Part VI
She was charming Patrick and the other lads on Richard
Sharpe's team, the Essex squad. Even quiet, ever-suspicious
Hagman was falling under her spell. Jane was charming Pat's
wife Ramona, who was no fool for a pretty face like the guys
were. Every single person at the party seemed to have fallen
under the spell of Richard's girlfriend. The situation
should've made him happy. Didn't every man enjoy being the
object of good-natured envy?
"Are you gonna marry your way up the ranks, Richard?" One of
his fellow officers joked between sips of beer. "Smart move.
It's about time you put some effort into sprucing up your
career."
The simple fact that this lot were even in attendance at his
house-warming party was a homage to Jane's influence. Jane's
uncle was a power to reckoned within Command and her brother
was team leader of the most prestigious squad working out of
Central Command. People in the organization had, in the past,
ducked into doorways and empty interrogation rooms to avoid
speaking to any member of squad Essex. Sharpe's lot were
considered the bottom of the social heap by almost everyone in
British special ops. Yet here those same snobs were, standing
around in Richard and Jane's new home. Well, technically it
was just Sharpe's, but considering the woman had only gone
home to her flat two nights out of the last three months she
might as well live here.
Richard knew he should be pleased with the situation but
darker emotions kept gnawing at him.
Somewhere amid the dull hum of conversation a phone rang.
Voices dropped dutifully. Most of the people here were used to
phone calls cutting into their lives and putting everything on
hold. Jane smiled and picked up the receiver with a light-
hearted 'hello' just as Richard got within arm's reach of the
ringing device.
Headquarters requesting to speak to one of the officers would
have caused an indulgent sigh and Jane would've summoned
whomever was needed. A salesman would have earned a quick
hang-up. Family, well, most of her family was here and he had
none. Sharpe could only think of only one thing that would
distort Jane's pretty features into such tightly pinched
disgust and pure malice. Her angry glare pinned Richard, who
couldn't help but feel a flare of hot delight blazing through
his body.
"He's busy." She snarled into the phone and hung up without
hesitation. Jane shot a frown at Richard that dared her
boyfriend to make any comment on her behaviour. She visibly
shook herself back into the mood that the phone call had
interrupted and turned to their guests with a beaming smile.
"Christian!" Jane called out to her brother in a far too
jovial voice. "You simply must tell me more about that new
polo horse you bought yourself." She paced off in a cloud of
sweet perfume.
Richard stared down at the telephone just a few seconds
longer. Exhilaration and terror ravaged inside of him. He knew
that look Jane had flung at him. His beautiful, dangerous
Xander had called.
Richard let it lie for the length of the party and all through
the clean up that followed. In return, Jane kept up her
company-smile and pleasant mood. Still, when bedtime
approached and the telephone didn't ring again, Sharpe was
forced into broaching the volatile topic.
When Jane emerged from the bathroom in one of those long,
frilled up, silk nightgowns she was so fond of wearing she
found Richard leaning in the bedroom door, still dressed. Her
delicate features pulled into a frown. She knew what was
coming.
"Who called earlier, Jane?" Sharpe began.
"No one." She flounced across the room and practically threw
herself onto the bed. "I'm tired, Richard. Turn out the
lights."
"What did he say?"
Jane's nose wrinkled and she made another attempt to play
dumb. "What did WHO say? There were so many people here I
can't keep every conversation straight." She rushed on to
prevent another question. "Wasn't it wonderful? You were such
a hit. I've convinced Christian to intercede on your behalf
with the Commander. Your next mission won't be a waste of your
talent, Richard darling. They'll give you something worthy of
you and your team. Maybe if you get a proper bonus out of it
we could buy that Porsche, the silver one. I simply can't keep
driving my car. It's falling apart."
"Alexander." Sharpe cut into her stream of breathy statements.
"That was Alexander on the phone. What did he say? Where is
he?"
"Why do you care?" Jane snapped back, pouting. "He blows into
your life causing nothing but trouble then disappears for
weeks on end without a second thought." She offered up her
opinion. "He's no kind of friend, Richard darling."
Sharpe had to work to keep from shouting. "What did he say?"
