From: "adara" <adarafox@yahoo.com>
To: <XfilesNC17ff@yahoogroups.com>; <xfsmut@topica.com>
Subject: [XFNC17ff] NEW FIC: Bittersweet Release, Part 1 of ?
Date: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 9:09 AM

TITLE: Bittersweet Release (part 1 of ?)
AUTHOR: adara
E-MAIL: adarafox@yahoo.com
CATEGORY: MSR. Lots o' smut. Angst.
RATING: NC-17
SPOILERS: Not a one.
SUMMARY: "Scully?"  One more whispered question.
Slowly, unbelievably, she formed the words.  "Yes,
Mulder.  We'll stay."  She didn't dare look at him.
She barely heard him over the music: "Oh, Scully . .
."
ARCHIVE: Sure, just let me know where it goes so I can
visit.  I'll submit to Gossamer and Whispers of X
myself.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on the characters and
situations created by Chris Carter, the Fox Network,
and Ten Thirteen Productions.  No copyright
infringements are intended.  The following work is for
the distribution and entertainment of fanfic readers
only.
FEEDBACK: Oh please please please please! :-)
NOTES:  Lots of big, wet, sloppy kisses to all the
readers who sent me feedback on my first story, "The
Balance of Power."  I cannot thank you enough.  Maybe
I'll actually get around to creating a Web site for my
writing, both XF and non-XF.  I'm so pleased to see
that fanfic fever has not died down - there are sooo
many amazing writers and stories out there.  The TV
series may be over, but fanfic lives on!  And now I
have to get back to writing...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday evening - 9:35pm
Scoundrels nightclub

"How did I let you talk me into this, Mulder?"

"Easy, Scully, you just can't resist a chance to prove
me wrong.  Even though you never have . . ."

Scully arched an eyebrow at him, taking a seat in the
chair he held out for her.  What a way to spend a
Friday night, she thought as she glanced around at the
intimately lit club.  Mulder had sprung this on her
last minute, just as she was beginning to envision
heading home for a late supper with some wine and then
a bubble bath.  And maybe even a bit more wine.  It
had been a long, tiresome week, and after slogging
through mountains of paperwork all she wanted to do
was shut out the world and forget that there was even
such a thing as an X-File.

Alas, it was not meant to be.  Mulder informed her of
a tip he'd just received on a case and even though he
really could have gone on his own, he pleaded and gave
her *that look* and she, as usual, was unable to
resist.  Whatever it was about this man that would
make her postpone her long-awaited night of
relaxation, Scully decided she'd better put her finger
on it and squash it once and for all.

She thought maybe she already knew. Scully had spent
years following this man, from long drives and red-eye
flights across too many states to count, to one seedy
motel after another, always chasing something.
Chasing serial killers, Flukemen, and alien bounty
hunters.  Chasing answers.  Chasing the truth.  It was
frustrating and exhausting.  And frightening.  At
times, Scully wondered why she wasn't cutting all her
ties to the FBI and running as fast as she could in
the other direction.  Away from it all.  And from him.

She she knew that he sometimes wondered that, too.
But it was impossible.  Scully loved her job, and
somewhere along the way Mulder's quest had become
hers.  His drive and his passion were intoxicating at
times, frustrating at others - and Scully couldn't
help but hold on tight for the ride of her life.  She
believed in the work, and in him, even if the demands
of science made it seem otherwise.  So when her
partner would present a case to her, no matter how
ridiculous it seemed, no matter how late the hour, no
matter how much she realized she needed to get a life
outside of work, Scully would inevitably join in.
Especially after Mulder gave her that grin of his.
There was something . . . irresistible about it.

And, as long as she was being honest with herself, it
wasn't so bad to be here with him.  Even if it was
work, it wasn't all that often that she saw Mulder in
a more casual setting.  Maybe she'd even have some
fun.  Scully glanced around the club as Mulder looked
for a waitress; the long bar formed a semi-circle
around the lower floor, where they were seated.
Tables covered the floor; there didn't seem to be any
room for dancing.  Odd.  There was some sort of stage
in front of them, which was dark.  Perhaps you were
supposed to dance up there?  She'd never heard of this
place before; it was in a section of D.C. she didn't
frequent much.  The club had just opened for the
evening and the tables were beginning to fill up.
Since they came straight from work they didn't have an
opportunity to change clothes, but now, as Mulder
scanned the room, he absentmindedly unbuttoned the top
two buttons on his shirt.  Scully watched his long
fingers make quick work of the buttons.  It was such
an ordinary thing, almost not worth noticing.  And
yet, in this moment, it fascinated her.  It occurred
to her that sitting here, in this setting, he looked
normal.  Not that he *wasn't* normal, but he was
always so . . . so . . . Mulder.  Focused on
everything but the ordinary, the everyday.  She
realized she'd never really been able to quite picture
him doing things like any other person might do after
work - going out to dinner, shopping at the mall.  She
couldn't even imagine him doing laundry.  As
predictable as he could be, Mulder was also a mystery
in many ways.  But the casualness of his manner as he
opened his shirt helped him blend in perfectly.  She
was suddenly very aware of Mulder as just a man, as
someone other than her partner in the FBI.  As just a
guy trying to get a waitress's attention.  A guy with
an interestingly appealing neck.  Surprised, she
glanced away and mentally shook herself.

"So, Mulder, what kind of place is this?"

"I'm not really sure, Scully."  He turned to her.
"All I know is that this guy -"

"Joseph Atwood."

"Right - has been popping up around the city in some
bizarre locations, causing a scene wherever he goes."
The waitress came over and they ordered drinks.

Scully continued.  "And he supposedly owns this club?"

"Supposedly.  That's what's odd, I couldn't get anyone
here to admit that when I called.  But my source is
reliable."

"And he claims to be a multiple abductee, running from
the mother ship that's come to do more experiments on
him."

"Claims it at the top of his lungs, in front of a
crowd.  I think he thinks if he's surrounded by
people, there's less chance it will happen again."

"So you're hoping what, that he makes an appearance?"

"I thought we could talk to some of the employees
here, find out what's really going on."

"What makes you think they'll talk to you?"

"Why Scully, I'm a patron of the arts.  I just came in
tonight with my business partner -" he gestured to her
"- to catch the show, and I'll be so impressed that
I'll want to talk to the manager afterward about
investing in his establishment."

"There's a show?"

Mulder nodded.  "Some sort of dancing.  Probably a new
age kinda thing."  The waitress returned with the
drinks.  He raised his glass.  "Can't say I never take
you anywhere."

"When have I ever said that?"

Mulder sipped his drink and shrugged.  Scully shook
her head.  "I'm still not sure what you hope to gain
by this, Mulder.  This guy is most likely a wacko, not
an abductee.  What makes you think he has any
credibility whatsoever?"

Mulder opened his mouth to answer, but just at that
moment the lights dimmed and the music started up.
The stage lights came on and Scully could see a few
poles that ran up to the ceiling.  The beat
intensified as four scantily clad women emerged.
Their high heels clicked as they came forward and
wrapped themselves around the poles, swaying in time
to the music.  Legs twirling, hair flying, they played
to the crowd as they slowly began to remove items of
clothing - a glove here, a fishnet stocking there.
Then one of the women removed her top, exposing
herself.  Scully turned to her partner.

"A strip club?  You brought me to a *strip club*,
Mulder?"

"Well I did say there would be dancing." She shot him
a withering look.  "Scully, I swear, I had no idea."

"Right.  You had no idea."

"Believe me, Scully, I -"

Just then the dancers moved to the edge of the stage.
A few of the men sitting up front leaned forward and
reached toward the women, bills sticking out from
between their fingers.  The women bent their bodies in
all sorts of suggestive ways before reaching out to
grasp the money.  Scully heard Mulder shuffle beside
her and she turned; he was reaching into his pocket
with a grin.

"Mulder."  Scully used her coldest voice.

"Well, Scully, if I'm going to play the part . . ."

"Don't . . . you . . . dare."

Mulder's grin got even wider.

Scully sat back in her chair with a huff.  She thought
seriously about getting up and leaving him there, but
the thought of trying to locate a cab in this part of
town was not very appealing.  She averted her eyes and
sipped her drink, waiting for the women to finish
their "act."  Mercifully, once the women had collected
all the money, they made their way offstage.

Then the lights dimmed even more as a long, bare table
was brought onstage.  The little lamps on the tables
flickered like fireflies on a summer night as the
music changed to a slower, more seductive pulse.
"This could be it, Scully," Mulder whispered in her
ear.  "Maybe our abductee is going to do a little
striptease for us."  Scully threw a disgusted glance
over her shoulder.

From the shadows came a man, tall and muscular, clad
only in black leather pants and jacket.  His
confidence and poise as he walked purposefully to the
front of the stage, coupled with his wavy dark hair,
seemed so familiar to Scully that she gave a start of
surprise when she realized the man almost resembled
Mulder.  Almost.  She was fairly certain Mulder didn't
have nipple rings.

The man casually leaned against one of the poles and
looked to the side of the stage as if he was waiting
for something.  Now Scully could get a better look -
and found herself noticing just how tight those pants
were.  So tight, she could tell that the man was
semi-erect.  Clearing her throat, she whispered,
"Mulder - that's not him."

"No."  There was that in his voice that made her turn
her head to look at him.  Mulder was staring straight
ahead, his eyes wide.  He gave a sudden intake of
breath.  Scully frowned.  "Mulder, what -"

The murmurs of approval in the crowd brought her back
around to the stage.  A woman had walked out, wearing
a black leather bra, bikini underpants, and very
high-heeled shoes.  She sauntered over to one of the
poles and began to dance as the man watched her.  Her
long, straight blonde hair tossed about as she gyrated
to the music.  Scully watched in horror as the man
shifted against the pole and began to stroke himself
through his pants.

Scully began to panic.  "Mulder, what is this?  What's
going on?"

"Scully," he breathed in response, "I uh . . . I think
this is the main event."

"What do you mean?"  She stared as the woman abandoned
the pole and closed the distance between her and the
man in leather.  She stopped a few feet from him and
began another dance, running her hands over her body.
The man spread his legs and cupped himself.  Scully
was still desperately trying to process all this.
"Mulder, what's going on?  What are they going to do?"
 But even as she asked the question she knew, as the
man walked over to the woman and danced with her.
They moved against each other in an easy grind that
left no question as to what their bodies were
planning.

