Chapter Four: Jealousy

Tanner pours a glass of red wine and hands it to M and repeats the action as they await James for dinner.

There is still an intense and uncomfortable feeling between M and myself. She is watching me too closely now. If she finds out…

Mathis stands close to M and breaks the silence. "So you are going to stay a few days M?"

"Bond is well enough to be released. We will leave for London tomorrow afternoon."

I practically spit out my wine. "James needs more time to recover!"

"I think the doctors are correct and I need him in London."

"But...he and I…"

"What? You thought you were going to sail off into the sunset with my agent?"

"Well he is bloody well entitled to some time off after what they did to him and you don't own him."

"I will take that into consideration if that is what he wishes."

Like hell she will!

"Good, I am glad that you see the logic of the situation."

"As for owning him...in a way, we do and I do see the logic in all situations, including what is going on here Ms. Lynd. You would be wise not to underestimate my abilities...ever."

Mathis interjects, "now ladies...I think this fighting over Bond will swell his head to even larger proportions. Let's enjoy dinner and try to get along."

"Mr. Mathis. I do not fight over any man. I do not have to fight...Bond will return to London or…"

James comes into the room at that moment, with a frown on his face.

"Or what M? After all I've been through you will fire me?"

"Don't sound the martyr...now you are imitating this...girl." M waves in my direction dismissively, and then levels her glare at James.

"You will do your job or you will resign your commission. It is hardly rocket science."

"So you are forcing him to chose between the two of us?" I cross my arms in utter annoyance of her arrogance.

"This childish posturing needs to stop. Bond has worked for years to obtain this level that I have trusted him with. Yes, it is his choice but I doubt the honey you provide will trump time, duty and bloody hard work!"

"M!" James yells.

Tanner tenses visibly as the argument increases. Mathis moves to smooth things over again and looks to me to try the same...but I can't...there is too much emotion swirling around me. I want to keep James to myself, he makes me feel safe.

"BITCH!" I exclaim fearlessly.

M narrows her eyes at me and straightens her stance. Tanner moves to her side and moves to take her arm. He too must realize her physical cues. M is angry and she is ready to fight. The strange thing is she seems level and relatively calm, like one of those dangerous animals who strikes without warning.

"So now you resort to name calling? I have heard worse. James apparently you need to think with one of your heads and make a decision by tomorrow." M tosses sarcastically at James and I.

Mathis frown. "I think we all need to calm down and perhaps our blood sugar is getting a tad low."

M looks to the door and sees one of the employees at the door. "Tanner, Mr. Mathis...I think we are being called in for dinner now. Let's leave the two ill fated lovebirds to discuss their near future."

I am fuming mad as I watch the three leave for the dining room. I stamp my foot and cross my arms looking at his beautiful face. Waiting for him to say anything...something to reassure me that I do actually hold his heart.

"Why do you goad her so?"

"ME!"

"Yes, you...who else? No one else is foolish enough to take the bull by the horns. Ever since she got here you have been pouting like a princess who is not getting her own way!"

"Me...you stopped even looking at me the moment she came….you...you are infatuated with your boss!"

"Vesper...grow up."

"So that I can be an old and bossy bitch like her? Would that do it for you James? Would I have your undivided attention if I was more like M?"

"M deserves my respect! You do not work under her and you may bloody well not have a job at the treasury after all this. M is good friends with your boss."

"Yes, well...I assume she slept with him at some point in the past to manage to get that account number, because that was only to be known by him and I."

James looks completely appalled at the suggestion.

"M does not have to lower herself to such things...she is above that."

"You mean too old? Now who is ageist James. I'm sure the woman manages to have some lovers...she is not without charms, when and if she chooses to use them."

"It has nothing to do with age and she's married..."

"And...what the hell does that have to do with her willingness to engage with whoever can help her attain a position of power... the power that she wields over you."

"Give her credit where it's due...she worked bloody hard to become M."

"Fine... and I will even admit that she is a physically attractive woman. Mathis wants to take her to bed and she is older than him. But James you and I...we are…so much more. We have been through so much together."

"What! Mathis wants to what?"

"That! That is what you took from that statement! Not that you and I are in love!"

"Vesper you are being irrational."

"I am sailing to Venice tomorrow...come if you want to have a real life. If not follow that evil manipulating hag back to her ivory tower in London!"

Tears begin to stream from my eyes and I run towards the exit. James grabs my arm, turning me around.

"I care for you."

"It's not enough."