A theatrical shudder was offered up for his benefit. "And
don't think I don't know what the two of you do together. I'm
not blind, Richard. I can't help but see the marks he leaves
on you." Her chin lifted and her bottom lip jutted out. "It's
unnatural." Jane hissed. "It's disgusting."
"Is he here in the city?" Sharpe persevered. He didn't want to
argue about this yet again with his girlfriend. In every other
regard Jane was fine to have around and Richard got lonely in
the stretches between Xander's visits and his own missions.
"Please Jane. Just tell me." If only he'd been able to keep
her in the dark about his other relationship, but it had been
impossible. She'd caught hold of a few scraps of information
and had torn at them like a determined terrier until Richard
had been forced to tell her about Xander. Sharpe hadn't been
prepared for the shrill level of hostility the revelation had
caused. His late wife, Teresa, hadn't liked Alexander but
she'd grudgingly put up with him.
Her tactics altered abruptly. "Oh Richard." She sighed deeply,
making her ample breasts strain inside their sheer cocoon.
"You don't need to see him." Jane laid herself out
decoratively. "Don't I make you happy?"
"Bloody hell, Jane. Just tell me what Alexander said." His
teeth gritted.
"He'll just fuck up your life again. You're an absolute grouch
to be around when he leaves. It's horrid. I won't put up with
it."
Richard crossed his arms and stared. "You don't understand."
It was altogether too tempting for him to wrap his fingers
around her pale throat at this moment.
"Explain to me how having an affair with an international
criminal is a good thing, Richard." Jane yanked the blankets
open on their bed. "Yes. I've found out all about him. We
secretaries have access to more classified information than
you soldiers think we do." She stated smugly. "He's evil. What
you do with him is evil. At the very least you're committing
treason." She crawled across the bed to sit on the edge of it.
Her face tipped so she could look up at him. "At worst it's a
mortal sin. That 'creature' kills people for money. If Command
could lay hands on the nasty little beast they would try him
as a spy. He would likely sell your whole team to the highest
bidder if it were convenient. Don't you dare go to him this
time, Richard. I don't want to have to tell Uncle Henry about
this." Her eyes glittered a warning. Jane climbed gracefully
to her feet and padded over to embrace her lover to ease the
malice in her threat. "Break it off before word of it leaks
out and ruins you any further, Richard my dearest." Her hug
grew crushing. "Come to bed, Darling. It's been such a long
day." Soft lips pressed into Sharpe's collar. "We're expected
at my family's house tomorrow. I think they're anticipating a
wedding announcement from us now that you've bought this house
for me, Richard. Maybe we could go to Paris for our honeymoon.
I dearly like some new outfits and we could bring home some of
that marvellous wine that Uncle Henry enjoys so much."
Richard's mouth was hanging open at the veiled threat behind
her words but Jane took no offence at the expression. She
simply kissed his lower lip and backed up, pulling him closer
to the bed.
All the next day Jane was quick to snatch after the telephone
when it began ringing. She'd been hovering over it. So far
every call had been for her but that hadn't dulled her temper.
"Hello." She began warily.
Richard fiddled in the kitchen cupboard, rummaging longer than
necessary for a glass when he usually drank his beer right out
of the bottle. Pale green eyes studied Jane's reaction as
covertly as possible. He could practically see ice crystals
forming in the air about her, even as fire ignited under his
own skin. His body reacted to even the suggestion Alexander's
presence. It seemed that lately even a passing glimpse of a
dark haired man in black leather and denim made him hard.
"No. You can't." She snipped out. Her lip curled and her gaze
flicked over to see if Richard was paying attention. When she
realised he was, Jane's eyes narrowed to warning slits.
Carefully painted fingernails flicked, warning him out of the
room. "It doesn't matter. He's not coming." A growl
underscored her words. "He'll never meet you any more and if
you ever contact him again I'll see to it that the call is
traced and you're arrested. Is that clear?" Something Xander
said on the other end of the line must have shocked Jane,
because she physically flinched in reaction. "You filthy
animal. You wouldn't dare! Do you know who my brother is?" A
hiss escaped her. "Don't call again. Don't you ever call my
Richard again." The receiver slammed down hard and a vicious
little smirk curved her lips. "So that's that." Jane
announced. "He seems to think you'll just come running to
Germany because he whistles for you. You won't."
