*************************************************************************

He licked his lips and stared at the table. Were candles were too much? It was a date, right? A first date. He didn't want to louse things up by being too casual. Atmosphere was important.

The music was easy. A little R&B, just loud enough to fill the silence. Perfect. But, candles? Were candles right if you were expecting another guy? It wasn't really Ray's specialty. With a woman, he knew what to do. If he was shaking down a suspect, he knew the rules. None of that helped him figure out the right way to seduce a Mountie. Or to be seduced by a Mountie, whatever the hell was going on with the two of them.

The candles were too much, Ray decided abruptly. Too much pressure. Too many expectations. He reached for them again and then the doorbell rang and it was too late.

Show time. Ray took a deep breath, pretending he wasn't nervous.

"Good evening, Ray." Fraser hesitated outside the door, looking like a guy with something on his mind.

"Evenin', Frase." Ray stepped aside and waved. "You gonna come in?"

"Of course." Fraser walked in and turned to face him, slipping out of his coat and handing it to Ray. You had to know Fraser to know he was covering something up by being extra formal. All of those fussy little movements screamed nervous! if you knew him. Like a guy facing a firing squad. Or a guy about to cross a big, important, invisible line with his partner.

He wasn't wearing the uniform. Ray took a second to be disappointed, but Fraser looked good in tight jeans and a flannel shirt, too. How many guys would iron a flannel shirt? Only the Mountie. Only Ray's partner.

"You're looking a little twitchy tonight, Fraser. Something wrong? You okay?" Ray hung up the coat, then turned to look Fraser straight in the eye. Direct. Honest. That was the way they were going to play this.

"I...." A frown almost managed to crease that perfectly disciplined face. "We...."

"Yeah?" Ray waited, feeling disaster coming. Fraser narrowed his eyes and Ray could feel the options clicking across his partner's brain. What he didn't see was Fraser pulling Ray into his arms and kissing him, deeply and convincingly.

Which made it twice as much of a surprise, when it happened. "Okay." Ray was a little breathless, but perfectly willing to be convinced. "That's good. We're good right here."

Fraser nodded seriously. "I thought the situation might be a bit awkward. I wanted to break the ice."

"Still kinda chilly in here," Ray said hopefully. Forget dinner. If Fraser was willing to move straight to dessert, Ray wasn't about to complain.

Fraser's arms tightened and Ray put his own arms around Fraser's shoulders. Shoulders that felt twice as broad and strong as they looked. Icebreaking was definitely a good thing.

Another kiss, and this time Ray managed to give as good as he got. Warm, firm, determined...Fraser's mouth was everything it promised and it was promising more every second. Another squeeze, and then Fraser stepped back, forcing Ray to turn loose of him. Add frustrating.

Ray got the feeling that Fraser was more in control of this situation than Ray was. So, what else was new? He cleared his throat and smiled. "So, you hungry?"

"The dinner smells...interesting," Fraser said cautiously. "What are we having?"

"Fish tacos."

Fraser blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"Fish tacos. I like tacos. You like fish. Throw 'em together, you got fish tacos. Seemed like a good compromise."

"That's very...considerate of you, Ray."

"That's me. Mr. Consideration. Thinks of everything." Ray scrubbed his hand across his chin nervously. He wasn't quite thinking straight through the wave of lust that had grabbed his brain the second Fraser had touched him. "You, uh, want something to drink? I got that bark tea you gave me a couple of weeks ago or I got some milk."

Fraser was looking at the table...at those damned candles, then his face lit with a smile. That's right. Fraser was big on rituals. Traditions. Ray was glad he hadn't had time to hide the candles away.

"That would be very nice." Fraser handed Ray a brown paper bag, leaving Ray to wonder where it had been for the last ten minutes. He hadn't seen anything in Fraser's hands, but then he hadn't actually been looking. At his hands. There was another bag on the floor near the door. A cop could get killed being that careless.

Ray unfolded the top of the sack. Imported German beer? It was the good stuff. He wondered who'd taught Fraser about beer. Or if his partner had just walked into a liquor store and asked for information, the way he did on a case.

"You didn't have to bring anything," Ray said awkwardly. Fraser didn't drink, and he didn't have much extra money.

