Reed's Armory -- A Malcolm Reed Fanfiction Archive ..

Title: Just a Few Minutes More

Author: Beverly

Author's e-mail: [email protected]

Fandom: Enterprise

Pairing: Archer/Reed

Rating: NC-17

Category: Slash

Spoilers: 3.14 Stratagem

Beta: Mareel, my one and only

Summary: Jon's longer hair wakes some feelings in Malcolm.

Author's Notes: I saw Jon with the longer hair on 3.14 "Stratagem," and just thought that Malcolm had to be affected as well. The title however came just at the end of the story to me. Now you see what a bottle of good Italian Red Wine (it was a Bardolino) and lots of ENT on DVD do to me.oh.and feedback would be lovely. For me and my little storycat *purrrrrrrrrr*.

Archived to Reed's Armory on 07/01/2005.

The first time Malcolm saw his captain with his longer hair, tied back in a little ponytail and heavily interlaced with strands of gray, he felt his jaw drop slightly. It looked...amazing. Even when he was unwashed, uncombed, and filthy, as he was now, he was a breathtaking sight.

For three days now, they had been deceiving Degra. Only once had the captain left the simulator to talk to Trip and T'Pol. Malcolm's gut tied itself in tight knots whenever he thought about the danger his captain was in.

And to be honest, it wasn't only the captain he was worried about. It was also the man, Jonathan Archer, his lover, that he cared about. They were so close, but still...Degra was a Xindi, and therefore couldn't be trusted regardless of the circumstances. Jon had to be careful. Very, very careful. And it made Malcolm nervous that he couldn't be by his captain's side to protect him.

The gravity of the situation had escalated after the disturbances in the Expanse had disrupted their computer systems, and Degra had found out about the simulator. Degra had attacked the captain with a knife, but his people had managed to overwhelm him, and now the Xindi was neatly tucked back into the brig. Thank god.

The hissing of the lift announced Jon's arrival on the bridge, and seeing him, Malcolm knew that it was now or never.

Jon still wore his 'prison' outfit, and after a quick debriefing about the situation, and just a second before the captain wanted to leave again to take his hard-earned shower, Malcolm rose to his feet, and said,

"Captain? There are a few... modifications of the... phase cannons I'd like to show you. If we could go over it...it wouldn't take too long."

Of course it wouldn't take too long. He hadn't had his lover in his bed for nearly four days now. He was almost as loaded as his phase cannon down in the armory. And he was absolutely sure that he'd shoot just as quickly.

Jon turned around, his green eyes slightly narrowed. Then he smiled. With his feelings so close to the surface, Malcolm was sure that Jon could read him like an open book. And he didn't even try to hide the desire to simply be near his captain.

"Sure. You can join me on my way to my quarters. I REALLY need a shower, or these...clothes...will have to be cut off."

Malcolm smiled, his mouth suddenly dry. Cut off the clothes? Bloody hell, he never thought that his imagination could show him such colorful pictures. He willed his little lieutenant down, left his station, and followed his captain to the turbo lift.

Once the doors were closed, Jon turned to him, a sparkle of barely hidden amusement in his eyes.

"Your phase cannons, Malcolm?"

His voice sounded a little mocking, but very loving. Malcolm blushed a little.

"I...ah...I couldn't think of anything else in such a short time."

Jon laid his hands on the smaller man's shoulders, and rested his forehead for a brief second on his.

"It's okay. I couldn't have waited any longer either."

Before the turbo-lift stopped, Jon removed his hands, and moved toward the door again. The moment it opened, a young ensign stood before them, and Malcolm sent a quick prayer to whatever Power watched over them.

An absentminded smile greeted Malcolm, before her eyes went to the captain, and remained there. Her jaw dropped, and the armory officer could understand her reaction perfectly. His own reaction a few days ago had been no different. Jon's reaction on the other hand caused the young ensign to close her mouth immediately.

"Ensign? I can see your tonsils. Maybe you should..."

He gestured to his chin and made a closing motion. She closed her mouth with an almost audible 'snap', and blushed furiously.

"I'm sorry, Captain Archer, Sir."

He laughed, and turned to Malcolm.

"Lieutenant?"

The younger man took a step forward, and left the turbolift. The ensign squeezed herself past the two men, and hastily pressed the button. When the doors were closed, Jon shot the man at his side a questioning look, because Malcolm suddenly exploded in almost helpless laughter.

"What?"

"Don't you see it?"

"See what?"

Malcolm took a quick look around to make sure that they were alone, before he raised his hand, and gently stroked through Jon's long hair.

"You look amazing, love," he murmured with a very seductive voice. "The longer hair really suits you. You look like an artist. Or like a conductor. It's incredible."

When he looked into Jon's eyes, he swallowed hard. He could barely recognize the green anymore. His eyes seemed to be black with lust and desire. Jon grabbed Malcolm's hand, and pulled him towards his quarters. With trembling hands he tapped in his code, and entered before the doors were completely open.

"Come on in. Quickly."

As soon as the door were closed behind them, Jon locked the door, and before Malcolm could do anything, he found himself pressed up against a wall, with his captain's tongue in his mouth. Moaning, he surrendered to the loving onslaught, and reciprocated the kiss, running his hands through Jon's long hair, fulfilling his fantasies of the last days.

Too soon, much too soon, Jon pulled back and released Malcolm from his grip.

"I'm going to take my shower now. Wanna join me?"