Sharpe's blond brows pulled together but he didn't respond
aloud.
"Do I have to take your passport, Richard?"
"I'm not a child." He snapped more spitefully than he'd
intended, slamming the glass down and walking out of the
kitchen. Germany. It wasn't enough information anyway. Sharpe
threw himself down onto the sofa.
"We've things to do." Jane called out. She'd been putting
everything off until the situation could be resolved.
"Christian invited us out to dinner." She posed in the
doorway. "I'd like it if you'd come out with me."
His only response was a glower.
"Fine!" She swirled around. "Stay here and pout. I might even
spend the night at my flat if your manners don't improve,
Richard." Jane threatened. "Maybe sleeping alone in a cold bed
would remind you what I mean to you." Confident he wasn't
about to go anywhere now, Jane grabbed her purse and the keys
to his car. "I'm going to need petrol. Is your card in the
glove-box?" She called out.
Sharpe yanked his billfold out of his pocket and flung it at
her. "Take whatever you want. I don't care."
Jane frowned. His annoyance didn't stop her from scooping up
the wallet and taking it with her, however. Richard kicked out
at the small table in front of him, knocking it over. He was
tempted to go out and get falling down drunk but he'd
foolishly given her all his money and credit cards. Small
mercy there should be enough booze left over from the party
yesterday to give him a decent buzz. Sharpe pushed upright and
stomped back into the kitchen.
The roar of his car's engine was barely dulled down when the
trill of the telephone startled him. He stared at it through
three rings before cautiously lifting it to his ear. "Yeah?"
"Zdravstvuyte moi soldat zolotoj."
Alex's voice poured into his ear heating him better than any
alcohol ever could. "My God. Xander, angel, precious. I'm
sorry about that." Sharpe leaned back against the counter, his
eyes closing to enjoy the other's honeyed tones.
"No problem, Lover-mine. She gets bitchier every time I talk
to her. If she isn't an absolute bombshell in the sack you
should dump her, Dickin. I kind of liked that red haired
barmaid you had two chickies ago." Alex chuckled. "So what's
going on?"
Richard sighed. "Blackmail, I think." He explained. "She's
threatening to out our affair to Command unless I behave."
Sharpe wished he could crawl into the phone and immerse
himself in his lover's seductive voice. "I don't know what to
do about her anymore. I don't know if we can… " He sighed.
"Shite Xander, baby."
"It's okay." The Russian soothed. "I wanna see you, Zdorovo."
The next words hurt as they tore out of his throat. "I can't."
Richard said reluctantly. "She's right. We shouldn't be doing
this. I'm a government agent, damn it. I can't just toss off
my responsibilities and run away to Germany without warning
especially considering what you are, Sweet thing. God, I want
to. I want to so bad my hands are shaking, but it's wrong. We
both know it. We've gotta stop, Precious."
"I'm not in Germany, Dickin." His chuckle was smoky and
warming. "Unlock your door. I'll be there in just a minute."
Alexei purred out the information.
"But Jane…"
"She left. I watched the car leave."
Richard hissed out a quick breath of air. "Where are you?"
The Russian laughed again. "Down the street. You don't think
I'd actually tell her royal bitchiness the truth, do you? Just
give me a minute, Lover. I need so badly to touch you again,
Dickin."
"Don't!" Sharpe said quickly to halt the other hanging up.
"No, Baby. We can't keep doing this. It's wrong."
"Wrong?" Alex repeated the word as if he couldn't believe he'd
heard it. "I can't, I won't accept that. Dickin." A long,
thick sigh followed. "You told me you love me. Don't you even
try to take it back, mon amoureaux d'or. I heard you say it.
You weren't lying. I know you meant it. You love me." He
insisted. "I need you. I've never needed anything as much as I
need you, Dickin. Please."
The declaration shivered up Richard's spine. "You scare me."
Sharpe admitted in a pained hiss. "What you do to me, Xander.
The way you affect me. It's not natural." He squeezed his eyes
shut. "We can't keep doing this." Richard's chest pinched. His
body was screaming for him to shut up and just accept the
offers Alexander's gritty whispers were promising. "My job,
your job. It's impossible. It makes no sense. Think of the
consequences if we were exposed, not just for me but for you
too."
