Hey you guys. Happy weekend to you all! I may be a little buddy as my kids are going back to school this week and it means I may get some time to myself again…whoop, whoop.

Anyhow, I'm glad so many of you liked the interaction between Molly and John. As I've said to some in my replies I miss writing Mary but it's been fun making John and Molly a bit closer and writing more dialogue between the two of them.

Chapter 3

If Molly had been worried about how the fake date would go she had no need to be. They had always had a lot of interests in common and their conversation just flowed as they discussed some recent advances in the testing of toxins in bodies up to ten years after death.

They were even able to share a few morbid jokes and if anyone else had been watching them they would have looked just like any other couple in love.

Sherlock made a point of putting his hand over Molly's a couple of times and once he had lifted it and brought it to his lips and Molly swore that her heart stopped beating for a second when he did.

The only time she was distracted from Sherlock was when she spotted a famous actor sitting at a nearby table with a couple of other people that she didn't recognise. 'Oh my God is that the guy who's playing Dr Strange? He is sooo hot. I don't suppose you know him?'

Sherlock frowned, feeling unreasonably disgruntled at Molly showing attraction to another man. He looked over. 'I neither know who Dr Strange is nor who is playing him but it probably is. This place is well known for celebrities dropping in which is why we are here; we want to be spotted. Talking of which I see an undercover reporter sitting near the bar. Shall we have a post dinner drink before we leave?'

They went over and Sherlock sat them on two bar stools and ordered up a couple of drinks and then he proceeded to slide his hand up Molly's thigh and kiss her neck in a way which had her almost rolling her eyes back in her head. He was surprised by how much he found he had wanted to do this during the evening. He hadn't said anything but there was something about Molly in that red dress which had made his mouth run dry and his heart accelerate. He tried to tell himself it was all part of the acting but even he was a little unconvinced.

Molly knew she had tensed up at his touch and she had to make a concerted effort to try to breathe. It all just seemed so unreal though.

Sherlock whispered in her ear as he kissed his way up her neck. 'This should give them plenty of fodder for tomorrow's edition...but just relax.' Then he cupped her face with his hand and kissed her. This time she couldn't help the moan which she let out and she hoped against hope that Sherlock wouldn't have noticed but his hand tightened on her leg and his tongue invaded her mouth in response.

Molly's mind felt as though it were in free fall. She might have kissed Sherlock a couple of nights earlier but that was nothing compared to be fully and expertly kissed by the man. All she could think about was the feel of his lips moving against hers and his hand which was now just that little bit further up her thigh. She felt herself getting aroused and all she wanted was to be able to carry on kissing him but after a minute or so he pulled away.

Molly tried valiantly to remember what they were doing and why they were even there as Sherlock picked up his drink and lifted it towards her as he toasted, 'to us.'

She nodded vaguely and picked up her own drink needing a distraction whilst she attempted to get her body back under control. For once she was grateful for the neat alcohol of a post dinner drink as it burned its way down her throat and into her blood stream.

She tried to think of some light conversation...something...anything to say rather than 'take me to bed' but it felt as though her brain had seized up.

Sherlock sat observing Molly, intrigued by her reactions to their recent kiss. He had been right in his assumption that they needed to practice being together physically in order to carry off the deception. Molly needed to get much more comfortable and used to kissing him before the following weekend otherwise his aunt and his mother would see. They may not be as adept at deductions as Mycroft and himself but they were expert when it came to human reactions and relationships.

For a moment he actually contemplated having sex with Molly. It would certainly 'loosen her up' around him but even he realised that that would be a step too far in their dupery. He was surprised however by how much weight and thought he gave to the idea and the fact that he had even considered it at all. It had never once come into his mind with Janine and even if it had the idea of sex with Janine just repelled him.

'Are you ready to go home now darling?' He asked Molly knowing that the journalist was still in earshot.

He saw the faint blush on Molly's cheeks and the way her eyes dilated a little as she looked up at him now that he had stood up.

'Oh...yes. Would you like to have sex with me?' As soon as the words fell out of her mouth she seemed to realise what she had said and her mouth fell open and her blush deepened as she started to backtrack. It was her 'me and Tom are having a lot of sex' line all over again and it made him want to laugh out loud, it was so very Molly.

