Author's notes: I don't own any of the characters nor the original Inspector Lynley Mysteries – they belong to Elizabeth George and the BBC.
Reviews and comments are very welcome! But since I'm no native speaker please let me know if I did something terribly wrong (rating, grammar, spelling...). Thanks!
Barbara and Thomas are in St. Ives to ostensibly escape a posh party but in truth to have some time on their own. After having spent the night very active they deserve a little time to relax. Time to explore St. Ives. I try to keep this T-rated - it's broad daylight.
(Sequel to the T- and M-rated series starting with Merry Christmas, previous episode was Refuge.)
It needs a full english breakfast at first: beans, fried eggs, bacon, black pudding, mushrooms and buttered toast. A good way to start a hard day.
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On the next morning Barbara woke in an empty bed. She got up and hurried through the morning wash.
I've taken a shower this night so that'll do. she reassured herself.
The smell of fried bacon perfumed the house. Downstairs Thomas was cooking the breakfast and the washing machine was already on.
Barbara stopped at the wooden pillar marking the transition between living area and kitchenette and watched him handling with the dishes and cooking stuff while he constantly hummed some melody she didn't know. The cook inside Thomas was something new to her. They had always eaten takeaway or went to some bistro when out of London or during a case and at Howenstow he for sure had left the kitchen work to his mother or some personnel. More than making coffee had never been his as long as she could remember but he seemed to be contented.
"'morning, cutie cook!" she purred.
Thomas startled and turned. Barbara didn't leave the position leaning against that wooden pillar and smiled gently.
"How long have you been watching me?"
Barbara blushed. "Mmmh, it's been a while. What's for breakfast?"
"Nothing if I don't get payed with a kiss. Come over here." He grinned back at her, crossed his arms and leaned to the worktop.
Barbara stood a little while longer and drowned in his eyes.
Oh, shit. she thought. I'm lost when he's looking at me that way.
Then she went over lasciviously slow without disconnecting the eye contact. The last left inches he snatched her into his arms.
"'mornin', Baby." he whispered and gave her a gentle kiss.
"Well, I think now I deserve breakfast. Coffee?"
He pointed to the coffee pot. "Already made. And you'll get a full english. Without tomatoes, I've picked up once. How are your muscles, my insatiable love?" he grinned smugly.
At that Barbara tried to get free from his arms.
"You shut up!" she grumbled. She accused him for being the one who always and everywhere and by the way her muscles were awful sore.
"That was my intention." Thomas laughed, turned them both and pressed her against the worktop. Then he lifted her onto it and kissed her deeply. Barbara curled her legs around him before she recognised that they were up to doing it again. Additionally the smell of burnt breakfast reached her nose so she broke the kiss.
"The eggs are burning."
Thomas cursed and rushed to the pan. While he fried another couple of eggs Barbara steadied herself on the ground again, got herself a coffee and set the table.
During the breakfast he told her that he had been to the next-door-shop to buy the breakfast while she still had been asleep. He hadn't wanted to wake her up because of their nightly activities, like he named it winking. Barbara blushed again.
"Could you do me a favour?!" he asked.
"Hm?"
"Next time please remind me of the connies. It seems I always get too distracted and not able to think straight when you seduce me."
"I don't seduce you!" Barbara said indignantly.
"Who was climbing the stairs lasciviously slow getting rid of her jumper?" Thomas grinned. "And who sent her bra down the handrail?!"
Barbara concentrated on picking up some mushrooms. "...just wanted to tease you a bit."
"And who came to the window without knickers?!"
"And who was naked?!" she glared at Thomas. "Can we agree on a draw?"
"And who walked in her lasciviously lazy way to walk up to me to get breakfast?! Can we agree on a quickie? I'm hot again thinking of you in nothing but a T-shirt." Thomas said huskily.
"Thomas!" Barbara blushed. She got up and put away her plate. "You exercise patience until I tell you otherwise!"
"Yes Ma'am!" Thomas answered obeyingly and came over to Barbara circling his arms around her torso from behind.
"I love you giving me orders." he whispered in her ear. It tickled her.
He's doing it again. Barbara thought almost helpless. "Stop it or we're not leaving the cottage until New Year's Eve."
"Hmmm. Not the worst idea." Thomas didn't stop breathing into her ear.
"Patience, Thomas! I want to see St. Ives." Barbara tried hard not to give in.
"You know what will happen when I have to wait." Thomas whispered.
Barbara thought of their arrival in the cottage and chuckled nervously but she wriggled herself out of his arms and started to clean the dishes.
With a deep sigh and a sad hangdog look Thomas helped her.
After they had cleared up the dishes they dressed for a walk.
.
...
