TITLE: BIRTHDAY BLUES AUTHOR: DONNILEE E-MAIL: DONNILEE@SNET.NET WEB SITE: http://pages.zdnet.com/brunoem/bbrain/id9.html CATEGORY: MSR RATING: NC-17 - Descriptive Sex - Bad language SPOILERS: Little ones for Never Again, Triangle, The Unnatural SUMMARY: Mulder takes advantage of his birthday to manipulate Scully into a little hanky panky. DISCLAIMER: All X-Files characters are the property of creator, Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting. Used here without a scrap of permission. SPECIAL THANKS: To Shannon, the Wonder Beta. Her savvy with the English language has come in super handy! Love you, babe! CHALLENGE: Tina a/k/a Foxy - Webmistress of the two - www.the two.de. Tina sent me a challenge for a story with the following elements: 1. One motel room with only one big bed. 2. Some cover stealing by Scully. 3. Only one set of pajamas. 4. A birthday cake for mid-life crisis, Mulder. 5. Mulder POV 6. A simulated, faked orgasm (like in "When Harry Met Sally") 7. Angst - maybe due to Never Again episode. 8. Some accidental snuggling because of one bed. WHEW! Lots of things in there. Let's see how I did? Obviously, this one is for Tina! PART 1 (PG-13) SUPER 8 MOTEL EAST MAIN STREET TORRINGTON, CT OCTOBER 16, 1999 7:00 PM "Damn it!" I shouted, throwing my arms up in the air, then bringing them down to smack the Formica counter with force. Scully looked at me, clearly puzzled at my overreaction to the news from the hotel clerk that they didn't have two rooms to rent, let alone ones with a connecting door. This day had gone from bad to worse since the moment I got out of bed. I wished I could start over. "Mulder, it's all right," she stated firmly, approaching the counter, all business and taking over. I stepped back, inhaling a deep breath and exhaling, blowing my cheeks out, trying to get myself under control. This was just par. First, I woke up to find my upstairs neighbor's toilet leaking through the ceiling tiles and flooding my bathroom. That's how my day started. I showered and dressed at Scully's apartment after informing my landlord that I wanted the problem fixed by the time I returned from this little trip, which I expected to take about three days. Looked like it might only take one. XXXXXXXXXX Scully cleared her throat. "Miss, did you say one of the rooms has a California King size bed, and the other has a single bed and the possibility of a rollaway or cot?" "That's right, Ma'am," she responded, casting furtive glances in my direction. Scully turned to me. "I take it you're not up for any more travel, right, Mulder?" I nodded, afraid that if I opened my mouth, irreparable damage was going to be done to the hapless young clerk behind the counter. Scully returned her attention to the clerk. "We'll take the one with the King size bed." I raised my eyebrow. What was this? I was sure if we stayed here, she would choose to have a rollaway or cot brought in for me. The young girl smiled, clearly relieved. "Yes, Ma'am. And to make up for the inconvenience, we'll only charge you for a single, not two people." "That would be nice," Scully replied politely. XXXXXXXXXX I hoisted our suitcases out of the trunk. It was pouring rain and we were both getting soaked. I strode toward the room on the first floor before Scully could protest my carrying both bags. She hated it when I tried to be chivalrous, but it was the least I could do after being such a pain in the ass today. I'd been sour since our flight up here early this morning. I tripped over some chunk tar in the parking lot and stumbled, trying to catch my balance when the next event in a calamity of errors happened. Scully's suitcase hit the pavement on its corner and the plastic sides burst open as the flimsy latches let loose upon impact. Her clothes spilled out into soaking parking lot. I let out a primal cry of frustration. "Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Fuck ME!" I shouted. Scully and I scrambled to load her clothes back into the bag without another word, both knowing that it was hopeless. When they were stuffed back in, she picked it up, giving me a dirty look, but not saying anything. We stomped the rest of the way to the room. She opened the door and shouldered her way in. I was surprised. It was actually quite a nice room, with a small table and chair, a bureau for clothes and a vanity mirror and stool along one wall. The bathroom boasted a fairly large shower, with the usual complimentary soap, shampoo and conditioner. A small coffee pot offered the fixings for two cups of coffee. I sighed loudly after setting my suitcase down. "I'm sorry, Scully. I wish we'd never come. I should have known it was going to be a disaster when I woke up and found my bathroom flooded. I should have just gone back to bed at that point and called it a day." She allowed the corners of her mouth to turn up, her expression softening. "It's not your fault, Mulder. How were you to know that the lights were going to be kids setting off white roman candles?" "And that it would rain cats and dogs," I added. She nodded, "That too, or that the hotels around here would be booked because of people coming to see the foliage," she added, calmly. "Or that I would drop your suitcase and get three days of your clothes wet and soggy. I'm really sorry, Scully." She smiled then. Suddenly, the entire situation was too much and we both burst out laughing. It was a wonderful release of tension. I rubbed my fingers through my soaking wet hair and sprayed water all over the carpet. She was still giggling when she looked at me and said, "Let's get out of these clothes and then we'll call it day and go celebrate." I froze. "Celebrate?" I asked stupidly. It was my birthday and I was sure she had forgotten. It was another thing that was getting me down. Here I was, 38 years old, no wife, no kids, no home of my own. Every time a birthday came around, I would contemplate the progress of my life and realize how much it was lacking. She grinned. "I didn't forget Mulder." I smiled, feeling tears sting my eyes for no apparent reason. She stepped into me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I pulled away. "Scully, I'm soaked!" She chuckled. "So am I," she replied. "Happy Birthday, Mulder." Scully rarely touched me and I lived for the moments when she would let her guard down and bestow her affection on me. I immediately wrapped my arms around her shoulders and her head landed on my chest. My dress shirt clung to my chest, absolutely saturated. She pulled back slightly and I could see the white shell she was wearing was as soaked as my dress shirt. Only on her, it made her shirt transparent. Her flimsy stretch bra was equally translucent from being saturated and her nipples were hard and poking out of the material. