Birthday Surprise Title: Birthday Surprise

 Author: Beverly

 Author's Contact:  [email protected]

 Archive: Permission to archive granted to Archers_Enterprise,  EntSTSlash, reedsarmory, reedsarcheryrange, tuckerreed, MEG-Archive  and whoever wants it...just ask, please.

 Rating: NC-17, definitely

 Status: complete

 Series: none

 Pairing: A/T/R, I love all our guys...

 Warnings:  threesome...if this isn't your thing, hurry up...you  still can run away.

 Spoilers: none

 Disclaimer: As always, none mine, all Paramount, though I treat  them better and let them have more fun. Anyway, just borrowing,  gave them back already. *Sigh*

 Beta: Mareel the wonderful. Her first opinion is so important to  me. Just like her corrections. Thank you, Mareel.

 Summary: Malcolm's birthday is close at hand. And Trip has a very  special gift for his lover.

 Author's Notes: Again...as always... feedback...pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase. Thank you. I hope you like it.



 Birthday Surprise


   "You're kidding!"

 "No way. I'm deadly serious."

 Jonathan Archer got up from his chair, and began pacing the room.  Trip, his old friend and colleague for almost a decade now, watched  this with the beginnings of a grin on his face. Pacing meant  thinking. He knew he was close to getting a "yes".

 "But what about Malcolm?"

 "I told you...he'd be happy about it. One night we had a little  chat about the men on Enterprise. You know, just a bit of silly  stuff. Like 'with whom would you like to if you could...?' and so  on. And he mentioned you. And now with his birthday practically  knockin' on the door, I thought I might offer him a very special  birthday present. Namely you. And it isn't as if it would be new  territory for you, would it?"

 Jon stopped his pacing , and eyed his old friend. He knew Trip was  alluding to the little affair they'd had years ago. It had been  hot, steamy, very fulfilling, and the best sex he had ever had. It  broke apart because of the stubbornness of both men. Both wanted to  take the lead in their short-time-relationship. So one day, after a  good long talk and some heavy drinking, they decided on going back  to being friends. It had worked out just fine, and had remained  that way.

 Until now.

 Jon knew Trip too well. He had never seen him so much in love  before. Would Trip risk this love if there were really any risk?  Surely not. Jon painted a little scenario for himself in his head:  Malcolm and Trip --both naked --making love, and then himself  joining these two gorgeous men. Hastily he sat down, as he noticed  the reaction of his body to this all-too-erotic image.

 "So," Trip leaned back. The beginnings of his friend's erection  hadn't gone unnoticed, and he was barely able to hide his smile.

 "His birthday is in about a week. I planned on a nice little  candlelight-dinner in my quarters, and then the giving of his gift,  which means I'd like you to come to my quarters at about 2200  hours. Would that be all right?"

 Jon stared at Trip in disbelief. He hadn't said anything to give  his friend the impression that he would join in his little plan,  yet the engineer was talking as if he had done so. And to his utter  and complete surprise he heard himself saying,

 "Yes, I guess that can be arranged. I'll bring the cham...no, Trip  wait. Hold it for a sec, will you? I can't come to your quarters  and seduce your lover. I'm his captain. You know Malcolm. He would  never be able to look me in the eyes again."

 With a devilish smile Trip offered the solution to this problem.  Inwardly he grinned from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat.

 "I knew you'd say that. He will wear a blindfold, and you won't  speak. Okay?"

 Sighing Jon scratched himself behind his ear. He shot a quick  glance at Trip, who looked like the proverbial cat who had just  eaten the canary. Then he nodded. He couldn't say exactly why he  was doing this, but he nodded his okay. Hell knew where this would  lead him.

 Trip's smile was blinding in its pure joy. Acting on impulse, he  leaned over and gave his friend a little kiss on the lips.

 "Thanks, Jonny. You don't know what that means to me."

 He left with a joyful spring in his step, leaving behind a terribly  confused Starfleet Captain.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Mornin', darlin'. Happy birthday."

 With the trace of a frustrated sigh Malcolm turned around in the  arms of his lover. He never had been too keen on celebrating his  birthday, but being involved with Trip Tucker meant to endure every  occasion for celebration the southener could find.

