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"I'm telling you, Mulder, it's back the other way. Didn't you say it's right across from the Mystic Aquarium?"
"I thought it was along here somewhere," he mumbled, looking around as he slowed the car and then turned into a private house's driveway before backing out and going back the way they came. "Isn't it supposed to be on top of a hill?"
Though stuffed with a wonderful lunch of seafood pasta, lobster bisque and even crème bruleè for dessert Scully found herself getting annoyed and struggled to hide it. She didn't want to ruin their getaway weekend by being bitchy, but when he refused to accept her directions it never failed to make her crabby. "Once past the bridge, follow the road that leads up the hill," she said. "Past Mystic Pizza."
"I never saw that movie, but I've heard of it," he said. "Demi Moore, right?"
"Nope, Julia Roberts." She'd never admit it to him upon pain of death, but it had been one of her favorite movies as a teenager and was one of the reasons she'd wanted to come here when Mulder had found out that Langley was from Maryland, not Vermont, and their weekend-away plans had been thrown open. "Right, Mulder, turn right, here!"
Twenty minutes and two stops for directions later they found their hotel, nestled atop a small hill and directly across from the Mystic Aquarium as promised. "This doesn't look much like a five-star hotel, Mulder," she said as they got out of the car. "It looks more like an everyday average chain hotel."
"I checked Fodor's," he said defensively. "Five star in every way, with raves about the restaurant. Are you changing your mind, Scully?"
She met him at the trunk and glared up at him. "Why do you keep asking me that, Mulder? Do you trust me so little?"
"No, of course not," he said, popping the trunk. "It just seems like you're balking every step of the way."
"Balking!" she snapped as she grabbed her bags. "I suppose it's because I'm not like a kid at Christmas about this the way you are."
Still arguing they moved into the hotel lobby which, luckily, was empty other than the two hotel employees behind the counter that they marched up to. "Mulder, I have a reservation for the honeymoon suite," he snapped at one of the two clerks then turned back to her. "Scully, I--"
"Sure you wouldn't rather have separate rooms?" the other clerk quipped, smiling. "It doesn't sound like your wedding day is going any too well at this point."
They both stared over at her, then Mulder burst out laughing and Scully couldn't help but grin. "The day we don't argue is the day we really do dislike each other," she admitted as she set her bags down, glancing up to find his eyes warm on her. She wanted to add that it wasn't their wedding day but wasn't sure what Mulder had told them and so held her peace.
"She's right," he admitted as he filled out the registration card and handed over his gold American Express, cutting his eyes meaningfully to Scully and she got the message—we'll worry about splitting the bill later. Without warning he reached out with his other hand and pulled her over to him, slinging an arm across her shoulders and holding her against his warm side with a gentle squeeze. It was all she could do not to react by shoving away from him out of sheer habit; instead she nestled into his side and smiled at the clerks. It felt extremely odd but she rode with it, ready to give him what-for when they were alone.
But when they walked into the room it was all she could do not to collapse from nervousness, which had been growing since they left the restaurant. Now that the time was here she didn't have a clue as to how to handle this situation and the sudden uncertainty around her partner didn't help—nor did the anticipation she could feel building in her body. They had gotten a suite with at least three good-sized rooms as well as a big bathroom with a two-person Jacuzzi, she found as she explored. She ended her explorations in the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to gaze in at the huge pillow-covered bed.
"So. Scully. Here we are."
She turned to see Mulder standing just a few feet away in the living room, their bags jumbled around his feet. He had his hands shoved in the front pockets of his tight jeans and was gazing at her with a slight frown.
"Yeah," she breathed and then forced herself to relax. "So, what now?"
He shrugged, not moving. "I don't know, we never got this far in our discussions," he admitted. "Do we just rip off our clothes and jump in the bed and have at it, or what?"
She chuckled, then found herself belly laughing. At first he looked surprised, but before long he had joined her. Scully walked past him to sit down on the loveseat in the living room still laughing, patting the cushion next to her so that he came and joined her. "Oh my God, Mulder, I feel like I'm sixteen again," she admitted. "Please tell me I'm not the only nervous one here."
He smiled at her, reaching over to rub her back lightly through the white shirt but not touching her anywhere else. "You're not. This situation is totally outside the realm of my experience. Well, then, first of all let's go back over our rules," he said, moving his hand back to his lap then raising it with one long finger extended. "First, no kissing."
