolute relaxation steal through him as he rubbed his hand down Jim's side to rest on his hip.

Spock had thought that Jim had dozed off, but then he heard a soft yawn and Jim's voice say, "Spock, I'm going to have you checkmated in two more moves." And then Jim really was asleep.



"The Chess Game"