From: (Sheryl Martin) Newsgroups: Subject: No Regrets (NC-17) Date: 26 Sep 1995 02:11:54 GMT All Characters copyright of TenThirteen Productions and Chris Carter. No infringement intended on any part...I like being poor, really... Comments, complaints and just plain talk to Right... ground rules: No plot... well, a bit of one... No X-Files... well, unless you count love as one of life's mysteries... No problem... unless you hate romances, in which case go read something else filled with angst and pain... and we're off!!! (hey, I've been off for years... or so I've been told...) No Regrets (NC-17) by Sheryl Martin Looking back, they had to agree that it had been inevitable. In fact, if anyone had told them or suggested it beforehand, they would have denied it emphatically and laughed it off. But if any one lesson had been taught to them from working on the X Files; it had been that the truth will eventually catch up with you... whether you like it or not. **************** "Look, we need two rooms." Fox Mulder leaned over the hotel desk, his voice low. "All I'm asking is for two rooms for a night..." The manager smiled, not intimidated by the tall Federal agent towering over him. "And I already told you that we have a sales convention in here. Booked months ago. We can give you one room... and you're lucky that we've even got that one." He grinned. "Or you can try the other hotel in town." "That one's full already. I checked." Mulder said through clenched teeth. "We're only going to be here overnight." "Then I'm sorry I can't help you further." The manager spread his hands. "One or nothing..." Mulder turned to see Dana Scully appear at his side, catching the last few words of the conversation. She looked at him, a slight frown on her face. "Mulder... don't be stupid. I'm not going to drive for another sixteen hours to get home and I'm not sleeping in the car." She nodded to the man. "We'll take it." ********** Fox tossed the keys on the table; dropping his bag by the bed. Dana brushed past him and quickly began to unpack her clothing. The week had gone from bad to worse - the no-brainer they had been working on had petered out finally - the supposed abduction turned out to be a simple runaway upset with the divorce of her parents. Now they were trudging back to Washington with nothing more to show than a pocketful of receipts. Including one for sharing a hotel room for a night... Fox pushed the obvious comment into the back of his mind. Time for a jog, Fox Mulder. Dana suppressed a smile as she watched him quickly change in the bathroom, nodding politely to her as he stepped outside into the dusk. At times it was like babysitting her godson again. But at other times... She reached for her bathrobe; heading for the shower. You are way too tired if you're thinking like that, Dana Scully. Fox poked his head inside the room, wiping the sweat with one arm from his face. Grabbing a clean set of sweatpants and a football jersey from his bag, he retreated past the occupied bed into the bathroom. She lifted her eyes from the laptop on her knees, stifling a chuckle. Just like her godson. He emerged from the shower a half hour later, rubbing a towel over his hair vigorously. Pulling it off, he saw Dana was already curled up on one side for the bed; glasses perched precariously on her nose, typing notes on the minor disaster they had been chasing. The silk men's pyjamas hung loosely on her as she pulled her knees up under the thick comforter; tapping a pencil against her teeth as she shuffled the note pad and the computer on her lap. He blinked rapidly; trying to find his thoughts. "Ah... let me just get a pillow and I'll take the chair..." His voice trailed off as she looked at him over the top of her glasses. "Mulder - don't even think about it. Your back won't stand another ten hours of driving tomorrow if you sleep in the chair." She sighed. "Look, we're both adults. Just stay on your side and I won't have to shoot you." He chuckled at her deadpan delivery; nodding his acceptance. Pulling a psychology magazine out of his briefcase, he climbed up onto the bed; careful to keep very much to one side. ************ He had tried to stay atop the blankets; letting her have the most of the bed to herself. Nice idea. Bad execution. Since she was smaller and more compact he had managed to crunch himself into a ball on one side; managing to not only give himself a bad leg cramp; but the cool night air coming in the slightly open window had him freezing to death. Moving under the thick down comforter, he stretched out his legs and closed his eyes again; trying not to think about how long it had been since he had shared a bed with a woman... She could feel the warm body sliding under the blankets; felt him turn away from her as his body relaxed and his breathing slowed. Her mind flashed to Jack Willis for a second - to what they had had. A little voice popped up, reminding her of this self-inflicted celibacy and what she had given up for the X Files... for Fox Mulder... what she had lost. Fighting back the memories, she took a deep breath and willed herself to sleep... Fox heard the first sob faintly; in the depths of a fuzzy dream about some chase through a forest. Pulling himself back to full consciousness; he heard it again - a soft painful cry in the darkness. Sitting up quickly in bed, he tried to focus on the body beside him. The shaking, trembling form let loose with a