"You provided the dinner," Fraser said logically. "A guest...always brings a gift. For the host. For the entertainment."

Ray shook his head but he didn't argue. Host. Not exactly the word he was expecting. Or, hoping for. "Okay, well, thanks. You ready to eat?"

"Certainly." Fraser was being just a little too polite.

Ray shook his head. "I was lying about the tacos, Fraser. Joke, here, you know? Sheesh. Fish tacos."

"Ahhh." A blind man could have seen the relief on Fraser's face.

"It is fish, though," Ray said. "Vegetables. Nothing fancy." The stink that Fraser had called interesting was the cheese sauce Ray had burned in the microwave. And the reason the little potatoes were covered with salt and pepper, instead of a fancy sauce. They'd probably taste better this way. Ray didn't pretend to be a gourmet cook.

Fraser sniffed. "Salmon. My favorite."

"Who'd of guessed?" Ray led the way to the table. The salmon was going to be okay. He'd followed the restaurant's directions exactly, wrapping the fish up in foil and keeping it warm in the oven. "You want me to boil some water for tea, or you want a beer?"

"Yes, thank you." That was a shock. "It is an occasion, after all," Fraser explained seriously.

"I guess it is." Ray wasn't sure if that was a good excuse to grab another kiss. It felt like a good excuse, but while he was trying to decide, he could feel the moment passing. "You want a glass? You know, a mug to drink it out of?"

"Yes, thank you. May I be of any assistance?" Fraser was doing the hover thing, about a foot behind Ray's shoulder, looking like he'd be happier if he could do everything himself.

"I can pour beer, Fraser." Ray nodded toward the table. "You're supposed to be a guest, right? Sit. Make like company."

"Of course." Fraser looked unsure of himself, just for a second. "I'm not certain...."

"You just sit down," Ray explained. "And you make polite conversation."

"Make conversation." Fraser nodded and went to hover over the table.

"Yeah. You know. You talk about the weather." Ray took the fish out of the oven and set the hot pan on the stove. "The Cubs' chances at the pennant. What you did today. If it's okay if I kiss you again." Whoops. He hadn't actually meant to say that last one.

Fraser smiled and his eyes warmed to a dizzying eagerness. "It's seasonably warm. Not particularly promising. Uneventful. Of course."

It took Ray almost a full second to match the answers up. "Oh. Well. Okay. That's good to know."

Fraser looked at him for a moment. "Were you just asking as a point of information?"

Things were about to get awkward again. Ray marched over to the table. "Not exactly, no." The first kiss was tentative, kind of a try-out, but the second one was a record breaker. Ray got his arms around Fraser's chest this time, so he could check out the slope of muscle from shoulder to waist. It wasn't a gym machine kind of toned, it was something a lot better than that. It was real.

Fraser had one hand on the back of Ray's neck while the other took a slow pass down his back, doing some exploring of his own and it felt good. Ray's head was nudged back and Fraser's mouth slid down to his neck.

Tasting him. Cataloging the flavor, the way Ray had seen Fraser do on so many cases. The same, and totally different. The heat of Fraser's mouth hesitated right over a sensitive pulse point and then there was a sharply arousing sting of tooth in the kiss. Ray's knees buckled and if it hadn't been for Fraser's arms holding him up, they'd never have made it to dinner.

"Fraser." Ray's arms tightened and he leaned into the hard kiss, feeling the liquid boil of lust trying to take over his brain again.

The pressure disappeared, leaving a different kind of ache behind, and he felt Fraser's breath against his ear, a sigh that sounded like regret. "Was that what you meant?"

"You mean for a kiss?" Ray shook his head. "Not quite. We'd better keep at it until we get it right."

Another puff of breath that was a soundless laugh. "I don't think you're being completely honest with me, Ray."

"I want you to kiss me again." He could do honesty. "Don't stop kissing me."

"Yes, Ray." Fraser's lips made the trip from Ray's ear to his mouth with teasing slowness. "If you're certain."

Ray stopped the conversation with another kiss, torn between the pleasure of feeling Fraser's mouth against his, and wondering what it would take to get Fraser to bite him again, just the way he'd done it the first time. Right on that spot that seemed to have a direct line to every place that needed to be touched on Ray's body.

