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Disclaimers: I don't own them. Ten Thirteen productions does. They have the power to sue me and make my life a continuing misery for years to come. I can only hope I'm too insignificant to come to their notice.

Random Complaints: : I give up, ya know? I have an ambition to write long, complicated plot stories involving cases and Mulder and Walter and lots of Deep Emotional Content. What do I get? Krycek and breakfast products. I'm going to give this up and start writing children's books some day. (By the way, this is post Terma/Tunguska, post movie, and Alex has two arms. Sue me.)

Other: Sequel to a pointless piece I wrote to placate the goddesses of various lists. No one requested this one, except Alex. (Well, it's not like Mulder was kicking and screaming and objecting or anything, either.)

Author: annezo @ fastmail . fm

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BLUEBERRY SEASON

The problem with Mulder was getting the drop on him and getting him hooked on what you had to say before he could draw his gun and start trying to arrest everyone in sight. Most of the time that took a lot of careful work, but this time Alex had solved the problem by taking Mulder's gun away from him.

And he had, he checked his watch, just under an hour before he was scheduled to return it. He paid for his purchases and ignored the cashier's indifferent gaze as he ripped open the packages and recombined them.

"You guys got a microwave?"

The guy nodded toward a corner of the store. It had taken Alex forty-five minutes to find a store that had everything he needed. He left the trash on the counter, figuring the guy behind the counter probably needed something to do to fill his time, but he did snag the grocery bag before he took the laden bowl over to the microwave.

Five minutes later, he was headed down the road, a plastic bowl full of defrosted, even gently steaming blueberries on the seat next to him.

Alex made his way through the city streets, sticking to back roads and making sure he didn't break any traffic laws. Getting pulled over and having to explain not one, but two guns, one of which was registered to an FBI agent was low on his list of priorities for the evening.

Pulling into the parking lot of Mulder's apartment building, he had a thought. A search through his pockets turned up an almost unused piece of paper. Alex tore off the directions and smoothed the rest of the paper against his knee.

He thought for a few seconds. Quick and dirty? Or something more complicated? What are you in the mood for, Mulder? He smiled to himself and started writing.

The hallways were deserted, as usual. Alex sometimes thought no one in the building except Mulder actually left their apartments. Probably afraid to. He wasn't aware of anything unusual that had happened in the area since that doped water idea had failed, but there had to be stuff he didn't know about.

He arranged his burdens and slipped down the hallway. The still-warm bowl first, the note on top, weighed down by Mulder's gun, wrapped in the plastic grocery bag.

Alex rang the bell, then slipped down to the far end of the hall and around the corner. He pressed himself against the wall and waited.

He knew what was happening. Mulder would be surprised at the sound. He's looking through the peephole suspiciously. The hallway is empty, so he's opening the door. The small stack of items on the floor gets his attention instantly.

He kneels down, hefting the weight of the plastic-wrapped gun. He picks up the note and reads it.

Naked is good, babe. Naked, tied to the bed, and begging for it is a hell of a lot better. Leave the door unlocked.

The gun hangs limply in his hand. Mulder's head is bowed over the note, his eyes fastened on the bowl. He touches it, feeling the warmth of the contents. He doesn't have to open it to know what's inside.

He kneels there for a long moment before he finally picks up the bowl and disappears back inside the apartment.

Alex closed his eyes and prayed for the best. From where he was hiding, he couldn't hear whether or not the locks clicked shut when the door closed. The chances were good that he'd be facing a loaded gun if he walked into the apartment.

He checked the hallway. No one in sight. The floor in front of Mulder's apartment was empty. Fifty-fifty? Seventy-thirty? He tried to calculate the odds. Before he could make a conscious decision, his feet were carrying down the hallway. Right where he knew he was going to wind up all along.

The door wasn't locked. Hell, it wasn't even closed all the way. Alex reached for his gun, then stopped himself. A little of Mulder's faith in the unbelievable was called for right about now. He edged open the door and stepped inside, pushing it closed behind him.

