From: "Evielouise Smith" Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 13:29:52 CST Subject: xfc: TootsiePop III (1 of 8) NC-17 by Evielouise Source: xfc TITLE: Tootsie Pop III: JellyBellies and Twang AUTHOR: Evielouise EMAIL ADDRESS: evielouise@hotmail.com DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: OK by me! I'd appreciate a note, but it's not necessary. SPOILER WARNINGS: Vague ones for Detour, Never Again, Milagro, Bad Blood. Actually lots of name dropping. But no spoilers for any episode since The Unnnatural. RATING: NC-17 FEEDBACK: Fanfic authors thrive on it; send it, please! CONTENT WARNING: A veritable plethora of sap and smut! This series was begun post-Unnatural, so Millennial kisses and other shocking developments have not yet taken place. CLASSIFICATION: MSR, S, H, a bit o' A DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters. I just enjoy letting them fool around a little. Ok, a bunch. They fool around a whole bunch in this story. I did mention this was smut, didn't I? But regardless, I don't own 'em. SUMMARY: Mulder and Scully travel to Austin, Texas, for a boring conference, but they manage to accomplish a whole busload of fun and naughty stuff CC never lets them do. A fluffy smut biscuit--with gravy. AUTHOR'S NOTES: Apologies to anyone familiar with Austin. I've taken a few liberties with settings. Alright, so I've taken a lot of liberties. This is fiction. It's allowed. TOOTSIE POP I MAY BE FOUND HERE: http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/tootsie1.html TOOTSIE POP II MAY BE FOUND HERE: http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/marsh1.html OR they are both archived at BlueVelvet, Xemplary, and the Spookys site. DEDICATION: This is for my sisters in Bimbo Nymphomania, J & A, who told me *exactly* what they expected from this particular TootsiePop outing. Most of the fun ideas in this story came from them. Special thanks to my beta reader extraordinaire spacekid77, aka Sista S, who kicked my butt creatively and helped me iron out the kinks. Plus all the *other* fun ideas came from her. And Sista A is getting better all the time at being critical and ferreting out lazy language usage on my part. My stories are the better for it. SUMMARY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR: In Tootsie Pop I, if you'll recall, M & S got a little carried away fooling around with a Tootsie Roll Pop in their basement office. Mulder orally satisfied all Scully's clitoral needs atop a table amidst various office supplies, but they were rudely interrupted by Skinner before events could proceed further. In Tootsie Pop II: Marshmallows and Mints, Mulder dragged Scully along to investigate the obligatory mysterious lights sighted over The Great Dismal Swamp. They toasted marshmallows over a campfire, told stories, fought over Diana Fowley, and then made up when Scully orally satisfied all Mulder's penile needs with the aid of fresh and minty Altoids. But, alas, they were once again rudely interrupted before engaging in their first kiss by a rather large bear on a marshmallow rampage. And now, on with the story... TOOTSIE POP III: JELLYBELLIES AND TWANG, PART 1/8 Part 1: Cleanup in Aisle Three Mulder backed Scully into the feminine hygiene products shelf at Walmart, sending soft packages of Stayfree mini-pads raining down on their heads. Both delicate eyebrows raised heavenward in surprise, arms lifted to shield herself from falling sanitary napkins, she hissed quietly at her partner's face, now mere inches from her own, "Jesus, Mulder! What the hell are you doing?" His warm breath caressed her ear as he leaned even closer and whispered regretfully, "I'm just thinking that we never got around to that first kiss, Scully." Scully's mouth dropped open in horror, and then she protested quietly, "And a major discount store is most certainly not the place for that particular piece of unfinished business, Mulder." She placed one hand gently but firmly against the soft black cotton T-shirt covering the toned muscles of his chest, but he wasn't budging. He searched Scully's face intently. Mulder had become increasingly worried over the past couple of hours. After the experiences he and Scully had shared in Dismal Swamp the night before, Mulder had happily looked forward to a new intimate relationship with his beautiful partner. And not just physically intimate, but emotionally as well. But this morning with the harsh, gray light of dawn, and the long, quiet, contemplative drive towards home, which is where they were headed now, Mulder thought he sensed Scully withdrawing from him again. This frightened him, and he had no intentions of letting it happen once again. He wanted this relationship to succeed more than he had ever wanted anything in his entire life, maybe even more than he wanted his sister Samantha back. That realization struck him like a physical blow, and he knew that he could no longer deny his feelings for Scully. She meant more to him than just a partner or even a friend. Something had to give. Mulder purposefully situated his hands on the counter on either side of Scully, effectively trapping his small-statured partner and centering her attention solely on him. "C'mon, Scully, where's your sense of adventure? You were feeling considerably bolder a few hours ago," he teased, but she could see the concern reflected in his hazel eyes. Cheeks coloring at the memory of said bold behavior, she demanded quietly instead, "Get off of me, Mulder. Someone may see us." He pried Scully's hand from his chest and examined her palm, stroking the tiny network of creases there with a feather-light touch of his index finger that made her shiver. He countered, "Oh yeah? Like who? It's too damn early in the morning. We don't even know anyone around here because we're still an hour outside of the city. Who's gonna see us?" Withdrawing her hand from his grasp, she answered through a tight smile, "Someone like him?" Scully's head inclined towards a point somewhere behind Mulder and to his left. He looked behind him and saw a small, milk chocolate-skinned boy with inquisitive, liquid brown eyes and ears that stuck out impishly on either side of his head, peering at them from behind a deodorant display. Mulder mock-ferociously growled, "Scram kid. I'm trying to put the moves on my woman here." The little boy's eyes opened wide as his lips formed a small "o" shape. Scully repeated incredulously, "My woman?" and Mulder protested with arms outstretched, "What??" Scully couldn't help but chuckle. The boy, giving a gap-toothed giggle, clapped a hand over his mouth and scampered away to the sounds of a woman's concerned voice calling, "Quintis? Where on earth are you?" Scully used the diversion to extricate herself from Mulder's reach and head determinedly down the nearest aisle. Mulder sighed and called out plaintively from somewhere behind her, "Scullee, remind me again why we're here? I hate these places, you know." She'd made him exit the highway and pull over at the sight of the large Walmart sign, promising she only needed to pick up a couple of things, and then they could go back to their respective apartments, wash away the swamp grime, and collapse in bed to get some well-needed sleep. "Floss, Mulder." "Floss?" Whatever. He sighed piteously once more, and his mind began to wander. Mulder still found it hard to believe that only a couple of hours earlier, he had not been traipsing through Walmart, but sitting buck naked in a tree, chased there by a marauding... well, sort of marauding--bear. At any rate, the bear was having a serious snack attack and had rudely interrupted Mulder's serious moves on his partner. Not that the evening was a total wash-out. No, he could hardly say that. The memory of Scully's warm, lush lips wrapped around his... Don't go there, his mind warned. Walmart was not the place for thoughts like that. He tried to divert his attention by examining the stacks of Little Debbie cakes, Valvoline motor oil, and AquaNet hairspray they passed. He tried *very* hard not to be mesmerized by Scully's slightly swaying walk as he followed behind her, one small hand lazily trailing over items on the shelves: shaving cream, hair scrunchies, and shower poufs. When did she start walking like a girl? Had she always and he just hadn't bothered to notice? Just now he couldn't afford to think about her lying on that table back in their office a little over a week ago, her face wanton and hair mussed as he slowly lowered his eager lips to her wet, glistening... Whoa! Mulder cleared his throat and repeated once again in a strained voice, "Floss, Scully?" She halted in mid-stride, turning to face him and explain in a resigned voice, "Mulder, I told you in the car that I ran out of dental floss before we left, and I can't stand to be without it. It's just one of those things, you know?" He nodded like he understood, "Sure, Scully, whatever you say." He vaguely remembered her mentioning that fact on their long drive home from the swamp, but his brain had been a bit clouded by his aforementioned mind-blowing sexual experience there, not to mention the soulful, spiritually-cleansing confessions they'd made to each other before, during, and after... "Aha!" she called out as she neared the floss display. "Yes, Mulder, floss." She waved a package of mint-flavored woven floss in front of his nose and continued cryptically, "Remember our unfinished business, Mulder? Well, it doesn't get finished unless I get to floss my teeth." He cocked his head at her and raised his eyebrows wordlessly, relief at the implications of her statement flooding his soul. She repeated, "It's just one of those things, Mulder. I gotta' floss." "Scully, if you told me you needed to rotate your tires and get a lube job before