"Wayward"
By Viridian5 4/17/00

RATING: C-17; Fraser/Kowalski. If m/m interaction bothers you, walk away.
SPOILERS: none.
SUMMARY: Fraser has been successful at resisting temptation for some timenow, but he just hasn't met the right temptation yet....
ARCHIVING/DISTRIBUTION: Hexwood and Serge. If some kind person feels thatthis story is appropriate for DSX and wouldn't mind posting it, that would begreat as well. Anywhere else too, as long as you ask me first.
FEEDBACK: can be sent to Viridian5@aol.com
DISCLAIMERS: All things _Due South_ belong to Alliance no matter how much Iwant Ray K to belong to me. No infringement intended. Suing me would be a wasteof time. Besides, I'd just kick you in the head.
NOTES: Thanks to Latonya for some suggestions on getting this past thesnippet stage. The boys took it from there. Thanks to Kasha for support.

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"Wayward"
By Viridian5
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Asudden whistle cutting through the air made me look up from the papers scatteredacross Ray's desk. I heard Detective Dewey shout, "You're beautiful,Ray!"
"Canit, Dewey," Ray snapped back, more reflexively irritable before hismorning coffee.

I couldn't take my eyes off him. Ray had removed his coat to reveal what he woreunderneath, a black turtleneck sweater along with his usual blue jeans. But notjust any black turtleneck. Form-fitting, soft.... RayVecchio had occasionally worn something similar, and it had been quiteflattering on him. But on my Ray, it went far beyond flattering intoirresistible. He looked sleeker than usual and compulsively pettable. Suddenlyit didn't matter that we stood in a police station in public; I had to strokehim. Right now. To be completely honest, I had to stroke him, then ravish him.

Deweycontinued to verbally jab at my partner, who took it with ill grace andincreasing self-consciousness.

"What? I'm not allowed to have any nicethings?" Ray asked.

Ihad to get him away or distracted from the teasing before Ray went into a fullprickly defensive posture, porcupine-style. Upset, the quills would come up,making it hard to get close to him without getting bloodied in his sharp verbalshows of temper. And I had to think of things becoming erect, didn't I?

"Ray,can I see you in the supply closet?" I asked. It had to be someplaceprivate. Someplace I could-- No, I would not.

"I'mbusy," he muttered, unable to read me at all in his upset.

"Perhapsthe men's room?"

"I'm*busy*. Changing the rendezvous place isn't gonna make me any less busy."

Thiswould not do at all. I took Ray by the forearm and pulled him out of the room. Theturtleneck sweater, soft over the firm muscle of his arm, felt as plush andwelcoming beneath my fingers as I'd expected. He dug in his heels only alittle, just a token show of being under duress. We ignored Dewey's protestsand offers of a date.

Onceout of sight of the squadroom, Ray leaned against the wall and said, "I'mgonna go home and change. I don't need to deal with this all day." Herefused to move any further with me.

"Youhave to admit that it's an uncharacteristic look for you," I said, somehowmaintaining control over my fingertips. They wanted to go wayward in the worstway. "Yet very flattering."

"Yeah?"

"Beyonda doubt."

"Yernot just saying that."

"It's less flattering when you're fishing for compliments."

"Sorry.I'm used to the kidding, not the compliments."

Thathad to be rectified. In the meantime, I tried to distract him from that line ofthinking. "How did you come to acquire it?"

"Iwas just walking by when it called to me. 'Stroke me, Ray. See how soft I am.'It was, too. Soft, y'know?" Ray stroked the hem of the turtleneck now,seemingly unconscious of his own gesture and of how painfully conscious of it Iwas. "When a salesman saw how I was feeling it up, he asked me to make acommitment." Ray grinned. "Told me it wasn't right for me to begroping it like that otherwise. Whoa!" Ray jumped, nearly into my arms.

Tomy disappointment, not nearly close enough.

Hefumbled with his belt until he had his cell phone in his hand.

"Damned thing vibrates strongerthan the last one.... Vecchio! Yeah. Yeah? Be right over. Keep me posted if hemoves." All but sparking with excitement, Ray grinned. "One of mysnitches just saw Dino Sibani and some of his thugs. My fashion emergency hasto wait." As we walked back into the squadroom--or, rather, Iwalked quickly and Ray nearly flew--Ray yelled to the leftenant, "Someonedropped a dime on Sibani. We're on our way out."

"TakeHuey and Dewey with you."

"Noway! This one's mine!"

"He'sslipped through our fingers before. Take them."

Raysighed. "Yes, sir." He grabbed his coat and mine before turned toHuey and Dewey. "And I don't wanna hear anything out of you that's notSibani-related, got it, Dewey?"

