Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter, Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation. They are used without permission and no copyright infringement is meant. Any elements not recognized as being taken from the show copyright Christina Shuy. Comments and other things sent to cshuy@netcom.com are much appreciated. Victoria Jensen belongs to herself, of course. She wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would I. Story written: 04 February 1998 to 06 February 1998 Rating: NC-17 Classification: SRH Summary: Mulder's evening out... Spoilers: You're joking, right? Okay, okay... no obvious ones... just a bit or two on Scully's cancer and all that. Author's Notes: Any similiarities to any other story used strictly by permission. The last thing I need is to deal with cries of plagarism. Oh boy... I hope I get this right. Anyway, that's all I'll say for now. More at the end of the story. Evening Out by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com I heard the key in the lock of Scully's desk. It sounded to me like she was ready to go home. " Night, Mulder." Yup, definitely ready to go home. Not that I minded. "Good night, Scully. Enjoy your evening off." I smiled at her as she was leaving. It had been a slow day at the office. One of those lazy days when the paperwork is nonexistant and the caseload was minimal. Of course, it was also only 4:00pm. I'd gotten the idea to give both Scully and me a night off. After all, considering what we had just finished - several highly physically and emotionally intensive cases in a row - we deserved an evening off. Besides, I could tell by the sparkle in Scully's eyes that she had special plans for tonight. I felt a twinge of jealousy as I considered the possibilities. Then again, she did deserve to be happy. Especially in the light of what had happened to her already in the past year. As I was packing up to leave the office, my phone rang. "Mulder." "It's Victoria. How are you?" "Oh, pretty good. I'm going home early today." There was a smile in my voice. "Should I call the authorities?" Victoria's question made me laugh. "No... not necessary. I've got a date tonight, you know." "Who are you and what have you done with the real Fox Mulder?" "VC..." I groaned, rolling my eyes. She always liked to tease me, and I was trying my hardest not to laugh. And failing. And she knew it too. She laughed. "Don't worry, Fox, your secret is safe with me. And, yes, I did know you had a date tonight. And since that is the case, I'll talk to you later. I have to get back to work. Just wanted to take a breather from attempting to do another profile... honestly, I don't know why they give these things to me... I don't know what I'm doing. You're the one with the psychology degree. I'm only an Engineer." "You're never *only* anything, Victoria." I grinned at her. She was sounding tired and frazzled. So I teased a little. "You're always *too much* of something." "Oh, you... get off the phone, and go get ready for your date." She said, ending it with giving me a raspberry. With that, the phone disconnected. It was time for me to go home as well. I had plans for tonight, after all, and nothing was going to keep me from them. Not even a new X File. Which said something about how special this date is. I rushed home and did all the usual housekeeping things like feeding my fish, and washing up the dishes, though there weren't that many of them. Then, I had to get dressed to go out for the evening. I could almost hear Victoria's laughter in my mind. As well as Scully's... Both of them know I really have no life. Or, at least, I didn't before tonight. I showered, washed my hair, shaved and then I changed into the best suit I had, a white shirt, and the midnight blue silk tie Victoria had given me for Christmas last year. She never sent much, but what she did send always was something I really liked. Kind of like how Scully did it. Except that Victoria never asked, and she wasn't around to observe my reactions to anything like Scully was. Victoria, as always, just knew. The person I was going out with I had arranged a few days ago, calling and catching her completely off guard. Considering I like doing that anyway, it was fun for me, and she accepted besides. It was one of my favourite restaurants and I was glad to be sharing it with her. With one last swipe and polish at my shoes, I was off. I got to the restaurant with minutes to spare. Traffic had been strange on the way, and I'd been running a touch late. Tonight, though, I wanted to be on time. The matre'd showed me to the table I'd made reservations for several nights ago and I told him to bring a bottle of wine and a glass of water. I'd drink the water first and wait until she arrived to present the wine and share it with her. I hoped tonight was going to go well... everything in my body and my mind said it was going to... but first it had to start off right... I just hoped I wasn't about to be stood up. With no sign of her yet, I looked at my watch. Five minutes after the arranged time, and I knew she was never late. I figured this *had* to mean she was having second thoughts and wasn't going to show up after all. I was being paranoid and I knew it. I also couldn't help myself. Paranoia has engrained itself in me. Well, I decided, I was going to wait. If she wasn't here by quarter past, I wouldn't hold it against her. Of course, I had been stood up in my life before, just never when it felt to be this important. Truth be told, I was beyond nervous. I was scared to