Don Juan de Malcolm Part 1 of Masquarade Series

T’Pol sat in the quiet mess hall reviewing data on the PADD in front of her, several other PADDs were scattered around the table. She sipped occasionally from the mug of tea that sat nearby. Although she usually preferred to work in her quarters they did not provide her with the space she needed for this particular project. The hour was late; the majority of her crewmates were either long asleep or on duty. Finally completing her task she gathered up the PADDs, stacking them neatly in a pile before returning her mug to the receptacle. Turning around she found herself face to face with the notorious masked man.

She felt no fear; after all fear was an emotion. She merely accepted his presence. Fear would have been illogical. Three quarters of the crew had already encountered him thus far; other than appearing suddenly, each encounter had been reported as pleasant. There was no reason to think he would harm her.

Knowing Vulcan mating rituals differed from that of humans he kept their contact to a minimum. As his eyes locked with hers he reached for her finely boned hand raising it to his lips. Like a courtier of old, he gallantly kissed it pressing the knuckles against his lips allowing them to leisurely linger. T’Pol raised an elegantly arched eyebrow in response.

With a small smirk and an almost imperceptible nod of his head he released her hand. Then with a grand flourish he presented her with the flower he had chosen specifically for her. The Vulcan flower was indeed similar to a rose but was much more aromatic and infinitely more pleasing to Vulcan senses. Inclining her head slightly T’Pol accepted the gift, inhaling the unique fragrance deeply, closing her eyes for a moment as it reminded her of her home world.

When she opened them she watched as the mysterious man quickly retreated. Had there been anyone around to comment on it, she would have vehemently denied the small smile that played about her lips.

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Trip strode quickly through the darkened corridors. The engineer was angry and frustrated. Prior to his brief affair with T'Pol he couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten laid, and considering what a disaster that had turned to be he wished it had never happened at all. His foul mood was evident not only in his expressive face and posture but in the way his long legs devoured the distance. It had been ten days since the masked intruder first made his presence known. It seemed as though it was all anyone could talk about.

Earlier in the shift he had been required to make a visit to sickbay after accidentally burning his hand during a routine repair. Phlox and Cutler had barely paused in their conversation about their encounters with the now infamous masked man. Trip left the moment his treatment was through seeking solace in his beloved engines.

His escape was short-lived however. He had only been back a few minutes when he found he could not avoid overhearing Hess and Rostov's animatedly discussing their own brushes with the unknown individual. When a third crewman joined the conversation he nearly lost it and was tempted to throw them all out of Engineering. Instead he retreated to his office, wishing he could give the door a satisfying slam to close it, instead of the near silent, automatic swoosh.

Something was causing what seemed to be random power fluctuations all over the ship. As soon as they would get one fixed it was only a short time before another one occurred somewhere else. Even though one of the junior members of his team probably could have handled the latest problem, the Chief Engineer had nearly jumped at the chance to escape again. At least he wouldn’t have to hear about the masked man for a little while.

It seemed everyone on board had crossed paths with the masked man and there was only one thing that happened if you found yourself in his sights. No one on board had missed his attention. No one it seemed but Charles Tucker III.

‘What the hell is wrong with me?’ He thought as he strode through the darkened corridors in the belly of the ship. Having survived one disastrous encounter after another, be it with a man or woman, Trip was now seriously beginning to question himself. And now, it seemed, he was the only one on board who hadn’t encountered this unknown individual! “Ah’m not good enough for the mystery man?” he muttered to himself. The icing on the cake was that today was Valentine’s Day. With the exception of his best friend Jon, it seemed like even those that didn’t appear to have some sort of a shipboard romance or flirtation going on at least had someone back on earth waiting for him or her.

The masked man had been discreetly disrupting some of the minor circuitry on the ship. Being a competent engineer in his own right he knew what to do to be disruptive, without causing any real damage and how to cover his tracks. He was certain that if he kept it up, Trip would eventually come to handle the problem himself. His persistence had paid off. He was now silently stalking the blond engineer through the dimly lighted corridors carefully staying in the shadows. Here was the one he wanted. He had intentionally kept this prize for last. Everything else had be a ruse to get to this point. He had been attracted to the chief engineer ever since they had first met but was unsure what Trip’s feelings were in regards to same sex relationships. Every time Malcolm thought Trip might be interested in something more than friendship another alien female would appear. Perhaps Trip, like himself, was attracted to both genders. Malcolm was determined to find out if something more than just friendship was possible with the man in a way that would not jeopardize their current relationship. Everything hinged on Trip’s reaction.

