The BLTS Archive - Strange Relationship:
#1: Ambushed
by Kalita Kasar (kalitafic@hotmail.com)

---

Archive: Those with previous permissions Yes! All others please ask
first.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. They were born in other creative minds,
but they keep intruding into mine, so what's a girl to do? I don't
make any money from this, tis but a labour fraught with love...theirs
and mine.

---
You push and pull me again,
and I'm about to lose my mind
cause it's just a waste of time.
You keep acting like you own me,
I keep running watch me walking out that door
 - you behind me.

Darren Hayes - Strange Relationship.
---

As Trip stepped out of his quarters a slim but wiry form ambushed him,
pushing him back through the door of his cabin. Firm lips claimed his
in a searing kiss while a pair of eager hands roamed over his body
drawing a sharp gasp of need from him. He closed his eyes, moaning
into the kiss and returning it with all the fervour that Malcolm gave
it.

When his lips were released Trip chuckled, gazing into a pair of smoky
grey eyes as he murmured. "Well, hello to you, too."

"Where have you been, Commander?" Malcolm's voice was a throaty growl.
"It seems like eternity since we shared my brandy."

Trip's smile faded just a little at the use of his rank, but he leaned
in close to the lieutenant as he replied. "Been busy; the Capn's
ridin' me about those warp reactor upgrades."

"As long as that's the only way he's riding you." Malcolm purred,
brushing his lips briefly across Trip's mouth once more.

"I like it when you go all jealous and possessive on me." Trip
grinned, pursuing the elusive mouth of the other man and trying to
steal another kiss.

"Well, he looks at you...funny."

"He does? How's that?"

"My dear Mister Tucker, haven't you noticed how he positions himself
between us whenever he enters a room?"

"No." Trip frowned. "I can't say that I have...when did he do that?"

"Only every time he has been with us since the day he found me kissing
you in the Armoury." Malcolm pulled Trip closer against him, rubbing
his hips against the commander's lean body.

"I honestly haven't noticed," Trip said softly. He smiled and looked
into the grey eyes that held his own. "But you don't need to worry;
there's nothin' between the cap'n and me." He ventured a kiss and was
rewarded when Malcolm's mouth claimed his, tongue thrusting between
his parted lips.

They were both panting when the kiss ended, and Malcolm traced a thumb
across Trip's now mildly swollen lips. "So your Yankee arse belongs to
me?" He punctuated his question by gripping Trip's behind with both
hands and pulling him hard against his body.

"All yours, Malcolm." Trip almost growled as he felt the extent of
Malcolm's need pressing against his thigh.

"My quarters after shift," Malcolm whispered next to his ear.
"We'll...go over the finer details." He gently bit Trip's earlobe and
turned him lose.

"I can't wait," Trip said. He was beginning to wonder though, how he
would make it out of his quarters and back to work after such an
interlude. His heart pounded, and there was an excess of blood
creating difficulties down below. He passed his tongue across swollen
lips and met Malcolm's eyes for a moment. "Ya know, ya could've commed
me...if all you wanted was to make a date." His blue eyes twinkled as
he began to straighten his rumpled uniform ready to go back to work.

"Oh but this way is eminently more enjoyable," Malcolm said. He helped
Trip to tidy up a little before they both stepped into the hallway.
"See you this evening."

Trip had a grin on his face a mile wide when he returned to
engineering that afternoon. His staff were glad to see him happier
than he'd been when he decided to take a lunch break. They didn't know
what had occurred to lift the engineer's mood, but it didn't matter,
as long as he was no longer scowling and snapping at them.

They worked steadily until the end of the alpha shift and accomplished
more with Trip in a cheerful frame of mind than they had in the
earlier part of the day.

After making a brief report to Captain Archer, Trip politely declined
an invitation to dinner in the captain's mess and headed back to his
own quarters to freshen up.

He showered quickly and dressed in a clean blue shirt and casual pants
before he walked the short distance to Malcolm's quarters. With both
of them being bridge crew, it meant their cabins were on the same
deck, which made things convenient if one or the other had to get home
in a hurry.

A few moments later he stood at the armoury officer's door. Trip
pressed the door chime.

"Come," Malcolm called and Trip stepped into the room.

Malcolm looked fresh and relaxed, clad in a tight white t-shirt and
dark coloured pants.

Trip sniffed the air appreciatively. "Somethin' smells good!"

"Yes; it's you." Malcolm stepped forward and gathered Trip into his
arms, seeking his mouth with eager lips and pulling him into a kiss
that started out tender and explorative but quickly heated into a
passionate clash of lips and tongues as each man struggled to take
control of the other.

They broke apart several minutes later, the need for air forcing them
to separate. Trip gave a low whistle. "If that's the appetizer, I
can't wait for main course," he said with a grin.

"Oh just wait until you see what I have planned for dessert." Malcolm
moved to the other side of the room and busied himself with serving
the food that was waiting for them. "I ordered us some dinner;
meatloaf all right?"

"Yeah, that'll do me just fine." Trip moved to the table and took a
seat. "How was your day?"