Mulder stood in the middle of the small living room. His gun rested carelessly on the grocery bag, discarded on the coffee table. The plastic bowl sat innocently next to it.

Alex moved up behind Mulder's motionless back, watching the other man by the light of the single bulb that burned in the desk lamp. "Get my note?"

Mulder crushed the piece of paper in his hand and tossed it onto the table. "Yeah."

"So, you know what I have in mind?" Alex thought Mulder was probably hovering somewhere between arousal and mayhem. He'd better get started and see if he could tip the balance in his own favor.

He slid his arms around the other man's waist and pulled Mulder back against his chest. There was one thing he wanted to get straight from the beginning. He pulled his own gun out of the holster and leaned past Mulder to drop it on the table.

Mulder watched the movement without comment, but he did lean back against Alex when the younger man pulled him close again. Alex nuzzled the dark hair on Mulder's neck for a moment before his brain registered the damp softness.

"You took a shower?" It was like a blow to the gut. Or, to the heart. He took a shower? Something warm and happy flooded through him. Guess he's not planning to shoot me. Not right away, anyhow. Alex tried to control the irrational euphoria.

"Yeah." Alex watched the side of his face, watched the older man search for words before he gave up and relaxed into Alex's arms with a shrug. "I took a shower."

"A good sign," Alex murmured. Mulder's shoulders tightened. Alex rubbed his cheek against the dark hair soothingly. "You ready to move this party into the bedroom?"

He stopped Mulder's step toward with hallway with one hand on the other man's arm. "We understand each other, don't we, Mulder?" Alex moved up next to the other man, his mouth tracing the curve of one firm shoulder. "You have to want to."

Alex chose his next words carefully. He didn't want to ask for too much, but he wasn't interested in playing any ugly rape games, either. "I got rid of the gun. You saw me." He couldn't think of anything else that wouldn't be an attempt to force Mulder into admitting more than the other could live with. "You have to want to."

"I know." His voice was quiet in the dark room. Mulder seemed to realize something more was called for. Alex watched him trying to decide what to say again.

"At a loss for words?" he teased gently. "That's not so bad." Inside, he wished desperately that Mulder would find a way to admit it. Just once.

Mulder seemed to see what Alex was feeling in his face. The other man's hands slid up the lapels of Alex's jacket and twisted in the leather tightly. In contrast, his lips were gentle against Alex's, his tongue sliding into the younger man's mouth with bone-melting tenderness.

Mulder's mouth told Alex everything the other man couldn't find words for. Hunger. Eagerness. A hint of challenge that lit a fire in Alex. He leaned into the embrace as it heated into a gradual contest for domination.

When the kiss broke, Alex rubbed his cheek against Mulder's shoulder again, panting. Damp lips traced the path of his jaw and dropped to his neck, licking slowly. A sudden pain that dissolved into a throb of passion as Mulder bit his throat, sucking greedily at the stubbled skin.

Mulder nipped his ear and laughed, a warm wash of breath that made Alex shiver. "Got you first."

"Bastard." Alex pressed himself against the other man. "You left a mark, didn't you?"

"A big one," Mulder admitted. He kissed the spot again, making Alex moan with longing. Mulder laughed ruefully. "What happened to all of that macho bullshit in the alley? Where you were going to tie me up and take advantage of me?"

"That was when you were saying 'no'," Alex reminded. He knew he was grinning like a fool, but he couldn't seem to stop. "I just wanted to get your attention, you know?"

"Here I am." Mulder kissed his forehead, then his mouth explored the contours of Alex's face before settling next to the younger man's lips. "What if I say 'yes'?" A throaty purr that rippled down Alex's spine.

Jesus. Alex turned his head and captured Mulder's mouth, pulling the other man to him for a bruising kiss. Mulder's body welded itself to his, the heat between them soaking through their clothes.

