After opening a few cupboard doors, James Bond found glasses and, more importantly, a corkscrew. He opened the bottle and briefly contemplated whether he should leave them in the kitchen. Deciding that neither he nor the good osteopath will want to walk far, even to the kitchen, he took them with him into the bedroom.
He placed the bottle and glasses on the nearest bedside cabinet, noted the engagement ring lying by the lamp, smiled faintly and then began to remove his clothes. Naked, he moved into the en-suite bathroom, thinking cynically, "Once more into the breach, dear friends."
The hot water felt so good against Alison Muir's neck and back. What a day this has been. When she began her clinic this morning, the last thing she expected was to have an ex-patient with her when she returned home. Guiltily, she thought of the engagement ring and the wedding dress hanging up in her wardrobe. "A last whatever", she told herself defiantly. As she soaped her body, her mind replayed "The Moment" when James asked her if he was no longer a patient and when she said he wasn't, kissed her, quickly followed by when did she finish and what was she doing for the rest of the day? It had taken thirty seconds to realise that she wanted this and luckily for her, he had been the last patient . The image of his body had teased her for a number of weeks; at least her fiancé had reaped the benefit following every appointment with Bond before he left for yet another overseas conference two weeks ago. There was something so, so – oh, fuck it - male about this James Bond. Alison closed her eyes and turned around allowing the water to rinse off the suds. She started and turned slightly at the sound of the show curtain being pulled aside as James stepped in behind her.
"A shower; you read my mind," he murmured as he slowly began to massage her neck muscles. He felt her tense, then relax under his administrations.
Damn, he's good, thought Alison as she lifted her head back and gave a quiet moan.
A smile appeared on Bond's face - her reaction pleased him. His hands moved to include Alison's shoulders. "Have you ever had a massage with a mink fur glove?" he asked.
"No," Alison's eyes were closed while she let James continue. I wish Ross would do this, she thought.
"I thoroughly recommend it. Very stimulating," Bond leaned in and kissed the back of Alison's neck, his hands rested on her hips. His mouth moved down the length of her left shoulder. She gave another involuntary moan as his lips found a spot connected to the nerves in her lower back. Alison turned to face him and kissed with an enthusiasm she hadn't felt for a while. They locked in an embrace as the kiss deepened.
Breaking, they smiled at each other. "This isn't what I had planned for my day, but it is a welcome change to the schedule," said Alison as she put her arms around Bond's neck. "Especially as I have fantasised about you from the first moment you took off your shirt," she nuzzled his neck.
James turned her to the water jet, one hand fondled her erect nipples, while the other probed her moist sex. Alison's hands reached behind her to massage his hardening erection. His voice was low and husky, "Tell me what I can do to make your fantasies come true?"
A couple of hours and half of the bottle of wine later, Bond reached over to the cabinet next to the bed, picked up Alison's engagement ring and held it in front of his face, "Tell me about your fiancé?"
Alison saw the ring and blushed. She raised her head from James's chest, "Look, I do love him. I'm not going to leave him or anything."
Bond smiled, "It's okay. I liked you; you were fantasising about me and we just took advantage. I seriously doubt if we will ever meet again. Tell me about him."
Alison leant over Bond, drank the reminder of the wine in her glass, refilled it then straddled him, glass in hand. Bond sat up slightly, reached over for his glass, but refused her offer of a top up and let her speak.
"Ross, my intended, is a research scientist. He's away at a conference at the moment."
"Where does he work and what's his area of research?"
"I don't exactly know where he works. He never talks about it, he says I wouldn't understand or be that interested. That really used to bug me in the beginning, but after five years, I think I've accepted it. Enough, anyway," Alison laughed and sipped the wine. "When I think of my friends' husbands and boyfriends, I think I am fairly lucky."
"How come?" asked Bond.
"Ross never brings his work home with him, so our evenings and most weekends are just for us. My friends complain about how their fellas bring home a full briefcase almost every evening." Alison sipped again.
"You said he's at a conference - overseas?"
"James, for someone whom I'm never going to see again, you're asking a lot of questions." Alison moved off Bond's body and sat a little distance away from him.
Bond looked at her evenly, "We wouldn't want him walking through that door any minute, would we?"
