Author's note
A Sybil x Tom modern AU one shot - my contribution to the Rock the American AU S/T challenge on Tumblr! As always, I'd love to know what you think.
"Knock knock - Dr Crawley?"
Sybil looked up, and found herself wishing she had chosen her clothes more carefully that morning, or at least put on a bit of mascara. In front of her was a blue eyed man with a gorgeous accent, rapping on the glass pane in her already open office door – who was he?
"Um, yes, and you are...?" "Tom Branson, National Geographic. I think you were expecting me?"
"Sure, that's right, but I didn't know you were coming in today, someone was meant to let me know."
Tom let out a laugh that sounded like liquid gold, making Sybil want to hear him laugh again. "That sounds about right – sorry about that. We've had some staff changes in our admin team and I guess someone must have forgotten to call you. Do you want me to come back another time?"
"Oh no," Sybil said, a bit too eagerly to her ears, "No, it's fine. Won't you come in?"
Tom crossed over to her – "Good to meet you, Dr Crawley." Sybil stood up and came out from behind her desk to shake his hand. Something strange happened at that moment – she could have sworn that she felt some kind of spark jump between them as their eyes met directly for the first time, and she found herself dropping her eyes first, breaking his gaze. To her embarrassment she felt a flush rising up her cheeks.
Tom wasn't lacking in empathy and he could see he made Sybil feel a bit awkward. He wasn't sure why, though – surely a stunner like her would already be dating some rich, handsome guy? She couldn't be attracted to him, could she? He found himself hoping against hope that she was – he could not remember the last time he had met someone he was so instantly drawn to as this beautiful woman with long, wavy dark hair cut with a fringe, and a gorgeous figure, partly obscured by her casual cargo shorts and loose grey t-shirt but in a way which left him wanting more...
Realising that neither of them had said a word for what felt like a long time, Tom cleared his throat. "I'm not sure how much the magazine told you about the brief for the article. Shall we go to get a coffee or something, and I can tell you about it?" "Sure, we can do that. Staff canteen is just down the hall - they have a Starbucks there."
Sybil pulled the door shut behind them, and found herself looking at Tom as he headed down the corridor ahead of her. "Now that is an arse I won't forget in a hurry!" she thought, before she could stop herself. She quickened her pace to catch up with him – "Turn right, and it's the second door on the left." Tom turned at the sound of her voice and they nearly collided as Sybil came up behind him – "Sorry about that, Dr Crawley – didn't see you there." "Call me Sybil, please! Dr Crawley makes me feel as if you think I am about 60." Tom smiled back at her – "No danger of that, I assure you."
They got their coffees and when he ordered a vanilla latte she couldn't help joking – "When you are ready for an actual cup of coffee, let me know! Don't you know Hawaii is famous for it?" - as she ordered a double espresso. "Want something to eat? How about a bear claw – we could split it?" She nodded – sweet, sugary pastry sounded good for afternoon tea after her hectic morning. "Why don't you sit down, Sybil? I've got these."
She headed over to a table by the window, watching as he charmed the bejesus out of the barista, a pretty blonde undergrad. As the girl giggled and twisted the end of her braid around her fingers, batting her long eyelashes suggestively at Tom as she did so, Sybil found herself with an unfamiliar emotion. The green eyed monster tapped her on the shoulder – "Hey stranger, long time no see!"
She was glad when he plonked himself down in the seat opposite her, and they started to chat about the article. She picked up the bear claw and tore it in half, and he looked at her as she unconsciously put her fingers in her mouth to lick off the sugar, thinking – "God, that is really hot!" – and tried to get himself thinking about something else.
"So the good news is that the magazine is paying for us to spend a couple of nights over at a resort on the Kona Coast – I read that the sea turtles come right up to the beach and swim with the guests, and they want me to write a little fluffy sidebar. Always helps the average punter get into the story a bit more if there is a human interest angle to go with the sciencey stuff."