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes as I felt blood rush into my groin. I looked at her face again and saw her glance down and back at me. She pulled away immediately and spun around, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't mention it, but said, after clearing her throat, "Let's get out of these wet clothes." "Yeah, O.K." I was alarmed at how husky my voice was. Then she turned to me, her arms now covering her protruding nipples. "We can't go out, Mulder! I don't have any dry clothes!" "Shit," I said. "Look, let me see if I have something you could put on." I put my suitcase on top of the bureau and opened it. Not much to choose from, but I did have some tee shirts and boxers. I picked out a tee shirt and boxers and tossed them to her. "We'll just get some dinner delivered." She smiled her gratitude and trotted into the bathroom, grabbing her soaking suitcase on the way. I sighed and began to strip right there in the room. She was probably going to be a while. Shit, I was going to have to sleep with Scully in that bed. The thought of it had me in turmoil. She excited me all the time without even trying. It was going to be torture knowing she was lying a couple feet away and I couldn't touch her. I was buck naked and about to bend over to put on dry boxers when the bathroom door flung open and she said, "Mulder do you have ..." She stopped dead and stared at me. We both froze for the span of a few heartbeats as her eyes scanned up and down my body as if by their own accord. I felt my cock harden quickly and harshly and I turned from her, breaking the spell and bent over, hastily pulling up my boxers. "Sorry, Scully. Thought you were going to be a while. Sorry ... uh, sorry." I looked at her over my shoulder after pulling on sweatpants and she was staring into the open bathroom door. "Mulder, I didn't mean to ..." I huffed out a breath. "Don't worry about it. Forget it." I'm not going to be able to forget it, I thought. I couldn't resist, "You know me, I'm always available for public humiliation." She cleared her throat. "I can't believe it, but I forgot my toothpaste," abruptly changing the subject. I burrowed in the inside pocket of my suitcase where I kept my toiletries and retrieved my Colgate, handing it to her with an outstretched hand. She grabbed it, muttering, "Thanks." Then she disappeared inside the bathroom again. My hard on deflated, and for that I was thankful. I laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling drowsy. I just wanted this day to be over. She emerged several minutes later, her wet hair combed. I grinned, I couldn't help it. She looked so adorable. My tee shirt hung nearly to her knees and covered the boxers, making it look like she had nothing else on. She looked like a little girl, swimming in that shirt. She looked down at herself and grinned. "I look silly, huh?" "You look ... very tiny," I said as I sat up. She frowned, but then realized I was just teasing, and said, "I forget how big you are sometimes." Then she blushed and turned away, realizing how that might sound in light of the fact of what she had just seen a few minutes ago. Her eyes dropped to the floor. I decided to let that one go. But I couldn't help the wide grin that played over my face. I ruthlessly suppressed it. "Forget until you wear my clothes?" I prompted. She looked at me smiling again, smiling at my joke. She never wore my clothes. She approached me. "So what do you want to do for your birthday?" "I hadn't really thought about it. I'd planned on jumping into my silver plated pity pot and rowing around for a while. But if you've got another idea, I'm open for suggestions," I quipped. She laughed softly, shaking her head, and I smiled at her. "I don't want to go out in the rain again. So why don't we call for room service?" "O.K., what do you want?" "I'll do it. Let me surprise you. Your turn for the bathroom." I went into the bathroom, using a towel to dry my torso and pulling on a tee shirt, combing my hair and brushing my teeth. I felt better. She was hanging up as I walked out and she waved absently at the bed. We both flopped down on our backs, staring at the ceiling. XXXXXXXXXX "So why are you depressed about your birthday, Mulder?" she asked finally, after several minutes of silence. "I don't know. I always am. I always reflect on my accomplishments from the last year, or my life in general, when my birthday comes around. And I find them seriously lacking." "That's not true, Mulder. You've accomplished a lot in your lifetime. You've done things other people only dream of doing." "Getting shot at? Contracting weird alien viruses? Being the enemy of a huge governmental conspiracy?" I ticked off in rapid succession. "You're so negative. Having a real mid-life crises there, are we, Mulder?" "Well, then, what do you think I've accomplished?" "We've found some answers." "Not enough. But that's not what I was talking about anyway. I don't even know why I said that." "What were you referring to, then?" "I don't know, Scully. I don't have a ... woman in my life. I don't have a family, a home. I have an apartment, but it doesn't feel like a home." She was silent a minute and then said, "What am I, chopped liver?" I turned onto my side, resting my elbow on the bed and my head in my hand. Propped up like this, she turned her face to me and smiled softly. "You're the only woman in my life. And I like it that way, but that's not what I meant and you know it." She nodded slightly. "I know. Do you really want those things?" "Of course." "Tell me about it," she asked. "What do you mean?" "Tell me what you want. If you could have the ideal situation in your life, what would it be?" I thought for a moment and then said, "I'd own a house. I'd have a steady woman in my life, preferably a wife who made that house feel like a home." "No more traveling." "Not as much. I wish things were more normal. I'd like to come home at night to someone." "Me too," she admitted and looked at the ceiling again. "I've kept you from that." She frowned. "I chose to be here, just like you. That's not your fault. What else? Keep going," she prompted. "I'd love to go on vacations twice a year and sit on the beach, swim in the ocean and have that woman with me all the time to share everything with." "We share most things," she said. "Not personal stuff, Scully." She looked at me again and said, "Is that something you want? The personal stuff?" "With you, you mean?" I asked carefully. She nodded, no longer looking at me. "Is there something you want from me that would make it better for you, less ... lonely?" I laughed then, an ironic and sarcastic laugh, looking at the window and the drawn shade. I brought my gaze back to her and smiled softly. She was smiling a confused smile. "Why are you laughing?" I shook my head. "There are so many things I want from you, Scully. I wouldn't even know where to start," I blurted out. We were silent again then, staring at each other. "Like what?" she asked, her voice just barely above a whisper. "I wish I knew about your personal life. What you like to do in your spare time, if you ever have any. I'd like to know what kind of music you like, and what kind of ice cream is your favorite, besides that nasty non-fat tofrutti rice dreamsicle shit you eat." She giggled. I was always picking on her health food. I continued, "What do you read, besides medical journals? What are your dreams? If you could live anywhere, where would it be?" She held up her hand. "Whoa, whoa. One at a time. Let's see. In my spare time, I like to swim. I've always loved the water. I like to read mystery