Chapter Nineteen

     Candy awoke tucked cozily in Dolph's bed on board the ship.  She
was a bit confused as to how she had gotten there.  She remembered
snuggling into Dolph's arms after he played He-man when she complained
about being forced to walk across half a planet while she was wounded and
probably getting infected by some alien fungus.  She had a vague memory
of that light-headed feeling she always got when they beamed aboard the
ship.  Oh, well.  She knew she was safe here, so she turned over and
thought about going back to sleep.
     Dolph came into the room with a determined stride and a rather
sour, maybe even angry, expression.  Candy immediately wondered if she
had done something to make him mad that she couldn't even remember. 
She decided to test the waters carefully.
     "Hi, honey.  What's going on?"
     Dolph's eyes snapped to her face as soon as she uttered a sound. 
She wasn't sure what it was that she glimpsed in that unguarded moment
before the veil of manly pride slammed shut over his eyes.  Sorrow?  Pain? 
Whatever it was, it made her slightly uneasy.  He came to her and sat on the
edge of the bed.  Taking her hand in his, he tried not to look too concerned
as he asked, "How do you feel?"
     "I'm fine.  How are you?"
     "Your back healed well," he was so matter-of-fact Candy was really
starting to worry.  As he continued, his business-like attitude gave way to a
quiet, brooding one.  "There will be no scar, no lasting effects of your
adventure.  This time."
     Star squinted at him as though she were trying to see something far
away.  Dolph correctly guessed that she was trying to peer into his mind
and figure out exactly what was going on in there.  He made the decision to
come out and tell her rather than endure her merciless questioning.
     Dolph stood and stepped away from the bed.  He took a deep
breath, then turned and looked down at her with such a detached expression
that Candy sat up in the bed, her beautiful face reflecting her concern.
     "Dolph, what is it, what happened while I was asleep?  Did they
attack?  Is Kirk alright?  Why are we...?
     Dolph held his palm toward her in an unspoken request for silence. 
Even though that was one of the autocratic things he did that made her
crazy, Candy decided to shut-up and give him his way this time.
     "Star, be quiet and listen.  The doctor informed me that if Vierig's
blade had gone an inch deeper, it would have severed your spine, either
killing you instantly or crippling you for the rest of your life.  You lost so
much blood that you slept for 16 hours."
     He looked at the ground and spoke as if to himself.
     "I should never have taken you on this campaign."
     He lifted his eyes back to hers and once again she saw that
indescribable look that he had worn when he first realized that she was
awake.  This time, he couldn't completely blank it out.
     "My father took my mother from a time on Earth when women
were just beginning to feel their independence.  Most, like Maddy, were still
content to stay at home, caring for their husbands and children.  Though
mother had spirit, she had no desire for adventure."
     The ghost of a smile touched his lips.
     "In my arrogance, I thought that I would be enough adventure for
you, Star.  Being my woman, bearing and raising my children, that would
be all the life you would need.  I was wrong."
     His eyes glowed now with so much love that Candy felt a lump
forming in her throat.
     "You thirst for excitement like a warrior thirsts for battle.  You've
shown courage, cunning, even a bit of bloodthirstiness.  If you were a man,
I would be happy to have you fight by my side.  Here," he spread his hand
to indicate the bed in which Candy lay, "you are all a man could wish for. 
And here," he brought his clenched fist to his chest, "you are a conqueror. 
My heart will be your trophy till the day I draw my last breath."
     Suddenly Dolph spun away from the bed.  Pulling both fists to his
chest and throwing back his head, he yelled at the ceiling, a wordless sound
of anguish.  He turned back to her, unshed tears of emotional torture
shining in his eyes.  Candy started to get out of bed.  Whatever was hurting
him, she was sure she could help, even if she just put her arms around him
and told him it would be okay.
     As soon as her hand touched his chest, Dolph pulled her into his
arms so hard she heard the smack of her chest hitting his.  Those bands of
steel that passed for arms tightened and he lifted her off the ground.  Before
she knew it, his lips were devouring her.
     It could barely be called a kiss.  Dolph seemed to be trying to take
her into himself; to smell, taste, touch every inch of her body.  Candy knew
what the romance novels meant when they said the hero worshiped the
heroine.  Dolph held her molded to his body, her feet dangling inches above
the floor, while he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, everything he could
reach.  When he got frustrated because he couldn't reach any lower, he fell
back onto the bed, taking her with him.  He quickly rolled her beneath him,
never letting the contact of their bodies be broken.  His knees pushed her
legs apart as his hands caressed her breasts in a just-this-side-of-rough
fashion.  Then he raised himself onto his knees above her and, grasping the
neck of his jumpsuit, tore the interfering material from his body.
