Part VI
Alex's head lay sideways on the carpet, his short hair mussed and spiky,
and his cheek shadowed by beard. Mulder's eyes trailed down from the
narrow face to skim down his entire tapering length. Neither his prone
position nor his somnolent state could hide the latent power of Alex's
shoulders, his torso, or the muscular arms wrapped loosely around his
lover. With a sigh, Mulder nestled closer to Alex, savoring the steady
beat of the younger man's heart.
Yielding to temptation, Mulder craned his neck to kiss Alex's chin, then
hesitated, not wanting to wake him. But it seemed the damage was
already done. With a deep breath, Alex started to stretch, stopped, and
his eyes opened part way. He looked down at Mulder from beneath a
curtain of dark lashes.
Mulder propped his chin on Alex's chest and very slowly, a morning-
after smile spread across his full lips. Alex took a deep breath, let it out
in a long unsteady sigh, and then finally the smallest glimmer of a smile
curled in the corners of his mouth.
"Hi," Unsure of Alex's mental state, and not wanting to break the calm,
Mulder kept his voice a low, sultry whisper.
"Good morning," Alex's sleep roughened voice was even softer, forcing
Mulder to strain to hear him.
"How did you sleep?" Mulder kept the tone quiet, undemanding.
Alex thought about it. "I woke up myself," His arms tightened reflexively
around Mulder. "And I woke up with you. All things considered, I slept
great. How about you?"
Mulder smiled in relief and pressed his face to the warm, smooth chest
beneath him. "Never better." He began exploring Alex's chest with his
mouth, biting gently at the thin skin over his collar bones, licking over
sensitive nipples before moving on, savoring the smooth warmth of
Alex's flesh in ever-descending increments.
The groan that came from deep in Alex's throat told of a delicious,
sweet pain, one that Mulder echoed in kind.
He felt Alex carefully entwine his fingers in his hair, and raised his head
as Alex gently tugged to urge his face up. Krycek looked at him warily,
his eyes burning with longing, but Mulder also read distrust and faint
fear in the green eyes as they searched his face. Remembering Alex's
description of the dream Alexei used to trick him, Mulder realized the
younger man's concern.
Mulder leaned in to kiss him, pressing his weight more firmly against
him, trying to stress his own reality. The soft lips parted under his and
his tongue slipped inside, probing, exploring, capturing, and taming Alex.
Alex tried to pull back, to break the overwhelming contact, but Mulder
held fast to him. He inhaled Alex's rapid exhalation deep into his lungs
as if he were taking his very life into himself. For a moment, Alex
couldn't breath. A low moan flowed from his mouth to Mulder's. With
a surge of force, Mulder breathed back into Alex's mouth, giving him his
breath back, now mingled with his own unique scent. Greedily, Alex
inhaled this rush of warm life, clinging to Mulder's lips.
Needing air, Mulder pulled back, gasping. He looked down into dazed
green eyes and ran a thumb lightly over Alex's swollen lips. "This is
real, Alex," he whispered directly into the soft mouth. "We are real, and
we're going to beat this thing."
Alex stared up at him, his eyes heavy lidded and dark, his lips slightly
parted to aid the labored working of his lungs. He shook his head
slightly. "Mulder, I..."
"We'll beat this," Mulder growled. Slowly, he lowered his lips until his
mouth-that incredible, sensual mouth-was just a hair's-breadth away
from Alex's. "Do you believe me, Alex?" He brushed his fingertips over
the side of Alex's jaw, and trailed them down the graceful column of
neck to rest his hand on the nearly hairless chest.
Alex's eyes rose to Mulder's and were held by a tender concern that,
quite against his wishes, began to melt his defenses. Mulder was the
reality he had to believe. He felt safe and secure, far more than he knew
the situation justified. Despite everything, despite the danger he knew
was waiting inside him, he couldn't feel bad. The desperate anxiety, the
sense of hopelessness, was gone.
Alex leaned up the scant distance that separated them and took Mulder's
lush bottom lip between his teeth a moment. Releasing it, he brushed his
lips over Mulder's in a soft caress. "I believe in you, Mulder." It came
out more a breath than a whisper.
Alex looked up into the intense hazel eyes and felt something inside him
loosen. "Thank you for helping me. I know..."
Mulder leaned down and kissed him again, but before it could go far
they were interrupted by a loud rumble from the vicinity of Mulder's
stomach. He rolled up on one elbow and grinned sheepishly as Alex
broke into helpless, stress relieving, giggles.
"Hmm, as good as you feel, we need to get up," Mulder laughed. "I'm
starving."
"How can you be hungry again so soon?" Alex fought to get the
undignified giggles under control.
"Soon? I haven't eaten since early last evening."
"You're forgetting that little midnight snack. You might have warned me
you were a cannibal, Mulder."
Mulder looked down at Alex's pale, smooth skin. He didn't remember
biting Alex so hard last night, but he couldn't deny the evidence. He ran
a gentle fingertip over the livid mark on Alex's shoulder.
"What are you complaining about? I didn't even break the skin," Mulder
smiled slowly, and dangerously. "Of course, if you'd like, I'd be more
than happy to kiss it and make it better."
Alex turned his head to one side as if he were giving Mulder's offer
serious consideration. "Well...okay."
Mulder pressed a lingering kiss to the mark on Alex's shoulder. Grinning
at Alex's soft sigh, Mulder brushed gentle kisses over the smaller marks
he had left on Alex's neck and chest. "Better?"
"Oh, yeah, but..." Alex stretched his head back, arching his neck for
easier viewing. He indicated the base of his throat. "I think you missed a
sore spot right here."