"If you say 'yes'...." Alex tried to decide where to start. His body was no longer interested in playing slow, seductive games. All of his instincts told him to grab what was offered before it disappeared. "Jesus...come on...." He fell into another kiss, letting Mulder's hands slide down his back and stroke his hips.

Mulder laughed again, a soft, inviting sound. "Christ, Alex...if anyone were listening to you they'd think...."

Mulder's voice trailed off and he stiffened under Alex's touch. "What?" Alex raised his head and looked at the other man curiously.

Shock. Fear. Unwilling suspicion.

Alex felt himself turn to ice. "No! Mulder. It's not that! I swear to god, it's not them. Are you listening to me?"

Mulder stepped back, his eyes dark and cold. "Listening...."

Jesus. He thinks...."No." His voice was unnaturally loud in the too-quiet room.

"Sure." Under the sarcastic comment, Alex could hear the tight suspicion.

"I swear...." Alex knew he was about to panic. So close. "I swear, it's nothing like that."

"You wouldn't admit it, of course." Mulder's eyes flickered to the gun on the table for an instant.

Alex stepped to block the move. His body tightened, ready to react. Fight. Run. Surrender. "You're wrong."

"You'd better go," Mulder said tonelessly. "Thanks for bringing my gun back." He said the words like they hurt.

"No." For the first time since the day they'd met, Alex was seriously tempted to beat the other man's head in. The guns on the table floated into his mind. He could. He was closer to them than Mulder was. "This is just about us. Nothing else."

The disbelief in the other man's eyes was all he was offered. Mulder's jaw tensed, but he didn't pull away when Alex touched his cheek.

"Damn it, Mulder. I'm telling you the truth." He struggled for words to make the other man believe. "We wouldn't be here if I thought anyone was...."

"How do I know that?" Mulder voice carried was full of a hurt that made Alex's chest ache. "I almost forgot...." He fell silent, looking unhappy. Alex could see the habitual distrust struggling with Mulder's unwillingness to believe the ugly suspicion.

"It's okay to forget." Alex forced the words out past a lump in his throat. "It doesn't....this isn't what you're thinking. You have to believe me"

"How can I?" Mulder sounded sad, as much as angry. The gentle, teasing light in his eyes had disappeared, taking the warmth from the air.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Mulder. Not about this." Alex closed his eyes and prayed. "It's really not their style, you know. At least...."

Mulder shook his head, confused. The small gesture made everything around Alex begin to evaporate.

He grabbed the other man, forcing Mulder to accept his embrace. Just this once. "I'm not going to let you do this." He buried his face in Mulder's neck, hiding the weakness stinging his eyes. "You can't do this."

"How do I know?" Mulder's hands pushed at his shoulders, then rested there heavily.

"You can't know," Alex spat desperately. "For god's sake, Mulder! You've believed in vampires, astral murder, and man-eating bugs on less!" He kissed the warm, stiff neck and pressed his eyes against Mulder's shoulder. "You have to believe me."

"I want to," Mulder said quietly. He laughed, a sharp, hurtful noise. "Fuck, I always want to believe shit. That's what gets me into trouble."

"Yeah, it does," Alex admitted. "But there isn't any of that kind of trouble here." He tried for his own laugh. "Unless there's some guy hiding in the bedroom with a crowbar, in which case, all bets are off."

A barely perceptible chuckle rumbled through Mulder's chest. "No, it's clear. I checked it when I got here." One arm circled Alex's shoulders tentatively.

"Are we okay?" Alex let his tight hold on Mulder's waist relax a little.

"You mean, are we going to have kinky sex involving handcuffs and a bowl of blueberries?" The dark undertones were gone from Mulder's voice. "I don't know," he sighed. "I think the moment kind of passed, don't you?"

"Dunno." Alex nuzzled his neck. "Hey," he offered unsteadily. "You can always use the blueberries on me, you know?" He grinned weakly. "I mean, no one's going to want to tape that, right?"