"No," Alison's voice trailed off on the word. She drew her knees under her chin, "I'll be honest; I haven't heard from him for approaching a fortnight. The wedding's in two months time and I'm concerned. I don't know why, but I asked him if he could get another colleague to attend this one, but he said that he had no choice; it had to be him." To herself, she said, "He never has a choice." Alison looked at Bond, "I'm calling his mobile, but it just goes to voicemail. It's not unusual, but he does normally call me back during the day."
Bond looked at her quizzically, "What about the hotel? Have you not called there?"
"I don't know where it is," it was a clear embarrassment for her to admit this. "There are times when he just disappears and he's asked me to trust him and not question him on his return. I fell in love with him enough to agree to marry him, so as much as I don't really like it; this is part of the package."
Bond murmured, "Hmm." Then he asked, "What about his colleagues?"
"I told you; he keeps it all separate, he never talks about anyone. I don't have a key to his place, so I can't go breaking in there and look for anything. He's always more interested in my work."
"His family?" Bond didn't like where this was pointing to.
"He was an only child and he lost both parents to cancer by the time he was 30. He says that's why he went into research. He says he has family on both sides, but he isn't close to any of them and we've never seen them often, so I doubt they know anything. As I said, normally, he returns my calls," Alison trailed off. "I don't know what to do or where to turn to except the police and all explaining this makes me feel stupid," she went quiet.
"I'm sure there's nothing wrong, but I think you ought to be reporting this to the police. It can't hurt, and once he contacts you; I think you both need to have a conversation about the future, don't you?" Bond looked over at his watch, "God, is that the time. I'm sorry, darling, I know this is clichéd and all that, but I do have to leave," he got out of bed and started dressing.
Alison moved and pulled on a robe, "Thanks; I did enjoy you." She disappeared into the kitchen, taking the glasses and wine with her.
Dressed, James followed her, kissed her and told her that he, too, had a great afternoon, said that he was sure her fiancé will contact her soon and wished her all the best for the future; then he left. Out on the street, he switched on his mobile 'phone and dialled M's office, Moneypenny answered.
"I've just left Ross Masheter's girlfriend - is M available?"
"Had to work on the charm angle, eh James?" teased Moneypenny.
"What's that mean?" he asked roughly.
"It means that you've been with her for most of the day. Not quite the easy conquest as normal?"
Bond had reached a Mercedes SL 55 AMG in a non-descript silver-grey and opened it, "I am not in the mood for this 'Penny. Is M available?"
"She's in a meeting," replied Moneypenny curtly.
Bond sat behind the steering wheel, "Put me through to Bill then," he said brusquely. There was a short silence on the line, then Bond heard Bill Tanner's voice.
"Bill, the girl knows nothing. Masheter hasn't contacted her for a fortnight and she's worried he's got cold feet about their wedding."
"Do you think he will contact her?" asked Tanner.
"I don't know. Apparently he never talks about his job. All in all, I feel quite sorry for her."
Tanner heard a change in Bond's voice, "Are you all right? 'Penny said that you bit her head off just now."
Bond rubbed his forehead, "I'm okay. If it's all right with you, I'm going home. Is there anyway you could come over for a drink? I'll sort out dinner too."
"Course I can. I'll have to wait for M to finish her meeting, but I should be at your flat at about 7, okay?"
"Fine. Look, could you apologise to 'Penny for me. It was just the the wrong time for what she said."
"No problem. I'll see you later."
Bond disconnected the call and drove home.
Bill Tanner dialled Moneypenny's extension, "He says sorry; he's not returning to the office and can you please let me know the second M is free." He listened to her and then said, "He's fine, I really wouldn't worry about it; you know he won't." Bill nodded at Moneypenny's reply, "Thanks," he said.
Bill pressed the quick dial number for his home; his wife answered, "Darling, I'm sorry but something's come up." In reply to his wife's question, Bill said, "Something boring that I need to deal with." He answered another question with, "I don't know, hoping not too late, so no don't wait up, but thanks for offering." Some more words and Bill said," I forgot you and Sandy were going to the cinema tonight, so at least I'm being saved from my own cooking." His wife laughed. The internal call light flashed on his unit indicating that M was now available, "Darling, I've got to go. Love you."