"Poor baby." Mulder pressed a kiss to the hollow of his throat.
"And here." Alex touched his mouth.
Mulder gave him a skeptical sideways look. "Didn't I see this on
Raider's of the Lost Ark?"
Alex's grin was pure Krycek. "Whatever works."
Mulder kissed him again, then sat up and away from him. "Okay, Indy.
Enough's enough. Breakfast."
Alex gave a long suffering sigh, closed his eyes, and stretched like a cat.
With the arching of his body he rose to a sitting position, eyes still
closed, head thrown back. He was the image of feline contentment, with
a half-smile of pleasure on his moist, parted lips.
For a moment, Mulder thought he might have imagined last night. There
was no sign of the pain that had seemed to consume Krycek before. If he
hadn't watched Alex's eyes carefully since the younger man woke, he'd
worry that he was dealing with the alien. But Krycek's eyes had been
clear. He'd seen none of the tell—tale cloudiness that betrayed the alien
when he took control, and Alexei never seemed to move as elegantly as
Alex, his movements were always just a bit more awkward. This was
Alex. One of the young man's strengths had always been his ability to
deal with anything life threw him, apparently he was able to cope again.
Either that, or he was an even better actor than Mulder thought.
Alex turned and looked at him, his green eyes bright again. He leaned
toward the agent, a devastatingly sexy smile on his face. Heat washed
through the older man. He was sure Alex was going to kiss him, and he
unconsciously wet his lips with the tip of his tongue. But Alex touched
the tip of his nose to Mulder's instead, his smile now pure mischief.
"Want to flip a coin for who gets a shower first and who starts breakfast
Mulder?"
The rogue agent laughed and rolled to get away from the slap Mulder
aimed at his arm. Mulder growled and stood, pulling the blanket up and
wrapping it around him like a toga.
"You go first," Mulder growled, "You need a shower more than I do."
Alex started to open his mouth to argue, then stopped. He grinned. "Hey,
good idea, Mulder. We should start right away and see how we can kill
this parasite of mine. Your cooking is a good place to start checking
possible poisons."
He barely dodged the shoe that Mulder snatched up from the floor and
threw at him with remarkable accuracy. Laughing, Alex made a quick
retreat upstairs, ignoring Mulder's grumbles.
The water felt like heaven, warm and soft and soothing. He closed his
eyes and leaned back, relaxing for the first time in what seemed like
weeks. Alex still had trouble believing that Mulder was helping him so
easily, still harder to think that Mulder might have forgiven past sins,
might even care for him. Alex started to smile at the thought that with
Mulder helping him, he had a good chance of getting out of this alive.
His contentment was shattered by a blinding pain shooting through the
base of his skull. He staggered at the sudden pain, his hands
automatically going to his head as he slumped back against the tile wall.
He sucked air in sharply through clenched teeth.
"Alexei! You little shit! What the hell are you doing?"
Nothing.
He couldn't even sense the alien's presence. He hadn't realized before
how he could always feel the alien in the back of his mind before,
even when they weren't "talking". It was like knowing there was
someone else in the house with you, even if separated by several rooms.
Even when he couldn't hear him or see him, he always knew the other
was there. It was... almost comfortable. The loss of Alexei's presence
felt a little...
Shit, no! I am not lonely. I will not miss you. Damned parasite! You
think if you pretend to be gone I'll forget and let you stay and grow
inside me? Won't work, you ball of snot. This is my body, and you are
going to leave, one way or the other.
Nothing.
The pain began easing, settling to nothing more than a vague ache in
the back of his neck. Alex straightened and turned off the slowly
cooling water.
What the hell was that? Were you trying to punish me? Don't like me
thinking about getting rid of you, is that it? Gotta tell ya, if anything,
this
makes it more urgent that you leave.
Drying off, he continued trying to sense the alien he knew was centered
in just the spot that had hurt.
Nothing.
Are you sick? Maybe dying? God, I couldn't be so lucky.
Alex snorted in disgust at the thought that the idea vaguely bothered
him. Turning on the elaborate brass faucets at the marble sink, he
gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
Huh. To look at me you would think I was totally normal, perfectly
healthy. No clue to what lurks inside me. This alien shit is going to kill
me... and I've never looked healthier.
He shaved quickly, dabbed quickly at the red drop of blood he drew as
he nicked himself, and padded downstairs to where Mulder waited.
Alex went down the carpeted stairs silently, smiling at the delicious
smells coming from the kitchen. There were melon slices arranged on
a plate on the dining table and he snagged a slice as he passed. He
followed the siren call of coffee toward the kitchen.
As Alex stepped up to the breakfast counter Mulder's back was to him.
Sitting on a stool beside the counter, Alex tried to keep a straight face.
He failed miserably as he took in the scene.
The kitchen looked like a pack of brownies had been earning their
cooking badges in there. Mulder had put last night's clothes back on and
donned a bright red apron, for all the good it appeared to have done him.
The sink was heaped high with dishes, a pool of batter was dripping off a
counter to the floor, and flour dusted nearly every surface, including a
good portion of Mulder.
To Alex's immense surprise, Mulder was whistling softly as he worked.
There was a lightheartedness to the sound that reminded him of finding
violets for his mother as a child in the spring, and of squishing mud
between his toes.
Mulder turned from the counter holding a large bowl with batter
dripping slightly from the edges in the crook of one arm and a large
spoon in the other hand. Mulder brandished his spoon triumphantly as he
saw Alex sitting at the counter. "I found a waffle iron and some mix."
Alex looked dubious. "Do you need some help, Mulder?"