novels. If I don't want to think, sometimes I'll read a trashy romance novel." I grinned. "You, Scully? Reading that tripe?" I teased. She smiled. "I have eclectic taste in music. I like progressive jazz like Spyro Gyra. I like classic rock and some alternative stuff like Enya. I like some folksy stuff like the Indigo Girls ... the list goes on. It depends on my mood. And I love maple walnut ice cream." She nodded, as if putting a period on it. "What do you dream about, Scully?" I asked softly. She looked at me then. "The same things all women dream about." "And that would be ..." I prompted. "A home, a family." She frowned and so did I. Because of me, she couldn't have children. Very softly, I said. "You could still have those things, Scully, if you really wanted them." She scrunched up her brow. "How?" "If you left me, you wouldn't have any trouble finding a man who would fall at your feet and worship you." She laughed then. I loved the sound of it. "You could have a lucrative private practice in medicine with some hotshot doctor and the two of you could adopt children. You'd be a great mommy." Her breath hitched and she blinked rapidly. "I don't want that, Mulder." Now it was my turn to look confused. "But you just said ..." She cut me off. "I don't want to practice medicine. I like being in the FBI." "Well there are plenty of other jobs in the FBI like the lab, teaching at Quantico." She shook her head. "No, I don't want that either. I like working with you, Mulder." She looked at me then. I teased, "Even when I drag you out to investigate roman candles and drop your suitcase in the middle of parking lots?" She giggled. "Even then. There's no place else I'd rather be." The strength of that sentiment hit me hard and I felt myself tearing up again, but managed not to let them fall. My voice was husky again when I asked, "And where would you live?" "By the water, no doubt," she replied firmly. I smiled. "Yeah, that would be nice." "You'd like to live on the water too?" she asked. I nodded. "It would be wonderful. Can you imagine it? Waking up on a lazy Saturday, jumping into a bathing suit and running out into the water for a swim to start your day." She smiled, "Yeah, it would be wonderful." "Then we could hang around on the porch and quaff coffee and read the newspaper." I felt her stiffen and looked at her, wondering what was wrong. "Scully? What's wrong?" She shook her head as if to say, 'nothing'. "Room service should be here soon," she said, changing the subject and sitting up and facing away from me. Then it hit me. Oh my God! I'd said, WE, as in her and me. It had just slipped out while I was imagining living on the water. It never occurred to me that I would ever live with anyone else. Shit. I was great at killing the mood. "Scully ... I didn't mean ..." "Didn't mean what?" she asked, sounding angry. That confused me. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It ... slipped out." I swallowed heavily. "Forget it," she said, mimicking my dismissal of earlier. I reached out and touched her arm, my hand circling her forearm. "Scully, look at me." She stood up and then there was a knock on the door. I sighed and flopped back down on the bed. A young boy came in, carrying a large tray. He set it on the little table and returned to his cart outside and then returned with a plastic cake carrier. I sat up, smiling. "Scully, did you get a cake?" I asked, amazed. She turned to me finally and smiled. "Yes, I did. The kitchen was kind enough to come up with one for me." I grabbed my wallet out of my suitcase and she shook her head at me, refusing to let me pay. She said, "My treat, for your birthday." Rather than argue, I paid the tip. She let me do that. She uncovered the tray to reveal two dishes of lasagna. It smelled wonderful. She handed me one and I sat Indian style on the bed, with my back to the headboard and ate in my lap. She sat on the chair at the table. We wolfed it down in silence. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. When we were finished and I was groaning from my full stomach, I stood up and disposed of our tin and cardboard containers. I was smiling at the cake carrier and waggled my eyebrows. She laughed and pulled off the cover. "Chocolate with chocolate, Mulder. You're favorite," she announced in an animated voice, like a tease. I growled in appreciation and she laughed again. They'd written, 'Happy Birthday, Mulder' on it and I smiled at her. She picked up the lone candle and stuck it in the middle, lighting it with a match she unearthed from the bedside table. "Make a wish," she commanded. I closed my eyes, making an impossible wish and blew out the candle. "What did you wish for, Mulder?" she asked. "If I tell you, it won't come true," I replied. "You believe that?" she said, cocking an eyebrow. "Sure. Then again, it probably won't come true anyway." "Come on, tell me! What did the birthday boy wish for?" I grinned at her, deciding to shock her. "I wished that you would take leave of your senses and jump my bones." She barked out a laugh and blushed profusely. "Yeah, right!" she exclaimed, clearly incredulous and thinking it was a total joke. I wasn't kidding, but this wouldn't have been the time to point that out. "Can I have some now?" I asked, changing the subject. She laughed at my enthusiasm. "Yes, you can," she said, picking up the plastic knife provided and cutting a huge slice of the cake. They'd given us paper plates as well. She handed me my slice with a plastic fork and I sat back on the bed and patted the space next to me. "Sit with me, Scully." She hesitated but then grabbed her cake and joined me on the bed, her legs out in front of her. We ate in silence, glancing at each other and smiling. I groaned in appreciation. It was really good. It had that light buttermilk frosting that wasn't all heavy and gross. It was delicious. Scully was clearly amused by my reactions as I ate. "Better than the Big O, huh, Mulder?" she joked. Without thinking, I said, "Nothing's better than an orgasm, Scully." Silence descended again. Oops. I'd done it again. Why was it she could make jokes like that, but I couldn't? Then, clearly trying to smooth over the tension, she said, "Well, depending on the time of month, I think chocolate can be better than sex." I looked at her. "Then you're not doing it right," I said flatly. She laughed finally. "You don't think so, huh?" "Definitely not." "I don't know, Mulder. It's not like I'm a virgin over here." "I know that. But if you think chocolate is better than sex, then you've had some lousy partners," I said, trying to keep my voice light. She looked at me. "Maybe I have. Although, it's been so long now that I can't even remember." She got up to throw away our paper plates and plastic forks. "How long has it been, Scully?" I asked carefully. She turned to me and returned to the bed. She sat on the edge, not looking at me. "Is this part of your plan to get to know the personal Scully better?" "Yes," I said, having no idea really what the hell I was doing. "It's been a long time, Mulder." "And the last time, did you enjoy it? Was it better than chocolate?" I teased. I had no desire to know who it had been