Chapter 3

"You keep looking around as if you expect my mother to pop out from another room. Relax. We're alone agent Bond. I was told you were the best at this and will teach me to act the part. I mean it is outside my comfort zone but I'm willing to try. I have nothing else to do."

"I'm shocked that M is willing to put you in danger to do whatever this mission is. What are the two of you up to?"

"She knew you would ask. No I cannot. Need to know and all you have to do is get me ready to act like a hungry divorcee. Not as though that is far from the truth. However, I would never be so blatant about it. I'm too much like my mother to be that obvious."

"Really? I always found her very upfront and blatant about what she wants."

"Yes...at work of course but emotionally...sexually...we tend to be more shy and reserved. Trust comes hard to me and I assume her, as she has not been in a relationship since father died. I really think that now she tosses the all emotional turmoil and feelings of any excitement away in order to focus on the work. It's a shame really because I think she is still quite a catch. Don't you think so Mr. Bond?"

Bond swirled the amber fluid around his glass, unable to meet her eyes. "Yes...I think so too."

"You still seem uncomfortable?" Judith asked as she sat across from him with her feet tucked up under her on the sofa. "You've been here before. Mother...M told me that you broke in a few times. That was very cheeky of you Mr. Bond. What was that all about?"

"I needed to give her my report and I knew if I waited to do so in her office I would have been fired. I needed her to understand what I had discovered and my gut feeling about what was going on."

"The two of you are so alike. All I can tell you about the mission is that this is based on a big hunch that she has. I think our similar appearance is what she is hoping will confuse someone and lure one or more someones out of hiding."

"Who?" Bond asked trying not to seem desperate. There was something very troubling about this. It is definitely to dangerous for the head of MI6 and therefore, all wrong in his opinion.

"I honestly don't know the entirety of the mission. Sorry...I tend to let things slip a little too much with alcohol." Judith giggled.

"You will have to temper that. Ginger Ale in a wine glass, straight tonic or soda would be safer at the bar. It is easy to act drunk or tipsy and get yourself where you need to be. Who is going as your backup?

"M." Judith answered taking another sip.

"What!"

"She said M, Bond. Are you hard of hearing as well as presumptuous?" M said as she entered the room placing her handbag on the table.

Bond stood quickly. "M! I...didn't hear you come in."

"I came in the back so that I wouldn't disturb the two of you. I didn't know how far you would be willing to take this, considering she's my daughter. That puts everything in a precarious situation and no sane person wants to anger the boss. Then again, you usually shove that logic into the bin. That aside, how did she do Bond?"

"Well enough for a beginner. Why does she have to do this? Why are you putting your own daughter in danger M?"

"Danger...I am only using her to...to...draw something out. She will not be in danger, because I will be with her. Once I've got their attention Judith will return to base."

"So you are putting yourself in danger. How exactly is that any better?"

"I will do what I must Bond and it's not for you to question my motives."

"M...I...well...we all...I care."

"I know that Bond. I appreciate it but I can take care of myself."

"Well...then...how long do you want me to give Judith lessons and then move on to giving you lessons." Bond couldn't help but display a cheeky smile at the process of seducing M. Even if she was in danger.

M's demeanor changed, as if the temperature in the room increased and there was suddenly electricity in the air. She locked her deep blue's to his cerulean blue eyes.

"And what makes you think I need your lessons on how to seduce a mark?" M moved towards him with a distinct sway of her hips. She moved within arms reach of him and paused cocking her head to the side slightly and raising one of her graceful brows in a simmering question that was already answered in her mind. If his physiological response was an indication and he knew it was, she was damn well right.

Bond was acutely aware that she was awaiting an answer and by damn, he wanted to give it too her. He could think of nothing but the way her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, the way she moved and the dream of what she might taste like.

Unfortunately at that moment laughter erupted from the sofa and Bond's head immediately turned toward the sound, having completely forgotten that Judith Mansfield was even in the house. He knew he had given a little piece of himself away. The lonely desperate part of him that wanted her love, not just her grudging admiration for him as her best tool in her tool-shed.

Bond knew he wasn't the only one who had a thing for older dominant women. He was not even the only agent that saw M as a desirable yet unobtainable sexual conquest. He had hoped that she never knew the secret desire he held for her, until now. M really did hold all the cards, now that Bond felt it was obvious that she knew just how much he wanted her.

M had Bond's name, his number and now his heart. He hoped that M had been so concentrated on her self aware act of seduction that she may have missed the look of desire that had knocked all sense from him. Everything...the surroundings of her flat, her daughter had flown right out of his head. For that brief moment just held the two of them, within a breath of making this simmering attraction ignite.

"Exactly the reason daddy stayed with you all those years of never being around. James I still think she needs work. For a woman of her age and even mine to gain the attention of men in their 50's or even 60's takes something more."

"Yes I suppose there is that. Men love younger women to dominate." M agreed with her daughter.

M's persona of seductress dropped away from her. That image of her walking towards him would now merely reside as a fleeting memory for Bond to hold on to in future cold nights alone. He had to break this tension with work or a joke. He shifted his stance, swallowed hard and regained that bit of himself that M had laid bare for a few fleeting moment.

"Not all do, and the two of you could not be ignored if you tried. M you exude power and control. If your backstory is wealth and means you have it made. Judith, you are a recently divorced woman with the need to burn off a little steam. This is the backstory I believe you need to develop."