"Hey,Ray, what do you think Sibani will think of your pretty, new turtleneck?"

IfI enjoyed grabbing Ray to prevent him from murdering Detective Dewey, surely itcould be forgiven for the way I saved a life in the process.

******************************************************

Forthe next few hours I performed efficiently. At least I hoped I did, because Icouldn't be certain that my inner distraction did not show in my face or work. Inthe car on the drive over, that bit of turtleneck visible at his wrists andneck where his coat ended kept drawing my attention, begging for my touch. Ifought the urge to put my arm over his shoulders, my hand at his wrist. Thechase, brief gun battle, capture of the miscreants, and seizure of a sizeable stashof crack cocaine diverted me, as well they should, but only temporarily. Filingour reports at the station left me far too much time to return to the day'sobsession.

Itried to concentrate solely on Ray's merits as an officer of the law and themasterful way he'd handled the criminals, but those thoughts led to memories ofhis grace in movement, of how brightly his happiness had beamed from him as wemade our capture, of how much I wanted to touch him.... I fought this battle constantly,but today my wants, bolstered by a simple item of clothing, threatened to bestme.

I,an unofficial part of the police department, finished first, allowing me toobserve from a distance as Ray went over the arrest again. I watched hisgleaming eyes, mobile mouth, and dancing hands as he spoke, admired the way thesoft black sheathing his upper body enhanced his natural visual appeal. Themore faded black of his holster's leather straps and the silver shine of thestar on his badge only seemed to more positively accent that inviting, touchablesheathe. His interview stretched on into the evening.

Finallyfinished, he walked up to me and smiled, blazing with vibrant life. "Hey. Beenwaiting long?"

"Notreally."

"I'mtoo jazzed to just go home. Wanna go somewhere?"

"Yes."Oh, dear. That had burst out far too quickly.

"Great!Have any suggestions?"

"Wecould--" "Ray!Good bust," Detective Huey said. "We want to take you out tocelebrate." Icould almost swear that Ray looking slightly annoyed and... disappointed? Imust have been reading my own thoughts in his face. He simply asked me,"You good with that?"

Beingalone with Ray would only make it harder to resist my need to stroke him like abeloved pet. Then do other things with him one didn't do with one's pets. Well,things ones didn't do unless one was Billy "Long Arm" Stewart, butI'd hardly hold that man up as a model of behavior. "That would befine."

******************************************************

Dinnerturned out to be anything but "fine." In fact, sitting across fromRay like this only strengthened my compulsion. He didn't help by occasionally,unconsciously, stroking his sleeve in small circles, as if he had as muchdifficulty fighting the allure of that devilish item of clothing as I did. Nordid it help that the day's success had left him manic and excited, anappealing, if barely contained, ball of energy.

Iwanted to help him expend that energy.

Ihad to keep a firm eye on my hands. They kept trying to wander.

My efforts kept me distant anddistracted from what else went on at the table until Ray snapped, "Biteme, Dewey."

"Oh,*Ray*," Detective Dewey replied in an exaggeratedly soft, husky voice. Ifelt the uncharacteristic urge to punch him.

"I'mgonna kick you in the head."

"Layoff him already, will you, Tom? It was funny the first hundred times, but nowit's starting to get to me too," Detective Huey said.

"Hewas funny at some point? Must have missed that."

"Perhapsit's time to draw the dinner to a close," I said.

Tomy relief, Ray said, "Yeah. I'm feeling kinda tired."

Iknew him well enough to see that he felt nothing of the sort, but I remainedsilent. Ray would no doubt reveal his hand soon enough.

******************************************************

Ifelt unusually awkward standing in Ray's apartment as he closed the door behindme. Fighting my urges had left me little strength or capacity for anythingelse, such as conversation. I could only imagine how inexplicable Ray must findmy behavior. At one point in the hall he caught me dragging my hands backbefore they could touch his wrist.

Rayput his coat down on the couch, took off his boots, then turned to look at meexpectantly, nigh irresistible in his sleek, plush.... I bit my lip hard. Heraised an eyebrow. I shook my head. He rolled his eyes.

"Yerimpossible, ya know that?"
"I don't understand."

"Obviously."Ray walked up to me until we stood so close we breathed the same air. "Whatdo you want to do right now?"

Hismagnetism pulled at me. I could smell him now--sharp winter air, hair stylingproducts, leather, gunmetal, gunpowder, aftershave, cinnamon gum, tomato sauce,*him*--but I wanted, needed, to touch him. Worse, now I wanted to taste him aswell.

