As the yelling dies down M hands Bond a folder for his next mission. A punishment for the chaos he cased in Morocco.
Bond sits and attempts to look contrite with the fingers of his hands intertwined in his lap while he listens to M go on and on about responsibility and cost.
Who the hell cares! Bond doesn't and he cares little for M's constant controlling nature. If Bond has to hear the term accountability one more time he may resign. They would be lost without him…that's why he gets the shit jobs.
Bond is at his best when the job gets dirty…really dirty. Bond cleans up the messes that no other agent can manage. M thinks he has a death wish and in the last six months it is becoming clear that there is something wrong with him.
Bond knows his problem…he has no life…just work. Only Tanner,Q and Moneypenny could be considered friends and a few of the other 00's but they are rarely together unless a mission requires. M is not…a friend.
Bond promises to carry out the babysitting job he has just landed to correct his behaviour…as if looking after some important woman will be a challenge…the biggest challenge he has looking after women is getting them to leave his bed.
The women in question is a retiree and is important enough that MI6 is worried about her being kidnapped…that usually means she is rich too…some duchess or titled dame that has information from her or her husband's business dealings that make her a target.
There is a ball…a lot of government agencies will be involved and a few minor royals to make security a top priority. Bond shakes his head as he leaves M's office. This is a waste of his time and talents.
M says that this asset needs protecting and that the woman slips her guards with a frustrating disregard to her own safety. Sound like a torturous night for him. Apparently her other guards have been given the month off and now Bond's indentured to her as the bodyguard she does not want and a guard that does not want her.
M is doing this to be frustrating…thinking Bond will not seduce an older woman. If M only knew…
The government gets all riled up about people who do not have any major need for protection while in their own environment. If the lady needs to travel abroad then his services will be necessary but here with so much security it's redundant.
That reminds Bond he must bring his passport when he packs his bag. On top of everything Bond will likely stay in the servant quarters in the woman's home.
Bond leaves to go get ready. He grabs a bite and a drink before changing into his tux and heading to the hotel to meet the woman he is to look after. The suite he is staying in tonight is hers room 2103.
Bond arrives at the hotel promptly at 6 and makes his way to the desk to have them ring up to the room. The concierge hands Bond a keycard and tells him that Madame wishes to have 20 minutes and then he may go ahead to the suite.
Bond just nods and rolls his eyes as he heads to the bar. He orders a gin and tonic and observes the room. There are a few early party goers milling about the lounge and security is everywhere. The grand ballroom is buzzing with staff along with all the guards.
Bond empties his drink and goes to the gents before going up to the suite. Bond is about to use the key as the door opens to reveal an older gentleman with a slight flush to his face.
"Oh…you are?"
"Bond, James Bond, Madame's security for this evening."
"Ah…yes come in she is still getting ready…I have delayed her." The man smiled and winked at James insinuating a liaison of some kind just transpired.
"Sorry and you are sir?"
"Where are my manners…I am just distracted…if you know what I mean, Mr. Daniel Connor."
"Nice to meet you, have you known each other long?"
"Yes…yes, years. I was a friend back in university but we have only become reacquainted since her husband died and she retired. Well, I will see you both down at the party…she does't want me to see her new gown until the party…it will be smashing I am sure."
Bond smiles and agrees with the man without any inkling of what the lady looks like. Connor is a handsome man…at least 60 he is guessing she is around the same age.
"She may need you my lad…the last time we attended an event…smaller than this one I had to practically fight for any attention through a sea of admirers."
Bond continues to smile thinking that is fairly normal if she's a rich widow her looks would have nothing to do with it. Bond silently curses M as Bond's month of tedious lunch dates and shopping excursions loom before him in his mind's eye.
Connor left and Bond moves into the suite. There is soft music playing and there is a discarded scarf on the love seat. Bond picks up the piece of silk and smells a lovely expensive perfume.
The merry widow must have made out with Connor before he called…Bond might face her wrath for the interruption…oh well.
Christ he hopes she isn't a cougar, If she spends the evening pawing at him…
At that very moment M sends Bond a text, protect and do not interfere with…which Bond takes to mean NO fooling around.