 "Good morning. Do you really have to remind me?"

 Trip laughed, and kissed him lovingly.

 "Sure I do. That's what people are supposed to do when they love  each other. Celebrate little things like birthdays."

 With a barely suppressed grunt, Malcolm disentangled himself from  his lover's embrace, rolled off the bed, and began dressing. How he  hated this day. Even when he was a child, birthdays had never been  anything worth remembering. But as he grew closer to Trip, he  realized that days like this were very important to him. So he had  learned to smile, and try to live through it, while making the best  of it. This was going to be one of those days. He turned to Trip  and smiled. It was a little forced, but that was the best he could  do.

 "Sorry, love. Thank you. Planned something for tonight?"

 A smile spread across Trip's face. Oh yeah, he indeed had something  planned. Something his beloved Brit wouldn't forget very quickly.  He tried his best to look nonchalant as he turned his face to  Malcolm.

 "Just a little dinner tonight. Could you be here at 2030 hours?"

 Malcolm became suspicious in an instant. 'Just a little dinner'  wasn't Trip's style in celebrating this day. Not that he was keen  on being the subject of everybody's attention, but a party with at  least a third of the crew was more like him. With a shudder, he  remembered last year, when the day had started with a dozen red  roses, continued with congratulations from his whole staff, and  ended with a party in the mess with all his friends, including the  captain, Subcommander T'Pol and Dr. Phlox. It had been so  embarrassing. He had been totally surprised. Not knowing what to  say, he just stared at the crowd, who were smiling back at him,  expecting him to say something. He hadn't talked to Trip for three  long days after that. Now he was pleasantly surprised to see that  Trip had apparently learned something. He smiled at his lover.

 "Sure, love. Thank you."

 They parted after a few minutes of teasing, kissing, and laughing.  Just like every morning, they left Trip's quarters with a few  minutes time lag. Although Trip suspected that the whole ship knew  about their relationship, he respected Malcolm's wish for a little  privacy. But tonight he was going to break this unwritten rule, and  give his English man a night to remember. Trip grinned from ear to  ear on his way to engineering.

                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Jon couldn't believe that he really was going to seduce his best  friend's lover tonight. He was pacing his quarters, unable to sit  down and relax. Porthos' eyes followed him as he nervously walked  from right to left, and back. He stepped in front of his wardrobe  again, still uncertain as what to wear. Should he put on the black  shirt, and the blue jeans? Or the blue shirt with the beige  trousers? The white shirt to the black jeans?

 Frustrated, he flopped down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It  was 2136 hours. He had to be in Trip's quarters in less than thirty  minutes. He sat up again, running his hands through his hair. Hell,  what did it matter what he was wearing? He wasn't suspected to LOOK  good, he was suspected to BE good. And that didn't involve  clothing.

 He looked over to Porthos who seemed to be laughing at him.  Sighing, he left the bed and pulled out the blue shirt. He would  try to do his best, and clothing was absolutely lower priority this  evening.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Trip was kissing Malcolm tenderly while he pulled a black foulard  out from under the pillow. They were both naked, and enjoying the  feeling of skin on skin.

 "I have a present for you, darlin'. Are you ready for it?"

 Malcolm's brain was like melted butter, kissed to heaven by that  incredible mouth. So he had some difficulty concentrating on the  question. It took him a few seconds to answer.

 "You don't have to give me anything, love. Having you is more than  I have ever dreamed of."

 Laughing, Trip kissed his collarbone.

 "You say the sweetest things, darlin'. Nevertheless...are you ready  for it?"

 Malcolm nodded. Trip folded the foulard, and held it up, a  questioning look in his eyes.

 "Do you trust me?"

 "With my life."

 "Good. Close your eyes, then I'll put on the blindfold."

 Without hesitation, Malcolm did as he was told. The silk whispered  against his skin, and a shiver run down his spine. They had played  this kind of game before, and Malcolm knew there was nothing to  worry about.

 "Do me a favor, darlin'."

 He heard Trip's voice close to his right ear, involuntary turning  his head towards the soft whisper.