"Oh really? They didn't mention that ... when are we meant to be going?"
Tom gave a rueful smile – "We really did mess up, didn't we? There's a car coming to pick us up in about ten minutes at the front of the building – we can stop at your place along the way so you can pick up some things, if that works?" Sybil thought for a second, and then said "Sure, what the hell. It's a connected world – I can always bring my laptop along and get my work done from Kona as easily as Hilo for a day or so – I don't have any classes to teach, luckily."
"You have yourself a deal, Sybil. Nearly done?" "Yes, all good – let's go." Sybil led the way back down the corridor, and this time it was Tom's turn to check her out. She could feel his eyes on her and somehow, she didn't mind at all. "At least if I go home, I can change my clothes and not look like such an academic nerd!" The car was ready for them when they arrived, and it only took a few minutes to get to Sybil's house – she normally walked to work and enjoyed the decompression time at the start and end of each day, although her American colleagues (who all loved their cars) didn't get it at all. "Hang on a minute, won't be long."
She jumped out of the car, opened her front door and ran to her bedroom. Feeling as if she were getting ready for a date, before she realised what she was doing she had tried on and rejected two outfits. "Get a grip! Just choose something – he is going to wonder what the hell you are doing." She quickly pulled on dark jeans and a blue singlet top, and ran a comb through her hair, twisting it into a loose ponytail. Grabbing a few more clothes and toiletries for the next couple of days, she threw them into her backpack and was ready to go.
Sybil couldn't help feeling excited as she opened the car door and climbed back in – it felt somehow as if she were embarking on an adventure, the kind of adventure she hadn't had since she had moved to Hawaii nearly a year before. She turned to Tom - although she didn't realise it, her eyes were sparkling and he found himself whistling inwardly. He just managed to restrain himself from doing any more than offer her his "cheeky chap" grin, which usually worked wonders with women. "All set?" She smiled – "Hit it!"
The car took the long road up and over the saddle between the volcanoes as Tom asked - "Shall we get started with the interview? Do you mind if I tape it – I prefer to take my notes later?" Sybil agreed and got quickly into the flow of talking about her work. He really enjoyed watching her while she spoke about marine biology. She was so obviously passionate about it, her face animated and her hands gesturing nonstop as she spoke about the turtles she had fallen in love with as a girl, growing up in Yorkshire devoted to nature shows.
"... so once I finished my doctorate at Plymouth, specialising in marine reptiles, I had the chance to do my post doc work and when this spot came up at UH I jumped at it. I mean, who would say no to Hawaii, right?" Sybil realised she was doing all the talking and tried to divert attention back to Tom – "Anyway, enough about me – what do you think of me? Just kidding! How about you – how did you end up at National Geographic?"
Tom flicked off the recording app on his iPad. They could pick this up later and right now he was much more interested in keeping this conversation going - he could not remember the last time he had enjoyed talking to someone so much. "I had a lucky break, really. I did my masters in journalism at Goldsmiths after a few years at a London paper, and had an American girlfriend there who had some connections in US magazines. She helped me get an interview for a job and I got it – it went from there." Sybil felt another tap on her shoulder – girlfriend? Tom went on – "It didn't work out with Lori but it did with the magazine – I've been there a while now and I really love it."
Their easy conversation continued as they came down the other side of the Big Island, leaving behind the lavish green of the Hilo side and descending into the moonscape beyond. "Nearly there now. We will have a fair bit of work to do in the next couple of days – want to relax for a bit first before we keep going with the interview?" "Sounds great... it's been a hectic week with my field work, and it would be nice to have a break for an hour or so. Let's meet for an early dinner later?"
Sybil saw the look on Tom's face – she thought he looked a bit disappointed and wondered why that was. Then she thought – "Did he want to relax with me? Oh bollocks! Sybil, you missed your chance there." She was afraid of seeming too keen if she changed her mind now, so once they had both checked in, she gave him an airy wave and headed towards the lift, seemingly without a care in the world.