"Dickin." Alex cut in confidently. "Don't try to make sense of
it. We don't need to understand what's between us. All that
matters is how it feels when our bodies slide together. I'm
going to hang up now and within the next few minutes I'll be
tasting your skin. Shut off your brain and open the door for
me, Love, or I swear to God I'll break it down 'cause if I
don't taste you soon I'll go absolutely insane."
The connection severed abruptly and Sharpe shuddered in
reaction to the other's words and attitude. Why did he even
think he could deny Alexander? He had an erection powerful
enough to pull most of the blood away from his brain and that
was just from hearing the younger man speak.
The door wasn't locked. Jane seldom bothered unless she was
home alone and she never locked it when leaving Richard by
himself. The only question remaining was 'where did Sharpe
want to be waiting when his on-again/off-again lover
arrived?'.
Throwing away any illusions of propriety, Richard started
striping down. He left a trail of clothing to lead Alexander
to the bedroom and set about switching on every light in the
room, to augment the sunshine coming through the pink curtains
that Jane had insisted on. Too many of his trysts with Xander
took place in shadows and darkness. This time he wanted the
sight of the younger man burned into his retinas so strongly
that he would still be seeing Alex behind closed lids for the
next month.
When the Russian finally appeared in the bedroom doorway, it
was a shock. Richard hadn't heard a sound indicating that Alex
was in the house. On top of that surprise, the younger man's
general appearance was a complete change from the last time
they'd seen each other. Alexander looked like an American
college student who'd somehow been lost by his middle-class
tour group. He had the entire 'scrubbed clean, faintly
rebellious but still polite' look down pat. Sharpe couldn't
help but laugh.
Alex brushed back a lock of dark brown hair that was just
falling into his eyes. "You hate it." The young man accused
with a faint pout in his voice.
"What are you supposed to be?" Richard sat down on the edge of
his bed.
"Alex Krycek, a student of NYU." He supplied. "I'm going to
school on a scholarship. Don't I look all cute and trainable?
I'm in the top quarter of my class."
"Really?"
"Well, no. Not really." Alex offered up a thin smile. "I'm
registered and all, but I'm having a bitch of a time making
classes, what with my after school job at 'World domination
incorporated' taking up so much of my time."
"Xander. Don't." Sharpe's amusement faltered.
"Whatever." Alex crossed the floor and leap as soon as he was
near enough to land on the mattress. "Gee Major Sharpe this
sure is a nice place you've got here. How long do we have
until your wife comes home?" Wide green eyes blinked in a
parody of innocence.
"Don't." Richard repeated, shaking his head. "No games today,
sweet thing, especially not that fresh from the country and
pure as the spring rain shite. You've never been that naïve."
"Oh bother." Alex continued to hold on to his false character.
"But those nice government men back in the States seem so sure
of me. I'm just the perfect little greenhorn for their plans."
"I don't want to know." Richard moved up onto his knees,
laying a hand over Alexander's soft lips to silence him.
Sharpe's other hand smoothed up the Russian's forehead,
dragging dark hair back and away. Richard stared into Alex's
eyes until a smoulder replaced the amusement in those green
depths. "Xander." Sharpe began. "Can I see the real you this
time, Sweet thing? I'm not asking you to tell me your secrets,
Baby. I just want to make love to the real, honest you today."
"You just don't get it, do you mon soldat d'or?" Exploring
fingers moved to smooth across Richard's chest. "There is no
real me. I'm nothing but a reflecting surface. That's how I
survive." Alex toyed with the pale nipples at his fingertips.
"Just tell me what you'd like and I'll do it for you, Love."
Richard frowned thoughtfully. "Get yer gear off and lay down
with me, Xander." He requested.
Alex smiled and began squirming out of his clothing, obviously
pleased with the direction the conversation had turned. The
younger man made a show out of peeling off his sweater and
flicking open the buttons on the shirt underneath. True to his
earlier resolve Richard watched every move, absorbing his
lover's presence.
Alexei's usually pale skin had a hint of colour about it, as
if the young man had been seeing more daylight lately. The
thought of his beautiful Alex laying on a beach somewhere was
enough to make Richard's mouth water.