"I don't know." Mulder pretended to consider it. "I might," he teased. "But I'd still rather not have tapes." A quick shadow darkened his eyes.

"Me, too," Alex agreed. "If I catch anyone...I'll kill them." He brushed his lips against the other man's. "But I'll keep the tape," he whispered.

"Sick bastard." Mulder laughed out loud.

"Hey, you be nice to me and I'll let you watch it," Alex teased. He licked his lips and smiled. "Listen, about that blueberry thing...."

Mulder's eyes gleamed. "You recapturing the mood?"

"Well...." Alex rubbed his hands down over the other man's hips. "We could...you know, move into the other room and work on it there."

"We could."

Mulder started to pull him toward the hallway, but Alex resisted. "Don't forget the blueberries." He nodded to the bowl with a grin. Mulder gave him a look, but he also picked up the plastic container, so that was okay.

Alex slid out of his jacket and threw it over a chair, then made sure the door was locked and that the chain and bolt were both on. This was a private party and he wanted it to stay that way.

Mulder was standing next to the bed uncertainly. He'd turned on one bedside lamp and left the bowl of fruit on the table near the door. Alex unfastened the leather shoulder holster and took it off, noticing the way Mulder's eyes followed his movements. "Maybe next time." He tossed it onto the bureau with a grin. He could swear Mulder was blushing.

Alex moved over and tugged Mulder's tee-shirt out of his jeans, running his hands under it and over the firm chest before he pushed the material up over Mulder's head. The two of them got his arms free and Alex tossed the shirt into an empty corner.

Mulder's jeans were next. Alex slid his fingers into the flap and unfastened each button slowly, letting his hand linger on the fabric inside. He knelt and pulled off the shoes and socks, throwing them into the corner on top of the shirt. Mulder balanced himself with his hands on Alex's shoulders, staring down at him.

Alex smiled up at him, leaning forward to press a kiss on the front of Mulder's jeans. He ran his mouth down the bulge pushing against the fabric on one side and started chewing on it gently. Mulder's hands tightened on his shoulders and Alex heard a soft moan. He kept chewing and mouthing at the hardness as Mulder's hands slipped from his shoulder to the back of his head. The other man threaded his fingers through Alex's hair and rocked against his mouth encouragingly.

He let the strong hands guide his progress for a while, pressing his mouth where Mulder placed his head, biting gently, or harder, based upon the tension of the fingers clutching his hair. Overhead, Mulder's breathing was increasingly erratic and his grip became painful. Alex reached back and pulled Mulder's hands free, trapping them behind the other man's back. He nuzzled Mulder one last time, then bit down on the hardness under his mouth, feeling Mulder's hips thrust against him suddenly.

Alex stood up quickly, releasing Mulder's hands so he could pull the other man into his arms for a long, hard kiss.

"I'll bet you'd taste better naked," he whispered. He slid his hands down the long back and inside the waist of Mulder's jeans. Pushing the fabric out of the way, he cupped his hands around Mulder's hips, rubbing gently. "What do you think?"

"Yeah...." Mulder was all-but incoherent already, a good sign. He wrapped his arms around Alex's shoulders and offered a hungry kiss. Alex pulled one hand free and pushed at the jeans and underwear, feeling the clothing slide down over Mulder's hips toward his knees.

For a moment he was dizzy with the knowledge that he was holding a half-naked and very aroused Fox Mulder in his arms. He dropped back to his knees and pulled off the rest of Mulder's clothes, smiling at the look on Mulder's face when he immediately stood up again.

"You know, that sulky thing really works on you," he teased.

"It's supposed to work on you," Mulder complained half-seriously.

"Oh, it's working." Alex stepped back. "Bed," he ordered.

Mulder turned toward the bed, grinning over his shoulder at the way Alex's eyes immediately dropped to his hips. He tossed the blankets off and crawled onto the sheets.