A little while later, Tom opened his balcony door – "There are definitely some perks to working for this magazine! Look at that view!" He gazed out at the ocean which he could see right below him, watching the blue-green waves lap against the sand, reflecting the clear sky above. He was about to go back inside to get his book when he saw Sybil walking down to the beach with a towel in her hand. He couldn't stop himself watching as she found a sunny spot and dropped her sarong, revealing a striking crimson bikini, and he realised he'd underestimated her beauty earlier. "She is a bit of a sea princess, this one!"
She headed down to the water and slipped in straight away, clearly in her element as she swam strongly out towards the breakwater and back. Standing up in the shallow water, she looked around for the sea turtles which could be seen most days near the shoreline. Drops of salt water ran down from her hair, marking a trail on her body that Tom found himself wanting to follow with his tongue... He shook his head and went back inside, trying to do some research to take his mind off the dazzling vision he had just seen, but it seemed Sybil was burned into his brain – every time he blinked, she was there.
He was glad when it was time for him to head down to the restaurant. He looked around for her – "Tom, over here!" She was waving to him from an outside table, and he felt his heart start beating just a little faster as he walked towards her, seeing her gorgeous smile break out at the sight of him. She was radiant in the setting sun, her still damp hair framing her face with soft waves, and her strappy white broderie anglaise sundress complemented by the purple hibiscus she had tucked behind her right ear.
As the waiter took their order, Tom got out his iPad again, started the recorder app and settled back in his seat. While they talked, Sybil found herself losing her train of thought more than once, looking at his hair falling into his face and wanting to reach over and push it back. "Something is going on here that is more than just a meeting of the minds!" she thought, wondering if he felt the same way.
After their meal, she was picking up her bag when he suggested they take a walk down to the beach. "Good idea – I had a swim before and it is really beautiful down there." Strolling along the sand as evening melted into night, Sybil found herself switching into scientist mode, showing Tom the various features of the marine landscape that made the turtle habitat so perfect along this coast. He could see the excitement in her face and was reminded of the way she had looked in the car a couple of hours before. Now, he wanted to know if that passion for her work might translate into an equal passion for life...
He stepped slightly ahead of her, heading towards a grassy bank behind the beach which was capped by palm trees, and sat down. "Want to stay here for a bit? You were right – it is really beautiful here." She joined him and both of them were silent for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts as they breathed in the freshness of the ocean air. Then, she felt something brush against her fingers and looked down to see his hand touching hers, in a way that could easily be seen as an accident if she chose to interpret it that way...
It felt like forever since she had engaged in this dance, this "will he or won't he" feeling when she was attracted to someone and not sure if he felt the same way. Tom had made the first move now between them, and Sybil felt herself irresistibly drawn towards him, turning to meet his blue eyes which were almost black in the fading light. The look he gave her left her in no doubt that the touch of his hand on hers had not been an accident. She was mesmerised as his hand slid up her arm, slowly moving towards her shoulder. He started pulling her towards him then, eyes still locked on hers as his other hand came up to her face, tangling in the waves of her hair.
Tom's face was just an inch from hers when he paused for a moment, silently asking her if this was OK. By way of answer, Sybil's hand slipped around his neck – this was all the encouragement he needed to put his lips to hers, gently at first and then with quickly increasing passion. She felt herself lighting up like the tiki torches along the path to the sea as he pulled her closer, her skin charged with flares of light as he touched her. His tongue moved into her mouth and she sank more fully into his kiss, closing her eyes and tightening her arms around him as a moan escaped her throat...
He broke their kiss and looked into her eyes again. Both of them wanted more and knew it – and they were in the perfect place to act on their desires. Just beneath a nearby tree was a double beach chair that seemed very inviting all of a sudden. Without speaking he stood and held his hand to pull her up. Hands linked, they took the few steps to the shelter of the canopy, and lay down on the soft towels that covered the extended seat beneath it.