"You've missed me." Alex stated as he slid down on the
mattress beside his lover. "I know I've been aching for you,
Gorgeous." He reached only to have his hand fended off.
"No. Lay down, sweet thing." Sharpe moved to press at his
lover's shoulder encouraging the younger man to sprawl out on
the warm sheets. "I want to touch you, Xander." Richard
trailed his fingertips down a silky shoulder blade. "There
never seems to be enough time to do it up right." He bent down
to lay a line of kisses along Alex's spine. "Key-rist, you're
beautiful." Pressing the other man flat to the bed, Richard
shifted to sit across the back of his lover's legs. His thumb
coasted back and forth across one shoulder blade, feeling the
faint ridges that were barely visible on Alexander's back and
frowning when he realised there were more marks than he
remembered. "Someone's been beating you again. Who did this to
you, Sweet thing?" Sharpe asked quietly.
"No questions, Dickin. You know I can't answer questions."
Alex squirmed trying to roll over.
Richard pressed his weight harder, holding his lover in place.
"I'm sorry." He turned the exploration into a massage. "Lay
still." Sharpe shifted. The cleft of Alexander's ass cradled
Sharpe's leaking erection. "Relax for me." He stroked the
Russian's arms until they went bonelessly limp then slid back
over to Alex's ribs. "You're so bloody beautiful."
Alex sighed, squirming into a more comfortable position. "Ya
tebya tak lyublyu, moi soldat zolotoj." He murmured. "You're
so good to me."
Sharpe stretched out, wanting to feel his lover's whole body.
"I love you too." Richard couldn't wrap his tongue around
those damned Russian words but he'd heard variations of that
phrase so many times he'd finally learned to recognise the
declaration.
Alex's breath caught and he twisted so he could face his
lover. His green eyes were wide and darkened by emotion. "Say
it again, Dickin. You're usually fucking me when you say it.
Say it again now."
Richard seized the younger man's jaw and closed the distance
between them to steal a kiss. His brow furrowed and he pulled
back almost immediately. "When did you start smoking?"
"Self defence." Alex's shoulders shrugged vaguely. "It was
getting blown in my face."
"I don't much like it."
"I'll quit." The Russian promised immediately, and then shoved
his face into the crook of Sharpe's throat, nuzzling there. He
wiggled, rubbing his body up and down against the other man in
encouragement. "Whatda want, Gorgeous? What do you want me to
do for you?" They rolled in the untidy sheets until Alexander
ended up astride his lover.
"Ride me, Xander." Richard requested in a throaty tone. "I
want to watch you. I need to see every shiver and quake. I
want to watch your face."
Alex's smile started at one corner of his mouth then dragged
up the other. "I can do that." He undulated, rocking in place,
and ran his palms over Richard's chest. His hands stopped so
that his thumbs could flick over Sharpe's nipples. "Lovely,
lean Dickin." Alex leaned forward until his mouth brushed his
lover's. "You want it hard and dry, or slick and smooth?"
"Slick, sweet thing. Slow and easy." Richard whispered back
before turning it into another kiss. An appreciative groan
escaped his throat as Alex's fingers pinched.
"You got any grease around here, Zdorovo?" The Russian asked
when the prolonged kiss finally broke apart.
"Shite!" Sharpe cursed softly. "I don't need it with Jane."
A laugh hissed out of Alex. "It's the back alley way then, I
suppose." The Russian wriggled down his lover's body, dragging
his open mouth along the other's shivering skin. The movement
was languid, drawn out into the slowest possible action. He
murmured inaudible endearments along his lips' path.
Richard sighed and threaded his fingers into Alex's glossy
hair, encouraging the lingering contact. "There's my Xander."
When a tongue flicked and twirled over Sharpe's flat stomach
it made the soldier laugh. "Tickles."
"Tasty." Alexander countered, nibbling. "Gonna eat you up." He
burrowed lower, tracing his nose down into short blonde hair
until the underside of his chin caught on Richard's bobbing
erection. Alex rose up on his forearms and looked down at his
target with a faint smile. "I missed you." The declaration was
immediately followed by Alexander dropping down and swallowing
his lover whole.
