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Disclaimers: about how none of the XF characters in this story belong to me and how I'm a Bad Girl for stealing them and writing naughty stories about them goes here.

More apologies: to the people who own hotels on islands, men named Raoul, men named Clyde, people who like to get drunk in bars, the makers of Tidy Bowl (yes, again), people who still think disco has relevance to their lives, Demi Moore, and the nice folks at Chef-Boy-Ardee.

Other: The Mole was kind enough to give this one a quick beta, which is all the more impressive since she doesn't like slash and she's not a big X-Files fan.

Author: annezo @ fastmail . fm

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UNDER A BLUE LIGHT

Mulder was surprised by how quickly the return hike passed. As the waterfall disappeared behind them, Alex filled the time with a lengthy and improbable lecture on the pirates who had settled the island in the sixteenth century, complete with tales of treasure buried and lost. Mulder accused the younger man of making the entire history up and Alex defended his stories, claiming to have read them in a tattered guide book he'd found in his bungalow when he checked in. The argument lasted them most of the way from the clearing by the waterfall to the hotel.

"I'm hungry again."

"How about an early dinner?"

"Works for me. Hotel dining room?" Mulder looked at Alex hopefully. It felt like days since the quick lunch and staying at the hotel would be quickest.

"Forget it," Alex said, shaking his head. "Hotel food is like airplane food. It's interesting the first few times you try it, but you learn to dread the experience."

"The food here is pretty good," Mulder coaxed. "Just give it a try."

"Not a chance. How about that little place in town?"

"It will take half an hour to get there," Mulder objected.

"Then we'd better get going before we starve to death, right? Alex checked his watch. "The next bus leaves in forty minutes, which gives us time to show and change. This time, maybe we can stick around a while and see what else the town has to offer," he said pointedly.

The not-so-subtle reference to his depression the night before didn't have the power to annoy Mulder. "Give it a rest," he advised. "Meet you back here in fifteen minutes?"

"Make it thirty and wash behind your ears this time." Alex ducked the blow Mulder aimed at his head and disappeared into his bungalow.

Mulder showered and changed quickly, barely making the thirty-minute deadline. They caught the hotel bus just as it pulled out of the parking lot.

Mulder watched the passing scenery, amazed that he hadn't ever noticed the profusion of tropical flowers that gave the island its spicy, exotic scent, and the lush growth that threatened to overrun the road. Sitting on the beach for days, staring at the endless waves hadn't given him much of an impression of the island's potential.

He tried idly to think of an X-File that involved a rainforest but his normally perfect memory refused to focus on the problem. He felt oddly disconnected from his normal self. No urge to investigate, poke into his surroundings, or question people was coming over him. In addition, the books and papers he'd managed to smuggle out of the office under Scully's nose were laying, untouched for the past twenty-four hours, in his briefcase

So, this is what a vacation feels like. He tried to remember the last time he'd spent twenty-four hours and hadn't once thought about his job, but his memory failed him again. Must have been a while.

In the small restaurant, the genial Manuel seemed pleased to have them back. He bustled over to greet them and gave them a corner table with a dim light.

"I guess the romance starts here." Alex tipped his menu, trying to get enough light to read the selections.

"They probably just doesn't want us to see what's on the plates."

"It didn't kill you last night. Of course, considering your normal diet, your stomach may still be in shock."

They argued their way through the meal, Mulder contending that fresh vegetables were highly overrated and Alex insisting that only someone who'd never really done without would take decent food for granted.

Mulder gave an impassioned defense of Raviolios and Cheese Whiz and Alex finally conceded defeat, saying that even the thought of ravioli in a can was spoiling his dinner.

"Tonight, we're going out for drink."

Mulder dropped some money on the table and waved to their host. "I told you, I don't drink."

"You must have one occasionally," Alex said impatiently. "Weddings? Bar Mitzvahs? New Year's Eve?"

"Let's just say I don't make a habit of it."

"You don't make a habit of taking vacations either. It's time to let your hair down." Alex grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the main street. "Live a little."

"One drink," Mulder bargained. He didn't really object to stopping for a drink, but he enjoyed the gentle sparring with his companion. It was nice to have an argument that wasn't going to lead to gunfire.

"Is it going to kill you to relax?" Alex stopped at an intersection, listening to the faint sound of music that poured from a bar down the side road. "That sounds like what we need."

"It sounds loud."