Mulder gave him an exasperated look. "I'm doing fine." He began
stirring the mix in the bowl vigorously, almost slopping batter on the
floor.
Alex grinned. "Well, I know how you don't cook. So, for totally selfish
reasons I'm offering my humble services. It occurred to me that the
'Mulder's cooking' poison might be a case of the cure being worse
than the disease."
Mulder snorted in annoyance. "Just the chance you'll have to take,
Krycek. Don't want me to think you're a coward now, do you?"
Alex shrugged and finished the slice of melon in his hand. "I can handle
anything you can, Mulder."
He walked around the counter to pour a cup of coffee as Mulder began
pouring the batter into the warm waffle iron.
Alex took a sip of his coffee and grimaced. "Ugh. Christ, Mulder, that's
the worst coffee I've ever had." He took another sip. "Nope. It's not going
to grow on me. You realize it's my duty as a former government agent to
file a report with the EPA over this."
Mulder reached over and took the cup from Alex with a frown. He took
a sip and his face immediately twisted in disgust. He turned without a
word and dumped the mug then the pot of coffee into the sink. "Let me
try this again."
"I'm not sure my stomach can handle another attempt."
Alex fought to keep from grinning at the dark look Mulder gave him. He
let the grin spread over his face as he heard Mulder mumble no doubt
uncomplimentary, probably very imaginative comments as he turned
toward a stainless steel machine on the far counter.
Alex admired Mulder's figure from behind, paying particular attention to
the tight swimmer's butt. Mulder added milk to an elaborate Cappuccino
machine and flipped a switch. The milk that was supposed to froth,
spewed instead, leaving a fine splattering of milk from the ceiling to the
floor, mixing with the waffle batter.
Mulder turned toward Alex, milk dripping from his face and coating his
eye lashes. Alex lost it. He could no more hold in his laughter than he
could fly. A wry grin spread over Mulder's face as he felt along the
counter for a towel. "I think," he got out past his own chuckle, "I think
that you'd better make the coffee, Alex."
Alex covered the space between them quickly and grabbed Mulder's
hands before he could raise the towel to his face. "Let me." Mulder was
frozen in surprise, heat stealing through his groin at the softly husked
command suddenly only inches from his ear.
The heat in his groin only got worse as he felt Alex begin to clean the
milk from his face. Small kitten licks over his eyes and lashes that
changed to slow purposeful swipes of his tongue over his cheeks, and
down his jaw. Grooming him like a mother cat. Alex cleaned Mulder's
face thoroughly before moving down to his neck to alternately lick and
kiss the sensitive skin. Mulder sighed and kept his eyes closed, leaning
into the sensuous caresses.
"Shit!!"
Mulder's eyes jerked open as Alex pulled back from him suddenly. He
realized he smelled burnt waffles at the same moment his vision
registered the smoke coming from the waffle iron. Alex jerked the
appliance's plug from the wall.
"Damn it!" Mulder swore softly.
Alex swooped up Mulder's dropped towel to use as a pot holder as he
carried the stinking appliance toward the back door. Mulder looked at
the huge bowel of batter regretfully as Alex got the door open and put
the waffle iron and its burnt contents outside.
"I was hungry for waffles, too." Mulder sighed.
Alex left the door slightly open to air the kitchen out. "I don't think that's
on the menu for this morning, Mulder."
Mulder looked at him sharply. "Don't even start, Alex. I was doing fine
till you distracted me."
Alex tried, with little success, to look chagrined. "Sorry, Mulder." He
looked around the kitchen. "Have any other ideas?"
Mulder nodded. "Omelets." He opened the refrigerator and pulled out
an armful of vegetables. "You get started on these and I'll get the eggs
ready."
Alex laid the vegetables on the counter and began searching for a
cutting board as Mulder got out a skillet and another large bowl for the
eggs. Mulder found another apron, this one a dark green, and handed it
to Alex without a word. Alex looked doubtful for only a second before
grinning and slipping it over his clothes. The two men worked side by
side silently and efficiently, as if they had been in the kitchen together
for weeks rather than just today.
Alex finished cleaning the vegetables and began cutting them up, the
sound causing Mulder to turn and watch him a moment. There was
something appealingly offbeat about the sight of Alex Krycek in an
apron and it was only enhanced by the bright slice of deadly steel the
man was wielding. The thunk, chunk of the blade against the wooden
board gained speed until it was almost constant, the blade becoming a
blur.
Mulder leaned back against the side of the counter and settled to watch.
Alex was a whirlwind of energy as he chopped, slid the food into a bowl,
and added the appropriate seasonings without breaking rhythm as
Mulder got the eggs ready in the skillet.
Thirty minutes later, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking
eggs, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and a fresh pot of coffee. The
two men sat back from the dining room table, full and content.
Their relaxation was interrupted when Mulder's cell phone chirped at
them from the counter top where Mulder had laid it. The two men
exchanged looks before Mulder picked it up.
"Mulder."
"Mulder, this is Jaak Danko. Could I talk to Alex, please?"
Alex raised his eyebrows in question, but took the offered phone
without concern. "Yeah?"
Mulder watched Krycek's face carefully, relaxing when he saw no
sudden tension or concern on his narrow face. He began cleaning away
the dishes, listening to Krycek's short, essentially uninformative
comments into the phone. He had carried all the dishes into the kitchen
when Alex walked in and laid the phone back down on the counter.
"What's up, Alex?"
Alex grimaced slightly. "I hope you brought a suit with you, Mulder."
Mulder frowned. "As a matter of fact, I did. Why?"