you'd finish our unfinished business, I'd cheerfully drive you to a Jiffy Lube in Juneau, Alaska, if you asked me to." He smiled happily at her. She grinned back at him, then headed for the nearest cash register. Suddenly she heard Mulder call out from behind, "Hey, Scully, do we need any of these?" She turned to see him holding up a bag of assorted Tootsie Roll Pops, pointing like Vanna White. A blush crept into her cheeks and she murmured, "Oh brother." "What's that, Scully? I didn't quite catch what you said." With a small groan, she spun on her heel and headed for the cash register, Mulder following behind saying, "Hey, Mom, can we get one of these? Or this? Or some of..." She studiously ignored him as she paid for her purchases. The middle-aged, bleached blonde cashier wearing a blue smock with a nametag that read "Marlene" grinned indulgently at Mulder as she placed the items in a plastic bag. He stopped rummaging through a discounted toy bin nearby and grinned back at her. Leaning over, Scully whispered conspiratorially to the cashier, "Don't pay any attention to him. He forgot to take his medication this morning." That wiped the smile off Marlene's face in a hurry. Scully choked back a laugh, reached for Mulder's hand and chirped, "Come on, sweetie, we'd better hurry. I think it's time for your electric shock treatments." Mulder barked out a laugh as Scully led him away and asked Scully incredulously, "What the hell did you tell that poor woman?" Smiling sweetly and giving his hand a squeeze before she released it, she deadpanned, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you." He laughed again just for the sheer pleasure of their easy camaraderie, even if the jokes were at his own expense. He and Scully rarely, if ever, got to joke around together. Well, Mulder liked to kid Scully, but she seldom joined in. It was a treat to see yet another side of her personality that he'd so rarely glimpsed before. They were on their way out the door when Mulder gestured at the geriatric employee standing at the entrance saying hello to customers as they walked in. Mulder asked Scully in a serious tone, "Do you think I'm a viable candidate for the position of Walmart greeter? If they ever shut down the X-Files again..." Smothering a laugh, Scully looked around for their car. Mulder groused good-naturedly at the crowded parking lot, "I can't believe all these people are shopping for health and beauty aids and automotive supplies at this ungodly hour of the morning. Don't these people have a life?" Scully pointedly replied, "Don't you think that's a definite case of the pot calling the kettle black, Mulder?" "Are you saying I have no life, Scully?" "Well... Mulder, I don't think either of us would qualify for the 'Richly Fulfilling Life Award'." "I'll have you know that I think my job is very rewarding and furthermore..." Stopping beside the trunk of their car, Scully interrupted gently, "I'm not talking about your job. There are more things to life besides work." Unlocking the trunk, Mulder quietly placed Scully's bag inside, turned to look piercingly into her blue eyes and answered resolutely, "Well, Scully, what's say you and I do something about that, huh?" He took a step closer and grasped her hand in one of his own. Scully took a quick, decisive breath and replied, "Your place or mine, Mulder?" Mulder puffed out a quick, "Whoa." "Mulder? 'Whoa?'" Mulder's mouth popped open but no sound issued forth. "What the hell kinda' answer is that? Mulder?" He finally shook his head slightly and said, "Sorry, Scully. It's just that never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine you actually saying that particular phrase." He gave her an unabashedly delighted grin and Scully shyly smiled back. With a gleam in his eye, he continued breathlessly, "Your place. Probably much cleaner," and chanted, "Lastoneinthecarisarottenalienbountyhunter!" Mulder hooted and Scully gave a cry of protest when she realized the passenger door was locked and Mulder had the keys. "Hey! No fair, buster!" "All's fair in love and war, Scully," he quipped as he slid into his seat and stretched across to unlock her door. As Scully sat and Mulder hurriedly turned the key in the ignition, a cell phone trilled urgently from the glove compartment. They looked at each other and sighed. Scully opened the glove box with resignation, retrieved the phone, and handed it to her partner. Scully watched his face break into a grimace as he answered the call. "Yes, sir?" He mouthed the word "Skinner" at her. Scully impatiently closed her eyes and listened. "Sorry, sir. We've been working on another potential case since last night. I left my cell in the car. What did you need, sir?" Scully reached over and lightly traced her fingers over his thigh, enjoying the feeling of soft, worn denim over warm flesh. Feeling him shiver, she watched as his eyes grew wide, and he covered the mouthpiece, hissing "Stop that." He looked at her helplessly and apologetically, gently squeezing her hand instead. Scully heard a note of hesitation and panic in Mulder's voice as he said, "Oh, sir, I'm pretty sure Scully and I both attended that FBI Creative Team Seminar already. I believe it was in Florida..." He looked at Scully as he crossed his fingers. Mulder's face fell. "Oh yeah. We did get diverted that time. Mothmen and all..." He rolled his eyes and Scully made a small "Well, you tried" face. "Sir, I think Scully and I are a pretty good creative team allude, wouldn't you say? I don't think that it's necessary..." He listened for several moments, then continued, "Required, huh?" Scully gave a quiet groan and limply lay her head back on the head rest. Mulder talked in a dispirited tone to the Assistant Director for several more moments, then hung up. "We've got to be at the airport by noon to fly to Austin, Texas, for a conference. Skinner's waiting for us." "Skinner's there? In Austin?" "He's giving several lectures." Mulder's face looked pained as he added, "We've got to hurry if we're going to drive home, get packed, and make it to the airport in time to catch our flight." Scully gave a supremely disappointed sigh. Mulder added grimly as he put the car in gear, "Skinner says we'll get there just in time for the wine and cheese reception." END PART 1/8 For astoundingly astute XF fanfic recommendations with a heavy propensity toward MSR (smut optional but always appreciated), plus other X-Files-induced nonsense, visit the Bimbo Nympho Alien Junior League website at http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/ From: "Evielouise Smith" TITLE: TOOTSIE POP III: JELLYBELLIES AND TWANG, PART 2/8 AUTHOR: Evielouise EMAIL ADDRESS: evielouise@hotmail.com RATING: NC-17 See Part 1 for full header information, including where to find Tootsie Pop I & II. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ Part 2: No Cheese for Me, Thanks. "You look like hell." Skinner examined Mulder's pale complexion and sweat-sheened forehead, then took a sip of white wine. "What happened to you?" Mulder took a gulp of fresh air, set his suitcase on the plush hotel lobby carpet, and mumbled tersely, "Seasick." "He means airsick, sir." That from Scully, who had joined them, wanly placing her own bag on the floor beside Mulder's, then massaging her temples gently with her fingertips. Skinner's voice took on a concerned note, "Scully, you're positively green around the gills." "Worst turbulence I've ever encountered on a flight," Mulder volunteered in a feeble tone. Scully added wearily, "Forty-five minutes of turbulence. Just like a roller coaster. Up, down. Up..." Mulder turned even paler and interrupted, "I think he gets the idea, Scully." He swiped an unsteady hand over his damp upper lip. "Sorry." Just then two familiar faces appeared, fresh from The Magnolia Room where the wine and cheese reception was in full swing. It was Michael Kinsley and his blonde pony-tailed partner, Carla Stonecypher, the two agents Mulder and Scully had had the misfortune of being stuck with on an unendurable car trip through Florida for the same conference a couple of years earlier. But on that particular occasion, Mulder had dodged the bullet by stumbling upon a bona fide X-file in the middle of a primeval forest. Mulder muttered so that only Scully could hear, "Oh god. No..." Scully breathed, "Play nice, Mulder." Calling out excitedly in her southern-accented voice, Stonecypher declared, "There you are! It's about time! We thought you were going to miss out on this conference, too!" Peering wonderingly at the two partners, Agent Kinsley announced, "Boy, you two look like something the cat dragged in." "Nice to see you, too," Mulder said with a pained expression. Agent Stonecypher held out a plate covered in hors de oeuvres. "Cheese?" Scully quickly put a hand to her mouth and shook her head. Mulder's complexion began to take on the same peculiar green shade as his partner. Skinner quickly explained, "Agents Mulder and Scully aren't feeling too well. They had a bit of an unpleasant ride down." "Sir, if you don't mind, I think Agent Scully and I would just like to skip the reception and head straight to our rooms." Scully added, looking around the lobby appreciatively, "At least we're staying in a decent hotel for a change," Skinner's face looked regretful. "Sorry, agents, but this hotel's full up." He glanced around the sprawling room and surrounding hallways, which were literally crawling with feds in suits, carrying suitcases, chatting with colleagues, sipping glasses of white wine. "This is a huge conference, and I got you in at the last minute after I reviewed both your records and discovered you were overdue to attend. Your reservations are at the Austin Motel, in the older downtown section." Scully's eyes closed in disappointment, "Sounds charming." Stonecypher chirped up, "It is! Sort of." She nibbled on a cracker thoughtfully, then continued around a bite of brie. "I was born and raised in a little town near here, so I know a bit of local history. The Austin Motel is something of a dive, but it's a local institution, so to speak. I'm sure it'll be very comfortable." She beamed an optimistic smile at them, and Mulder sighed in defeat. The A.D continued, "You two go ahead, take a cab over and check in. Get some rest, and we'll see you tomorrow." "Thank you, sir," Scully breathed in gratitude. Mulder's eyes closed briefly in abject relief. Kinsley joined in enthusiastically, "Yeah, get your strength back up; you've got that tower of office furniture to build, you two!" He chuckled at his own joke, then called out, "Good to see you again!" to their retreating backs. Setting a beeline for the door, Mulder grumbled in his partner's ear, "Kill me now, Scully." ............ Scully dropped her suitcase unceremoniously on the dresser and headed for the air conditioning unit beneath the window, turning it up full blast. Ah, springtime in Texas. Hot, humid, and already 90 degrees out. She pulled the curtains closed with a jerk, obstructing the view of the motel pool, not to mention the blazing sunset which was causing the pounding in her head to increase exponentially. Hearing the sounds of her partner moving around in the next room, she then answered a soft knock on the connecting door. A wan face peered down at her. "Mulder, you look awful. Why don't you go to bed?" "I am. That's what I came to tell you. I'm sorry this whole thing is not working out too well. I mean... our plans and all." "That's ok, Mulder." Scully hoped she sounded sincere. She reassured him, trying to reassure herself as well in the process, "We've got time. It's been six years, after all. I guess we can wait a little longer." Her face grew warm at the implications of her statement, and she found herself no longer able to meet his gaze. He gave an apologetic smile and touched her face gently. Sighing softly, he murmured, "'Night, Scully." "'Night, Mulder." She closed the door without locking it, as was their custom. You never knew when one or the other of them might require rescuing from a mutant killer or alien bounty hunter. They'd learned this lesson through hard-earned experience. Scully stripped off her suit jacket and skirt, throwing them carelessly on a chair. Her stomach was lurching way too much for her to care about wrinkled clothing. Scully had always hated flying. She didn't think she'd ever experienced motion sickness this badly in her entire life, but the turbulence must have been exceptionally rocky to have affected Mulder as well. Shoes were kicked into a corner, and blouse, slip, and stockings joined the haphazard pile of clothing on the chair. The blast of the air conditioner was slowly making the room temperature bearable, and the white noise it created was comforting. Unwilling and unable to take the time to open and dig through her suitcase for pajamas, the soft bed beckoned to her. Clad in panties and bra, Scully slid between the sheets and sighed as their coolness soothed her bare skin. She lay on her stomach absolutely motionless, waiting for the nausea to subside. Even as her head's throbbing slowly abated, disappointment in the day's outcome began to overwhelm her mind and heart. So long she and Mulder had waited to get this far in their relationship! She had hoped that by this time tonight, they would have been wrapped in each other's... But there was no use in dwelling on it. Things would work out eventually. Or at least that's what she'd kept telling herself throughout the long day's journey, sitting by Mulder's side in the car and on the plane, breathing in his scent, stealing quick glances at his face and body, supremely frustrated in the knowledge that they'd have to wait a little longer. But it was so hard to be patient! She'd been patient for six long years. Scully detected a quiet scraping as the connecting door opened slowly. She heard Mulder's voice call softly, "You asleep?" She didn't move because she was afraid the unbearable nausea would return. "Not yet." In the dim light, she could see that he was bare-chested and barefooted, but still wearing his suit pants. Crossing the room silently, he kneeled by the bedside, smoothing Scully's hair out of her eyes. He questioned, "You feeling better yet?" His face was concerned. "A little," she answered quietly. She tugged the sheet up a bit higher, gave him a small, wary smile, then looked away. The sight of Mulder's bare skin in the dim light of her room was disconcerting. His eyes searched her face for a few moments, then he stood up and circled to the other side of the bed, unbuckling his belt and stripping off his pants, revealing gray boxer briefs underneath. He quickly slipped between the sheets of Scully's bed where she now lay facing him, eyes wide with surprise. Being careful not to touch her, Mulder stayed on the opposite side of the bed, simply lying very still on his side, gazing sleepily at her. "Mulder, what are you doing?" "What does it look like I'm doing?" "Mulder, we can't do this. This is 'consorting'! You know, 'male and female agents consorting in the same room while on assignment'?" Mulder just grinned lazily at her from his pillow. "We're not on assignment, Scully." "I think you're splitting hairs here." "You weren't too worried about 'consorting' a week ago back our office when you let me..." She hastily interrupted, "We weren't on assignment then either." He shot back good-naturedly, "Now who's splitting hairs?" She could just make out his mischievous grin in the subdued lighting, and she found herself at an unusual loss for words, much to her dismay. "Scully, I promise I won't touch you." He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at her without a trace of his former teasing manner, expression suddenly turned anxious. "I just want to be close to you. Just for tonight." When she didn't respond, he added in a small voice, "Please. Just for tonight, really." The needy look in his eyes was making her chest ache. She made a small noise in her throat. "What did you say, Scully?" She sighed resignedly, "Just for tonight, Mulder. I hope I don't live to regret this." He grinned with relief, then scrubbed a hand over his face and said, "My head is swimming. That plane ride really did a number on me." "Rest, Mulder. You'll feel better in the morning." He whispered, "Good night, Scully." "Good night, Mulder." Her hand crept over to his side of the bed, and she gently entwined her fingers in his. "I thought I wasn't supposed to touch you," he teased. "Try any of that Tailhook crap on me, Mulder, and I'll kick your ass," she murmured sleepily. He chuckled, stroking his thumb over the back of Scully's hand until her eyes drifted shut and she was breathing softly. END PART 2/8 For astoundingly astute XF fanfic recommendations with a heavy propensity toward MSR (smut optional but always appreciated), plus other X-Files-induced nonsense, visit the Bimbo Nympho Alien Junior League website at http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/ From: "Evielouise Smith" TITLE: TOOTSIE POP III: JELLYBELLIES AND TWANG, PART 3/8 AUTHOR: Evielouise EMAIL ADDRESS: evielouise@hotmail.com RATING: NC-17 See Part 1 for full header information, including where to find Tootsie Pop I & II. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ Part 3: Anyone Up For Scrambled Eggs? Scully awakened the next morning to an empty bed. Admittedly, she was rather relieved. It would've been a bit awkward waking up next to her partner. They'd slept together last night, but they hadn't ever really "slept together", if that made any sense. Crossing some boundaries, yet not others, made for a very confusing relationship between Mulder and herself. She rolled onto her stomach, stretched lazily, then buried her face in Mulder's pillow, luxuriating in his lingering scent. She sighed. This wasn't getting anything done quickly. She reluctantly rubbed the sleep from her eyes, gathered her toiletries, and headed for the bathroom, detecting sounds through the slightly open connecting door signifying that Mulder himself was getting ready for the conference. Scully brushed (and flossed) her teeth and pinned her hair up while she ran bathwater. She stripped off her underwear and sank into the soothing water, closing her eyes momentarily at the delicious feeling, then busied herself scrubbing her skin until it was clean and sweet-smelling. Allowing herself a few moments to lie back and relax, Scully's eyes slowly drifted shut as her thoughts whirled. She attempted to center herself and prepare her mind for the coming day, but for some reason, all she could think about right then was the feeling of Mulder's hands on her thighs and the hungry look in his eyes when she had sat half-naked and completely at his mercy in their office after-hours last week. She shivered a little in spite of the warmth of the water, and a small hum escaped her throat at the memory. "Miss me, Scully?" Her eyes flew open in surprise to find her partner leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed over his impeccable gray suit jacket, crisp white shirt, and silk tie, with an appreciative gleam in his eye. She automatically drew her knees protectively to her chest and exclaimed, "Mulder!" His eyes continued their wandering, and he replied in a low tone, "Yeah, Scully?" "I thought we had this whole conversation about knocking once before." She attempted to make her tone light, but she wrapped her arms around her bent legs and felt her face growing warmer by the minute. He'd seen her half-dressed just last week, but things seemed to be moving