"It may surprise you to learn this, Mulder, but very few bars have a rule of silence." Alex headed down the street. "Come on."

Mulder shrugged. The noisy bar didn't sound like the kind of place he would have chosen, but he'd promised himself earlier that day to quit automatically resisting every suggestion from his companion. When they stepped through the doors and started working their way to the bar, he resigned himself to a miserable evening.

Disco. Why am I not surprised? The bar was packed and, as Mulder looked around, he realized the crowd was entirely male. He gave Alex a disgusted look.

Alex knew what he was thinking. "I swear, I had no idea. Besides, does it matter?"

Mulder shrugged. "Whatever. I should probably mention that I don't dance."

"You are a barrel of fun on a date, aren't you?"

"It's hard to say. It's been a while since my Senior Prom, you know."

It took a moment before the remark registered. Alex choked on his drink and laughed. "A joke? Congratulations, Mulder. You seem to be getting the hang of the vacation thing."

"It must the strobe lights killing my brain cells," Mulder offered sarcastically, but the genuine smile on Alex's face warmed him unexpectedly.

They found some empty space next to a stand-up bar and watched the crowd. Whether it was a slow night, or the sight of two new faces in the bar, Mulder wasn't sure, but he and his companion proved to be magnets to the other inhabitants of the noisy room.

The first hint of trouble came when a well-oiled blonde wandered up and stationed himself in front of them. "You're new here."

Alex nodded and Mulder tried to back away from the hot gaze that zeroed in on his crotch.

"Me, too," the young man offered cheerfully. "Vacation, you know?" He waved his drink around to indicate the room, ignoring or unaware of the rivulet of alcohol that splashed down his arm. "Didn't expect to find this here, either. Did you?"

"We just stopped in for a drink," Mulder said pointedly.

"Nice place for a drink," the blonde agreed enthusiastically. "Lotsa' friendly people here. You guys dance?"

"He does." Mulder nodded at Alex blandly, pretending not to notice the dark look he got in response.

Their new friend turned to Alex hopefully. "Hey! I'm Eddie. You wanna dance?"

"No thanks," Alex refused. "I just ate."

It took a minute for the blonde to wrap his mind around that idea. Mulder pretended to be fascinated by the revolving silver balls hanging over the dance floor.

"I gotcha." Eddie nodded. "We'll wait for a better song."

"Absolutely." Mulder shifted his leg out of the way of the sharp kick Alex aimed toward his ankle. "He'll be here."

"You're staying for a while?" The young man didn't seem to care, or notice, that Mulder was carrying on Alex's part of the conversation. His hopeful, and frankly admiring glance remained riveted to Alex's unresponsive face.

"I'm not much into dancing tonight." Alex's eyes dared Mulder to contradict him.

Eddie looked him over speculatively. "There's a back room," he offered boldly. "Why don't you follow me and I'll show it to you?"

"My friend doesn't like to be left alone," Alex said blandly. The young man's persistence didn't seem to bother him.

The blonde shrugged, wavering before he caught his balance. "Either or both is okay with me."

"Not this time around," Alex said calmly.

Eddie nodded affably. "I'll stop by later."

"I'll make sure he doesn't leave," Mulder said maliciously.

"You guys have fun." Eddie stumbled away, making himself unpopular by bumping into several of the patrons and spilling their drinks as he scanned the crowd, obviously in search of more cooperative prey.

"Knock it off." Alex glared at Mulder over the top of his glass.

"What? Was I the one encouraging him?"

"Mulder, I've seen you less receptive to the offer of a free lunch."

"Hey, I figured you might want to dance." Mulder grinned. "He seemed pretty interested. He'll be back, in case you change your mind, you know."

"By the time he works his way around the room, he'll have forgotten our faces." The note in Alex's voice made Mulder hope the young blonde wouldn't stop by again.

Alex straightened up and gave his glass a look. "I'm going to get another drink. Do you want one?"

"Sure," Mulder was willing to accept anything that sounded like a peace offering. "Want me to go get them?"

"No, I'll go." Alex collected the empty glasses and grinned. "You're not safe in a crowd." He didn't seem inclined to hold a grudge.

Mulder smiled. "I'll save you some standing room. Don't take all night." He watched Alex start fighting his way through the crowd with amusement. The relentless disco beat faded away, replaced abruptly a few seconds later by the tune of an old love song he'd always hated. He shifted impatiently and wondered how long Alex would insist on staying in the bar.