with. I was all too aware that it was probably with Ed Jerse. The thought of that escapade brought instant knots to my stomach. Did I really want to know how good that guy was in the sack? No, I didn't. Some things were better left buried. She cleared her throat. "Did I enjoy it?" "That was the question," I said mildly, hoping she would keep talking and not cut me off. "No, not really. He was pretty selfish." I blew air forcibly out of my lungs and she looked at me queerly. "What's that for?" I opened my mouth and closed it again. "I don't know," I mumbled. "No way! Answer the question. What were you huffing for?" I looked at her. "Maybe it makes me an asshole, Scully, but I'm not sorry that Jerse sucked in bed." She gasped, her mouth dropping open. She blurted out, "I didn't sleep with him!" Now we both stared at each other. I licked my lips. "You didn't?" "No ..." "Sorry, Scully. I just assumed ..." She was silent a few moments and then said, "I didn't give you any reason to believe otherwise, I suppose." "How come?" She looked at me pointedly again and raised her eyebrow. "Because it was none of my business?" I guessed. "Partly," she replied. "And what's the other part?" "That's none of your business either," she said, her voice clipped. "O.K.," I said gently. "I didn't mean to pry, Scully. I really didn't. I don't want to talk about that anyway. I hated that time." She looked at me and nodded. "Me too, Mulder. Me too." "I've never really seen it," I said mildly. She raised her eyebrow again. "You saw the pictures." "Not the same and you know it." We locked our eyes for several moments. "Would you show it to me?" I asked softly. She was still for another couple of moments, then flipped over onto her stomach on the bed and raised my tee shirt up above her rear end. My boxers were hanging limply on her little frame. I slowly reached up and tucked the end of my finger in the elastic, sliding it down to uncover the tattoo. She gasped when my finger ran across her skin. I felt my heart beat accelerate. I stared at the tattoo. It was really beautiful. A snake eating its tail. I remember the file called it an Oroborus. The colors were vivid. I brushed my thumb over it, marveling at the softness of her skin. Her breath hitched again as though she was suppressing a gasp, so I did it again. This time she did gasp. I leaned down slowly and stopped when I was an inch away. She stiffened and I breathed on her skin. She shivered and I said, "Beautiful, Scully." "Thanks," she said, her voice squeaky for her. "I like it, even though ..." I nodded even though she couldn't see me and couldn't resist the temptation. I leaned down and pressed my lips to her skin softly. She gasped for real this time. "Mulder!" she squealed. "What are you doing?" I lifted away and she rolled quickly onto her back. When she tried to sit up, I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, I'm not going to attack you." She sighed, breathing a little heavy. Her face was slightly flushed. She asked, "Why did you do that?" I shrugged. "I don't know. You're skin is so unbelievably soft. I've always known that." "How would you know that?" she asked, her voice a cross between anxiety and anger. "I've touched your face, you neck and shoulders." "Not the same, Mulder." "I know. Now I know it's that soft everywhere." She just stared at me. It was rare for Scully to be struck mute. But apparently, my behavior was totally throwing her for a loop. I decided I'd better start up the conversation again or I was going to blow this easy, comfortable camaraderie we had established tonight. "So the last guy was inconsiderate, huh?" Oh brilliant, I thought. That question would put her right at ease! She closed her eyes. "He sucked," she said, her voice amused. I laughed. "How did he suck?" "It was a wham, bam, thank you, ma'am." "Ooo, that does suck." "I faked it," she said, out of the blue. "You faked it? Your orgasm?" "Yes, I just wanted it to be over with." "You don't strike me as the type to fake it." "I never had before, not that I hadn't had reason to. But it was near the end of our relationship, and I didn't care anymore." "How did you fake it?" "What do you mean?" "I mean ... HOW did you fake it? Yelling and screaming?" "I'm not a screamer, Mulder." "No?" She quirked a smile at me and shook her head at my audacity. "Why should I tell you these things?" "In the spirit of getting to know each other better. And it's my birthday. Don't I get a little leeway to ease the birthday blues? "You are shameless in your manipulation, you know that?" "Yes, I am. And proud of it," I responded. "You're incorrigible!" "No evading," I scolded, trying to keep the teasing tone out of my voice. She relaxed and closed her eyes. Instead of answering, she surprised me. She started to fake it. It started with a low groan in the back of her throat, punctuated by soft grunts. Her back arched and her voice warbled, "Ohohohoh, God, yeah!" I surged erect against my sweatpants. Her feet hit the bed, bending her knees. Her hips bucked and she shuddered from head to toe, her eyes still closed. "Awww, give it to me!" she nearly shouted and moaned again, her head tossing on the pillow. "Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!" Her hands slapped the bed, curling her fists into the bedclothes. She shivered again and a long drawn out moan faded into silence. She stopped abruptly, smiling a wicked smile and her eyes popped open. She was obviously pleased with herself. She laughed, as though her little show had been liberating. I muttered, "Jesus, Scully." I stared at her and she grinned at me, her smile fading suddenly. My hand reached down to cup her neck and she began to breath heavily. She glanced at my crotch and back at my face. I knew I was sporting the boner of the century. There was no way she could miss it. "Mulder?" she mumbled my name meekly. "I'd be able to tell if you faked it," I whispered. She smiled tremulously. "Yeah, well, its just speculation on your part, anyway, isn't it?" "Wouldn't have to be," I said, wanting to slap myself as soon as the words were out of my mouth. "Mulder, how did we get on this subject? I can't believe I just did that." She looked away from me. "I'll bet I could make you scream too," I said, seeing how far she would let me go. "Mulder, your ego knows no bounds!" she said, nervous, but trying to be game and continue joking with me. I could tell she didn't know if I was serious or not. "You know what I want for my birthday?" I asked quietly. She shook her head, 'No.' "I want to kiss you, Scully." She gasped quietly. Her chest was heaving with her rapid breathing. I held still, not wanting to startle her. My thumb trailed back and forth over her jaw. Her head curled into my hand. She swallowed. "Just once?" I smiled, amused. "Yeah. Just one birthday kiss." "For your birthday." "Yeah, just for my birthday. Will you let me kiss you for my birthday?" She closed her eyes and licked her lips. My eyes were riveted on her pouty, full lips. So quietly, I almost didn't hear her, she said, "O.K., one kiss." PART 2 SUPER 8 MOTEL EAST MAIN STREET TORRINGTON, CT OCTOBER 16, 1999 10:00 PM It was my turn to gasp. I leaned into her