 "The surprise will be here any minute. Don't ask any questions.  Just relax, enjoy, and trust me."

 Suddenly Malcolm heard the opening and the closing of the door. He  froze, but Trip's voice sounded very content, so he did his best to  relax again.

 "Perfect timing. Get your clothes off and join us whenever you're  ready."

 After a few minutes, Malcolm heard the rustling of clothes. Trip's  hands were on his body the whole time, caressing him, stroking him,  reassuring him, his voice whispering sweet nonsense in his ear.

 And suddenly he felt another pair of hands.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Jon tapped in the private code Trip had sent him that afternoon.  The door whooshed open, and his breath caught in his throat at the  sight that greeted him.

 Candles were lit everywhere. Soft jazz music was swaying through  the room. From the table, where he could see the remains of an  opulent dinner, a trail of red roses led to the bed. And there he  saw the two men.

 Malcolm and Trip were lying naked on the bed. Malcolm was wearing a  black blindfold, and nothing else. His skin was fair, shimmering in  the soft candlelight like satin. Though he was smaller than the two  men admiring him, he was well muscled, and his body was exquisite.  Strong shoulders, a slim waist, lean legs, and then Jon's gaze fell  on the fully erect penis.

 Trip caressed Malcolm's skin continuously. He looked up, beamed Jon  a blinding smile, and said quietly.

 "Perfect timing. Get your clothes off and join us whenever you're  ready."

 Jon had seen Trip naked before. Why he felt suddenly embarrassed in  front of his old friend he couldn't tell. For a second he had the  feeling that it had been wrong to come. But then he saw Trip's  hard-on, and all his worries disappeared within seconds. Too long  had he craved the feeling of skin on skin. Starved for physical  closeness, Jon practically ripped his clothes off, stepped to the  bed, and tentatively touched Malcolm on the shoulder. The other man  gasped. His skin was soft -just as he had imagined it.

 Jon grew bolder and sat down on the bed, roaming his hands over the  armory officer's body. He felt the muscles play under the silken  texture of the skin. Malcolm shifted slightly to give him room. The  captain looked at Trip who suddenly leaned over to kiss him fully  on the mouth.

 He moaned silently.

 Oh god, he hadn't known how much he missed those talented lips.  Slowly he pushed his tongue into the warmth of Trip's mouth and  played with his tongue, eliciting a contented sigh from the other  man. Jon's hand slid up closing itself around Trip's neck, pulling  the other man a bit nearer.

 "Trip?" whispered Malcolm. His voice sounded uncertain,  questioning. Trip broke off the kiss, leaning over to his lover.

 "I'm here, darlin'. Happy birthday, my love. Just enjoy. We can  stop now if you're too uncomfortable with it. Are you?"

 The English man slowly shook his head. His voice sounded husky.

 "No, please. Go on."

 Trip smiled lovingly.

 "I'll take care of you. You wanna kiss your surprise?"

 Malcolm nodded. Jon leaned over, suddenly a little bit shy. But  only until he felt the tender lips that were Malcolm's. He felt the  eager response and was lost from that moment. How long has it been  since he had been able to touch another man like that? Since he had  been kissed with so much passion? Months, years. He had stopped  counting. And now he stopped thinking. He became pure emotion. All  he wanted to do right now was to please this man, and to let  himself be pleasured. He stretched out next to Malcolm, caressing  Trip with one hand while the other was busy teasing Malcolm. They  kissed endlessly. Their tongues entwined in a gentle duel with no

 losers.  

 Trip kissed Malcolm's shoulder, and then worked his way downwards,  over the smooth chest, the flat stomach until he reached the fully  erect cock of his lover.

 Malcolm managed to gasp in the midst of the kissing, and Jon  laughed silently, his body shaking. But his laughter was replaced  by sighing as Malcolm started to touch him.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Hesitantly, Malcolm began to touch the other man. His skin was warm  and soft over steel -like muscles. He let himself touch more  firmly. A strong body, not a single ounce of fat was on it. His  brain became fuzzy.

 God, that man could certainly kiss.