Scully felt Mulder's breath coming hot and fast just
above her ear.  And suddenly she began to feel very
warm.  Her insides gave a little twist as the woman
removed the man's jacket and let it fall to the floor.
 She smiled, playing with his nipple rings as he
massaged her arms.  All at once he moved to capture
her mouth with his, his hands grabbing her buttocks
and pulling her against him.  Scully snapped out of
her astonishment.  "Mulder, we have to get out of
here.  We weren't expecting anything like this.  We
can't watch this."  She jumped as his hand came down
on her right shoulder.  He bent to her ear.  "Scully,
we can't just get up and leave. We're supposed to be
here for the show.  We can't just walk out now."

She knew he was right. But oh my god, was she going to
have to sit here and watch this couple do what she
suspected they were going to do?  And with Mulder
right next to her?  She was glad the lights were so
low, for she knew she must be as red as a lobster.
The man lifted the woman's arms over her head.  She
kept them there as he opened the front clasp of her
bra.  Pushing the material aside, he began to knead
her breasts, teasing the nipples with his thumbs.

Scully was more embarrassed than she'd ever been in
her life, watching the scene unfold with Mulder just
beside her.  Yet at the same time, she was fascinated.
 She'd never seen anything like this before, never
even watched an adult video, not once.  And here it
was in front of her, in living color.  She gulped as
the man bent to take a nipple in his mouth.  Scully
felt a pull in her groin in response; she clamped her
legs together firmly, trying to deny it.  But she
couldn't deny the fact that Mulder now had both hands
on her shoulders and was massaging them gently.
Scully didn't turn around - she didn't need to, he was
so close.  She titled her head back slightly.  "Mulder
. . . what do you think you're doing?"

"Look around you, Scully."  His voice was so thick and
hoarse, she almost didn't recognize it.  She did as he
bade her; taking a glance around the club, she
realized that the patrons had begun to respond to the
show.  Some people were kissing; others were watching
the show and groping each other.  One woman a few
tables away had her blouse unbuttoned and her
companion was rubbing her breasts through her bra.
Scully became aware that sighs and moans were drifting
throughout the club.  One man to their left was
blatantly rubbing himself as the girl he was with
tweaked her nipples through her shirt.  The audience
had not only paid to see a show - they were going to
take their own pleasure, and in public.

This was too much for Scully.  She began to protest
again as the woman onstage unzipped the man's pants.
"Mulder, we can't . . . we have to . . ."

"I know, Scully, I know."  His thumbs were working her
shoulder blades, and she suddenly found herself biting
her lip to stifle a groan.  "If you want to, Scully,
we'll go."

The zipper was down.  The woman helped the man out of
his pants, and Scully's mouth dropped open as his cock
- long, huge, and beautifully erect - sprung free.
The man could have been a porn star.  Maybe he was.
Scully had never seen one of this size.  She wouldn't
have believed it was possible.  She couldn't take her
eyes off it.

But Mulder was still waiting for an answer.  "Scully .
. ."

The woman on stage knelt and swallowed as much of his
member as she could manage.  She played with his balls
as she sucked him, pulling back to tease the head and
then licking her way down his shaft again.  From her
seat Scully could hear the wet smacking noises.
Mulder's hands had stilled; he was gripping her
shoulders tightly.  Without thinking she reached up to
place her hands atop his.  If she intended to get him
to ease the pressure, he did, but he also twined his
fingers through hers.  Gently, Mulder shifted his
chair and pulled her back against him.  He lowered
their left hands and rested them on Scully's stomach.
Very softly, so softly she almost didn't feel it,
Mulder placed a feather-light kiss on the knuckles of
her right hand.  "What do we do, Scully?"

She heard the catch in his voice and knew he was
aroused.  Of course he would be; this was Mulder.  The
man was quite accustomed to watching people have sex,
even though it was on TV.  She had no clue if he'd
ever seen anything like this, though.  Another tiny
kiss to her hand.  He's just playing the part, she
thought.  Nothing more.  "All right," she heard
herself say.  She squeezed his hand.  And trembled as
she felt his lips against her temple.  "We'll have to
. . . you know . . . a little bit, just for
appearances," he said as the man on stage stopped the
blowjob and knelt in front of the woman.

"Yes," Scully replied.  "I know."  Tentatively, she
lifted her right hand and brought it up to grasp the
back of Mulder's neck.  She couldn't be sure, but she
thought she heard him whimper.  Mulder kissed her just
above her ear.

"Are you sure, Scully?  Are you sure you want to
stay?"

Her mind was under a full sexual assault.  She was in
danger of losing her sanity.  How could this be
happening?  How could they be here, watching this
scene unfold before their eyes?  How could she be
pressed up against her partner's chest, her fingers
feeling the silkiness of his hair?  How could his
thumb be ever so lightly rubbing the material just
over her belly button?  And how could she be getting
so excited?

The man was removing the woman's bikini bottom with
his teeth.  Both naked now, he turned her around and
bent her over the table.  She leaned forward on her
arms as he spread her legs wide.  Kneeling down, he
proceeded to lick her from behind, spreading her lips
apart as best he could with his fingers.  The woman
cried out, as did some of the people at the tables.
Scully felt a warm gush between her legs.

"Scully?"  One more whispered question.  Slowly,
unbelievably, she formed the words.  "Yes, Mulder.
We'll stay."  She didn't dare look at him.  She barely
heard him over the music: "Oh, Scully . . ."

The man was eating the woman in earnest now, her cries
filling the room.  Scully watched it all.  God, it had
been so long since she felt this aroused.  So long
since anyone had done something like that to her.  She
began to squirm in her chair.  She could just see it,
being bent over and having some man behind her,
sucking and kissing her like that.  Some man . . . no,
not just some man.  A particular man.  A man who was
now placing tender kisses along her jaw.

Scully was dimly aware that a couple not too far away
from them was having sex.  The woman sat facing the
stage atop the man's lap.  Her skirt was spread
strategically, but it was clear they were fucking.
The man on stage chose that moment to slurp loudly and
Scully's body reacted.  She jerked up and back into
Mulder, her hand tensing in his hair.  He held her
tighter around the waist and pressed his face into her
neck, murmuring.  "Scully, my god.  Can't believe I'm
here with you . . . like this . . ."  Her left hand
had a mind of its own; it was rubbing Mulder's thigh
now, determinedly.  Mulder began to plant kisses up
and down her neck as the man stood up and thrust
himself into the woman.  They both moaned as he held
her hips and began to pump in a steady rhythm.  Scully
stared as the entire length of his cock disappeared
into the woman, over and over.  And then she gasped as
Mulder nibbled her earlobe.

Oh, it was so good to feel his mouth on her.  Here, in
a place where no one knew who they were, where they
seemed to be just two people out on the town, enjoying
the local sex show.  People did this sort of thing all
the time.  Nothing unusual about that.  Uh huh.
Right. What was truly unusual was that she was letting
her partner touch her in this way.  She knew that on
some level she'd always been attracted to Mulder.  She
cared deeply for him but had tried not to let her
thoughts turn carnal.  It wasn't easy; Mulder was
quite a good-looking man, even if he seemed to be
oblivious to that fact.  She even thought sometimes
that Mulder might find her attractive too, although it
was hard to tell from the casual way he threw around
his sexual innuendo. But they were partners; they
couldn't let something like this happen.  If he had
ever tried to do what he was doing to her now, she
might have decked him.  Maybe.  Or maybe she would
have let him touch her, just as he was touching her
right now.  And maybe she would have touched him.

She felt the tip of Mulder's tongue trace her ear
delicately.  It felt so good.  She wanted him to know,
but she couldn't do much in her position.  So she
stretched her neck to give him better access.
"Scully," he moaned.

"Mulder," she replied as she gripped his thigh.

The man on stage pulled out and the woman turned over
on her back.  She played with her breasts as he held
her legs open and plunged back inside her depths.
Scully was beginning to go out of her mind.  She
didn't even notice when a second woman walked on
stage.  But Mulder did.  She heard him gasp and
suddenly he pulled Scully onto his lap.  She was so
shocked at this development she couldn't speak.  And
then she saw.  The woman headed for the couple on
stage was petite, naked - and she had red hair, neatly
cut into a bob.  Mulder gripped her hips tightly and
gently bit down into her neck.

It was Scully's turn to whimper.

The redhead climbed cat-like onto the table and knelt
over the blonde's face, facing the man.  Wasting no
time, she settled herself as the blonde began to lick
her.  Mulder pulled Scully back into him as he thrust
up against her with a groan he didn't even try to
hide.  Scully's skirt had risen up quite a bit; she
just about lost it as she felt Mulder's erection press
against her heat.  He did it again, and again, as the
redhead moved sensuously above the other woman,
sighing with pleasure.

Scully lost herself in the feeling of Mulder's touch,
of his cock nudging her.  She heard his soft gasps and
she wanted, needed to see his face.  Gathering her
courage, she turned her head.  His eyes were dark and
his full mouth was open, the lips moist.  He looked
down at her and Scully saw the full extent of his
desire, directed at her.  She couldn't stop herself
from reaching for him and bringing his lips to hers.
No gentle first kiss, this; Mulder devoured her mouth,
seeking every inch of her with his tongue.  Scully
kissed him back as hard as she could in her position.
She worried his bottom lip between her teeth; he in
turn captured her tongue and sucked it until she felt
another rush of juices coat her sex.  Around them
couples gasped, groaned, and fucked.  The smell of sex
was in the air, and Scully breathed it in like a woman
starved for oxygen even as she let herself drown in
Mulder.

She felt his right hand rubbing her thigh through her
pantyhose and yelped into his mouth as his fingers
traveled just under the hem of her skirt.  As their
lips parted, they both looked at the stage just in
time to see the redhead stretch herself over the
blonde in the 69 position.  Scully watched the
redhead's tongue tease the other woman as the man
continued his thrusting.

Mulder growled low in his throat; Scully shivered at
the sound.  His hand traveled higher, higher - and
hesitated.  Scully held her breath - and as the
redhead stretched out her tongue to lick the man's
cock, Mulder's finger pressed against her heat.
Scully threw her head back and cried out softly.
Mulder began to rub her as she moved against him,
making him impossibly hard.  He bit down on her neck
again and ripped through the hose so he could touch
her through her panties.  Scully was moaning
constantly now, adjusting herself so she could still
see the stage as Mulder worked her into a frenzy.  His
left hand came up beneath her breast and cupped her.

