“You got everything, Trip?”

“Yeah.”

“So you’re ready to go?”

No response.  Archer turned to the younger man.  “Trip?”

Trip sighed.  “Ready?  I don’t know about that.”

Archer put his hands on Trip’s shoulders.  “If you don’t want to go, no problem.  We’ll stay onboard.”

“You’d give up a month’s shore leave?  Are you crazy?”

“And if you think I’m going to leave you up here alone for a month, you’re the crazy one,” was Archer’s retort.

“Jon – “

“Besides, Trip – do you really think I could enjoy myself without you?”

Trip looked at him.  “I know it’s stupid,” he began.

“No, it’s not,” Archer interrupted.  “I understand.”  He smiled at the engineer.  “But the Governor tells me that the villa they’re giving us is out in the county.  We don’t have to go anywhere near the city.  Not unless you want to.”

“You probably think I have a yellow streak running up my back a mile wide,” Trip said ruefully.

“What I think,” Archer told him, “is that you have been through an extremely traumatic experience.  One that had its beginnings here on Argada.  And that it’s only natural that you’d feel like this.”

“Thanks, Jon.  I appreciate that.”

“So, let’s unpack.  You know, we could – “

“No.”

“No?”

“No.  It’s like the Argadian governor said.  Let’s give this place a second chance.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.  What the hell.”

Trip picked up his bags.  “You sure about Porthos?”

Archer smiled.  Trip had become very attached to the beagle; an attachment that was enthusiastically reciprocated.  “Yeah.  Don’t worry – Hoshi will take good care of him.  She said he’ll be very helpful to her.”

Trip raised a brow.  “Porthos as a guard dog?”

“No,” Archer said, laughing.  “But you know Hoshi.  Always wanting to learn new languages.  She says that people of all kinds stop and talk to her whenever Porthos is with her.  Makes it easy for her to do her research.”  Trip still looked doubtful.  “Come on, Trip – what are you worried about?  You know Hoshi’s going to spoil him rotten.”  When Trip was still silent, Archer added, “Unless you think you’re going to need him for protection yourself.  And if that’s the case, don’t worry.  You’ve got me.”

“You?”

Archer smiled.  “I know you’re nervous.  So, I’ll be there for you.  Believe me, I’ve got a vested interest in keeping you safe.”

“Really?”

“You bet.  Do you know what a major pain in the ass it would be to train a new chief engineer?”

Trip laughed.  “Okay.  You’ve convinced me.”

*  *  *

“You’re right,” Trip said in a tone of grudging agreement while he looked out of the window.  “It is nice place.  I’d forgotten.”  Archer, concentrating on his piloting, was silent.  Trip looked over at him.  “You okay?  Need help?”

Archer shook his head.  “No.  I’m all right now.  Just takes a little while to get used to these controls, that’s all.”

Trip looked around.  “Sweet little ship,” he commented.  “Think they’d let us keep it?”

“If you asked, they just might,” Archer told him.

Trip looked surprised.  “You think?”

“Sure.  After all, they owe you.”

“No they don’t.  Wasn’t the Argadian government’s fault.”

“I disagree.”  At Trip’s look, Archer clarified.  “They should have been one hell of a lot more thorough checking the outgoing traffic from this system.  Sloppy security and customs control.  Very sloppy.”

“Hindsight,” Trip shrugged.  “Always 20/20.”

“Maybe.  But at least some good came out of it.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.  Ever since Arex and Zirella’s arrest, they’ve really cracked down.  Cleaned house.  Tightened security.”  He smiled.  “Mind you, the fact that the Vulcans brought a lot of pressure to bear helped, too.”

“The Vulcans?  Didn’t think they cared.”

“I’m not sure they do,” Archer told him.  “But I found out that those two,” referring to Arex and Zirella, “did quite a brisk business in trafficking Vulcans.”

“Vulcans?  As pleasure slaves?”  At Archer’s nod, Trip exhaled, shook his head.  “I can’t imagine.  I mean, for a Vulcan to have to go through that?  Must be pretty damn awful.”

And you ought to know, Archer thought.  Aloud, he said, “Well, the end result of all of this is, this planet is now a much safer place for visitors.  Thanks in part to you.”

“No, not me.  All I did was get kidnapped.  Not terribly heroic.”

“I disagree.”

Trip smiled, then looked out of the window again.  “Where is this villa?”

“On the southern coast.  It’ll take a while to get there.”

“Oh?  Taking the scenic route, are we?”

Archer grinned.  “Okay.  You got me.  I just wanted to give you some time to get used to the idea.”