death. Every time I was trusted with something as important as I felt this to be, I screwed it up, starting with Samantha when I was twelve. In fact, that was the big screw up in my life which I have never completely gotten over. I shook my head and sighed, deciding to check my watch again. Butterflies were in my stomach and gradually working their way up into my throat. Suddenly, I felt her near. Looking up, I saw her across the room, looking at me and the butterflies vanished... as did most of my breath. I had to remind myself to breathe, she was so beautiful. Her hair done up just right, and an off-the-shoulder dress was perfect on her. She floated over and sat down in front of me on the other side of the table. "You're late." "Traffic problems." "Oh, sure. That's what they *all* say," I grinned and she smiled, lighting up her entire face. I'd not seen a more beautiful sight. The wine was brought over, poured, and we toasted to future successes in each of our lives. After that, we ordered dinner. Yet again, I was amazed at how she managed to keep in such good shape, even with everything she ate. No health food junkie she was. I think she ordered more than I did. Then again, as I recalled what it was she did during the day, it didn't exactly surprise me that she managed to burn all of it off. Stress was usually a good diet aid. As the dinner arrived, we took flirting to a whole new level, almost as though there was a secret code being shared and no one else knew it. But, hey, it was fun and I was making the most of the best situation I'd ever been in. When we were finished and the table was cleared, I took a better chance to admire her and how she was dressed. Her hair, as always, was perfect. The dress clung in all the right places, and brought out the intense colour of her eyes. My arms ached to hold her and for a moment I was at a loss as to how I would go about doing that without seeming possibly too forward. Then, I remembered. "Would you care to dance?" I asked, voice low, but making sure she heard me. "I'd enjoy that, I think." she answered, smiling. "You think?" I arched an eyebrow. It was a trick I learned from Scully and it had the intended effect. She smiled. Standing, I held out a hand and pulled her smoothly from her chair and into my arms, though I glanced at the floor first, suddenly feeling a touch shy. Then I guided us onto the dance floor, reveling in the feeling of holding her in my arms at last. She didn't resist and for that I was more than grateful. Gentle music started and I ran my hands across her shoulders and back, getting to know what seemed like unfamiliar territory. "You know, you look really beautiful tonight. How did you know I love velvet?" I smiled. "I didn't." Her smile suddenly became just a little embarassed, almost as though she were trying to hide it from me. Whatever her intentions with it, the effect on me was to nearly melt my heart. I leaned closer and murmured into her ear just what I was feeling. "Velvet feels so good when it's against your skin... velvet and satin." And you feel so good in my arms, I didn't say, but I think she knew what I felt. As soon as I started to nibble on her ear, I felt her fingers thread my hair and then direct me elsewhere. Though I was somewhat attached to where I was, I relented eventually. And I'm glad I did. Her lips met mine in a kiss that almost floored both of us. Okay, so I lied... the butterflies hadn't vanished... they just went into hiding, because as we danced, mirroring what I know I wanted but was afraid to ask, they reappeared with a vengenence, and I was fearful of possibly pushing her into anything. But even as I kissed her, she continued to respond and I continued to wander farther into unexplored territory, not only with her, but also with my own emotions. Gradually, I managed to pull away and catch my breath. "Shall we take this someplace a bit more... private?" I asked. She looked into my eyes and nodded slightly but said nothing. The moment was too perfect to spoil with too many words. I motioned for the waiter to come over and then handed him my credit card - one of those swanky gold cards - and he went to take care of things. I noticed she was looking at me, and I smiled. She was worth it. Hell, the card hadn't been used yet, and it had been sitting in my wallet for the last 5 months. She was more than worth it, and it would finally make the credit card company happy besides. As soon as things were all done, I scribbled my signature on the credit slip, stuck the card back in my wallet, stuffed the wallet back in my coat pocket (I hate sitting on a lump) and then offered her my arm, which she took, and then we were were outta there. "Please let me take you home. I want to. I can drive you by to get your car in the morning if you like." I murmured into her ear as we approached the parking lot. She licked her lips thoughtfully. I then brushed my thumb across her just-licked lips and she took my thumb in her mouth before pulling away to give me her answer. Looks like I'm not the only one with an oral fixation. That touch, as well as the look in her eyes floored me. It also told me that I wouldn't be pushing her into anything. That she was feeling every emotion I was with at least equal intensity. "All right. Take me home." I closed my eyes for a moment, breathing a sigh and a prayer of thanks that I had been graced with the company of such a beautiful, kind woman. When I opened my eyes, I slipped my arm into hers and together we walked to my car. I know what I was feeling and was fairly