Although I managed not to admit to all that, my mouthbabbled something almost as inappropriate: "Run. Right now I would reallylike to run."

Heactually growled a little, low in his throat. It made my pulse race. "Iswear, Fraser, I'm gonna end up in the loony bin, because yer gonna put methere. Do ya need an engraved invitation, or have I just been reading you wrongall day?"

"Ray?"

Impossibly,he moved in closer. "I want you to touch me."

Atfirst I thought I'd misheard him, just as I'd been reading my own desires intohis body language and facial expressions all evening. Then it struck me that Ihad heard exactly what he'd said. Then it also struck me that perhapsRay *had* been sending me signals.

Healways did say that I made things harder on myself than they had to be.

Nolonger. Ipulled him in and let my hands roam freely over his back, while I rubbed mycheek against the neck piece of the turtleneck. As rewarding as I found thesoftness of the material, which was so plush that it almost seemed to caress myskin in return, I enjoyed the heat and firm body of my partner right under itfar more. Especially since my touch coaxed such fascinating purringsounds from him. He all but rubbed against me as I slid my fingers under thestraps of his holster and stroked.

Still...I retained some curiosity about the item of clothing that had brought us here. Itfelt like a cashmere-silk blend, but I wanted to be sure, and Ray certainlyseemed to be giving me the liberty to do as I wished, so.... Without ceasingthe movement of my stroking left hand, I pulled the neck piece away from hisskin with my right to read the interior tag. Ah. As I'd thought.

"Freak,"he gasped before he suddenly jerked and choked off a sound.

Itseemed to be from me breathing on his skin. I knew I'd found the exact spotagain when he jolted and... giggled? "Are you ticklish, Ray?"

"No."

Ibreathed hotly on that spot again and received the same reaction from him. "Areyou certain?" After the torture of the day, it felt good to--how would Rayput it?--get my own in. Besides, I enjoyed playing with Ray.

"Bastard.Not... fair."

"What'snot?"

"Ishowed you mine--"

"Hardly.I discovered your secret by accident."

"--yougotta show me yours. It's fair."

"Idon't have any weaknesses."

"Likehell."

Directapplication of my lips only strengthened the reaction. He writhed in forcedgiggles before finally choking out, "I'm... giving you a warning... here. Stopnow... or I kick you... in the nuts. I swear..."

Iceased. "I'm finished."

Rayhiccuped, then panted, "Glad I found out about yer cruel streak *before*ya got any from me. Gonna kill you."

"I'msorry. I couldn't resist."

"Youshould be sorry. You will be sorry.... Yer gonna get it.

Won't know where, won't know when,but it's coming."

Ismiled. "Hasn't today been enough?"

"Today....You thought I wore this as a come-on, to make ya crazy enough to finally jumpme?"

"Finally"jump him. It warmed me to think that he'd wanted that for some time.

"Ofcourse."

"Well,that would be a great, devious plan. It's just not mine. I liked it, so Ibought it and wore it. I didn't realize until we were in the car what it wasdoing to ya, and only then after my incredible detecting skills figured out whyyou were staring where you were staring. Now, are ya done torturing me? I'm notgetting back in fingers- or mouth-reach until you promise yer done."

"I'mdone, Ray."

"Promise?"

"Ipromise."

"Okaythen." Ray moved forward again.

Istopped him. "I want to take off my coat so I can feel you better."

Hegrinned. "I'm good with that."

Itook off my coat, but followed it with my Stetson, lanyard, Sam Browne, tunic,and boots as well. Sitting on the arm of the couch, Ray watched it all withenjoyment so obvious on his face, his running commentary so provocative, that Ihad to resist the urge to strip down all the way. Not yet.

Itwas, however, interesting to note that he thought my boots were "bad-ass."That might be useful later.

Oncehe realized the show was over for now, Ray stood and grabbed me. This time,feeling him proved to be no problem at all.

Islid my hands under his turtleneck, wanting to feel hot skin and thecashmere-silk blend at once, but his undershirt stymied me.

Seeing my disappointment, Raygrinned and said, "Well, there's the layering for warmth thing. Thenthere's the fact that I wouldn't have gotten any work done if I had this thingrubbing against my nips all day long."

"Isee," I whispered into his ear as I took a brief respite from nibbling onthe lobe. That image he'd given me could keep me warm for many nights to come.

"Howdo I know whether you want me or my turtleneck?"

"There'sa very simple way."

"Yeah?"

"Youcould take it off."