"Your friend is pretty hot."

Mulder turned in surprise to find another stranger leaning on the bar next to him. "What?"

"You friend." The man gestured to where Alex was disappearing in the direction of the bar. "He's pretty hot." He gave Mulder a long, slow look. "You're pretty hot yourself."

"Thanks," Mulder glanced hopefully toward the bar but Alex was nowhere in sight.

"You guys looking for some company?" He was probably in his late forties, in good shape except for the amount of alcohol he'd obviously consumed.

Mulder wondered if he and Alex were the only two sober ones in the bar. "No." That was a question he could answer with certainty. "We don't...we're not...."

"Sure, I understand." The older man leaned forward and nodded solemnly. "You're together, right?"

"Sort of." Mulder was caught by the question. Together? It raised implications he wasn't prepared to deal with.

"That's what I was hoping," the stranger confided. He emptied his glass and gave Mulder's body another long, careful stare. "I'm Clyde."

"I beg your pardon?" Mulder wasn't sure he'd heard that correctly.

"It's what I was looking for." He set the glass on the narrow ledge and moved closer, dropping his voice. "Two guys like you. You know?"

"No, I don't." The stranger was moving from the merely annoying to the truly offensive with mind-numbing speed.

Mulder wondered where on the island Clyde had managed to find a meal soaked with as much garlic as his breath indicated, and tried to shift back a few critical inches. The love song was replaced by another dance tune, the insistent beat throbbing through the room. With a cry of recognition, the crowd around them thinned out and the dance floor filled again. Mulder leaned back, gratefully.

"Hey, you're a couple of young guys, you're on vacation, right?" Clyde waved his glass to encompass the bar and, presumably, the island outside. "You saved your money and you're taking your dream vacation. But everything's more expensive than you bargained for, right?"

He tapped Mulder on the chest with one unsteady finger and Mulder had a sudden urge to jump over, or crawl under the barrier and escape. The only thing he hated worse than loud bars were drunks in loud bars.

"Not really." He struggled to maintain his calm.

"No need to pretend." Clyde shook his head. "Been there myself. I can help you, right?"

"What do you want?" The conversation was evolving a certain ghastly fascination.

"Not a thing," Clyde shook his head, and clutched Mulder's shoulder to keep his balance. "It's not what you think. I don't want anything, right? I want to do you a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Mulder pulled away from the physical contact at that same time as we resigned himself to letting Clyde's offer wind to its inevitable conclusion.

"I can help you." Clyde nodded soberly. "Couple of hot guys, short of money. What could be simpler?"

"And in return...." He couldn't wait.

"You just do what comes naturally," the drunk said triumphantly.

Naturally? "You're going to have to be more specific."

"You and your friend," he waved toward the bar. "The guy with the pretty face."

"Yeah?" Mulder couldn't wait to spring that one on Alex.

"All you have to do," Clyde murmured confidentially, "is just let me sit in the room."

"Huh?"

"Two hundred bucks," Clyde said expansively. "And you just do what you'd be doing anyhow."

"You want to watch?" Mulder wasn't aware of how his voice had risen until Alex appeared at his elbow.

"Have you been playing nicely with the other boys?" Alex handed Mulder his drink.

"Not a nicely as some of them would hope, obviously."

"It's good to get out and meet interesting, new people occasionally," Alex offered

"Show me one," Mulder challenged.

"Who's your new friend?"

"Clyde, here . . ." Mulder started to explain but his annoyance was replaced by amusement as he watched Alex's mouth twitch.

"I got it," Alex said smoothly. He glanced over at the other man. "That's my spot."

Clyde stared at him drunkenly for a moment, then glanced down at the bar and stepped away hastily. "Hey," he said weakly. "I wasn't putting the moves on him or anything, right? Nothing like that at all."

"I know what you were doing," Alex said coolly. "No. Goodbye."

"I just wanted to do you guys a little favor," Clyde argued.

Alex stared at him. "One million dollars."

"What?" Clyde yelped. "One...who the hell do you think you are?"

Alex shrugged. "Pay up or get lost."

Clyde backed away, a frown forming on his face. "Coupla' smartass punks," he mumbled. "Don't appreciate it when someone tries to do them a favor." He wandered off into the crowd, shaking his head and talking to himself audibly.

"A million dollars?" Mulder looked at Alex in disbelief. "What the hell was that all about?"

