ladymage21: You're welcome!
WiccanVampire16: hehe. Two chapters more.
andaere: Thank you so much! I'm glad this works for you. It's really nice to hear.
ArwendeImladris: I love protective!Kirk. (And I love your username!)
FlitShadowflame: No, I don't think they'll like it at all!
accidental anomaly: hehe. I love him too. He has to be one of my favorite characters of all time. And SO much fun to write!
anonymous: Cringe time for me! I really didn't mean for it to come off that way. Uhura wanted to stay out of curiosity, and possibly out of care for Spock (as they didn't have an unfriendly breakup). The rest of the crew was just following orders, and when they saw the by-the-book Spock disobeying, they thought they might as well too.
Ella Agathon: Thanks, it makes me smile too.
DaughterofDeath: Done!
starsnstripies: aww, thanks!
Cleopatra's Snake: Thank you! I love hearing what parts of the story everyone likes/dislikes.
Mars-Eclipse: I would have never forgiven myself! Thanks for your always-wonderful reviews!
DeAtHsTeNsHi: Thank you! I keep hearing wonderful comments about how IC Spock is and I'm really relieved that he's coming off that way. I know what you mean, too—after I saw the movie, the first thing I felt like doing was starting this! haha
NayNymic: Haha! The crew might not find out until the sequel… if I do one…
Ai-Sarang: Indeed! :D
LostSchizophrenic: Yeah, the Federation isn't going to be so thrilled… but I think saving Earth will balance it out. ;) Kirk's always getting himself into trouble!
sexy-jess: hehe! She'll definitely come up in the end. I'm glad you're liking the story!
Vindictive Vixen: How could I ever kill Spock? Too much love for that Vulcan! :)
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A/N: Soundtrack for this chapter:
--"When the World Ends" (Oakenfold Remix)—Dave Matthews Band
--"The End is the Beginning is the End"—Smashing Pumpkins
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The escape pod appeared outside of Neptune.
"It appears we've missed our target," Spock announced, gazing out the window at the blue orb.
"Nah. We haven't." Kirk turned to face him.
Spock watched his Captain curiously.
"Spock—we're not going to have the chance at Starfleet, or on a ship—"
"I fail to understand your logic. We have already engaged in two—encounters— aboard the Enterprise."
Kirk couldn't help but smile at his reluctant euphemism. "I know. But I know we've both been holding back." Eyes glowing, he reached over to put a hand on Spock's shoulder. "I want you to let go."
"I must warn you," Spock said slowly, "Vulcan emotions are much stronger and more powerful than human ones, and quite volatile while released."
"So we'll stay away from the controls."
"Jim." His eyes, which spoke volumes, pleaded gently with Kirk.
"Spock," he promised, "I can take it. And even if I can't, it's worth it." His hand hadn't moved, and he squeezed Spock's shoulder. "Let go."
Spock closed his eyes, attempting to break the final bars of the cage which had held his emotions for so long. Kirk leaned over, gently running his fingers through the fine black hair.
That did it.
He turned and gripped the Captain's face in both hands, his quiet brown eyes focused intently on Kirk's aquamarine ones. "I apologize in advance if I injure you."
Before Kirk got the chance to tell him he didn't care about bruises, Spock had pressed his warm lips to his, his fast hands tearing the battered Starfleet uniform from his torso.
An anticipation unlike any other he'd felt coursed through Kirk's veins and rushed over his skin, cold in comparison to the Vulcan's scorching touch. Overwhelmed by Spock's need, his love, the skill of his hot fingers, Kirk's suppressed fantasies were finally coming true—if this pod had enough life support, I'd stay here for years, he thought, as Spock flung his last remaining article of clothing aside.
Like a cat, Spock pounced. Kirk found himself pinned to the floor, the Vulcan's hands running up and down his sides, teeth grazing his shoulder. He shivered with satisfaction. "Spock…" The name ghosted past his lips so naturally that he barely knew he said it.
When Spock surfaced, his eyes were on fire. Almost dangerous.