Alex leaned back against the wall, the corner of his mouth quirking
slightly. "Bailey wants to meet us tonight. She has information for me,
but she wants us to go to her hotel room in Philadelphia. She swears that
it's safe, but wants us to wear suits."
Mulder's frown deepened. "What do you think she's up to?"
Alex shrugged. "I trust her, she's never done me wrong."
"And the suits?"
"With Bailey it's hard to guess, but I imagine we are going to have a
night out, whether we want one or not."
"And you trust this woman?" Mulder tried to keep his tone even,
refusing to let his paranoia or jealousy show.
Alex looked down at the floor for a moment, considering. He nodded.
"Yeah, she won't steer us wrong, Mulder."
"What time do we meet her?"
Alex looked back up at his face. "Eight tonight."
Mulder chewed the corner of his bottom lip a moment. "And until then?"
Alex sighed and straightened from the wall. "First we clean up the mess
you made of the kitchen, then you get a shower while I use your lap top
to access my sources, then you see what you can find out." He glided
forward and put his arms around Mulder, kissing him gently. "The
sooner we can get rid of this alien parasite, the sooner we can explore..."
he kissed Mulder again, "other avenues of investigation."
Mulder bit back a growl of anger and pushed back from the computer.
He ripped the glasses from his face and sat them on the table before
running both hands over his face. "Damn it."
"What are you swearing for?" The soft, husky voice came from the
vicinity of the fireplace.
Mulder looked up and growled. "For the fun of it."
"Whatever turns you on." He could almost hear the negligent shrug with
the words.
Mulder let out a long sigh of frustration as he glared at the offending
'Access Denied' message on his monitor. "They've got everything
locked up tight. We're going to need divine guidance to find them."
Soft snort from across the room. "If a burning bush speaks to me
anytime soon I'll let you know what it says."
"Krycek, if a burning bush did talk to you you'd probably just piss on
it and put it out."
"Hey, you can't let shrubbery get away with giving you lip, Mulder."
Mulder grimaced and he turned to look at Krycek. The rogue agent was
leaning loosely against the fireplace mantel sipping a mug of hot tea,
steam rising up and blurring his features like a filter on a camera.
Mulder shook his head slightly at the tiny smile almost hidden behind
the mug.
Krycek hadn't been much help since they got up this morning. He was
restless, unable to settle for more than a couple of minutes at a time.
Even when he tried to use the computer he would get frustrated at his
lack of progress and have to push back from the table, swearing fiercely
in Russian, English, and a couple of languages Mulder wasn't sure of.
He prowled the cabin like a tiger in a cage, full of kinetic energy. He
wasn't noisy, but Mulder was acutely aware of him, kept having to look
up and watch him. Alex paced around the room, his movements fluid,
his thin t-shirt doing nothing to hide the play of muscles moving
intricately under smooth skin like a fine mechanism in perfect working
order.
Mulder tried to work, but it wasn't easy. Every time he'd start to get
involved in tracing a lead Alex would distract him. In his pacing, Krycek
seemed to need to brush against Mulder periodically, which was bad
enough, but then he'd shy away when Mulder would reach for him, too
restless to hold still.
Occasionally Mulder would catch him with a look of pain on his face,
holding a hand to the back of his head or neck. When Mulder would
question him, Alex would just shake his head angrily and tell him it was
nothing. After the third time, Mulder quit asking. He decided that Alex
was every bit as annoying as Scully with his "I'm fine, leave me alone,"
attitude. Martyrs, why was Mulder surrounded by martyrs?
At times Alex would get very quiet, would sit still, his expression blank,
his eyes staring at nothing. Lost in his thoughts, or talking to Alexei?
Mulder wondered as he carefully studied the silent Krycek. He knew that
Alex could "talk" to the alien. Both Alex and Alexei had told him as
much. What is that like? To have someone always in your head. To
have no privacy, no secrets? Mulder shuddered. Horrible.
The idea of another mind, another soul, in there with him... the idea
made Mulder's skin crawl. But at the same time, to not be alone... to
have someone with you always, someone who truly understood you,
accepted you...
Mulder shook his head sharply. If it accepted you, if you weren't
constantly fighting for your sanity, for your freedom, for your survival.
The alien was the most primal of threats. It slowly removed Alex's
humanity, bit by bit, making him something other.
Would the alien gift him with intimacy, an ease of loneliness; or would
it be the worst kind of violation, beyond anything mere humans could do
to each other?
Mulder wrapped his arms around himself and shivered. He started as he
realized that Alex was calling his name. From the tone it wasn't the first
time.
"Huh?" He looked up to see Krycek kneeling in front of him, a
concerned look on his face, his hands running slowly up and down
Mulder's thighs.
"Mulder? You all right?"
Suddenly it seemed too much. Mulder didn't want to think about it. He
didn't want to think about aliens, or conspiracies, or about deadly
assassins with beautiful green eyes, and how much he wanted to remove
the fear and tension in those eyes.
He had to get out. He needed space—away from Alex—and air that wasn't
saturated with Alex's warm scent.
Mulder pushed his chair back from Krycek and stood, moving toward
the sliding glass doors. "Why don't you see what you can find on the
computer, Alex?"
Krycek looked up at him, his mouth open in surprise. "Where are you
going?"
"Running. I haven't had a chance for days, and I'm feeling it." Mulder
walked out onto the deck, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Standing on the wooden deck, he took in a deep breath, luxuriating in
the clean country air. The air was refreshing, its mild coolness some
relief on his fevered skin. The rustle of high grasses around him soothed.