Tease. Alex stopped Mulder with a hand on his waist. Leaning down, he took a quick, forbidden taste between the firm cheeks, smiling inside at Mulder's surprised sigh. Another slow kiss, then he pushed the other man down to the mattress.

"Wait here," he directed.

"Where are you going?" Mulder frowned at him. "Alex, handcuffs aren't really...."

"Shut up, Mulder." Alex kissed him again. "I'm not going after the cuffs." Ignoring Mulder's protests, he went back to the living room and looked around. If I were Mulder, where would I keep them? He thought. Kitchen cabinet. Sure enough, he found two almost-unused candles and a book of matches.

Alex took his discovery back to the bedroom, stopping in the doorway to watch Mulder, sprawled lazily on the bed and looking very content, stroking himself slowly.

Alex set one candle on the nearest bedside table and lit it, snapping off the small lamp. He leaned over and kissed Mulder, then made his way to the other side of the bed and lit the other candle, leaving it on the matching table.

He retrieved the bowl of cooled blueberries and perched on the edge of the bed. Sitting the bowl on one table, he scooped out a generous finger-full and pressed it against Mulder's lips. The other man accepted the offer, his tongue slipping out to clean the dark juice from Alex's finger. Alex looked at the challenging smile, acutely aware that Mulder was still caressing himself.

Alex pressed another taste of blueberries into Mulder's mouth, leaning down to share the flavor with him. "Feeling okay?" He watched Mulder, seeing the satisfied smile, already tinted by the rich fruit. "Guess so."

The closet yielded four ties that Alex hoped weren't as expensive as they looked. He stood at the foot of the bed and waited for Mulder's response. One long leg stretched out toward the corner of the bed. Mulder's eyes, half-closed with pleasure, were gleaming with anticipation in the warm candlelight.

Alex wrapped the silk around Mulder's ankle, licking the sensitive instep until he could see Mulder's toes actually curling. He found a support at the foot of the mattress and fastened the tie to it.

Reaching up, he cupped one hand under Mulder's free leg, sliding his fingers down toward the ankle, stretching the leg toward the other corner of the bed. This time, he nibbled on Mulder's toes as he tied the silk, his eyes glued to the movements of Mulder's hands.

Mulder's left hand seemed to be the least busy of the two, so Alex pulled it free and wrapped the dark silk around it a couple of times, then secured it to the bed.

He walked around the bed, watching Mulder's free hand as it slid over the other man's hardness. The smell of blueberries was thick in the air. Alex sat on the edge of the bed, and leaned down, licking the back of Mulder's fingers where they were wrapped around his erection. He nuzzled the tanned skin, nipping at the fingertips until Mulder's hand pulled away and curved toward him. Alex pressed another kiss into the palm, then pulled Mulder's arm to the head of the bed and fastened it with the same care he'd used on the other three restraints.

Winding both hands into the short, dark hair, Alex kissed the other man slowly and carefully. Mulder' neck arched and he pressed his mouth against Alex's, a noise of approval rumbling in his throat.

"You look pretty sexy this way," he whispered, nuzzling Mulder's neck gently. "Especially with the candles." He kissed the other man again. "You okay with this?"

Mulder's eyes gleamed and Alex could feel a smartass remark coming before they softened and turned inviting. "Kiss me again."

Mulder offered his mouth and Alex kissed him urgently. "You sure you're okay with this?"

"I'm fine." Mulder smiled sensuously. "Now what?"

Alex fished out another bite of blueberries, making a mental note to reheat the bowl before they went on. He fed the fruit to Mulder, enjoying the way the other man's tongue flickered around his finger, cleaning off the juice and pulp.

Alex stood up. "Now, I'm going to take a shower."

"A shower?" Mulder sounded surprised, then his face settled sulky frustration. "Alex...come on!"