extremely quickly now. She didn't know what to think. Mulder had never entered her room while she was taking a bath during any of their previous motel stays. This felt strange to say the least, and Scully felt very vulnerable sitting there while he looked on. "Sorry, Scully." He retrieved a towel from the rack, unfolded it, and held it open before her in invitation, face neutral. She swallowed as she looked up at him. Mulder cleared his throat, then suddenly averted his eyes. He heard the sound of water splashing as she hurriedly stood up, took the towel from his hands, and wrapped it around her body. Mulder took a step back as she climbed out of the tub. She murmured a low, "Thank you," being careful to look anywhere but at his face. Then he walked into the bedroom, busying himself straightening his tie, allowing her some apparently much needed privacy as she dried off and wrapped a dry towel firmly around herself. She began irritably rummaging through her suitcase and asked nervously, "Mulder, don't you have anything better to do than hang around here watching me?" He closed his eyes sadly for a moment, then sighed deeply as he looked at her appealingly, "C'mere, Scully." She froze, swallowing hard as she saw him standing there with one hand outstretched. He repeated softly, "C'mere." His forehead creased slightly and his eyes were troubled. Without thinking, her hand reached out to his seemingly of its own accord, and she found herself walking towards him. His strong arms enveloped her, and she rested her cheek against his silky tie, breathing in his clean, freshly-showered scent. Scully felt herself melting in his welcoming, undemanding embrace as his hand stroked her back in small circles over the towel and he kissed the top of her head. He unwound his arms at last, grasping both her hands, and sat back on the bed, pulling her into his lap. Holding her tightly, he whispered into her ear, "Scully, I don't want to make you do anything you're not ready for." "I know that, Mulder," she said, speaking in a voice hoarse with emotion, eyes downcast. "I trust you." He turned her around so that her back was facing him and silently began massaging her knotted shoulder muscles. She closed her eyes and let her head droop as he caressed the tension away. Mulder's fingers worked their magic for several long minutes on her slender neck, down her spine, and back up to her shoulders and arms. She eventually felt her face beginning to flush, and the warmth from his hands seemed to be traveling directly to her lower abdomen, in a place that was becoming distinctly warmer and more sensitive by the minute. When his hands began kneading a particularly familiar spot in the small of her back, a small moan escaped her lips and she arched her back reflexively. "Open your eyes, Scully." Her spine stiffened and she bit her lip self-consciously at her unintentional display. "Open your eyes, Scully, and look at yourself." She reluctantly obeyed and noticed for the first time their reflection in the tall vanity mirror hanging on the wall directly in front of them. His hands reached up and pulled loose the pins holding her hair. Gooseflesh arose on her skin as Mulder's fingers combed through the slightly damp strands that rebelliously curled softly at the ends. He breathed, "Remember night before last when I told you how much I like your hair?" Scully's eyes grew soft with the memory. "Yes, Mulder." He toyed with one small curl between a finger and thumb, then bent his head to gently kiss her bare shoulder with the softest touch of generous lips. When she drew in a deep breath, he continued kissing his way down her arm. Looking up, he took in her flushed reflection in the mirror, noticing her uneven breathing. His large hands lightly stroked up and down her arms, then rounded her shoulders to rest on her chest, directly above the towel she was wearing. She stared into the heated eyes of Mulder's mirror image and heard the words, "I want to see you, Scully. All of you." She sucked in a breath and looked away. Mulder sighed and started to pull his hands away, but Scully suddenly grasped them and held them in place, meeting his gaze once more with burning eyes. She moved his hands lower, to rest on the top edge of her towel, then withdrew, waiting expectantly. Swallowing, he grasped at the material, and slowly pulled it open, watching it fall loosely from her body. The vision of herself sitting naked in Mulder's lap was almost overwhelming. She shivered as she watched Mulder's eyes in the mirror, hungrily drinking her in, and Scully's nipples traitorously hardened in anticipation, revealing her hidden thoughts to him. He finally dared to move after several long, agonizing moments, only to trail the backs of his fingers gently and torturously down her sides, into the curve of her small waist and back up again. Then he stopped. His attention had inevitably been drawn to the coiled serpent etched into the ivory skin of her back. Mulder inscrutably traced the design with his fingertips, saying nothing. He suddenly withdrew his hands. "Mulder," she whispered. He replied hoarsely, "Last night I promised I wouldn't touch you, Scully." She breathed, "Oh, Mulder..." His eyes were tortured as he pleaded, "Let me see all of you, Scully. Like last week in the office." His fingertips brushed her knees with the barest of touches and she drew in a sharp breath at his suggestion. "You were so beautiful," he murmured in her ear, and his eyes searched hers anxiously for permission. Scully's cheeks burned, but she leaned back into his chest and gave herself over to him. His fingers ever so gently nudged her legs apart, and she closed her eyes as the cool air of the room caressed her heated flesh, now exposed to Mulder's gaze. She detected the trembling of his hands as they traced their way lightly up her thighs, hesitating briefly over her belly, then withdrew once again. She released a shuddering sigh and a questioning, "Mulder?" "Show me how you like to be touched, Scully." "No, Mulder," she protested, but he cut her off gently. "Please, Scully. Show me." She opened her eyes slightly and rubbed her cheek against his, whispering, "You know how I like to be touched, Mulder." "And last night I promised I wouldn't touch you, Scully. Just show me." His breath was harsh. "For me. Please." His hand gently enfolded her own and guided it down to the tangle of auburn curls between her thighs. Nearly overcome by the sight of Mulder's tortured expression as he watched her in the mirror, Scully's eyes fluttered closed again as her slender fingers came in contact with the warm, slick folds beneath. She heard his voice rasping, "You're so beautiful, Scully. Show me..." Her fingers began to caress hesitantly, then with more assurance as Mulder murmured in her ear and exquisite sensations overtook her reticence. Her mind whirled as she pleasured herself, and she was only aware of Mulder's nose buried in her hair, his ragged breath as she felt his lips brush her cheek, and the trembling in her thighs and between her legs that was now threatening to consume her. Her breath was coming in short gasps when she heard Mulder's strained voice whisper the words he'd said to her once before, "Come for me, Scully." Her fingers retraced the paths that Mulder's had taken on her own needy flesh in their earlier illicit basement encounter. She stroked her dripping sex and finally slipped two delicate fingers inside herself. Through her thick haze of desire, she heard Mulder groaning as his eyes raked over her body appreciatively, "That's my girl..." She turned her head, nuzzling her face into her partner's neck as she recalled the delicious feeling of his hands and mouth on her fevered skin, imagining he was the one touching her there now. At last she felt herself cry out in sudden release, muscles contracting, back arching, as Mulder held her tightly and drank in the sight of her ecstasy with the thirst of a dying man. She lay spent in his arms, unable to move or even open her eyes for several long moments. Feeling a cool hand stroking her flushed cheek, she heard Mulder say with something akin to awe, "I can't believe you just did that for me, Scully." She remained motionless, except for the labored rising and falling of her chest, for several more moments until she at last responded in a drained voice, "I can't believe I just did that either, Mulder." She rubbed a hand wonderingly over her perspiring brow. "What came over me?" "You're becoming a regular wild woman these days," he chuckled as she at last dared to open her eyes and look into his face in the mirror. She felt positively decadent as Mulder's gaze continued to openly admire her unclothed body. She was also quite relieved to see his face seemed as flushed and aroused as her own. What had come over her, indeed. She gave a small, shy smile. "Wild woman, Mulder?" He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and she reveled in the feel of his suit material against her naked skin. "You're my wild woman, Scully. I'll take you over that Jersey Devil beast-woman any day." She gave a low laugh, "You always know how to make a girl feel special, Mulder." Mulder chuckled and tightened his hold so that she could barely breathe. Wiggling in his grasp, then turning to face him, she asked suddenly, "What time is it?" Her eyes fell on the bedside clock. "Oh my god, Mulder, we've got to get ready." "I don't know about you, Scully, but I am ready." She huffed her exasperation, squirmed out of his arms, and began pulling him to his feet impatiently. "Come on, Mulder." She looked down pointedly. "I think you need to change your pants at least. You seem to have a bit of a...um, damp spot there now." He laughed delightedly to her embarrassment. She reminded him, "We've