 Malcolm's hand touched the other man's face. Very prominent  features, hair like silk, and a bit longer than usual. He gently  run his fingers through the hair, and felt the man lean into this  caress like a kitten leaning into a stroking hand. He was having no  success in his attempt to identify this man. In fact he wasn't very  able to concentrate on the task, for both men were slowly driving  him mad. As his hand glided over the flanks of the man kissing him,  Malcolm felt him shiver in response, and smiled a little. His hands  roamed over a smooth chest, finding the nipples. He gently pinched  them, and was rewarded with a deep moan. He wanted to remember that  moan, but it was gone at the moment he felt hot lips on his cock.

 A very talented, and very familiar mouth engulfed him, strong hands  stroked him, and a well-known tongue glided up and down his shaft.  His breathing became heavy. He sighed, whispering.

 "Oh, Trip, don't stop. That's so good."

 The other man suddenly moved away from his mouth, sliding deeper to  join Trip. He felt tiny butterfly-kisses on the inside of his  thighs, a hand gently pushing his legs apart. Without thinking he  obliged, spreading his legs to give both men better access to his  almost achingly hard penis. He startled a bit, when he suddenly  felt a tongue gliding over the highly sensitive opening to his  body, but he relaxed immediately, and let out a deep breath. The  penetrating was more insistent now, accompanied by a slick  fingertip gently inserting itself into his body. He relaxed even  more. The fact that he didn't knew whose finger... no, whose  fingers they were only heightened his arousal, and he felt close to  exploding.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Trip felt the cock in his mouth grow a bit larger, and slowed his  motions. He knew that sign. His lover was ready to lift off. But  Trip wanted it to last longer, much longer, so he released  Malcolm's erection, and watched Jon in fascination. His friend had  started to gently penetrate his lover. And Malcolm obviously  enjoyed it. Three fingers were buried deep within him, with a  fourth to be added soon, as Jon was tenderly licking, and  eventually sucking, on Malcolm's balls.

 "God, that looks beautiful. Malcolm...god...you're absolutely  gorgeous."

 His own penis was almost painful hard, and he absentmindedly  stroked himself, watching both, his friend and his lover.

 Suddenly Jon looked up, and gently withdrew Trip's hand from his  cock, to replace it with his own. His hand was as strong and  powerful as Trip remembered it. His head fell back, and blindly he  searched for a hold on the shelf behind him. Jon leaned closer to  whisper in his ear, unhearable for Malcolm.

 "May I...well... you know?"

 Trip swallowed hard. The mere image of Jon being buried within  Malcolm could make him come. He concentrated on the latest problem  down in engineering, thought of the icy cold in Shuttlepod One, and  nodded. Then an idea crossed his mind, and his eyes sparkled. His  voice was barely audible.

 "May I fuck you, too?"

 Jon's eyes turned a shade darker as he heard the open question.  Without hesitation he nodded. Trip's smile widened.

 "Good."

 He straightened himself up a bit, then he leaned over to Malcolm.

 "Mal, are you ready for a bit more action? Wanna have his dick  replace his fingers? Is that okay by you?"

 Malcolm licked his lips. He was unable to form a coherent sentence  so he simply nodded. Trip's gaze caressed his lover. Malcolm was  panting hard, his penis was still in Trip's grip, and his ass was  filled with Jon's fingers. Trip was sure he never saw anything so  erotic before.

 "You know what?" Trip turned to Jon, this time speaking a little  bit louder, for Malcolm to hear.

 Jon looked at him, shrugging slightly.

 "His mouth is not only good for kissing. Let him suck your dick,  and he'll sent you straight to heaven."

 Jon couldn't hold back a moan now, for a single second not caring  if Malcolm recognized him or not. In one lithe movement he shifted  up toward where Malcolm's face was lying. He shot a quick glance at  Trip, and made a 'sitting him up' gesture. Trip nodded, then he  addressed his lover.

 "Darlin', come sit up a bit, will ya? It'll be more comfortable for  you."

 Malcolm sat up, shoved a pillow behind his back, and reached out  blindly until he touched warm skin.

