I'm dedicating this chapter to MetricJenn for her birthday, which is today. Happy Birthday and thank you for all your support and reviews.

To the rest, those that celebrate, I wish a very Merry Christmas; I hope you have a fantastic time wherever you are and whoever you are with xxx

Chapter 13

Molly wasn't really thinking at all, she just knew that she needed to get out of there. She picked up her coat and heard her aunt asking if she was alright and heard herself answering that she was fine and that she just needed some air and peace and quiet. Then she was outside pulling on her coat and skittering her way through the snow and ice wishing she wasn't wearing such stupid shoes and such a stupid dress.

Just as she got to her aunt's house she heard a shout behind her. 'Molly! Molly stop, please.'

She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep, shuddering breath wishing that it was anyone but Sherlock.

She turned and tried to smile. 'Hey, I'm fine. I just have a headache that's all.'

He had caught her up and she could see him starting to shiver already without his coat. She was painfully aware of how cold it was; her feet felt like ice blocks.

'You're not fine. You saw us didn't you, me and Pete.'

'I…I didn't mean to and it's none of my business, not really. I just...I feel for Barry that's all, he's a good man.'

'Listen Molly, can we go inside. I'm freezing out here…please.'

Molly sighed but let herself be taken into the house. He quickly knelt down and stoked up the fire whilst she went and nipped to the loo and put her slipper boots on to help her feet warm up.

By the time she came downstairs Sherlock was stood in front of the now blazing fire leaning on the mantelpiece and staring into the flames; he was lit only by the fire and the fairy lights strung up on the small tree in the corner. Her heart skipped a beat at seeing him looking so brooding, all cheekbones and shadows….but it was quickly followed by a lancing remembrance of seeing him kissing someone else. He would never be hers…never.

'You're right you know, Barry is a good man, I think. But even good men can be drawn to desperate measures when they feel betrayed. In case you were wondering I wasn't kissing Pete because I like him. I was kissing him to see how easy it was to make him cheat…and it was surprisingly easy. I think he had an affair with Robbie before he came back to the island. Maybe Pete killed him to stop Barry finding out…maybe Barry killed him in a fit of jealousy.'

He turned and looked at Molly who was standing in front of him, shocked at what he was saying.

'It's amazing what a person can do because of love don't you think. I don't think I ever really understood it before, the passion, the fear, the overwhelming feelings that you can have for one person.'

Molly found herself swallowing heavily as he took a step towards her. Her mind seemed to be operating on another level to her body. Every atom of her flesh wanted to be joined with Sherlock but her head was desperately holding her back.

He placed his hand on her face and let his thumb trace the outline of her cheek sending shivers through her body; shivers not of cold but of pure lust. She was caught in his gaze and couldn't look away, her heart was pounding in her chest. She felt as though they were on the cusp of something but she didn't quite know what.

'That person making me feel passion and love isn't Pete, it isn't Charlie…it's you Molly, it's always been you.'

Her breath caught in her throat as he said those words and she almost wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. This couldn't be happening, he couldn't be declaring himself, she must be mistaken. But even as she tried to comprehend it his face moved towards hers, she saw his eyes closing and then his mouth was on hers and she was floating, holding on to him so that he could ground her as his lips moved against her own.

His jumper felt as soft as it had looked and she could feel the solidness of his body underneath and she moaned at the sheer perfection of the moment. Yes she knew she needed to question him further about this apparent change of heart and yes she needed to berate him for what he had done with Pete but right here, right now she was going to enjoy this moment.

He pulled her closer to him as the kiss deepened and rather than holding onto his jumper she let her hands slide around his back feeling his muscles and his spine as he bent to kiss her more. Her mind was spinning and her body was reacting in so many ways as she pressed herself against him. She could hardly believe that this was Sherlock that she was kissing, it felt like a dream.

As his tongue entered her mouth she let out a moan of desire and one of his hands slid down to her bum pressing her against him and she could feel he was getting hard for her. It just made her own arousal spike and she knew in that moment that she wanted him, truly wanted him in every way possible. They'd spent years talking and being friends and there would be more time for talking later but right now she just wanted him.

She let her hands move down until she reached the waist band of his jeans and then she tugged and pulled at his t shirt until she could feel his naked skin. He felt warm from the heat of the fire and this time it was his turn to groan as her hands moved over him.