certain of her feelings on the matter as well, and was determined to get her home as soon as possible so that we could finally act on what had been building all evening. Wanting to be on my best behaviour, though hearing a faint memory of Victoria's giggle in my thoughts, I opened the door for her and watched as she settled herself in the car. When I was certain she was settled in, I closed the door and walked over to the other side and was about to get in when I saw the flower vendor selling single long stemmed roses. Smiling to myself, I waved him over and bought three of them from him, hoping she'd love them. I hastily unwrapped them from their cellophane wraps and got into the car. I was going to give them to her then, but I noticed her eyes had closed. Carefully extracting one of the roses, I brushed it lightly against her cheek. It worked, her eyes opened and she saw the roses I was holding in front of her. "I saw these tonight, and I thought of you. The red colour, like fire... the same fire that I know burns within you, underneath the facade that you show to the rest of the world." I murmured, wanting her to know how I felt and how she made me feel. She said nothing, but her eyes told me to take her home. Smiling a little, and feeling the sparks flying between us, I did so, heading in the direction of her apartment as quickly as was legally possible. Though I'd broken several speed limits and a few other regulations in my rush to get her back to her apartment, we got there without incident, and without being pulled over. I led her back to her door the same way I'd led her out of the restaurant, and smiled at her the whole time. She was always The one to bring out the best in me. When she grabbed the keys out of her purse, I took them from her and unlocked the door for us, following her inside. For a time, we stood face to face in her living room before I knelt on one knee and took her hand. "I just want to look at you." I murmured, kissing her hand. Immediately, I reached for her dress and pulled it slowly and gently from her body. I pushed it past her hips and when, at last, it was poolled on the floor, she stepped out of it and kicked it to one side. I got the chance to look at her fully then. And the moonlight... that just made her all the more beautiful. I watched and looked at her for some minutes and then moved to touch her, starting at her thighs. From there, I went up to her hips and gradually got to my feet, moving my hands over her body at the same time, though when I got to her breasts, I hovered over them for a time before going to her shoulders. I felt like a blind man who had been allowed to see for the first time in his life. I was being allowed to see... just exactly what this woman meant to me. Then, I leaned in and kissed her, and, for a time, we stood there with lips locked together and bodies pressed closely together. After a while, she broke the kiss and leaned back, giving access to her neck, which I then showered with kisses, and caresses. Her skin was so smooth... I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. "Tell me, Dana, do you want to make love on the hardwood floor, or would you prefer the bedroom." I murmured into her ear. "The hardwood floor has its virtues," she smiled teasingly at me. "However, I think the bed has even more virtues for the moment. It's soft..." "Like you..." I whispered, guiding her towards the bedroom. "What are you doing?" "Escorting you to the bedroom, of course." I grinned. The giggle she stifled came out sounding more like a snicker, but I didn't mind. After all, the bedroom wasn't supposed to be a totally serious place anyway. And, besides, I loved to hear her laugh. She bumped up against the edge of the bed, and I lowered her gently onto it. Then, I nipped at her earlobe, taking in her scent, and everything else about her, especially how her body felt beneath mine. When I went to remove part of the little remaining clothing left on her, I felt her fingers in my hair again. I grinned and tossed the bra I'd just removed towards the chair, commenting, "You look good in green." "You look good in nothing." was her answer as she attacked the buttons on my shirt. "What do you say we do something about that?" "Well... we could do that." I answered, moving between her legs. "But that would cut my fun short." I could feel the pout forming on my lips and decided, what the hell, and went with it. That expression must have had quite the effect on her, since she lifted her head up and took my lower lip in her mouth to nibble on that the way I'd been nibbling on her ear earlier. Her legs wrapped around my hips, and her arms were around my neck as she lavished attention on me, catching me totally off guard. My mind didn't know what else to do, so I just moaned, at the same time I ran my fingers through her hair. We continued to kiss, getting more and more involved in it, and I felt her hands shove my shirt off my shoulders. She pressed herself against me, and it took all of my careful control not to strip both of us of what remained of our clothing and ravish her as I'd been wanting to. I pulled away. "No, not now. Not like this. I told you. I wanted to have my fun with you first." I said, mock sternly, unwrapping her legs from around me and laying her on the bed. After kneeling between her legs, I went after my intended target: her breasts, first snagging one firmly erect nipple between my teeth. I heard her gasp and then found her fingers in my hair again, holding me where I was. I moved my hands down her body, teasing