got a creative teamwork seminar to attend!" "I thought that what we just did was pretty creative, if I do say so myself. And it sure beat the hell out of playing the 'no negative words' game." She pulled him by the hand towards the connecting door. "Get out of here so I can get ready!" "Can't I watch, Scully?" he grinned at her. "No, you most certainly may not. Then we'd never make it to the conference!" "That was the general idea." "I expected as much out of you," she grunted slightly as he refused to budge any further. "Hey, Scully, didn't I mention last week that 'naked' was going to be the new dress code for you?" "You're such a reprobate," she sighed resignedly. He teased, "I think you're ready to go to the conference just as you are." She squawked in protest as his arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her towards the door to the hallway. "Dammit, Mulder, don't you dare open that door!" Pressing her back against the smooth wood, he pinned both her wrists above her head and chuckled menacingly, "You know I'd never do that to you, Scully. It was just an excuse to get you up against the wall." Her breathing grew shallow as his knee wedged between her legs, making Scully, much to her chagrin, his very willing prisoner. Her eyes shut tightly as she was overwhelmed by the sensation of his clothed body pressed tightly against the length of her bare skin. She strangled out, "So you like me better than that beast woman, huh, Mulder?" Teeth gently nipped at her neck as he replied huskily, "Scully, I like you better than that beast woman, Phoebe Green, and a hundred Diana Fowleys all rolled into one." Scully's breath hitched in her chest as she said, "Even Dr. Bambi...oh." Speech escaped her as Mulder gently sucked her earlobe into his warm, wet mouth. She feebly protested even as she breathed raggedly, "Mulder, I thought you weren't going to touch me." Releasing her dampened earlobe and gazing at her beckoning lips, he bent his head over her upturned face and replied determinedly, "I lied." Scully's lips parted in a small moan of anticipation, and a loud knock at the door behind her nearly made her jump out of her skin. Her face fell in abject frustration and disappointment, but Mulder held his finger to her lips and shook his head firmly, whispering, "Not this time." He tightened his hold on her wrists with one hand, and the other slid around her waist. Scully's belly felt hot and tight where Mulder pulled her firmly against him. She was entranced by the naked emotion she saw in his eyes as he lowered his head once more. Her own eyes drifted shut with the first contact of his breath on her face, and then she was drowning in the sensation of Mulder's warm, wet, pliant flesh pressed softly against her own. She was vaguely aware of A.D. Skinner's voice calling, "Agent Scully?" from the hallway, and she could feel his insistent pounding through the door at her back. But she was totally unable to answer as Mulder released her wrists and she wrapped her arms around his neck, desperately prolonging this sweet moment, breathing Mulder's own breath, caressing his eager lips with her own, hands clutching desperately. Then finally, unwillingly, they broke apart, breathless and staring into one another's eyes in wonder, even as they heard the knocking move on to Mulder's door. Mulder forced himself to pull away from Scully's grasp, holding her gaze as he walked backwards to the connecting door to his room, slipping out of her sight. She stood motionless as she listened to Mulder's side of the conversation, her heart fluttering nervously in her chest. "No, she hasn't left her room yet, sir." He cleared his throat distractedly. "She must be getting ready in the bathroom and didn't hear you knock.... " Scully stifled a laugh, and her partner continued smoothly, "Breakfast? Sure..." She groaned quietly, but listened to the rest from the crack in the connecting door, "Why don't you go ahead and we'll meet you there? I'll wait for Scully. I'm sure she won't be too much longer... Where did you want to meet?...Fine, just give me directions..." END PART 3/8 For astoundingly astute XF fanfic recommendations with a heavy propensity toward MSR (smut optional but always appreciated), plus other X-Files-induced nonsense, visit the Bimbo Nympho Alien Junior League website at http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/ From: "Evielouise Smith" TITLE: TOOTSIE POP III: JELLYBELLIES AND TWANG, PART 4/8 AUTHOR: Evielouise EMAIL ADDRESS: evielouise@hotmail.com RATING: NC-17 See Part 1 for full header information, including where to find Tootsie Pop I & II. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ Part 4: The Whole Enchilada "Ouch!" "Sorry, Mulder." "Scully, this is not working." "Shutup, Mulder, and do what I say. A little to the left." "To the left? Is this enough?" "No, Mulder, a little more. You're going to crash into a potted plant if you're not careful." "Better now?" "Yeah, that's better. Now lift your right foot..." "Okay." "Your other right, Mulder." "Oh. Sorry, this is very disorienting. I'm not used to being blindfolded." "I know, Mulder. Just play along like a good boy." "I'm trying, Scully." "I know you are, Mulder. Now take a big step with that right foot. There's a wastebasket lying on its side directly in front of you." "Yeah, I think I just found it. Where is it now?" "Halfway across the room, big guy. You just managed to kick it into the path of Agent Kinsley." "Oops. He ok?" "He tripped." "Oh." "Uh-oh. Stonecypher is putting ice on the bump on his head." Mulder sighed dramatically and tore the blindfold from his eyes, taking in the sight of various blindfolded agents stumbling through an office supply "obstacle course" with only the voices of their partners as guides. He complained, "This is stupid." "I know, Mulder, but we have to..." Stonecypher called out, "Anybody see where that wastebasket came from?" Mulder and Scully simultaneously threw up their hands and smiled innocently, then turned on their heels and quickly headed to the hallway to converse more privately. Invading her personal space, he repeated vehemently, "This is stupid, Scully. So far this morning we have cooperatively built a protective egg nest out of drinking straws and Scotch tape, which failed miserably, I might add, as our egg quite spectacularly did not survive the required eight foot drop..." She interrupted, "So we'll make lousy bird parents, Mulder? So what?" He snorted and continued, "We played 'Electric Fence' and spent thirty-seven freaking minutes trying to get eight agents successfully into a four foot square, waist-high yarn enclosure without touching the damn yarn." He paused thoughtfully, hands on hips. "Although admittedly I did enjoy the part where I got to pick you up and pass you over the fence." "I got the distinct impression you didn't like it too much when you had to hand me over to Agent Bowers." "I didn't like the way he leered at you, Scully." "He didn't leer at me, Mulder." "Trust me, Scully, he leered at you. Men know these things." She rolled her eyes. Mulder continued his tirade, "Then we sat through possibly the most boring lecture of my entire FBI career, which is saying a hell of a lot, mind you, called 'One Hundred and One Guaranteed Ways to Communicate Effectively with Your Partner'." "I know what it was called, Mulder. I was there, remember?" "What a joke. All I could think about was 'One Hundred and One Guaranteed Ways to Get Your Partner Naked on a Stakeout'. Scully hissed, "Shh, Mulder!" "Agents," Skinner greeted them as he stepped up quite unnoticed until that exact moment. Both their mouths dropped open guiltily. Had he just been privy to a little too much information? Skinner continued with a nod towards the meeting room door where federal agents began streaming out in pairs and small groups. "The current session of workshops seems to be adjourning. I know we had made plans, but I find I need to make some further preparations for my next lecture instead. Would you mind if I took a raincheck on lunch?" Scully cleared her throat and replied, "Not at all, sir." Mulder found his voice at last and joined in with relief, "You go right ahead, sir. Scully and I will be just fine." "I'm sure you will." Skinner's eyebrow raised nearly imperceptibly. "Well, I'll let you two go. Perhaps I'll see you between sessions this afternoon. Enjoy your lunch." Nodding crisply once more, he strode down the hallway. They breathed a sigh of relief. Scully looked up and whispered, "One of these days, Mulder, you are going to get us in so much trouble." "I thought I'd done a pretty good job of getting us in plenty of trouble in the past already." "Not this kind of trouble, Mulder." "What kinda' trouble you got in mind, sweetheart?" "Geez, let's get out of here before I strangle you." "That sounds like a threat." "Consider it done if you don't move your butt." "Ooh, Scully, I love it when you get rough with me." She tugged at his sleeve to start him moving down the hallway. "What do you want to eat, Mulder?" Mulder arched his brows suggestively and leaned even closer, whispering in her ear, "I can think of something I'd like to be eating right now, Scully, but it ain't on any menu." He smiled and casually waved a greeting at a passing agent carrying a box of eggs and several skeins of yarn. Scully turned three shades of red as her eyes darted around to see if anyone had overheard his lecherous comment. "For pity's sake, Mulder, would you please stop that? Be serious. Shall we go to the hotel restaurant?" "No way. If I don't get outta' here I'm gonna' start taking hostages. I'll bind their hands and feet with Scotch tape and stick drinking straws in all their bodily orifices." Scully finally decided that two could play that game