Chapter Eleven

     Candy stood in stunned silence as the echo of Vierig's words in her
brain slowly died down.  Vierig!  A million questions jumbled about in her
mind:  How had he gotten into camp?  Were they under attack?  If so,
where was Dolph?  The last question frightened her the most for she was
certain that Dolph would never let Vierig near her if he were still alive to
prevent it. Candy shook her head.  She was not going to let that terrible
thought take root in her mind.  Dolph was all right.  He had to be.
     Sudden panic gripped Candy so hard she nearly doubled over.  Had
Vierig taken Silky? That had to be it!  Where else could the little rascal have
gone?  Determination stiffening her almost non-existent resolve, Candy
started off into the darkness the way Vierig had gone.  Maybe she could
reason with him.  Silky was just an innocent little kitten.  Surely Vierig
would...She didn't want to bet much on what Vierig would do.  But she
sure as heck wasn't going to sit back and watch as he walked out of Dolph's
camp with Silky in his villainous clutches.
     The darkness quickly closed in around Candy.  She hadn't realized
just how dark it would be once she left the illumination of the camp.  Even
though the ground was flat, with nothing to hide an approaching intruder,
she was certain that she was being watched.  That the bad guys were
waiting just out of her sight for the right moment, or the order, to pounce
on her.  She began to hear weird noises, rustling, screeching, hooting. 
Candy laughed and spoke softly to herself, uncomfortable with the edge of
terror she heard in her own voice.
     "How do you know they're weird noises?  Maybe they're perfectly
normal noises around here.  Then again, maybe not."
     She looked around, but the darkness kept her from seeing more than
three or four feet in any direction.  Candy decided she had better run a little
if she were going to have any chance of catching up with Vierig.  That
lasted about two minutes.  'Call me crazy,' she thought to herself as she
once again slowed her pace, 'but I have this aversion to breaking my neck
on some distant planet while running after the enemy of a space Viking to
beg him for the return of a cat that fits on an earring.'
     Candy giggled at the picture her thoughts had just painted.  Looking
behind her, just in case something were trying to sneak up on her, she
tripped over something in her path, and fell onto a hard, lumpy surface. 
Rolling slightly so she could see what had tripped her, Candy brought her
hand to her mouth just in time to muffle the scream that escaped.  She had
tripped over a Viking.  She didn't need any medical training to know that he
was dead since she had actually tripped over his head and fallen on his body
and the two were no longer attached.
     Slipping and sliding on the Viking's wet armor, Candy tried desper-

ately not to think about all the moisture, to concentrate on getting up.  She
kicked out and felt the sickening thud as her foot came into contact with the
severed head, sending it rolling away from the body.
     After what seemed like hours, her feet found solid ground.  In a
blind panic, Candy ran.  Straight into a wall of unyielding steel, bands of
which closed around her, trapping her arms against her sides.
     Hysterical, Candy screamed and tried to get loose.  She just knew
that it was the fallen warrior, angry at her for disturbing his resting place. 
She writhed in this unknown embrace, kicking and screaming, until
whoever held her placed a foot behind her legs and lowered them both
none too gently to the ground.
     As soon as his lips covered hers, Candy knew this was no undead
warrior.  It had to be Dolph that held her, she'd know that kiss anywhere. 
She stopped fighting and surrendered to the rush of safety and lust that his
embrace brought to her being.  She started to put her arms around his neck,
but he pulled back from her.  As close as he was, even in this darkness she
could see his eyes shooting green sparks.
     His teeth bared in a snarl of rage, Dolph spoke so quietly that she
could barely hear him even though she could feel his breath on her cheeks. 
Each word was carefully pronounced.
     "What are you doing here?"
     Candy knew she was in trouble, but she was so glad to see him that
she couldn't care less.  She brought her arms up around his neck and tried
to pull him down to kiss her again.  It was like trying to move a brick wall. 
The muscles in his neck were tightened to the breaking point.  His hands
gripped her shoulders and squeezed.
     "Ow!"
     "Quiet," he hissed into her face, "or by the gods I'll silence you
permanently!  Answer my question!"
     Candy glared at him, but the way his body stiffened told her it might
be better to keep her temper in check this time and just answer his question. 
Quietly, she explained.
     "Vierig got into the camp and I think he took Silky.  I was going
after him to try to reason with him."