Scully felt Mulder's finger teasing along the edge of
her panties.  She spread her legs wider in invitation.
 His finger slipped under the band and into her.  They
groaned together.  Mulder began to whisper in her ear
as he pumped his finger inside her.  "Oh, god, Scully,
you're so wet . . . oh yeah, that's it.  Oh, Scully."

The blonde was coming. When she quieted down, the
redhead took the man in her mouth.  A few thrusts were
all it took and the man pulled out and came all over
the redhead's breasts.  Scully screamed silently, her
mouth wide open as Mulder worked her body.  His finger
traveled up to her clit and pressed.  She came in his
arms, right there at the table, in a room full of
people doing pretty much the same thing.

The lights on the stage went out.  The club stayed
dimly lit as the people around them calmed down and
gathered themselves.  Scully was slowly coming back to
awareness, and the reality of the situation hit her
just as Mulder removed his hand and placed it back on
her thigh.  She froze.  Mulder wasn't moving now
either, presumably waiting to see what she would do.
Scully could not move a muscle.

"Scully."  His whisper almost made her moan with
despair.  God, what had they done, what had they done?
 How could she let it happen?

"Scully, look at me.  Please, Scully."

There was no way she was going to look at him.  Not
after what had just happened.  Oh, god, Mulder had
touched her and kissed her and put his finger inside
her and made her come -

"Scully."  He was pleading now.  Biting her lip, she
turned her head towards him, keeping her eyes on his
shoulder.  Mulder's hand gently tilted her chin up so
that she was forced to look into his eyes.  What she
saw transfixed her.  Mulder's eyes were full of
wonder, hope, and an unmistakable hunger.  But there
was fear behind them - fear that she would shun him,
be repulsed by what they had done.  Fear that he'd
ruined everything between them. And she wanted nothing
more than to take away that fear.  But she couldn't
make a sound.  She began to panic as she felt the
moment slipping away, felt him slipping away.  In a
matter of seconds they'd be back to where they were
before and, knowing them, they'd never speak of this
again.

Desperate, Scully did the only thing she could do -
she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
She felt his little jolt of surprise, then acceptance
as he responded, opening his mouth slightly as she
explored him with the tip of her tongue.  He tasted so
good; she wanted more.  He gave it to her, nipping her
bottom lip and making her gasp.  Mulder took advantage
and slid his tongue into her mouth as he deepened the
kiss.  Scully couldn't stop the moan that escaped from
the back of her throat.  Mulder's hand came around to
the back of her head and he took control, turning her
from side to side as he explored her mouth.

Abruptly he broke the kiss; she stared up at him in
confusion, panting.  Mulder looked wild; his eyes held
hers firmly as she waited to see what he would do.
His fingertip came up to her mouth and he traced her
lips.  Scully breathed in deep and smelled a rich,
musky scent that almost made her melt.  This was the
finger Mulder had used to . . . the memory assaulted
her mind, of bodies writhing, mouths sucking, his
finger dipping inside her, making her so wet, of
people all around them kissing and fucking . . .

She opened her mouth without thinking, and the tip of
his finger touched the wet underside of her lip.
Scully held his gaze as she took him in, sucking
lightly, tasting herself.  Mulder swallowed hard.

"Let's get out of here," he rasped.

"But what about - "

He shook his head.  "Forget it."

"But Mulder -"

He was out of his chair and helping her out of hers.
She stood up silently and headed toward the door,
Mulder close behind her.

Scully felt as if she were being stalked - not by the
predator hunting his prey, but by the male animal
searching out the female, ready to mate.  Mulder's
heat washed over her as she felt his light touch at
the base of her spine.  She was dizzy with the
sensation.  All sense of reason fled.  She wanted this
man, and she didn't know if she could wait until they
got home - to whose home? - before she had him.  The
drive would be too long.  It would give her too much
time.  Time to find her common sense again.  Time to
think of all the reasons why they shouldn't do this,
why they shouldn't be together.  Time to retreat into
her familiar shell and wall away all emotion in a
desperate act of self-preservation.  She was so tired
of that.  She wanted to release her desire so badly
she almost sobbed with the need of it.  

The night air against her flushed skin made her gasp. 
Mulder guided her toward their car.  It was late, and
the lot was quiet.  Scully took a breath and
frantically searched for the right words - but Mulder
saved her the trouble by turning her to face him and
pinning her against the car.  His mouth was on hers,
seeking, needing, and her muscles surrendered as she
threw her arms around his neck and opened her lips. 
His hands were making their way under her blouse,
rising higher.

"Mulder."

"Mmmm." 

"Mulder!" she gasped.

He pulled back.  "Wha?"

"Backseat."

He nodded and fumbled to get the door open.  She went
in ahead of him and turned as he climbed in, slamming
the door behind them.  As cramped as it was, Scully
managed to lie on her back.  It was awkward, but
Mulder stretched himself over her, pressing his
erection where she wanted it most.  Her eyes opened
wide and she groaned.

"God, Scully," Mulder breathed.  His hand was
everywhere, on her arm, her waist, her thigh, and then
moving up to settle on her breast.  "Scully . . . tell
me what you want."

What she wanted scared her.  She wanted him to take
control, as he had all night.  If she'd had time to
think, to be Agent Scully, none of this would have
happened.  But here she was, on her back with Mulder
above her, and she wanted him to do whatever *he*
wanted.  He moved then, his cock making a slow circle
over her sex.  She cried out. 

"Mmmmm," he answered, his lips on her neck, his tongue
laving at her collarbone.  He pulled back to look at
her.  "Come on, Scully, help me out here."

She gave him a small smile.  "You're doing just fine."

He grinned back.  "God, Scully!  You were incredible
in there.  I never thought . . ."

She was so wet she could smell it.  She wondered if he
could, too.  "I know," she replied. 

"Tell me, Scully."

"I. . . I don't want to think."

"Then don't think, Scully.  Just feel," he drawled as
he touched her between her legs.  Scully squirmed. 
"You like that," Mulder murmured as he rubbed her.  He
pressed his face into her chest and kissed her through
her blouse, sighing.  "Oh, Scully . . . I'm learning a
lot about you . . . things I'd only dreamed . . ."  He
reached up and began unbuttoning her blouse, kissing
her skin as he went.  He traced the edge of her bra
with his tongue, making her hum with pleasure.  He
lifted his head to look at her; she caught her breath,
uncertain.

"Scully," he drawled, smiling warmly.  "Front clasp. 
Good girl."  In a heartbeat it was undone.  Scully
felt the air hit her breasts and she shivered at the
sensation - and at the way he was hungrily eyeing her.
 He leaned down slowly, hovering just above her left
nipple.  The tip of his tongue snaked out and flicked
it.  Scully gasped, her body jerking.  Mulder did it
again, and again, and finally closed his lips over it
with a groan.  The warm, wet heat of Mulder's mouth on
her breast was her complete undoing.  Scully made
little whimpering, pleading noises, relishing the
feeling of becoming nothing more than a needy body. 
She cared about nothing other than this man's mouth on
her.  Scully writhed as Mulder moved to her other
nipple, taking as much of her breast into his mouth as
he could manage.  He suckled her for a while, moving
from breast to breast as if he had all the time in the
world.  

"Mmmm," Mulder rumbled against her skin.  "You're so
beautiful, Scully.  So perfect."  Her mouth was open
in ecstasy; she was panting and oversensitized from
all the attention to her nipples.  Mulder took one
between his teeth and gently bit down.  She squealed. 
"Oooh . . . you like that, don't you, Scully?"  Mulder
smiled at her.  He did it again, this time to her
other nipple.  Her hips began to buck underneath him.
The more he talked, the more aroused she became. 

"I learned something else about you tonight, Scully,"
he said as his fingers slid beneath her panties and
teased the sensitive skin of her lower belly.  She
looked up at him, smelled his sweet, wine-scented
breath coming hot just above her lips.

"What?"

He dipped his fingers into her wetness.  "You like to
watch."

She moaned in response.  His finger slid through her
folds, making her ache, as he took her mouth.  His
tongue passed between her lips and mimicked the
actions of his finger, a deep, slow stroking that made
her wild.  She fisted her hands in his hair and kissed
him with a frenzy.  She had to have him, soon.  She'd
been so close to coming a few times already, even just
from the suckling he gave her breasts.  Suddenly
Mulder pulled back.  He removed his finger and brought
it up to her lips.  Repeating his action in the club,
he rested it against her until she opened her mouth. 
Mulder pushed his finger inside and Scully sucked it,
tasting her juices.  It was so fucking erotic.  She
quivered all over.  "You must taste so good.  So
sweet."   Mulder stared at her, hard. "Do you want me
to taste you, Scully?"

She almost fainted.  All she could do was nod.  Her
shoes and pantyhose were thrown into the front seat. 
Mulder held her gaze as he pulled her panties down and
off.  He bent her legs back and stared at her soaking
wet sex.  Then he looked back at her, as if waiting
for permission.  Incapable of speech, Scully lifted
her arms above her head in submission.  He was between
her legs instantly.  Mulder opened his mouth and
sucked her.  She cried out as he used the flat of his
tongue to lick her from anus to clit, over and over. 
She watched as his dark head moved between her thighs,
sucking and kissing.  He was relentless, tracing her
folds and then swirling her clit.  His hands massaged
the underside of her thighs, then the curves of her
ass.  He pushed his tongue inside and fucked her with
it, making her drip shamelessly into his mouth.

Her body screamed for release and yet she felt herself
struggle against it, against that moment where she
would be totally open, completely out of control. 
Then Mulder spoke to her.

"Let it happen, Scully.  Come for me.  Don't fight it,
baby."

His words inflamed her passion; she pulled her legs
even closer to her body and felt her muscles relax
just a bit, just enough to give in to what was about
to happen.  

"Come on, Scully.  Come for me."

Mulder dipped his tongue into her again, once, twice,
three times, and then his lips closed over her clit,
sucking hard.  She surrendered.  

