The Woman- Prologue
She traced patterns on his chest with her fingertips, curled gently against him. It had been a long time since she'd been this gentle with another person. She'd almost forgotten quite how easy and beautiful it could be. Her palm found its resting place over his heart, his steady heartbeat soothing her.
'Sherlock?' Her voice was no more than a whisper.
'Mm?'
'I have to go.'
'I know. Can I know where?' She laughed lightly, weakly, and shook her head. 'Of course I can't.'
He ran a slender hand down her face, placing a delicate kiss on her lips.
'I'm sorry.' Her voice was cracked, she wanted to stay more than he wanted her to stay. She clasped his idle hand in hers.
'How long?'
'Hard to say. No longer than a year.'
He raised their clasped hands between them, and kissed her knuckles.
'I'll hold you to that Miss Adler.' He smirked in his own funny way, and she smiled broadly.
'You'd better.' She pulled herself out of his embrace and began to dress herself. He mirrored her action, and once they were fully clothed, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, kissing her exposed shoulder.
'Don't start that again, I've only just put my clothes back on.'
He chuckled into her neck.
'One for the road?'
She shifted to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his lips to hers firmly.
'Goodbye Mr Holmes.' He closed his eyes and smiled, exhaling loudly through his nose. And when he opened them, she was gone.
He set his mind to packing, the order made him calm. He enjoyed the quiet that echoed through the room. All was as it was before.
His phone moaned loudly from the bedside table.
Thanks for the dinner.