     As she said the words out loud, Candy realized how lame, and
stupid, her explanation sounded.  As usual, she hadn't given her plan a lot
of thought.  It had sounded good at the time, so she'd plunged right in.  Her
mother had always told her that if she acted in haste, she would regret at
leisure.  The look on Dolph's face gave Candy the uncomfortable feeling
that regretting time had arrived.
     "You are a foolish bitch!  I told you if you disobeyed a warrior you
would be punished and I meant it!  Get up!"
     Dolph stood and walked away from her, issuing quiet orders to the
men who waited nearby.
     Candy sat glaring at his back for a second.  'He could at least help
me up,' she thought as she got to her feet.  Thinking over all that had
happened since he left her in camp, she had to admit that maybe she should
have given a little more thought to her actions.  She had been so worried
about Silky that she had let her emotions be her guide.  Maybe she had
acted a little rashly, but it was for a good cause.  She really wanted Dolph to
understand.
     She started toward him but Felix blocked her path.  When she raised
questioning eyes to him, he shook his head.  Leaning down, Felix spoke
almost into her ear.
     "He is best left alone right now, Star."
     Keeping her voice equally quiet, Candy defended her purpose.
     "I want to explain."
     Felix's lips curved in a slight, ironic smile.
     "Look at him, girl, does he look to be in an understanding mood?"
     Candy looked at Dolph.  He stood with his back to her.  His
shoulders were straight, his back and neck stiff as a ruler.  He held his
sword in one hand, his shield in the other.  He was watching as his men
gathered the body of their fallen comrade into some sort of tarpaulin.  As
she watched, he raised his sword to the sky.  His whole body shook with
anger, yet he made no sound.
     Turning back to Felix, she smiled sheepishly.
     "Maybe not.  I'll wait till we get back to camp and we can talk
alone."
     The walk to camp was solemn.  No one spoke.  Four men carried
the body of the fallen guard.  Dolph led the way, Candy and Felix walked
behind the body and two men brought up the rear.  When they entered the
camp, Kirk came running.  He started to speak to Dolph, but Dolph cut him
off with a voice of unarguable authority.
     "Take Star to my tent.  Stay there with her.  Should she try to leave
you have my permission to restrain her in any way you feel necessary."
     Dolph then proceeded to speak with several warriors who had come
with Kirk.  Kirk stepped past him, casting a wary glance in his direction and
giving him a wide berth, and took hold of Candy's arm.  He led her toward
Dolph's tent.
     Once more, Candy bit back her temper.  The way Dolph had dis-

missed her without even a sideways glance in her direction had almost done
it.  But she knew that he was in no mood to take getting yelled at right now. 
She'd keep track of all his infractions and speak to him later.
     Kirk held the tent-flap for her.  She went straight to the bed and sat
down disgustedly.  Dolph was being totally unreasonable.  She would
probably have had more luck trying to talk to Vierig!  Kirk stood in front of
her, a look of censure on his young face.  Candy glared up at him.
     "So what's your problem, kid?"
     "I am not a kid, and you are my problem.  Because of you, I have
failed my brother.  Dolph instructed me to care for you and I let you get
away.  He is very angry."
     Candy snorted.
     "No kidding.  Don't look so glum, kid, so you might get KP for a
week or two.  I think you can handle it.  Besides, I intend to tell Dolph that
it was all my fault.  You told me to stay here.  I didn't listen.  Maybe he'll go
easier on you."
     Kirk straightened, glaring down his nose at her.
     "I don't need you to defend me, woman.  I made the mistake of
trusting you.  I will make no excuses and take my punishment like a
Viking."
     Candy rolled her eyes, tossed her hair behind her shoulders and
stood to face the arrogant teen.
     "You are unbelievable.  You make it sound like I lied to you.  I
didn't.  You gave me an order and expected me to follow it.  Wrong!  I
never said I would and I didn't.  I'm not some dog that you can tell to 'stay',
you know!"
     Kirk's voice raised to match hers.
     "No, at least a dog is smart enough to follow commands.  You have
yet to be properly trained.  My brother was crazy to bring you here in the
first place.  And after that stunt you pulled with Ulrich you should have
been beaten!"
     "Why you little..."
     "Silence!"
     The two combatants had been so totally involved in their argument
that they hadn't noticed Dolph quietly enter the tent.  His yell shook the
canvas walls and made them both jump.  He stood to his full height and
pointed at Candy.
