Pluck the Fruits of Love in Season
Title: Pluck the Fruits of Love in Season
Author: Reedfem
Author's e-mail: [email protected]
Date: Posted to EntSTSlash on 03/06/2003; sent to MEG Archive on 14 June 2003
Archive: Permission to archive granted to EntSTCommunity and
MEGA.
Fandom: Star Trek: Enterprise
Category: Slash
Rating: NC-17
Status: Complete
Pairing: Archer/Tucker
Summary: Jon regrets a long-ago decision; Trip has to
decide what he really wants.
Warnings: None.
Beta: Thank you Regina Bellatrix, not only for using your
precious time to beta this, but also for providing such an absolutely fabulous
title. And big thanks to shakespearespot for agreeing to look at something
beyond T/R.
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome.
Spoilers: First Flight
Disclaimer: These characters are copyrighted by Paramount,
no copyright infringement is intended and no money was made. The poor boys
just keep following me home and begging to stay. Quite nicely, too!
Author's Note: This is my humble response to Grrrl's 14000
post challenge. I think I covered everything: A/T first time, Trip's
harmonica, the line "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?", an
unusual food item, sexual tension, NC-17 bonus points.
I've known Charles Tucker III for about eight years, and
during that time, I've always been aware, sometimes painfully, that he is one
very attractive man. He's even more appealing when he's standing up for
something he believes in. He took my breath away when we first met back during
the NX test program. He came storming out of nowhere, blowing the protests of
those anal-retentive Vulcan overseers right out of the water and defending my
father's work. Defending me.
I fell hard for him back then, but I have my own obstinate
streak, and there was no way I was going to jeopardize humanity's future in
deep space exploration for what could have turned out to be just a quick fuck.
I also knew that I was going to need that young man. But by my side, not just
in my bed. I noticed all the provocative glances, the enticing remarks, the
hand that lingered a bit longer than necessary. I'm stubborn, not dead. I
simply ignored all the hints and temptations until finally they stopped. In
the end, Trip and I settled into an easy friendship, as close as brothers, just
without the blood relationship. He's kept me on my toes, slapped me upside the
head with a Nerf bat when I've needed it. I'd like to think I've helped him
smooth out some of his rougher edges; tempered his impulsive nature with
maturity.
Once we were actually onboard Enterprise, I was more than a
little surprised to find my libido working overtime to change my mind. I was
disconcerted to find myself checking out my best friend's ass. Watching him
move. And the dreams. Oh God, the dreams. And don't even mention decon. I
was terrified of ending up nearly naked with Trip in that blue-lit pleasure
prison. Away missions became a form of torture. Wondering if today would be
the day he'd get himself killed, leaving me to go on existing in a world
without him in it. Living with a Trip-shaped hole in my soul.
In my desperation, I'd actually begun spending more time
with my Vulcan science officer in an unsuccessful attempt to distance myself
from Trip emotionally in a way I physically couldn't do on such a small ship.
It really never occurred to me that Trip could be feeling the same way. I
hadn't missed the hungry looks my armory officer was starting to give Trip.
And the way Trip seemed to hover around Malcolm. All the time they spent
together. I thought it wouldn't be too long before the two of them were
involved. I told myself I was happy for them. Maybe then my fickle dick would
give up its attempts to take charge of things. But as it turned out, this time
the little head knew better than the big one.
***
I was in the gym, having just finished up my workout. I'd
punished myself for over an hour and was still sitting on one of the exercise
bikes, resting briefly before heading back to my quarters for a shower and bed.
Alone. The door opened and I watched Trip enter, followed closely by Malcolm
Reed. They were both excessively attractive in their casual workout gear;
Malcolm in sweatpants and T-shirt, Trip in a tank top and shorts. I suddenly
realized that both Malcolm and I were checking Trip out. Malcolm's eyes met
mine briefly in the mirror. The look he gave me was territorial, almost
challenging. I decided it was time for a hasty exit.
"Hey, Cap'n," Trip said, making his way toward the
bikes. "Don't leave on our account." Malcolm's eyes disagreed.
I got off the bike I'd been abusing and wiped it down with
my towel. "I've been here for awhile, Trip. I'm all finished." I
slung my dirty towel toward the bin by the door. "You two enjoy your
workout." I winced as I reached out to key the door.