Tom's arms came around Sybil and he began to murmur to her about how beautiful she was and how much he wanted to be closer to her. She felt herself blushing at his words and felt glad that the night had now completely overtaken them, giving them some unexpected privacy in this beautiful place. As their lips met again both their hearts were racing - now, there was no holding back the passion that had sprung up between them the moment they met.
His lips traced along her jawline and down her throat to her shoulders. Pushing down the straps of her dress, he realised she wasn't wearing a bra under it as his hand found her breasts. Before long, their clothes were all on the sand beneath them, and Tom took his time exploring every inch of Sybil's body as he exposed it, kissing and stroking her enticing curves. He moved gradually lower, his fingers finding her molten core. His lips continued to plant a trail of kisses down her stomach and as his tongue found her clit and began to tease it, he slipped a finger inside her.
Sybil had never felt anything like the sensations that were flowing through her. Although she had always enjoyed sex before, somehow this particular aspect of lovemaking had not really excited her, but as Tom's tongue and lips continued their steady, relentless caresses and his finger was joined by another, stroking her inside and out, she felt a rising excitement begin to build that quickly escalated until it was almost unstoppable. He sensed this and pulled back from her a little, wanting to delay her orgasm to make it all the more intense, and then moved into her again. He did this over and over, taking her higher and higher each time, until her whole body was strung tighter than a bow – "Please, Tom, Oh God, please!"
At this, he knew he didn't want to hold back any longer and he stepped up the intensity of his touch until he felt her orgasm flood her body, her hips lifting up towards him and her hands grabbing his hair. She let out an inarticulate cry and then another as his tongue continued stroking her, and felt her whole body tremble under his hands as the waves of pleasure kept breaking over her. He lifted his head and moved back up her body. Quickly now, his cock hard and aching with urgent desire for her, he rolled on a condom and slid himself hard into her. He relished the amazing feeling of being inside her when she was still so fully aroused, feeling the flutters of her orgasm still lingering all around him. As he started to move, he felt her legs slip up around his, pulling him even more deeply into her, and it did not take long before he was close to his own climax.
He could see her face in the bright moonlight that streamed over them – her eyes were closed and she was biting her lip as those same overwhelming feelings from a few minutes before started to take over her body again. He thought he had never seen anything quite so beautiful as she looked at the moment when she came, even harder this time. He couldn't hold himself back any more then, and groaned deeply as his own orgasm exploded through him. He crashed back down on her, his breath slowly returning to normal...
Sybil's eyes opened. She saw Tom leaning up on one arm, looking down at her, and smiled. "What time is it?" "God knows, late I think." She pulled him down to her for a kiss, and their arms came around each other as the kiss quickly deepened. When they broke apart, he started to stand up – "Come on, I want to show you something." She followed him out of their little refuge, and the next thing she knew, he was picking her up and carrying her down to the beach. They didn't stop to put their clothes on - they were so wrapped up in each other, they didn't care if anyone was around to see.
He put her down on the sand, wrapped one arm around her, and pointed up to the sky – "Isn't that the evening star?" She nodded – "Yes, sure is – the brightest and most glorious star in the sky. Did you know it's really the planet Venus?" "Um, yeah, Dr Crawley," he joked. "I was looking at it before - it has nothing on you. God Sybil, you are so incredibly beautiful – you outshine the evening star." He put his arms around her and started to rock back and forth, singing to her softly ... "Someday, when I'm awfully low, and the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight..."
Sybil loved Tom's choice of song and the fact he was singing it to her moved almost to tears. She closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder and feeling his hands gently stroke up and down her back. They kept dancing on the beach, picked out by Venus' glowing beam of light, feeling so lucky to have found each other out of all the millions of people in the world. Something special had come to life between them that day, they both knew it, something so much more than a holiday romance. If the goddess of love kept smiling on them, who knew where it could lead?