In a bid to not give away their subterfuge to the spy in their midst he helped her stand before kissing her again, mainly to stop her from apologising which she had been on the verge of doing. As he pulled away he whispered, 'the journalist'. Then in a louder voice he added. 'God, yes...you know I do. Come on.'

He towed Molly out of the bar and through the restaurant. This time when they were confronted by the paparazzi Sherlock put his hand up to block their view as he ushered Molly past. 'Not this time...thank you.' and by the time they turned the corner they had been forgotten as the paps turned their attention to the next person leaving in the hope of richer pickings.

When they got to Sherlock's front door he hesitated feeling a little conflicted. He knew he ought to just send Molly home in a cab but a small voice in his head reminded him that Molly was still a little awkward and uncomfortable around him and that they needed to 'practice' some more. At the same time another voice which sounded a lot like Mycroft told Sherlock that he was being a fool and that he was playing with fire.

As the silence between them extended Molly turned and looked up the street, her eyes searching for a cab which for once was not there. 'Umm maybe I should...'

'Nightcap Molly...maybe a coffee?'

He winced at his own weakness as he said it but Molly didn't seem to notice. She turned back with a surprised look on her face.

'Oh, I suppose so. Yes, that would be nice.'

He unlocked the front door and ushered Molly through and tried to tell himself not to look at her backside in that tight dress as she walked up the stairs ahead of him.

When they entered the flat he hung up his coat and made his way into the kitchen to switch the kettle on. Coffee definitely seemed the safer option rather than more alcohol, not that he was sure what alcohol he had other than the remains of the bottle of wine from the other night.

Molly followed him in and leant against the kitchen cabinets at the side of him before bending down and taking her heels off, rubbing her feet individually.

'Sorry, my feet were killing me. I don't wear heels much so my feet aren't used to them.'

Sherlock found his eyes wandering down her legs and for some reason the sight of her naked feet seemed to unnerve him.

'I had a lovely time tonight Sherlock. The food was delicious and the venue was so exciting. I'd never be able to get a table in there normally but I guess there are some advantages to knowing a celebrity.'

She nudged him playfully as she said that and he rolled his eyes in response.

He was wondering how he should word his next sentence so they could practice the kissing further without raising any of her expectations but Molly seemed to do it for him.

'I'm sorry if I seemed a little...I don't know...weird in the bar. It just seems so odd for us to be kissing and touching, I don't think I'm very good at being undercover.'

As she said the last she could have kicked herself. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was no good and ask someone else instead. If that happened she'd never forgive herself.

Sherlock smiled. 'Don't worry, we just need to practice that's all. No time like the present.'

He picked up the two mugs and walked past her and into the front room where he went over to the settee. He flicked on a small lamp before he sat down giving the room a gentle, almost romantic glow.

Molly stood in stunned silence for a minute in the kitchen trying to process what he had just said. Was he suggesting MORE kissing?

He looked over at her frowning. 'Come on Molly we haven't got all night...well, we have but I'm sure you'd like to get home at some point.'

Then to compound the situation he patted his lap and held his arms out to her.

Molly had to resist the urge to pinch herself. This couldn't be real, it must be some strange sort of dream or fantasy. He couldn't really be suggesting that she sit on his lap and practice kissing him...but it seemed he was.

Molly floated over, not really aware of her legs actually moving and when she sat down on his knee it was more a case of her perching on the very edge of it rather than falling into his embrace as she would have done with a normal boyfriend.

Sherlock just raised an eyebrow before he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her too him ignoring the small squeak of shock that she let out.

'Try to relax Molly. How about...just for tonight, we pretend it's real? I mean, bar sex, what would you do if this was real? I'm here, I'm yours to do with as you please...so what do you want to do to me?'

Sherlock smirked at her even though he knew he was walking a tightrope here but he told himself that the need to relax around each other outweighed his slight confusion over his feelings. He was more than confident in his own ability to control the situation and to control Molly so he sat back in his seat and waited to see what Molly would do.

What do you reckon, is Sherlock kidding himself that he can control the situation? And what about Molly? What would you do if Sherlock gave you free rein over his body?