The soft lapping of the water against the dock lulled. A fresh breeze was
sweeping in off the lake... not a rain cloud in sight. He scanned the
sun-dappled trees on the far shore of the lake, spotting a trail running
around the lake through the trees.
Wanting to be comfortable, he'd changed into sweats after his shower
that morning. He spent a few minutes stretching and warming up, then
he started an easy jog around the lake.
Soft breezes moved through the trees and through his hair. The sun
slanted through the thick foliage. Within minutes he felt the first tingling
sensation of his pores opening and as he settled into a steady stride he
became more aware of his surroundings. The trees were beautiful in
shades of crimson, orange and gold. With the coming of fall sunlight
streaked through the foliage overhead, making some of the leaves seem
to glow softly.
Mulder could hear squirrels and birds chattering and calling in the upper
branches of the trees as he passed under them. A few falling leaves
drifted past his face as a thick pile of leaves crunched under his feet. It
was hard to accept, in this idyllic setting, that somewhere out there men
were searching for Alex, men who wanted him dead, or in a lab wishing
he were dead.
The crunching of leaves under pounding feet interrupted Mulder's
reverie. He paused, cursing the fact that he'd left his gun back at the
cabin. He moved back behind a tree, watching the direction the sounds
came from. He tensed and stepped back onto the path as Alex came
running through the trees toward him.
"What is it? Did something happen?" he asked as Alex stopped in front
of him, leaning forward to rest his hands on his thighs as he caught his
breath.
Alex shook his head and looked up at him. The gleam in his eyes did
nothing for Mulder's peace of mind. "Nothing's wrong, I just decided
you had a good idea. I needed to move, get out of that cabin. A run
sounded perfect."
Mulder looked him over. Alex had changed into sweats, but his feet
were covered with the familiar boots. Mulder's mouth quirked. "You
thought it would be a good idea to run in your boots?"
Alex straightened and smiled at him. "I don't have any sneakers with
me." He shrugged. "These boots are comfortable, and I'm wearing three
pair of socks. When I was in the Army we ran miles every morning in
combat boots. Sometimes we ran with packs or through wet sand or
mud. It's no big thing, Mulder."
Mulder grunted. "Boot camp was a few years ago, Krycek. You going to
tell me you kept up that regimen?"
Alex smirked. "Just run. Don't worry, I'll keep up."
Mulder studied him for a minute. "It's your feet." He turned and started
down the path.
They ran in easy company for several minutes, Alex dropping behind to
follow single file when the path narrowed, running beside him when they
had room. Alex was right. He kept up with Mulder, showing no more
strain than Mulder himself.
When they came across an opening in the trees forming a large clearing,
Mulder kicked himself into high gear, tearing across the grass and
scattered wild flowers in delight. A small stream cut through one corner
of the clearing, and Mulder laughed as he saw a white tail doe startle
from her drinking and disappear into the trees with a flash of white.
Mulder raced across the ground, knowing he had a silly grin on his face,
and not caring. It felt good to be out, good to feel the sun warm on his
skin, good to be running with Alex beside him. For a few minutes there
was no conspiracy, no aliens, no danger of death, no one disapproving
of his behavior...
As they got to the far edge of the clearing Mulder suddenly heard Alex
cry out from slightly behind him. Mulder slid to a halt, spinning to see
what had happened.
Alex sat on the ground, one leg bent, with both hands clutching his
ankle. His face was tight with pain, and he curled his body down over his
leg.
"Alex?" Mulder started back toward his lover, moving faster as Alex let
out a faint whimper.
"How bad is it?" Mulder bent down over the younger man, trying to see
past Krycek's curled body and clutching hands to see the injury.
"Alex?"
Krycek suddenly uncoiled like a cobra, wrapping his arms around
Mulder and pulling him to the ground. Mulder felt his breath rush out of
him as he hit the ground, then he automatically began to struggle with
the weight holding him down. He fought for his life, fiercely, blindly,
until his shoulders were grabbed and he was slammed to the ground
again, striking his head.
Dazed, Mulder looked up into a brilliant blue sky full of soft white
clouds, tree limbs arched over him, their leaves bright flashes of color.
Then Alex was over him, looking down at him with dark eyes that were
excited and feral. Their charged brightness promised intensity past
reason to the man below him. They held lust and perhaps a touch of
madness, and something else, something that eased the anger Mulder
felt at the attack.
Mulder's first instinct had been that Krycek was attacking, that he had
been a fool to trust him. That was quickly followed by the awareness
that Alex was just playing. Alex was just excited, over-exuberant in his
playfulness like a puppy. Mulder remembered Alex healing him before,
and flushed in embarrassment. Alex wouldn't hurt him, not anymore.
Alex read the mixed emotions on Mulder's face. "You thought I was
attacking you." His voice came so softly, Mulder could barely hear it.
Low and smoky and laced with old bitterness.
"I thought we were past that," Alex whispered. The excitement in his
narrow face was replaced with a deep sadness at the distrust he knew he
had earned. "I would never hurt you, moi lyubimyj." He tenderly
brushed dark hair away from Mulder's eyes and ran his fingers through
the thick hair in an apologetic caress.
Mulder reached up and placed his palm gently against the side of Alex's
face, a twinge of guilt running through him as Alex closed his eyes and
leaned into the touch hungrily. "Alex," he whispered. "You just
surprised me. I'm sorry. I do trust you. I know you won't hurt me." He
leaned up and brushed a kiss over Alex's lips.
Alex opened his eyes and the ghost of a hopeful smile curved his mouth.
"I think I'm denting your armor, Mulder."
"Of course not." Mulder gave him a slow smile. "Well, maybe just a
little."