and leaned closer, teasing in a low, sexy voice that made Mulder's hair stand pleasantly on end, "Not if I get hold of you with the Scotch tape first." Mulder choked, "Promise, Scully? But no drinking straws, right? That hurts just thinking about it." "For you, Mulder? Anything." Mulder reluctantly steered the conversation momentarily away from the dangerous waters they were treading in a place that was a little too public and teeming with professional colleagues. "We've got an hour and a half before the next session. Let's take a cab downtown. I saw an interesting little place close to our motel." "I'm right behind you, Mulder." .............................. "Two crawfish enchilada specials," Mulder gave their order to the Generation X waiter with spiky blond hair and intricate tattoos covering a large portion of his exposed anatomy, "and two Shiner Bocks." "But we're on duty..." Scully began to protest. "Scully, we're attending a lame-ass convention. That hardly qualifies as active duty. Let's live a little. What do you say?" He looked at her meaningfully. Their server grinned at her and hurried away towards the kitchen. Scully began to argue, thought better of it, and remained silent instead, a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth. He demanded, "What?" "Oh, nothing. Just remembering that we're both trying to acquire lives outside of work, that's all." Mulder watched the breeze flutter Scully's hair as they sat on the patio of the Magnolia Caf, enjoying the mild temperature and bright sunshine. The weather had fortunately turned out much more agreeable today. He gave a self-conscious grin at her mention of their earlier parking lot conversation and unspoken pledge to get a life. Mulder was struck by the suddenly longing look in his partner's eyes which appeared distinctively crystal blue in the dappled sunlight escaping between the whispering leaves of overhead trees. He reached out and clasped her hand warmly across the table. They enjoyed each other's touch for a moment, then warily glanced around to see who might be watching and reluctantly withdrew their hands. That whole morning at the conference, it had been all Mulder could do to sit quietly beside Scully and not explode, just thinking about her sitting naked and flushed in his lap, touching herself and softly sighing. He'd wondered how she could look so cool and detached sitting there then, dutifully taking notes with her hair tucked behind one ear, carefully watching the lecturer through her conservative wire-rimmed glasses. He'd begun to think she'd never glance his way, but finally he had managed to catch her eye, and when their gazes met, she looked so pretty and flustered that it made his heart squeeze tightly in his chest. He had been monumentally relieved to know she wasn't as calmly collected as she had at first appeared, and wondered if she was remembering how it had felt to come in his arms while he watched. Mulder coughed and desperately attempted to divert his thoughts as far away from a very naked partner of his as possible. Safe, innocuous target selected? Burly, tattoo-covered, fashion victim/grad student. "Man, Scully, did you get a load of all the tattoos on our waiter? He could tour on the sideshow circuit alongside Jim-Jim the Dog-Faced Boy." "Yeah, they were kinda' hard to miss. Hey, Mulder, this isn't going to turn into a bitter diatribe on my rash decision to get a tattoo, is it?" she said with an uneasy grin, recalling Mulder's silent scrutiny of her own tattoo that very morning. She felt a warm flush spread over her body at the memory and hastily continued, "Because I really don't feel up to a..." Did he say 'safe, innocuous target' of conversation? Scratch that. "Of course not, Scully. Have I ever spoken against it before?" "No," she spoke gently and cautiously, "but I've just been waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. You were very unhappy with me when I returned from Philadelphia." Mulder bit his lower lip indecisively, then decided to go ahead and plunge right in. "Scully, it wasn't just the tattoo, and you know it." She looked guilty, toying with her silverware as she spoke in a low tone, "I know." "And at that time you'd just sort of shut me out of your life. I cared about you deeply and I felt left out." "Well, Mulder, it's not like you ever told me how you felt." "I could say the same about you, Scully." "Touch." They gazed at each other for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, when their beers suddenly arrived. Scully got a closer look at the intricate designs on the server's arms. When he had gone, she commented, "They're really very well done. I wonder if he got them around here." "Why? You're not thinking of getting another tattoo, are you?" "Truthfully, Mulder..." She took a sip of her beer. "...getting ink done is kind of addictive." He spluttered, "You've got to be kidding. Hello! Who kidnapped my conservative little partner and replaced her with a tattoo-covered uber-vixen?" She felt her cheeks color but laughed indulgently as the alcohol began to warm the pit of her stomach. "Seriously, Mulder, it's like I've got my own personal little primitive work of art, right on my body, and I get to keep it forever." His face grew serious as he listened. "It's my own little secret. Since it's out of sight, then no one has to know unless I want them to." She squinted at him against the afternoon sun slanting through the trees. "I guess it's my way of rebelling, being bad. And no one gets hurt, you know?" Mulder absently picked at the label on his beer as she attempted to explain further. "I love my tattoo, Mulder, strange as it may sound. But you know, the one on my back is in an inconvenient location for me to admire it." The corners of her mouth turned up playfully, but she refused to meet his gaze. "I want one in a place where I can look at it whenever I want." Mulder found his voice at last, "I personally volunteer to admire your tattoos, whenever you so desire and in whatever location you choose to put them." She glimpsed a flash of white teeth as he continued smugly, "I would truly consider it an honor..." She laughed, "You're incorrigible, you know that?" He continued, soberly this time, "You've really thought about this, huh? You're want another tattoo?" "Yes, Mulder, I have. But I promise I won't run off and get one today, ok?" "Doesn't it hurt? The needle, I mean." "Yes, it hurts. The outline of the design actually hurt quite a bit, but the color inside just sort of tickled." "Did it bleed?" "Some." She placed her napkin carefully in her lap and the corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement. "Mulder, I didn't know you were such a big baby." "I am not a baby, Scully." Just then their server appeared loaded down with a steaming tray of crawfish enchiladas and rice topped with chopped fresh cilantro. As he lay their plates before them, Scully politely asked, "Do you mind if I ask where you had your tattoos done?" "No. No problem!" He gave Scully a pleased smile. "Some of them were done by a tattoo artist in San Antonio when I lived there, but most of them were inked by a guy in town named Robert at Disk of the Moon, just a couple of blocks from here, on Congress Avenue. He's really good, don't you think?" the waiter enthused as he showed Scully some Celtic knotwork on a well-formed bicep. She agreed, touching the designs thoughtfully while noting Mulder's reaction out of the corner of her eye. "Yes, they're quite nice. Very precise." Mulder looked at her though narrowed eyes and she continued, "Good color, too. Thank you-- I'm sorry... What's your name?" "Rex." She had to stifle a laugh when she saw Mulder surreptitiously roll his eyes. "Well thanks, Rex," she beamed at him, and Rex beamed back. "Just let me know if I can get you anything else," he said eagerly, backing away from their table, nearly colliding with a busboy carrying a tray full of dirty dishes. Scully placed her chin in her hand and smiled, "We will, thanks!" "You shameless hussy," Mulder deadpanned when Rex was out of earshot. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mulder." "Trying to get that young man's...hopes...up. You ought to be ashamed." "No way, Mulder. You're delusional. I was just trying to get your dander up." "I don't get jealous, Scully, if that's what you're talking about." She took a small bite of crawfish enchilada and gave an appreciative yummy sound as Mulder's eyelids drooped to half-mast watching her chew. She swallowed and asked, "What about Ed Jerse?" "I thought we'd covered that subject already." "Phillip Padgett? You were really unhappy with me when I..." "Psychos, Scully. You have named me two killers. That's not jealousy. That's understandable concern on my part." "Right, Mulder. Concern. I knew it all along." She took another sip of beer and continued, "Sheriff Hartwell?" "Oh please. That bucktoothed..." "He was absolutely not bucktoothed, Mulder." "He was a vampire, for Christ's sake." "You were still jealous," she countered smugly. "And then there's Special Agent Bowers from the Electric Fence game just this morning." "Well, Scully, I simply didn't want you damaging your professional reputation by consorting with an agent of the opposite sex." "Consorting, Mulder? We were playing a stupid game. What you and I have been doing lately is rightfully considered consorting." She plunked her bottle on the table for emphasis and arched her brow meaningfully at him. The corners of his mouth turned up in a secret smile as he leaned back, crossed his arms and gazed thoughtfully at her. Scully could only imagine what he was remembering at that instant, and she placed a hand over her face, moaning quietly for the second time in as many days, "Oh brother." Then she sighed in