Alex grinned. "I figured if Demi Moore was worth a million, we must be worth half of that each."

Mulder burst out laughing helplessly. "You have got to be kidding?"

Alex looked smug. "Got rid of him, didn't it?"

"He might have agreed," Mulder argued obstinately. "What would you have done then?"

"Think a lot of yourself, don't you?" Alex grinned. "For half a million dollars, I'd let him take pictures and make notes."

"Pervert." Mulder took a sip of his beer.

"Half a million dollars, Mulder," Alex tempted. "What would you do for that amount of money?"

"The first thing I'd do would be to make sure the check didn't bounce," Mulder told him pointedly.

Alex gave Mulder a sidelong look. "Why didn't you run him off yourself?"

"He was just...so weird," Mulder tried to explain.

"Mulder-magnet," Alex grumbled. "That explains it. Every lunatic in the bar is going to be over here before we leave."

"It wasn't my pretty face Clyde was after," Mulder told him smugly.

Alex looked unsurprised. Mulder wondered how often his companion had been approached for the same reason. Probably about a thousand times, he decided. He eyed Alex thoughtfully as the other man watched the dance floor restlessly.

What it would be like to look like that? Alex had the kind of face that would attract almost anyone, male or female. Especially without the disguise of the cheap suit and the hair cream that had slicked his dark locks back from his forehead the day he and Mulder had met.

Mulder turned his attention back to the room firmly. That was the other reality, the one that included Washington and all of the other things he was pretending didn't exist. What happened on the island didn't have anything to do with that. The two worlds weren't connected. He recited the statement like a mantra.

"Hey!" A cheerful young man collided with Alex and stopped to eye them both hungrily. "What's up?"

"Nothing," Alex said shortly.

"Not true." The light-hearted youngster winked. "How about the three of us leave this dump and go back to my hotel? We could have a little party." He glanced between them hopefully.

Mulder bit his lip and tried not to look at Alex until he heard the other man choke slightly. He glanced over, caught Alex's eyes and they both dissolved into helpless laughter.

Their young pursuer looked at them both for a moment, then a sulky frown settled onto his face. "Assholes." He wandered off disconsolately and a moment later a brawny arm reached out of the crowd and snagged him. The last glimpse they had of him, he was snuggling up to a handsome, well-dressed man, looking pleased with himself.

"Can we go now?" When their laughter died, all Mulder could think of was leaving the bar before some other nut approached them.

"Not a chance," Alex said cheerfully. "I can't wait to see what we draw next."

The crowd swirled around them and Mulder saw the one person on the island he would have been most interested in not meeting. "Let's go," he said quickly.

"Drink up," Alex said, missing the urgency in his voice. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

A moment later, Raoul insinuated himself into the six inches of space that separated the two men. "My friend! You are here!"

"Hello," Mulder said glumly.

"I am happy to see you having fun and drinking like a tourist." Raoul was oblivious to Mulder's discomfort. Over his shoulder, Mulder could see the frown gathering on Alex's face.

"Um...you remember Raoul," he offered. "From the beach?"

"I remember."

Raoul looked over his shoulder with patent disinterest. "Ah, you have your friend with you." He turned back to Mulder. "Shall we have another drink?"

"I have one," Mulder said firmly. "Thanks anyhow."

"I have one also," Raoul said with satisfaction. "I have another friend who buys it for me." He smiled brightly. "Shall we continue our conversation?"

"Is there something I should know?" Alex asked Mulder pointedly. He acted as though the young man standing between him and Mulder didn't exist.

"Not really." Mulder caught Alex's inquiring gaze and shrugged helplessly. His discomfort faded as he realized that Raoul could hardly say anything about Mulder's presence in the bar since he was obviously quite at home here himself. Seems to have changed his mind since the other night.

"You would like to dance?" Raoul nodded toward the crowded dance floor.

"I don't dance."

"Anyone can dance," Raoul dismissed the excuse. "Besides, in a place so full, who will notice? We can go to the center and there will be no one to watch us."

"No. Thanks anyhow."

The young man sulked noticeably. "Now that you have your American friend, you have no time for Raoul?"

"It's not that," Mulder said hastily. "It's just...I don't dance. Really."

"Very good." Raoul shrugged philosophically. "Then we can continue our talk

"I'm just sure I missed something," Alex said pointedly. "Shall I leave the two of you alone?"