"The salmon is going to be dry."

That was so irrelevant that it took Ray's brain several seconds translate it. "Forget about it."

"It's really better if you eat it before it dries out."

"Fraser." Ray pulled his head away far enough to give Fraser a what the hell is your problem kind of look. Fraser's lips were red and swollen...whisker burn. It made Ray want to do some biting of his own. "What are you saying?"

"We need to slow down."

That was the kind of honesty Ray could live without. "Why? I thought we were going good, here, you know? On the same wave length?"

"Please."

And a tone of voice he couldn't say no to. "Yeah. Sure." He tried to back away, but slow down didn't seem to have anything to do with letting go of each other. Which was fine by Ray. "Is there some kinda problem?"

"No." Fraser's grip loosened, making Ray notice that he'd been having trouble breathing. "I just...want to slow down."

Okay. Ray even knew what that meant. "I guess you're right." They'd waited two days. Or months, depending on how you counted it. Fraser wanted, they both wanted more than a quick, sticky grope before dinner.

"You don't mind?" Fraser stroked his back gently.

Ray leaned into the touch. Slow down wasn't stop. "No, I guess you're right."

Fraser looked like he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. "Thank you."

"So, you up for some dried-out salmon?" Ray stole a last, gentle kiss and pried himself loose.

"That sounds delicious. I'm sure it will be fine." Fraser's mouth seemed to be working on automatic pilot. So did his legs, based on the way he followed Ray back into the kitchen.

Ray handed him two of the still-cold beers and two mugs. "Take these to the table and grab yourself a seat." He needed a couple of minute's breathing space, to try and pull himself together. "I'll get the food before it dries up and blows away."

Fraser took the glasses and the bottles. "Are you sure I can't help you with--"

"Fraser," Ray interrupted. "Guest, remember? Go. Sit."

"Yes, Ray." Fraser hovered for another second, then backed off and went to the table.

Ray had never seen anyone who could sit at attention before. It was weird. Heck, Fraser was weird, but who wasn't? And he was Ray's kind of weird, which was what counted.

Ray never did remember what they talked about at dinner. Later on, all he could remember was the flash of Fraser's smile that made the banked heat between them threaten to flare up every few minutes. He remembered Dief not being there, waiting for Ray to feed him every time Fraser stopped watching the two of them. He remembered the music, filling the background with rhythm and a throbbing drum beat.

They finished eating and Fraser insisted that they clean the kitchen. He even wanted to wash the dishes. "It's not a problem, Ray. I can easily finish in a couple of minutes."

Ray drew the line right there. "No, I know you. You'll be in here all night re-lining the shelves or something."

Fraser waited at the table while Ray did a quick job of loading the dishwasher. Neither of them said anything and Ray could feel the quiet getting too deep. He stalked over to Fraser's chair and made himself at home, straddled across Fraser's legs. "So, you wanna talk about it?"

"No, I don't believe I feel the need to talk about it."

Ray grinned at him. Okay, if that's the way he wants it. He leaned forward and planted a kiss square on Fraser's mouth, feeling the instant of hesitation before Fraser's arms closed around his waist.

"Mmmm...." Ray sighed. Fraser kissed the way he did everything else. Totally focused on the job at hand. You had to love a guy with that kind of concentration. "M'I too heavy?"

"It feels good. Don't move."

"No?" Ray shifted his weight, rocking back and forth gently and enjoying Fraser's reaction. "Not even a little?"

"Maybe a little." Fraser buried his face in Ray's neck, his hands stroking Ray's back.

Ray slid his hand along the top of Fraser's shoulder and cupped the back of his neck, tilting Fraser's head so he could explore Fraser's neck with his mouth. His other hand moved down Fraser's chest and across the expanse of muscle. Oh, yeah. This is going to work.

Ray pulled impatiently at the buttons on Fraser's shirt, finding nothing but bare skin beneath, then their mouths were welded together again and Ray was rocking on Fraser's lap and listening to the incoherent noises in Fraser's throat.