M is trying to spoil any fun he could possibly have on this mission. What if this is a friend of M's? Bond text's the question to M and receives the reply.
YES, so hands off, not that she would ever let you…she is very choosy.
OOOOHHH how Bond loves a challenge. Just to be a prat he texts M back.
Challenge accepted!
BOND! You wouldn't dare. Not with her…wait you haven't seen her yet have you?
Not yet.
LOL…ok good luck Bond, from what I've heard you may have to get in line.
There was a man who let me in the suite.
Told you…you, are outclassed by this one. Be on you best behaviour or I will it 6 months.
Bond sits in a chair and waits for the old girl to make her appearance. The door to the room opens.
Bond's eye open wider as he takes in a vision... Olivia Mansfield in a stunning off the shoulder black gown with long sleeves and a plunging neck line that draws the eye to her bosom and the white flesh of her shoulders and the long graceful arch of her neck.
Olivia smirks and raises an eyebrow at her former agents expression. The unflappable Bond, James Bond is flushing red as he stares not too secretively at her cleavage.
"So this is M's way of punishing both of us is it? I take it he didn't tell you who you were babysitting tonight?"
Bond smiles the first genuine smile he has smiled in the last 6 months since she retired.
"M…I…you look lovely ma'am. It is nice to see you again and no he did not tell me that the trouble making woman I would be guarding for the next month would be you."
"A MONTH! What in hell did you do to deserve this month of torture? For that matter, what the hell did I do to deserve this month of torture? I only shook the last idiots a few times just to see if I still had it."
"M you definitely still have it." Bond says with a flirtatious wink and smirk.
Olivia…Mansfield, I know you know my real name and now you are actually allowed to use it. Stop the act…I doubt M wants you to seduce me for information when he now has access to it himself."
"You always take all the fun out of everything M…Olivia. Is it in the M handbook or something?"
"As if you could…"
"Oh I could…I am well-trained at it remember."
"Not that well-trained if you have to babysit me. I am afraid that all these so-called talents would be wasted on me."
"Challenge accepted!"
"What? What challenge?"
"Seduction, my dear M...Olivia."
With that he approaches her and takes her hand and brings it to his mouth while his bluest of blue eyes meet her dark blue orbs and twinkle in delight. Bond suddenly feels a euphoric lightness in his being.
Christ he has missed her. Since the dismal fall out of Skyfall they were forced their separate ways. MI6 had her move to the Bahamas or so he believed.
"I thought they packed you off to the Islands to spend your retirement. In fact I was hoping to come visit if work ever took me back there."
"Oh they did…Bond can I have my hand back now…thank you." Olivia moves to the bar in the corner and raises a lovely eyebrow in his direction.
"Yes, thank you…if you don't mind your guard being a little light-headed in your presence ma'am."
"Bond give it a rest…it will not work on me…I know you too damn well for this game."
"What if it's not a game?"
Olivia stares at him as she hands him a tumbler of Scotch. She brings her own to her lips and tosses it back. She watches as Bond does the same.
Olivia shakes her head. "Bond your plans to manage a tryst with whoever you were to guard tonight just to alleviate your boredom and piss off M are not going to happen so please turn it off for tonight will you."
Bond frowns at her…she doesn't see it…or won't allow herself too. He is not playing a game.
Olivia walks past him and Bond grabs her arm twirling her back towards him. "Who is Connor to you, ma'am?"
Olivia looks down at his hand that grasps her arm and back up to his face in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play so coy M…is he your lover?"
"It is none of your business if he is, but no he's not…"
"Good."
"Why Bond, does the thought of having to hear two older people have relations in the next room disturb you?"
Bond's hand is still locked on her arm as they gaze at each other for a moment.
"Yes, because then I would be picturing you as well as being forced to hear you receiving pleasure from another man's mouth and body. That…that would be a torture worse than anything I have experienced in the past."
For a moment something passed across her face…concern disbelief and fear…she looked at him with sadness and pity. Olivia knows the physical and mental abuse he's been put through over the years, because of orders she gave.
"Stop…I said."
"Stop?"
"Stop the act."
"And I told you it's not an act. I've missed you M…so much."