     Candy barely noticed.  She reached for him, trying at the same time
to think, to catch her breath.  But as his lips descended to her breasts and
his tongue laved the distended tips, each in turn, she decided that thinking,
and breathing for that matter, was highly overrated.  Sensation was all that
mattered.  Feeling Dolph's massive chest expand against her fingertips, his
lips moving lower on her torso, each flick of his tongue Heaven and Hell
combined, this was all that existed in the universe at the moment.
     Candy gasped as his hands gripped her thighs and thrust them apart. 
She didn't have time to even try to get herself under control before his
tongue plunged into the dense fur between her legs and she was arching her
back to give him better access.  A scream of surprised pleasure escaped her
throat.  Before she met Dolph, she might have been embarrassed by that
show of abandon, but she knew he would find it exciting, that it would
increase his pleasure to know that she was losing control.  Knowing that,
Candy didn't try to remain civilized, she just let go.
     With that release of control came an explosion of pleasure that
released a liquid fire where his lips and tongue were coaxing her to life. 
Moaning in ecstasy, she reached blindly for him.  His glorious hair filtered
through her fingers, the silky strands fluttering against her palms and giving
her one more sensation to add to all the others that were threatening to
overload her system.  She could feel the pressure beginning to build inside
her, but she didn't want to experience it alone.  At this minute, she wanted
more than anything to be connected to Dolph, to feel him losing his mind
while she lost her own.
     When Star grasped his head between her palms and pulled, a sound
that vaguely resembled his name slipping from between her lips, Dolph
couldn't resist any longer.  His throbbing erection had long ago reached the
point of pain, but he still wanted to prolong this moment, to listen to Star's
moans and screams of ecstasy just a little while longer.  He wanted to
memorize every inch of her, every smell, every taste.  He couldn't get
enough of her.
     His slid his finger into her wet warmth and felt the spasms that
drove her ever closer to her climax.  His warrior's control snapped.  He
thrust himself up her body, raising his chest on his elbows to keep from
crushing her.  Star's beautiful legs wrapped around his hips, her back
arched.  Dolph closed his eyes and held his breath as his shaft slid easily
into her welcoming body.  Focused as he was, he felt every inch of himself
being consumed and ignited by his magnificent lover.  Her muscles
tightened around him and he exhaled in a growl.
     Dolph flattened his palms on the bed and lifted his upper body into
the air.  From here he could watch Star.  As he thrust deeply into her, Star
arched and dropped back her head.  She was so beautiful, so responsive,
matching his every move with one of her own until he thought he could see
the gates of Valhalla opening before him.  He heard her breath catch, felt
the strong spasms of her climax begin.  Star lifted her head and their eyes
locked and held, sapphire blue and emerald green clashing in aqua pleasure. 
She grabbed his hips, her nails digging into the hard flesh, her legs seizing
him in a nearly painful grip.  A scream of pure pleasure started deep in her
throat and eased its way upward until it filled the air with sound, shattering
his control.
     For the first time in his life, Dolph felt the demon berserker enter his
mind and body when he was not on the battlefield.  And he welcomed it,
somehow knowing that it presented no danger to Star, perhaps because she
was possessed by one of her own.  She was surely a Valkyrie sent to take
him to Valhalla.  As he wrapped his arms around her and plunged his last
into her yielding body, he released all control.  Nothing touched his mind
but the pleasure.  His massive body shook with the power of his climax, and
his seed exploded into Star like molten lava.
     Keeping her wrapped securely in his arms, Dolph rolled to his side. 
Other than tightening her arms around his back, Star was as limp as a rag
doll.  They lay like that for an untold time.  A beeping forced Dolph to
untangle himself from Star so that he could answer the intercom.  She let
him go with a little mew of displeasure, her smile radiant.
     "Commander, we're orbiting Earth."
     Dolph felt as though he had just been punched in the gut.  He took
a deep painful breath.
     "Maintain orbit until further notice."
     Star gave a lazy, quizzical tilt of her head.  She sounded a little
sleepy.
     "Earth?  My Earth?"
     Dolph smiled.
     "Yes, love, your Earth."
     She turned onto her back and stretched like a contented cat.
     "Um.  What are we doing here?  Don't tell me, I made such a great
impression on your guys that there's gonna be a run on Earth women."