His voice sounded husky, his eyes were shining with love, and Malcolm felt the unmistakable sign of an erection grind gently against his own arousal.

"An honour, Captain."

Jon's smile was almost blinding, and when he turned around to head for the shower, Malcolm hastily nearly ripped his own clothes off to follow his lover.

---

With a deep sigh, Jon ran his hands through his wet hair, enjoying the simple joy of being able to clean himself. He counted down from ten to zero, trying to guess how long it would take Malcolm to get off his clothes. He just reached five, when the door to the shower was opened again, and he felt the presence of his lover.

The steam from the hot water surrounded them, and gave them both an unreal feeling. As if they were on another world, in another time. Not on this ship, not on the verge of a war.

They were just two men together, two lovers craving the nearness of the other, claiming each other again as they had done so many times before.

Gently, lovingly, Malcolm soaped his lover's back and rinsed it up again. He rained tender kisses down on the soft skin, and was rewarded with a deep moan.

"I love you."

A soft whisper, barely audible, but it brought tears to the older man's eyes when he heard it. He turned around, embracing the smaller man tightly, kissing the juncture where neck met the shoulder. With an involuntary groan, Malcolm let his head fall back.

"I love you, too." Jon murmured against the warm skin. He raised his head, his green eyes searching the gray ones of the man he held in his arms. "And I want you. Now. Desperately."

The smile he received in return was full of love.

"Then you shall have me. I'm yours. Let's take this to bed, love."

---

Malcolm ran his hands through the long hair of his lover, playing with the now silken strands. He searched for his lover's lips, gently prying them apart, slipping his tongue into the heat of his lover's mouth. The feeling of skin on skin made them both moan in anticipation.

The time was too short to indulge in any prolonged lovemaking. So they both ground against one another, the friction causing Jon to hold his breath. His mind was silently going on vacation, and his body became pure sensation. The skillful hands and mouth of his lover had him on the edge in no time, and when he came, he shouted out his lover's name, having tears in his eyes.

It took him a few minutes to catch his breath again, but when he finally did, he kissed his armory officer lovingly, slowly making love to his mouth.

"How do you want me, Mal?"

A half smile was the answer.

"Don't call me Mal."

It came almost like an automatic response. Then...

"Forever, love. I want you forever. But right now...I simply want to make love to you. And I want to look into your eyes."

Jon shivered in anticipation.

"Making love to you is never 'simple', baby. Making love to you is always something special to me. Something extraordinary."

Malcolm's radiant smile could have provided enough energy for Enterprise to run for at least four weeks.

Assured that no preparation was necessary, he gazed directly into Jon's eyes as he slowly entered his lover.

It took his breath away. Then he started to move deep inside his body. Deep, so incredible deep. It was so good. One thrust, two, and Jon could tell Malcolm's climax was building.

It was over way too soon.

He came with a hoarse shout, calling his lover's name, almost sobbing with its intensity.

They lay entwined with each other for perhaps ten more minutes, then Malcolm stirred suddenly.

"Don't you think that this is very long for a simple shower?"

Jon laughed tenderly.

"Or a report about phase cannons?"

Malcolm smiled. Suddenly Jon grew serious again, and the younger man frowned.

"What is it, Jon? What's the matter?"

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

Malcolm's voice sounded sincere and caring.

"I'm afraid of loosing my humanity. When I was in there, with Degra, there were moments when I wanted to kill him. Without a second thought."

"But you didn't."

A statement, not a question.

"No, I didn't. But not because I didn't want to. I just never got the right opportunity."

"But...you didn't. That means to me that you're not going to lose anything."

Sighing, Jon sat up and turned his back to Malcolm. The younger man trusted him so deeply that it made his heart ache in love. But was he worth that trust? The urge to hurt Degra had sometimes been overwhelming, and only the thought of T'Pol and Hoshi watching him, had stopped him from throwing something at him. Or breaking one of his bones. He shuddered.

Suddenly he felt Malcolm's arms close around him from behind.

"What are you thinking of, love?"

"God, Malcolm." Jon grabbed for Malcolm's arms, to hold them. His voice sounded almost broken. "I really, REALLY wanted to kill him. He killed seven million of our people in cold blood. He killed Lizzie, Trip's sister. He built the prototype for that weapon. He built the weapon itself. And all I can do is sitting there and making small-talk to him. It nearly makes me insane."

He rested his head on Malcolm's shoulder, felt the steady heartbeat of his lover, the warmth that surrounded him, the slight breath on his cheek. And then a kiss, tender, loving.

"I... you managed to get some very important information from him. And you were always able to control your emotions. I'm certain, T'Pol was very proud of you."

Now he smiled a little. Yes, he had to control his emotions so much. But he had been able to do that, right? Then why did he feel so...weird?

"Jon, love, look at me, please."

Jon lowered his eyes. After a few seconds he felt Malcolm's finger under his chin, raising it so he could look into the younger man's eyes.

"You did what you had to do. And remember, I'll always be there for you, love. Here, right by your side. I love you, Jon. You're never alone."

Jon closed his eyes, and moved back, pushing his lover and himself down onto the bed again. He had to be back on the bridge in no time. He snuggled closer to Malcolm. Just a few minutes more. That was all he needed. Just a few minutes more, and he would be the captain again. Would be ready to get his hair cut again, to be ready to face the world again. But now he only wanted to be the one who had the honor to be loved by this extraordinary English man.

Just a few minutes more...

~the end~