"Youasked for it." Ray unfastened and removed his holster, then pulled theturtleneck off over his head. His simple white undershirt followed. It left hishair fluffy and flyaway, cute. But then he put the turtleneck back on,smirking. "Hey, I told you about the nips thing. Oooh, it's as nice as Ithought."

Ilicked my lips. I couldn't help myself.

Heall but moaned, "God, what I could do to you, how I would touch you, withthis thing... the places on yer body I would apply it to... if it wasn't thesingle most expensive piece of clothing I ever bought. Sorry, Fraser."

Myindignant "Ray!" only inspired an evil cackle from him.

Afterthat, it seemed we would face no more stops and starts, no matter howendearing. Ray was ready to go and saw no shame in showing it in his everywanton movement and vocalization, all of which only served to spike my owndesire higher. He muttered, "There's proof I didn't plan this; if I had Iwould have worn jeans with a zipper fly," as I unbuttoned him, palming hishard and straining erection through denim. But his hands proved to be clevererand faster than my own in unfastening clothing, though I believe I made anexcellent showing myself.

However,he hadn't finished playing yet. Once he had my suspenders free, he started tobrandish them in a way reminiscent of a weapon. From the devilish look on hisface, I had some inkling of what he intended.

"Don'teven think of using those suspenders for anything other than their intendedpurpose."

"Whichwould be....?" Ray smirked. "I heard once that some aboriginal tribeuses 'em to whip their partners into a sexual frenzy."

"Mmm."

"Ah,now yer interested."

Asudden, unexpected sting against my buttocks drew out an undignified sound frommy throat that made Ray grin. From anyone else, it would have been called ayelp. Unfortunately,I would call the sound I just made a yelp as well.

Iwould cast aspersions on his attention span had I not realized that most of hiswhirlwind changes came from an excess of energy. His poor mother must have gone grayaround the time he learned to walk. He had the wildness and overly high spiritsof a young colt. He simply needed to run himself out to be tamed. Ofcourse, in his case a whip and a chair might be necessary tools for me to useon him as well. Oh. Something else to think about later.

"Ray,I might not have involved myself with you in this manner had I realized youutilized sadomasochistic practices."

"Huh?Oh. Nah, I don't do the s&m thing. I just hold and use the whip. Nomasochism in my practice at all."

Raydealt me another stinging yet exciting snap as I removed my Henley. However, onhis next swing I wrapped up the suspender end in the fabric I'd just removedand yanked his weapon from his hand. My suspenders and Henley flew across theroom. "Oh,crap," he said.

Igrabbed him again, but he slithered gracefully down out of my reach, slidingcashmere against my bare skin. It left him on his knees, grinning up at me. Herubbed his head, cat-like, against the tented, slightly parted fabric at mycrotch. I groaned. Fewthings would be finer than feeling his mouth on me, and he seemed to beinclining in that direction, but, amazingly, that wasn't what I wanted rightnow. It would be over too quickly, and I wanted to lengthen our insanitysomehow. Besides, until now our encounter had been about my helpless reactionto Ray, his presence, his scent, his cashmere, his mercurial whims. It was pasttime for me to take control.

Itdidn't matter how hard and ready I was now. I would wait and make him waitsimply to show that I could. I hardly wanted to set him leading me around likethis as the pattern of our interactions, did I?

DidI? Iwould think on it later.

Iswiftly crouched down and pushed him to the floor, cradling his head with myarm as he fell. If I moved quickly enough, I might prevent him from foiling myplans.

"Whatthe-- Hey!" he shouted. "On the floor? What, were you raised in abarn?"

"Isthat a discriminatory statement against people who were raised in barns?"

"Isthat Canadian for 'yes'?"

Whatwe did for a little while after that might have qualified more as wrestlingthan lovemaking, though I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ray seemed to as well, despitehis protests. The cashmere felt even better against my bare chest, and what Rayhad said of his nipples held true for mine as well. Once in a while Rayshrieked and growled, "Dammit!" as I found more ticklish spots. Ikept discovering tidbits I wanted to make use of later.

"Couldyou get to it already? I can't wait much longer," Ray panted.

"Patience,Ray--"

"--isoverrated!"

Iteased him until I could wait no longer, finally freeing him from his jeans andtaking him in. He barely managed to control his buck, while his long hands madedesperate passes along my shoulders and head. Moaning, he undulated against mein arousing waves as I explored his length with my tongue. He tasted electric somehow.Flushed, sweaty, dazed, sprawled out on the floor under me, he was more thanbeautiful.

Raymurmured my name over and over until it became another erotic sound. I had him,he was mine, I'd made him this way, a creature made purely of heat, desire, andsound. As he had me, as I was his, as he'd made me this way.... I thrustedagainst him, the floor, anything, feeling utterly uninhibited.

