Hey, hey, I have to say that I am loving my holiday so far. It's been so relaxing. Good weather, activities with my family, evenings with friends, good food, wine, and I've even been doing some writing!

I hope you're all having a good time wherever you are in the world, hot weather or cold, working or not. Talking of weather…do I have any Norwegian readers? If so, what's the weather like up there? I'm heading up your way next week and need to know what kind of clothes I should be packing.

As for the fic, well you all, 100%, loved the slow dance. I've worked out that Benedict could raise a fortune for charity just by offering slow dances to his fans…we'd all be in the queue. Anyway, today they're off to the beach, shall we see if that goes as well…

Chapter 11

Molly was a little surprised the next day when Sherlock appeared at breakfast more casually dressed and sporting stubble on his face. He looked quite rakish and had her once again remembering the time she'd checked him over when he'd been high and, as she now knew, on the case of Culverton Smith. She still couldn't believe that guy had turned out to be a serial killer, he'd always seemed so nice on TV, and he'd raised so much money for charity.

He slid into the seat opposite her, ordering himself some coffee and breakfast, and then turned his attention to her.

'What? Go on Molly, I can tell you're dying to say something, so spit it out.'

She grinned and waved a hand over her own chin. 'So, what's with the casual look, did you lose your razor or something?'

He rolled his eyes, rubbing his hand over his chin, and Molly could hear the sexy, scraping sound of bristles against his hand.

'I'm just trying to get into the holiday spirit. Look more like I'm on holiday, and less like I'm a Consulting detective for hire...I'll shave it off before this evening.' He smirked and continued, raising an eyebrow. 'Anyway, from memory, I think I'm right in saying you like this look.'

She frowned and looked at him sternly. 'I never like seeing you high.'

At that he chuckled. 'I didn't say anything about the drugs. Anyway, are you all prepared for a day at the beach Molly? I seem to remember you said something about a picnic?'

Molly couldn't help but smile in response...she found she was very much looking forward to a lazy day at the beach. 'Yes, I had a word with Mrs Havers, and the kitchens are putting together some bits and pieces for us...plus she has a rug we can use as well.'

'Great, we can set off after this then.'

His food had been brought over and he started to tuck in with gusto.

Molly had already eaten hers, so she watched as he ate his food. 'I thought you didn't like eating on a case?'

He shrugged and waited until he'd finished that mouthful before he spoke. 'Just playing the role, Molly. I'm supposed to be winning you back, remember. Can't be seen to be too stand offish with you and not eat.'

Molly sat back in her chair and sipped on her tea. 'I suppose. Anyway, don't forget I have to check out of my room this morning, so I'll need to bring my things up after this. Are you still sure about us sharing a room? It seems, I don't know, a bit weird.'

'It's only weird if you make it weird Molly.'

'Fair enough. I hope you don't snore.'

She couldn't help but notice that he looked slightly uncomfortable, and she wasn't sure if it was the reference to snoring or them sleeping together, but he didn't answer and instead changed the subject.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It was late morning by the time they arrived at the beach, and the sun was already high in a perfectly blue sky.

Once again, to Molly's amazement, they had the beach to themselves. It really was a hidden gem, and she wondered if the locals just never told the tourists about it so they could keep it for themselves.

They made their way down to the beach carrying the small food bag, a picnic blanket, and some towels, and they set up camp just to the right of the rock.

Sherlock let Molly sort out the rug and towels as he surveyed the horizon and currents, working out which direction to try first.

'I'm going to swim to the beach to the right of us. It's definitely the closest. I want to see how easy it is and how long it takes...the other option is they might have had a boat waiting for them, but I somehow doubt it. What will you do?'

'I might paddle a bit, but otherwise I'm just going to enjoy a bit of sunbathing. Umm...would you mind just putting some sun cream on me before you go, so I don't burn? I should do the same for you.'

Sherlock looked at her in an absent-minded kind of way but nodded. 'I suppose so. Hurry up then.'

He knelt down on the edge of the blanket and held out his hand for the sun cream, then he watched as Molly nervously shimmied out of her shorts and removed her t-shirt.

She cast a quick glance at Sherlock, who was sat partially open mouthed, looking at her with a strange expression, and she found herself babbling a little as she apologised.

'I know, I'm sorry I just...I didn't know I'd be here with you. It's just a bikini...I'm sure you've seen worse. It's all I'd brought with me...'

'No...I...it's fine Molly.'

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock's mind felt as if it had ground to a halt, which was a very unusual situation for him. He'd been working through half a dozen various scenarios for how the killer had got to the beach, and then Molly had taken off her top; everything seemed to fade into the background after that, and all he could think about was how slight and attractive her body looked. He'd always tried to keep Molly dressed in his imagination...and that had been easier given he'd never seen her undressed before, but this...

He took a breath, suddenly realising that he hadn't in a while, and his heartbeat immediately felt like it was racing...thundering in his ears. He tried to focus on something else, but as she shifted away from him and moved her hair, he realised she was waiting for him to touch her, and he was scared to. Scared of how it might make him feel and react. All this time he'd been shying away from his feelings for her, trying to deny them, trying to ignore them and now...he just couldn't.

He swallowed heavily and moved forwards, squirting the cold cream onto his hands. Without thinking he placed it on her back, and she giggled at the coldness, squirming under his touch and he felt himself starting to physically react to her.