"That's right," Alex said cheerfully. He eyed Mulder naked body regretfully. No one had a right to look that beautiful, even by candlelight. He stroked one long arm. The unexpectedly soft texture of the inner elbow was too tempting to resist. Alex nibbled at the softness, feeling Mulder's pleased squirm.

"What am I supposed to do?" When he stood back up, Mulder gave him another pleading look.

"Just lay there, and think about how sexy you look." Alex moved toward the bathroom. If he didn't leave now, he wasn't going to. "And what I'm going to do to you when I get back."

"Aren't we supposed to choose some kind of code word or something?" Mulder voice stopped him in the doorway.

Alex leaned against the door jamb and admired the view. "You mean a safe word?" He chuckled. "It's a little late for that. Anyhow, we aren't playing those kinds of games." He went back to sit on the edge of the bed, running one finger along the curve of Mulder's jaw. "If you want me to untie you, all you have to do is say so, okay?"

"So, I don't have to lay here all tied up while you take a shower, right?" Mulder challenged him.

"No, you don't, but I wish you would." Alex kissed the other man's neck, working his way up to one ear. "This is my fantasy, Mulder," he whispered. "Just play along, okay?"

He felt the other man's body relax. "Okay." Mulder sighed, his gaze still pleading. "Go. Shower. Bake a cake. Run out for a beer. Whatever."

Alex bit back a laugh. "Just a shower. A quick one." He slid off the bed and left the room without another glance back. He showered quickly, as promised, avoiding his own face in the mirror. Someday, somehow, he'd have to pay for this, but he'd deal with that when the time came.

When he got back to the bedroom Mulder was laying quietly, eyes closed and a small smile on his face. He was still half-hard, so Alex didn't think the temporary isolation had been that unpleasant.

He leaned over the bed and stole a kiss. "What are you doing?"

"Following orders," Mulder said dreamily. His eyes slitted open, gleaming with amusement in the dim light. "Thinking about how sexy I look."

"Egotistical bastard, aren't you?" Alex nipped the full lower lip. "Why aren't you thinking about what I'm going to do to you? That was part of your instructions too, as I recall."

"Didn't get that far yet." Mulder's eyes opened and took in Alex's naked body with a flattering eagerness. "Now?"

"One more thing to do," Alex said apologetically.

"I knew it." Mulder sighed heavily. "You are going out for a drink, aren't you?"

Alex fed him a taste of the cool, slushy berries. "I thought we'd better heat these up before we went any farther, but if you object...."

Mulder made a face. "No, that's okay. Heat 'em up." His voice followed Alex out of the room. "Not too hot, you know!"

Alex put the bowl into the microwave and started the power going. He checked the temperature of the contents several times before he was satisfied. He headed back to the bedroom, his body tightening with anticipation. His own erection moved heavily between his legs.

"That bowl is steaming," Mulder objected. He eyed dark contents with dislike.

"Just barely. Not enough to do any damage," Alex promised.

Mulder gave him a suspicious look. Alex looked over his canvas, then started with a finger-full of crushed berries on each of Mulder's inner elbows. "Lay still, or you'll get that everywhere."

Mulder tensed when the hot berries touched his skin, then relaxed as the realization that he wasn't being burned sank in.

Alex kissed him. "Trust me now?"

Mulder grinned at him sheepishly. "It's not that I didn't trust you...."

"Shhh...." Alex silenced him with another kiss. "Just stay there now. And feel." He moved up to lap off the warm berries, savoring the taste and the feel of Mulder's skin under his mouth.

He crawled up onto the bed with his knees framing one of Mulder's legs and stared appreciatively down at the bound and naked body. Perfect. The candles flickered gently, waving soft shadows over the other man's body.

A shallow pass through the bowl and he gathered a warm dollop of purple to decorate the hollow of Mulder's throat. A deeper dig into the steaming mass provided warmer embellishments for each erect nipple. Alex smoothed the juice into Mulder's skin. A slow trail of purple juice wound its way down Mulder's ribs. Alex leaned over and sucked off the sweet moisture, nipping at the smooth skin.