Mulder looked up into Alex's face and felt his breath come a little
harder. The molten heat in the dark eyes over him stirred an answering
warmth inside him and he found himself suddenly staring at Alex's
mouth, beautifully carved mouth. Heat unfurled like a dozen ribbons in
his belly.
Alex ran one hand along Mulder's jaw, then cupped the side of his face,
studying him a moment before lowering his head to kiss him. Mulder
closed his eyes. It was a tender kiss, a sweet kiss, undemanding, and
the emotions it brought with it were so intense he wanted to cry.
Alex carefully worked his fingers under the tail of Mulder's shirt and
pulled it off, flinging it aside in one fluid movement. Alex sat back and
studied his lover. His eyes grew warm on Mulder's bare shoulders, down
his chest, began to simmer over the taut stomach, then smoldered at the
dark patch of hair that arrowed down from his navel past the waistband
of soft sweat pants.
Mulder had levered himself up onto his elbows and was staring at Alex.
Alex ran his gaze slowly up Mulder's body, and when he got up to his
face he breath froze at the burning desire he saw in the intense hazel
eyes. It was the last straw, and Alex lost his battle with control.
Pushing Mulder back down onto the ground, Alex followed him, closing
his mouth on his hungrily. His hands began working at pulling Mulder's
pants off. Mulder arched under him, urging him on. Alex couldn't get
him stripped fast enough, not for either of them.
Alex grabbed the soft pants and peeled them down the long, swimmer's
legs. The cotton boxers followed, Alex guided them carefully over the
rigid cock that strained upwards.
Alex finally had Mulder where he belonged. Beneath him, naked and
eager.
Alex kissed him, long and deep, before moving on. He slowly slid his
hands down Mulder's body from his shoulders, skimming either side of
his body to his thighs, as though defining all limits before moving
inward to a more intimate exploration.
Alex's long fingers caressed Mulder's bare skin, first the hardened tips
of his nipples, then down the taught stomach. His thumb dipped into the
hollow of his navel and began stroking in and out in a gentle rhythm that
quickly made Mulder lose his mind. He couldn't suppress a low groan of
need. He arched instinctively, pressing his painful erection against Alex,
seeking relief from the knot he'd tied him in, then let out a low
anguished moan as Alex pulled back away from him.
"Shh," Alex murmured softly. "Just a minute, Fox, hang on." Alex
ripped his own, and the rest of Mulder's, clothes off with more speed
than grace, but Mulder didn't care, just as long as Alex got naked.
Alex lowered himself partially down onto Mulder. Mulder's back arched
as Alex's mouth closed hotly over one of his achingly sensitive nipples,
sending electrifying needles of sensation from its tip to pool as honeyed
warmth in his groin. Alex's tongue tantalized the bud into marble
hardness before drawing the dusky nipple into his mouth in a strong
sucking motion. Mulder shuddered from the sheer pleasure streaking
through him.
"Alex," Mulder's voice was a hoarse plea. "Alex, please, I need you."
Alex slid up his body, keeping full contact the entire length, and kissed
him swiftly. He pulled back enough to look into Mulder's face and
gave him a slow smile that acknowledged his passion, relished it, and
promised more. Mulder could taste the need-his and Alex's both. He
could feel it, wanted to give in to it, and obliterate everything else from
his mind.
Alex reached into the back pocket of his discarded sweat pants and
triumphantly produced a small packet of lubricant.
"I was a boy scout, Mulder."
Mulder snorted, deigning not to comment on the unlikelihood of this,
then swallowed as Alex threw one leg over Mulder's, straddling him. He
knelt above him for a minute, his eyes heavy lidded and smoky, his lips
swollen and slightly parted. The smoldering green depths above him
held all the knowing wickedness of a serpent. No, no boy scouts here.
Alex opened the package with sharp white teeth, never taking his eyes
off Mulder's. He reached down blindly and wrapped his fist around
Mulder's thick cock. He stroked the shaft firmly, a light shining in his
eyes as Mulder thrust up helplessly when Alex smoothed on the
lubricant.
Alex sat back on Mulder's thighs. Small laugh lines formed in the
corners of his eyes as Mulder sucked in his bottom lip and began biting
it in a bid for control. Alex took Mulder's hand and placed a small kiss
on the palm before applying the rest of the lube to Mulder's fingers.
Alex shifted onto his hands and knees, curving over his supine lover in
invitation. Gently, slowly, with excruciating care, Mulder eased one
finger, then two into the smooth, snug passage, gliding past the
restricting muscle.
"Oh, God," Mulder muttered thickly. "God, you're so tight, Alex." He
moved his fingers inside the hot passage. Heat blushed just beneath his
skin and pooled thick and liquid between his legs as Alex surged
against his hand in pleasure.
Mulder pushed his fingers in deeper until he caressed the hard little
gland hidden deep inside. Heat raced through Mulder's balls at Alex's
throaty, feral moan of response as scalding pleasure blazed through him.
Alex finally had enough teasing and demanded the real thing. He pulled
Mulder's hand away and immediately positioned himself over Mulder's
throbbing cock. Mulder held his breath as Alex lowered himself slow
and steady, allowing Mulder into his body.
Quivering with almost painful need, Alex sat astride him, his head
thrown back with a blissful expression on his face. Mulder began
breathing again, and ran his hands up the taut, hard body above him,
seeking his most sensitive places, touching where Alex most wanted to
be touched.
Bracing himself on arms less than steady, Alex leaned over Mulder lips
and worshiped them with small, pleading kisses until his mouth opened
in helpless invitation. "It feels good, Fox. So good," Alex whispered into
Mulder's mouth. "This is what I've needed. You are what I need."