“Thanks.”

Archer reached over, took his hand.  “How you doing?  You okay?”

Trip took a breath.  “It’s weird, being back here.  You know?”

“I do indeed.  But I’m glad you decided to come anyhow.”

“Well,” Trip pointed out, “a free villa and a complimentary shuttle.  Be hard to say ‘no’ to that.”

“Was that the only reason?”

Trip looked at him.  “You know the answer to that.”

*  *  *

Trip stepped out of the shuttle and stared.  “Wow.”

Archer joined him.  “You said a mouthful.”

“When they said a villa, I thought it would be – you know – a villa.  But this – it’s a goddamned palace!”

Trip was right.  Palatial was the only word to describe the splendid structure.  It sprawled, huge and magnificent, atop a gently sloping hill overlooking the ocean.  A tall stone wall surrounded the house, and this in turn was surrounded by groves of fruit trees.  Beyond the orchard, rolling forested hills could be seen.

Trip stood, taking in the sandstone pink walls, rows of windows and the massive double front doors.  “I wonder how many rooms there are?”

“Lots,” was Archer’s response.

“You’re brilliant,” Trip told him.  He looked at the house again.  “All this ‑ for just the two of us?”

“Yep.  They’ll be sending someone in on a daily basis with free groceries – and we can request whatever we want by the way – along with clean linens.  But that’s it.”

“Place will be pretty lived-in by the end of the month.  Course, if we don’t feel like cleaning, we can probably just move from room to room.”

“We won’t have to clean and we won’t have to move.  The whole place is automated.  Self-cleaning.  Domestic robots.  All the latest in creature comforts.”

“Really?”  Trip looked intrigued.

Archer recognized that look, and laughed.  “No.  You can’t take things apart to see how they tick.  That would be an abuse of our hosts’ hospitality.  Plus, this is supposed to be a holiday, remember?  You’ve been working way too hard.  You’re supposed to take a rest.”

Trip sighed.  “I suppose you’re right.”

Archer took pity on him.  “I’m sure the planetary database will have blueprints, schematics – that sort of thing.  They’ll probably be happy to give you any information you want.”

Trip brightened.  “That’s an idea.”  He looked around, took a deep breath.  “Smells sweet.  Are those fruit trees out there?”

“Right.  And we can help ourselves.  There are several different varieties, and I’m assured they’re all delicious.”

“Maybe we can bring some seedlings back for Chef?”

“Sounds good.  But we’re on leave now, remember?  So let’s not worry about ship’s business right now, okay?”

“Okay.”  Trip looked around him once more.  “No neighbors?”

“No one but me and thee, old chum,” Archer grinned.  “Think you can stand it?”

Trip pretended to consider the question.  “It’s asking a lot, you know.  But I guess I can try.”

*  *  *

The entrance hall was as magnificent as the outer façade.  Sunlight streamed through windows two stories in height and reflected off the polished black marble floor.  Rooms were arranged around the perimeter of the building, but the centre was open from foundation to roof, and a spiral staircase wound its way up to the second floor.  Terraced pools were set in and under the stairs, and a waterfall, starting from the high ceiling, danced from one pool to the next, sunlight playing on it, causing sparkling reflections on the floor, walls and ceiling. 

They walked slowly across, their footsteps echoing in the vast open space.  “Place should have come with a map,” Trip observed. 

“And you call yourself an explorer,” Archer replied.

Trip laughed.  “Guess we should stow our gear.”  He looked around.  “Where do you think the master bedroom is?”

“Probably on the second floor.”

“Oh, well.  That narrows it down, genius.”

“Behave yourself, brat.”

Trip grinned at him, then climbed the stairs.  Reaching the second floor, he began walking along the balcony that encircled the centre of the house, opening doors as he went along.  “Living room, library, screening room, study …”

A single set of doors was set  into the wall which ran the width of one end of the house.  Trip opened them, looked in.  “Wow.”

Archer came up behind him.  “I second that.”

The master bedroom ran the width of the house.  It was dominated by the biggest bed either of them had ever seen.  It was a mammoth wooden four-poster, complete with canopy and silken hangings.  It was set against one wall, facing a fireplace where an entire ox could be roasted with ease.  Floor-to-ceiling French doors leading out onto the balcony which encircled the outside of the house were at either end of the room. 