resignation. "But this conversation is definitely pointing out the fact to me that I seriously need to get a real life if the only examples of men in my life I can hold up before you are psycho killers, creatures of the night, and practically nonexistent flirtations." He looked at her archly and dug into his food. "You got a point there, Scully." "You're not supposed to agree with me, Mulder." "You started it." She sighed. "Don't remind me." "Well, I know I'm not exactly the poster boy for the normal American male..." He took a fortifying swig of beer and then ducked his head towards her conspiratorially. "...but will I do for now? I can try. You know, being a semi-normal man in your life," he smiled ruefully, "if you'll just give me the chance." His tone was jovial, but his pensive, yearning eyes told her another story altogether. "I mean, at least I'm not a mutant, right?" She cut him off gently by reaching over and with a well-manicured thumb, affectionately brushing a spot of cheese sauce from her partner's lower lip. She then replied in a voice rough with emotion, "Mulder, I think you'll do just fine." He captured her hand in his own and, looking around the restaurant patio spotting no one remotely resembling a fed in a dark suit, kissed the inside of one soft wrist, smiling into her eyes. "Hey, Scully, I've got a suggestion for you, but I don't want you to fly off the handle when I ask you, ok?" "I don't know, Mulder," she replied warily with a glint in her eye, self-consciously pulling her hand back into her lap. "You can ask, but I'm making no promises." She was distinctly remembering the last outrageous request he had made of her just that morning in her motel room. God, what had she been thinking? Mulder seemed to be able to talk her into most anything these days. What was he up to now? "Ok, Scully, what do you say we..." END PART 4/8 For astoundingly astute XF fanfic recommendations with a heavy propensity toward MSR (smut optional but always appreciated), plus other X-Files-induced nonsense, visit the Bimbo Nympho Alien Junior League website at http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/ From: "Evielouise Smith" TITLE: TOOTSIE POP III: JELLYBELLIES AND TWANG, PART 5/8 AUTHOR: Evielouise EMAIL ADDRESS: evielouise@hotmail.com RATING: NC-17 See Part 1 for full header information, including where to find Tootsie Pop I & II. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ ******************************************************* AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you're a visual person like me, and would like to actually *see* all the clothing described towards the end of Part 5 plus more cool clothes in Part 6, then go to http://www.8ballwebstore.com/online-store/scstore/. It's an uncluttered, easy-to-navigate site, I promise. ******************************************************* Part 5: French Silk and Chocolate Cherries "No way, Mulder!" Scully's expression was incredulous at Mulder's suggestion. "Come on, Scully. What's the harm in it?" She spluttered, "Well, what if we're caught?" He drawled petulantly, "Nobody's gonna catch us, Scully. How would they?" "I don't know. Someone might see us." They emerged onto the sidewalk outside the Magnolia Caf, and she glanced around warily as if someone might already be listening in on their incriminating conversation. He ticked off his points on the fingers of one hand. "All FBI personnel will be all the way across town at the convention center. How are they gonna' catch us if we're playing hooky way over here? It's a huge convention. There were no sign-in sheets except when we first arrived. We attended sessions all morning long so we've put in an appearance already." He gave her an appealing look. "You know you hate those workshops as much as I do." "Well, yeah, Mulder, but..." "But what, Scully? Did you learn a damn thing all morning long? Except for the fact that the FBI wastes a hell of a lot of money on ridiculous little get-togethers for its employees to play goofy games and eat cheese?" "But Skinner might..." "Skinner himself said that he *may* see us this afternoon. He may not. He's very busy with his lecture sessions. He'll never find out, Scully." He folded his arms and awaited her next argument. She blew out an impatient breath and an ineffectual, "Mul-derr..." He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her reluctantly down the sidewalk. "Look around you, Scully. It's a beautiful day. You've already wasted half of it sitting in stale air-conditioned rooms listening to droning lecturers and participating in mind-numbingly absurd activities, complements of the FBI. Live a little, remember, Scully?" "Where are you taking me?" "This neighborhood is full of funky little shops. Let's just walk around for a while. Take in the sights. Relax." He dropped her hand as he noticed her nervous expression at such a public display. "Come on, Scully. Lets just try it for a little while. If it bothers you too much, we'll head back to the convention. I promise." "So you're going to take me shopping, huh, Mulder?" She squinted up at him, shading her eyes from the sun's bright rays. She grinned. "Does that mean you'll hold my purse for me?" "You're not carrying a purse, Scully." His look was smug. "You utilize those mysterious bottomless pockets of yours when we work." "We're not working, Mulder." "Well, we were until about an hour ago. Now we're officially playing hooky. Skipping school. AWOL." "Since we're not working I may just have to go back to the motel room and get my purse and make you hold it for me while we shop." "You wouldn't do that to me, would you, Scully?" "You bet I would, Mulder. I think it's time we tested the boundaries of our relationship." "Well, I'm willing to test some boundaries, Scully." He traced a finger playfully down her nose, over her lips and chin, to her pale throat, until he pulled gently at the chain that held her gold cross. "But I think the purse test should definitely come a little later." He chuckled and tugged at her jacket sleeve until she followed him down the sidewalk smiling. --------------------- They spent the next couple of hours companionably wandering in and out of eclectic little antique shops and art galleries, browsing through movie and music memorabilia, antique household items and massive, timeworn furniture, clay pottery and primitive art, woven tapestries and tinkling, intricate windchimes, kitschy knick-knacks and vintage books. At one shop, Mulder called to his partner, who was sorting through a bin of old blues records, "Hey, get a load of this." He was looking with amusement at a stack of yellowed postcards. She sidled up next to him and got an eyeful. They were vintage risqu photos from the forties, she assumed from the hairstyles and home furnishings in the background. The photos looked like they had been shot by amateurs, and the full-figured models themselves looked very much like housewives that had been trying to score a little extra cash on the side posing in the nude. "Scully, can we try this at home?" She snickered. "Geez, Mulder, how do you do it?" "Do what?" "You've sure got a nose for it. You can locate porn anywhere." He gave her an indignant look and countered, "Don't taunt the nose, Scully." "What body part would you rather I taunt?" He made an "ouch" face, then teased in an earnest tone, "I noticed up at the front of the store there's a really good deal on an old Brownie camera. We could set up our own photography studio at my apartment." She rolled her eyes. "Scully, I could make you a star..." His eyebrows rose inquiringly. "Yeah, Mulder? Well, you hold my purse in a crowded shopping mall sometime, and then I'll think about it." With that, she sauntered away to examine a display of antique medical equipment as Mulder dropped his postcards. ----------------- Scully gave a long, lingering lick and smiled in satisfaction as Mulder groaned quietly, "So this means we're even, right Scully?" "Mm-hmm, Mulder, I think we're more than even now." She licked her lips carefully. "Oh, so that means...you owe me, right?" Mulder's expression turned thoughtful. "I can think of a lot of ways I'd like for you to repay me." His eyes were entranced by the sight of Scully's tongue sliding over her ice cream cone: one scoop of chocolate with peanut butter and one scoop of French silk on a sugar cone. Mulder's neglected butter pecan dripped on his pants leg. "Damn!" Scully grabbed a napkin and wiped at the spot on his thigh. "Can't take you anywhere, can I?" "I don't think I'd do that if I were you, Scully." "What?" Mulder rearranged his jacket artfully over his lap and Scully replied, "Oh. Sorry." "You know you're killing me with this ice cream thing? You think you could manage to do that a little less...suggestively?" "Mulder, how the hell else are you supposed to eat ice cream without using your tongue? Besides, it was your idea to come here in the first place." "I wanted to pay you back for ruining your Non-fat Tofutti Rice Dreamsicle that day," he explained. "Well, I told you that you've more than replaced it. This is amazing ice cream." "I can tell you're enjoying it." "Can you now?" Her eyes twinkled. Mulder set to work cleaning up his own drippy cone. It was now Scully's turn to watch as his supple mouth rapidly devoured the melting, creamy mess, and she was suddenly recalling with wonder the breathtaking sensation of Mulder's lips touching hers for the first time. Had it only been that morning? Six years of suppressed emotion bound up in a single sweet kiss. He had been so gentle that it made her heart ache in her chest just thinking about it. But she had wanted infinitely more and clutched desperately at him as they deepened the kiss, until Skinner's knock had forced them to part