Mulder muttered a low unintelligible reply. "Good", seemed a paltry,
inadequate description of what he was experiencing. The feel of Alex's
tight, velvet heat was fantastic, far beyond the power of words to
describe. Being locked deep within Alex's body, taking pleasure from
his body while giving him pleasure with his own, was so natural, so
right. Yes! This is what I need too, Alex.
Mulder's entire body responded as Alex closed his mouth over his, his
tongue slipping inside to explore every curve lovingly. Silvery sensations
flickered through Mulder from both his mouth and his cock to meet and
swirl in a vortex of pleasure in his belly.
Above him now, Alex's body undulated with a slow and breathtaking
grace, his face a study of devotion as he stared down at his lover. He
carefully rocked back and forth, a peaceful swaying motion. Everything
seemed so easy. Alex moved so gracefully, so easily, Mulder thought of
dance rhythms.
His hands moved over Alex as he gently rocked on top of him, delighting
in the firm muscles moving so fluidly under soft, smooth skin. The rhythm
gradually got faster and faster. Alex's head was thrown back as he lost
himself in the rhythm of their bodies, the universe consisted of nothing
but them.
Holding himself on a wire-taut thread of control in a bid to savor the
glorious sensations of Alex moving over him, Mulder could feel the
graceful crescendo of pleasure start in his lover. He gritted his teeth as
Alex arched back hard enough to snap and his body began spasming,
contracting around Mulder as he pumped his semen onto Mulder's chest
and belly. The sound from Alex's throat was a combination of pure joy
and an animal sound of victory, defiance. And he was utterly beautiful.
As Alex's muscles relaxed Mulder quickly clamped his arms on him
and lifted, ignoring his own body's protests as he pulled completely out
of his lover. Alex gave a grunt of surprise as Mulder twisted and rolled
him onto his back in the soft grass. A breath, and Mulder was sliding
into him again in a smooth glide.
Alex's eyes opened and looked up at Mulder dazedly, the glorious
green eyes shimmering with satisfaction and love. As his breathing
slowed, Alex realized that Mulder was still inside him, as hard and full
as ever. His brows lowered in a confused frown. "You haven't..."
Mulder smiled. "Come? I know. I was distracted watching you. That was
something to behold." His grin grew smug. "Besides, that makes this
next part that much more of a challenge."
"Challenge?"
"Uh-huh. Now I want to see if I can make it happen again."
Alex shook his head and laughed hoarsely. "No way... I'm spent."
"That's why we're resting now. Waiting for you to get your second
wind."
Alex tightened himself around Mulder's cock and found, to his surprise,
that he wasn't as drained as he'd thought. The feel of this man, Fox
Mulder, deep inside him, sent reborn tingles through his veins. When
Mulder slowly withdrew, then returned once more, Alex gasped in
surprise at the pleasure that speared through him.
"Feel good?" Mulder's smugness was merited. His grin got wider at the
soft moaning sound rising from deep within Alex's throat.
Then it was Mulder's turn to moan as Alex began using strong internal
muscles to stroke and contract around Mulder's cock. Green eyes burned
up at him as Alex began running his hands over Mulder's chest, stroking
him, charting the tightening of his body.
Having had enough, Mulder grabbed Alex's buttocks, lifting them so
that he could thrust more deeply inside, and his mouth clamped over
Alex's with a harsh growl. Alex began writhing under him as he began
moving steadily in and out of him with hard urgency. Alex matched him,
rising and falling with him as he moved in a relentless, driving rhythm.
Mulder's head dropped down to begin biting and sucking at the warm,
sweaty skin beneath him, branding Alex, marking him as his.
This time they climbed together, gasping in turn, kissing wildly until
they needed every breath to surge with the growing delirium. What had
started out as a beautifully orchestrated dance had turned to need in its
most primitive form. They found their height together, reveled in an
eternity of pleasure, and came back down still together.
Finally collapsing, Mulder gasped for breath. "Aah, Alex..." It was a
hoarse moan muffled against silky sable hair. "You can't believe how good..."
Alex's voice held a purr and faint amusement. "I think I can."
Very slowly, his legs heavy and languorous, Mulder slid to the side,
draping himself half over Alex. He settled his head in the crook of
Alex's shoulder, rubbing his cheek against the softer flesh beside his
armpit. He kept one leg firmly between Alex's thighs and one arm lay
across his waist possessively as they drifted asleep in the sun dappled
shade at the edge of the clearing.
Mulder woke up to the sound of a Blue Jay shrieking nearby. Momentarily
disoriented, he raised his head to look around. The delicate
smell of flowers reached his nostrils as he took in his surroundings. The
sun was starting to set, casting soft colors over trees, grass, and the little
flower filled bower they had fallen into. They. Alex. Mulder looked
down and smiled at the man next to him.
Alex was stretched out in all his naked splendor against the deep green
of their outdoor bed. His eyes were closed, the lashes lay in beautiful
sooty semicircular sweeps against his cheeks. Dozing, he looked flushed
and satiated and content, just exactly like a man in the aftermath of
passion, nothing like a man who was fighting for his life. He looked
more relaxed than Mulder had seen him in a long time. For all the
anxiety the young man showed he could have been lying on the
smoothest sheets, the thickest mattress, at the best hotel in the country.
Sex was a great stress reliever. Mulder had discovered that for himself a
long time ago.
It was also a great stress inducer, at least in this particular case. The
longer he looked at Alex, the more stress he felt. Particularly in the
region of his dick. As he looked Alex over he could feel himself
stiffening.