"You okay? Pull a muscle or something?" Trip
asked in concern. He'd walked with me toward the door and had seen my pained
expression.
"No, just sore. I may have overdone it," I said
lightly, stepping into the corridor. I looked directly at Trip for the first
time since he'd entered the gym. Have his eyes always been so blue, I
wondered. "You and Malcolm have a nice night." I said, walking off
toward the lift. Trip stood watching until the gym door automatically closed.
***
I'd taken a long, hot shower and a pain-killer; the
combination had taken the edge off my muscle soreness. I was lying on my bed,
half-heartedly watching a water polo game. Porthos was sprawled across my lap,
and I was lazily scratching his ears. I finally sighed and switched off the
game in disgust. One of the players reminded me too much of Trip and my
simple-minded cock was starting to respond. The sound of the door chime
startled me.
"Come in." I thought it was probably T'Pol,
wanting to go over god knows what bit of administrivia that had caught her
attention. Or to ask if I'd have Chef prepare the fried green tomatoes she
found so inexplicably appetizing.
I was taken aback when Trip walked in. He was dressed in
sweatpants and a T-shirt this time. I checked the chrono and found it had been
nearly three hours since I'd left him in the gym with Malcolm.
"Trip? Something wrong?" I was glad Porthos was
covering most of my groin. Little Jon was very glad to see Trip.
"Yeah. I think there might be." He seemed oddly
tense.
"Anything you want to talk about?"
"Yeah. And no." Trip scowled, paced back and
forth, then walked over to the bed and sat down at the foot of the mattress,
facing me. "Hell, I don't know anymore."
"Okay, that's pretty clear." I smiled. Trip
looked uncomfortable. "What's up?" I put on my concerned friend
face and waited. And waited. Trip sat looking down at his hands, twisting
them together in his lap. I hadn't seen him this wrought up in a long time.
"Jon, I..." he trailed off. Took a deep breath
and started again. "Malcolm kissed me. In the gym."
I tried to stop it, but my mouth dropped open. I gaped at
Trip as if I were a beached trout. Luckily, he was still looking down and
missed it. I hastily pulled myself together and tried to think of something to
say.
"How was it?" The words were out before I could
stop them. Trip's eyes shot up to mine. I shrugged.
"It was... good. Nice." I raised my eyebrow at
him and he flushed. "Okay, real nice. But it didn't do anything for me,
ya know?"
"No?"
"No. Malcolm's a really nice guy, a good friend. But
I just don't feel that way about him." Trip's eyes burned into mine, and
I couldn't look away.
"You don't?" The air recycling unit must be
malfunctioning, because it was awfully hot in here.
"No. I don't think I realized it until he kissed
me."
"Realized what?" The humidity must be off too,
because my throat's a little dry.
"That it wasn't Malcolm I felt like that about. That
there was someone else I needed to be with. To kiss. To touch. To
love." Trip had been slowly making his way up the bed during his speech,
our eyes still locked together. When he finished, he was right in front of me.
He tilted his head slightly and smiled at me.
"It's you, Jon. It's always been you." He
reached out a hand toward my face and as it curled around the side of my face,
his lips followed, and then he was kissing me. And I was kissing him. Desperately.
I grabbed him and yanked him toward me, frantic for more contact. Porthos
yelped as he was crushed between us and we pushed away from each other. The
affronted beagle evacuated the area with an explosive doggie huff, while Trip
and I stared at each other, breathing heavily.
"Jon?" Trip's eyes were wide; he looked as young
and vulnerable as he'd been all those years ago. How could I have thought that
I could live without this man? Without this love?
"Trip." It was an affirmation, a declaration, a
request. All in the one beloved syllable. The joy in his eyes let me know
he'd understood. Then he launched himself at me, and I stopped thinking about
much at all. For awhile, there was only the succulent sound of our lips as we
fed greedily on each other. I fancied we might spontaneously combust from the
heat of the passion blazing up between us. Trip was devouring me, lighting me
up from the inside out. I was melting, red-hot, pliant as molten glass, ready
to be shaped into whatever he desired. Trip urged me to lie back on the bed,
and he started undressing me.
