When did I become Tom Quinn
All belongs to Kudos and/or BBC….rating leaning toward M, so you are warned.
"When did I become Tom Quinn?" It is rhetorical from Harry Pearce thinking over his career with MI5.
"When did I become you?" Ruth asks the question not really expecting Harry to answer. They are sitting in Harry's living room both having had too much to drink, but not so much that they weren't at themselves. It had been a draining 48 hours.
Looking a little slyly at Ruth, Harry ventures another comment, emboldened by the Scotch. "Well at least they couldn't' say you're shagging the boss since it seems I'm to be forced out."
"Not so fast Sir Harry. I may be inebriated but I haven't destroyed all my brain cells. We have not shagged." It is the best response Ruth has, short of moving into his arms and doing as he suggests.
"Why not consider it then," replies Harry giving his most charming smile. "It is Valentine's Day weekend."
For once, Ruth decides not to think. Thinking rarely is good for her private life. Oh it's great for work. It just never works when she applies all her knowledge and experience to herself. She leans toward Harry. "Show me what you want," she says in a whisper as if someone might hear.
Harry also decides it's not the time to think since Ruth is for the first time willing. He gently places his hands on her shoulders and pulls her to him. They kiss. They Begin with short bursts of kisses, not like teens, but like two adults who understand the art of lovemaking. They are exploring. They increase the pressure and interval of their kisses. Her hands begin roaming his body. Harry takes this as permission to do the same. Both are still fully clothed, but their hands are starting to find ways beneath these barriers to allow flesh to touch flesh.
"Should I slow down," asks Harry, his breathing laboring from excitement and a fear he is dreaming. He thinks she will disappear from his arms any moment.
"No. No." Ruth repeats the words between kisses. Her breathing too is laboring from excitement and anticipation. She starts to unbutton his shirt collar. A hand reaches up and stops her. With her eyes she questions why. She doesn't want to stop.
Harry sees the question in her eyes. "No darling. It is not what you think. I just want this to be perfect. I want you in my bed, not on my sofa." Then he chuckles. Again there is the question with her beautiful eyes. "Well I know it's not the time to be practical, but the sofa is leather and whoever ends up against it may experience more pain than pleasure." Harry again has a shy look about him as he tries to not laugh and look at Ruth at the same time. He sees the humor of the situation. He's actually stopping her.
"Harry, you are telling now is the time to be practical?" Harry hears in Ruth's voice that the moment is rapidly being lost.
"Well you understand? Haven't you ever sat on a leather seat in shorts and when you go to stand you find your flesh attached? It can be excruciating to pull the skin free from the leather. I was thinking that at some point it might be you and I don't want any mark on your beautiful delicate skin."
"It could just as easily be you," is Ruth's response as she pushes him down on the sofa and she lands on top of him.
Harry grabs both her hands and rolling her toward the back of the sofa, he flips her onto her back. "Yes and it can be you." Smiles have returned to both their eyes as the moment is regained and they again begin to explore the sensitive areas of each other with their hands and kissing. Tongues battle for dominance. Hands increase their pressure and move closer to erogenous zones.
Again Ruth starts to unbutton Harry's shirt as she has maneuvered on top of him again. Harry again grabs her hands. It has become a game. He has the strength, she has the guile. Both smile.
"Harry, we can leave the back of your shirt between you and the sofa."
"Ruth, it's not exactly my back I'm worried about." She smiles as she mentally and silently notes the possibilities. He adds, "I am also concerned for you and you don't seem to take me seriously. Still, if you want us to make love for the first time on my sofa, I will forever cherish it and be assured the sofa will never be removed from its place of honor."
During all the conversation, once Harry had freed hers, their hands had continued to play with each other's hair and feel each other's body. He can't stop touching her. She can't stop touching him. She's amazed at how solid he is, not fat, but the build of a man. He thinks she is so soft with skin like satin. Beautiful like fine English china.
"I will of course Ruth allow you the honor of being first to test your theory about the sofa if you want to continue." He has once again flipped her onto her back and onto the sofa. This time he starts to undo the buttons of her blouse, and slides his hands around to remove her bra. They are still kissing. She pulls him tighter against her. She starts to work his shirt from his body. Then Ruth stops abruptly. Once again Harry fears he will spend a night of frustration. He looks to her face. She is pushing him away with her hands, but her eyes still smile.
"Come on get off me Harry." His face looks sad. "You are right. Let's go to your bed." She is conceding that he is right.
Harry rolls off of Ruth and pulls her to her feet. Where her elbow has connected with the sofa, she now sees what Harry means; the separation of flesh from leather is painful. Like a bandage, she pulls her arm free quickly expressing a minor yelp.
"I tried to tell you. Just be thankful it was only your elbow," Harry says with a smile. He takes her in his arms again and kisses her and then moves to her earlobe, neck pulse, and the tops of her breasts. As he is about to suckle her nipples, it is Ruth's turn to stop him.
With a lilt she observes, "Let's move to the bedroom before we find ourselves on the carpet and discussing rug burns." It is Harry's turn to laugh at her being practical as he pulls away from her body. Hand in hand, Harry leads her to the bedroom. Their clothes are disheveled so there is still the pleasure to come from finishing what they have started with the undressing each other.
Reviews appreciated…next chapter will at some point backtrack to how they ended up at Harry's house. Needless to say it happens after the HS phone call to Harry at the end of series 9.