TITLE: TALKING ABOUT LOVE AUTHOR: DONNILEE E-MAIL: Donnilee@snet.net WEBSITE: http://donnilee.tripod.com RATING: NC-17 CATEGORY: MSR CLASSIFICATION: POST-EP "UNRUE". SPOILERS: "UNRUE" SUMMARY: "Talking about love is like dancing about architecture." -- Angelina Jolie in 'Playing by Heart'. DISCLAIMER: All characters used from the show, The X-Files are the property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Fox Broadcasting. No copyright infringement intended. No money made here. THANKS: To my beta reader, FatCat, who is always willing to sharpen her claws at a moment's notice. XXXXXXXXXX DANA SCULLY'S APARTMENT GEORGETOWN, D.C. EVENING I looked at my partner and sighed. "Scully, are you sure you're all right?" "Yes, Mulder. Stop hovering." "Sorry," I replied. I knew I sounded petulant. I stood up and strode into the kitchen, pouring myself another cup of coffee. Despite her irritation with me, I wasn't ready to leave her alone yet. I knew I was being unreasonable, insisting that I stay with her for a while. That madman could have killed her. It seemed like every time we got separated, something bad happened. When would we learn to stick together, no matter what? I returned to find her sitting sideways on the couch with her back to the armrest, her legs curled up in front of her and balancing a coffee mug on her knee. Classic defensive posture, I thought, before I could stop myself. I sat down opposite her, clearly closer than she was comfortable with. "Scully, I need to say something to you." She avoided eye contact for several moments while I waited patiently. Finally she locked her gaze with mine. "What?" she asked, her tone curt. "I'm sorry if I've irritated you. I've just been thinking. It seems like every time we get separated, for any reason, something bad happens." "Oh, don't be ridiculous Mulder. We've separated to follow leads on many cases and nothing happened." "When has the worst stuff happened, Scully?" "You're reaching Mulder," she replied. "No, I'm not. It's kind of like the recovering alcoholic's saying. I didn't get in trouble every time I was drinking, but every time I got in trouble, I'd been drinking." "What?" "When we're together, we can watch each other's backs. When we're separated, we can't. I never should have let you walk out of that store by yourself." "Oh, come on, Mulder! This is a senseless argument. I can take care of myself." "Like you did today?" Shit. I knew that was the wrong thing to say the minute it came out. "Screw you, Mulder," she shouted. She swung her legs over the edge of the couch and stood abruptly. 'Trying to make her escape, no doubt,' I thought. I popped upright and blocked her exit. "Wait a minute. I didn't mean that the way it came out." "Sure you didn't," she replied sarcastically. I gripped her shoulders gently but firmly and she shot me a dirty look. If those eyes were lasers, I'd have been a pile of ash. "Stop. Please, Scully. Just listen to me for a second without interrupting and without taking every friggin' thing I say the wrong way." She huffed out a breath of annoyance and sat down abruptly. I sank into the cushion beside her. "Back up," she ordered. I pulled my arms back into my lap, but said, "No." We had a staring contest for a few seconds and she finally looked away. "Say what you have to say," she demanded. I sighed. "Scully, that came out all wrong and you know it. There are just as many times my ass has been in a sling without you there to watch my back. You know that, too. Nobody respects your abilities and your competence more than I do, for Christ's sake, but we're not super heroes. Nor are either one of us an island. I'm not. I admit it. I once thought I could work alone. I preferred it that way. All that changed the day you walked into our office." Her eyes rose to look at my face again. That was progress. "Go on," she prompted. "It just seems that we're a really good team. We have different strengths, and we don't share the same weaknesses. We compliment each other in every way. I feel balanced and capable when you're with me. I feel rudderless and confused when you're not." A wash of wetness gave her eyes a glowing sheen in the low lamplight. She was so beautiful she took my breath away sometimes. "You're more than a partner to me, Scully. You're my best friend." She sighed, relaxing her posture. "You're my best friend too, Mulder." "You're more than my best friend, Scully." I let that statement hang in air for a moment. Her eyes darted away but came back to rest on my face. "What do you mean?" she asked softly. "I mean that I don't know what I would do if I lost you. If he had maimed you, killed you today, I honestly don't know if I could handle it." "There are big risks in our jobs, Mulder. We both knew that when we signed on," she replied. "I know that. That's not what I'm getting at." I reached out tentatively and ran the backs of my fingers down the side of her face. I thought she shivered at my touch but it might have been my imagination. "I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me." "How do you feel about me, Scully?" "What?" she asked, jerking her head away from my hand. I smiled ruefully. "Answer the question. Am I just your best friend? Or am I more to you?" She didn't answer. "I need to know where I stand, Scully." Her bottom lip quivered slightly and then she bit it. I couldn't take my eyes off that berry-red lip as she worried it with her teeth. Finally, she said, "You mean a lot to me, Mulder." "A lot? That doesn't tell me much." She set her coffee mug on the coffee table and straightened her back again. She looked over my shoulder, avoiding my gaze again. Scully was never good at expressing emotions. Then again, I wasn't the poster boy for emotional stability and confidence either -- those in glass houses, and all that. On the other hand, I felt this talk was way overdue. The wrenching sense of loss when I