     "You will sit," he emphasized the word, "on the bed and stay,"
again that annoying emphasis, "there while I deal with my brother."
     Candy took one look into those pools of green ice and sat on the
bed, fuming.
     Now Dolph turned to point at Kirk, who was looking slightly
apprehensive.
     "Kirk, report!"
     Candy had to admire the young man's courage.  He looked up into
Dolph's eyes, never flinching, even when telling him about getting knocked
to the ground by the tent-flap.  His report of the day's activities was very
succinct and to the point, with no embellishments.  Candy watched the
fascinating play of emotions across Dolph's face, starting with humor at the
tent-flap story, shifting to exasperation for the flags and finally ending with
anger, and concern, when hearing of Silky's disappearance.  When Kirk
finished his 'report', he nodded to his big brother.  After a moment, Dolph
spoke.
     "And what punishment do you feel is justified by your lack of
success in carrying out your duties to your commander?"
     Kirk stiffened.  Candy felt sorry for him.  He was trying to be so
mature, but beneath it all he was still a scared little boy.  His next words
shocked her.
     "If I were in command, I would give five lashes to someone who
failed as I have."
     Candy started to come to her feet, but Kirk pushed her back down
onto the bed.  His look was pleading, but his words were tough.
     "Do as you're told, woman!"
     From the corner of her eye, Candy thought she saw a tiny smile
steal across Dolph's lips.  When she looked, it was gone, his face all
business again.
     "Very well.  You will receive five lashes first thing in the morning. 
Continue with your duties for the rest of the evening."
     Kirk gave a sharp nod, then turned and left the tent.
     Candy stared up at Dolph in stunned disbelief.  He had taken on a
somewhat businesslike tone for his last words to Kirk.  He maintained that
tone now.
     "I believe that you were truly not aware of your folly with my ships'
flags.  As for Silky, he can be very difficult to keep track of, and I shouldn't
have set you such a task.  Therefore, I will be lenient in those matters. 
However, your blatant disregard for orders to remain in this tent is another
matter."
     "Wait a minute.  You never ordered me to remain in this tent.  You
said that I was to obey warriors.  You can't tell me that little boy is a
warrior."
     Candy allowed a little smugness to enter her voice.
     "So, I didn't actually disobey a warrior.  And as for..."
     Dolph interrupted her, moving to stand before her.  He towered
over her.  She would have liked to stand so she wouldn't feel quite so much
like a bug under a microscope, but he was too close to the bed to allow it. 
His voice lowered, which Candy had learned meant trouble, and he leaned
over her until she had to lean back to see him clearly.
     "Don't waste my time with games, woman, you were well aware of
the danger, yet you went out of this camp to follow Vierig.  Are you a
complete fool?  Would you give him such a weapon to use against me?  I
had thought you intelligent enough to be left unguarded.  I was mistaken."
     He straightened and turned his back to her.  She thought this odd,
since he usually spoke directly to her face.
     "The boy is correct.  You must be taught the consequences of your
actions."
     His voice dropped to a near-whisper.
     "Before you learn them from someone who cares nothing for you."
     Candy was riding the line between frightened and furious.  How
dare he threaten her, and with what was he threatening her?  Her Scottish
bravado came to the fore.
     "So what are you gonna do, Viking, give me a hundred lashes at
sunrise?"
     Dolph turned back to face her and the tender look in his eyes caught
her by surprise.  His voice matched his eyes.
     "You really don't understand what it would do to me to have Vierig
get his hands on you, do you?  I would gladly trade my life for yours, but
he would never allow me to make that sacrifice.  If you had learned the
consequences of your foolishness at his hands, it would have been the last
lesson you were ever given.  Vierig would have destroyed my soul in your
body and won the battle he has waged for so long."
     His voice returned to that businesslike tone she was learning to hate.
     "Vikings believe that a lesson is best learned when accompanied by
pain."
     He smiled an ironic smile.
     "At the very least, it gets your attention.  I will allow you to choose
when your punishment will take place, now or in the morning."
     Now Candy did stand, her eyes blazing sapphire flames as she
stalked toward the Viking warrior.
     "Wait just a minute, you archaic chauvinistic ass!  If you think for
one minute that I'm just going to stand by while you beat me, you've got
another think coming."
     Dolph's hands came down on her shoulders, stopping her in her
tracks.  She glared up at him, and he did likewise down at her.