breathlessly. Regretfully she sighed and quickly attempted to distract her frustrated thoughts by looking around the old-fashioned ice cream parlor and candy store where only a few scattered customers lounged, indulging themselves in various sinfully sugary concoctions. La King's was a shotgun building with wooden floors and a long marble counter complete with soda fountain and rotating, red leather-covered stools. Mulder and Scully sat at a small gray marble table near the sunny front window, the breeze from overhead ceiling fans ruffling their hair. Mulder could eat remarkably fast. Scully was amazed at the speed with which he had polished off his cone and sat licking his fingers contentedly. He noticed her eyeing him in contemplative silence. "You're dripping, Scully." "Huh?" Her brows raised in consternation, then she looked down at her melting cone. "Oh." She set to work wiping chocolate from her white blouse. "Damn. This is never gonna' come out." "Ruining blouses is an occupational hazard for you lately. At least it's not blood this time." "Gee, thanks for the insight, Mulder." "Eat your ice cream before you get it all over you, young lady, and I have to take you home and give you a bath." He winked. She gave him an "oh, wouldn't you just love that" look, but secretly shivered with pleasure at the thought. "I'm going to check out the candy counter." He gently tousled her hair as she narrowed her eyes at him and gave her ice cream another swipe. Then he strode away, his shoes tapping out a rhythm across the wooden floorboards towards the long glass case full of every imaginable sort of confection. Scully was taking her last bite of sugar cone when Mulder returned with a small bag of colorful candy. "Jellybeans? All that candy to choose from and you bought jellybeans, Mulder? I could've done a lot better than that." "They're not ordinary jellybeans, Scully. They're JellyBellies." He continued at her blank expression, "Gourmet jellybeans. Exotic flavors, natural ingredients?" He stuck them in his pocket. "A snack for later, ok?" Then he pulled out a tiny white paper bag and handed it to her as she eyed him suspiciously. "What's this?" "Just open it, Scully." She looked inside with delight and gave a low "Mmmm" sound which headed straight to his groin. He offered, "One chocolate-covered cherry. Just for you." "You're spoiling me, Mulder. I'll have to go on a diet when I get back home." He laughed, "Scully, you're the tiniest person I know." "Shut up, Mulder." She narrowed her eyes again and pursed her lips in a small pout, then said, "I can't eat it all. I'm fairly stuffed after all this ice cream. You split it with me, ok?" "I'd never make this kind of sacrifice for anyone but..." He suddenly ceased talking as he watched, mouth watering, while Scully's eyes closed, teeth sinking into the luscious chocolate and juicy cherry. Syrup from the messy confection remained on her full, red lips as she chewed contentedly and offered the other half to Mulder. Mulder leaned forward, his mouth taking it directly from her hand, sucking the juice from her fingertips as she sighed, "Mulder, I don't think we should be doing this here." "What, Scully? Eating candy? You know, you've got something sticky--right...here." He leaned forward again, his face looming over her own. Her lashes lowered as she watched his agonizingly slow approach, and she couldn't find the energy to protest as his tongue lapped tentatively at her waiting lips. She quietly groaned as he withdrew slightly, gauging her reaction. She glanced surreptitiously around them, then melted into his full mouth, tasting cherry and chocolate and Mulder. She forgot to breathe when his hand wrapped around the back of her neck and his tongue slid warmly against the roof of her mouth. She answered with her own tongue, reaching into the recesses of his mouth that still tasted of ice cream. Mulder broke away, a little out of breath, and rested his forehead against hers. "We really should stop, Scully." Her eyes remained closed as she answered with regret, "I thought I said that already." She reluctantly pulled away and rubbed a thumb over his damp lower lip, then looked towards a table across the room where two teenaged girls drinking chocolate sodas whispered and giggled. "A little too public." Even the college kid working behind the marble counter was doing a poor job of disguising the fact that he was observing them with intense interest. He smoothed her hair and said, "Let's go." "Mulder, I'm a mess and so are you. I can't go anywhere like this. Let's go back to the room and get changed." He nodded wordlessly and pulled her chair out as she stood. They left the cool air-conditioned ice cream parlor and headed down the sidewalk, until Mulder stopped, gesturing across the street. "Hey, Scully, let's go in there first." --------------------- Scully dissolved in peals of laughter and Mulder cackled as they emerged from their respective dressing rooms simultaneously. Patsy Cline accompanied their impromptu fashion show, belting "Walkin' After Midnight" soulfully over the vintage clothing store's soundsystem as a sales clerk with long red hair and Betty Page bangs crossed her arms over her leopard print shirt. Tapping her foot quietly below a skinny black pencil skirt, she waited for the agents to compose themselves. Pursing cotton candy-colored lips in thought, she at last said, "Let me bring you something a little different. I don't think that's quite...you." Mulder stood before the full-length mirror wearing tight black jeans, a black jacket with bright silk-screened flames on the sleeves, and black shoes imprinted with dice designs. The clerk turned her attention to Scully. "And that's definitely not you, hon'. I'll be right back." Scully snorted as she stood beside Mulder, perusing her black capri pants decorated with flames at the hem, exactly like Mulder's jacket sleeves. She also wore matching flaming Mary Janes on her feet. But the crowning glory was a black lace-edged form-fitting top with skimpy ribbon straps and a red cherry accent hanging right between her... "I don't know about me, Scully..." He did a little Elvis swivel with his hips that made Scully's mouth go dry. "But you..." He grinned wickedly. "You look outta' sight." "Yeah right. I can't wait to get out of this getup. How did you talk me into this?" Her eyes wandered around the room at the racks of vintage rockabilly clothing and displays of fuzzy dice, Elvis Presley playing cards, and other gaudy 50's memorabilia. "Hey, if we find some cool new duds to wear, what's say we go out on the town tonight?" "I don't think we're going to find anything quite our style here, Mulder." "Who knows, Scully? Besides, we're in the 'Live Music Capital of the World'. We can't pass up a chance to go out and paint the town red now, can we?" "I don't know..." Just as Patsy began crooning "Crazy" over the stereo system, the salesclerk dropped a huge pile of clothing in Scully's arms and ushered her back into the cramped little dressing room, swishing the curtain closed behind her. She pointed a finger at Mulder. "Don't you move. I'll have something for you in just a sec'." Mulder listened to the sounds of zippers unzipping and fabric rustling as Scully changed on the other side of the curtain. "Hey, Scully, need any help in there?" "No thanks, Mulder, I'm just fine." "That's what you always say." She poked her head out, smiled sweetly, and said, "But this time I mean it," then disappeared again. "No peeking!" she called. "If we're gonna' go out tonight, maybe I want to surprise you with what I'm wearing." "Ooh, I like surprises, Scully." "Why does that fact *not* surprise me?" The salesclerk appeared and corralled Mulder in his own dressing room, dumping an armload of apparel on a small stool inside and closing the curtain ceremoniously. Several clothing changes later, Mulder emerged from his dressing room to find Scully collapsed on a nearby chair, holding a bulging sack in her lap and glancing through a pile of books. "What do you think about this?" "Oh, I don't think so, Mulder." "What's the matter with it?" "Well, the shirt itself is pretty nice, but the 'she-devil' sitting in a martini glass embroidered on the bottom detracts from its appeal a bit. Try another one." Mulder headed back inside as Scully called to him, "Hey, here's the perfect book for you, Mulder." "I'm waiting." " 'The Best of American Girlie Magazines'." His head popped out, "Really? I don't have th..." "Down boy. Go finish changing. I like this one better anyway: 'A Stiff Drink and a Close Shave: The Lost Art of Manliness'. How's that for a title?" When Mulder appeared once more, she looked at him appraisingly. "Oh, that's more like it, but..." She squinted at the tiny design on the chest, "I am not going anywhere with you wearing a shirt that says 'Drunk'. I don't care how tastefully small the design is embroidered." He pursed his lips impatiently at her. "How come you won't let me see what you bought, but you get to pick out what I'm going to wear?" "Mulder, if your taste in ties is any indication of your general taste in non-business attire, then there is no way I am going to go anywhere with you tonight without personally approving it first. Case in point..." She eyed his chest. "That shirt. Now go back in there and find something respectable." He sighed and marched determinedly back to the dressing room, and when he returned several minutes later, Scully broke out in a delighted smile, "Yeah, Mulder, now that's definitely you." END PART 5/8 For astoundingly astute XF fanfic recommendations with a heavy propensity toward MSR (smut optional but always appreciated), plus other X-Files-induced nonsense, visit the Bimbo Nympho Alien Junior League website at http://www.coyotecom.com/BNAJ/