plaintive whimper; tearing at his heart. Tentatively reaching out, he put his arms around her; feeling the shudders reverberate through his own body. Her eyes flashed open - staring directly at him. "Shush... it's alright..." He tried to smile, not knowing whether she could see him or not. "You were dreaming.. a bad one..." Dana sat up quickly, brushing his arms away softly but firmly. "Thanks. I.." A hand wiped away the tears in the darkness. "I'm okay." Turning away, she curled up in the blankets; a small bundle in the night. "Thanks, Mulder." Her soft whisper carried to his ears. Chewing on his bottom lip, he put his head back down on the pillow. It couldn't have been more than an hour before he heard it again - Dana sobbing quietly into the pillow. Fox moved closer, gathering her into his arms. Holding her tightly to his chest, he watched as she slowly came awake again, her groggy breathing slowing and becoming normal again. "Mulder..." She murmured into his jersey, embarrassed and comforted at the same time. "I'm..." "Yah, I know." He began to absentmindedly run a hand through her hair, trying to reassure her with his confidence. "It's just that sometimes; when we get cases like this..." She swallowed, feeling the warmth of his arms envelope her as he began to slowly rock her back and forth. A low hum came from his throat as he continued to run his fingers through her auburn hair. She moved up in his hold, wanting to talk a bit; to try and understand what she kept dreaming about... Suddenly she felt the rough stubble of his chin on her cheek; warm and scratchy on the soft skin. Lifting a hand, she ran her fingertips along his jaw in sleepy wonderment at the man holding her close. Tilting her face up, she could barely make out his silhouette in the dark room. He held his breath; not daring to think. The dampness on her face brushed along his cheek; his face... his lips. The salty moisture of drying tears met his tongue as her soft mouth closed on his; the hesitation overcome by the curiosity they both felt. Her teeth closed lightly on his upper lip, tugging playfully as he darted his tongue along her lips; both amazed at their acceptance of what was happening. Taking her face in his hands, Fox kissed her tenderly and gently; not daring to hope for more. Tentatively, slowly, her hands crept along his forearms, along the tender skin as she lightly stroked him with her fingers. They met at the back of his head, tangling lightly in the dark hair as they intertwined. She looked up into his eyes, catching her breath as he pulled his mouth away. "Mulder..." "Yah." His voice was rough and ragged. So much for the suave exterior. "I... " She tried to think; to reason why she shouldn't continue. But one look into those eyes, and all coherent thought fled. "I like this." "I like this, too." He smiled softly, wrapping his arms around her. She moved up to straddle his hips, settling lightly on him. "How much do you like this?" He licked his lips nervously, remembering the shooting comment. "I like this a lot." Dana said shyly; feeling ever so much like a teenager out on her first date. A sly look came over her face as she leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "But I think I'd like it more if we weren't wearing so much clothing..." Fox closed his eyes, trying to slow his heart and failing miserably. With a smile he moved a hand up to the top of her pyjamas; to the large buttons. Deftly undoing them one by one, he kissed her a thousand times; along her hairline, her eyelids, the sides of her mouth... She slid her hands down to his jersey; tugging it upwards and over his head easily and without too much protest from the man under her. Tossing it off the bed, she pulled the comforter up around her shoulders as the cool night air began to creep in under her loose top and onto her bare skin. He slid the silky fabric off her shoulders, letting it fall under the covers somewhere as he took in the sight of her; his mind reeling. Running a hand lightly along her neck, he traced the outline of her collarbone down to her front; his fingertips dancing lightly over one breast as she drew in a sharp breath. Leaning forward, he put his lips to one nipple, feeling her tense at the touch. Arching back, Dana closed her eyes with a low moan as she felt his tongue caress her with a softness she had never imagined. Drawing her own hands down over his chest; she revelled in the warmth and comfort of his embrace. He lifted his face to hers; his eyes twinkling. "Still like this?" Her gasping nod made him chuckle. "Good... wouldn't want you to not like it." Lowering his mouth again, he turned his attention to her other breast; teasing and enjoying her reaction as she squirmed in his grasp. Pressing herself down on his hips, Dana could feel him rise under her; and her reaction to him intensified at the promise of more pleasure. He moaned softly as she reached down between them and slipped her hand under the sweatpants; just barely touching him. "Dana... I..." He swallowed hard as a finger gently grazed the tip of his arousal, sending a shudder through his body. "Oh..." She laughed lightly, putting her mouth to his ear again. "Found something you like, I see..." Moving around, she kissed him again, a soft sweet languid kiss that lasted a lifetime. "But you're still overdressed..." Rising up, Dana tugged at the waistband of his pants; her intention clear. With a quickness he