Fraser pulled him closer and Ray forced a hand between them, stroking at the hardness trapped in Fraser's jeans. Not too fast, Ray tried to remind himself. Fraser made a noise of approval, so Ray pulled the buttons on Fraser's jeans free and slid his hand down inside. Jesus.... Ray could not believe this was happening, that he was sitting here with his hands all over Fraser's bare skin with Fraser making those noises and Fraser's hands pulling the buttons on Ray's shirt free so he could get his hands on Ray.

After a moment, Fraser raised his hips and pushed his jeans down to his knees. Ray almost lost it when Fraser slid down in the chair and pulled Ray's ass against his erection. Now Fraser was rubbing himself against the roughness of Ray's jeans and his eyes, heavy and dark, were looking at Ray and Ray knew he was thinking about it. Fraser was rubbing himself against Ray's ass and he was thinking about it.

"Fraser, do you want to...."

"Yes." It was barely more than a gasp, but Ray heard it.

"You don't even know what I was going to say." Ray tried for a little teasing, a little space, a little time for both of them to stay in control.

"It doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I want to."

"I was gonna ask you if you want to have sex right here in the chair."

"Yes. Right here, Ray. Right now."

The strain in Fraser's voice and the hunger in his eyes triggered an answering heat in Ray. He stumbled to his feet and dragged off his shoes, jeans, and shorts. Seconds later, he was back on Fraser's lap, the warm heavy weight of Fraser's erection pressed against his bare skin.

Ray moaned and pushed down on it and Fraser let him have his way for a minute. Ray could feel Fraser watching him but he didn't care. After last night, he'd thought Fraser was going to make them wait days, even weeks. This was all the proof Ray needed that they both wanted this, enough to take chances. That it might be something more than just what you might call proximity and opportunity.

He stopped thinking when Fraser pulled his head down and kissed him, his hand stroking down Ray's chest and circling his erection. Just that and nothing more, with Fraser's hand on his head welding Ray's mouth to Fraser's until they were both gasping for air and Ray thought he might come just from the anticipation of what Fraser might do next. He grabbed Fraser's shoulders and threw his head back, arching up into the touch.

Fraser's expression was unreadable except for the way his eyes were locked onto Ray's face, something warm and wanting lighting them. Fraser's hand was steady on his hip, the other hand stroking Ray insistently as Ray rubbed himself against the firmness of Fraser's erection trapped under him. And Fraser was patient, moving and stroking and helping them find the rhythm until they were moving together.

Ray gasped, feeling the strain in his legs as he leaned forward to kiss Fraser. He didn't care, it felt so good, felt like what he'd been waiting for.

Always psychic, Fraser's arms locked around Ray's hips and waist. Ray yelped as Fraser stood up, holding Ray suspended in his arms for a second. Then Ray's back hit the wooden dining room table and Fraser was sprawled over him. Ray locked his legs around Fraser's waist and his arms around Fraser's shoulders.

Now they could both touch and kiss and rub and they did, their hands tangling as they reached for each other, felt and pulled and pinched teasingly. Fraser pinned him to the table, his hands wrapped around both of them, stroking them together. He was heavy, but it was the kind of weight Ray needed to feel right then. He thrust up into Fraser's hands, feeling the pulse of Fraser's erection pressed against his, the sound of Fraser's breath panting in his ear.

His back arched, a thrust, another, and he was there, the pleasure throbbing through every nerve as Fraser's hands milked it out of him. Fraser made a quiet, hissing noise in throat, then Ray felt the spill of Fraser's climax against his skin.

Oh, yeah. That was Ray's last coherent thought for several minutes as he rode out the shocks of orgasm. Oh, yeah, this is going to work.

They rested, Fraser half-laying on one arm to give Ray room to breathe. "Are you okay, Ray? Was that what you wanted?"

Ray smiled at him, loving every sticky, sweaty, messy inch of this new Fraser. "Not bad for a guy who spent most of his life chasing polar bears through the trees."

Fraser took a deep breath and smiled back. "You'd understand better if you knew what can happen when you catch one."

And Ray was satisfied that it was ending the way it should have. With both of them laughing and Fraser's body pressed against his as though they belonged together that way.

****

The end