"Fine," Malcolm said as he came to the table with two plates. He set
one in front of Trip and took a seat opposite the engineer as he set
his own plate down. He had something that looked like fish on his
plate and Trip shook his  head.

"Ya know, you need fattenin'," he said softly. "Do you ever eat meat?"

"Of course I do," Malcolm replied with a frown. "I just wasn't in the
mood for it tonight."

"Uh-huh..." Trip paused to take a mouthful of food and chew it
carefully before he washed it down with a sip of water. "I don't think
I have ever seen you eat anythin' aside from eggs, pasta, fish
and...pineapple cake." He ended his statement with a grin. "My momma
would say you need to get some good ol' Texas steak into ya."

Malcolm shot him a darkening look across the table and Trip laughed.

"All right now, keep yer shirt on; I'm just kiddin you."

Malcolm hesitated a moment before his lips broke into a small, almost
reluctant smile. "The only beefcake I need right now is sitting on the
other side of the table," he said softly.

To his chagrin, Trip felt a deep blush steal into his cheeks at the
comment, and he let his gaze fall to his plate, concentrating fiercely
on his food.

"Oh I see how it is," Malcolm said, "you can dish it out, but you
can't take it."

Trip cleared his throat, reaching for his water glass. "Is that how
you see me?" he asked. "Some kind of calendar boy?"

"Well, I should say if the cap fits..." Malcolm watched Trip's face
carefully for his reaction. "Surely you must have heard the talk
around the lower decks?"

"Talk? What talk?" Trip's fair brows drew together and he set the
glass down with more force than he had intended, splashing a little
water onto the table.

"Oh, nothing much really; a little innocent speculation..." Malcolm
cut himself another bite of fish, keeping his eyes averted as he ate
it.

"What kinda 'speculation?'" Trip laid down his fork and stared at
Malcolm, his blue eyes beginning to snap sparks of cold fire until he
caught the faint glint of amusement in the smoky eyes that met his own
across the table. "God dammit! You're windin' me up, aren't you?"

"I couldn't resist." Malcolm finally gave in to the laughter that had
threatened for several minutes. "You do rise to a bait so very well!"

"Well, I can see I'm gonna hafta watch you." Trip picked up a napkin
and wiped his mouth. Tossing it aside, he moved around the table to
stand behind Malcolm's chair. He let his hands rest on the
lieutenant's shoulders for a moment, then bent down to graze his lips
across one well-formed ear. "Come to bed, Mister Reed, before I'm
forced to give you the lecture you so richly deserve." He nipped
Malcolm's ear and then swiped his tongue across his earlobe, sucking
the fleshy nub into his mouth and teasing it with his teeth.

"Oh I can't have that," Malcolm said as he stood up and moved into
Trip's arms. "We'd never get to dessert then." He was answered by a
gentle snort of laughter.

"Yeah, momma always said I could talk the hind leg off of a mule."
Trip said. His hands were busy tugging Malcolm's shirt out of the
waistband of his pants as he pushed the dark haired man towards the
bed.

"Oh dear, sex and conversation...how jolly!" Malcolm sank down on the
bed as the mattress came in contact with the back of his legs, pulling
Trip with him so that they lay pressed together, lips and hands
eagerly engaged in exploring the other's mouth, and skin.

The need for words was minimal for the next few minutes as the two men
concentrated on removing each other's clothing.

Malcolm sucked in a breath as Trip took hold of his penis in one
strong hand, stroking him slowly while his lips and tongue lazily
teased the dark haired man's mouth for a moment before making their
way lower.

Trip licked and nuzzled his way down along Malcolm's body, breathing
the warm, slightly spicy scent of the man's skin as he went. Pausing
at Malcolm' s chest, he drew a nipple into his mouth, sucking and
nibbling playfully and listening to the quiet sighs and moans his
ministrations elicited. He growled with desire as he made the journey
across the flat belly of his partner, biting a little more firmly, so
that Malcolm whimpered and squirmed with pleasure.

When he reached Malcolm's groin Trip paused and looked up, remembering
the man's reluctance to allow this pleasure the last few times they
were together. "Malcolm?"

"Yes!" Malcolm hissed. "Oh god; yes..."

Trip needed no further urging. He dipped his head and lathed his
tongue around the head of Malcolm's cock a couple of times before he
sucked it into his mouth. He steadied his partner's hips with both
hands, holding him gently, so that he would not gag from the eager
thrusting of Malcolm's body.

Although it had been years since Trip had given this kind of pleasure
to a man, he made up for his rustiness with his enthusiasm. He took
Malcolm's whole length into his mouth, allowing his tongue to play
along the rigid organ and sucked gently as he drew back to the tip. He
gave the head special attention, running his tongue around the
sensitive ridges and into the tiny slit, tasting the salty tang of
precum.

Malcolm let out a shuddering moan bringing his fingers to tangle into
Trip's hair as he lost himself in the heady sensations the man's mouth
aroused in him. "It's been so long..." he almost sobbed the words out.
Eyes closed, fingers clenching and unclenching gently in the fine
golden hair of his partner. "God...so long!"