Scully arched her back and wailed, feeling the searing
heat of his tongue urge her on as the electric shocks
assaulted her body.  She shook violently as her orgasm
rocked her, splintering her mind and soul into a
million pieces that vibrated with a pleasure she'd
never known.  She came hard, harder than she ever had,
as Mulder stayed with her, sucking and licking her
center until she settled back into the seat, boneless
and shivering.  Mulder covered her with his body,
pressing tender kisses into her neck, under her chin,
and over her face.  "Baby . . . oh yeah . . . so
beautiful . . . oh Scully."

Her eyes were shut tight.  She gulped in large breaths
as her heart began to cease its furious hammering
against her chest.  From far away she heard the sound
of a buckle being undone, of a zipper coming down. 
Mulder lifted off her and she felt the rustle of
clothes against her legs.  Then he was over her again,
and her eyes flew open as she finally, finally felt
his thick, hard length.  She was hot and slick, and he
moved against her, wetting his shaft.  Mulder leaned
as best he could on his elbows.  He kissed her, and
his eyes asked a question.  There was only one answer.
 "Yes."

He slid inside her.  It was sublime for them both;
she, so tight and still pulsing, he, so full and long,
burying himself to the hilt.  Scully watched his
expression change, from desire to disbelief to
amazement that this was happening, that they were
becoming lovers this very night in this most unusual
way.

Mulder moaned and bent forward, placing a kiss on her
neck.  "Scully . . . you feel so good."

"So do you."  Her mouth remained open as she endured
the sweet torture of him pulling out slowly and then
entering her again.  He continued the slow, maddening
rhythm until she was so wet she almost couldn't feel
him anymore.  She wanted more of him.  More of this. 
Her hands groped at his shirt, trying to reach the
buttons.  He rose up slightly.

"Scully?"

"Want this . . . off you."  She succeeded and pulled
him against her, finally feeling his naked chest
against hers.  She sought his mouth greedily.  She
wanted to inhale him, to completely surround herself
with him.  The world as she knew it didn't exist
anymore - there was only this.

Mulder broke the kiss.  "Are you ok?" he whispered.

She nodded and tightened her legs against him. 
"More."

"More, huh?  You want more?"

"Yeah . . . more."

"What more do you want, Scully?" he taunted her, still
penetrating her with agonizing slowness.

"You know what I want."

"Not unless you tell me."

"Please . . ."

"What, Scully?  What do you want?"  She closed her
eyes and gritted her teeth.  "Look at me, Scully." 
She did.  He was beautiful.  His lips were wet.  His
face was flushed with the effort of holding back.  And
he wanted her badly.  It was all there in his eyes. 
She looked into them as he thrust forward a bit
harder.

"Oooh, yeah."

"Yeah?  Is that what you want?"

"Come on."

"Come on, what?  Say it!"

"Fuck me.  Fuck me, please!"

He captured her mouth with his and pounded into her. 
She gripped his back and slid her hands down to try
and push him in deeper.  The skin on her back burned
as she rubbed against the cheap seat material, but she
didn't care.  This was what she wanted.  Him deep
inside her on every stroke.  Taking her so hard she
could barely think, let alone speak.  She cried out
wordlessly with each thrust.

"Scully, it's so good.  Oh god, I'm going to come." 
Mulder was breathing very hard.  Just a little longer,
she thought.  Fuck me just a little longer.

"Scully."  A drop of sweat from his brow dripped onto
her cheek.  It was so hot in the car.  Their bodies
were becoming slick from their efforts.  Scully pulled
his head to hers and licked the skin of his neck,
tasting the salt she found there.  It was like a drug,
feeding her lust.  He kissed her again and then lifted
up.  "Aaah, Scully!"  A few lasts thrusts and Mulder
held himself still, spilling into her.  His body
jerked a few times and he groaned as he lay on top of
her again, spent.  She waited, still relishing the
feel of him inside her.  After a minute or so he
lifted his head from her shoulder and kissed her.

"Scully . . . you didn't come."

"That's ok," she said immediately.  "I already did."

"No, it's not ok."  Groggily, he pulled out and backed
away, trying to move her legs up again.  "I want you
to come again."

"No -"

"Yes.  Again."  He pushed a finger inside her and used
his other hand to work her clit.  Her muscles clamped
down instinctively and it wasn't long before she felt
the tremors begin.  She slapped her hands against the
seat and cried out as her orgasm washed over her. 
Panting, she lay with her eyes closed as she felt
Mulder lay over her once more.

"You're amazing, Scully."

She opened her eyes.  Mulder was looking at her,
smiling.  And for the first time since they'd been in
the club, Scully saw the face of her partner.  

Not the man she'd glimpsed when she first sat down
earlier that evening, not the person she had been so
desperate to take inside her body.  As he smiled his
goofy grin and looked at her, it hit her full force.

This was *Mulder*.  The man she worked side by side
with every day.  The man she'd have to face on Monday
morning.  And he had just witnessed - and been a part
of - something she never would have believed could
happen.  Not with him.  Not someone whose trust and
respect she valued, needed, craved.  What happened in
the club, that might be explained away.  But this -
this was something altogether different.

Casual sex.  No.  Fucking.  That's what it was. 
Straight-out fucking.  Rutting in the back of a rental
car that they shouldn't even still have because Mulder
had been too lazy to return it this morning.  No bed
for them, not even a cheesy motel.  This was what
she'd reduced herself to.  She let her body take over
her brain, deliberately ignoring what she should have
been heeding all along - her instincts.  She'd been so
hot for it that it hadn't mattered.  And things
*always* mattered to her.

"Scully?"  Mulder touched the side of her face.  She
realized that he was no longer smiling.

"I'm here," she said with effort.

"No, you're not," he replied with a worried look. 
"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Mulder."

Too late to take that back.  The euphoria had worn off
and the flatness of her voice was all too clear.  It
hurt him.  She saw it in his eyes.  She suddenly
became very aware of their position, of being naked
under him, of her panties probably stuck in a ball on
the front seat along with her shoes.  She didn't like
how she felt, lying there, legs spread.  And there was
no easy way to cover herself up and forget what she'd
turned into tonight.  What she was already walling
away.  If it had been anyone else, even a stranger . .
. but this was Mulder, and she'd let him see her in a
way she never, ever should have allowed.

And that was unforgivable.

He backed away and gave her room to sit up. 
Wordlessly, she rehooked her bra and pulled her knees
up under her chin.  Mulder just looked at her.

"I suppose . . . you know where my panties are."

He reached over the seat and handed them to her.  She
sat with them in her hand, not sure how to do this
gracefully.

"What happened, Scully?"  His voice was a whisper. 
"Everything was good.  What happened?  Did I do
something wrong?"

"No, Mulder."  She looked out the window.  "I'm sorry,
I just -"  Back to his face.  No, that was too
difficult.  She looked down.  "I just . . . think we
should go home now."

"That's it?  Just like that?"  Scully bit her lip. 
"Are you already regretting this?"

"No, Mulder, it's not that."

"'Cause you seemed to want it as much as I did."

Small voice.  "I did."

"Then what's wrong?"  He reached out to touch her and
she flinched.  "Scully," he said, anguished.

"I'm sorry, Mulder.  I'm ok, really."  The tears were
building and after everything else, she absolutely
refused to let him see that.  "I did want it, and it
was good.  I just wouldn't mind getting out of here
and going home."

It wasn't going to wash and she knew it.  Mulder's
face turned to stone and she half expected him to
start yelling or demand she explain.  Instead, he
pulled himself together and crawled into the front
seat.  She heard him dig out his keys.  Scully pulled
her panties on and was buttoning her blouse just as
her shoes and pantyhose came tumbling into the seat
next to her.

Mulder was not gentle as he pulled out of the parking
lot.  Scully got the seatbelt around her and put on
her shoes, foregoing the hose.  She did the best she
could to ignore the presence of her partner as she
stared out the window, just as she had done countless
times with him across the country.  She smoothed her
hair as best she could, took a deep breath, and
prepared to deny that she was ever capable of doing
what she'd done in the backseat.

Agent Scully was back.

End of Part 2

Part 3
Friday evening - 11:40 pm
Dana Scully's apartment

Scully used her back to push her apartment door shut,
leaning against it with a soft sob.

It had taken every ounce of her will not to cry in the
car.  Sitting in the backseat while Mulder drove,
Scully had fixed her gaze out the window, desperately
wishing that she were somewhere else.  All she wanted
was to get home - and away from anything that reminded
her of what had taken place in that backseat just a
short while ago.

Red lights had been torture.  The silence in the car
was painful as they sat, waiting for the light to
change, until Mulder could hit the gas once again, as
if he could hardly wait to get to her place . . . to
get rid of her.  Scully could feel his anger and
confusion.  It hung in the air, filling the space
between them.  She tried to say something, anything,
that might make it better, but what was there to say?
It shouldn't have happened.  But it was too late.  And
as the minutes stretched on, it became even more
impossible for any words to be uttered.

An eternity later they reached her building.  Mulder
put the car in park and shut off the engine.  He
didn't turn around; he simply sat and stared out the
front window.  Scully hesitated, then reached for the
door handle.

"Scully."  A whisper; a plea.  She looked up at him.
Mulder's head had dropped forward; his shoulders had
lost their stiffness.  She waited.  He said nothing
else.  She wanted to say how sorry she was, how she
wished she could take it all back, erase everything
that happened.  But the words seemed so inadequate, so
. . . pathetic.

"Good night, Mulder."  She opened the door and walked
into her building without looking back.

Now, standing in her shadowy apartment, she could let
a few tears fall.  She felt wretched.  And nauseous.
Holding herself tightly around her middle, she gulped
a few deep breaths and tried to remain calm.  The room
was spinning; Scully closed her eyes, willing the
nightmare to be over.  But each breath she took as she
stood there only reminded her how fresh the wound was.


"Oh god," she whispered softly.  She suddenly felt
like she couldn't support herself and stumbled to the
bathroom, leaning against the sink.  She bent forward
and tried to focus on deep breathing.  Her hand
reached out for her cup; she filled it and threw her
head back and drank, then filled it again.  She caught
her eye in the mirror as she put the cup down.  Scully
flipped on the light and stared at her reflection,
unblinking.  Her hair was slightly mussed; her cheeks
were stained a bright pink.  Drawing her lips together
in a thin line, she gazed at the person staring back
at her.  A person she hadn't seen in quite a while.
Post-sex Dana.