"I'm jealous," Kirk panted. "God, look at you. I wish I could feel as intensely—"
Spock's lips twitched. "And you are addressing that sentiment to a Vulcan."
"What an effect I've had on you, huh?"
"Allow me to mind meld."
"Sure."
Kirk's eyes flew open in surprise as Spock's fingers met his face. It was like an injection of testosterone and adrenaline. Last time, he'd felt an abundance of Spock's well-hidden emotions. This time, one overpowered the rest—raw, uninhibited, and unbelievably strong.
Lust.
When Spock finally took his fingers away, Kirk flipped him on his back. "So this is what you've been hiding from me," he growled. "This is what you've been holding back. You shouldn't have. I like this side of you."
"My current level of arousal is low compared to my level at pon farr," he purred, watching Kirk's face for a reaction.
The Captain's knees went weak and Spock regained his position on top. He bent again, letting his lips explore Kirk's skin, relishing each one of his captain's sighs.
"I can't take it anymore," Kirk finally said in surrender, his hands on Spock's waist.
"Very well." He lifted Kirk's legs into the air and held him tightly. "Humans are not a very patient race, are they?"
"I'm definitely not," Kirk said, bracing himself. How could I be?
And then Spock was inside and Kirk felt the ecstasy of being fully connected, of giving up control for once and letting his Vulcan lover—yes, lover, thought Kirk blissfully—have the reins. But Spock was still holding back; he could feel the tension, the reluctance.
"C'mon," he teased, looking up at Spock. "There's no Bones to come running and ask us if we've gone out of our minds. No Vulcan elders telling you to think with your logic." He ran a hand over his bare chest. "It's just us, Spock. Let go."
"You will be the ruin of me yet, Jim," Spock said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
And he let go.
As Spock crashed into him, Kirk felt like he'd had his stomach punched in—the wind knocked out of him—maybe his lungs were collapsing? No, this felt amazing, amazing beyond words; the sensations coursing through his body, awakening every atom and cell, stunned him into silence, into breathlessness.
And God, those eyes—briefly, Kirk wondered what was happening to him, how a stoic Vulcan with a surprising temperamental side had transformed into the person he trusted most, the lover whose wounds he'd avenged by blowing up a starship.
Eventually, words came—at first, a slur of unintelligible syllables, something about breaking through the ship's floor into space, followed by a sentiment about it being a good way to go.
He was going to give me his katra.
"Spock," he choked out, meaning to stop him—his nether regions would surely carry dark bruises for weeks after this—but, he found, he just didn't care. This was too good to bother with consequences.
And Spock's face. He was certain that no Vulcan's face had been so expressive before, not even during pon farr. His graceful features were painted with rapture, with determination, with love and lust and liberation, the mask of aloofness melting into the air, revealing the true nature of Spock. Nothing had affected Kirk more in his life than seeing the Vulcan come to life before his eyes, seeing him embrace the humanity inside, watching him dig up the entrenched Vulcan emotions.
Beautiful. There was no other word.
Then, quite suddenly, Spock's face went out of focus, and Kirk's eyes flew shut. He grabbed wildly for Spock, hands wrapping around his upper arms, fingernails embedding in the hot skin—
"Spock… oh, God…"
His body shook violently beneath Spock's; once it was over, he forced his eyes open in order to watch the Vulcan's face. He'd seen him once in the low light of the bridge, and once in the darkness of his quarters, but this time the lights were high and Kirk could see every last change in expression.
"Jim—I'm—"
Kirk felt like an earthquake had let loose inside of him, and he watched the final transformation of Spock's face, a carved masterpiece of exhilaration, eyes shut tight, mouth open wide, yelling Kirk's name louder and louder to the vacuum of space.
Exhausted, Spock collapsed onto the floor beside Kirk, and laid his head on his Captain's shoulder.
Kirk put one arm around him and stared out the window. Neptune, he thought, you have just become my favorite planet.
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One chapter to go… I'm thinking of doing a sequel. What do you think?