"Not really Bond. I know what we have to do. I just need techniques improved and the ability to go beyond the knee jerk reaction to withdraw from...him and make him believe I'm a willing supplicant."

Bond looked both concerned and questioning. "M...who is this you're after?"

"You do not need to know Bond you just need to condition us to accept a stranger, or mark's touch. We've been working with the other 00's over the last few months and done some preliminary work but this is the last of our training that need completing before we leave for this mission."

"You need me to go with you as back up and maybe 005 would be a good choice. One of us to watch each of you."

"No, they will be watching for bodyguards and that is why we will not be taking any on this vacation."

"That is certainly not protocol for an M and you know it."

"I know that and that is why I am publicly on sabbatical and Tanner is running the department. Your concern is noted but not needed Bond. We need fine tuning and that is all. Do you understand?" M said with her boss persona back in place and firing on all cylinders.

"I understand perfectly well. You are beginning to feel as though you've outlived your usefulness as M. That age is beginning to burden you as a professional woman and you need to prove your worth. It is age reversed from me at 18 to you...well shall we say over 60." Bond said crossing his arms over his chest and looking at her as he would a truculent trainee.

"Contrived, contrite psycho babble is not in your job description as an agent Bond. Stick with what you know, cars loose women and killing. I maybe as you say, over 60 but that has nothing to do with my motivation now!"

"Touched a nerve did I M?"

"The two of you bicker like an old married couple. I have no idea what this mission is Bond but she's too stubborn to listen to reason and I'm done in and going to bed. Text me the next location to meet you and give me a proper mark to seduce. It's the only way I can improve in time." Judith said as she looked at the two of them standing in the middle of the sitting room staring each other down.

"Good night darling. I will be heading up as soon as Bond leaves."

Judith kissed her mother on the cheek and headed upstairs as M turned her attention back to Bond.

"Continue her lessons. Go find a suitable mark in his late 50's in some hotel bar and have some sedative available for her to spike his drink so that she doesn't have to go through with the entire act."

"M...I...really don't like any of this. Not to mention I have to have contact with her for a signal while she does it. I will have to get a wire from the office so I can listen in. As for teaching you…"

"I thought I just proved that I don't need much help in that department. I'm sure I can seduce any old man I may come across and it will be a cold day in hell when I would let you listen in on my seducing anyone 007."

"Come on M...be reasonable. I think you could seduce anyone you want...I was not insulting you in any way. I just need to be nearby to make sure the mark's hands don't get too fresh."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Why do you need to keep their hands off me. You are not my bodyguard."

"I don't like the idea...of...whoever getting too fresh...that's all."

"You are an agent for Her Majesty's Government just as I am and I will do what I must just as you do on missions."

"That is for me...I'm an agent and you are M."

"So what?"

"M can't you just send another female agent to oversee Judith's mission. I still don't understand why you are using your daughter as a honeypot and then somehow also being involved?"

"That is really not for you to understand Bond. I just need her to make a splash to draw someone out and then I will take over."

"Oh...I see now. You are seducing someone from your past. Someone who will remember you as you were 25 years ago and that's what Judith is. You 25 years ago. Who is he M?"

"None of your concern."

"M?"

"Why are you pushing me Bond. It's not your place to do so." M stated crossing her arms across her chest in a telltale sign of closing her self off."

Bond had more than ten reasons why he needed to watch over her but the 11th was the one he loathed to say out loud. To admit it now may not only surprise her but put her off completely. He would never get her trust back if he suddenly tried to make this sexual between them. After tonight, M may have more than a little clue as to his feelings for her but as long as they were not voiced...they could all be explained away.

Bond didn't believe that M would just fall into his bed. In fact Bond doubted she would ever even consider it while she was his boss. Now that she was on sabbatical he theoretically had the opportunity...but...well...now her daughter was upstairs, possibly listening to the conversation they were having.

One thing was certain, Bond would only have one chance with M and one he desperately needed for it to work out. It was an all or nothing situation and he realized that the timing would have to be perfect.

If Judith hadn't been here and spoken up after M sauntered over to him, with sexuality dialed up to exceptional levels, he would have pounced. He wouldn't have been able to help himself. Judith tossed cold water all over his fantasy of kissing her mother with abandon and having her melt into his arms, like so many others before her.

"Why are you staring at me like that. What is wrong with you this evening? I know that this is an unusual circumstance but I never thought you would be embarrassed to have to teach an old woman such things. I took you for more you more professional than that."

"M...I...admire you a great deal and I definitely don't feel uncomfortable. I can't really explain it to you now but I will do as you ask. I will call Judith tomorrow."

"Good see that you do." M snipped.

Bond frowned but nodded as he gathered his coat and made his way to the door. "When do you want me to begin your training?" Bond questioned.

"Next week once we get Judith ready and sent out."

"She leaves this week?"

"Yes. Can you get her ready in time?"

"I will. Goodnight M."

"Goodnight 007."

Bond smirked at her. "I think you should start calling me James considering I will be seducing you next week."

M rolled her eyes. "If you are up to the job that is, 007."

"Oh M...I'm up to anything when you're around." Bond winked.

M proceeded to push him through the door and lock it behind him. As if locks had ever been a deterrent for him getting into her flat in the past.

To be continued...