     "You will do whatever I say, whenever I say it, Star.  Never doubt
that."
     His lips descended onto hers, bruising, yet lovingly claiming at the
same time.  Then he set her from him and looked down at her with his jaw
set.
     "Choose."
     Candy's mouth dropped open in amazement.
     "You have got to be kidding.  I don't believe you.  You treat me like
you love me dearly one minute; the next, you're the Marquis DeSade,
asking me to pick my torture.  Oh, no, I forget myself.  I don't get to suggest
my own 'punishment', I guess women are too stupid to even do that.  I get
to choose when I get it.  As if that matters a darn!"
     Dolph started to speak, but Candy threw her hands into the air,
palms toward his face.  They were both surprised at what a good imitation
of him she managed.
     "Silence!"
     Dolph arched one eyebrow, tilting his head to the side, and a slight
smile touched the corner of his mouth.  He kept quiet as Star continued her
tirade.  He was enjoying the view, drinking in her beauty, a beauty that had
almost been lost to him because of her own foolishness.  He had no
intention of causing her, or his brother for that matter, any real pain.  Just
enough to make it clear to them that he meant what he said, that obedience
and duties were all-important to a Viking, sometimes meaning the
difference between life and death.
     How the light played off her long, silver-touched hair as she stalked
back and forth in front of him, retelling the story of the horrible day from
her point of view.  The black jumpsuit clung to the splendid curves of her
body like a second skin.  He remembered how those curves felt as they
undulated beneath him, and his loins began to fire with lust.  He knew he
had little time before he would have to take her, to quench his thirst for the
fiery vixen.  With great effort, he shifted his attention to her face to listen to
what she was saying.
     "...just a little boy, really.  You can't have him beaten, he's your
brother.  He tried to keep track of me, but I was determined to find Silky. 
Okay, okay, so it wasn't the most brilliant thing I've ever done in my life,
but it made sense at the time.  I made a mistake, I admit it, but haven't you
great Viking warriors got better things to do than beat women and children? 
That's barbaric, Dolph!  Back home, they put people in jail for that kind of
thing.  They..."
     "This is your home."
     Dolph had spoken quietly, but the look of love in his eyes made
Candy shut-up so she could hear him.  Placing his fist over his heart, Dolph
continued in the same gentle voice.
     "Here, in my heart.  I wish that I could close you safe within its
walls forever, so that I could protect you with my life.  But I cannot."
     He stepped forward and stood in front of her, looking down into her
eyes as he brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face.  At the touch
of his fingers on the sensitive skin of her cheek, Candy felt a rush of
emotion fill her heart as a flood of arousal drowned out her resistance. 
Without thinking, she let her head fall back so that his fingers would trail on
down her neck.
     That sensuous show of surrender was Dolph's undoing.  His hand
slipped around her neck to pull her forward into his arms.  As the fire of the
day's battle still burning within his body combined with the heat he felt for
Star, he thought they might both be consumed by the flames.  He brought
his lips down on her soft, yielding mouth and plunged his tongue into the
welcoming sweetness.  Her moan as she wrapped her arms around his neck
drove him to even greater heights.  His body had never flooded with the
blood of passion as quickly, or as firmly, as it did with this woman.  She
was a temptress, a sorceress who had surely taken his soul.  Dolph smiled as
he quickly pulled her clothes from her body.  Star returned ten-fold what
she had taken from him, and that was the kind of bargain Vikings liked.  He
laid her on the bed, then stood to remove his battle gear.
     At this moment, Candy wished the lighting were a little worse in the
tent.  This was the first good look at Dolph that she had managed since he'd
found her outside of the camp.  He was a truly frightening sight.  From the
top of his helmet to the toes of his boots he was caked with a near-black
powder that Candy was certain was dried blood.  'He must have killed a
hundred men to get that much blood on him,' she thought as she watched
him undress.  As he dropped each piece of clothing to the floor, the blond
hair and pale skin revealed emphasized the ugliness of the blood.  Candy
looked away as she felt her stomach threaten to become her enemy.
     Dolph saw Star turn from him in disgust and his anger returned.  He
stepped forward, wrapped his fingers around the lower half of her face, and
pulled until she looked at him.  His anger showed in his steely green eyes
and quiet, intense voice.
     "You had better learn to tolerate the sights and smells of battle, Star. 