Mulder glared at him. "Knock it off, Alex."

Raoul slid his arms around Mulder's waist. "You are on vacation," he coaxed. "It is time to be wild and exciting, right?"

"I'm not the wild and exciting type," Mulder said helplessly. He managed to back ungracefully out of Raoul's grasp.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Alex said. "There seems to be more to you than meets the eye."

"You do not wish my company," Raoul accused. "You would rather be with that one." He gave Alex a hard look.

"That's right." Alex interrupted before Mulder could offer another excuse. "He's all tied up. Hit the road, Jack."

"I am Raoul. I am not Jack."

"You heard me." Alex glared at the young man.

Mulder drank his beer and watched the dance floor, aware of Raoul's hopeful eyes on him. After a moment, the young man shrugged philosophically and took himself somewhere else.

"So, Mulder," Alex said thoughtfully. "What did you do on your summer vacation?"

"I swear," Mulder said desperately. "It's not what you think. He was drunk then, too."

"Drunk, when?" Alex pounced on the statement.

"Forget it," Mulder said stubbornly. He didn't think he could give a believable explanation for how he'd managed to let Raoul corner him in the bar, much less for the amount of money he'd spent reluctantly buying the young man drinks.

Alex shrugged. "If you say so."

"That's it?" Mulder was surprised. "That's all you have to say?"

Alex shrugged. "You said there was nothing to it," he pointed out. "I believe you."

"Oh."

"You're the honest type, Mulder." Alex grinned at his disbelieving stare. "Besides," and he glanced at Raoul's retreating back. "He didn't look like your type."

"He's not," Mulder said gratefully. "I don't know how I let him talk me into it." He shook his head. "I thought for sure I was going to wind up in jail. Or deported. Or...something worse."

"He must have been quite a handful."

"He was," Mulder admitted. "Especially after all those drinks." He flinched at the memory of the panicked moments outside the hotel. "Standing there in the middle of the sidewalk yelling about not wanting to...." He shuddered reminiscently.

Alex choked on his drink. "What?" He stared at Mulder. "You mean, you did make a pass at him?"

"No," Mulder said irritably. "Of course I didn't."

"I think you'd better fill in the blanks," Alex said gently. "Before I start thinking the worst again."

Mulder glanced at him, reassured by the gleam of amusement in the green eyes. Reluctantly, he explained the incident. When he reached the part where Raoul had obliquely suggested trading his virtue for an unnamed sum of money, Alex interrupted him with a shout of laughter.

Mulder glared at him and looked around uneasily as he waited for his companion to regain control. "Shut up, Alex," he said finally. "It's wasn't funny."

"It may not have been funny then," Alex pointed out, "but it's a riot now."

Mulder smothered a grin. It was true that, in retrospect, it seemed funnier than it had at the time. "Can we go now?" he asked plaintively.

"I think we should." Alex snickered again. "I don't think I can take any more revelations like that tonight."

Mulder led the way to the door gratefully, breathing the cooler, clean air outside with gratitude. They made their way back to the bus stop and waited for their ride back to the hotel.

At one point, Alex broke out into smothered laughter again but a glare from Mulder put a stop to his amusement. At least, it put a stop to his laughter. Mulder had the uneasy feeling that he was going to hear about that story often enough to make him very sorry he'd shared it.

Alex settled down and pulled him back to lean against the stone wall of the building near the bus stop. "Let's relax. The bus should be here soon."

"I don't think I can stand to be much more relaxed," Mulder admitted. "One more fun night on the town like this one and I'm going to need a rest cure to recuperate from my vacation."

Alex rubbed his neck gently. "It was a pretty weird evening," he admitted. "But you have to remember, those guys were on vacation, too. I don't suppose any of them would act that way at home."

Mulder nodded. "Convention mentality," he explained. "Someone's away from home for a while and suddenly they start acting like there's no tomorrow. Like they won't be held responsible for anything they do. They do crazy things that they'd never do in front of anyone who knew them." He was just starting to warm up to the topic when he realized how closely the description fit his own situation. He fell silent, staring at the cracked sidewalk at their feet.

Alex slid an arm around his waist. "Yeah, I know," he said quietly. "But you won't have to pay the consequences." Mulder looked at him questioningly. "We're both in the same boat," Alex explained. "Neither of us can't afford consequences. So," he shrugged, "it didn't happen."

