The morning sun woke Spock and he sat up, turning toward the warm body beside him. He was hungry. He had long ago discarded his reluctance to partake of the food Ruth could provide. Without waking her he slid down on their pallet, gently pulling aside her halter. An illogical appreciation of her swollen breast and soft, protruding nipple swept through him and he pushed it aside and settled his mouth around her flesh.
       She sighed sleepily and her hand came down to gently stroke the back of his head as it always did. In seconds the warm, sweet flow filled his mouth. He closed his eyes and took hungrily and was unaware that Ruth was awake and blissful - or that she reached an orgasm before he was done.

       Ruth waited several minutes before she stretched and stirred. Spock had left the small cave after efficiently and thoroughly emptying her breasts and if she appeared too soon, he would be embarrassed. She was a little dizzy when she stood up and her stomach growled. Tonight, she decided. I can't continue without food. She smiled in anticipation then refastened her halter, and went out to join Spock in the day's wait.
       There wasn't much to do. The planet was an uninhabited rock. The only vegetation was a thin, tough vine that offered little nutrition to Spock and none of course to Ruth. There was perhaps more abundant life at sea, but they were a thousand miles from any ocean. Fortunately a small stream ran about a kilometer away. The climate was warm and dry and practically season-less - they were near the equator. And they had been stranded for close to five months.
       They played mental chess. They discussed all manner of scientific theory. Ruth talked about Antares to get Spock to talk about Vulcan. They exercised to keep their muscles in tone. They slept. They ate.
       It had been Ruth who suggested lactation as a source of nourishment. Spock had been surprised that she could do it, reluctant to become so intimately involved with the process. But it was the only way to survive and so he gave in and helped her to build up her milk supply. After that, it was no problem in maintaining it as it kept pace with his hunger.
       And as he had never asked what source of nourishment Ruth would use, she had never told him.
       As darkness fell, they checked the signal beacon they had constructed from their communicators and phasers and tricorders, then entered their cave and prepared to sleep.

       Ruth was silent as she waited for Spock to fall asleep, gathering her strength. When his breathing had been deep and even for 15 minutes, she reached out, slowly, carefully, passing her fingertips over his temples without touching him.
       Dream, she whispered in his mind. All a dream. Then she gently pulled the blanket away and with nimble fingers laid open the seam of his slacks.

       Feather-light touch, soft arousal, warm breath, wet trails of fire. There were colors in his mind; swirls of amethyst, golden filigree, changing hues of green. They pressed pleasure all around him, sweetly coaxing. The animal purred within him and was answered with soft cooing sounds of eager amusement. The caress became more certain, the arousal more luxurious as he was bathed in its liquid heat. Pressure began too on his flesh, rhythmic, strengthening. The fire built in his mind. His blood soared through him, carrying excitement and hunger. He let it build, reveling in it, allowing the ecstasy to claim his senses. Soon he was more than allowing, he aided the storm, riding on its passion, commanding his body to bring his desires to the union that was not union, to give him release. And when it came, it shattered his being, owning him totally, completing his passion. He did not fight the pleasure or the exhaustion. After all, it was a dream.