Mulder shivered as each successively warmer finger-full of berries was rubbed into his skin and the trickles of juice lapped off.

Alex watched Mulder's voluptuous expression as the other man squirmed under the touch of his fingers. He'd always suspected Mulder would react to teasing with this sensuous abandon. Alex drizzled warm juice into Mulder's navel.

"Ahhh...." Mulder bit his lip and his back arched.

Alex smiled and kissed the eager mouth, one finger rubbing lazily over the damp skin. "Nice?"

"Mmm...." Mulder smiled, his half-closed eyes gleaming with enjoyment. "More...."

Alex dipped his head down and tasted the sweet mass nestled against the lean throat. Mulder hummed approvingly as Alex's teeth and tongue washed the hollow of his neck. Underneath, was a faint stain of color. Alex kissed the skin happily, then wriggled down and began to lap up the generous supply of dark berries decorating the other man's chest. The rich, sweet smell filled his nose and mouth.

"Alex...." Mulder sighed his name once, as Alex's teeth tugged gently on one erect nipple, making Alex acutely aware of his own neglected erection. He lowered his hips until he was pressed against Mulder's leg and rubbed gently, watching the pleased smile hovering on Mulder's lips. The leg beneath him pushed up, encouraging Alex to keep teasing himself for a few breathless minutes.

His hips and his mouth both slid down, his mouth to cover Mulder's navel and his hips to press themselves against Mulder's muscled calf, which flexed enticingly at the contact. Alex sucked up the berries, feeling himself tighten as the contact with Mulder's body started increasing his arousal.

Alex dripped more juice onto the other man's stomach again, down the dark arrow of hair just below it. More berries, deep from the middle of the still-steaming bowl, and he stroked the almost-hot liquid and pulp across the other man's erection, hearing Mulder's murmur of surprise.

Mulder's hips jerked, then thrust against his hand as the heat transferred itself to his body. He made a soft, pleased noise. Alex dipped his finger back into the liquid, warming them, then wrapped them around Mulder and stroked, repeating the action until the man under him was sighing with pleasure and thrusting against Alex's hand.

An exploration between the firm legs exposed some deliciously sensitive areas. Alex rubbed his juice-stained fingers over those spots, then probed them with his tongue to remove the sticky moisture.

"...yesssss." A warm finger massaged into the area made the older man whimper and try to push himself down against the pressure. Alex didn't abandon the exploration until the bound body was damp with sweat and excitement and Mulder's moans were becoming whimpers.

Alex rubbed his fingers against Mulder's mouth and watched the other man's lips part to accept them. Mulder's eyes stayed closed as he sucked and licked Alex's hand clean of the warm juice and pulp. Alex shivered, feeling the tongue swirling around his fingers, his hips thrusting harder against the crisp, scratchy hair along Mulder's leg.

Bending back down to his task, he licked the small indentation in the middle of Mulder's stomach clean again, then began working his way down toward the straining erection. When he reached it, he settled in and began to lap it using slow, wet strokes from base to crown. The taste of the other man's body, barely identifiable beneath the pungent taste of the berries, seemed to fill his mouth suddenly.

Mulder's moans deepened and became punctuated by little noises from somewhere deep in his chest. Alex licked gently, listening to the sounds. Part of the time, Mulder seemed to be moaning Alex's name and every repetition made Alex's body throb with pleasure. He wrapped his hand around the base of Mulder's erection and his mouth around the crown, taking it deep into his throat.

Mulder cried out and pulled against the restraints. Alex backed off and began a less-intense teasing, his lips nibbling around the crown and along the length. Mulder's feet slid against the mattress, then managed to brace themselves against the cotton sheets, allowing the helpless man to thrust up against the pressure of Alex's mouth.

The leg braced between Alex's thighs flexed and rubbed against his erection, making him dizzy with arousal. He finally abandoned Mulder's erection and crawled back to the head of the bed, claiming a long, hungry kiss.