If the gods are willing, you shall see me covered in other men's blood many
times in the future.  You should exult in it, lady, for it means that your
warrior has returned victorious and his enemies lie slain on the battlefield."
     It was fascinating to watch as the sultry dark-blue of passion turned
to the ice-blue of anger in Star's eyes.  It happened in about three blinks. 
Dolph felt a smile enter his mind, but never let it touch his lips.  One of the
things he loved about Star was her fiery, if a little quick, temper.  She raised
her hand to pry Dolph's fingers from her chin.  He held firm.  Glaring up at
him, she spoke as quietly as he had, barely controlled anger evident in the
shaking of her body.
     "Let go of me!"
     Dolph released her and turned, planning to place his armor outside
the tent to be cleaned.  Candy stood, grabbed his shoulder and pulled as
hard as she could until he turned back to face her, a rather startled look on
his face.
     "Don't you dare walk away from me!  I don't know who you think
you are, Viking...oh, yes, I do, you think you're God's gift to women, and
we mustn't forget the greatest killer to ever walk a battlefield.  Well, I am
not impressed!  Which is probably fine with you since you're so damn
impressed with yourself.  Has anyone ever told you you're the most
conceited man that ever breathed?  I don't suppose they have, at least not
and lived.  But that's beside the point.  You are not my husband or my
father.  No matter how uneducated I am about your ways, you have no
right to treat me like a child.  You give me a lecture on how I should be glad
that you went out and killed a bunch of guys and came back victorious.  Big
deal!  So you can whack parts off faster than any other man out there.  I
think that's horrible!  Those men may have wives and families.  Heck, some
of them are probably even your cousins since according to you all Vikings
are related.  But all they are to you is another notch on your sword!  Well I
refuse to be happy that they're dead just so you can be alive.  I think the
whole thing is just a typical example of men doing stupid things to prove
how macho they are.  And another thing..."
     If she had not been so beautiful in her naked anger, Dolph would
have silenced Star long ago.  She paid no mind to her nakedness, standing
proudly before him, tossing her hair and glaring up at him.  The view was
very enjoyable, and she might feel better if she got some of her anger out.
     "...I will not be 'punished' like a two-year-old, or left to stew about it
all night so in the morning you can tell me you've forgiven me."
     At Dolph's raised eyebrow, Candy smiled smugly.
     "Hey, I know a little bit about psychology.  You're not really going
to beat Kirk in the morning, you just want him to spend a terrible night
thinking you will so he won't do it again.  Well, I'm not a kid.  I can see
through your plan.  You knew I wouldn't choose to get 'punished' now -
anyone in their right mind would put it off as long as possible - so I get to
worry about it all night.  Meanwhile, you get to have your jollies.  Well,
forget it, super-Viking, I'm not interested.  I feel a terrible headache coming
on.  And you're it!"
     Dolph shook his head slowly, exasperation clearly evident on his
handsome features.  He wondered if his spirited Star would ever understand
that she had been thrust into a new world where the rules she had lived by
all of her life no longer applied.  He doubted it.  She was so stubborn, she
would fight for her 'rights' for years.  Dolph smiled.  That battle would
surely be the best he would ever fight.  He wondered who would eventually
think themselves the winner.
     Dolph slowly and deliberately untied his loincloth, the last bit of
clothing he wore, and let it fall to the ground.  The look in his eyes was
unmistakable.  Candy straightened her shoulders defiantly, though a tiny
spark of apprehension showed in her eyes.  She took a couple of steps away
from the Viking warrior, which brought her up against the edge of the bed. 
Dolph advanced on her.  Obviously, she had not made her position clear
enough.
     "I said no, Viking."
     In answer, Dolph reached out a hand to cup one firm, round breast. 
Anger and lust warred in Candy's body.  This time anger won.  She was not
going to be treated like some kind of plaything by this arrogant man!  She
slapped him firmly across the face, causing some of the dried blood to come
off and leave an imprint where her hand connected.  The sting in her palm
had just begun to register in her brain when, with a howl of pure rage,
Dolph grabbed her and tossed her face down on the bed.  Before she could
even get her wits about her enough to move, his weight came down on top
of her, forcing the air from her lungs.  Startled, Candy gave a little scream. 
Dolph's voice sounded in her ear as he grabbed hold of her hips and lifted
the lower half of her body into the air.
