A/N: Don't beat me! I'm sorry it took this long to get back to you especially after that tease of author's note. And I honestly can't say it won't happen again. Writing has been taking out a lot of me lately but I'll try, I promise.

Seb looked up from tuning his bass as John rushed in, his face flushed and a goofy grin spread across it.

"Cutting it a little fine, aren't you, Johnny?" Seb murmured ill-temperedly as he went back to what he was doing. John's already-red face turned a deep crimson.

"Lost track of time," John replied, looking at his feet.

Mike and Bill chuckled as they shook their heads, but stopped when Seb glared at them. John looked around at his bandmates, not understanding the sudden tension, confusion written clearly on his face.

Mike took pity on his lead singer and said, "That Sherlock fellow certainly caught your fancy, John."

"Yeah," Bill chimed in. "The pair of you certainly looked cozy enough at dinner."

Seb growled, deep and low. "What the hell were you doing with him, Johnny? He's a wanker. Everyone knows this, but no…" he seemed to be talking to the air when he went on, "Johnny here has to go and practically throw himself at the bloke's feet." Seb's eyes narrowed on John again. "May I remind you that you are both in committed relationships? For god's sake, Johnny!" Seb huffed.

Mike laughed. "Ain't nothing wrong with a ship-board fling, makes the trip more exciting. Candlelit dinners, walks in the moonlight on deck, and quick tumble or two and then you get off the ship and go back to your boring life and forget it ever happened."

Bill hummed appreciatively. "Oh, hell yeah."

Seb snorted, "You guys make me sick."

John had kept his head down the entire time listening to his bandmates quarrel over his love life, but now it was time to put an end to it.

"Look, we're just friends having a bit of fun with each other. We met this afternoon, for crying out loud. There's nothing going on between us. I'm not gay!" John protested.

Bill and Mike exchanged knowing smirks.

"Since when did sexuality become an issue when it came to bed hopping?" Mike asked.

"Oh, I don't know," John growled. "How about the need to feel some sort of attraction to get off?"

Bill laughed. "Mate, the glances between the two of you could light forest fires."

Seb scowled, "People will talk, John. Even if you don't think there's anything going on, people will talk."

John barked out a mirthless laugh. "They do little else." He looked up at the time. "Come on, it's time to go woo the pretty people with our music."

They stepped out on stage to a nice round of applause. John couldn't bear the thought of Sherlock not being there, so he closed his eyes as he crooned their first song. When he got to the chorus, his eyes fluttered open of their own accord and he could see at the table closest to the stage was his raven-haired dinner companion. He smiled, and suddenly he wasn't just singing anymore, he was pouring everything he had into the music, his heart and soul.

The crowd became still as if they feared breaking the spell John was casting on them. Behind him, his band struggled to keep up with the passion he was exuding. John was leaning into the microphone and caressing it like it was his lover. If it had been a different crowd, they would have been moaning from the pure sex appeal John embodied.

Sherlock watched on, entranced. He could feel his heart speed up and his breath turn shallow as he tried to divorce himself from emotions that were pouring out of John. But it was too late, Sherlock was enraptured. He had given his heart and soul to someone he barely knew, to someone he had met only hours before. He forced his eyes to look elsewhere and saw that several of the ladies were fanning themselves. Even a few of the gentlemen shifted in their seats. Sherlock turned his eyes back to the stage.

The song had changed to something slower but it was still infused with that raw emotion. Sherlock tried so hard to concentrate on his drink or anything other than what was going on in front of him but John kept drawing him back. Finally the show was over and Sherlock could breathe again. His heart slowed back down and he took a deep, shuddering breath.

John's eyes pierced Sherlock and his breath hitched again. Sherlock finished the drink in a single gulp and he fought the urge to wipe his palms on the front of his far-too-expensive trousers. He still didn't understand how one person could have such a powerful effect on him.

As people began filling out, Sherlock heard two women hissing behind him.

"Oh my god. I want to talk to him," the one murmured.

"Don't you know who that is?" the other hissed in reply.

"I'm not going to seduce him!" the first protested.

"That's exactly what you are going to do and you know it," the other huffed. Sherlock could almost picture her crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Mmm… maybe a little…" Sherlock jolted, feeling a sense of jealousy, sure that they were talking about John until the other spoke.

"Come on, Clara. His fiancée would have you murdered if you tried."

Sherlock nearly gasped. Being mercenary was not one of the traits that came to mind when people thought of Mary. However… that was exactly what they thought of his fiancée. They weren't talking about John, they were talking about him. Dear god. He knew he attracted considerable attention, but was not aware that the interest in him went to this extent.

