A/N: Still 2015 here. Australia and most of Asia already is in 2016. Before I leave to the countdown and be off for a while I think another chapter would be nice. So, here's to you...
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Bonnie Prince Charming
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Poor old ladies who just had wanted to bob a bit up and down there and were disturbed by a human speed boat - I was shortly before being kicked out of the pool by the pool supervisor. After I've worked off my steamy mind in the water I was back in the safety of my room and just had washed off the chlorine water. Standing in front of the mirror I combed back my wet hair. Bloody lock, stay there! Should I shave that sparse hair on my chest like I did in my younger days? I chuckled. Thoughts wandered back to the moment I had seen Barbara looking at me. Well, obviously there was no need for a shave, according to the dreamy expression in her eyes when she had looked at my chest. I almost had expected her to run her fingers through it. I would very much have appreciated that. Again my belly turned into a butterfly nest at the mere thought of Barbara's hands on my body. I did not think I would have kept my composure...
Whoa, that would have been a moment to remember. For all present company. Maybe we should make a date for another day to meet for a bit of swimming. And a shower afterwards. A juicy smile grinned back at me out of the mirror. For a moment I thought that I still was in a very good shape for my bloody age of forty... umm... something. Who cares about age?! I regularly visit the gym and it was good for my body. I sucked in my already flat enough belly and thought about shaving me down there. The towel that was wrapped around my waist fell to the floor revealing myself to my scrutinising look. Not too bad. At least the dark line from my belly southwards should definitely be left where it was, but lower...?
I whistled a bit and then had to chuckle. Oh, my, Lord Asherton, what are you thinking? That you meet her downstairs at the bar? That you flirt with her? That you seduce her and take her to bed, or what? You are disgustingly straightforward, Mr Lynley.
"Well, yes, I am." I nodded at my reflection while I cleaned my shaver and added a muttered "Why shouldn't I..."
Hoping to see her at the bar and at the same time fearing she actually could be there I put on some clothes. I was in a very eager mood and almost had nothing on my mind but Barbara. Should I really go down there? Probably going to sleep would be better for all of us. Anyway a nice nightcap would be fine so I left to the hotel's bar.
I deeply inhaled. Out of a billion of backsides I would have known Barbara's. Even in this boat neck top.
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Fingertips were sent down my spine and along with it went a cosy shiver. I already had heard that someone had come behind me and I had smelled the intense scent of my boss so I did not jump but actually straightened my back to lengthen that wonderful feeling of his touch. I even turned my head slightly backwards to get as much of his scent as possible, this warm mixture of his mint-spicy cedar wood aftershave and that personal touch that always reminded me a bit of leather. I already was lost. Tommy's voice was low and right next to my ear when he reassured me that he was not stalking me even if it looked like that.
"Care if I take that seat?" His smile was wide and innocent but I was sure he had seen the hairs in my nape standing.
I ordered two more half-pints after he downed his whisky and we talked animatedly about the sporting and relaxing facilities, always avoiding the elephant in the room because after one look in his eyes I knew that he knew that I knew that we both had had some sort of inappropriate thoughts when we had met throughout the evening. In fact we were hesitantly flirting with each other. Although it frightened me a bit I very much appreciated this.
He ordered champagne. Was there something to celebrate?
Tommy told me multiple times I should relax because that was what my holidays were for and he tried to convince me three times or more that I should call him Tommy like I had this afternoon. He could not know why that had happened but in the end his name slipped my tongue when he finally had stopped asking for it and I finally had stopped avoiding addressing him. We both startled, me a bit anxious, he visibly happy.
"See?" he murmured raising his glass. " 't wasn't too difficult, hm? And now continue with that story. What did the woman say?"
After I swallowed down the lump in my throat I already had forgotten what I was about to tell him so I only smiled. "Sir, you're my boss. I can't actually call you by your name."
"As long as we're in private, Barbara, you can call me almost anything you want. Just relax."
A snorting chuckle escaped my mouth. "It's not easy, Sir... Tommy... when - even in private - you always seem to wear your office things like suits and..." I waved my hand through the air. "...this rope around your neck."
"This rope, as you wish to call it, is pure silk and from one of the best tailors of London." he pouted.
"Yah, anyway, you asked me to relax so why don't you?" I cheekily asked. "We're in private, I thought."
"Yes, but men just wear ties. Especially when going out with a lady."
I rolled my eyes and made a gesture around the room. "They don't. Or are you applying for the waiter job?" I pointed my chin at the bar tender and then had to chuckle once more. I was nervous. Nervous and excited. I had to divert my eyes to the beer in front of me. "Sorry, Sir."
Correcting his tie Tommy mock grumbled. "Tommy..."
"Yah, Tommy!" I rolled my eyes again and - I still don't know what got into me - patted his hands away so I could loosen the knot of his tie until it hang open around his neck. Stroking my hands across his chest, just because I could and just because I wanted to, I was a bit faster than his hands fishing for mine. He missed my hand and covered his motion with feeling for his tie ends but I felt his eyes constantly being fixed on mine. "Better." My voice suddenly was raspy and my hands suddenly trembled when I looked in his face. With an unbelieving and unbelievably soft expression he had watched me. He still looked at me that way with those dark and tender eyes of his.
Had I already mentioned that I was lost?
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"Mhm... better." I whispered, disappointed that Barbara had withdrawn her hands so quickly. She must have sensed that I was quite a bit surprised by her boldness - she seemed to be equally surprised - but there was no way to describe how very pleased I was, very satisfied with that moment of closeness. We were silent. Our hands on the bar were not touching but I felt the warmth coming from hers. I did not dare to touch her so the silence stretched and I was still looking at her without saying anything verbally. I was lost for her and obviously speechless. Barbara still avoided my stare but her eyes still were wide open. My mind raced frantically searching for something to say although I actually just wanted to kiss her.
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My mind crying out that I should be kissed right now drowned out the silence between us.
"Ok, you birdies, last call for alcohol."
The bar tender rescued us from that awkward moment. In fact it was not awkward at all but very disturbing. My eyes darted to the empty glass in front of me. I should not have drunk so much. A half pint alone, two half pints and a glass of champagne with Tommy and half of the whisky I had from his glass to taste were more than enough after such a long day, no matter what I had eaten for dinner. I definitely should call it a day now but Tommy ordered another drink.
"Yep. Please bring us one Bourbon, one Scotch and-" he nodded towards me. "-one beer."
Looking at my boss like only one could look who had heard this joke a thousand times the bartender still waited for a real order that did not come. He sighed. "Let's put it clear, lad. You're in Scotland; you won't get Bourbon in my bar."
I laughed out loud.
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A/N: Thanks for all your reviews so far although miraculously I can't see them at the moment. See you all next year ;-)