     "You never," he dug his fingers into the tender flesh of her inner
hip, causing Candy to suck a sharp breath of pain through her teeth,  "never
strike a warrior.  And 'no' is a word that I never wish to hear from your lips
again."
     Candy tried to raise her head but Dolph put his hand in the middle
of her back and shoved, forcing her face and chest down to the bed. 
Holding her firm with one hand between her shoulder blades, he used his
powerful legs to force her knees apart and keep them where he wanted
them.  Candy screamed in rage as she felt his hand slide between her legs. 
She struck backwards as hard as she could, striking him on the side.  He
grunted but didn't really seem to notice.  Candy continued to try to stop
him, hitting and trying to raise her head until she felt a familiar hardness
begin to fill her.  She screamed, "No!" and tried to twist her body sideways. 
Dolph's bellow of "Hold!" made her stop.  He made no further movement
as he spoke to her.
     "Fight me no more, Star.  I have no wish to hurt you, love, but I will
not be denied.  You are my woman, you will do as I tell you."
     He withdrew from her body, inserted a very wet finger to prepare
the way, then slowly eased his shaft of steel into her tight sheath.  Candy
gritted her teeth, not against the pain - there was no real pain, just pressure -
but against the pleasure that his invasion of her body brought.  He held her
firmly, his slow strokes beginning to break down her body's resistance. 
Candy, the intellectual, was still seething with anger; but Candy, the
woman, was responding to her lover's caresses with increasing passion. 
When his hand left her back to cup her breast, Candy gave a brief thought
to continuing the fight, but she was honest enough with herself to admit that
this battle was over, and the victor was Dolph.
     Sensing no more resistance, Dolph groaned and slid his hand across
Star's sensitive upper thigh, then down to lightly brush the tender bud of
pleasure between her legs.  Star arched, crying out, and her sheath
squeezed him so tightly he thought he might scream from the near-painful
pleasure.  He leaned forward to place hungry kisses across her shoulders. 
Her hair had parted and fallen forward to reveal the back of her neck.  He
brushed his teeth over the sensitive skin, a soft bite of animal possession. 
She moaned with pleasure.
     Star slid her hand along the bed, then reached upward until she
came into contact with Dolph.  As he moved in and out of her body, she
caressed him with her palm and fingertips.  She cupped his sac in her hand
and squeezed gently, enjoying the feel of the soft skin and hard contents.
     Dolph was losing himself in Star's beautiful body.  Her bud had
become slick with their juices so his finger slid easily.  He caressed her with
quick firm strokes, as his thrusts became more rapid.
     "Star," his voice was more animal growl than human word, "you
bewitch me.  I have never climbed so high.  I feel I am touching the very
walls of Valhalla.  Yes, my love, squeeze me, join with my soul as our
bodies soar.  Come to me, my shining Star.  Oh, gods!"
     Dolph arched, throwing his head back and yelling as he reached a
pinnacle of pleasure the likes of which he had never before experienced. 
He thrust into Star, releasing an explosion of seed deep within her womb.
     Candy felt Dolph's sac tighten as he climaxed, the warm liquid
filling her.  Her body was on fire, her mind no longer running on human
thought, but rather animal instinct.  Dolph's finger continued stroking her,
his caresses almost rough now.  She didn't care how rough he was at this
moment.  She wanted his caresses any way she could get them.  Even
though he was beginning to grow soft within her body, Dolph continued
thrusting, his shaft caressing the inside of her body as his finger caressed the
outside.
     Suddenly, all of Candy's muscles seemed to contract at once and for
one blinding second she hung over the precipice of complete pleasure. 
Dolph's teeth grazed the back of her neck and she fell, screaming, into the
abyss.  Tiny sparks flared behind her closed lids as her body spasmed again
and again until she thought it would never cease.  Dolph covered her body
with his own, protecting her as she surrendered to her body's needs.  He
whispered words of love as he released her legs and let her sink to the bed,
where she lay on her stomach panting.
     Candy had no idea how long she had been laying there.  It could
have been days for all she knew, or cared, in her exhausted state.  She was
completely limp as Dolph pulled her onto her back and into his arms.  She
rested her head on his shoulder and refused to think about anything other
than how good she felt.  She'd remember what they had been fighting about
later.  Right now, she was too tired, and felt too wonderful, for anything to
matter.  Dolph kissed her forehead, tucked his other hand behind his head
and drifted off to sleep.