Richard's breath caught and he froze at the sudden
overwhelming sensation. Luckily Alex wasn't inflicting any
pressure or Sharpe would have lost it. The Russian didn't even
shut his lips tight against his lover's skin. The object of
this part of the game was to slick as much moisture as
possible onto Richard, so lots of tongue action and pressure
on the back of Alexander's throat were offered up. Some
pleased noise or another vibrated against the tip of Sharpe's
cock and Alex's fingers tickled over to the small expanse of
hip they were able to reach.
"Bloody hell." Richard quaked and fought against the urge to
dig his fingers into his lover's hair, and force Alex to turn
this faint simulation of a blowjob into the real thing. Sharpe
gritted his teeth and reminded himself that another, even more
enjoyable, act awaited.
When Alex lifted his face once more, his chin was glistening
with moisture and his eyes were absolutely blazing with
contained energy. "Ready, Zdorovo?" His voice was a teasing
whisper. "You still want to do this?"
"Do it, Sweet thing. C'mon Baby." Richard urged, his fingers
flexing impatiently. "Don't tease. It's been too long."
Gifting his lover with another lopsided smile, Alexander
stretched out artistically, rising up to his knees. The
younger man's every move was artfully preformed. One hand
wrapped around Sharpe's erection to steady it while the other
settled on the soldier's hip for balance.
The inhuman heat of Alexander's body never failed to startle
Richard. It was as if the other man constantly ran a low-grade
fever. Feeling that molten warmth beginning to press down on
him was enough to make Sharpe groan out loud.
Keeping his spine straight and staring down at Richard's face,
Alexander slowly lowered himself down onto his lover's cock.
Sharpe's eyes squeezed tightly shut and his head tipped back,
digging into the mattress. His mouth fell open and short gasps
of air made his chest heave. Richard's hands reached and
grabbed fitfully, pressing into the skin just below Alex's
hips.
"Look at me, Dickin." The younger man demanded as their bodies
finally drew flush to one another. "Look at me, damn you." His
body clenched briefly, startling a groan out of Richard.
"I…" Sharpe's teeth were gritted tight, not allowing proper
words. He sucked in two long breaths then opened his eyes once
more. Alex looked positively feral at moments like this. "Yer
so fucking beautiful." Richard kneaded at the bunching muscle
under his hands.
The compliment startled a laugh out of Alexander. "Darlin." He
shifted, rising and falling slightly. "This is so right. This
is where I want to be." Alex hissed out as he moved. "I love
you, moi Dickin. I love you so much." A throaty moan cut off
the declarations.
Richard's fingers dug in, his nails cutting slightly, and his
hips arched off the bed following his lover's rocking
movements. The Russian's actions were leisurely, as he
stretched out the connection for as long as physically
possible. When orgasm threatened Alex paused to lean forward.
He cupped the older man's head and locked his mouth onto
Richard's. Sharpe let Alexander dominate the kiss, opening his
own mouth to accept whatever his lover wanted. It seemed Alex
never got enough of kissing. He would do it for hours if
allowed, using his lips and tongue to explore not only
Richard's mouth but every bit of the blonde's face, ears and
throat, only letting up when Sharpe needed time to gasp in
breaths of air.
"Sit up." Richard whispered eventually, pushing the younger
man. "Let me look at you, Xander."
Alex obeyed and Sharpe was gifted with the sight of his lover
straddling him and smiling. The light flattered Alexander,
painting him a strange golden rose.
"You're beautiful." Richard gazed up. His hand moved to stroke
Alex's erection in a rather lazy fashion, pleased with the way
his lover squirmed at the petting touch. "You get more
beautiful every time I see you."
The Russian chuckled at Richard's breathless tone then hooked
his hips to remind both Sharpe and himself that they were
still joined. Alex gasped and his legs tightened on either
side of the prone man. "And you were thinking of refusing me,
Darlin." He reminded.
"I'm a bloody fool. Never listen to me if I say no, sweet
thing." Sharpe instructed.
"I never do." Alexander reminded the other, and then roused
into movement once more. "I never will." An extended shudder
wracked his frame. "You love me."
Richard's breath hitched. His need flared again.
"You love me." The grave statement and Alex's squirming body
demanded a response. "Don't you?"
"I adore you."
Sharpe's answer didn't satisfy the Russian and he stilled his
hips. Fingertips skated over Richard's skin, occasionally
pinching.