slowly. Just before my lips touched hers, I said, "Open your eyes, Scully." She opened them slowly and I stared at her, letting her see how beautiful she was to me. An acute wave of arousal and desire washed over me. Oh God, she was going to let me kiss her. It was under the pretense of my birthday. But at the moment, I really didn't give a damn. Her eyes widened at whatever she saw there. I darted my tongue out and licked her lips, first the bottom one and then the top one. She sucked in her breath and her mouth fell open. I teased them, nipping her lips with mine, gently. "Mulder," she whimpered. Yes, she actually whimpered and I was lost. I covered her mouth with mine, slowly drinking her in. Her hands came up to my shoulders and I moved, leaning my body over the side of hers as she lay there motionless on the bed. One of my legs slipped in between hers and I let my erection come down and rest against her hip. She whimpered into my mouth and it caused an answering moan in me. I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue into her mouth and lazily rolling my tongue over hers. I couldn't believe this. I was kissing Scully! And she was kissing me back! I didn't dare break contact. Once I pulled away, she could claim my one kiss was over and I had every intention of making this last as long as possible. Who needs air? I thought to myself. She slid her hands to the back of my head and pulled me into her. I held her mouth open with my thumb on her chin and our tongues played together in the air between us. It was so erotic, I thought I was going to faint. Before she could end this, I covered her mouth again. The kisses became hungry and urgent. Our teeth clashed a couple of times. We adjusted and kept at it, deepening the kiss, pulling back and deepening it again, over and over. Somehow, I had rolled on top of her and was settled into the cradle of her thighs. Her hips squirmed beneath me and I groaned loudly, the kiss finally broken. I leaned my forehead on hers and looked at her. Her eyes were dilated and she panted heavily beneath me. I could feel her puckered nipples against my chest through the two layers of tee shirt. I took my weight on my elbows and brushed my chest lightly back and forth over them. Her eyes blinked slowly and she sucked her lower lip into her mouth, catching it with her top teeth. I nipped at it, trying to free it from her teeth. She let it go and said, "One kiss is up, Mulder." She sounded as breathless as I felt. I just stared at her. "Do you want me to stop?" I asked softly. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times and then her eyes closed. "We should stop," she said, but she made no move to do so. I whispered, "You're so sexy and beautiful, Scully." She turned her head on the pillow and pushed feebly on my chest. I sighed deeply, knowing it was over and tried to ignore my throbbing cock as I rolled off her and onto my back. Her arms came up to cross over her breasts, and she hugged herself. I panted, trying to get my breath back, not saying anything. After a couple of minutes, she said, "I have to sleep with you in this bed." I chuckled. "Yes, you do. Are you nervous now?" "I don't know." "Scully, I'd never do anything you didn't want me to. You know that, right?" "Yeah, I do. It's just ..." "I know, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable." She laughed, an ironic sound. "Yeah, right!" I smiled. "No, I mean it. I just ..." "Just what?" "I couldn't help myself," I mumbled. She turned on her side to look at me. Now our positions were reversed. "Well, Happy Birthday, Mulder. Now don't ask me for anything else, you swine," she joked. I smiled at her but it faded quickly and I heard myself saying what I knew I shouldn't. "It felt so good, Scully." She just stared at me, clearly not knowing what to say. I rolled up to face her, both of us holding our heads with our hands, elbows on the bed. There was a good foot of space between us now. "I'm not sure what that was, Mulder," she admitted finally. "It was a birthday kiss," I said, smiling softly. "That was more than a birthday kiss, Mulder." "Was it?" I asked, perfectly serious. She looked at me, licking her lips again. My eyes were drawn to them, now all swollen from our make out session. I couldn't help it. But I tugged my eyes back up to hers. She looked away, uncomfortable again. "What was it to you?" she asked. "Heaven," I whispered. Her eyes snapped up to mine. "What are you saying? What are you doing to me, Mulder?" "What am I DOING to you?" I asked, unable to keep the slight sarcasm out of my voice. She frowned and looked at the bedspread, smoothing it with her free hand. "You're confusing me," she said. "What are you confused about?" "You've never been like this before." "Not with you, no." "Are you just feeling lonely?" "I am lonely, but that's not why I kissed you, if that's what you mean." "Then why did you?" I pulled her chin up with two fingers and looked at her face. "Because I've wanted to do it for a long time and I couldn't stand it anymore." Her eyes widened again and she looked at the bedspread, pulling her chin out of my hand. "What ..." she began, and then broke off. "Does it have to be some profound reason, Scully?" I asked. "We're partners, Mulder!" she said, stating the obvious. "I know that. So what? That means I'm not supposed to notice you are a beautiful, sexy, desirable woman?" She looked at me again, her eyes darting back and forth. "We're best friends!" she said, stating the obvious again. "I know that too." "What the hell is going on here!" she nearly shouted, looking like she was about to cry. I gathered her into my arms and leaned over onto my back dragging her into my side. I hugged her tightly, her head on my chest. "I didn't mean to start an epic event. I just wanted to kiss you, Scully." She rubbed her nose on my tee shirt. "Why?" she asked, her voice was small. "You don't know?" "Not really." "Come on, Scully." She lifted her head and looked at me. "Come on, what? We've been together nearly six years and all of a sudden, you want a kiss for your birthday. And then you kiss me, and ... keep kissing me ... and I'm ..." "And you're?" I prompted. "And I'm not supposed to be confused? I'm not supposed to wonder why that wasn't just a little birthday kiss, like you get under the mistletoe at Christmas? Mulder, you ..." "French kissed you," I supplied calmly. My voice was calm, but my insides were in an uproar. It felt good to hold her against my body and I could feel my groin stirring again. "Yes!" she nearly shouted. "O.K. What are you confused about?" I looked at her when she didn't say anything. "You know how I feel about you, Scully. I don't know why you're so surprised that I would get off on kissing you." "Get off?" "Bad choice of words. I don't have to tell you how arousing that was. You felt it." I stated blandly, not sure what the hell she was asking me. "You surprised me," she said softly. "I didn't expect you to kiss me like that." "Like what?" I asked, knowing I was pushing my luck. "Like . . . a lover," she said quickly. "I didn't think you . . . looked at me that way." I laughed now, an amazed sound. She clearly didn't know why I was