She nodded, even though she wasn't sure about that one anymore. Kissing certainly would have made this easier, she thought. "Second, neutral place. Check."
"Third, we split the cost. You can pay me back when we get home."
"Fourth... was there a fourth? I don't recall one."
"Not that I can remember."
"And it's only this one time," she made a point of saying.
He looked at her openly, showing his feelings on his face. "If you insist," he said slowly. "But I'd like to leave it open to negotiation later. Afterwards."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Mulder..."
"Well, it occurred to me that if we made that a hard and fast rule we might end up breaking it later, so why not leave it open?" he argued, stretching one arm across the back of the loveseat and tugging her back to sit against him.
She acquiesced; leaning back as his arm came around her and his breath stirred the top of her hair. They were supposed to be touching each other, she reminded herself, and forced herself to relax against him. "But the whole point of this was to break the sexual tension between us and have done with it," she said, resting her head back against his arm.
He nuzzled her hair, causing a shiver to break over her and goosebumps to rise on her bare arms. His other hand reached over and took one of hers, holding it gently on his upper thigh. "And I can't wait to do that with you," he said huskily, pressing a kiss just above her ear. More shivers, more goosebumps. "I want to make love to you more than anything else I can or will ever think of." He let go of her hand and gently tilted her chin to look up at him. "Are you still with me, Scully?"
She turned slightly so she could see him better and gazed up into his dark hazel eyes, feeling her arousal rising even more at the look on his expressive face. "Yes, Mulder, I am," she whispered, reaching up and cupping his face without thinking about it then impulsively adding, "And I have wanted to for so long."
He turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand, touching it lightly with his tongue and smiling slightly when she gasped. "Me too," he admitted as he took her hand again and carried it to his chest. "Feel what you're doing to me."
Beneath her palm and the thin grey layer of cotton his heart was galloping, almost pounding. She bit her lower lip lightly and returned the favor, pressing his palm just above her left breast so he could feel the same happening to her. "I've never been so physically aroused in my life," she admitted, looking up at him again. Then, though it took a strength of will she didn't know she had, Scully moved his hand down to cup her breast before letting it go.
His lips parted, eyes half-closing as he gently caressed her breast, his thumb brushing over the taut nub and causing her to gasp out loud. His hand then left her breast, wandered up over her breastbone and throat and tilted her face up to his again. They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment before he said, "Let's go in the bedroom before we go any further."
Without a word she got up alongside him, his arm still warmly draped around her shoulders, and walked by his side to the huge overstuffed bed where they stopped at the foot. "I don't know, we may get lost in there and never find each other or our way out," she quipped nervously.
He chuckled, removing his arm with one last squeeze. "Let's get all these pillows off and the covers down," he suggested.
She took one side and he the other, tossing pillows haphazardly although Scully was careful to keep a clear path to the bathroom as she figured they'd need it afterward; practical was her middle name whether or not she wanted it to be, she thought. Together they dragged the coverlet and top sheet down, then paused and gazed at each other over the bed. "I, ah, brought something to wear," Scully said. "Why don't I go change?"
He looked as relieved as she felt. "I'll get us a couple of glasses of wine from the mini-bar; red or white?"
"I'll let you choose; you know what I like," she smiled over at him as she went to get her carryon and take it into the bathroom.
But once in there she let her shaky legs collapse and sat heavily on the closed toilet seat lid. Jesus, was she really going to do this? Cold-bloodedly have sex with her partner—no promises of love or a romantic relationship, like two strangers scratching in itch? Could she really?
But it wasn't like that at all, she knew. In their own odd co-dependent way they really did love each other and that was all she needed to know. Perhaps they weren't in love, but the deep fondness and honest liking they had for each other would suffice and she didn't think that they would lose any of it after this.
Scully undressed and folded her clothes into a neat pile on the side of the tub, then pulled out the lingerie she'd picked up weeks ago to wear for this occasion. When she had it on she moved to stand in front of the mirror on the back of the bathroom door and eyed herself critically. All the extra working out over the last few weeks showed; her arms and abs in particular looked well-toned and for once she was honestly pleased with her appearance.
"Hey Scully, your wine's getting warm out here," she heard Mulder call. "Should I start without you?"