He uttered a quick apology, and his voice felt strange to his own ears. He rubbed his hands together to warm the liquid a bit before placing them back onto her skin. It felt warm and smooth and endlessly fascinating as he slowly moved his hands, spreading the lotion, rubbing it into her skin.

He was acutely conscious of how small her bikini was, how little of her it covered as he smoothed the lotion over her back and down her spine.

All too soon he realised he'd done more than enough to protect her, and he felt an ache as he removed his hands from her skin. He wanted more.

'Turn around.'

Her voice jolted him from his thoughts, and he looked at her feeling a slight confusion. 'What?'

'Turn around so I can do you.'

She blushed prettily as she said that last line, and he knew she was realising its double meaning and he smirked...trying to get back to his normal self, but he did as she asked.

As her hands touched him, he closed his eyes and had to bite back a groan. This was worse than him touching her...so much worse.

He could feel her sweeping and sliding and pressing his skin, and she left trails of arousal inducing sensation wherever she touched him.

He tried to think of something else to distract himself, but just couldn't seem to manage it. He even imagined Mycroft telling him that caring wasn't an advantage, but even he knew now that that was a lie.

'There you go, I think that'll do. We'll need to put more on when you've finished your swim.'

He nodded and didn't dare look back. He also didn't want her to see the front of him because she might just see how affected he had been. Instead, he stood and started to make his way towards the sea.

'I should be about an hour, see you soon Molly.'

She said something in return, but his mind was already focusing back on the case...where it needed to be. He had to keep control of this somehow...for now at least.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly sighed as she watched him wading into the sea. Feeling his hands on her body had been so unbelievably arousing...and then being able to touch him in return. Well, all Molly could think was that this was the best holiday she had ever had, hands down. It was the holiday that just kept on giving.

He was soon well out to sea, his swimming so much better than her own. She wondered whether she should have her swim now or later and decided on later. She fancied sunbathing for now.

She must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing she knew she was abruptly woken by cold water being dripped on her.

'Time to wake up sleepy head, any chance of that picnic lunch you promised?'

As she blearily sat up and rubbed her eyes Sherlock plonked himself down next to her. She yawned and stretched her arms and looked over at Sherlock to find him smirking at her, and she suddenly felt self-conscious about how she must have looked stretching in such a small bikini.

He winked. 'Don't stop on my account, I was enjoying the view.'

Her mouth fell open a little in shock. Was he flirting with her?

She shook her head in disbelief and decided to ignore it. Instead, she asked how he'd got on with his swim, as she busied herself decanting the cool bag holding the picnic.

'It looked very promising. I'm sure that a strong swimmer would have no difficulty in swimming around from the other bay. I'll have some lunch and then I'll swim the opposite way, just to check it out. It didn't look promising on the map, but I'd rather see it for myself. What about you? I thought you fancied some swimming?'

She nodded and finished chewing her sandwich before answering. 'Yes, but I won't go out too far, I'm not a strong swimmer...in fact I'm not very good at all...I haven't swum since my last holiday three years ago.'

'Be careful then, there are some hidden currents out there.'

She absent-mindedly nodded her head, but she was a bit more caught up in how hot Sherlock looked with his trademark curls all wet, and water still dripping down his body. She'd not really paid attention when he'd first got back, but with little else to distract her she was more than enjoying the view herself.

He didn't eat much and after ten minutes he drank some water and stood back up. 'Right, I'll be back in a bit.'

She watched as he made his way back down the beach and she sighed to herself. He looked so good he made her mouth water, and she could feel her ever present desire for him flaring back up. It didn't help that this environment just felt so different from their normal interactions in a morgue, or a lab at Bart's. The sun was warming her skin, the sea was casting a hypnotic rhythm as the waves washed up onto the beach, and the sand was soft beneath her feet.

Maybe a cold swim would do her good and help her to get her libido under control. The last thing she needed was a repeat of the cupboard incident. Just thinking about it had Molly blushing all over again. She couldn't believe she'd gotten away with it.

Slowly, she packed up the remains of the food then she stood and made her way down to the water. She lifted her hand to shade her eyes to see if she could spot Sherlock; she could just about make him out on the far side of the bay.

The water was cool but refreshing rather than uncomfortable. She was almost too hot in the sun, so it was nice to gradually walk into the sea until she took the plunge and lowered her top half in. She panted a bit at just how cold it did feel, but she soon got used to it and after swimming around a little bit she wondered if maybe she should swim out a little deeper and wait for Sherlock.

She rarely went out of her depth, but it was so calm that it lulled her into something of a false sense of security until all of a sudden, she realised that she was struggling to stay close to the shore. She seemed to be being carried out further and further. She wasn't a particularly long way from the beach, but the panic of realising she couldn't get back started to overtake her. The more she tried, the more futile it seemed, and the more she was draining of energy.

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest in fear, and even though she tried to lie on her back and float, her face kept getting splashed making her choke and flail. That in turn had her swallowing more water, and before she knew it she was in serious trouble. Her head was going under more and more, and each time she took a breath she had no time to cry out or get her bearings.

The salt water was stinging her eyes and her throat, her lungs felt like they were on fire, and her muscles were aching and burning with the effort of keeping herself afloat. Before too long it was with an eerily calm sense of inevitability that she realised that she was going to drown.

Poor Molly has got herself in a spot of bother. Are we hoping for a gallant rescue from our dark-haired hero?