M smiles and whispers to him as she walks to the door. "I missed you too dear boy."
Where did this all come from…yes Bond has always thought her incredibly sexy…the ways her eyes flash at you when she is pissed…holding her when she almost died was harder than pulling Vesper's water-logged body from that building in Venice.
Bond follows her to the elevator and her perfume assaults his senses as they make the journey to the ballroom.
"I found your scarf discarded on under a sofa cushion…it smelt of your lovely perfume."
M blushes as she looks at him. "I wondered where that went."
"I assume it has something to do with Connor…and the flush on his face when he left the room."
M places her hands on her hips. "Bond…stop. I do not need to justify what I do to you."
"No…no you don't…I'm just jealous."
"Please Bond. I already asked you to stop the act. You would actually seduce me just to feed your over inflated ego?"
"No…I would seduce you because of how I feel about you."
"Oh please…just make yourself unnoticeable and if you accomplish that much tonight I will be impressed. I will likely have to pull some jealous husband off you at some point tonight after you steal off with the wife to the bloody cloakroom."
Bond smiles at her and does something he has always wanted to do but never could buck up the courage to actually do, he kisses M. His lips feel the softness of hers as she momentary yields to him…seconds….milliseconds of joy until her hand meets the side of his face in a slap that reverberates in the depths of his very being.
"What the hell!"
"M I have desired you since the day I met you and you are a stubborn idiot to think anything about this is an act."
The elevator doors open and an angry and perplexed M walks towards the ball without looking back at Bond.
Bond's behaviour is confusing her…she can't lie, she did miss him…fighting with him, running for her life with him. The man is beautiful beyond belief. She will likely have to protect him tonight. Connor wants to come back to the suite tonight…she was planning on seeing where that would go but now…it seems wrong.
The ball is full of politicians and dignitaries that are hovering around M, as more than a few flirt and she flirts right back.
Olivia is far more relaxed than when she was M and the beauty of her smile is transcendent. Olivia has a group of five men hanging off her every word for her tale. They're enthralled and so is Bond.
A few other women approach Bond with flirtatious winks trying to separate him from his post of guarding the most enthralling women in the room.
Daniel Connor stands by her side placing his arm around her waist staking his claim. Olivia is having none of his masculine show of ownership and links arms with and admiral that she knows and excuses herself to the dance floor.
Bond felt bad for Connor but then he should know better than to stake claim on a woman like M.
M spends 20 minutes dancing moving from one man to the next. Bond watches her and notices her discomfort at dancing with the current gentleman. Bond knows her body language and she is stiff in his embrace.
Bond is about to move towards them and sees the man kiss her neck and grab her ass. M pushes him away and heads to the WC looking at Bond as she storms past.
Bond approaches the man. "Excuse me what is your name sir?"
"Lionel Harding."
"Do you know that woman?"
"Yes, of coarse…Mansfield…she is a cute little fox."
"You would be wise to keep your hand to yourself in the future."
"What! You her bloody keeper?"
"No, but I am the man who will break your hand the next time you touch her. I mean it, not even a bloody handshake in the future Mr. Harding."
The man just looks at the expression on Bond's face and walks away. Bond moves to the exits of the WC to wait for M.
When she exits she glares at him. "That man is a drunken fool."
"I already spoke to him and he will not get close to you again. To show him that I am serious, would you do me the honour of a dance ma'am?"
M smiles up and him and allows Bond to take her hand and guide her to the dance floor.
"I have to say, M you are far more animated now that you're retired at one of these functions."
"Well, the pressure is not on me to negotiate or explain your excessive costs to these men now and stop calling me M."
"Why are you here, Olivia?"
"Ha you will never believe it if I tell you."
"Try me."
"M asks me to come in place of him. Apparently he came to three and made no headway at all. The members that he did speak to kept asking about me…it turns out that they looked forward to speaking with me in a social setting…possibly a dance. In other words over the years I wore them down to a level of acceptance for a female head to the organization and they missed it."
Bond is enjoying holding her like this and understands their motivation immediately.