laughing or what it meant. "You're kidding, right?" I asked, still chuckling, figuring she had to be stringing me along, feeling me out. When she was silent, I looked at her. She was staring at me, looking scared and astonished. "Mulder, this is getting too weird." I sighed loudly. "Look, Scully. I'm your partner, yes. But I'm your friend, first. And I never want to do anything to make you uncomfortable or insecure with me. But . . . it's hard sometimes. You're a beautiful woman, Scully. Of course, I've looked at you that way. All men do. I'm no different. It doesn't mean I'm going to do anything to disrespect you. Hell l even ASKED if I could kiss you, for God sakes! Who the hell else does that?" The corners of her mouth turned up slightly and I could see her body language relax. We were back to discussion, rather than uncharted inquiry. After a moment she asked, "So it's just a normal physical thing. I mean, I am the woman you spend the most time with, so I guess it would stand to reason that you would look at me sometimes and . . ." I said, "Look at me, Scully." Her eyes found mine and I smiled, shaking my head slightly in exasperation. "Scully, quit trying to rationalize it, would you? Do me that one favor. Don't insult me by trying to make this into something clinical and physiological. It isn't that and you know it. You know how much you mean to me. So just stop it." She frowned heavily, not sure whether to be angry or upset that I'd blown her defensive cover. But I was tired of always accepting her defense mechanisms and walking away. We never talked about how we felt about each other. I knew she cared for me deeply. Other than that, I really wasn't sure what her feelings were. But she knew mine. I'd told her. But she had chosen to ignore them and blame them on the drugs I was on after my swim in the Bermuda Triangle. Another one of her evasive tactics. She would always find something to blame it on whenever either of us got emotional or too close. I realized that it angered me sometimes, more than I was willing to admit. "What do want me to say, then?" "You don't have to say anything. Just accept it for what it was." "A birthday kiss?" I sighed. My voice was heavy with sarcasm, "Yeah, Scully, a birthday kiss. That's all it was." I sat up abruptly, tired of this type of lob and volley between us. I marched to my suitcase and pulled out my flannel pajamas. I realized she had nothing to wear to bed. She could wear the tee shirt she had on, but then she would have nothing for tomorrow. I only had one other tee shirt, and I needed it. I turned to her and threw her the button-down-the-front top of the pajama set. I stalked into the bathroom and shed my sweats and boxers and pulled my flannel pajama bottoms on. I would need those boxers for tomorrow if she was going to wear my other pair. I stayed in the bathroom, sitting on the closed toilet seat for several minutes, trying to gather myself again. I had to go out there and face her and I had to sleep with her in that bed. I didn't want things to be strained between us. Sleeping in that one bed was going to be tough enough. I couldn't believe she hadn't gone for the single bed and the roll away. What was that all about anyway? I thought. Although apparently, she had remembered my birthday, so maybe she thought it would have been bad form to ask me to sleep on a cot. A soft knock sounded on the door and I stood up. I opened the door to find her standing there in my pajama top. She probably needed the bathroom. I stood aside to let her in. "All yours," I said. She shook her head. "I don't need the bathroom." I looked at her and she licked her lips and cleared her throat. "I got you a gift. I thought maybe you would like to open it before we turn in for the night. It didn't get ruined when my suitcase spilled." I smiled gently at her. This was her peace offering. I nodded in the affirmative and followed her back into the room. I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling my leg up, bending it at the knee. "You didn't have to get me a gift, Scully." "I know. I wanted to." She handed me a big box, wrapped in silver paper. "Thanks." I removed the card and opened it up. On the front is said: 'For My Best Friend' and showed a couple from the rear, holding hands. I swallowed heavily and opened it up. Inside the message read: 'For the one I can always count on and trust. Happy Birthday.' On the blank flap to the left, in her distinctive handwriting, she had written: 'Mulder - You're my best friend and you've made my world an interesting place to be. Thank you for broadening my horizons and opening me up to extreme possibilities. Love, Scully.' My eyes swam with wetness and I put the card down. I looked up at her, standing in front of me at the side of the bed. My voice was choked up when I said, "Thanks, Scully. That means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me. More than you'll ever know." She nodded. "You mean a lot to me too, Mulder." I sniffled and tore the paper off the box. It was a shirt box. Inside the box, wrapped in tissue paper were a light blue silk dress shirt, a thin black silk tie and a heavy cotton black turtleneck. I pulled them out and held them up. They would fit perfectly. I could tell without trying them on. When I pulled the tie out, something fell into the box. I picked it up and it was a key chain. I was a green plastic alien head. When you squeezed it, it lit up like a little nightlight. I busted out laughing and Scully joined me. Now I had a key chain too. It was silly, but that touched me more than the expensive clothes. I laid it all aside and stood up and pulled her into my arms, hugging her fiercely. "Thank you, Scully." "Happy Birthday, Mulder." I kissed the top of her head and she didn't flinch, so I figured that was a good sign. She pulled back slightly and looked up at me. My hand slid to her shoulders. My thumb played casually over her collarbone and she shivered. Her eyes were wide and guileless. I didn't want to blow it now that we'd called a truce, so I cupped the back of her head and kissed her on the forehead. I let my lips linger for a moment and then broke away, staying close and lowered my head to press my cheek to hers. We stayed that way for a couple of minutes, just enjoying being close and hugging each other gently. I pulled away very slowly and moved so I could see her face. I was surprised to find her flushed, her eyelids hooded and her breathing shallow. Was she aroused? I felt my groin tighten. I wasn't going to do anything else tonight. Too risky. If something happened between us, it was going to have to be her idea. I couldn't risk chasing her away. She licked her lips and smiled. "Let's go to bed, Mulder." "Thought you'd never ask," I joked. She chuckled and stepped away from me. "When you dream, Mulder," she shot back. "No shit, huh?" I said. She looked at me, smiling, but still a little unnerved. I gathered up my clothes and set them on the dresser and pulled down the bed spread and sheets and slid in, turning on my side. I waited for her to crawl in on her side and when she was laying on her side facing away from me, I reached over and turned out the light. "Good