Somehow, the offer didn't make Mulder feel much better. "Yeah, I know." He kept the feeling out of his voice. "It's not quite the same thing."

Alex pulled him close. "Just one day at a time." His hand slid under Mulder's tee shirt. "I think this vacation needs less analysis and more sex."

"We haven't done anything except have sex," Mulder pointed out reasonably.

"Then we must be having fun." Alex grinned wickedly. "Wouldn't you say?"

Mulder crowded him against the wall, trapping Alex against the stone. "I think you're having more fun than I am," he said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?' Alex's gaze was wary.

Mulder brushed his lips lightly against Alex's mouth. "Promise me something."

"I never give blind promises. Tell me what it is first."

"It won't hurt," Mulder coaxed. "Don't you trust me?" He threaded his hands through Alex's hair and kissed his neck.

"Are you going to say that you aren't going out with me any more? Come on, the evening wasn't that bad."

"It's nothing like that." He closed the suspicious green eyes with kisses. Alex tasted like beer with a hint of sweetness when he kissed him. "I swear," he whispered.

"Yeah...okay...whatever." Alex blinked and swallowed hard. "What is it?"

"It's a promise?" Mulder insisted.

"Yeah," Alex said. "Tell me."

"You can't ever, Mulder stopped to explore the recesses of Alex's ear for a moment. When he probed the hollow with his tongue experimentally, Alex shuddered and pressed against him. "Ever, mention that thing with Raoul again," he finished triumphantly.

Alex stared at him through narrowed eyes. "You shit."

"You were planning to," Mulder accused. "I knew it."

"Of course I was," Alex snickered. "Would you have let it go if you were me?"

"Probably not." Mulder smiled cheerfully and turned his companion loose. "But it's too late now. You promised."

The bus pulled up and he headed toward it triumphantly. Took care of that, anyhow. No matter what else happened, there was one thing he didn't have to worry about.

"Tease." Alex murmured the word into his ear warningly as they settled near the back of the almost-empty bus.

"Sucker." Mulder grinned at him. "Sore loser."

Alex slid his hand onto Mulder's thigh companionably and smiled at him in the darkness. The bus rattled out of town and hit the smoothly paved road that led back to the hotel.

After a minute, Mulder felt Alex's hand moving on his thigh, stroking it firmly. He opened his mouth to protest and saw the gleam of humor in the eyes, darkened to black in the dimness of the bus. Tease. The word came back to him and he realized he was being paid back in kind. He smiled to himself. If Alex thought his control was that bad, he was about to learn differently.

The exploring fingers moved over and rubbed up and down the seam on his inner thigh. They climbed a little higher with each stroke until Alex was able to press his palm against the mass of Mulder's cock where it lay against the leg of the jeans. He leaned his head back and enjoyed the teasing sensation, his resolve disappearing under the unobtrusive, but relentless caresses. They were about half-way back to the hotel when he realized he had slid down in the seat to allow Alex's fingers to play against the growing erection in his jeans.

Mulder sat up abruptly, pushing Alex's hand away. Alex laughed softly and grabbed Mulder's hand, pulling it to his own thigh. Mulder hesitated, then smiled to himself. There was something oddly erotic about the idea of the two of them making love to each other on the all-but deserted bus. Alex threw an arm across the back of the seat and slide down comfortably to give Mulder better access.

Mulder caressed the hard cock through the tight denim. In the dimness, he could see the smile on Alex's face as the other man watched the movement of his hand. Mulder had an irrational urge to lean down and put his mouth on Alex's crotch. He wondered what the other man would do, and pictured him, his head thrown back against the seat with enjoyment as Mulder knelt on the floor and sucked him off. He suppressed a small moan and pulled his hand away, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Alex didn't move, but Mulder could see his grin of triumph. They made the rest of the trip in silence and headed toward Alex's rented bungalow as soon as they reached the hotel.

Alex unlocked the door and followed him inside. "What happened in the bus?"

Mulder was glad he wasn't the blushing type. "I was thinking about sucking you off," he admitted quietly.

Alex shivered. There was a familiar gleam in his eyes. "You still want to?"

Mulder pushed him against the wall and kissed him hard. "Yes."

"I don't mind," Alex offered breathlessly.

Mulder laughed softly. "Are you sure?"

Alex started working the buttons on his jeans loose. "Not at all. Make yourself at home." He pulled Mulder to him and gave him a hard, deep kiss.