     Dolph wondered how much truth there might be to that.  His men
did like Star.  Her spirit and way with words would be the stuff of many
songs, he was sure.  Pulling on another jumpsuit, he prepared to leave.  At
the door, he turned and drank what he knew would be his last of her
smiling face.
     "Star, I can't leave you at my home and make a prison of my love.  I
can't take you with me to have curiosity and boredom lead you to die in my
arms on some godforsaken planet.  You were right, the time might come
when I was not there to rescue you.  I love you too much to see you hate
me, or to see you hurt or killed because of me."
     Sudden terror gripped Candy in its steely jaws.  She sat up.
     "Dolph..."
     Dolph shook his head.  His tone brooked no opposition.
     "My decision is made.  The clothes you came with have been
repaired.  They are in the closet.  Put them on and I will return for you
shortly."
     With that, he turned away from her and left the room.

                       ***

     Candy sat and stared at the closed door for several minutes, too
stunned to move.  Her thoughts were a jumble of emotions - pain, anger,
confusion.  Dolph was throwing her back, like some fish that he had
suddenly decided was too small to keep.  He said he loved her; then, in the
same sentence, said goodbye.  Did men have any feelings, any real heart? 
Or were they just rutting machines that used women until they got in the
way of their future plans?  Though tears were flowing freely down her
cheeks, anger was actually winning in her heart.  Candy would be damned
if she were going to be tossed out of Dolph's life like yesterday's garbage! 
Not without a fight that he'd remember for the rest of his miserable life!
     She found her clothes in the closet, just as he'd said she would. 
Candy couldn't find any evidence that they had ever been torn.  They
looked good as new.  With the beginnings of a downhill slide into
melancholy, Candy remembered how Dolph had torn them from her body
the first time they had had sex.  Though not a particularly pleasant memory
in itself, it led to other, more agreeable memories which Candy didn't wish
to ponder right now.  Her anger returned and a growl escaped her when she
saw that those were the only clothes available to her in said closet, unless
she wanted to wear his.  Dolph wasn't taking any chances that she might
dare to disobey him.  Which, of course, she would have done if the
circumstances had been different.  But since she didn't want to face him
naked, she dressed in her black jeans and red shirt and waited for him to
return.
     Dolph stood on the bridge, his black mood clearly visible in his
deeply furrowed brow and tight-lipped frown.  None of his men wished to
cross him while his temper simmered so close to the surface.  They all knew
why they were here and most of them were unhappy themselves.  They had
enjoyed Star's presence, they didn't wish to see her go.  Most were puzzled
by Dolph's actions, they wondered why he didn't just take Star home and
give her children.  Surely that would settle her down.  Only the few
warriors whose women had claimed their hearts could come close to
understanding.  They knew that Star had a wild, untamed spirit, one that
might not take well to life as a homebound warrior's wife.  Whatever
Dolph's reasons, his crew would be sad to say goodbye to his beautiful,
laughing Star.
     "Commander, we're over Las Vegas."
     Dolph's tone was hollow, empty.
     "Hold our position.  Notify Oleg that we will be dropping Star in ten
minutes."
     Dolph inhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders and squaring his jaw. 
He left the bridge as though he were going to the toughest battle of his life. 
In his heart, he knew that he was going to lose this one.
     She was waiting for him when he opened the door, not teary eyed
and pleading, as he had feared, but pacing with fury.  He was barely
through the door when she turned on him like a bull charging the matador's
cape.
     "You know, you men make me so angry I can understand genocide. 
You are definitely another species, the rough draft.  Women are the
improved model.  You don't make any sense.  One minute you love me, the
next you never want to see me again.  You do realize that doesn't make a lot
of sense?"
     As she stopped for a breath, Dolph took the opportunity to speak.
     "I have explained myself as thoroughly as I intend to, Star.  Perhaps
someday, when you are less emotional, you will understand."
     Fire blazed anew in her sapphire eyes.  Her voice rose as she spoke.
     "Don't you dare pull that 'is it PMS, dear' bull on me!  I am not
emotional!"
     At his arched eyebrow, Candy took a deep breath and used both
hands to place her hair behind her shoulders.  Continuing to glare at him,
she exhaled slowly, trying to let some of the anger drain out with the breath. 
It must have worked.  She spoke in a more controlled, and quieter, tone.
     "Okay, I am a little upset.  But I am not emotional.  I'm not crying. 
Do you see a tear on this face?"