"So they missed you…not just any female department head M…Olivia. M is a sly dog when he needs to be and you are the bone he is tossing to all these aging men. Face it Olivia you got under their skin and if they have to attend a formal function you are the one bright beacon of light in an otherwise grey bureaucratic nightmare of an evening."
Olivia smirks up at him as he stares down in wonder at her. Bond is behaving very strangely tonight. Flirtation and Bond are constant companions but this is something different. The difference is that she is no longer his boss.
The relationship is fundamentally different now…if there is a relationship. Bond is her bodyguard now for an entire month…this is not something she every imagined happening. The two of them have not been in such continuous contact since…Skyfall.
"You're enjoying all of this Bond…I can honestly say that it is a shock to me that you are."
"Why wouldn't I be? I get to move in with a beautiful woman for a month and that is plenty of time to…"
"To what Bond? Drive me insane…to drink all my Scotch and who the hell says you are moving in with me?"
"I am your bodyguard now Olivia so I must be around your body….constantly."
"Harumph…the other guards were content to stay outside in the car until I went out…so why on earth would you have to do anything different?"
"Mainly because I want to and I plan on seducing you."
"Stop it Bond…I said I would not have this teasing…"
"Teasing…I told you I was deadly serious and I love a challenge."
"So it would be for your amusement this challenge of getting me drunk enough to let you screw me?"
"Olivia…please give me more credit than that…I told you I meant it and I…I've missed you terribly and I want you more than anything."
"Oh and why is that Bond? For an entry in your little black book of conquests, or are you preparing a manual for the next generation of 00's on how to seduce older marks or you department head?"
"I told you the truth in your room and the elevator…I want you…badly…I did not lie so now it is for you to consider and decide if you want me too."
The song ended and another gentleman asked Olivia for a dance. Bond moved off the dance floor to get a drink and observe his charge.
Olivia attempted small talk with her new dance partner but her mind was elsewhere. Bond is starting to piss her off. There is no way she believes that he wants to do anything more than get sweaty in her bed for a night or two and then move on to greener pastures.
Bond is standing beside Connor now and the two of them are watching her dance with this junior minister. Olivia need some air and would like to go privately so she guides her dance partner into a throng of other dancers.
Olivia excuses herself from her partner and heads quickly out a side exit. She moves down the corridor quickly to the back of the ballroom that opens up to a balcony and terrace. Olivia positions herself behind a potted tree and leans against the stone railing looking out over a small garden.
It is a nice evening and the clouds have given away to a partial moon with the smattering of stars bright enough to be visible through the deluge of lights that make up London at night. The balcony's stretched out over the back and right side of the building creating an L pattern.
Olivia's small corner on the left side cannot be easily viewed because of potted plants and a lilac bush that has grown up in that corner of the garden. So it is here that she can remain hidden from Bond for a bit to calm her nerves and anger at her former agent for playing games with her.
Why the hell should Olivia think on her feelings for him when it is all irrelevant. M likely put him up to this…for some reason he is often finding men to accompany her places…his way of keeping an eye on her so why would Bond be any different.
Daniel had been a younger friend of her husband in University and Olivia knew the young man had a crush on her when they met…Nigel and he had a falling out and she never saw him again until Nigel's funeral.
They exchanged a few phone calls but she was still M then and had little time for a personal life. Daniel called a few months after Skyfall and they began seeing each other regularly. Daniel is not her plus one to this event he has other connexions in the government and business dealings with the European parliament.
Maybe Olivia could disappear to Daniel's suite for the night to annoy Bond…but really she didn't feel strongly for the man. Daniel spent all his time trying to impress her with his importance…not knowing what she did for the last 20 years…he didn't really ask more than a few times what she had been up too.
Daniel must have some inkling…the PM greats her by her first name and shared first dance with her earlier. In retrospect Daniel did not act all that surprised that she danced with the Prime Minister. Olivia shakes her head…she is getting paranoid and seeing conspiracies everywhere. Bond, Daniel and M all trying to hook her into…something….something that she is not ready for.
Ever since retirement Olivia feels that men are trying to force her into what they perceive she is supposed to do and quite frankly she is not used to taking orders from others. She is too old and stubborn to change at this stage. Maybe Bond is right about that and maybe he is sincere…the kiss he gave her in the elevator…the way he held her at Skyfall. The two of them had walked on the moors of hell that night and it was impossible for them to go back to the way they were after. She recovered and he went on missions. They forced her out and to the islands so he could not drop in unannounced. They called her back because they needed her…to do this.