Looking at the rapidly dimming light, Mulder knew they needed to get
back to the cabin. After all, they had to meet Alex's friend Bailey
tonight. Unfortunately, given a taste of what it craved, his damned cock
was insatiable. Just the sight of Alex had its undivided attention.
The obvious answer was to not look at him. But he couldn't quite do
that.
Naked, Alex was beautiful. One arm curved up and around to pillow his
head. His armpit was exposed, white and vulnerable. The urge to crawl
down and press his mouth to that enticing area was almost irresistible,
but from somewhere Mulder found the strength to resist.
The soft evening light seemed to love Alex, for it didn't merely fall
dispassionately upon him as it did upon the trees and Mulder; it caressed
him, lovingly accented the milky bronze shade of his skin, added luster
to the thick sable hair, and kissed the soft lips that were slightly open,
relaxed in sleep. Mulder wanted to press his mouth there too, but again
he managed to keep himself under control. No time. We don't have
time for another round. Much as I want it.
With the best will in the world not to do so, Mulder mentally stroked
that beautiful body with his gaze. Just looking at him had him so hard he
had to grit his teeth to keep from doing anything about it. What made it
worse was the knowledge that Alex was his for the taking. He could do
anything he wanted with him. Alex had told him so.
The hell with it. Bailey will have to put up with us being a little late.
Just as Mulder made his decision he saw Alex's face tighten. Still
asleep, Alex's face now looked strained, his mouth a thin, hard line. His
breathing had sped up, and his muscles were tightening.
Mulder reached out carefully to wake him, recognizing a brewing
nightmare when he saw it.
Alex suddenly sat upright, his face a mask of anguish. "No! Mom!"
Mulder reached over and laid his hand on Alex's shoulder. "Alex?"
Alex looked around at his surroundings wild-eyed for a moment. When
his gaze fell on Mulder's concerned face he seemed to relax slightly.
Then he leaned forward with a groan and buried his face in his hands.
"Alex?" Mulder could feel shudders running through the strong
shoulders under his hand.
Alex ignored him. He was busy searching inside himself for his
unwanted alien parasite. Alexei!! You shit! Show your sorry ass, you
ball of snot!
Alex found himself standing in a small, dark room lit dimly by a light
from far overhead. He saw movement in the shadows and a young man
stepped partially into the pool of frosty light. Alexei had always
appeared as a younger version of Alex, each time he showed himself he
looked older, more mature. A sign of his continued growth inside Alex.
This time he appeared as a seventeen year old version of Alexander
Nicolai Krycek. He was tall, gangly, his hair too long, his eyes too wide
in a pale, narrow face. Alexei wore a dark green turtle neck over blue
jeans, his arms wrapped around himself as if he were cold. Yes, Alex?
Alex felt his mouth form into a snarl and fought his need to physically
attack this doppleganger. He knew Alexei was nothing but a mental
image, a figment of the imagination designed to make conversation
between the alien and Alex easier. Alex didn't even know who created
the image, the alien or himself. Didn't know, didn't really care. The
manifestation of the creature threatening his existence caused a fierce
anger inside him, a need to attack and destroy this younger Krycek.
What the hell are you up to? Why are you showing me these images of
my family? Why... her? Why that moment? Alex fought to stop the
anguish at the last, steeled himself back to anger to combat the deep
guilt and sorrow at the loss of his mother.
Alexei dropped his head, seemed to shrink back slightly. I'm sorry. A
mistake. I didn't mean for you to see those images. I was just accessing
memories, trying to learn.
Learn what? What the hell are you doing sniffing around my family?
Alexei shifted uncomfortably and tried to change the subject. Alex?
Umm... could you go a little easy with Mulder? I know you love him,
and things are finally looking good, but... um, right now is not a good
time. Having sex drains our body's resources and I don't think...
Who the hell asked you? Where do you get off? It's my body, and if I
want to drain its resources until I'm too depleted to move, I damn well
will! Got it?
Alexei nodded. Of course, Alex. But if you could just be a little
cautious...
Fuck you. And you aren't getting out of this. Why the hell are you
looking at my family?
I just want to know about family, the concept, the feelings it
engenders.
What does that have to do with that memory. That has nothing to do
with a normal family. Normal husbands don't give up there wives like
that... he swallowed heavily. They don't send their wives off to be
experimented on. You don't do that when you love someone.
Alexei stepped forward farther, his eyes sad and intent on Alex's. But
he didn't want to send her away. That's the worst part, isn't it, Alex? He
didn't want to send her, he wanted to give you to them. He never forgave
you, did he? He never forgave that she couldn't let them have you. That
she begged them to let her take your place.
Alex turned his head sharply away, he closed his eyes, taking deep
breaths as he fought for control.
Alexei's voice was soft. I need to understand. I need to know why, why
she did it, why your father let her. I need to know, Alex.
Alex looked back at the young alien, his eyes wary. Why do you need
to know that?
Alexei's mouth tightened into a thin line as he debated. He sighed. I've
been feeling this... need. This longing... I don't understand. I think...
he took a deep breath and locked his eyes on Alex's. I think I need to
find my own family Alex.
Victim of the Game
by CKing
Mulder lifted his head from Alex's chest to study his ex-partner as if
he'd never seen him before. Alex looked relaxed, far different than he
had last night. His face was missing that taut tension that seemed to be
always with him when he was awake. Last night it had been worse than
usual. Alex's face had looked like a piece of porcelain about to crack
from some fierce internal pressure. Something deep inside Mulder had
responded to that, commiserated with it.