It should be joyous.  Satisfying.  Even almost a
relief, after the dry spell of the last few years.
But she felt none of those things.  All she felt was .
. . ill.  And desperately disappointed in herself.
Was this what she'd joined the Bureau for?  Was this
why she'd pushed so hard to prove that she could make
it in a profession dominated by men?  To get involved
with her partner and have sex in public places?   Well
. . . she wasn't really *involved* with Mulder.  It
was just sex.  There wasn't any sort of promise or
commitment there.  They were adults; they should be
able to get past it.  It had simply been a lapse of
good judgment.

Scully shook her head slowly.  She was kidding
herself.  She'd been involved with Mulder from day
one, from the minute she walked into his office.  He
introduced her to a world full of mystery and danger
and deception that she could never have imagined.
Now, the work was everything.  It was consuming them
both, eating away at their lives until there was
almost nothing left.  Except each other.

And what was left now?  How could she look into his
eyes and expect to see any measure of respect that she
could trust?  How could she face Mulder each day with
him knowing what he now knew?  And how could she slip
back into the daily persona that had become so natural
for her, so safe, when she had managed to strip it
away in only a matter of hours?

How exposed she felt.  How raw.  She needed time -
time to absorb and analyze the situation.  Or maybe
she just needed sleep, she admitted to herself as she
yawned into the mirror.  Scully refocused her gaze on
the tub behind her.  That bath was long overdue.  She
looked at it wistfully, knowing that even a long soak
wouldn't be quite enough tonight.  It would take more
than a tubful of hot water to wash everything away.

She sighed.  What in the world was she going to do
now?  There was no way to justify her behavior.  No
way that she would accept, anyway.  She'd just have to
figure out how to move forward.  To lock away the
memories and resume daily life.  But how, when every
time she saw him she'd be reminded of her actions?

Her head began to throb.  Scully palmed her forehead
and looked away from the mirror, grimacing in disgust.
 How could she expect *him* to hold any respect for
her?  What respect did she have for herself?

Then she heard it.  A knock at the door.  "Damn it."
She supposed she should have expected it.  Scully
walked out into the living room and stopped, unable to
go any further.  She waited.

"Scully?"  Mulder's voice, uncertain.  "Scully, I know
you're up.  Your light's still on."

Her tongue felt thick and dry, like she'd been sucking
on cotton.  She forced the words out of her mouth.
"Mulder, it's late."

"Scully, we have to talk about this.  About us."

"There's nothing to talk about, Mulder."

"How can you say that?  Scully, this is ridiculous.
Let me in so I can talk to you, please?"

She took a few steps toward the door, then stopped
again.  "Mulder, I don't want to talk.  I'm tired."

"I just can't leave it like this.  How can you?"

"Mulder . . . I just can't do this right now."

"Scully, please don't shut me out.  We are friends,
aren't we?"

She sighed heavily and crossed the room, stopping just
in front of the door.  "Mulder . . . I really don't
want to let you in."

A pause.  "Are you afraid of me?"

"Of course not."

"Maybe you're afraid of yourself, then."

Her hand was at the chain, then the knob.  She opened
the door.  "Just what do you mean by that?"

"Well hello to you too, Scully."

"Mulder."

"Come on, Scully, let me in so your neighbors don't
have to hear all this, ok?"

She pursed her lips and stepped back.  Mulder brushed
past her and shoved his hands in his pockets as she
shut the door behind him.  "I'm not afraid, Mulder."

"So why did you pull away, then?  Why did you shut
down and act like it didn't even happen?"

"Because it shouldn't have."

"Why?  Because we're partners?"

"Mulder, do we have to do this now?"

"When do you suggest, Scully?  Tomorrow?  Next week?
Will you even want to talk to me then?  Or maybe while
we're on a case, how about that?"

"Mulder -"

"Look, I'm *sorry.*  I just - I don't understand.  One
minute we were - and then the next -"

"I know."

"So talk to me, Scully.  It's me."

"That's just it, Mulder."  Scully walked over to the
window and looked out, tension written in every line
of her body.  Mulder followed her slowly, stopping a
few feet away.

"So it *is* me.  You're upset with me."

"No - I'm upset with myself."  She turned to him.
"I'm sorry, Mulder.  It shouldn't have happened, and
I'm sorry.  Now, can we just leave it at that?"

"Leave it at what?  Scully, I'm trying to get a clue
here, but you're not making it easy."

"Do I have to spell it out for you?  Mulder, we had
sex in the backseat of a car."

"I was there, Scully.  I remember.  And as I also
remember -" he took a few steps closer "-we both
wanted it.  Or am I wrong about that?"

She stared at the floor.  "You're not wrong."

Mulder studied her.  "You're embarrassed."  Scully
said nothing.  "Scully, there's nothing to be
embarrassed about.  We both - I mean, we're adults,
and it's natural -"

She looked up.  "What's natural about any of it?
Mulder, we crossed a line."

He shrugged.  "Lines are there to be crossed, Scully.
We do it all the time."

"Not like this.  Not like tonight."

"Why not?"

Her voice rose.  "Because it *shouldn't* have
happened, Mulder.  Not with you."

He stared at her.  She lowered her gaze, clearly
uncomfortable.  Mulder took a deep breath.  "Right.
Sorry, Scully, I should have realized that having sex
with Spooky Mulder wouldn't be high on your list of
things to do on a Friday night."

"Mulder -"

"No, no, I get it.  I'm good enough to chase monsters
and psychos with, but not good enough to fuck."

Scully huffed out a laugh of disbelief.  "God."

"At least I know now why you're so ashamed."

"I am *not* asha-"

"Well, you sure as hell are acting like it."  Mulder
paced the floor.  "Do you have any idea . . . the look
on your face when . . ."  He stopped to grip the back
of a chair.  "Was it really that bad, Scully?" he
asked in a softer voice.

"No, Mulder."  She walked closer to him.  "No."

Mulder sighed.  "Look, I know how . . . you can be, I
just thought . . . it seemed like -"

"How *I* can be?"

"Yeah, you . . . you don't exactly open up to me,
Scully, so I -"

"You think I don't open up?"

"You don't."

Scully crossed her arms over her chest.  "You're not
exactly an open book yourself, Mulder."

"Don't.  Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Get defensive."

"I'm not defensive.  I'm simply stating a fact."

"Fine, Scully, state a fact.  State all the facts you
want.  That seems to be all you're going to do,
anyway."

"What would you like me to do?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you, Scully?" Mulder
mocked.

"Damn it!  What do you *want* from me, Mulder?"

"How about an honest feeling?"  He pushed at the chair
and she jumped.  "Is that too much to ask?  I want you
to show me what you showed me earlier tonight.  You
did open up to me, Scully.  And it was amazing.  So
why can't you do it now?"  Mulder moved around the
chair to stand in front of her, calming himself with
some effort.  He softened his voice.  "If you're not
afraid, and you're not embarrassed, and you're not
ashamed, then what are you?"  He reached out and
tipped up her chin gently.  "I need to know."

"I'm . . ."  She tasted the words in her mouth, then
faltered.  "I'm tired, Mulder."  Her voice trembled as
she looked into his troubled face.  "I just want to go
to bed and . . . start over tomorrow."

He released her chin and shook his head.  "I don't
even know why I came up here.  I really thought we'd
be able to talk about . . . us."

"There is no 'us,' Mulder.  There's us at work, but
there's no . . . us.  Not really."

"There could be."  He saw the look on her face and
tried again.  "Scully . . . I'm not sure what kind of
impression you have of me when it comes to women . . .
but I'm not exactly the love-'em-and-leave-'em type.
And I don't take sex lightly."

"Mulder, I'm not expecting anything from you, and I'm
not asking for anything."

"Sure you are.  You're asking me to forget it."

"I think it would be best."

"For who?  For you?"

"For both of us."

"Since when do you speak for me, Scully?  What about
what I want?"

"That's all this is, isn't it?  Why does everything
have to be about you?  *You* want, *you* need.  This
is about what *I* want, Mulder.  And what I want is to
not talk about it anymore."

"Fine."  Mulder grasped her behind the neck, drawing
her toward him and covering her mouth with his.  The
assault was swift, and Scully barely had time to take
a breath before Mulder's tongue was exploring her,
tasting her.  She moaned in protest and put her arms
up, only to have him coax them down as he pulled her
even closer.  For a time they stood there, lost in one
another, until Mulder broke the kiss and pressed his
forehead to hers.  "Now that's an honest feeling," he
said.  He gathered her in his arms and rocked her
slowly.  " It's ok to feel it, Scully," he murmured
into her hair.  "Everything you saw and did and felt
tonight . . . it's ok.  It's real.  It's honest."

Scully was shaking.  It was about to happen again.
All her reasoning, all her instincts were about to be
thrown out the window, all for the touch of this man.
She pulled back slightly and glimpsed a flash of
triumph in his eyes.  It angered her.  "You don't know
what I felt, Mulder."

"Oh, you're wrong about that, Scully.  I know.  I'm
not just your partner.  I'm a man."

Mulder's hand was working its way from the small of
her back to the curve of her . . . she jumped and
tried to disengage, but he held her tightly against
him.  "Mulder, let me go."

He smiled.  "Why?  Can't you control yourself around
me?"

"This isn't funny, Mulder."

"I'm not laughing, Scully."  Mulder bent forward and
sucked on her neck.  She felt the jolt of arousal in
her belly and gripped his arms, unsure whether she
wanted to shove him away or hold onto him forever.

"Mulder, please . . ."

He pulled back and kissed her lips.  "I've got some
news for you, Scully.  You were excited tonight.  I
think you were more excited than you've been in a hell
of a long time, maybe even your whole life."

"I'm not a virgin, Mulder."  She spat the words.
"I've done this before."

"I noticed."  Mulder let his fingers trail down her
front until they reached her breast.  He coaxed her
nipple to life, pulling at it lightly.  "But you've
never watched anyone do it before . . . have you?"

She gasped.

His lips were barely touching hers.  "You want some
more honesty, Scully?  I think you liked it," Mulder
whispered.  "I think you liked watching someone get
fucked . . . and then begging to get fucked yourself."