“Wow,” Trip repeated.  He walked across the room, his footsteps muffled by the thick, beautifully patterned rug that completely covered the floor.  He opened one of the doors set into the wall, revealing a walk-in closet the size of their quarters aboard Enterprise.  He peered in, and laughed.  “We didn’t have to pack,” he said, indicating rows of clothing already hanging, neatly pressed and ready to wear.

He stowed his bag and slipped off his shoes, wiggling his bare toes in the carpet, then closed the closet door and turned to find an empty room.  “Jon?”

One of the balcony doors was open, and it was through this that Archer returned.  “Here I am.”  He walked over to Trip.  “One hell of a view out there.”

“Yeah?”  Trip started for the balcony, but Archer grabbed him by the wrist. “Jon?”

Archer slammed him up against the wall and kissed him.  Hard.

“Jon?”  Archer didn’t answer.  Instead, with one powerful tug, he ripped Trip’s shirt off of him.  “Hey!”

“You’ve got a whole closet full,” was the reply.  “Now, are you going to take those pants off, or do I have to?”

Trip gaped at him.  Before he could respond, there was the sound of tearing fabric, and the remainder of Trip’s pants joined his tattered shirt on the floor.  He was now clad only in his briefs, but not for long.  Another rip, and he was naked.  Archer kissed him savagely, then pulled him over to the bed and nearly threw him down on top of it.  Trip lay staring up, his heart hammering.  He’d never seen his lover in quite this kind of mood before.

Without taking his eyes away from Trip’s face, Archer began pulling his own clothes off.  Quickly.  “I’ve got plans for you,” he informed his lover.  “And when I’m through with you, the only thing you’re going to remember about this place is what I’ve done to you.”  His clothes shed, he lay beside Trip, took him in his arms, kissed him hungrily.  “And I promise you – it will be memorable.” 

He kissed Trip again, then took his sex in hand, began to stroke him.  Trip groaned in response.  “No time for finesse,” Archer told him.  “Not this time, anyhow.”  He gave Trip a feral smile.  “That’ll be for later.”  He continued until the younger man was erect.  “Over,” he ordered.  “On your stomach.”  When Trip hesitated, he added, “Now.  Or do you want me to do it for you?”

Trip obeyed, and lay, his hands clenching the sheets.  Archer ran a teasing finger down his spine, and he trembled.  “Now I’m going to fuck you,” Archer told him calmly.  “Hard.  Right through the mattress.  Got anything to say about it?”

Trip was silent.  Archer shrugged.  “All right.  You’ve been warned.”  He used the lube, readying himself while continuing to caress Trip.  The younger man trembled in response, but did not speak.  He made no sound until Archer entered him, and then he whimpered with pleasure.

Archer began thrusting rhythmically, taking Trip’s sex in hand and stroking him in time to that rhythm.  Trip gripped the pillow, moaned again.  “Jon – “

“Patience, brat,” was Archer’s response.  He continued his steady strokes, and Trip cried out.  “Yell all you like,” Archer told him.  “No one’s around to hear.”

Trip obliged.  He cried aloud, and as usual, the sound of his lover’s pleasure only served to inflame Archer.  He began to move harder, faster, and Trip’s cries accelerated in time with these movements.  When his orgasm finally thundered through him, he threw his head back and screamed.

But Archer was nowhere near finished with him yet.  He continued those movements, and Trip continued crying out as he was being pleasured internally.  He gasped.  “Jon … Please … I can’t … I can’t …”

Archer ignored this and continued to pound into his lover.  And in only a short time, Trip was hard again.  He whimpered when Archer began stroking him once more.  “Jon,” he begged.  “Please.”

“I warned you,” Archer panted.  He was coming close to the point of no return himself, and was determined that Trip would climax again.  He knew Trip was already experiencing intense pleasure from his internal stimulation, but he wanted more for his lover.  He tightened his grip, and Trip cried aloud helplessly.

He felt Trip tense, and saw his knuckles whitening as he clenched the pillow.  His second climax hit him, and Trip’s hips bucked and jerked.  These delicious movements triggered Archer’s own climax, and now his cries were mingled with Trips.

He felt Trip shudder and then slowly relax under him.  He withdrew, then turned him so they were lying face-to-face.  Gently, he cleaned his young lover off, then took him in a possessive embrace and kissed him.  Trip returned the kiss, entwined himself around Archer and laid his head on the Captain’s shoulder.  Archer continued stroking him, running his hands up and down the slender back in a way he knew Trip liked.  He took the firm chin in his hand, raised Trip’s head, looked into those blue eyes, and kissed him again.

Trip smiled tiredly.  “You owe me a new shirt.”

“I’ll get you ten.”

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