and tickling as I went. When I got to her hip, still covered from view, she squirmed against me. I was forced to stop what my mouth was doing. "Now, don't do that. If you continue, this will be anything but a slow seduction." "Maybe I don't want a slow seduction." She answered, her tone languid and taxing on my control again. "But--" "I know I told you that I had wanted it slow, but this entire *night* has been a seduction. We can continue this... later." I gulped as her voice continued, getting more and more sensual with every word. She was trying to tell me something, and I got the message, loud and clear. My hand found its way between her legs and she arched against me. The only reaction I had was the evil grin which instantly appeared on my lips. "No," She shook her head almost vehemently. "No teasing." "Oh, why not?" My voice took on its best pouty tone. "Teasing is fun." In response, her hand cupped my erection, which I'd been trying to control, and I felt the fine threads start to snap. I groaned. "Yes, teasing *is* fun, but don't you think it would be more fun if you stopped teasing?" She continued in the same languid tone. "Ummm." I fought to keep what little control I had left. "Maybe." I felt her hands undo the button and then unzip my trousers before she slid them down from my body. I kicked them off at the same time I pulled her panties from her body. The moment we were finally skin-to-skin, I sighed. It was like nothing else in the world, that feeling. She rolled herself on top of me and straddled me. I felt her heat and then suddenly I was inside of her, where I'd wanted to be all evening. It was a sensation I'd missed, being this close to someone. The last time had been a long time past. I gave her time to get used to how we were situated before I began to move, slowly. I moved within her as slowly as I could. I wanted to build up the delicious tenseion between us as gradually as possible. This was to be good for her first. Abruptly, I stopped, ostensibly to get back what fine threads of control I had left. Of course, I also wanted to do something else. "I told you that I wanted to tease." I grinned as she glared at me. "And *I* told *you* no teasing'." She pressed at my shoulder and we were both laughing lightly. Then, I tossed control aside and moved again, faster this time. Her legs wrapped around my waist and I didn't stop her... didn't even care. The explosion of light and feeling when the orgasm hit us both simultaneously caused us to call out each other's names. And, for a while, I drifted, spent, in her arms as she was in mine. "Love you..." I heard her mumble. "Love you too..." I answered, content. I wrapped my arms securely around her and then sleep took over. I woke up the next morning and found she'd curled up on top of me, her breasts crushed on my chest. Not that I minded, though. After all, she and I had just spent one of the most romantic and passionate nights I'd ever had. And her hair... oh, her hair... so soft, and silky... and red. I started to run my fingers through it to see exactly how soft it was. And, believe me, it was plenty soft. And I *liked* it. Almost as much as I loved her, though she'd always come first in my heart. I heard her sigh first, then start to move against me. That soft movement was enough to reawaken my arousal, that's for damn sure. Not that it needed much help. Just being with her was arousing enough for me... and I'd been trying not to do anything to wake her up or anything before she was ready and awake. However, since she *was* awake... well... "Hey, Scully, would you think any less of me as a man if I told you I was kinda excited right now?" I grinned into her hair. She lifted her eyes to look at me. "Mulder, if you were any more of a man, the world would be in serious trouble." "Oh, really?" I put as much feigned innocence into my tone as I could. She grinned at me anyway. "Really... now shut up and put that tongue to work, Mulder." "Yes, ma'am." She certainly didn't have to tell me twice. -End- Author Notes again: Now, if you read "Mystery Date" by Diana Alexander, you know this is a companion story. And I accept most of the blame for this... I suggested this and then she and I set out to do this. And if anyone out there was surprised to see it was Scully I was sending him on a date with, where have you been?! I was *not* about to send Mulder out on a date with anyone other than Scully, especially in the light of what Chris Carter *himself* said on "Inside the X Files" a few weeks ago. And besides, I don't write romance between Mulder or Scully with anyone except each other. The dance sequence was lifted from "Post Modern Prometheus"... well, at least the bit when Mulder pulls Scully into his arms. You get the picture? *grin* Also, this is what I meant in the intro about any similiarities between this and another work are done strictly with permission'. After all, if I'd said this story was a followup to that one, it would give away the plot for anyone who read the other one first. *grin* Oh, Note to Diana... you got him more or less in character... as for me... that's another story... (and, no, not one I'm working on. *laughter*) "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" "I was told once that the best way to regenerate body heat is to crawl naked into a sleeping bag with someone else who's already naked."-Mulder "Maybe if it rains sleeping bags, you'll get lucky." Scully(tXF-"Detour") Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210) "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.