Olivia the old M is now a lobbyist for the SIS cause. Well, it does keep her busy and she gets to find out what is going on in that world…as much as M trusts her with anyway. M mentioned before her briefing tonight that there is interagency party in Washington in three weeks that he would like her to attend with him. Their meeting, debrief on this evening will be on tomorrow and they will make plans for Washington then.
Olivia hears a familiar voice behind her to the right of her cubby of seclusion.
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know she has been in the arms of everyman here tonight."
"I thought you would have negotiated yourself into her bed by now…what's the problem?"
"I've tried but she is not an easy nut to crack it isn't like the woman doesn't have an array of men jockeying for her attention tonight. Now with that new bodyguard…christ like she will give me a second glance with that one around."
"Do you want me to take him out so you can make your move?"
"That will be too obvious if he disappears…MI6 will know something is wrong."
"We need the information she has and if bedroom talk does not loosen the old gals lips then we will have to resort to captivity."
"No…I want to try it this way first…she is very stubborn always has been. I love her too much to see her kept captive and drugged and mentally tortured for what she knows."
"It is not up to you in the end and if you don't find out within the month then plan B will take place. Our sources say that she's off to Washington at the end of the month with the current M…this may be a good opportunity for us. Did you find out where her children live? Their names were from view…classified."
"Not yet…I'm trying get her back to my suite or hers. I've tried to get her into my bed since I met her over 40 years ago."
"We need leverage as stubborn as she is, I'm sure if we threaten to kill her son and or daughter she will cave. You need to get back in there and sweep her off her feet."
"I know but sometimes these things take time and it's not like I can impress her over any of the other men in there asking her out to the dance floor."
"I swear it's as though you don't want too. I would love to be in your shoes…I danced with her earlier…the bodyguard threatened me for manhandling her. She's a doll…nice ass...very attractive."
"I know that! Keep your bloody hands to yourself…now that Bond character and Olivia know that you're a drunken lout….maybe we can use that."
"What?"
"Go back in and find her…paw at her some more and I will intervene and take her back to one of our suites…she may be grateful for my interruption."
"What about Bond?"
"Dance her out here where it's nice and quiet and make a pass at her."
"All right let's go find her."
Olivia releases the breath she has held slowly. How is she going to play this? She needs Bond, no she needs to go along with it and get Daniel to her suite. She takes out her cell and calls M…gives him the gist of what is going on and he agrees.
I will collect Harding, have Bond bring him outside the party…Who are they working for?
"I don't know M but we have to find out or our trip to Washington will be compromised from the inside."
Bond has searched the ballroom for 20 minutes and is about to call Q to find her by her tracker soon. James is beginning to panic that something has happened to her when she enters the ballroom and gets ushered to the dance floor once again by Connor.
As Bond's panicked breathing returns to normal he notices they are dancing very close…damn it M…Olivia is leaning her head on his shoulder with her eyes shut. Connor is all smiles as he holds her close moving about the floor. Bond goes for a drink now that he knows where she is.
Olivia allows him to manoeuvre her over behind some obstacles out of Bond's view. She sees Harding and braces herself for what is about to happen. Connor suddenly excuses himself for the gents.
Bond cannot see her again and he begins walking through the dancers to see Connor alone as he heads out the side terrace doors.
Olivia is out there…no wait she is dancing or being pulled along by that idiot Harding, he threatened earlier.
"Come to the terrace darling it is a beautiful night."
"I think I would rather stay inside."
"Don't be a difficult woman…and know your place."
"What! Know my place…you have no idea."
They had cleared the doors of the building as he pulled her outside. Harding pulled her mouth to his and pushed her forcible up against he stone railing near her earlier hiding spot.
Daniel Connor walked towards them purposefully just as Bond exits to take in the scene.
Bond's vision clouded in anger as he runs forward. Connor beats him to the man as he pulls him off Olivia. The man Harding swore and took a bad swing as Bond traps his arms from behind.