Mulder looked into his eyes, seeing the same desperate hunger they had held the night before in the restaurant. Another Tidy Bowl moment. Somehow it seemed less funny than it should have.

Mulder sank to his knees, watching Alex's face as he pulled the fabric down to expose the hard cock. Alex cupped his hands around Mulder's head, pulling it forward. Mulder licked along the shaft and took the head into his mouth, sucking it carefully.

"Yessss...." Alex crooned his approval, his hips working against Mulder's mouth. After a couple of minutes, Mulder let the crown slip out of his mouth and licked down to the balls, sucking each of them gently into his mouth for a few seconds. He worked his way back up the hard shaft and took the head back into his mouth, sucking as much of the length in as he could without choking.

Alex's hands stroked his head, trembling slightly. "Ahhh...." He thrust against Mulder's mouth, moaning softly. His hands tightened and he thrust convulsively again.

Mulder pulled free and stood up. He kissed Alex deeply. "You okay?"

Alex buried his face in Mulder's neck, mumbling something softly. Mulder heard the words, "...let me...." among something else he couldn't understand.

He thought about it, sliding his arms around Alex's shoulders. "You want to...."

Alex's arms tightened around his waist, and he laid a trail of hungry kisses along Mulder's neck.

"Is that a yes?"

"Jesus, Mulder," Alex plundered his mouth desperately. "Yes."

Mulder pressed against him, rubbing the denim-covered mound of his erection against Alex's bare cock. Alex's hips bucked suddenly and he hissed warningly.

"You like it here or should we move to the bed?" Mulder kissed him again, sliding his tongue into Alex's mouth. Alex shuddered and came suddenly.

"Shit." Alex buried his face in Mulder's neck. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"No big deal," Mulder reassured him but he was aware of his own disappointment. He kissed Alex again, coaxing his head up until he could reach the soft mouth. Alex's fingers slid through his hair, he pressed against Mulder eagerly.

Mulder reached down and touched Alex's erection. "Looks like the party's not over."

Alex smiled shakily. "Still waiting for the main course."

Mulder stroked the hardness. "I can't believe I do this to you."

"It's not like I've been pretending you don't turn me on or anything."

Mulder pulled away and stripped off his clothes as he headed toward the bed. Alex moved over and lit a couple of candles sitting on the bedside table, then flipped off the overhead light. No flowers? Mulder started to make a joke but as he watched Alex sliding out of his clothes, the other man looked so sexy in the candlelight, the words caught in his throat.

Mulder waited while Alex's eyes explored him in the flickering candlelight, using the opportunity to memorize the smooth curves and planes of the nude body in front of him. Alex had a small, warm smile on his face. Mulder was completely erect. And this is the effect you have on me, he told the other man silently.

Alex walked over and cupped a possessive hand around Mulder's hip, guiding him to the bed and onto his face. Mulder stretched out happily. He had a moment to wonder where his conscience had gone, then he felt the warm, heavy weight of Alex settling against his thighs and he stopped thinking.

Alex started rubbing his back firmly, working his hands along the sides and down to where the flesh dipped, then sloped up into the tight hips. Mulder could feel the firmness of Alex's erection rubbing against the curve of his ass. The careful hands disappeared, then returned and Mulder realized that Alex had covered then with some kind of oil Alex massaged the oil into the ridge of muscle down his spine.

"Nice."

"All part of the service," Alex teased, his voice husky in the silence of the room.

Mulder was focused on the feeling of Alex's cock and balls rubbing against his ass. He squirmed, trying to push up against them. It was incredibly arousing to be pinned to the sheets with the weight of Alex's warm body pressed against him.

Alex worked his way down to Mulder's hips, then moved to the side and pushed Mulder's legs apart. Slippery fingers worked between his thighs to stroke Mulder's cock where was pressed flat against the sheets between his legs. He eased Mulder's thighs farther apart, then started working the slick oil between his legs and up into the depths of the cleft, exposed by Mulder's parted legs.

One oily finger probed the tight pucker, petting it gently until Mulder could feel his muscles giving way. Alex stretched him deftly, easing his finger in past the tight ring of muscles and searching for the joy spot until Mulder's gasp and shudder proved that he had reached it. Alex worked one finger, then two against the buried gland insistently, each movement of his hand producing a wave of melting bliss

"Oh...yes." Mulder's hands twisted in the sheets and he strained back against the touch. Alex's free hand stroked his cock as he carefully prepared Mulder's body. Mulder turned and looked back at Alex, seeing the intent expression as Alex watched his fingers slide in and out of Mulder.