There was no way she could help cracking a grin. "Why not," she called back, going to the sink and patting her cheeks lightly with cool water then added, "You usually do."
His laughter from the other room made her smile grow. But then it faded as she reached for the doorknob, paused, took a deep breath, then raised her chin and swept out into the bedroom.
Mulder was sitting on the edge of the bed clad in nothing more than a pair of his favorite black boxer-briefs when she came out and he shot to his feet like he'd had a spring under his ass. "Wow," was all he said, looking her up and down with an expression akin to a starving man. Though the white sheers were drawn over the large windows, diffused sunlight still lit the room well enough to see clearly by.
The negligee set Scully had picked out for this tryst was a deep royal blue—one color she was sure he could see properly with his type of colorblindness. The silk nightgown was a high-waisted A-line, the skirt falling in shimmering folds from just below her breasts to the floor and nicely showcased her lower body, especially her hips and stomach. Its bodice was two lacy cups that her nipples just peeked through, tied around her neck with thin strings. The light robe over it was of the same material but embroidered with patterns in the same color, the edging in the same lace as the bodice.
Her eyes were glued to the bulge in the front of his shorts, which was growing even more as she watched. "Wow is right," she replied, forcing her feet to move her towards him. He met her partway, enfolding her in his arms and doing nothing more than holding her firmly but lightly against him for a time, the side of her face pressed against his warm chest and his cheek on the crown of her head. She had her arms around his waist and couldn't resist stroking up and down his firm, corded back, and almost before she knew it one of his hands had moved up to stroke over her hair, the other remaining around her shoulders holding her against him. What nervousness she had been feeling began to dissipate; this was Mulder, her partner and best friend. Desire rose in its place, especially for what she felt pressing against her stomach.
"What do you say we move to the bed?" he murmured down to her, lifting his head. She leaned back a little to look up at him, seeing his calm actions belied by the fire in his eyes. For the first time she knew the meaning of a smoldering gaze; she felt like his eyes were drilling into her as they showed his feelings clearly. Suddenly she was impatient, wanting him so badly she couldn't wait another moment.
She stepped back and, without releasing his eyes, reached up and tugged loose the bow at her nape; the gown, as it was designed to do, slithered to the floor leaving her clothed only in the lacy robe. His eyes widened but before he could move she shrugged the robe off her shoulders, letting it pool at her feet with the gown. "Now you," she said huskily.
Still holding her eyes he did as she asked, peeling the boxer briefs down and away and then standing back up. Her eyes were glued to him until they came together again and the sudden skin-on-skin made them both gasp, though she never did remember them moving towards each other.
His hands were all over her as he slathered kisses all along her shoulder and neck, half-bent-over but keeping their lower bodies pressed together. She could do nothing for the moment but hold onto him, swimming in a haze of sensation and feeling every nerve ending in her body spark with his touch. His hands were big and warm and gentle, his lips soft and hot as they explored everywhere he could reach. He nibbled his way along her shoulder then gave a gentle nip at the very end, raising his head to gaze down at her with dark eyes. "The bed," he husked, swinging her around as they moved towards the several-times-mentioned piece of furniture. She stumbled a little as she moved backwards and he took hold of her waist, lifting her almost effortlessly and placing her on the soft sheets. She scooted back near the middle of the huge bed, making plenty of room for him to join her.
She lay back, looking up at him through suddenly heavy-lidded eyes, as he stood over her for a moment. It had been so long since she'd touched or even seen a naked, aroused man that she realized just how much she missed it, and she ached to get her hands on him as well.
But as she moved to sit up, he crawled up on the bed on hands and knees and gently took one of her feet in his hands, slathering his tongue under her insole and up along her ankle. She fell back boneless. Scully had never had a man pay attention to her feet before and a low moan escaped despite herself. She'd never had any idea that it could be so exquisite and arousing.
"You like that, Scully? How about this?" he kissed his way up her calf to the back of her knee, where he swiped his tongue sideways across the sensitive skin in the fold there. Luckily he was holding her ankle by then because her leg jerked in reaction as she let out another breathy whimper. She'd never been very vocal in bed but then she'd never had a man treat her like this before, she realized dazedly, as if she was a rich dessert to be savored and every bit of it tasted. At this rate she'd be screaming before he even got inside her! "Oh, I think that meets with your approval," he murmured, scooting up further on the bed on his stomach and beginning to slowly, methodically kiss and lick up the inside of her thigh, hands sliding beneath her legs to cup her waist from the sides. "Don't worry, I have no plans to stop anytime soon unless you tell me to."