"Olivia are you all right?"
"Yes…Daniel thank you for intervening." Olivia held his arm and lowered her head to his shoulder as they look at James who is fuming in anger.
"I will escort him outside ma'am."
"Yes, Mr. Bond and I will be going back to the suite now."
"I will escort you my dear."
"I will be up after I deal with him ma'am."
Olivia nods at Bond and allows Daniel to escort her to the room.
Bond roughly pulls the man through the service corridors as he receives a call. He answers and after a moment looks at the car…M walks towards him.
"What is going on?"
M has others come and cuff Harding and toss him in a car.
"Didn't Olivia tell you? She called me... over heard their plans to use her for information. Connor's involved with him."
Bond's eyes go wide and he bolts back inside and to the elevators. Shit she is with him alone…how could she not tell him!
The elevator is painfully slow.
Connor pulls her to him as soon as they enter the room. Damn it…Olivia was hoping to stall until James returned. She gives as good as she can back and gives an exaggerated moan.
Connor suddenly backs her towards her bedroom as she looks over his shoulder hoping to see Bond push through the door…shit the security lock is in place…she didn't see him do that. Olivia breaks the kiss and moves towards the bar instead.
"I could use a drink, how about you?"
"I want you dear…only you will quench my thirst."
What an idiot…hurry up Bond.
Connor suddenly picks her up and carries her into the bedroom kicking and locking the door behind them and plopping her on the bed.
Olivia has to decide how to play this without angering him. Daniel toes off his shoes and grasps her shoes and pulls them off her feet trailing his hands up her legs as he does it. Olivia resists the urge to kick him and giggles instead.
Bond tries the door and the security bar is in place. There is a separate exit for his room so he moves around the corner in the hall and tries the lock. Bond enters and hurriedly moves through the room into the suite he reaches her door and listens for a moment trying the handle quietly.
Olivia laughs and says… "Stop, Daniel…I'm ticklish."
"You have the sexiest legs…Olivia."
Bond has heard enough and kicks the door in grabbing Daniel by the collar and pulling him off the bed. Daniel takes a swing at Bond yelling at him for interrupting.
"He is not interrupting Daniel. Who are you working for?"
"What do you mean…I'm here just trying to get close to you…you know how I feel about you…how I have always felt about you and I'm self-employed and you know that."
Olivia gets off the bed and crosses her arms under her breasts and she begins to pace before him. Bond has a zip tie around his hands behind his back and pushes him down to a kneeling position in front of M…Olivia.
"We have your accomplice and I overheard you in the garden. It is stupid to think I would spill state secrets to you so easily. As if sex could addle my mind to the point of treason…I didn't for 45 years of marriage and I loved him. What makes you think you're adequate enough to change that?"
Silence…Bond kicks him to get him to talk.
"Drugs…I was giving you small doses in drinks to get you to tell the truth. The last drink I gave you had the largest dose and within an hour you will answer whatever asked of you truthfully."
Bond's eyes shoot to look at hers…and Olivia's widen in shock which she covers and looks back down at him. Olivia leans down in front of him and begins searching his pockets for the drug.
Daniel leans in towards Olivia again but Bond pulls him away from her before he can put his lips on or near her. She gets up and takes the vile and hands it to Bond.
"What do you want done with him ma'am?"
"Take him to base will you Bond and give the vile to the proper hands."
"What about you…you need a guard."
"I will be fine and likely be asleep when you return."
"I can easily have a car come and get him."
"I need someone I trust on this one Bond and you are that person, so please do what I ask without making my life difficult."
"Yes, ma'am…I will return shortly."
Bond pulls Connor to his feet and drags him into the hall to the service elevator. Olivia is trying to get rid of him because she has truth serum running through her system and if he asked her anything…she would have to answer.
Olivia showers and gets ready for bed. Thoughts and answers to questions going through her head as she imagines being asked…visualizing the answer and holding it in by biting her tongue. It is a battle within herself…a battle of control over her mouth.
Yes, I love you dear boy…I have for years and it is foolish for an old woman to feel this way but I do. Why on earth would you want one such as me? It is a betrayal of Nigel…having fallen in love with an agent while still married…this cannot come out…it must remain hidden.