"Mulder?" He heard the anxious note in his own voice.

Mulder's eyes fluttered open, dazed with passion and desire. "Now?"

"Now." Alex kissed him again. "Are you...?"

"Yeah." Mulder smiled blissfully. "Oh, yeah."

Lube. He'd forgotten something vital. Damn. "Um...Mulder?"

Mulder grinned at him. "Drawer on your right, boy scout."

"Fuck you." Alex whispered the words, then kissed him, feeling the other man's mouth shaping 'please' before he claimed it.

It took him a few seconds to get the lube open and some of the contents spread across his own erection. He warmed another handful, sitting back on his knees between Mulder's thighs and staring down at the purple-marked body.

He slid his hand down between Mulder's thighs and started preparing the other man, listening with pleasure to the moans and gasps of pleasure. Mulder arched against the restraints again, his body twisting as Alex probed deeply.

Alex could feel his own arousal growing as he watched Mulder's abandoned response to his touch. He pulled his hand free and grasped Mulder's hips, positioning himself, then pausing to watch the other man's reaction.

"Alex...please." If he'd really wanted begging, that pleading note in Mulder's voice would have been enough.

Alex thrust in, carefully at first then more freely as Mulder's body adjusted to the invasion and the other man's sighs and moans became louder. He reached behind him and fumbled with the ties securing Mulder's legs, managing to loosen and then remove the restrictive silk. Mulder's legs wrapped around his waist. Alex leaned up on his elbows and pressed his mouth against Mulder's, kissing him passionately as their bodies moved together.

"Alex...my hands," Mulder moaned.

Alex ignored him, his attention torn between the beautiful face and the wanton way Mulder moved against him. His breath grew ragged and uneven. Alex kissed the man beneath him again, overwhelmed by the taste, the smell, the feel of Mulder's mouth and body against his own.

"I want to touch you," Mulder gasped. His body clamped down on Alex's erection with mind-blowing precision. "Please...Alex...."

Alex wrapped his hand around Mulder's hardness and milked it tightly.

Mulder cried out, his back arching, and Alex felt the warm wetness of the other man's orgasm sliding across his skin. He buried his face in Mulder's neck, the sweet odor of the berries disappearing beneath the smell of sweat and sex. He thrust again and again, hearing Mulder's croon of approval as Alex buried himself inside of the other man one last time and let his own pleasure pour through him.

He collapsed slowly against Mulder's chest, panting heavily. After a long moment of mindless bliss, he roused himself enough to move over a few inches and pull at the ties to free Mulder's arms. He caught the nearest one and pressed a remorseful kiss against the faint red marks around the wrist.

Mulder smiled at him, his sweat-stained face peaceful and satisfied in the soft light of the candles. He pulled Alex against his shoulder and the two men lay there quietly for a while, enjoying the afterglow of pleasure and the touch of each other's bodies.

Alex stirred himself regretfully and looked around the room for a clock.

Mulder's arm tightened around his shoulders. "Not yet."

Alex nodded and curled back up against Mulder's side. "Okay."

Mulder laughed quietly. "Jesus...."

"Really." Alex smiled at him. "This will teach you to stay out of strange alleys."

"Not a chance," Mulder chuckled. "Look what it got me this time."

No regrets? Alex wondered. He didn't ask. There would be time for all of that later. "Gotta' be careful. Might meet some kind of a nut lurking down there in the dark."

Mulder hugged him gently. "Only if I'm lucky," he murmured.

"Think you'll be this lucky next time?" Alex kissed the damp neck thoughtfully.

"I don't know." Mulder stretched luxuriously. "You tell me," he said invitingly.

Next time? Alex's heart skipped a beat. Is there going to be a next time?

He smiled at Mulder slowly. "I don't know." Alex kissed the other man's swollen lips. "How do you feel about cinnamon toast?"

****

The end