       “Queen’s knight to queen's level four," Ruth said, then grinned. "Mate in seven."
       Her eyes sparkled as Spock frowned in concentration. After a silence of several minutes he answered, "Miss Valley, your game is annoyingly illogical."
       “But effective," she countered.
       "In being annoying, yes."
       "And in being victorious," Ruth persisted.
       "I have not yet conceded," Spock grumbled.
       "Testy."
       "Kindly allow me to concentrate."
       "As I said...."
       "Ruth, please!"
       She giggled, but smothered it. After several more minutes, Spock said "You are exceptionally giddy today, Miss Valley."
       "How come you only call me Ruth when I'm annoying you by beating you at chess?"
       "As I said...." he echoed.
       "Yes," she agreed conversationally, "I suppose I am.”
       "May I enquire why?"
       "I thought you wanted to concentrate."
       He raised an eyebrow. "I am."
       "Show off," she murmured affectionately and found she had to restrain herself from reaching out to ruffle his hair. After five months it was getting quite long. The impulse made her giggle again and Spock glanced questioningly at her. "Giddy, right," she said to get herself back on the track. "I really don't know. I feel happy today. Maybe I'm getting used to boredom."
       "Indeed." He obviously hadn't heard her. "King's bishop to queen's knight. Your mate is off, I believe."
       "Okay," she said amiably. "I concede anyway. I'd much rather talk."
       Spock sighed. "Most annoying," he said.
       "And giddy," Ruth reminded.
       Spock nodded.
       "And you're hungry."
       "Miss Valley.
       "Well, you are. And I'm getting uncomfortable anyway."
       "I would prefer to inform you."
       "You'd starve first."
       "On the contrary. I have accepted the situation."
       "I know."
       "Then why..."
       "I'm giddy, remember?"
       With a shake of his head, Spock stood, crossing the short space between them. He watched, Ruth noticed, as she untied her halter. She smiled to herself, then reached up.
       "Come to mama," she murmured.
       But Spock did not move.
       "Spock?"
       "Miss Valley, I would suggest you cover yourself."
       "Why? Aren't you....?"
       Shouts interrupted her. "Spock! Spock/"
       She bolted up, turning to see Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy racing toward them. "Bones!" she cried and heedless of her partial nudity, ran into the doctor's welcoming embrace.
       "I never thought we'd find you alive!" he told her.
       "Neither did I!" she returned, laughing.
       "It is good to see you," Spock added.
       "You're some sight, mister," Jim said. "Out of uniform, unshaven...."
       "Indeed, Captain," was all Spock said, but he looked as dignified, as aloof as ever and Jim and Ruth and McCoy burst out laughing.

       Ruth sat brushing her hair - clean for the first time in five months - as McCoy ran a medical scanner over her. It suddenly registered a heart-rate of close to 200.
       "You're fine, I see," McCoy drawled. Ruth giggled. "Are you hungry?"
       "Famished."
       He went to the replicator, getting her a plate of qualk. He watched for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Speaking of, just what did you and Spock live on?"
       She grinned up at him. "Didn't your exam tell you? Each other.
       "You're lactating, but that doesn't...."
       "Yes, it does."
       "You mean Spock actually...?"
       "It was the logical thing to do."
       McCoy shook his head. "I'll be a blue-nosed gopher."
       "You will?"
       He laughed at her feigned wide-eyed innocence. "And what about you? You're not gonna tell me he can...."
       Ruth looked down at her plate, but her eyes twinkled. "In a way."
       “What!?”
       "It really doesn't matter. Bones," '
       "Ruthie, you can't say something like that and not explain it."
       "Well, he didn't know."
       "Didn't know?! What in blazes are you talkin’ about?"
       "I need protein, right?"
       "Right."
       "Well...." Ruth glanced up. "Males can provide a very consistent source of pure protein under the proper circumstances."
       "What...?"
       "Semen, Bones." McCoy turned bright red and Ruth burst out laughing.
       "You mean Spock...?!?"
       "I told you, he didn't know."
       "How could he not know?"
       "Keheils have many strange and wonderful talents. He thinks it was dreams."
       "Ruth..."
       "That was the logical thing to do too."

       "You're thin, Spock," Jim commented suddenly in the middle of the Vulcan's report.
       Spock, back in uniform, clean shaven, hair neatly cut, blinked. "Naturally, Captain. After five months in circumstances such as..."
       "No, I meant as opposed to dead," Jim broke in. "There was nothing edible on that planet. How did you survive?"
       There was a moment's hesitation before Spock answered. "Miss Valley provided adequate nourishment."
       "Miss Valley...?!"
       "Keheils are capable of lactating on demand."
       The silence was more than awkward. "Do you mean..." Jim finally began.
       "Precisely, Captain. She was able to tailor the nutritional content of..."
       "I get the picture, Spock." Another awkward silence. "Didn't that use a lot of energy for her?"
       "Yes, I imagine so."
       "Where did she get her nourishment?"
       "From me."
       "From you?"
       ”Yes.”
       "How could...?"
       "Ejaculation in the male after sexual excitement provides an excellent source of...."
       "Spock?!"
       "Yes, Captain?" Spock enquired mildly.
       "You..." Jim sputtered. "She.... Spock?"
       Spock nodded, controlling the urge to smile conspiritorial1y. "It was the perfect symbiotic relationship."

The End