Her legs were beginning to wobble.  "No . . . "

"No?"  His hand found its way under her skirt.
"You're wet now, aren't you?"  She tried to clamp her
legs together, but Mulder insisted, shoving his
fingers between her thighs to caress her mound.  "See
that?" he taunted her.  He dragged his fingers upward
repeatedly, stroking her through her panties.  "I'd
say that's a yes."

Scully whimpered as Mulder pressed his body hard
against hers, his erection making itself known rather
insistently.  "So wet, Scully . . . you're wet for me.
 Just like before.  When you let go."  He shifted and
thrust his hand into her panties, making her cry out.

"Oh, god . . ."

"You felt it, Scully.  You felt it then . . . and you
feel it now."  He curved his finger and inserted it
into her easily.  She clenched her thighs and began to
rock on his hand.  "It's so good between us, Scully.
So good . . ."  Mulder kissed her again.  "We can find
a way through this."  Holding her close, he moved his
finger gently inside her as he spoke between kisses.
"Just find it *with* me.  Not without me."

"Mulder . . . I . . . I don't . . ."

"You can just forget about asking me to forget about
it, Scully.  It's not going to happen."  Mulder
removed his finger and held her gaze.  "I know how you
taste now, Scully.  I'm not going to forget that
anytime soon."  He watched her as he sucked the
wetness from his finger, then took her lips again.
Scully shivered as she tasted herself in Mulder's
mouth.  When she opened her eyes, he was gone.

The door nicked shut gently behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 4
Saturday evening - 6:30 pm
Fox Mulder's apartment

She stood in the hallway, staring up at the number 42
on Mulder's door as if it could give her all the
answers she sought . . . if she just waited long
enough.

Scully rocked back and forth on her heels, trying to
steady her nerves.  She hadn't planned on being at
Mulder's doorstep.  After he'd left so abruptly the
previous night, Scully had numbly found her way to
bed, lying awake on top of the covers for quite some
time.  She woke up in the same position, fully
dressed, some ten hours later.  And things were no
clearer than they had been when she'd fallen asleep. 
She spent the rest of the morning in a half daze,
wondering if it had all been just a wild dream.  But
the memory of Mulder's mouth, of his lips and tongue
everywhere - and of him inside her - told her
otherwise.

Damn him.  Leave it to Mulder to probe, to push, to
force her to face what she desperately wanted to
ignore.  She'd given serious thought to calling
Skinner and requesting some time off, and then just
disappearing for a while.  But she couldn't bring
herself to do it.  She couldn't just . . . abandon him
like that.  It wouldn't make things any better, or
easier. She was going to have to go to him.  He'd left
the ball in her court.  Damn damn damn.

Ah well.  Better to just face him now, before
returning to work, and set things straight.  Now the
trick was figuring out how to do just that.  So here
she was.  Scully pulled in a deep breath and raised
her hand to knock, when the door opened.

"Scully."  Mulder stood there in sweats and a T-shirt,
looking somewhat rumpled, as if he'd just woken up.  

"Mulder."  She let her hand drop back at her side.

"I uh . . . I was just going to get something to
drink."  She nodded.  He let go of the door and leaned
against the jamb.  "I'm glad you stopped by."

"I wasn't sure if you'd be here."

"You could've called."

"Yeah . . . well."  They stood in silence for a few
moments, Scully looking everywhere but at him.

"So . . . come in."  Mulder stepped back and waited
for her to pass.  

"Are you sure this is a good - "

"Come in, Scully."  She walked past him and stepped
into his living room, eyeing the scene.   TV on.  Of
course.  Beer bottle on the coffee table.  Empty, no
doubt.  Couch with a blanket bunched up on the far
end.  So apparently he hadn't done much with his day
either.  Scully turned as he came up behind her,
rubbing a hand through his hair.

She gave him a small smile.  "Been sleeping the day
away?"

"Uh . . . the opposite, actually.  I was trying to
*get* some sleep."  Mulder reached for the remote and
muted the TV.  "Thought a few more beers might do the
trick."

Her brow furrowed.  "Did you sleep last night?"

"Did you?" he replied softly.  She chose to ignore
that.

"Mulder, I . . . I thought we should . . ."

"Talk?"  She looked up, expecting to see sarcasm
written all over his face, but found him simply
looking at her calmly.

"Yeah."

Mulder nodded.  "Why don't you make yourself
comfortable.  I'll get those beers; we might need
'em."  As he stepped outside the apartment, Scully
glanced around some more, looking at everything and at
nothing.  Finally, she sank down onto his couch and
sat in the silence.  Reaching out for Mulder's
blanket, Scully piled it onto her lap, tracing the
patterns with her finger.  Then she brought it to her
nose and breathed in.  It smelled of him.  Of his
skin, his soap, his aftershave of the previous day. 
It was oddly comforting.  Scully leaned back and
draped the blanket over her, effectively wrapping
herself in him.  She sighed and wondered for the
hundredth time what she was going to say.

She didn't want their partnership to end, she knew
that.  And she wasn't angry anymore . . . well, not
really.  She was resigned.  Resigned to the fact that,
no matter how she wished otherwise, things would
change.  There would always be the memory between
them.  She couldn't erase that.  But how would they
move on?  Would they be able to work together as they
had before?  Would there always be awkwardness?  Would
he resent her, avoid her, end up hating her?  Or she
him?  The mere thought of that made her heart twist
painfully.  

It would be all too easy to give in, just as she had
last night.  All too easy to let her heart - and, to
be honest, her body - lead the way.  But she just
couldn't let that happen.  Not again.  Now if only she
could get Mulder to accept that.  That it was better
this way.  For their partnership.  For their
friendship.

She'd been telling herself that all day.  It felt like
the right decision.  So why, sitting on his couch and
wrapped in his smell, did the words suddenly sound so
hollow?

"It's ok to feel it, Scully."  His words from the
previous night stayed with her, and yet could not
reach her.  Not quite.  For if it was ok, then she
would have to admit . . . no.  She shifted
uncomfortably as she saw him standing before her,
heard his voice coming at her again in whispers:
"You've never watched anyone do it before. . . .  I
think you liked watching someone get fucked . . . and
then begging to get fucked yourself."

Scully tossed the blanket aside and stood, more
nervous than when she had been standing outside the
door.  She began to pace, wishing Mulder would hurry
up and get back so they could get it over with and she
could go home and be miserable by herself.  Turning on
her heel, Scully was on her fifth march across the
living room when she stopped in mid-step.  A doorway
had caught her attention, one she'd never walked
through, and she realized what it must be.  Mulder's
bedroom.

She'd never been in there, of course.  She wasn't even
sure that he had one.  But the door was open, and it
was too much of a mystery for her to resist.  She
walked over, peered in . . . and stood there in
surprise.  She wasn't sure what she had expected to
see.  Clothes thrown everywhere, maybe, or reports
strewn about.  But there was nothing out of place. 
Not a thing.  It was if he never used the room . . .
which was probably quite close to the truth.  It
saddened her. 

Her gaze halted at the neatly made bed.  As she stood
there, she found herself imagining what Mulder would
look like under the covers, sprawled across the
mattress in sleep.  She pictured him without a shirt
and with the sheet pulled up to just below his hips,
where the elastic of his black boxers would begin. 
His head would be tilted back; his arms would be flung
out to the sides.  His eyes would be closed and his
mouth would be open, and she could just about hear him
as he snored lightly.  She could see it as clearly as
if he was there right now.  And it was all wrong.  

For that would be a content Mulder, a comforted
Mulder, relaxed enough to enjoy a blissful night's
slumber.  Another picture appeared in her mind.  This
time, Mulder was huddled on the couch in his T-shirt
and sweats, gazing at the television, troubled,
tormented . . . and alone.  Scully began to cry.

She didn't hear him return.  Scully was standing there
staring at his bed with slow, hot tears running down
her cheeks when she felt a very light touch on her
shoulder.  She didn't startle, but instead closed her
eyes in embarrassment at being caught.  Mulder gently
turned her around to face him.  She looked up into his
eyes and found no words, nothing to explain what she
was doing or why she was crying.  But Mulder didn't
ask her any questions; he simply looked at her.  She
began to tremble.  Mulder reached up and wiped her
tears away.  

"Scully . . ."

She shook her head and tried to regain some composure,
but the tears kept falling.  Mulder reached out and
enveloped her in his arms.  She pressed her face into
his chest and wept, thoroughly overwhelmed with
emotion.  For a time they stood in silence, her tears
soaking his shirt, as he rested his chin on the top of
her head.  Scully eventually took some deep breaths
and calmed herself, feeling exhausted and out of
sorts.  She reached up to wipe her face and realized
as she opened her eyes just how many tears had fallen.

"Your shirt . . ." her voice cracked.  "Sorry."

Mulder smiled, smoothing her hair gently with his
palm.  "Don't be.  I think I'm getting off light
here."

Scully swiped her hands over her eyes once more and
frowned up at him.  "What do you mean?"

"I thought you'd . . . tell me straight off you never
wanted to see me again."  

"What?"

"If the car wasn't enough, then your apartment - I
wouldn't blame you, Scully."

"Mulder, that's the last thing I want."

He nodded, pursing his lips.  "I'm glad.  Do you know
. . . what it is you do want?" he asked quietly.

Scully opened her mouth . . . and no words came out. 
Not a thing.  She felt the frustration building and
almost stamped her feet like a child.  She tried
again.  "Mulder," she croaked, and winced at the sound
of her voice.  "Damn it," she hissed.

A long finger began to trace the line of her jaw. 
"Whatever it is, Scully, I'll accept it."  Mulder's
fingers cupped her chin and she found herself once
again trapped by his gaze.  "Just tell me what you
need."

She reached up and grasped his fingers and tried one
more time to speak words of friendship . . . and found
herself kissing his hand.  It happened without
thought.  It felt natural, like her mouth was
automatically responding to his touch.  Scully pressed
her lips to his skin and felt her insides drop, as if
they needed to readjust to make room for a new
presence.  Her nostrils flared and she watched the tip
of Mulder's tongue trace his full bottom lip.  But he
didn't move, didn't speak.  She could feel him holding
back, sense it in his tense muscles and in his
stiffened stance.  Scully took a deep breath full of
him and closed the distance.