     She touched her cheek with her fingertip, then turned the same
finger to the sky in a 'see' gesture.
     "No, you do not.  And do you know why?"
     Dolph knew by this point that he was not supposed to answer these
questions, so he didn't try.
     "Because, for once in this interesting relationship, I'm going to try to
have a civilized discussion.  Please, sit down.  You know how I hate it when
you tower over me like some gargoyle."
     She sat on the bed near the headboard and motioned for him to take
a seat near the foot.  With a sigh of frustration, Dolph sat.  Star was going
to try to talk him out of sending her home.  It would be very difficult to
deny her, especially when his heart wasn't in it.  He silently asked the gods
for the strength to do what his mind knew was best, but his heart fought at
every turn.
     Candy decided she was going to keep her calm if it killed her.  She
was fighting for the most important thing in her life, and she didn't want to
lose because her temper got the best of her and led her to try to brain the
arrogant man before her.  She was pleased with the calm, reasonable tone
of her voice.
     "Dolph, I never thought I'd say this, but I have absolutely no desire
to go home.   I mean, back to Earth.  My home is with you now.  I know
I've had one or two adjustment problems, but I'm working on it.  It isn't
easy, you know.  I have to drop back several centuries in women's thinking,
and forward who knows how far in science.  It's like 'Star Trek' meets
'Leave it to Beaver'."
     The corners of his mouth tipped upward the tiniest bit.  Candy
smiled inwardly, thinking maybe she had him on the run.
     "Your men like me.  And, if you think about it, I didn't really cause
any trouble, I was just there when it came to visit," she held up her hands,
"I know, I know, that's what worries you.  But, Dolph, everything came out
okay.  I didn't get killed, not even by you in a bad mood.  We beat Vierig. 
And, aside from a few minor problems, it was fun."
     "You could have been killed, or worse."
     Candy rolled her eyes and flipped her hands toward the ceiling.
     "That is such a man thing to say.  Whenever another man gets near
your woman there is suddenly something worse than dying.  Personally, I
always figured as long as I'm alive, I'm ahead of the game.  But, that's
beside the point.  Dolph," she moved closer to him, taking his hand in her
own and gazing into his eyes.  Her voice was a low caress that Dolph found
difficult to resist, "I love you.  And you say you love me.  If we've got that
we can handle anything."
     She was so beautiful, her silver tresses shining like the stars he had
named her for.  Unbidden, a vision of her magnificent mane coated in
blood from the wound given to her by Vierig's sword came to his mind. 
The doctor's words, 'another inch would have plucked this Star from the
sky', roared in his head.  And the memory of his mother - his loving, vibrant
mother - cold and dead because she had wanted so much to please her
husband, closed his heart to Star's pleading.  He would not see her dead
because he was not strong enough to let her go.
     Dolph pulled his hand from her grip and stood so suddenly that
Candy wondered if something had bitten him.  She didn't like the
determined look on his face.  She didn't think it boded well for her.
     "You have not proven to be acceptable as my wife."
     His voice was cold, cruel.
     "I have decided that I am not ready to take a bride as yet."
     Candy stood and faced him.  She prayed to find the right thing to
say, but she could feel him slipping away.  Desperation colored her words.
     "What about your promise to your father?  You promised him that
you'd find a wife, Kirk told me."
     Dolph looked down at her with an imperious frown.
     "I will keep my word to Roarke in my own good time.  When I do, I
will find a woman who will be content to be my wife and the mother of my
children without quarrel.  Argue no longer, woman, you begin to get on my
nerves.  Come."
     He reached for her hand, but Candy stepped away from him.
     "No!  I think you're full of it, Dolph!  I think you're trying to hurt
me so it will be easier for me to forget you, or some such crap that your
male mind has come up with.  Well, it's not going to work, do you hear
me?"
     She was screaming now, near hysteria, her heart breaking, her chest
near to exploding with the pain.
     "If you make me leave you, I'll never forgive you.  I'll go to my
death-bed cursing your name!"
     She raised her hands, clenched tightly into fists, and slammed them
against his chest.  He stood like a marble statue, making no move to stop
her abuse, no emotion showing on his face.
     "I'll hate you, you bastard, I'll hate you till the day I die!"
     Sobs wracked her body as she collapsed against him.  He wrapped
his arms around her just tightly enough to keep her from falling to the floor. 
Though his heart had shattered into a million pieces when the first tear had
coursed down her cheek, he allowed none of his pain to show.  In a voice
of soft command, he spoke to the air above her head.
     "So be it."