The first meeting between them replays in her mind as she lashes out at Bond, coolly as a reflexive action and because of what he is doing to her internally. For christ sake she is a married mother of two nearing 60 at the time but she has never been so attracted to a man in her life and damn him if he doesn't know full well the effect he has on women.
Olivia made a vow then, to never give any indication of anything more than frustration at his actions. She will never be one of the many that Bond so carelessly uses and casts aside…she is above it. She went home that night and initiated sex with her husband but still…he was there in her mind.
Poor Nigel…she loved him and always had…they were opposites and that worked for them though out their married life but Bond…Bond was…he was all the things she wished she could have been…the idea of field work had always intrigued her but for a female agent the dangers were greater…
Bond returns to the room and goes to check on M. He peaks in and sees her tossing and turning in her sleep. She looks cute and tousled in the big bed alone…damn he wants to join her but…
Only if she says yes…she would need to be awake for that. Bond closes her door and moves into the suite deciding that he'll stay there and make some noise…maybe she will wake up and investigate.
Bond loosens his tie and unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt and removes his coat. He clicks on a small lamp on the table beside him and leans back against the back of the sofa to stare at the door to M…Olivia's room….he has to stop thinking of her as M…she is just a woman now.
Just a woman who the hell is he trying to kid…she will never be just a woman to him. Olivia Mansfield's entitled to bed whoever she likes…and he desperate for it to be him but she doesn't want him…because she doesn't think he is sincere in his flirtations. She may have ended up in bed with that man if she had not over heard his plans.
Connor spoke of her the entire way to base without Bond prompting him. The man had crushed on her hard in university until Mansfield had enough and punched him out telling him to stop following her around. Connor kept tabs on her for years but then they dropped off the radar…as M became higher in MI6 they scrubbed the trail clean.
Skyfall…bloody Skyfall. M was in the news after the incident…her retirement and titles given as a matter of public record and then… bam… she's back. There will be men from her past looking for her…men like Connor. M is an idiot for bringing her back from the Bahamas…just to get out of a few formal occasions. It was too soon, apparently 6 months was not enough to hide her effectively. Although, enough time to torture Bond with her absence.
Olivia tosses and hears a noise. She crawls out of bed…two hours have passed. It must be Bond. She quietly goes to the door and opens it. Bond's head is resting on the back of the sofa facing her door. On the arm there is a tumbler of Scotch resting gently in his hand. Light snoring comes from him.
Before Olivia realizes it she is in front of him in nothing more than a fitted negligée. She gently grasps the glass out of his slackened hand and picks it up. Suddenly James comes to life and his hand grabs her wrist.
"M….what…time's it?"
"It's 3 am you can go to bed in your room now so that the snoring will not keep me awake all night."
Bond is still holding her wrist as he looks her up and down…his heart rate increases when he sees her in such a state of undress. His breathing changes as do his eyes.
This moment seems fraught with danger and possibility. Olivia silently curses herself for not getting a robe before exiting her room. His eyes have darkened and her own breathing has become shallow as they gaze at each other.
Bond takes the whiskey out of her hand without removing his hand from her wrist. Bond's left hand rises the drink to his lips as he downs it. The thumb of his right hand caresses her wrist. Bond puts the glass down on the table and snakes his arm around her back as he moves her back to her bedroom silently.
Olivia follows not saying anything…her heart pounding anticipating what may come. Bond sits her on the edge of her bed and pulls her legs up so that she is lying down. Bond covers her with the blankets and leans down to kiss her forehead. He does not say a word…no questions…no more talk of wanting to sleep with her…nothing. Olivia was expecting questions…he wants to know how she feels about him. All the things she does not want to give voice too but would be forced to divulge because of the drug in her system.
Bond stares down at her in the dimly lit room wanting to ask but not this way…this should and will take time…nothing truly worthwhile is easy and talking his way into her bed while she's drunk or drugged is not the way he wants to do it.
Bond leans down close to her and speaks lovingly into her ear. "I want you but not like this…I love you too much M…Olivia."
Bond kisses her cheek turns and leaves her room.