"I'm going to give you the best blow-job you've ever
had," he said in a husky voice. "Then I want you to fuck me through
the mattress."
A shudder of anticipation ran through me.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
Trip had finished undressing me and had started to
practically tear off his own clothes. He paused to chuckle at me.
"Well now, I've actually thought of some better things
to do with it. Want me to show you?" Trip advanced on the bed again,
naked now. All those workouts with Malcolm had paid off. He was beautiful;
heavily muscled, but well-defined. Like a statue in a museum come to life. He
was magnificent. And apparently all mine.
"Please." I relaxed onto the bed with a happy
sigh. Trip started out by kissing me some more. He gave my chest a tongue
bath, licking, kissing and flicking his tongue at my nipples, even nipping
them. I hadn't realized just how sensitive my nipples were until then, and the
feel of his lips and tongue on them was amazing. His hands began to roam,
going from my chest to my stomach and beyond.
Kissing his way down to my navel, he treated it as he had my
nipples. Then his roving hands were on my inner thighs, just below my balls.
After what felt like hours of Trip making love to every part of my body except
my genitals with his lips and fingers, Trip finally touched my cock - just
grazed it, mind you, with his fingertips. He drove me wild with that feathery touch
of his on my cock and balls. I was close to begging him to suck me when,
finally, I felt his tongue flicking at the head of my swollen dick.
The harmonica isn't the only organ Trip is a virtuoso with.
He alternated light, teasing kisses and licks with long, sweeping strokes of
his tongue from the head of my pulsing cock to the base. Up, down, and all
around he licked, bathing me with his saliva. Occasionally, he paused to tend
to my balls, which he licked lustily and then took into his mouth, one at a
time, sucking on each while holding my cock up against my stomach. And while
he was down there, his head sandwiched between my thighs, he licked all around
my asshole, which caused me to almost jump out of my skin.
But the showpiece of his performance was when he took me
deep; the full length of my erection disappearing down his throat with ease.
No one had ever done that to me before, and I couldn't believe how wonderful it
felt. Again and again, often with a sexy little whining sound from somewhere
deep down in his throat, Trip swallowed my hard cock whole. I watched in sheer
wonder.
My climax took me almost by surprise, running through me
like a bolt of lightning, scorching me with its intensity. I howled Trip's
name, almost choking him with the immensity of my release. Trip did his best
to swallow it all, but there was just too much, and some of it had spilled out
around the corners of his mouth and dribbled down his chin. Smiling, he wiped
the back of his hand over his lips, then he crawled up on top of me and gave me
a great big sloppy kiss. I tasted myself in his mouth and gloried in the
intimacy.
We lay like that for a long while, Trip's body a welcome
weight on top of mine. Eventually he slid off to one side and I put my arm
around him, pulling him as close as possible. He began to card his fingers
through my hair, making my skin tingle all over.
"You need a haircut," he teased.
"I'll take it under advisement," I grinned. We
were silent for awhile longer, just enjoying being in each other's arms.
"Do I need to worry that my armory officer is going to
attempt an assassination tomorrow?" Trip tensed up, then he started to
shake in helpless laughter.
"Oh, God. That's a good one. Should I assign you a
bodyguard?" He sobered. "Don't worry about Malcolm. We talked. He
understands. He's actually the one who talked me into coming here tonight.
Otherwise, I probably woulda chickened out."
"I'm very glad you didn't. So, a promotion instead of
the brig. Much better." I smiled and pulled him tighter.
"I shoulda known you'd be a cuddler."
"You're not doing such a bad job there yourself,
Commander Snuggles." Trip snorted, but pointedly didn't move away.
"I'm a firm believer in the benefits of cuddling. Comfort. Security. Love."
Trip smiled a little sadly at me. "I hated you for
awhile, you know? Back then, when you pushed me away. But now, I think you
knew. I'm glad we waited. Is that strange?"
"Not at all, Trip. Sometimes things are worth waiting
for. Precious things. Like you." I knew the love I saw in his eyes was
mirrored in my own. I kissed him again, slow and deep. Then I shoved him over
onto his back and pounced on top of him, a dangerous smile on my face.
"So Trip, what else was it you wanted to do
tonight?"