Trip’s attentions were split between the circuitry he was working on and his own self-recriminations. He never noticed the figure stealthily approaching him. He was completely oblivious until he was hauled to his feet and spun around. In the next instant he found himself pressed against the bulkhead by a strong hard body while an insistent mouth claimed his own. The engineer’s mouth opened easily under the firm pressure. A soft moan escaped him as a warm tongue slipped into his mouth deepening the kiss. Trip wrapped his arms around the man as his knees threatened to buckle.

Malcolm was surprised but not unpleasantly so, by Trip’s enthusiastic response and began to lose himself in the kiss. He could feel the heat rolling off the southerner. For a moment Malcolm was so distracted that he almost didn’t hear the two approaching crewmen until it was too late. Abruptly he broke the kiss and pulled out of the engineer’s embrace, then ran as quickly as he could down the corridor.

With an extreme effort not to let himself slide down as his knees continued to tremble, Trip slumped back against the bulkhead, breathless from the intense encounter. The crewmen turned the corner and spotted the Commander. Taking in his shocked and disheveled appearance, one smiled and commented to the other, “Looks like Don Juan has struck again.”

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Hours later, still clad in his costume, Malcolm sat in his quarters, the glass of single malt still in his hand but long since forgotten. His mind continued to replay his encounter with Trip. The engineer’s response was more than he had hoped for. He had been prepared for reluctance or even anger but nothing like what had actually happened. He sat contemplating his next move when his eyes fell upon the rose.

“Bloody hell!” In his haste to leave he’d forgotten to give the rose to Trip. He smiled as another thought suddenly occurred to him. After checking the chronometer he stood, tossing back the rest of his drink. Quickly checking for occupants in the corridor, he picked up the rose and slipped silently out of his quarters.

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Trip fell asleep thinking about the encounter in the corridor. Even though it had happened hours before, he could still feel the taste of him on his lips and tongue. His lips still tingled from the passion of the kiss. When the stranger had left the sudden loss of the wonderful body heat had felt like a physical blow. The scene continued to replay in his mind as his eyes finally drifted closed and sleep claimed him.

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He was back in the darkened corridor. The masked stranger was there too, once again pressing him against the bulkhead. The sensuous, demanding mouth was locked onto his. As each moment passed the kiss deepened until Trip thought he would go mad with desire.

Suddenly the corridor morphed into a lush garden. He could feel the sun on his face, a soft breeze caressing his skin. The air was heavy with the scented blooms. Lazy, feathery kisses rained on his face until the soft velvety lips moved against his own.

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Malcolm used his security override to let himself into Trip’s quarters. The only illumination in the room was the stars as they streamed past the viewport. He could just make out Trip’s sleeping form on the bunk. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting he moved closer to gaze at the sleeping man. Malcolm let himself drink his fill of the sight before him. Trip was deep in sleep; one arm flung over his head, the other draped across his stomach. The moderate temperature controls aboard Enterprise made the need for blankets almost completely unnecessary. As a result the sheet had been kicked down to the point where only a small section of his blue briefs were visible. He doubted that he had ever seen a more beautiful sight.

Sitting gently on the edge of the bed so as not to disturb the sleeping man, Malcolm watched as Trip stirred in his sleep moaning softly, the kind of moan that only meant one thing. The low sound sent his blood racing. The masked man smiled and began to remove the thorns from the rose he had brought with him. Gently he brushed the petals over the sleeping engineer’s face before finally letting them rest against his lips. Trip sighed and opened his eyes. Before he could react his masked visitor claimed his mouth in a kiss the complete opposite from the one in the corridor. This was soft and tender, full of exploration and promise.

When the kiss broke, Trip didn’t dare to even blink and barely dared to breathe for fear that this was still a dream. The intruder began caressing him with the rose again. Slowly brushing it against his neck, then working his way down the southerner’s chest, finally circling each of the sensitized nipples in turn.

Trip gasped at the sensation, unconsciously arching his back into the touch. His response brought a faint smile to the masked man’s lips.

Slowly the flower moved lower tracing lazy circular patterns on the engineer’s body. Trip was panting when the stranger finally laid aside the rose and with a grand sweep of his hand, brushed aside the sheet covering him. The blond man’s eager member was clearly visible as it tried to push through its blue fabric covering. Trip groaned as gentle fingers brushed against his length and was rewarded with a small almost imperceptible smile on the stranger’s face.

The masked man slowly pulled the blue fabric away. Trip moaned softly again as his aching need was finally released from its confines.

The masked man once again picked up the rose, brushing it against Trip’s strong thighs. Except for lifting his hips when his blues were being removed, Trip felt helpless to move. It was the stranger’s whole demeanor that held him immobile; the sheer power and dominance that radiated from him. The thought to call for help or to try to stop him never occurred to the blond man.