couldn't find her was all but debilitating. When I realized that I'd nearly been too late, I felt like world was crumpling around me. Just imagining a world without Scully in it was too horrible to contemplate. I'd almost hyperventilated at the mere thought. "I'm not good at identifying my feelings. She paused over her next words. "No, that's not right. I can identify them, I'm just not good at expressing them verbally." I slid closer and snaked my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to my side. I raised my free hand and brushed her hair away from her cheek. Our eyes locked and I thought I might drown. "How about non- verbally? Are you any good at that?" I asked. A slight tease in my voice fell flat. She shivered visibly this time and licked her lips. "Maybe." I leaned close and let my nose burrow into the hair that covered the spot where her neck met her shoulder. "Mulder!" she hissed. She didn't move away. I let my lips barely graze the baby soft skin of her neck and she whimpered. "I haven't kissed anyone in a very long time, Mulder." I felt my heart do a funny little flip-flop, knowing she was thinking about kissing me. I couldn't resist teasing her. Softly, I said, "Who said I was going to kiss you?" She barked out a huff of laughter and then tipped her head down to her shoulder, dislodging me from her neck. I used two fingers to hook her chin and gently turn her toward me. "I saw this movie." She shook her head slightly at what she thought was a sudden change of subject. "What?" "It was called 'Playing by Heart'. Angelina Jolie plays this slightly messed-up, but loveable character. She's talking to her potential beau but they aren't good at expressing what they feel." "And?" she asked, now intrigued. "She said, 'I have a friend that says talking about love is like dancing about architecture.'" She gasped slightly. "Love?" I nodded slowly. "I love you, Scully." I was a bit alarmed at how low and gravelly my voice sounded. She blinked rapidly and gave me that closed-lipped smile that always made me feel special. "I, Mulder, you have to know," she began. I waited but it was clear she wasn't going to get it out. She loved me. I knew she did. "I don't want another day to go by without you knowing how I feel about you, Scully. Life is too damn short. Whether we admit it or not, either one of us could be gone tomorrow. I just want to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent that by sticking together as much as possible, in the field and everywhere. In the meantime, I want you know that no one else could ever take your place. I understand if you can't say it to me." "Do you? I want to tell you, Mulder. I just can't seem to get my head around it. I didn't think this sort of thing was in the cards for me." I nodded and smiled. "Forget telling me, Scully. Dancing about architecture, remember?" She looked saddened and slightly pissed off at herself. "I wish I was better at this. You're so open." "Show me, Scully." "How?" "Any way you want to. Show me how you feel. I'll feel it." I paused. "I already feel it." Her bottom lip quivered again. She didn't bite it this time though. She leaned into me hesitantly. I held still, staring into her eyes. "Show me," I whispered. She leaned in and brushed her lips over mine. I couldn't help the small groan that escaped me. I licked my lips and her eyes riveted on them. I did it again and watched her chest rise and fall with more intensity. "Yes," I coaxed. Then she was laying her mouth over mine in an open- mouthed kiss that nearly knocked my socks off. It did knock me back on the couch. She twisted and straddled my lap. Her core pressed against my now raging erection. I grunted, then moaned when she swiveled her hips, pressing into me. Her hands were everywhere; in my hair, around my neck, roaming over my chest. She had my shirt removed in no time. When she backed up enough to reach my belt, I held my breath as she deftly unbuckled it, released the button on my slacks and slid my zipper down. My hips bucked involuntarily when her hands slid over my groin, squeezing gently through the cloth. When her hands found the elastic of my boxer briefs, I lifted my hips to assist her. Getting me naked seemed to be her main priority and I certainly wasn't going to argue. Then again, what was good for the goose was good for the gander -- equality and all that. I reached for the bottom of her blouse and yanked it out of her slacks. She assisted me in pulling it over her head. It flew backwards into the pile of clothing that was accumulating on the floor in front of the couch. I pushed her off my lap and she reached for me as I climbed to my feet. "Just a sec," I said. She stood docilely while I unbuttoned and unzipped her slacks, sliding them down. She kicked them away, along with her pumps, stopping only long enough to pull her knee-high stockings off. When she stood in front of me in nothing but her matching lace panties and bra, I felt a little dizzy. I just looked at her for several long moments, my eyes sliding over her luscious curves, and the toned muscles of her stomach, and the taut lines of her legs. How could anyone so short have such fabulous legs? I didn't care to ponder these useless questions. She reached behind her and slowly unhooked her bra. It fell loose around her and she shrugged her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. I whispered, "Oh, Scully." Her breasts were beautiful, a work of art. Taut, pink nipples topped generous globes that were high on her chest. I was amazed at all the beauty she'd hidden under her stark, severe work suits for all these years. I yanked her panties down and she kicked them away. Then I grabbed her hips, pulling her down with me as I sat down on the couch again. We both moaned as our naked skin finally made contact. I nearly yelped when her hot center pressed against my throbbing cock. She was wet, really wet. "Oh