Mouths opened.  Scully sank into the kiss, relaxing
her body and wrapping her arms around Mulder's waist. 
She gasped as he lifted her off the floor and placed
her on the bed, covering her with his body.  Scully
felt her bones melt as he pressed her into the
mattress, taking her mouth again.   She wrapped her
legs around him and arched up, increasing the contact.
 Mulder groaned and dragged his lips down her neck,
biting gently into the soft skin.  He moved back up to
kiss her as his hand covered her breast.  She
whimpered and broke the kiss, traveling to his neck in
turn, sucking and drinking in his flavor.  It was a
sharp reminder of the backseat, when she'd first
tasted his saltiness.  And of the misery she felt
shortly afterward.

Scully let her head fall back.  Mulder leaned in,
presumably to kiss her again, and stopped.  He removed
his hand from her breast and stilled his movements.

"What is it, Scully?"

She trembled beneath him.  "I lied to you before.  I
am afraid."

A quick flash of hurt in his eyes.  "Of me?"

"Of us."

Mulder studied her, nodded, and slowly rolled away,
lying carefully next to her, not touching.  She
immediately missed his weight, his warmth.  She stared
at the ceiling and listened to him breathe.  My god,
she thought suddenly, I'm in a bed with Mulder.  How
strange.  Yet strange was normal for them, wasn't it? 
And was *that* normal?  Or a healthy way to live? 
Maybe not . . . but she'd chosen this path.  She could
have walked away from it at any time, and instead she
was continually drawn toward it, toward *him*.  She
turned her head and looked at his profile, stared at
that wonderful, adorable face, and wondered why she
shouldn't just turn her brain off and start planting
kisses all over it.  And then her voice suddenly
decided to cooperate.

"Mulder."  He closed his eyes when she spoke.  "We're
partners, but we're friends too.  Very good friends. 
And this . . . this is difficult for me.  Even as much
as I want it.  I need to be able to separate those
feelings from the rest of me."

"Why?"  He remained still.  "Why do you want to break
yourself up like that?"

"I need to know who I am, Mulder.  At all times."

"You know who you are.  You're Dana Scully."  He
opened his eyes and looked at her. 

"I'm not Dana with you, Mulder."

He blinked.  "So who was that in the club with me? 
Who was in the backseat?"  Scully's jaw worked.  "You
are afraid, aren't you?  And it's got nothing to do
with me." Mulder turned on his side to face her. 
"Scully, you're the best partner I've ever had.  And I
think it's safe to say you're the best friend I've
ever had."  She stared at him, transfixed.  "So why is
it so hard for you to let me see you as a woman?"

Her mouth opened in surprise.  "Wha . . ." 

"Call me crazy, but I think that was Dana Scully in
the club, and in the backseat, and in your apartment
last night.  The *real* Dana Scully.  Who is a great
doctor, a brilliant agent, and who also happens to be
a remarkably passionate woman who feels things just
like everyone else."

"Mulder . . . I never thought . . ."

"No, that's the trouble, Scully.  All you *do* is
think.  You think and think and come to your own
conclusions on what should be, without explanation."

"Mulder, I came here tonight to explain why I feel the
way I do."

"And you feel like you can't be yourself with me.  I
thought we knew each other better than that, Scully."

"Mulder, we have a good working relationship.  We work
well together.  We respect each other.  The last thing
I want to do is jeopardize that."

"Is that what this is about?  Respect?  Scully, do you
actually think that I don't respect you for having
needs outside of the office?"

"But it's no longer outside the office, Mulder.  It's
part of us now, and we'll bring it into the office
whether we like it or not."

Mulder shifted and rested his head on his hand,
grinning.  "Scully, there is a lock on the door."

"Mulder!"

"Kidding, Scully, kidding.  Look, I hear what you're
saying.  But the truth is, we're still us.  Whether
we're in the office or not.  We're still a man and a
woman."  Scully said nothing, staring at the collar of
Mulder's shirt.  "You know, Scully . . . that whole
time, in the car . . . you didn't say my name.  Not
once."

She frowned.  "Yes, I did."

"Nope.  Not once.  Not until it was over.  That didn't
occur to me until sometime early this afternoon."  

Scully thought back, and supposed he was right.  "I
don't think . . . I could admit to myself that it
*was* you, Mulder."

"And when you did, you pulled away.  You know, for a
second I thought I'd misread the whole situation.  I
thought I'd taken advantage.  Even though I was pretty
sure I hadn't."

"You didn't, Mulder.  Don't think that."

"And then I felt like an idiot."

"Why?"

"Why?  Because I connected with an incredible woman
and the best I could do was screw her in the backseat
of a rental car."  Slowly, Scully raised her hand and
brushed the hair back from his forehead tenderly. 
"Don't think I didn't beat myself up about that."

She smiled softly.  "What would you have done
instead?"

"Um, anything?"  Mulder smiled.  "Taken you to a
hotel, at least?"

She smiled again, then let it fade.  "But I was the
one.  I got us in that car, Mulder."

"And I kept us there, Scully."

"We could debate this all night."

He nodded, relenting.  "And if you had admitted to
yourself, Scully, that it was me . . . would you still
have gotten in that car?"

"If I had thought . . . I just knew that . . . I
wanted it."  She winced in shame.

"There.  There it is, that look.  Why is this so
wrong?  Scully, you're human, for god's sake."

"But with you, Mulder -"

"Why not me?  So I'm your partner.  Big deal.  That
doesn't mean we can't have feelings for each other.  I
have more respect for you for owning up to your
feelings than for hiding them, Scully.  You should
know that."

She arched an eyebrow.  "You're going to talk to me
about hiding feelings, Mulder?"

"I'm not excluding myself, Scully.  I just never
thought that -"

"What?"

"That . . . there would be . . . the right
opportunity."

She stared at him.  "Oh, please."

"Scully, how many chances does a guy get with his
partner, of all people?  You think I would have
touched you if we hadn't been in that club?"

"You're saying you've been holding back?"

"Of course I have."

"So you never would have touched me."

"That's not what I . . . "

"No.  Wait.  You said before it's hard for me.  So
what about you?  We're alone most of the day.  You
could have said or tried something any number of
times, but you didn't.  Why?  Was it hard for *you* to
see me as a woman?"

Mulder stared at her.  "Hell no."  He spoke the words
as if in pain.  Scully's eyes widened as he moved to
loom over her, his face suddenly intense.  "Do you
have *any* idea what you do to me each day?  Knowing
that I'm in the same office as you and I can see you
and listen to you and smell you but the one thing I
can't do is touch you?  Do you know what it's like to
watch you walk in those skirts and heels and feel you
sitting next to me in a car and listen to you breathe
as you fall asleep just inches away from me?  You
don't know how many times I wanted to reach over and
kiss you awake.  Or how many times I wanted to stop
you from going home for the weekend because I knew,
unless I could come up with some lousy excuse for a
case, that I wouldn't see you again until Monday.  Do
you have any idea how that made me feel, Scully?"

"No - I don't!"

"Miserable."  Scully held her breath, shocked into
silence.  "And then the other night - to have you
touch me, respond to me, of all people – Scully, you
don't have any idea, do you, what you did to me."  She
shook her head slowly.  "And the fact that you were my
friend and partner besides – well, it was like the
icing on the cake."

She continued to simply stare at him.  He chuckled. 
"You really don't get it, do you?  Scully -" Mulder
grabbed her hand " - I'm happy about this.  I know it
means some change in our lives, but I'm ok with that. 
And Scully, just so we're clear - you don't lose any
of the status you have as my partner or my friend just
because you're also my lover.  In fact, I think it
moves you up a notch."

"Lover?"

"Is there another term you'd prefer?"

"You could do that, Mulder?  Have me in your life this
way?"

"Where have you been the past twenty-four hours,
woman?  No wait, I know.  Trapped in your head,
thinking of all the reasons why this won't work."

"Mulder, don't tease."

"Who's teasing?  You're obviously unsure about this."
She lowered her gaze.  "Hey."  He lifted her chin. 
"I'm afraid too, you know."

"Of what?"

"Of making a mistake.  Of disappointing you.  Of not
being the hottest roll in the sheets you've ever had
in your life."  Scully chuckled; Mulder smiled, then
grew serious again.  "And of losing you.  Losing . . .
this . . . now that I know what it's like."

Scully bit her lip; a tear formed in the corner of one
eye.  "I know."

"I think we found something worth keeping, Scully. 
Something worth fighting for, at least.  If you're
willing."  Mulder leaned forward and rested his
forehead against hers.  Scully brought her hand up to
touch his face; he pressed a kiss into her palm.

She sighed.  "Can we do this, Mulder?"

"I think we can, Scully.  As long as when we're alone,
you're not afraid to let me see you.  All of you. 
Everything that makes you Dana Scully.  If you can
trust me with that, than I think we can do anything."

"I'd like you to know who I am, Mulder.  I'd very much
like to share that with you.  And I want to know you,
too."

"It goes both ways."  He massaged her hand.  "We can
lose ourselves in each other for a while - I think
we're entitled to that - but we won't lose who we are.
 I promise."

"You seem so sure."

"Am I ever wrong, Scully?"  Another kiss to her palm,
a knowing smile.  Scully balanced a few retorts on her
tongue, then swallowed them as Mulder's lips traveled
down the inside of her arm, tickling her.  She giggled
and Mulder changed tactics, diving for her ribs.

"Mulder!!"  Scully squirmed under his assault,
laughing.

"I've always wanted to do this!"

"Mulder, please stop!"

He pulled his hands away.  "See, Scully?  I'll always
respect your wishes."  He grinned.  Scully shook her
head, still chuckling.  "Look at you."  

"What?"

"All flushed, breathing heavy . . . you're gorgeous,
Scully."

"So are you."  Mulder grinned; Scully blushed and
turned her head.

"Ah, ah."  Mulder kissed her cheek.  "None of that." 
He kissed her neck and arousal flowed through her
body.  She placed her hand on the back of his head,
encouraging him.  His lips sought her mouth.

They kissed for a long time.  Scully's body fairly
screamed of her need; she pressed against him and
moaned softly when Mulder's hands began to explore. 
His fingers reached under her shirt, resting on her
belly.  She smiled as he paused, waiting for
permission.  She kissed him in answer.

Slowly, Mulder undressed her, taking time to explore
each newly exposed bit of skin with his lips and
tongue.  Her bare shoulder.  The swell of her breast. 
The inside of her wrist.  Her collarbone.  A nipple. 
As he slid her underwear off her body and she lay
fully nude before him, Mulder stared at her in
absolute awe.  He swallowed hard.