had forgotten he had ever had, Fox slipped them down and off, pushing them to the bottom of the bed under the comforter. Settling down again on him, she laughed at his pained expression as his hands rested on her hips; on the top of her pants. "All good things..." The auburn woman laughed quietly as she moved off him to one side, laying on the bed. Turning to face her, Fox wrapped his arms around her tightly. Dropping a kiss into her silky hair, he ran his hands up and down her sides, feeling the minute shivers race through her body at his touch. "Speaking of..." He nuzzled into her neck as a loose hand moved slowly down her front; slipping under the material. She tensed for a second, then relaxed against him as she felt the feather light touches on her thighs... then a single gentle finger lightly stroking and probing her. His eyes met hers for a second, asking and questioning... Looking for permission without any regrets... Dana moved her hand down to his, pressing him against her with a smile as she kissed him deeply and lovingly. With a sigh he slowly explored her; his tongue moving from her delicious mouth to her neck to one breast, wallowing in the trust and love she had offered to him - something he had never dared to hope for ever in his life. Dana swallowed quickly as she felt him tease and stroke her; feeling the pressure begin to build inside her. Reaching down, she pulled the flimsy pants down and off; giving him greater access as she moved a leg over his hips. Running her hands gently down his front, she heard him gasp as she held him softly; tenderly stroking and squeezing in response to his own movement. Pulling him closer, she took a sharp breath as she realised how close he was to her... Fox closed his eyes tightly, trying to divide his mind in between paying attention to pleasuring his partner and the temptation she was offering him. His eyes flew open as he felt her wrap a hand around his hip and pull him in... into her softness and warmth... She bit her lip hard as she felt him move to fill her; the stroking of his fingers interrupted as his hands curled around her bottom to pull himself inside her completely. As he began to move slowly and cautiously, all she could do was put her head down on his chest, overwhelmed by the sensations as he resumed his touching and tickling. It was nothing like he had ever felt before; nothing like what he had read or seen or thought possible - the completeness of his body and soul as he felt her envelope him with her heat and silkiness. He smiled as he felt a small shudder from her at his touch as she began to approach the edge; her body arching against his at every movement of his hand... She was so close... god, it was so close... His lips met hers in a final burst of fury and fire as he pressed his hand against her; his body pulsating inside her. And she was lost... Fox felt rather than heard her cry into his neck; the sudden shaking of her body against his for a long, lovely minute of eternity. He slowed his movements, trying to prolong her pleasure as he watched her try to regain her breath. With a last soft touch he moved his hand back up to caress the back of her neck, kissing her lightly. "Ladies first." He whispered, feeling the heat radiating off her. His eyes could just make out the faintest blush in the darkness. "You're hilarious." She shyly smiled. "But now it's your turn..." Her voice crooned in his ear with a sexiness that took his breath away. Rolling to one side, she pulled him atop her; hearing him gasp as he sunk deeper into her. Propping himself up on his elbows, Fox groaned as she began to move against him; to match him thrust for thrust. And he had no willpower left... Wrapping his arms around her again, he felt the tension begin to built; the knot in his stomach demanding release... and then he was at the edge and beyond... She drew lazy circles down his back; feeling him loose and relaxed atop her. Lifting his head from her shoulder, he met her lips slowly and softly. "I do love you so..." He whispered, trying to find the words. "I know." Dana drew a hand down his face, brushing away a loose strand of dark hair that had fallen into his eyes. "I love you... Fox?" She chuckled. "I can't believe that after this I still don't feel comfortable calling you that." He rolled to one side, pulling her along in his embrace. "Call me whatever you want... It doesn't matter to me." His eyes twinkled. "I might still call you Scully..." "Shut up and kiss me, Mulder." She laughed. Suddenly her face grew serious. "Are you... I mean, should we..." Her eyes held the question. Shaking his head, Fox met her lips in a light kiss. "No regrets, Dana Scully. Not from me, at least." Running a hand down his back lightly, she nodded. "No regrets, Fox Mulder. Never had been..." Laughing together, they lay there for the rest of the night, whispering and talking about the rest of their lives - and what would be. And finally, as the first light of the new day crept in across their entangled and sleepy bodies, Fox pulled the comforter up over her bare shoulders and settled down behind her, wrapping his arms around her as he drifted off to sleep as well. No longer alone for the first time in his life. And she smiled in her dreams, no longer lonely. ******************** "You've become a world-class hopeless romantic." "Not hopeless... hopeful. A world-class hopeful romantic." Joan Wilder -- Romancing The Stone