'What the hell is this?'

Miranda was incensed. Max had told her that he had managed to find her something British that wasn't a sandwich and he had prepared it at her house. This was not what Miranda had thought it would be.

Maria turned around and grinned. She was wearing a tight green jumper and holding a mug. The kitchen smelled wonderful, like Christmas.

'Well, as you insist on having it your way, Detective Blake…'

Max received a scorching glare. He scratched his chin unconcernedly.

'As promised, I managed to find one person in Mallorca that will be crazy enough to take you on a date.'

His phone rang. It was Carmen. Time for him to disappear.

'Max!' Miranda hissed at him but to no avail. He smiled infuriatingly at her with a raised eyebrow and made a swift exit.

Miranda turned back, hesitated and looked at the stove, the source of the attraction. It was hot spiced cider. She instantly knew what Maria was referencing, even if she wouldn't admit it. The air con was cranked up, a welcome relief from the evening heat, if a bit intense. Miranda wanted to bash Max for dashing off on a pretend errand. She should have known he would play a part in this setup. Miranda was always wary of group activity, especially behind her back. It reminded her of school.

She took the mug and tilted the scent to her nose, resignation washing over her. Maria was being gently persistent and oh so chivalrous and Miranda didn't know how much longer she would insist on being contrary. She wouldn't have let it get this far if she wasn't even the slightest bit interested. Which she supposed she was. It had been a while. She hadn't locked lips with another woman since university.

Maria must have found it ridiculous to have had to create an arctic atmosphere to attract Miranda for a drink but Miranda knew she had brought it on herself for telling her that she preferred hot drinks on a cold night. Miranda never known anyone move in on her so fast. And such effort had been made.

She looked down and felt a reluctant smile emerge. Maria was delighted.

'Max told me that Vino Caliente is similar to mulled wine. Is that how you say it?'

Miranda nodded.

'It's a funny word. I had to practice it.' She smiled. She lifted up her glass.

'Cheers.'

They clinked and Miranda took a sip. Slightly more citrussy than expected but she really liked it.

'Is this better than what I had in mind?'

'Yes.'

Maria waited for an explanation but Miranda was not forthcoming. In her experience, Brits usually preferred cold drinks on a warm evening but Miranda was not most like other people. She wasn't easy to get on with. She needed to be lured in by comfortable silences and common interests. Maria was good at the first, needed to work on the second.

'It's delicious' Miranda conceded after another taste.

'Just like in at home in England, I hope.'

'I'm from Wales,' Miranda pointed out.

Maria tried to think of where that could be on the map but shook her head. Geography was only her strong point when it was about Spain. Miranda huffed in annoyance and the tentative atmosphere was lost. Googling her home country, Miranda made Maria read enough information about Wales for Maria to exclaim in wonder at the beautiful mountains and valleys before she could inch closer. She knew Miranda was going to be hard work to win over but Maria loved a challenge. And she was no stranger to travelling to less well-known spots. Wales was a definite unknown. And it looked so beautifully green. She warmed to the idea.

'Your accent comes out when you're angry' she said thoughtfully. 'I like it.'

Truth be told, she'd never heard a Welsh accent before. She kept her ears tuned to the offbeat syllables that Miranda spoke.

'Maybe I will take a holiday there sometime. But I will need a guide to take me places. My English is good but my Welsh is terrible' purred Maria.

Miranda stared at her for a minute, trying not to react. But it was no use. Maria was too engaging. There was no point in being churlish, Miranda conceded that resistance was futile. It had been such a long time since she'd allowed someone to come near her. She felt a sudden longing for a light kiss. Just to make her feel less lonely. That had crept up on her recently. Maria interrupted her train of thought with a provocation, a trick that Max had assured her that sometimes worked.

'Tell me about the wildest thing you've ever done.'

Miranda rolled her eyes, knowing why this was chosen to be a conversation starter. She decided on something Max already knew. Maria listened in fascination.

'You assaulted your detective inspector?'

'He groped my thigh once too often so I tipped my chicken curry and sherry trifle in his lap.'

Maria had no idea what sherry trifle was. But 2000 volts of chicken curry was a bitch to handle.

'What a waste of food. And I think you are lying. That could not be the wildest thing you've ever done.'

'It was worth it' Miranda assured her, ignoring the rest. 'You?'

Maria named a moment that she knew the other woman would find scandalous.

'I once wore a strapless dress to a very fancy fundraiser. It fell down halfway through the evening, while I was applauding.'

Miranda stared in horror.

'It was my fault I flashed everyone, really. I wasn't wearing anything underneath it' continued Maria casually.

Miranda spluttered into her mug. Maria shot her a wicked smile and leaned over to stroke her hand. Miranda knew she'd told her that that on purpose but she found that she couldn't resist fantasising about what lay underneath the jumper. Maria knew it and continued to stroke each finger one by one, causing long overdue sensation. Miranda's thumb uncurled and tentatively reached out. Maria let her explore a bit further, guiding her wrist forward and under when curious fingers touched the hem of her jumper.

Miranda should have realised that Maria didn't do anything by halves. She wasn't wearing anything under her jumper. Having cunningly taken advantage of the freezing aircon, her nipples were rock hard and ready. Miranda faltered; a spike of nerves overtook her. Maria selected a thumb and inched it up. Miranda gently rubbed it over the other woman's nipple, was rewarded by a groan of anticipation. Encouraged, she ran her other hand up Maria's side, marvelling about how she could have forgotten about how good it was to touch someone.

The other woman leaned forward to press her willing lips to the spot she'd been interested in for days. As promised, Miranda's lips were soft and pliable and didn't protest for once. There was a time to argue and a time to kiss and Miranda had finally run out of quarrel. Maria only wanted to hear arousal for the rest of the night.

It had been so long since she'd found herself in this situation that Miranda was seeing stars by the time they'd paused for air. The kiss had taken on a personality of its own and she wasn't sure who was leading it. She was giving as good as she was getting. Maria's skin was soft and smelled of jasmine with a faint underscore of chlorine. A somewhat pleasing combination.

'Have you been swimming?'

'Skinny dipping in my friend's pool. You should try it sometime.'

'Does an archaeologist's salary not stretch to buying underwear?' Miranda teased. 'You seem to own very little of anything as far as I can tell.'

'I'll have to let you know in the morning. I promised you breakfast, remember?'