"Scully . . ."  He kneeled between her legs and ran
his fingertips lightly against her outer thighs. 
Feeling brave, Scully rested her arms on either side
of her head and let her legs fall open.  She watched
as Mulder gazed at her damp curls.  "So beautiful," he
whispered.  Then he placed a tender kiss there.

For a long time Scully floated in bliss as Mulder made
love to her with his mouth.  He did more than that -
he worshiped her.  Every touch was tender, soft,
coaxing.  She relaxed as she never had with any other
man in her life.  She sighed delightedly as he
relearned her body, her intimate secrets.  How she
would groan deeply when he pushed his tongue inside. 
How she keened when he would flick her clit, suckle
it, and flick it again.  And she relearned her body
also, as she opened herself to him, gave herself to
him, at long last.  She looked down at him and moaned
as he claimed her soul.

He stopped momentarily and met her gaze, his lips
moving against her swollen folds teasingly as he
spoke.  "I *knew* you liked to watch."  He captured
her clit and sucked hard.  Scully's eyes rolled back
and she came, gasping.  He kept up the pressure,
pushing her further, finally easing off as she began
to settle, out of breath.  Mulder bathed her thighs in
kisses, finishing with one last kiss to her curls
before rising.

Scully opened her eyes lazily.  She watched as Mulder
pulled off his shirt and tossed it on a chair.  Even
in her sated state, arousal tingled in her belly as
she took in the sight of Mulder's lean, sculpted body.
 He undid the tie on his sweats.  That's when it
occurred to her: she hadn't even seen it yet.  Mulder
finished peeling off his sweats and stood before her,
naked.  She felt her mouth begin to water.

He was longer than she'd expected, and not quite as
thick.  But he was not small by any means.  And as he
stood there, watching her take in every inch of his
body, he seemed to swell a bit more.  She watched it
move in fascination.  His masculinity overwhelmed her;
her body responded.  She smelled it.  

Sitting up slowly, never taking her eyes off his
erection, she whispered: "Come here."  Mulder obeyed,
his large bare feet padding quietly on the carpet. 
Scully got on her knees as he stopped in front of her.
 She breathed him in.  Oh god, his smell.  Heat and
sex.  A tiny drop of fluid collected at the tip.  She
leaned forward and licked the little drop away. 
Mulder groaned, his hands clenching into fists at his
sides.  She licked him again, lightly, before running
her tongue up his full length.  She bent her body and
made sure to look into his eyes as she took him into
her mouth for the first time.

So warm; so full.  She let him slide back out easily
and descended again, making him slick.  Mulder's eyes
grew wide as she paused to suckle the head.  Scully
ran the tip of her tongue underneath it and let him
ease down her throat again, keeping him there this
time as she hummed.

"Oh, fuck . . . Scully . . ."

She brought her hands up to cup his firm ass and
sucked him like she'd been thirsty for years.  She
felt his hands on either side of her head, resting
there almost hesitantly.  She increased the suction
and the pace and he groaned.  She clenched his ass,
encouraging him.  He gave in and held her firmly as
she felt him swell in her mouth.  Looking up, she
smiled around his cock as she took in the sight of
him, eyes glassy, mouth open, watching her.

She released him briefly.  "I think you like watching
too."  She swallowed him again.

Mulder began to fidget, fisting his hands in her hair
and moving his hips forward, fucking her mouth.  She
sensed he was close.  Then:  "Uh.  Ahh!  Stop . . .
Scully, stop."  He pulled out and held her head in his
hands, panting.  She looked up at him in confusion,
wondering what she'd done wrong.  Mulder refocused his
gaze on her.  "Do you trust me?"

She blinked.  "Of course I do."

He nodded and took her hand, grabbing a pillow as
well.  She stood and let him lead her to the living
room.  Shoving the coffee table aside, Mulder sat her
down on the floor with the pillow in front of her.  He
grabbed a video from atop the television and turned
the set on.

"What are you doing?"  

"Just trust me, Scully."  He popped the tape in, reset
the counter, and hit fast forward on the remote. 
Coming back to her, Mulder turned her to face the
screen and settled behind her, stroking her back. 
After a few moments, he hit play.  The news was
replaced with a naked man and woman in an embrace,
kissing each other feverishly.

Scully stiffened.  Mulder placed his hand gently on
her hip and bent to her ear.  "Relax, Scully.  Relax. 
It's just a tape.  We can turn it off anytime you
want."  Her breathing was shallow, her eyes wide. 
Mulder kissed her neck tenderly.  "You don't have to
do anything.  Just watch."

The protest she thought she would make turned into a
moan as Mulder's hand reached between her legs.  As
the couple onscreen made themselves comfortable on a
bed, Scully shifted her thighs so Mulder could reach
more of her.  He spread the wetness that gushed forth
as she watched the woman suck the man's cock. 
Scully's breathing began to increase; she felt
Mulder's erection pressing into her back as he suckled
on her earlobe.  His fingers hit a particularly
sensitive spot and she cried out with pleasure.  

The screen showed a close up of the woman's mouth
moving up and down the shaft.  "Oh god," Scully
whispered.

"Does that excite you?"  Mulder reached around with
his other hand and found her nipple, pinching it ever
so lightly.  

"Oh!"

"Look how hard he is, Scully.  She's going to have
that inside her soon."  Mulder rose slightly, lifting
her body so she was on her knees.  Cupping her breast,
Mulder rocked her slowly as he inserted a finger
inside her.  He worked Scully's body as the man turned
the woman around and prepared to enter her from
behind.  Scully huffed out short pants of breath,
humping Mulder's hand as best she could.  The woman
onscreen raised her ass and the man slid inside her
easily, the camera beneath them catching every slick
moment.

"Would you like me to do that?"  Mulder's fingers
increased the pace.  "Would you like me to take you
from behind while you watch them?"

"Oh Mulder . . ."

"Tell me, Scully."

"Yes.  Yes."  Mulder pulled out and eased her forward,
putting gentle pressure on her back.  Scully rested
her arms on the pillow and raised her hips without
thinking, presenting her ass to him.  "That's it . . .
a little more, Scully."  He massaged her cheeks as she
obeyed, suddenly finding herself in one of the most
vulnerable positions she'd ever been in with a man. 
She didn't have time to think about it, though, for
Mulder's lips and teeth were making themselves busy on
her tender skin and Scully found herself arching as
much as she could to feel as much as possible.  

Mulder put his hands on her thighs and pushed to get
her to spread her legs wider.  "Just a little bit
more, Scully.  That's it.  Mmmm."  He pressed his face
into her slit and she cried out.

"Oh god!"

"Mmmmmm."  Mulder rubbed his face into her wetness. 
He worked his way under and she wailed as the tip of
his tongue reached her swollen clit.  He took long
licks, then let his tongue dance over her a few times
before lapping her again, slow.  He hummed and kissed
and Scully groaned - a deep, throaty groan that she'd
never produced in her life.  She raised her ass as
much as she could and watched the couple fuck in front
of her.  In his position, Mulder couldn't quite reach
all of her, but she was more than ready.  She could
feel the liquid running down her legs.  He must have
realized it, for he rose to position himself.  Then
she felt the soft tip prodding her entrance.

"Oh yes,  yes."

"Ooh yeah, Scully, that's it.  Take me.  Take all of
me."  It was a tough angle, but Mulder pressed inside,
filling her once again.  Scully opened her mouth on a
soft, high-pitched "aaaaah" as his cock stretched her.
 It was somewhat uncomfortable, but Scully looked up
to see the man driving into the woman and slapping her
ass, and in a responding jolt of arousal Scully felt
her juices coat Mulder's shaft and ease the way. 
Holding her cheeks firmly, Mulder began to move.

She was taken.  Completely and utterly taken.  "Uhh. 
Ahh.  Ahh."  With each thrust, Scully moaned, letting
her body respond without shame or worry.  It felt so
good.  So damn good.

"Aww, fuck yeah.  Mmmmmaaahhhh. Yeah, Scully.  Oh god,
you're so beautiful.  Ohhhhh."

She whimpered, aching to feel him deeper.  Her moans
became mutterings, nonsensical words that came from
her depths as Mulder reached around and found her
clit.  "Ahh yeahhhh!"

Mulder growled and pumped harder.  "You like that,
Scully?"

"Oooohhhhhh!"

"Say my name.  Please, Scully."

"Mulder." 

"Oh, yeah."

"Mulder!  Mulder!"  

"Yeah.  It's me.  I'm fucking you, Scully.  I'm
*fucking* you.  God, I love this.  Oh.  God.  Oh,  I
love y -"

"Oh, god!  Mulder!  Muuuuuuullllllldeeeerrrrrrrrr . .
. "  Scully's climax hit full force, causing her to
spasm and buck and cry until her limbs went numb and
she collapsed beneath him.   Mulder stayed with her,
thrusting a few more times into her limp body until he
came, the sounds of his pleasure only slightly muffled
as he pressed his face into her shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She felt cold.  Opening her eyes, she smiled as she
heard Mulder snoring softly in her ear.  Gently, she
removed his hand from her hip and sat up, stretching. 
She felt cramped from lying curled on the floor. 
Scully reached for Mulder's blanket and wrapped it
around her body, yawning.  She wondered how long
they'd been sleeping.  Maybe she should wake him up
and get him to move to the bedroom.  And maybe she'd
join him.

She waited for the stab of panic to hit her with that
thought, but nothing came.  Maybe she was getting used
to the idea at last.  Or maybe she was just too
sexually satisfied to care.  She didn't want to
examine it.  She was too tired.

Sitting on his couch, she watched Mulder sleep.  She
couldn't help sighing as she thought of the week
ahead.  At least Monday was still another day away. 
They had some time yet.  Time before returning to the
office.  Time to see if Mulder's confidence would rub
off on her.  She didn't agree with him that it didn't
matter that they were partners.  It would have to
change things, somehow.  There was no doubting that. 
She would have to trust in Mulder's words, believe him
when he said they could make it.  She told him she
trusted him, after all - and she meant it.  It was
herself she didn't trust. 

Scully turned her gaze to his window, watching the
moonlight filter through.  She listened to his
breathing and said a silent prayer for what the future
would bring.

END