"But Kitty, it would just be a ship-board fling. If she didn't expect something like that being the possibility then why did she send him by himself?"

Just before Sherlock's heart burst, John came to his rescue. "Hey, Sherlock. Enjoy the show?" he asked as he walked up to Sherlock. Behind him, Sherlock could hear the moans of an opportunity lost and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where did you learn to sing like that?" Sherlock asked breathily. "That was the most incredible thing I have ever witnessed," Sherlock said, turning his attention to John.

John blushed. "I just love music." He didn't want to tell Sherlock that he pulled it out of him. That when he sang, he sang for Sherlock and no one else.

"Well, it really shows." Sherlock stood using his knees to brace himself, and used the motion to camouflage the act of wiping his sweaty palms on his trousers.

"You wanna go for drinks?" John blurted out and then turned pink.

Sherlock smiled. "I would love to. Lead on." He briefly touched the small of John's back as John passed him. When he released the smaller man, he could still feel the burning on his fingers from where they touched. Sherlock put his hands behind his back and rubbed his fingers, trying to understand the feeling.

They spent the rest of the night drinking and learning more about each other and John did find out how Sherlock figured out his last name.

Sherlock dragged his finger slowly across the name tag on the uniform John still wore. "It wasn't hard to deduce," Sherlock purred. John felt foolish. He was so use to seeing it there that it never entered his head that the name tag bearing the name "Watson" was still there. He couldn't even remember if his bandmates still had theirs on. Sherlock merely chuckled.

Over the next few days they became inseparable. When John didn't have shows they were often seen walking the deck or sharing a meal or a drink. They hadn't gone back to Sherlock's room together since the first night, both fearing what would happen if they were truly by themselves.

Later John would blame it on the way the moonlight seem to make Sherlock's skin glow in the unearthly light. Sherlock would blame it on John. They were on the deck over looking the water after one of John's very successful shows. They were laughing about something. They never could remember what it was but their eyes met and all laughter died on their lips. John licked his in nervous temper and Sherlock gulped. They took a step forward together so they were nearly chest to chest. John lifted his head just as Sherlock lowered his. John would swear on the fireworks even if Sherlock denied them being possible as their lips touched. But there were no sounds but the lapping of the water hitting the side of the ship.

When they pulled apart, they noticed the deep blush that spread on the other's face after the kiss. Sherlock wanted to run. He had never felt anything like it before and didn't know how to handle the whirling emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. But he was stopped by the gentle touch of the man in front of him.

John saw the panic in Sherlock's eyes and softly stroked the taller man's cheek. He smiled when he saw the tension leave Sherlock's body. Sherlock closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. He had never been touched with such tenderness. Everyone else seemed to want something from him when they touched him.

John reached his hand around to grasp the back of Sherlock's neck and brought their foreheads together. "You are the most incredible man I have ever had the fortune of meeting."

Sherlock smiled warmly. "That's because you can't meet yourself."

"You are very sexy, you know," John countered.

"Not really. You are sexy. You had every lady and few of the gentlemen in that room panting after you."

John shook his head. Most people overlooked him in favor of Seb. Seb was the one who drew the ladies in night after night, not him. "They're not panting over me, it's Seb."

"That may have been the case before, John. But not now." Sherlock leaned forward and wrapped his arms around John's waist and drew them flush together. John lay his head on Sherlock's shoulder and sighed happily. They delighted in each other's warmth.

After a few minutes being in each others arms, Sherlock spoke. "Do you have a gig tomorrow?" he asked.

"No, not tomorrow, why?" John moved back to look in Sherlock's eyes.

"We'll be stopping in the port town Hyeres tomorrow, and there is someone I'd like you to meet." Sherlock held his breath, hoping that John would agree. He never wanted to take someone to meet his grandmother before. When Irene suggested they visit her, Sherlock told her that because of Grandmére's fragile health, strangers might make her ill.

"It's very important to you, isn't it?" John asked. Sherlock nodded. "Then I will be more than happy to go with you tomorrow. It will be good to get off this bloody boat and see the sights.

Sherlock chuckled. "Thank you, John."

Oh lookie! Another author's note: I thought I'd go in a bit on "sexy" Sherlock. For me it's a contrast between "sexual" and "sensual". For me (my own opinion mind) sexual is more about getting to the act and sensual is about the chase. I see Sherlock as more about the chase than actually getting there. John on the other hand is very much a "sexual" being. Even in the series. First date with Sarah? Trying to "off" with her. I would describe Sherlock as sultry and John as sexy. I hope that clears that up for you all!