 "Come to me." Malcolm's voice was thick with emotion, and as soon  as he felt the hot, and slightly sticky tip of a cock touch his  lips, he opened his mouth. Malcolm sucked him in, making slow  humming noises in the back of his throat. And then he heard the  first words break through the silence the unknown man had  maintained so successfully.

 "Oh my god."

 A throaty whisper, coming from the core of the soul. Malcolm  circled his arms around the waist of his unknown lover, kneading  his ass, gently stroking the perfect flesh, and playfully touching  the entrance to the other man's body. He felt the body in his arms  tense, and another deep moan escaped that talented mouth he had  come to know earlier that night.

 Trip watched in fascination. He knew how hard this had to be for  Jon. He remembered how eloquent his captain was in bed. Being so  silent had to be terrible for him. He saw Jon lifting a hand,  biting down hard on his knuckles to keep himself from moaning or  saying something.

 Slowly he moved closer to Jon, touching his shoulder, making him  bend forward with a light pressure between his shoulderblades. Jon  glanced at him, the question obvious in his eyes. With a devilish  smile Trip showed him the tube of lube he held in one hand.

 A deeply sighed: "Oh yes! " escaped the older man as he yielded to  the pressure of Trip's hand. The engineer put some of the lube on  his fingers and slowly entered the captain's body with one finger.  He felt him tense up; then he relaxed and shivered in delight. This  didn't go unnoticed by Malcolm, who stopped his deep sucking for a  moment.

 "What? What is it?"

 Trip, who meanwhile had his second finger inside his captain's  tight opening, leaned over to kiss him lightly on his mouth.

 "Nothing. I'm just goin' to fuck our guest now."

 "I wish I could see that."

 "Ah ah ah, no way, darlin'. But you may do the same if you want  to."

 "Yes, please."

 It sounded so polite, as if Malcolm had been offered a second cup  of tea at a formal dinner. Jon and Trip were looking at each other,  and burst out laughing. 

 "Okay, darlin'. You can have him first. Anyway...he's your gift. I  prepared him for you, now you can have your fun with him."

 Jon trembled in anticipation. The conversation between these two  man had aroused him even more. He grabbed Trip by his neck, and  pulled him in in a deep and passionate kiss.

 "I'll get you for that, Trip Tucker," he murmured against his  mouth.

 "Why? Aren't you enjoying yourself?" Trip replied with a smile.

 "I...ooh...yes."

 A fourth finger had been added, and Jon closed his eyes. The double  sensation  that he was receiving was mind-blowing. Gently, Trip  withdrew his fingers and pushed Jon down on the bed. Without  resistance, Jon lay down. Malcolm sat up, and let himself lead  between Jon's wide spread legs

 Malcolm let his hand slowly travel up those long, muscular legs  until he reached his goal. His hand closed around a big, hard,  throbbing cock. He turned his head in Trip's direction.

 "Love, kiss me."

 Trip's heart was full of love as he leaned close to his English man  and captured his lips in an unbelievably tender kiss. He broke the  kiss just to let him know:

 "You can have him now, darlin'. He's more than ready."

 He continued kissing his lover while he guided Malcolm's hard penis  to the entrance of Jon's body. Slowly, very slowly and carefully  Malcolm pushed himself inside the hot opening. When he was all the  way inside, he had to pause a few seconds; otherwise he knew he  would explode in an instant. He was on sexual overload and he knew  he wouldn't last long. He broke from the kiss with his southener,  leaning down to his secret lover. Finding Jon's lips with a hot  kiss, he began to move in a steady rhythm. Then he moved his lips  over his gift's cheek to his ear, and whispered.

 "I won't last long. Please let Trip make you come."

 Jon's eyes filled with tears because of so much tenderness and  caring. He looked at Trip who had overheard every word. He smiled  before bending down to close his mouth around Jon's shaft. Jon  moaned deeply. Then he felt the tension building inside him. A cry  formed in his throat, begging for release, and it took all his  willpower to choke this cry as he finally came. The spasm sent  Malcolm over the edge, too. They came in perfect unison. Trip  swallowed Jon's come without thinking. He had done it often enough  in the short time their relationship had lasted. Malcolm panted  hard, his heart was racing. He leaned down to kiss his unknown  lover, tenderly, gently. Then he whispered against his mouth:

 "Thank you, whoever you are."