Trip made a soft sound of acknowledgement, taking Malcolm deeper into
his throat again as his fingers found the man's balls, gently
massaging them as he run his mouth up and down the shaft.

Panting breath and gentle moans that built in intensity were the only
sounds in the room for the next few minutes until with a sudden, sharp
cry, Malcolm climaxed, shuddering as his release was eagerly swallowed
by the blond man.

Trip let Malcolm out of his mouth and slid upwards along the sated
body of his partner. He placed a gentle kiss on Malcolm's chin.

Malcolm reached out blindly, pulling Trip close and plundering his
mouth, savouring his own essence on his partner's tongue and rolling
over so that he was on top of Trip before he pulled back and gazed
down into hazy blue eyes. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

Trip tensed a little, his features clouding with a frown. He reached
up to lightly caress Malcolm's cheek. "Malcolm..." he said on a
breathy sigh. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Smoky eyes filled with confusion as Trip looked into them. He sighed
again and forced a faint smile to his lips. "We're busy, Malcolm...I
don't...I don 't wanna make you late for work again." He swallowed as
he watched the angular face; emotions flickered through Malcolm's
features in quick succession. Trip had never seen him that way - with
every thought and feeling expressed in his eyes. It awed him; it
almost frightened him. He bit his lip. He wanted to stay, and yet his
mind was filled with the memory of the last time he and Malcolm had
spent the night together in the armoury officer's quarters. It had
ended on a sour note the following morning.

Trip didn't want anything to spoil the closeness he felt with the
enigmatic Brit right now, and he certainly didn't want to leave on bad
terms again in the morning. He gazed into Malcolm's eyes, silently
pleading for understanding.

"Right." Malcolm spoke softly.

Trip felt the barrier come up between them like a physical wall.
Malcolm's face was suddenly closed and cool. His eyes held no emotion,
just the quiet reserve that shone in them when he was on duty. He
slowly pushed away from Trip, Moving to lie on his back, staring up at
the ceiling.

"Malcolm..." Trip pushed himself up on one elbow. "Please don't..."

"No, you're right, of course," Malcolm glanced at him. "We can't
afford the distraction right now." There was a knife-edge tone to his
voice, a sharp brittleness. "Forget I asked."

"Malcolm!" Trip sat up on the edge of the bed and pushed his hands
through his hair. He sighed with frustration and glanced over his
shoulder at the armoury officer. "Why do you have to lock me out?"

Malcolm didn't reply. He lay very still on the bed; his eyes were
closed and his lips pressed together in a thin line.

"Malcolm?"

Silence.

Trip sighed and stood up, slowly collecting his clothes, which were
scattered around the room. He put on his briefs and pants and still
Malcolm didn't move or make a sound. Trip stood for a moment, staring
at him. He couldn't understand how the man could change so completely
in such a short time. A few moments ago, he'd been open, warm and
alive in Trip's arms and now he was as cold and unmoveable as stone.

With a sigh that verged on anger, Trip moved to the side of the bed
and sat down, nudging Malcolm's arm. "Mister Reed!"

Malcolm opened his eyes and looked at Trip. "Are you still here? I
thought you'd gone."

"Shit, Malcolm, cut the crap wouldya?" Trip gritted his teeth. "You
knew very well I was still here!"

Malcolm turned away, moving to the other side of the bed and sat up.
"I think you should go, Commander."

"I want to talk. I...think we need to work a few things out."

"I'm tired and I have early shift tomorrow, as you know. I'd like you
to leave." Malcolm kept his back to Trip, not even glancing over his
shoulder.

"All right." Trip got up and pulled his shirt over his head. "But I
wanna tell ya - this is not settled between us, Malcolm. I will be
back here and I will be in your face until you talk to me!" He took a
few steps towards the door then stopped. "I think we could have
somethin' special, Malcolm Reed, but you hafta know I can't take too
much pushin' and pullin'! You either want me in your life or ya don't.
I'm not gonna dangle on a string waitin' for you to make up your mind
if ya got time for me or not!"

"You're the one who decided you don't want to stay tonight." Malcolm
got up and reached for his briefs, which lay on the floor at the end
of the bed. He sat down and put them on, casting Trip a cool glance as
he did so. "Don't try and blame me for this, Commander. I was quite
happy to have you here tonight."

"Yeah, so you could push me around in the mornin' and ... and ..."
Trip stopped as the armoury officer looked up at him. There was
something in Malcolm's eyes that hadn't been there before. Hurt. The
reserve had slipped. Malcolm stared at him in silence and Trip took a
half step forward. "Malcolm..." his tone was almost pleading. "I..."

The lieutenant looked away. "Just go, Trip. Please."

"Malcolm..."

"Go!" Malcolm rubbed his temple with the tips of his fingers.

Trip's shoulders drooped in defeat and he nodded. "All right." He
picked up his socks and shoes and walked to the door, casting one last
look at the armoury officer as the door opened. "I'll see you
tomorrow." He said softly before he stepped out into the hallway.

---

The End