night, Scully." "Good night, Birthday Boy." I sighed. We lay there in silence for the longest time. I couldn't fall asleep. I ached to roll over and hug her to me. I remembered how heavenly she felt in my arms earlier. I replayed our marathon kiss and became aroused again. I cursed softly under my breath, not wanting to do this. It was just torturing myself. I heard her breathing become deep and even, an adorable soft snore coming from her side of the bed. I rolled onto my back and tried to think of something else. At some point, I must have drifted off to sleep. XXXXXXXXXX I was having the most fabulous dream. I was warm and cozy under the covers and Scully was plastered to my side, her soft, tiny body molded to mine and her head on my chest. Her free hand was roaming my chest and tracing my ribs. I sighed deeply, feeling wakefulness calling to me and not wanting to let it happen. I wanted to keep dreaming. Her warm hand brushed over my nipple and I felt it pull up into a hard little point, a tingling sensation running down into my cock. I moaned softly. Her hand moved to explore my abdomen and my muscles rippled under her palm. My cock surged to fully erect and bobbed off my stomach, hitting her hand in the process. The flannel of my pajama pants was little barrier. I heard her gasp and was instantly awake. Oh my God! I wasn't dreaming! She was really there, curled into my side. One bare leg was pressed to mine. The other was draped over my thigh and resting between my legs. Her hand was laying still just below my navel. I feigned sleep, concentrating on breathing deeply, trying not to give myself away. Was she awake? Was she dreaming too? Her hair felt like corn silk and was spread out over my shoulder. I wanted to look but I didn't dare. After a few moments, her hand slid back up my torso. When it brushed my nipple again, I gasped. I couldn't help it. I opened my eyes and tilted my head down. Her face was turned up towards mine. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes looking slightly glassy. "Sorry!" she spit out in a hurried whisper. I anticipated her pulling away and hugged her tighter as she went to roll away. She froze. I said, "Don't stop, Scully." "Mulder, we shouldn't . . ." I cut her off. "This feels sooo good. Even if you don't want to move, just let me hold you." I paused. "Please, Scully." "This another birthday wish, Mulder?" "Will that make it easier for you to accept?" "Maybe." "Then it's a birthday wish." "O.K." She settled in against me, her hand still on my breastbone. I don't know how long we laid there, but it felt divine. Every so often, I would squeeze her tighter and she would hum in the back of her throat and cuddle deeper into my side. I knew I was taking a huge chance, but I had to try and touch her. I laid my left hand over hers as it was laying on my chest. Using my right arm that was around her back, I slid my hand down and over her low back. I found the bottom of the pajama top and slipped my hand underneath it. I sought out her low back. When I found it, she gasped softly. I stopped for a few moments and then began caressing her baby soft skin just above the elastic of my boxers, which were riding low on her hips. She shivered and pressed her body into me, her breasts pressing into my side. I began to pant, trying to keep calm, but I could feel excitement and arousal building in me. She was letting me touch her. She wasn't pulling away. I swept my hand up her back, taking the top with me and bunching it up under her breasts. She didn't react, so I rubbed her back between her shoulder blades. Hesitantly, her hand on my chest began to move, making random passes across my chest. With each pass, her hand lowered fractionally. I let my finger tips drag up and down her back lightly, letting them slip under the elastic of my boxers on her hip and feeling her tremble in response. There was no hiding my erection from her. It was hot, hard, and heavy. We did this for a couple of minutes. By the time her hand reached the hair patch below my navel, I was so rigid, my cock felt like a metal pipe and my balls were beginning ache as they pulled up against my shaft. I didn't ever remember being this hard. When her hand ruffled the hair below my navel, I moaned low and in my throat and her breath shuddered out of her. Very quietly, I said, "Scully, I want to touch you, really touch you." I looked down at her and she nodded, almost imperceptibly at me. I wasted no time, pulling my arm from under her head and rolling her onto her back. I laced my fingers between hers on each hand and pinned them beside her head, straddling her. "So beautiful," I murmured, as I swooped down and captured her mouth under mine. The kisses were hesitant at first, but quickly became slow, deep and wet and hard. When we came up for air, I was dizzy from lack of oxygen and my cock pulsed heavily with a wave of aching sensation every time my heart beat. My voice was nearly a growl when I said, "Stop me now, Scully, or I'm not going to stop." She licked her lips nervously but didn't say anything. I waited, feeling like I could jump out of my skin. I prompted her, "Decide now, Scully. I mean it. I want you so badly. Jesus, you drive me insane!" She swallowed heavily and whispered, "Don't stop." Ohholymarymotherofgod. I nearly tore my pajama top trying to get the buttons undone. I nearly tore it off her body, throwing it over my shoulder when I finally got it off her arms. I yanked the boxers down and tossed them over my shoulder as well. I just stared at her, straddling her on all fours for several minutes. She was breathing heavily, her full breasts shivering with every ragged breath she took. I looked my fill and then sank down to capture her nipple between my lips. Her back arched off the bed and she yelped as I latched on. I nipped, tongued and suckled her breast until she was whimpering. I moved to the other one and started all over again. Her hips began to flex on the bed and I reached down between her legs to find her swollen seam. My fingers broke her wetness and it flowed over my fingers, warm and sticky to coat the crease of her thighs and run into the crack of her ass. We both groaned. I kissed her again, struggling to get my pajama pants off, finally kicking myself free. When my naked groin touched down between her thighs, we both gasped. I slid my chest over her peaked nipples, watching her suck air in through clenched teeth. Her ragged alto sent a bolt of arousal straight to my groin when she begged, "No more teasing, Mulder." I cupped her head as her legs lifted up over my hips. I positioned myself, poking gently until I found her entrance. Her warm fluids coated the flared end of my cock and we both sucked in our breath. I couldn't resist one little tease and said, "No faking, Scully. I'll know." Her lips jerked into a smile that disappeared as fast as it came. "I won't. I could never lie to you, Mulder." I braced myself and slid my rigid member into her in a steady stroke. When I hit her cervix, I spread my legs, causing her legs to widen further and I rocked into her, her hips rolling up off the bed. She groaned deeply, her back arching, her nipples dragging through my chest