Chapter ten: Warming up

They found the small natural cave in the mountains. It was only a few meters wide, but at least it gave shelter from the breeze that had started to blow. Kirk had made Spock stay in the cave while he gathered some branches and leaves. Soon, he had to use his torch not to stumble on the rocks in the darkness.

He went back into the cave with the firewood he had collected. Spock lit the fire with his phaser, while Kirk once again called Scotty. But the Engineer in question was still no nearer to the solution. Kirk was growing more concerned for his beloved friend by the minute. What would they do if they were forced to stay there over night?

He took out his flask of water and gave it to Spock. "Here. You need it more than I do."

Spock took it, but only drank a gulpe before handing it back to the Captain. "Your thirst will not improve the temperature." he said stubbornly.

Kirk took the bottle back and drank a little himself. He had to agree, his chivalrous impulse wouldn't have made anything better. But he didn't intend to admit that aloud. Instead he just smiled at Spock, who was moving closer to the fire, and got up to collect some more firewood. They might need it.

Spock watched the captain leave and suddenly felt alone. He warmed his hands and feet by the fire. The feeling in his limbs was slowly coming back. He wished the standard equipment on exploratory landing parties would have included some socks and a blanket instead of a tricorder. But that was illogical. The transporter didn't usually not work. There was always a risk in beaming down.

Kirk came back, his arms full of small branches. He put them to the side and held his arms out in front of the fire to warm them. The coolness had slowly started to spread in his body when he was outside. In the cave, however, it was quite warm.

He stood looking at the sitting Spock. "Feeling better?"

Spock nodded. "Yes, thank you. The temperature is getting bearable again."

Kirk sat down next to him. "All we need now is a packet of marshmallows and a guitar."

Spock looked at the man sitting next to him, both eyebrows raised. "Do you play the guitar, Captain?"

"I used to when I was younger." He gave Spock a nudge with his shoulder. "You know, I think it's okay if you call me 'Jim' instead of 'Captain' when it's only the two of us."

Spock didn't mind calling Kirk 'Captain'. There was something in the way of adressing his superior officer by rank rather than given name that the tiny illogical part of his logical mind found rather enticing. But if the man would rather go by 'Jim', he couldn't refuse him. It wasn't like he was going to tell his Captain that he got turned on by calling him 'Captain' even in private circumstances such as these.

Kirk yawned. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep at all?" he asked.

Spock looked hesistant. "I find it is still a bit too cold for a comfortable slumber."

Kirk sighed. "Well, the only way we can make you any warmer now is if you take my shirt." He took it off and handed it to Spock.

Spock watched Jim's muscles flex as he moved. It was a beautiful sight. He received the shirt and wrapped it around his shoulders. The scent of Kirk raising from it did indeed make him feel warmer, but probably not in the way his Captain had intended. He looked back at him again, with a soft look in his dark eyes. "Thank you, Jim."

Kirk smiled at him. "Don't mention it." He desperately needed Spock to feel fine. He suffered with his friend and felt bad that there wasn't more he could do. There was only one more thing he could do to help now. And to be honest, it was something he had dreamt of doing almost since the first time he laid eyes upon his Vulcan friend.

He laid down on the stone floor that was almost warm by now and stretched out his arms. "Come here."

Spock blinked a few times and didn't move out of his sitting position.

"Spock, don't be so stubborn. You'll be warmer if you lay down here with me." Kirk argued with a soft voice. "It's logical."

Spock couldn't deny that fact. But seeing his Captain without a shirt was bad enough, snuggling with him would surely evoke a reaction that he really didn't need right now. On the other hand, his Human side was telling him that it was an offer too good to refuse. And for once, Spock did something he knew would end in disaster.

He moved a bit closer to Kirk and laid down on his back.

Kirk closed the last distance between them and slung an arm over Spock's chest. He reveled in the faint smell of incense and something akin to cucumber. He, too, knew that his nether regions would soon make themselves known in a manner that would startle his friend. But if he only managed to stay on his stomach all night, if he could just hide it from view, it might pass unnoticed.

Spock lay rigidly still, afraid to move. He tried not to breath, that way he wouldn't feel the smell of Jim so close to him. But after only 2.7 minutes, he found that not breathing wasn't an option if he wanted to stay alive. Instead, he made his heart rate slow down and fell into a shallow meditative state.

Kirk was tired and soon fell asleep. He snuggled a bit closer to Spock in his sleep, placing his nose right above Spock's ear.

This made the Vulcan wake up. The tingeling sensation in his right ear was working it's way down towards his quickly hardening cock. 'Not again' he thought. How would he be able to hide it? He wouldn't. How could he explain it to Jim? Damn it. He was in deep trouble.

He wasn't able to sleep or meditate anymore. He tried focussing on a mathemathical problem, but the numbers and equations slipped his mind time and time again. All he could see in his mind was the picture of his Captain taking of his shirt in front of him. His Captain laying on the floor with his arms out, asking him to snuggle down with him. His Captain looking at him with that cute concerned look in his hazel brown eyes. His Captain holding him close with a protective arm over his chest. His Captain breating right over the tip of his ear. It was almost too much to handle at once.

Again, Spock tried to think of something else. But it was difficult. His thoughts kept flying back to the sexy figure that was sleeping so close beside him. God, he was hard. And he could do nothing to relieve himself.