Trip watched as the man continued his sensual ministrations on his body. He nearly sobbed as he felt the petals brush against his erection, and then felt the velvety texture slowly stroking his hard organ.

The masked man could see Trip was fighting for control. Smiling he stood up, giving the engineer a chance to calm down. Locking eyes with the man on the bed he reached up and removed his hat; then unfastened the tie of his cloak, letting it slide slowly to the floor. Next he slowly unbuttoned the decorative vest, removing something from the hidden pocket and placing it by the bed. He then shrugged out of it, finally causing it to join the cloak on the floor.

If there was any doubt before, neither man had any question in their minds as to what would be happening next. Trip watched in fascination as the white shirt was removed then joined the pile of clothing on the floor. The starlight bathed the lithe body he saw in silver. The shadows accented the toned muscles and sinewy frame.

Held immobile as much by his own desire now as he stranger’s powerful gaze, Trip gasped as the skintight pants were opened and slowly, teasingly removed. The man was naked underneath the trousers. His freed erection eagerly sprang forth Just the thought of it inside him was nearly enough to drive the engineer over the edge of desire.

Now fully undressed, yet not unmasked, he settled himself on the narrow bunk lying next to the beautiful blond man. Trip suddenly realized that other than their kisses the man had yet to really touch him. Trips groaned in appreciation as gentle fingers began to stroke and explore his chest, tracing lazy patterns through the hair and around his hardened nipples.

Gradually the hands moved lower, teasingly stroking his belly, causing the muscles there to twitch in response. After what seemed a maddeningly slow journey strong gentle fingers reached his groin, gently brushing over his thighs, finally making the move to his now aching cock. The fingers brushed lightly over his length.

Trip gasped as they reached the tip and slowly spread the fluid already gathering there. When they wrapped around him and began slowly pumping the organ he was sure his moans could be heard far beyond the door of his cabin.

Trip’s need grew as the stranger concentrated his ministrations. When their eyes met again Trip’s whispered “Please,” combined with the longing in his eyes spoke volumes to his soon-to-be-lover.

Shifting his body over the engineer’s, both men groaned as their erections brushed together. Malcolm kissed him deeply, glorying in the feel of Trip’s arms as they banded around him. The kiss quickly became more passionate. Trip’s hands worked their way upwards and attempted to remove the mask. The stranger pulled back sharply. His face a mask of stone as he firmly shook he head.

Trip was confused for a moment, and then suddenly he understood and nodded his head. This man would make love to him but he would not be allowed to see his face. Surprisingly the realization didn’t upset him. Raising his head he began covering the masked man’s neck with slow wet kisses, silently apologizing and asking forgiveness for his indiscretion.

Malcolm smiled and reveled in the pleasurable jolts that ran through him as Trip continued. He ran his fingers through the golden hair reassuring Trip that no harm had been done. He was tempted for a moment to revel in Trip’s attentions but in the end gently pushed him back on the bed, trailing kisses of his own down Trip’s neck shoulders and chest.

Trip arched his back and sighed in contentment. It had been far too long since he’d had such an attentive lover. He struggled to remember the last time that he had not been the one doing the majority of the pleasuring. Instead of running his hands through the masked man’s hair as he wanted, his fingers toyed with the ties of the mask, careful not to disturb it.

Malcolm reached for the lube he had set by the bed, then took his time preparing the engineer until he was nearly begging to be taken. When he finally did enter the willing body, both men marveled at how well they fit together, it was as if they were made for each other. Each knowing instinctively what the other needed and when, as if they had been lovers for years.

Trip’s cries were unintelligible as he clung to his unknown lover when his orgasm washed over him. He no longer cared that he didn’t know the man’s name or even what he looked like.

Malcolm followed Trip over the edge moments later, biting his lip so as not to cry out his name.

Malcolm spooned against Trip’s back, holding the passionate man close, placing soft kisses on his skin in place of the words of love he felt. He was still slightly awed by the fact that his plan had worked. He thought about removing his mask and letting Trip see who he was but decided that neither of them was quite ready for that revelation just yet.

Trip fell asleep wrapped in his lover’s embrace for the first time in a long time feeling safe, secure and definitely loved. When he awoke to the sound of his alarm he found himself alone. At first he thought it had all been an incredible dream. Rolling over he smiled when he turned to see where his lover had been. On the pillow lay a fresh red rose on top of a carefully written card; picking it up he studied the elegant, decorative script before actually reading the words. “From this moment forward, I am only for you.”

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