Finally he pulled away a little leaving them both breathing heavily and struggling to catch their breath. His eyes searched her own and she swallowed heavily at the look he was giving her. She had never seen desire written so plainly on his face as it was right now and it was stunning.

'God Molly, I want you. Tell me we can…' he took a breath and closed his eyes briefly as if trying to gather himself and she realised with a jolt just how affected he was by her.

She knew that he was probably way out of his comfort zone here and that she needed to step up and so she took hold of his hand and smiled when he looked at her once more. 'Yes…yes, we can. Come on.' Then she led him from the front room up the stairs and into her bedroom. It was only when she got there that her nerves started to take over again and she turned to him with her heart racing, hoping that she hadn't misunderstood him.

He flicked on a muted side light and then he took hold of the edge of his jumper and t shirt and swiftly pulled them over his head before letting them drop to the floor. It was as good a signal as any.

Molly stepped closer to him and placed her palms on his chest feeling his heart beating under her right hand. She was relieved to find that it seemed as fast as her own. His skin was warm and smooth with just a couple of small scars and she found herself leaning forward to kiss each of them hearing his breath shuddering as she did.

Molly looked up at him. 'Has it really been three years since you…'

She saw him swallow before he replied and she vowed to kiss his throat and up his neck, she'd always loved his neck. 'Longer….I lied. I never slept with Irene…I mean, she wanted to but I didn't. I just knew saying ten years would cause too many questions.'

Molly couldn't help the feeling of shock that rippled through her body. 'Ten years…'

'I was happy to abstain. I just never wanted to…until now, with you.'

He brought his hands to her hips and his lips back to her mouth and she returned his kiss as eagerly as he kissed her feeling all of his passion seeping into her bones. Her hands were around his neck moving into his hair, those lush curls; finally able to run her hands through them feeling how silky soft they were.

His hands moved up until his thumbs were brushing against the underneath of her breasts through the velvety material of her dress and she wished she was naked, she wanted his hands on her fully. He seemed to sense it and he moved them round her body until he was able to slowly pull down her zip revealing her back inch by inch.

It went all the way down to the curve of her backside and once open he wrapped his arms around her, his hands finally on her skin almost picking her up as the kiss continued. Molly hadn't ever realised what a good kisser Sherlock was and how much he seemed to give of himself through his kisses. She was losing herself in him, not knowing where he ended and she began. It was so much better than she had ever thought it would be.

Lust was swirling through her and without even thinking about it her hands went to the fastenings of his jeans, her wrists brushing against the flat planes of his stomach muscles as she undid the button and then pulled on the zip. She could feel his erection straining against the material as she undid it and Sherlock groaned again making her inner muscles contract.

Before she could do more he pulled away and brought his hands to the straps of her dress, his eyes seeking permission from her before he pulled them and the dress down and away from her body.

She had to fight the urge to cover herself in front of him instead watching his expression as her body was revealed to him. She wasn't wearing a bra and she saw his eyes widen slightly and his tongue brushed over his lips as he saw her breasts and she just hoped he liked what he saw.

Once the dress pooled around her ankles he scanned her from head to foot and it was only when his lips twitched into a smirk that she looked down and saw she was still wearing her slipper boots over her hold up stockings. She could have died from embarrassment but he fell to his knees and hooked his hand around the back of her left knee prompting her to put one hand on his shoulder for balance whilst he took one slipper off and then the other.

When he stayed on his knees Molly felt her legs tremble slightly, the image before her almost too much for her to take in.

He pressed a slow kiss to her hip bone just above her pants, his hands holding her hips steady. She wove her hands into his hair and looked down at him and her breath caught in her throat when his eyes flicked to hers before he sucked the skin into his mouth marking her.

She wanted him so much it felt like an ache between her legs throbbing and pulsing with need and so she moved one step backwards until she could lie down on the bed bringing him with her until he was lay above her, the weight of his body feeling so right on her own, like they were born to be together and she couldn't wait to feel him inside her.

Looks as though Sherlock has unwrapped his present early. Am I forgiven for yesterday's bad ending by leaving you with this one? I'll be back on Boxing Day with the next part...until then take care and happy holidays xx