 Jon wanted nothing more than to return that compliment, but he knew  that he couldn't say anything.

 Trip felt the inner turmoil of his friend, and lay down beside the  two men.

 "He is glad to be here tonight, darlin'. Believe me. But would  somebody care about me now? Please?"

 Malcolm and the stranger laughed quietly. Then Malcolm leaned over  to kiss his lover.

 "Of course, love. Why don't you just finish what our friend here  began?"

 "Nothin' I'd love more, darlin'. Turn around, and show me your  sweet ass. Would you mind our friend watching?"

 "No, of course not. He can stay just where he is, please."

 Again this politeness that made Jon grin. Trip gave him a friendly  bump with his elbow, and gestured to him to remain silent.

 Malcolm was leaning forward, before Jon could move aside. As if he  had felt the uncertainty of the other man, he leaned down to  whisper in his gift's ear.

 "Please stay here and kiss me."

 How could Jon refuse such a invitation? He was lying there feeling  the strength of Malcolm, while he watched his old friend preparing  his lover. Then Trip pushed in in one swift movement. The  expression on Malcolm's face was enough to make Jon hard again.  With one hand he stroked himself, but his hand was pushed aside by  Malcolm who replaced it with his own. Trip didn't last long,  couldn't last long. The erotic tension of that night had been too  much for all of them. As Trip came with one last powerful stroke  inside Malcolm, the English man made his secret lover come a second  time, before he came again himself.

 They all collapsed in a heap of arms and legs, panting, sweating,  and barely able to move.

 Jon was the first to recover. After several minutes, he  disentangled himself, sat up, and slowly left the bed. Malcolm  reached out for him, but as he was still wearing his blindfold, it  was easy for Jon to move aside. Quietly he dressed, mouthed the  words 'breakfast tomorrow?' to Trip, and left when Trip nodded his  'yes'.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 When the door closed behind Jon, Trip removed the blindfold from  his lover. Malcolm blinked a few times until his eyes adjusted to  the brightness of the candles. A very special smile lay on the  southerner's features as he watched him.

 "How did you like your present?"

 Malcolm grinned, very content, very satisfied.

 "Much more than the party last year. Will you ever tell me who it  was?"

 Trip shook his head.

 Malcolm smiled lazily.

 "So I have to find out myself. And I will, you can be sure of  that."

 Trip embraced his English man.

 "I love you, Brit."

 "I love you too. Good night."

 "Good night."

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Jon arrived in his quarters in a very strange mood. His body was  sated from the sex. His mind was racing from the things he had just  experienced. It wasn't only the physical part. It was the emotional  turmoil he suddenly found himself plunged into.

 He hadn't known how much he had missed the touch of another person  until tonight. Would he be able to go on every day, pretending  nothing had happened? He would see them every day, would go with  them on away-missions, and all the while he would think of that  expression in Malcolm's face at the moment when Trip had entered  him.

 He went to the lavatory, washed his face with cold water. Then he  addressed his face in the mirror.

 "You're a liar ", he said to his reflection. "You're a liar if you  think you can just forget it. You won't be able to forget it. Not  the sex, not Trip, not Malcolm. All you can do is just try not to  let anything show."

 Though he managed to sleep that night, his dreams showed him only  Trip and Malcolm, and the hope of a possible future together with  both men.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Trip was sipping his coffee while Jon eyed him nervously. The  engineer wore a big, satisfied smile on his face.

 "Jon, you were fantastic last night. I must admit you still know  all the tricks to drive a man crazy."

 Jon sighed heavily, grabbing his coffee mug, emptying it in one  gulp. He seemed to be lost in thought. Trip snapped his fingers in  front of Jon's eyes, waking him from his thoughts.

 "Wha...oh, sorry, Trip. I'm impolite. What did you say?"

 "Still thinking about last night?"

 Jon smiled half-heartedly.

 "Yeah...a bit. Trip, is still everything all right with you and  Malcolm?"