This was not at all what she'd expected, Scully thought as she realized where he was heading and what he was about to do to her. In her imaginings he'd simply covered her body with his (for variety, sometimes she'd imagined herself on top but mostly it was him), they'd humped like rabbits until she came and then he came and then they went back to their normal lives. But it seemed that Mulder had other ideas, one of which was apparently to enjoy this one-time experience in ways that she hadn't imagined.
"Let go, Scully, let me hear you," he said huskily, lips moving against the tender skin of her inner thigh. "Don't keep it in, let yourself go. For this one time, do whatever you feel like doing, " he lifted his head slightly and gazed up at her, showing everything he was thinking and feeling on his expressive face. "I want you to; I know I'm going to unless you don't like it."
"I like it, Mulder," she managed to utter. "Oh, God, I can't tell you how much I like it."
"Then I'll keep right on going," he said.
Some time later she lay back shaking as he crawled up her body, kissing and licking at her lightly sweated skin along the way, covering her gently like a living blanket. He rested on his elbows and brushed her hair out of her face with gentle hands that then cradled her face. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he said huskily, dipping his head to slather open-mouthed, loving kisses across her breasts and even in the valley between and above, just below the base of her throat. "You are so much more than I even dreamed of, Scully, you're amazing."
"So are you," she whispered, running her fingers through his thick, soft hair. "It's never been like this for me before, Mulder. You're making me crazy."
"Good, then I'm doing it right," he smiled down at her as he moved his hands to slide under her shoulders.
"What are you waiting for?" she breathed.
He groaned at her words. "If I only have this one time with you I'm going to make it last, and enjoy every moment," he said huskily, lifting his head to gaze down into her eyes meaningfully. "I'm in no hur--"
She could take no more; something inside her snapped with a finality that there was no arguing with. She grabbed his face with both hands and brought it to hers, capturing his mouth with her lips. He let out a strangled groan and returned the kiss enthusiastically, his tongue dueling with hers as their lips slanted back and forth against each other. Without thinking about it she wrapped her legs around him and using one arm for leverage, rolled them over so that she was sprawled across his long, lean body.
"Pretty slick, there, Agent Scully," he murmured against her lips as they came to rest in the new position, his hands now on her hips. "You can toss me around anytime you like."
"And I will," she replied in kind, finding the feeling of his lips against hers as they spoke to be unbelievably erotic. "You know damn well that there will be more than just this one time, Mulder, we have the whole weekend here."
"Then what are we waiting for?" he said breathlessly.
"Nothing."
A while and two rooms later they panted together for a few moments before she stood up straight on shaky legs and he turned her around and crushed her in his arms against his strong chest. "I have got to tell you," he panted in her ear. "Whether you like it or not, I am so in love with you that I can't see straight."
"Oh, Mulder, I love you too," she murmured, holding him tight against her with her arms around his chest, the side of her face against his chest. "How could I not be in love with you even when I was fooling myself about it?"
He loosened his arms and his mouth descended on hers, and even if he hadn't told her she'd have known his feelings for her from just that. One hand cupped the back of her head, the other around her waist holding her body against his. When the fiery kiss ended she gazed up into his eyes with a small smile, running her hands up and down his back. "What do you say we take our untouched wine and go see how well we fit in that little hot tub?" she suggested.
His eyes lit up as he returned her smile. "And afterwards...?"
She felt her smile grow into a grin. "As I said before, we have all weekend. I'm open to suggestions?"
His smile faded a little as he said, "Just the weekend?"
She huffed. "Are you kidding me, Mulder? Like either of us is going to go without from now on. If nothing else we're just far too good at this to stop. Quit worrying about it. So, hot tub?"
His grin rivaled the sun as he swept her up in his arms. "If I manage not to trip and break myself or something along the way."
"I think you're done with that, G-man. No more hurting yourself—you got it?"
"Yes, ma'am. Whoa! Damn, Scully, you don't fight fair. Hey, do that again..."
finis