The car came to a stop in front of a posh little boutique a few blocks away from the coffee shop. James escorted Aileas inside where they were greeted by a woman who looked slightly frightened to see James while pasting on a syrupy sweet smile and attitude to match.
"Mr. Moriarty, I have the items you requested right this way."
She led them to a small sitting area where a rack of emerald green dresses were waiting for their perusal.
"No, no, no, definitely not, no, no, this has possibilities, wrong, you call THIS emerald green, no, no," James commented as he sorted through the dresses on the rack. Aileas just stood back and watched. She knew whatever he selected would be fantastic and perfect. A man who selected his own wardrobe as carefully as it appeared James did would pick something amazing.
"Now, this is exactly what I had in mind." He handed his choice to Aileas and moved over to the selection of shoes his minion had supplied for him to choose from. Most of what she had laid out were heels, those wouldn't do, James and Aileas were too close in height. He settled on a very low heel that would show off her legs to perfection.
"I have calls to make. I'll leave you ladies to pick out any lingerie the dress needs."
He pulled Aileas into his arms and with a nibble to her ear whispered, "make it something black, lacy and incredibly sexy."
While James took care of some calls, Aileas and the saleswoman picked out the perfect lingerie; a black lace merry widow that pushed up and showcased her C cups (a must for the low cut dress he had selected), a matching garter belt with silk stockings (the kind with the seam up the back and stopping just about her knees where they hugged her thigh to perfection), and lacy knickers she knew he would enjoy. She topped it all off with the emerald green dress he had chosen for her. It looked like it had been made just for her. She twirled to show him the finished product and he whistled appreciatively.
"And now for the finishing touches," he said as he held out a velvet box.
"When did you get this? You never left the boutique."
"I made a call and told my jeweler what I wanted and Sebastian went and picked it up. Go ahead, open it. I think these were made for you."
Aileas opened the velvet box. Inside were a gorgeous pair of matched emeralds cut into heart shapes and surrounded by diamonds and a matching pendant on a delicate platinum chain. James plucked the necklace from the velvet background and stepped behind her to fasten it around her neck. The pendant nestled perfectly in her cleavage.
"The fair stone of a fair Isle. I was right, these emeralds were made for you, my dear. Now, put on your earrings, grab your wrap and let's head to dinner. The restaurant is just across the way. I thought we might walk and send your bag and a few other things I had Ms. West package up for your back to my place with Sebastian. He can come pick us up later. And before you can protest, you are staying with me until you figure out what your next move is. Remember, I don't take no for an answer."
"I'd love to stay with you. I can't think of any place I'd rather be," she practically purred in response as he placed a wrap around her shoulders, offered her his arm and led her outside.
They strolled leisurely to the restaurant, enjoying the evening and the nearness of each other. A doorman in classic livery greeted them as they arrived at the restaurant and they were immediately shown to a cozy, intimate booth in the corner. It was the kind of table where they could cuddle together yet still look into each other's eyes as they talked. There was no reason for them to order, James had called ahead and the chef was creating something special just for them. A bottle of chilled champagne and a dish of plump berries were waiting for them at the table. They got cozy in the booth as an efficient waiter poured them each a glass of champagne.
"I propose a toast…to us and this intriguing relationship we are at the start of. I'd even call it extraordinary," James said with a wink and a clink of their glasses.
"To us. So I want to know more about you, James Moriarty. Who are you besides a consulting criminal? I know you must have grown up in Ireland. That is clear from your accent, which I find irresistible, by the way."
She reached up to caress his cheek. He had an adorable little mark or mole under his eye that Aileas couldn't help slowly drawing her thumb across. James took her hand into both of his and brought her wrist to his lips.
"There is really nothing more to tell, my dear. I did spend most of my life in Ireland, but I choose to forget my past. It wasn't pleasant. I've made my peace with it and want to leave it behind me. My past belongs in the past. I choose to focus on my present and my future. Consulting criminal, evil genius, mastermind that is my business life. I haven't had much of a personal life for years. I never really met anyone who intrigued me enough to want to be in a relationship, until now that is."
The waiter brought their first course, an appetizer of lobster stuffed mushroom caps. James pick one up and fed it to Aileas before taking one for himself. The taste was amazing. Aileas noticed a bit of the stuffing at the corner of James's mouth. She scooted close and used her tongue to take care of it for him. He took the opening to pull her into a kiss. He caressed her ear and neck while kissing her and gently nibbling on her lip. Her hand went to the back of his neck, her fingers tangling into his dark hair as she pulled him as close as she could get him. His hand found her hair, gently pulling, breaking their kiss and looking deeply into her eyes before pulling her neck to his lips. Aileas was breathing heavily, not sure she would make it much longer. Wanting to abandon their dinner and go to his place to continue what was defiantly starting. James had much more restraint. He separated from Aileas and grabbed his glass of champagne.
"Like the appetizer, my dear?" He asked with a wicked grin.
"It has definitely wetted my appetite for more," she responded breathlessly.
"So, my dear. Tell me more about this Jack of yours. What is so special about him that has kept you looking for him for ten years?"
"He was my first love. I fell in love with him from the day I met him. In all my time at the agency, it was him and I, in the field and in the bedroom. And sometimes John. We are from the 51st century, genetically engineered to be insatiable and there is a much more relaxed attitude toward sex where I come from. John has been supposedly helping me in my search, but I always felt like he wasn't telling me all he knew. I don't even know if it was because he wanted me or Jack all to himself. Anyway, Jack and I had thought about getting out of the agency, settling down somewhere. We even got married in Edwardian England shortly before the agency told us that they had one last mission for us. Next thing I knew, I'm waking up in a hospital bed, Jack nowhere to be found, no memory of anything that had happened and John telling me that Jack was gone. He'd left the agency after they told him I was dead. I took off as soon as I was released, searching time and space, anyplace we had ever been together, following any lead no matter how small. And now I'm here."
She picked up her champagne and took a long drink. James took her hand gently. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped as the waiter approached with their main course. They were beautiful steaks with all the trimmings. They ate in silence for a few moments.
"So besides your Jack, who is the most interesting person you have met on your journey?"
"Most of them were quite ordinary, none really special, just regular people in different times. But I did have a wild week and a half with Doc Holliday when I was stranded in the American Wild West."
"One of my favorite historical characters. What was it like?"
"Fun, insane, a wild ride. Gambling until dawn, a wild romp, sleep until late afternoon, shopping with his winnings, back to the room for another romp, getting dressed up in something sexy, then dinner and back to the saloon to start the cycle all over. I am actually kind of glad it only lasted a week and a half. I couldn't have kept up that pace much longer."
"How did it end?"
"His on again off again, Kate came back to town and heard we were fooling around. She kicked in the door, pulled a gun on him then kicked me down a flight of stairs, throwing my few belonging after me."
James chucked at the picture of this he was seeing in his head. The waiter came and cleared their plates. James asked him box up their desert to take with them. While they waited, James pulled Aileas into his arms, holding her close and gently kissing her.
"Let's go home and make this a night to remember.
