Persephone Miles paused from her work and at back to run the back of her hand under her nose, wiping away the tiny dewdrop that had collected there due to the cold room. The National Gallery of London didn't find it pressing to heat the backend of it's establishment like it overheated the parts accessible to the public.
She looked at the frame that she was restoring. Gold, huge and almost four hundred years old. The painting it housed was currently off in another section being cleaned and examined. Perci was a master at her trade. Originally focusing her talents on the Russian religious icons of the 15th century she had quickly risen in the esteem of her colleagues and superiors. Even still the gallery didn't pay her enough. She chuckled, people though being an art restorer was so fancy but really she was just a glorified and highly specialised cleaner most of the time.
She spun around when she heard a presence behind her.
"Just me." assured Bethany.
"Oh wow they are beautiful! Who are they from?" Perci asked as she spied the beautiful bunch of cream and pale pink peonies Beth was holding.
"They're not for me. They're for you, so I could ask you the same question."
She got up from her low stool and met Beth half way. Leaving the flowers in Beth's hands she plucked out the small envelope containing the card. The stationery was exquisite, thick cream slightly textured paper, Italian she would guess (and given her knowledge of papers and materials she would most likely be right).
Dearest Perci
I am looking forward to the pleasure of your company this evening.
Thank you again for your understanding and generosity on Tuesday night.
Mycroft
"So are you going to spill? Who are they from?"
"Mr Holmes" A sweet blush rising to her cheeks.
"Since when did 'Mr Holmes' start sending you flowers?"
"Since today obviously." Beth was a sweet girl but sometimes she asked the most obvious and tedious questions. They were the two youngest in the department and both female so everybody just assumed that they would be the best of friends. And the were, to a degree, but Perci preferred the company of Elias, the thirty something token gay man in the department. Truth be told they were a bit like the three stooges all the rest of the department were old fuddy academics who seldom came down from their ivory towers except to toff their noses at anyone who didn't know as much as they did about art.
"Hey Elias" Beth called loudly, disturbing the equilibrium of the space and making Perci wince. "Perci has flowers from 'Mr Holmes'… and they're prrrruuuudy." The way she said Mr Holmes gave Perci the impression that she was just moments away from a childish school yard ditty about them kissing in trees and having babies.
"So what does the card say?" Elias joined them.
"I'd rather not…"
"We'd rather you did." Interjected Beth.
"Fine." She handed them the card and their greedy eyes poured over it.
"You're going on a date?" Elias' brows rose and he smirked in a way that caused just his lift cheek to dimple.
"Yes."
"And what may I ask happened on Tuesday night?" Beth again… she was so brash.
"We fucked like rabbits over the back of my couch and he did unseemly things to me with his umbrella." She stated matter of factually.
Elias and Beth both paused for a moment and burst out laughing. "That's a good one Perci, pull the other one."
"We just had tea and biscuits and he kindly asked me if I had enjoyed the opera and if I might like to go to dinner with him. I asked him if it was a date and he said yes. Very boring really." She lied smoothly. She had know starting with the truth would make the lie go down easier… the proverbial spoon full of sugar.
"Ah that's sweet." Elias was such a romantic she thought.
"Yeah very sweet, now tell us more about the couch and the sex since you seem to have such a good imagination. I need to live vicariously through you; Derek is such a slacker." She laughed and after some joking and a bit more gossip over a cup of cafeteria coffee the three of them got back to work. But Perci spent most of the day looking at the peonies.
As soon as work finished Perci grabbed her coat and the flowers and made a quick dash for the door.
"Remember to wear sexy knickers." Beth's taunt and Elias' responding snicker curled around the door after her.
Perci didn't really do 'sexy' knickers, not the sort Beth was referring to anyway. She got the impression that Beth's idea of 'sexy' knickers would be something garishly red and possibly crotchless. She arrived home and hurried into the shower, taking extra care when shaving her legs and washing everything twice till the room filled with steam and the scent of Italian blood oranges.
Time seemed to fly as she applied her makeup and dried her thick and slightly wavy dark hair. Padding into the bedroom she opened her draw and fished around until the found a pair of cream and royal blue knickers and matching bra. There was a minimal amount of lace separating the cream and blue spotted fine mesh from a band of blue organza that edged them. The bra wasn't padded but it was a demicup and accentuated her full breasts wonderfully. This was Perci's idea of 'sexy' knickers, elegant but still a little simple and sweet.
She had hardly finished putting them on when she heard the taps. Three succinct taps with his umbrella. She threw on her robe and opened the door for him.
"I'm sorry I am running late. I got held up at work."
"You should put those in some water." He gestured to the flowers that were on the table on top of her coat where she had left them before racing to the shower.
"Oh yes, sorry." She turned to attend to the flowers, but on second though she changed her mind and spun back to face him. She stood on the toes and kissed him. It was just meant to be a simple thank you kiss but as soon as her lips met his the kiss deepened and he wrapped his arms around her. His umbrella pressed down the length of her back and bottom as he stepped them back towards the kitchen table, disturbing the pile of wallpaper she had yet to move. Even the rustling and crashing of debris did not halt their curse.
He threw his umbrella to one side and worked his gloves off, letting them land wherever they fell. A fumbled sweep of his arm cleared the table of paper and coats and flowers. She was promptly lifted by her hips, her lips still firmly joined to his and the silky material of her gown making the job a little harder. He succeed in depositing her on the table and stepped between her legs as they opened to accommodate him.