Sharpe knew what the other wanted and denied him a little
longer to wallow in the burn of delayed satisfaction. Richard
drowned his senses, staring up and enjoying the touch of the
younger man. Alex knew just how to pull him to the edge and
keep him teetering there until the feelings verged on near
pain.
Alex shuddered and rocked. "Say it, me Darlin. Fuck I need to
hear it again and again. I'll never get enough of hearing you
say it. When the time comes I want it to be the last thing I
hear before I die. Your name is going to be on my lips when
they finally take me down, Dickin, mon soldat d'or."
Richard's breath caught. "I do love you." He declared, not
willing to hear any more of Alex's strange musings. "I love
you, Xander. Now, bloody move!"
The body above him arched into action, obeying the desperate
command. Alex's legs bunched and lifted. He had to put his
arms behind him, bracing against Richard's legs to stay
steady. This time Alex intended to take himself and his lover
all the way. Sharpe obliged by wrapping his strong fingers
around the younger man's cock and pumping.
"Ya tebya lyublyu!" The declaration tore out off him as
Richard squeezed down. Orgasm snapped and twisted Alex's
spine. Sweat was dripping off his body onto the skin below him
and his eyes were watering.
Sharpe's fingers dug in hard enough to leave bruises as he
slammed his lover one last time. The blond's neck arched and
he let out a strangled groan that could easily have been
mistaken for a death rattle save for the panting breaths that
followed.
"Moi negodyaj." Alex practically collapsed atop his lover. "My
only love." His fingers spasmed erratically against Sharpe's
smooth chest and shoulder. "Dearest Richard."
The last sentiment surprised him slightly but Sharpe let it
pass. He chose to silently wrap his arms up and around the
body laying on him, and bury his face in thick blackish-brown
hair.
"Spill some beer on the bed." Alex suggested as he lingered in
the doorway. "Then tear the sheets off and leave them in a
pile on the floor. Jane will cuss you out but she won't
realise I was here."
Richard aborted his intended kiss and tipped his head to stare
across at the other man. "Why do I get the impression you know
what you're talking about?"
Heavy lashes dropped and Alex stared down at their feet. "I've
had a lot of training." He admitted. "In this, that and the
other thing." The Russian's tone was vaguely sad. "But it's
all business, Dickin. You're the only one that matters."
"I believe you. You would never lie about that."
Alex's widened eyes turned a shocked expression on Sharpe. "I
lie all the time." He countered. "You know that."
"Not to me. Not about us. I trust you, Xander." As soon as the
words were out Richard realised they were true. "When it comes
to what's between you and I…" He floundered. "Could you get
out, Sweet thing? If you tried, if we made a plan, could you
get away from the job?"
"Why should I? I've no where else to go, Zdorovo."
Richard touched Alex's cheek. He waited until he had his
lover's full attention before speaking. "Yes, you do."
"Don't do this to me." The Russian hissed. "Not as I'm walking
out the door. Don't ever joke with me like that."
"I'm not joking." Sharpe stated calmly. "If you're willing to
break free I'll help you any way I can and give you a place to
run to."
"What about Jane?" He was squirming, throwing anxious looks
out towards the street. "Are you planning on sleeping between
us so we don't fight?" Alex asked in a sarcastic tone.
Richard frowned. "If you're serious, then Jane is history."
The offer was met with a harsh snort of laughter. "No Dickin,
me Darlin." Alex shook his head. "I wish I could but now isn't
the time. You go ahead and play house with the busty little
bitch. I'll make sure she doesn't clue in to us the next time
I can see you." The spy stole one brief kiss, then backed
away. "I've a plane to catch, Lover. I'll call you when I can.
I love you."
Richard watched his occasional lover back away. "Be careful,
Xander. Watch your back."
The warning earned him a flashingly brief smirk, and then
Alexander turned away and strode off down the street.
That's it. Milk and cookies time.
There's not room for very many of these Sharpe/Krycek snippets
left in my 'Scoundrels' timeline. Just two, I think. I'll be
penning a little smutty one to tidy up the Jane problem and
then another, longer tale, with a real plot and very little
sex about the end of the relationship.
Sharpe's Scoundrel
Tryst
Damn it all! Jane was charming.