 Trip's wide, Phlox-like grin answered his question. Jon's smile  became more certain, as he felt relieved, in a way.

 "I take that as a yes. Last night...it didn't change anything  between you, did it?"

 "No! No, of course not. On the contrary. Though he's still  wondering who it could have been."

 "Do you think he'll find out?"

 Trip thought for a moment in silence. Of course would his lover  find out. He was a brilliant tactical officer, and it was only a  matter of time. But he couldn't say that aloud, for Jon would die  of embarrassment. So he shook his head, gazing at his old friend,  suspicion dawning in his eyes.

 "Jon, d'you regret what happened?"

 This time Jon shook his head.

 "No, truly not. I'm just glad everything's all right."

 And this time he meant it. A weight was falling from his heart; he  could go back to work without worrying about Trip and his lover.

 He was just about to bite into his bread as he heard the comm beep.  His hand sank down, and he stared at Trip with an amused expression  on his face.

 "Just once I want to have breakfast without entertainment."

 Trip laughed out loud while Jon went over to the comm.

 "Archer here."

 "Captain, I would recommend your presence on the bridge."

 Jon sighed a bit. Couldn't his subcommander at least try to sound a  bit more human?

 "I'm coming."

 Trip wiped his mouth with his napkin, already half-way up from his  chair. Jon gestured to him.

 "No need to spoil your breakfast, too. Stay here, I'll be back any  minute."

 As Jon entered the bridge he noticed Malcolm at his station. He  looked just as he did any other day. And for a moment, Jon couldn't  quite believe what had happened the previous night. But as he sat  down, a long absent little sting reminded him of his last night's  actions. He smiled. 

 "Subcommander?"

 T'Pol stood at her station, composed and emotionless as ever, hands  moving over some switches on her console, finally pointing toward  the main viewscreen.

 Within seconds it was filled with the image of a beautiful,  sparkling giant nebula.

 Jon stood up again, slowly moving closer to the viewscreen.  Completely captured by that sight, he whispered,

 "Oh my god."          

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 "Oh my god."

 A throaty whisper.

 Malcolm stared at his captain, incredulous. It was the same whisper  he had heard the night before as he had played with the penis of  his unknown lover. A shiver ran down his spine, and goose bumps  appeared on his skin.

 Could it be...?

 He stared at his captain. His hair was slightly longer than usual.  His face was prominent, his hands long, and slender. His body was  tight with not a single ounce of fat on it. His mouth was soft,  inviting.

 There was no doubt any more about his mysterious lover.

 It had been Captain Jonathan Archer.

 Malcolm felt himself shiver. What should he do? He had slept with  his captain, and to be honest, he had enjoyed it.

 Should he talk to him? Ask him why he had agreed to participate in  Trip's little gift--scenario?

 But as he was desperately trying to concentrate on his work again,  he felt his body respond to the memories of the previous night. It  had been wonderful. Arousing. Disturbing. Breath-taking.  Jaw-dropping. And absolutely unforgettable.

 And while he was watching the nebula on the view-screen an idea  formed in his mind. It would take all of his courage to carry this  off, but he knew that he had only one chance.

 Just as Captain Archer was about to hit the comm to call Trip to  the bridge, Malcolm rose from his chair.

 "Captain? Could I speak with you for a moment? In private, please."

 Jon's gaze turned to him, the question obvious in his eyes. Then he  shrugged his shoulders.

 "Sure. We can go to my ready room."

 Malcolm knew that his lover had breakfast with Jon this morning. He  still wasn't here, so he surmised that Trip would still be waiting  in the captain's private mess. And he really would love to see his  face when he did what he planned to do.

 "Would you mind, sir, if we'd go to your private mess?"

 Jon was surprised, but recovered quickly.

 "No, of course not. Let's go. Subcommander, you have the bridge."

 No word was spoken on the short way to the captain's private mess.  Malcolm swallowed again hard. Every step brought him closer to...to  what? To fulfillment? To trouble? To his destination? To heaven? Or  to hell?

 As the door swooshed open, Malcolm's gaze fell on Trip who furrowed  his brow in a silent question. Malcolm smiled reassuringly to his  lover, and waited until the doors closed behind them.