He was already hard and she moaned in appreciation for how quickly the male body could respond. Feverishly she pushed his coat off his shoulders and down his arms. It pooled at his feet. Next the jacket, only one button done up. Then the waistcoat… one… two… three… four. The tie she worked free as he ran his hands up her sides to cup her breasts. she dropped it onto the table behind her and set to work on his shirt… One… Two… Three… Four… Five… Oh fuck it and she pulled the rest apart, buttons tinkled as they hit the floor. He growled and bit her lip but otherwise didn't protest the slight towards his shirt.
He fisted the ties on her dressing gown and yanked them quickly. He devised her of the garment and laid her back on the table, finally breaking the kiss.
"I want to look at you." He raked his eyes over the pale flesh and admired the soft, full curves of her body. He didn't understand the attraction of women like Irene Adler… she was all hard planes with two tits stuck on the front. Perci was soft and womanly, she looked lush, like a ripe fruit just waiting for him to bite into her. In fact as a blush spread from her cheeks to her cleavage she looked like peaches and cream. He bent down and laved her neck, working his way down to her nipple. He sucked it through the fine soft mesh of her bra and she showed her appreciation by fisting her hand in the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Mycroft." She moaned. "Mycroft aren't we supposed to be going to dinner?" He moved to suck her other nipple for a moment.
When she moaned again he asked "Do you want me to stop?" She responded by pushing his head back down with the hand at his nape. Her other hand reached down between then and ran through the crisp hairs on his chest. He stood up and she looked at him between her thighs. His jacked had joined his coat on the floor, but he was still dressed in his waistcoat and damaged shirt. They fell open and she admired his body; he was not lithe and firm but he was certainly not fat. She didn't know why Sherlock kept going on about he weight and diet. His chest hair was slightly ginger and she imagined if he grew a beard the that would be too. He wasn't hirsute but there was a fair amount on his chest that tapered down before flaring out ever so slightly just before it reached his belt.
It made more than just her mouth water. She sat up and reached for his buckle. He made no move to stop her although he knew that they should be going out to dinner. She made light work of his trousers and pushed them, along with is boxers down to his knees, it wouldn't do to stain them again this time. His cock sprang forth and she took it in her hand. Her hands were slightly cooler than his member as she tested the weight and width of him. She seemed satisfied. More than satisfied if her passionate kiss was anything to go by.
He shuffled back a couple of steps, as gracefully as any man could with is pants around his knees and the rest of his clothes a hazardous pile behind him. He took her knickers by the seems at her hips and motioned for her to lift. She complied and he slid them down to her knees before using them to lift her legs up to his shoulders and then off in one smooth move. She lay back flat against the table and with her legs open and ankles hooked over Mycroft's shoulders. He just admired the view.
Shaking himself from his reverie he shuffled back and pulled her flush to the edge of the table before sinking into her wet and aching cunt. Her hips came up from the table in a wanton display of pleasure and he craved to make her do it again. He bent her knees and stretched over her body, pushing them out to the sides slightly and captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
Continuing to kiss her more languidly he began to thrust slowly in and out of her tight heat. Her hands came up to his chest and once more spread through the hair there. He doesn't know how he can miss a woman who he has only slept with once before, and a few days ago at that, but he does. It feels like coming home and he surrenders to his desire. She takes more control thrusting her hips up slightly to indicate a faster pace. She loves the slow and even stokes he is making into her, but now is not the time. She's hungry for more than just his body.
Taking her hint he quickens his thrusts and captures her bottom lip between his teeth. He finishes the kiss and stands up straight. He likes this better, this way he can see her as she cums. He grasps her hips and pulls her towards him tighter, as he does this he looks at the bruises left there from their copulation on Tuesday. This time he doesn't feel any shame as he looks at the evidence for their passions. He feels lust. "Mine." he breaths too softly for her to hear. The more he thinks about that the closer he comes to release and he finds it imperative to ensure she finds her's too. He moves his right hand to her clit and presses small circles with his thumb. She comes apart around him clenching and her neck arches back. Her mouth makes that pouty O in her passionate silence. He thinks he finds this more attractive than a woman who screams and begs… It seems more honest, like she does it for herself and not just to please him.
Lost in the enjoyment of her body his release catches him unawares. It's powerful and he drops forward again to breath into the flushed skin of her neck as he comes in powerful spurts inside her.
Taking a moment they both catch their breath before she pushed him up and slips out past him. Collecting her panties from the floor she smacks him lightly on the arse before melding herself to his back and whispering in his ear.
"That is certainly one way to work up an appetite Mr Holmes." The way she says Mr Holmes is salacious and causes a ripple of desire to race through him. Squeezing his arse and then tapping it softly, she leaves him and heads for her bedroom.
Once she is gone he quickly redresses himself. Frowning he takes into account his missing buttons. Oh well it was worth it he thinks.
She reappears less than five minutes later, her hair is slightly mused but in a sexy way and she has slipped into a midnight blue silk dress that falls softly to her knees. Silver heels and clutch finish the outfit and he can't help but think she looks beautiful. Her jewellery is limited to the simple Tiffany necklace she wears and a pair of small silver balls on the end of a short length of silver chain. Elegant and understated.
He has picked up her coat from the floor whilst she was gone and put the flowers in some water. He helps her into her coat, ever the gentleman and shepherds her out the door to where the car has been waiting.
They haven't been in the car more than three minutes when he gets the text.
Close the door if you're going to be doing that… sound travels. - SH
He doesn't let her see the text, he knows she will be embarrassed.
Jealous? - MH
Sherlock's lack of response is telling. He's seen the way he looks at Perci… He wants her, he just doesn't know it. Mycroft smirks, too late Sherlock.
I was going to write the dinner scene, but it's almost 2am and I think two chapters in one day is enough.
Once again please review if you liked it. Hell review if you didn't… constructive criticism is welcome.