Jesus, Scully, you're so wet." She smiled a predatory smile I knew I'd never seen on her face before. It thrilled me. "You're gorgeous, Mulder," she said softly. "I think I'm supposed to be the one saying that," I remarked. She smiled and reached between us, palming my package and sliding her fingers up and down once. I bucked into her hand. "And you were blessed too," she said, grinning. I couldn't help but grin in return. "Glad you think so," I choked out. "I feel so alive," she whispered. I yanked her to me and we kissed ferociously until we had to separate or asphyxiate. We were both panting harshly but I managed to say, "You want to go in the bedroom?" "No, right here. I want to mount you on my couch." I groaned. "Mount me? Christ, if you talk like that, I'm all done." She grinned and asked, "You like to talk dirty, Mulder?" I nodded vigorously. My fingers found the steamy valley between her legs and rubbed back and forth. They came away coated with her arousal. "I do, but it doesn't matter. I just love the sound of your voice," I admitted. "Thank you. I always imagined you would be vocal during sex." "You imagined? Meaning you've thought about this?" I said as I found her clit and began to tease it. "Of course," she answered. "Oh, that's good," she added. Then she levered up onto her knees, one hand on my shoulder, the other still stroking my erection. "So what do you want me to do with this impressive cock?" I groaned again. Just hearing that word come out of her mouth in that lazy alto was nearly enough to make me loose my control. "Inside you," I commanded. She smiled. "Mmm, sounds good." She lined me up as I held onto her hips. I held my breath as she sank my glans into her hot, wet core. I watched my cock head split between the swollen wings of her nether lips. She descended slowly and we both groaned as her inner muscles stretch to accommodate me. "Christ, you're small," I gasped out. "Oh fuck, you feel good," she said, throwing her head back as she landed in my lap, her beautiful ass cheeks resting on my thighs. I was fully embedded inside Scully and I felt like my heart was going to spin out of my chest. "So good, Scully. Don't move for a second," I warned. She leaned into me, her turgid nipples raking across my chest and I hummed in my throat as she wrapped her arms around my neck, aligning our chests for the most possible contact. She kissed my Adam's apple and slid her lips over my neck. I shuddered with sensations as she then moved up to nibble on my ear lobe. I hissed, "Sensitive there." I felt her lips smile against my ear and she whispered. "Want me to talk dirty?" "Scully, I'm so turned on right now, you could be reading the phone book and it would make me nuts." She laughed out loud at that and lifted herself slightly, sinking back down. We both groaned. She slowly increased her withdrawal and the speed of her descents. Before long she was riding me with a slow, delicious rhythm, swiveling her hips as she bottomed out. I was stroking in and out of the tightest passage imaginable. I never dreamed she would be this tight, feel this good, even in my fantasies. I shifted to get a hand between us and quickly found her swollen bud between her legs, hiding under her neatly trimmed curls. I pressed firmly and rubbed in circles. It had an immediate effect. She shouted, "Oh God!" Her movements increased and I began lifting my hips to meet her downward thrusts. Her lips landed on mine and we kissed frantically. Jesus, she was so beautiful, all flushed and sexy. "That's it, Scully," I coaxed, against her lips. "Come for me, baby. Come on. Let go, I've got you." 'God, she was fucking tight,' I thought, feeling her snug walls swell around my aching shaft. She wailed and then went stiff in my arms, breaking our kiss by tossing her head back. "Ohyeahohyeahoh yeah!" I humped up into her as hard as I could, looking down and loving the sight of my swollen member sliding in and out of her slender body. I felt my cock stiffen and swell as my own impending climax built inside my nuts. I felt fire between my legs, as her walls spasmed around me, gripping me in a series of convulsions that took my breath away. She cried out, "Oh Mulder, I'm coming! Oh Lord! Yes!" I began to shake with the effort of maintaining our pace, but seeing her fall apart in my arms was like heaven and I wasn't stopping for anything. The feel of her velvet sheath clasping and releasing around me was so exquisite it was almost pain. The fire spread through my groin and my balls tightened. I grimaced with the effort to hold back. Her whispered words were my undoing as she came down from her climax. "Jesus, I love you so much." I hollered an unintelligible sound. "Ahhhhaaawwwww!" Then I was coming. My balls clenched and my stomach churned with every ejaculation. I was coming so hard it made me dizzy. I suddenly realized I was babbling, "Loveyouloveyouloveyou." My climax ebbed away and I collapsed in a boneless heap against the back of the couch. She followed me down, her torso stretched out over mine. I hugged her closely and we rested as our heart rates returned to normal. "Hey Mulder," she said softly. "Yeah?" "I love you, too," she whispered. I felt the tears smack into the back of my eyelids and a lump form in my throat. "I know," I assured her. "In case I forget or can't say it later, I wanted you to know," she added. "I know," I said. "Just keep showing me and we'll be fine." She chuckled silently, her chest bouncing gently against mine. I smiled and hugged her tighter. "We'll stick together as much as possible, Mulder," she said, her voice facetious. I chuckled with her and felt my eyelids drooping. I pulled back a bit and kissed her gently. "Just stay close, Scully." "I will," she promised. "I can't do anything else." "Why's that?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "I'm talking about love, Mulder. Talking about love." THE END.