 Before Jon could say or do anything, he found himself in the arms  of his armory officer, with Malcolm's mouth tightly locked upon  his. Time froze, and for a single second Malcolm had the terrifying  feeling that he had been wrong. But then he felt the other man  responding to his kiss, hungrily kissing him back. And that was all  he needed to know. It HAD been Jon last night.

 The kiss seemed to last forever.

         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Trip smiled.

 He had known it wouldn't take the talented tactical officer too  long to find out the identity of his mysterious gift. But even he  was surprised that it had taken less than a day. Hell, less than  two hours.

 Now he watched them kissing, until finally his lover broke the  kiss.

 "It WAS you."

 It wasn't a question but an ascertainment. Jon nodded. Malcolm  turned to Trip.

 "How could you? Why him? He's our captain. Bloody hell, Tucker.  Don't you know what you've driven me into?"

 Trip did his best to look innocent but the grin that spread across  his face made even the slightest attempt impossible.

 "Didn't you like it, darlin'? And by the way...if you're so upset  with my little...gift, why are you still holding it in your arms?"

 Hastily Malcolm let go as if he had burned his hands. He flushed  furiously, and took several steps back  until he felt the wall at  his back. He bowed his head, staring at his shoes.

 "I'm sorry, sir."

 Trip finally rose from his chair, stepping to Malcolm, taking the  stiff body in his arms.

 "Relax, darlin'." he purred in the English man's ear.

 "There's no need to be rude. If you didn't like it last night, we  forget everything and go on as we are now. You know how much I love  you, don't you? But if you liked it...think we can repeat it?"

 Malcolm had a lump in his throat. His gaze went from his lover to  his captain, and back. Trip's blue eyes were locked on him.

 Malcolm stepped close to Jon again. He met the older man's eyes,

 gazing deeply, searching for the answer to an unspoken question.  But Jon knew that question. Would an ongoing relationship, even if  it was just on a sexual base, influence their ability to work  together?

 Without ever breaking eye contact Jon shook his head.

 Malcolm studied the captain's face very closely. And slowly a smile  spread across his face.

 He turned to Trip.

 "I assume you remembered that little after-sex chat we had one  night. Am I correct?"

 Trip only nodded. Malcolm continued.

 "Sometimes, there are borders that no-one should ever overstep.  Boundaries that no-one should ever breach. Bridges that no-one  should ever dare crossing."

 Trip began to get uncomfortable. But Malcolm spoke without the  slightest hint of hesitation in his voice.

 "As far as my father would be concerned, I overstepped the most  important borderline already months ago. The fraternization with a  superior, namely you, love."

 He gave Trip a short, sweet kiss on the lips. The question in his  lover's eyes became more and more obvious. What was it that Malcolm  wanted to say?

 "Last night I broke another of my father's golden rules, though it  happened unknowingly. I slept with my CO, with my captain. "

 Jon swallowed. He called himself a fool, for ever letting himself  be talked into any of this. He should have known that Malcolm  couldn't handle it so easily. He was just about to say something  when Malcolm looked deeply into his eyes.

 "As I said...my FATHER'S golden rules. Not mine. Jon, "

 For the first time he addressed his captain directly, holding him  with his gaze.

 "Last night was extraordinary. Even if I tried, I could never  forget it. It wasn't only because of the sex. It was because of  your kindness, the way you responded to me. The way you made love  to me, no, to US...without knowing if there would ever be a second  time."

 Jon swallowed again, sensing the hidden meaning of Malcolm's words,  unable to believe he was really hearing this.

 "Love, "

 The gray eyes searched for Trip, holding him tight.

 "I really would love to repeat it, without a blindfold this time.  At least without a blindfold for ME. If you would like to try  it..."

 He wasn't able to finish this sentence. He was interrupted by both  men who threatened to crush the smaller man in the middle of their  loving, but tight, embrace.

 Trip found his mouth, and the passionate kiss told Malcolm, more  clearly than all the words, that the happiness in his life, which  he had already thought unable to grow much greater, was just at its  beginning.

The end

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