A soft whimpering from Mulder's throat surprised him. Alex leaned down and pressed a kiss into the hollow of his back. Mulder squirmed and pushed against sheets, moaning quietly. Now, Alex. The oily fingers slid out of him and Mulder heard the foil packet tearing open. He licked his lips and smiled.

A moment later, he felt Alex's cock pushing at him, then sliding in. There was a breathless pause, then the invader breached the muscle and plunged in. A moment of sharp pain overtook Mulder but it ebbed quickly. Alex pushed deeper until his hard cock was buried in Mulder's body.

Mulder felt Alex ease down until some of his weight rested against Mulder's back and he was supporting himself on his arms. He started thrusting against Mulder's body, working his way in and out of the slick channel until Mulder was squirming against the sheets. Alex moved slowly for a while, stopping sometimes when they were pressed tightly together, kissing Mulder's neck and shoulders, and sometimes probing his body deeply.

Mulder listened to Alex's ragged breathing, hearing inarticulate whispering and quiet moans. He knew the other man was talking but the blood pounding in his own head and the overwhelming shivers of arousal that washed over him each time Alex slid into him were too distracting.

Alex stroked his shoulders and slid one arm under his neck, pulling Mulder's head up so he could kiss his cheek and nibble on one exposed ear gently. "You okay?"

Mulder nodded, rocking against the relentless strokes of Alex's cock. More than okay, he thought but he bit back the words.

"Is this what you want?" Alex insisted.

More. Please, more. "Yes," he mumbled.

He heard a quiet sigh and Alex kissed his neck gently. Alex started fucking him harder, biting Mulder's shoulders gently and licking the back of his heck. After a few minutes, he knelt up and pulled Mulder's hips up with him, stuffing a pillow under them for support.

He was moving recklessly as his arousal began to overwhelm him, twisting his hips and forcing himself deep and deeper into Mulder. Alex slid one arm under Mulder's chest, fingers pressed tightly against the tight nipples, sending tiny shocks of pleasure through the other man. Alex's face rubbed against his back, the slight stubble of beard feeling scratchy and sexy against the hot, sweaty skin.

Mulder forced his hand down and grabbed his cock, stroking himself in time with Alex's ruthless pounding into his body. He heard breathless murmurs from the other man as Alex moved frantically inside of him. Mulder bit back a whimper, squeezing his cock and stroking in roughly as he felt Alex's climax erupting. A strangled cry from the other man and his arm tightened around Mulder's chest. The sound was so erotic that Mulder felt his own orgasm pour through him a few seconds later.

He collapsed against the bed, wincing as Alex's weight forced the pillow under his hips against his still-sensitive flesh. Mulder managed to lever himself up far enough to drag the offending bulk of the pillow free, then dropped back onto the bed.

Alex let his weight drop from his arms to Mulder's back, moving slowly to pull free and shift to one side.

Eventually, Mulder rolled over to look at him, watching Alex's serene face in the flickering light.

"You are so fucking sexy," he marveled absently. He brushed the dark hair back from Alex's eyes.

"Now you say it," Alex teased. "You couldn't tell me that five minutes ago?"

"Who knew you wanted to hear it?" Mulder pointed out.

Alex shook his head. "Jesus, Mulder, you never shut up. I never would have figured you for the strong, silent type in bed."

Mulder shrugged. "A lot of people hate it when you talk in bed. I got out of the habit."

Alex kissed him lightly. "Try to get back into it. I like to know whether or not you're awake."

Mulder looked at him thoughtfully, then grinned. "You want me to talk dirty to you?"

Alex scowled. "I didn't say that."

"But it's what you want." Mulder pressed up against him, laying his head on Alex's shoulder. "I can do that."

"Don't put yourself to any trouble," Alex said uneasily.

Mulder grinned. He leaned up and whispered briefly in Alex's ear.

The other man groaned helplessly. "Have some pity, Mulder. Twice is about my limit."

Mulder whispered to him again.

Alex rolled over and gathered him in for a kiss. "I'm going to remember you said that."

"And it's a promise." Mulder smiled and closed his eyes. In a minute, he'd need to get up and go back to his own room. In just a few minutes....

****

The End