hair. I dropped my head and took advantage of her offered neck and began to tongue at her pulse. Then I just sucked her skin into my mouth with a deep, steady, pressure. I let my tongue lave her as I let go, my teeth scraping her delicate skin, knowing I would mark her. I wanted to mark her. I wanted everyone to know she was off limits, she already had a lover. I groaned as her hips shifted. Her small tunnel was waving around my shaft, squeezing me so tight. I gritted my teeth and began retreating and sinking back into her slowly. Her hands went to my head, running her fingers through my hair as she met me thrust for thrust. We fell into a nice, steady rhythm. I began to swivel my hips each time I bottomed out against her cervix, feeling it stretch up into her womb. She grunted in pleasure and her hips sped up. I matched her thrusts, speeding up and shoving myself into her harshly. She nearly shouted, "Oh, Mulder, yes! Just like that. So good. God you feel so good. Awww, fuck, you're so hard. Feels so good." The sounds of pleasure she was making were driving me crazy. I was perversely gratified to realize they were nothing like the sounds she made when she was giving me her demonstration of faking it. I wondered if I would really know. I'd just said that for her benefit. These sounds were different though. They were deep grunts when I bottomed out inside her and warbling whimpers when I retreated, dragging my stomach and pubic bone over her clit. I could hear her wetness leaking out as our skin came together over and over again. I jammed a hand down underneath her back, stretching until I reached her ass, cupping her and pressing her to me each time I slid into her for maximum contact. Her eyes were glassy, a fine sheen of sweat covering her face and neck. Her cheeks were red and her chest flushed. It felt so fantastic, I didn't ever want it to end. But I could feel the end of my endurance coming upon me swiftly. My cock was so rigid it was almost painful and my balls were drawn up tight, rolling with exquisite pain as they slapped against her anus with every thrust. She began to whimper in earnest and I knew that was going to be the end of me. I growled, "Yeah, baby, come for me. Oh God, come for me Scully. Oh fuck, let go! Come on, come on." Her mouth hung open as she sucked in ragged breaths, a keening sound emanating from her throat. Her fingernails dug into the flesh of my shoulders. She broke the skin and I felt my sweat sting the trail where her nails had torn my skin. The slight pain was my savior and I was able to hold off another few seconds. That was all that was needed. I panted, "Open your eyes, Scully." Her eyes popped open. I could feel her body literally vibrating beneath me and I was high on the feeling that I could do this to her. I growled, "So good. God, I love you so much, Scully. Come. For. Me." Her keening became a loud wail and I pounded my aching cock into her tightness and felt her muscles spasm around me. Her back arched and went rigid, offering her puckered nipple. I dipped my head down and nipped at it three times in quick succession. And she screamed. Scully screamed. I felt her walls clamp down on me painfully and my orgasm coiled in my balls, my low back becoming tight. "Aaaaaahhhhhh! Fuuuccckkk! Muullddeerrrr! Oh Goodd! Oh Jeessuuss!" I pounded her mercilessly now, knowing nothing but my primal need for release. I could feel her thighs trembling against my hips as her ass muscles clenched as she orgasmed. The feeling was like nothing I'd ever experienced. My rigid cock throbbed in ecstasy and then exploded, spraying hard, jerking squirts of cum deep into her well. My cock jerked mightily inside her with every stinging ejaculation. I clumsily poked her anus with my middle finger. To my utter surprise and amazement, she shrieked and spasmed around me again as the last of my dying ejaculations backwashed around my cock and slid out of her covering our groins in a sticky mess. We collapsed, feeling boneless, twitching and shivering with aftershocks. It was several minutes before we regained our breath. She pushed feebly on my shoulders and I rolled off her, my now flaccid penis sliding out of her. She hissed and groaned. I looked at her and she smiled. I reached out and took her hand. She laced her fingers into mine and squeezed. Softly, she said, "You did it." "Huh?" I asked stupidly. "You made a liar out of me." "What are you talking about?" "I guess I am a screamer." We both giggled now. "God, Scully!" "I've never come like that, Mulder." "Me neither. And guess what?" "What?" "You weren't faking," I said with confidence. She smiled. "No, I wasn't." "But I think now that some people in my past were." She looked at me saying nothing. "Don't dwell on it," she said finally. "I won't. As long as you're not faking it. That's all I care about." "I told you, I could never lie to you that way." I smiled. "Good." She was quiet a moment and then said, "I love you too, Mulder." I rolled over looked into her eyes. I smiled a big goofy smile and she did the same. I kissed her tenderly. I quipped, "This is the best birthday I've ever had." She grinned. "Glad to hear it, but now don't ask me for anything else, you swine." "Hey!" I exclaimed. "You keep calling me a swine, I'm going to get a complex." She giggled. "I doubt it." We hugged and then I said, "Let's take a shower and get cleaned up." We showered quickly, washing each other's backs and exploring each other's bodies. When we crawled back into bed, we both lay on our backs holding hands. I knew there needed to be a discussion coming, but I didn't want to have it tonight. "We'll talk tomorrow on the way home, O.K.?" I asked. "Yeah, let's just enjoy tonight." "Deal." The silence fell again and we drifted off to sleep. I woke about an hour later, freezing. I turned over to find Scully wrapped in a giant cocoon of covers and sheets. I gently yanked some from underneath her and she made a disgruntled sound in her sleep but then settled again. I covered up and drifted off to sleep, our backs touching. At some point during the night, I awoke to the exact same situation. This time I wasn't careful when I yanked the covers out from around her. She yelped in surprise and sat up on the bed, startled. "What are you doing, Mulder?" "You call me a swine, but you're the covers hog." "I was not!" "You most certainly were. Twice now I've woken up freezing and you're all curled up like an Eskimo in a fur coat over there." She plopped back down with her back to me, not answering. I scooted over and molded my body around hers, spooning her tightly. I arranged the covers over both of us, tucking them in under her tummy and my butt. I put my arm under the covers and banded it around her waist, pulling her tight against me. I kissed the side of her neck and she sighed. "That better?" I asked. "Mmm, hmm," she muttered. "Love you, Scully." "Love you too, Mulder," she mumbled. She was already asleep again. I relaxed into the mattress thinking that I would put up with just about anything to have Scully in my life like this, to sleep and wake up like this every morning. I'd even put up with her hogging the covers. God bless No Vacancy Motels. THE END.