Ifelt orgasm start to ripple through him before it finally reached its peak. Ashe sobbed my name, his cock pulsing in electric waves across my tongue, Iachieved orgasm as well in a blinding burst.

WhenI returned to myself I had my head cradled on Ray's hip and his hand strokingmy hair. Aftershocks quivered through his body.

They strengthened as I caressed hisbelly. His sensitivity amazed me as much as his responsiveness. Ray trulyseemed to have his nerves closer to the surface than most people did.

Islid up to put his head on my shoulder and slipped my hand under his turtleneckagain to pet him. I enjoyed the different feels of cashmere and skin too muchto stop. His smile deepened, and he hummed a little under his breath again,looking boneless and conspicuously satisfied. Now that I knew from experiencehow much he enjoyed being touched by me, a new world opened.

Raypanted, "You... you came just from watching me?"

"Yes.Listening to you and feeling you helped as well."

"Wow."

"Actually,I think your leg helped too."

Raysnorted. "What? My leg? Oh... spoil it, why don't you?" Then Raysighed. "My leg?"

"Ikept your turtleneck spotless. I know how expensive it is."

"They'regonna take away yer Mountie license for getting all down and dirty and messylike that."

"SomehowI doubt it."

"Andfor humping my leg too."

"Absolutelynot." Unable to leave well enough alone, as usual, I added, "Your legwas humping me."

Rayspluttered. "It's all my fault?"

"Everythingis."

"Goodthing I'm up for the responsibility." He sighed and rubbed his hair againstmy shoulder, making me shiver. "I have to tell ya: as much as itembarrasses me to think that my landlady listens to me dance, it embarrassesthe hell out of me to think she might have heard all that carrying on we did. Imean, the carrying on doesn't embarrass me, just what she might think ofit."

"Ienjoyed all the noise."

"Andthe banging against the floor?"

"Especiallythe banging against the floor. Although, strictly speaking, I don't know ifwhat we did actually qualifies as 'banging.'"

Ray'sjaw dropped. "I'm taking the date down. You just gave me rock solid proofthat ya know slang and have a dirty mind. This is one for the recordbooks."

"Iwill disavow any knowledge of it should you mention it in public."

"'Sokay.I know, and that's enough."

"Yourlandlady didn't realize you were dancing up here until I suggested it to her. Perhapsshe'll misinterpret this as well."

"Yeah,she'll think someone broke in and mauled me." Ray gasped as my fingerscircled his nipple. "What's with that smirk on yer face? Aside from thefact you have me totally under yer power here."

"Mustthere be another reason?"

"Hell,yeah."

"I'mpondering your sexual technique."

"Yerthe one who took us down to the floor."

"Indeed.Rather, I'm pondering the stop-and-start methodology. It suggests a shortattention span."

"It'scalled 'teasing,' Fraser."

"Ithink they have medication for your problem, Ray."

"I'mnot the only loony banana in the bin here. I'm sure they have medication foryer problems too."

Ifelt him tense under my hand and heard a hint of defensiveness in his answer,so I brought the conversation back to something more agreeable. I meant nocriticism. I deepened my stroking a bit. "I enjoyed it when it didn'tannoy me. It's... unique."

Rayrelaxed again. "'Course it is."

"I'mwondering how you came by it."

Withouteven a second's hesitation, Ray answered, "Raised by wolves."

"I'msure your parents would be surprised to hear that."

"Oh,they know. They found me on a park bench and took me in. But I was mostly raised by wolves,yah."

"Chicagopark wolves?"

"They'refamous. Huh, look at you, Mr. Doubting Thomas. I'm sure yer Inuits have allsorts of stories about that."

"AboutChicago parks?"

Raystretched, managing to look even more boneless, sated. It made me feel verysmug. He must have been thinking along similar lines, because he said,"That was real nice. *Real* nice. Only one thing would make thisperfect."

"Yes?"

"Lyingdown on something that's *not* the floor. I have my back to think about."

"UnlessI paralyzed you, I see nothing stopping you from standing up."

"Yerreally good but not that good. I just can't have my chest stroked and stand upat the same time."

"Youshould work on that."

"Youwanna help me practice?"

**********************THE END***********************

More Viridian5 stories can be found in The Green Room at http://members.tripod.com/~drovar/viridian/ Fandoms represented: due South, Hard Core Logo, X-Files, Once a Thief, theBuffy the Vampire Slayer movie, Angel, Two Guys and a Girl (was Two Guys, aGirl and a Pizza Place), X-Men, Doctor Who