I lean into him and kiss him with all the passion I can. Swirling emotions intensify the kiss...I need him...I need his help and his strong arms to save me and to possibly save Yusef.

James is such a beautiful weapon. I really must thank the bitch for that at least. He may just be damaged enough to want my honey more than what she is willing to offer him.

We breathlessly separate. "I can skip dinner...I want you...I need you and I love you."

"Vesper...all that is left of me is yours."

"Good...ask her for a week...to heal your soul."

We kiss again as he pushes me up against the wall. Our arousal intensifying as well as his hands wander. I pull his head as close to me as possible.

Suddenly HER laugh sounds from the next room.

James stiffens and pulls away from me as if the mere sound of her voice has shocked him like a cold shower. The look on his face shows his confusion and his entire body reacts. He looks towards the dining room and back to me as his breathing comes under control. The haze of the drugs still has him to some extent.

If M had or would ever take him to bed...James would be lost. That woman could hold far more power over him if she knew, or was willing to allow herself to take him.

M's physical control must be incredible to resist him at all.

I love Yusef more than any man alive but my passion for Bond grows exponentially, the more we are together...it may not be anything more than lust but it is all encompassing.

I managed to make it through dinner without ripping M's eyes out and continuously played with James' leg under the table.

Anything I could do to keep his focus on my and not her.

I make plans to spend the evening making love to him as loudly as possible, so that she can hear us through the bloody walls.

Everything and anything to prove that he is mine.

M ignored me and spoke mainly to Mathis and Tanner. Both of whom were laughing and enjoying her conversation at the other end of the table.

M took the head of the table and I gave James his usual seat at the other end. Luckily the long table gave the two of us some privacy.

Unfortunately, unless I continually grabbed his attention he was staring straight at M during the entire dinner. Watching her as she entertained the other men.

"I never imagined that you were so jealous Vesper."

"Well I am territorial about people I love and I strive to protect them. I do wish you would hand her that resignation...it would be far safer for us.."

"Who says I need protection and as for us...what do you envision for us?"

"I see the two of us sailing to Venice and making love constantly."

James smiles at me and I back at him as I trail a nail down his arm to his hand.

I grasp his hand as I stare into his beautiful blue eyes.

Mathis laughs out loud. "M you tease me...you have in all honesty the most stunning eyes I have seen besides Bond's."

"And you Mr. Mathis are an incorrigible flirt. It is a symptom of being French I think."

Tanner laughs and agrees with Mathis. "M it is true that your eyes are your most disarming feature."

"You have had too much of this wine Bill."

James' eyes are now narrowed towards the end of the table. There are now three empty bottles of wine and it has loosened lips and flirtatious amusement bubbles forth.

"I would think the three of you could hold your wine better." James directs at them loudly.

Tanner raises his glass in salute. "James...you are just upset that you cannot imbibe due to your meds."

"Still the three of you may have sore heads in the morning."

"Nothing we can't handle James." Mathis adds as he glances back at M who has remained silent.

Dinner is cleared. "Come to bed James. I want to entice you for our trip tomorrow."

"I have yet to ask for time off."

"Well ask her right now while she is drunk or spend some time with her tomorrow morning."

"I think spending time with her is what Mathis has in mind." James says rather severely.

I stand and the men at the table follow suit. "I for one am tired and need to go to bed...James."

James leans in a kisses me. "I will stay up for a bit more. I have to ask M something."

Now I will have to leave the room...I thought he would come for the promise that is a night full of passion but now he decides he should stay with her.

I whisper to him as I kiss his cheek. "You can ask her tomorrow morning."

"Go to bed...I will follow soon as everyone says their goodnights."

"She is a big girl...she does not need a chaperone, besides she has Tanner."

James looks down the length of the table at M and their eyes meet and then she turns to speak to Tanner. Tanner erupts in laughter as he leans in towards M to whisper in her ear.

M laughs and then speaks to Mathis.

"Vesper...go. I will follow soon."

Now I will seem petty if I do not leave so I do. I watch from the slightly open door as Bond moves down the table and stands by M.

James lean in and whispers something to her. She laughs and extends her hand to him and he helps her up. What is he doing?

I hear him address Mathis and Tanner. "I have something we need to discuss...M and I will take a walk around the garden before bed."

The other men stand as M leaves out the side door with James. Damn it! I follow outside and stick to the shadow as they stand on the patio barely close enough to hear.

"You need to be wary of Mathis M."

"Why?"

"I don't completely trust him."

"What is it about the mission that has you suspicious of him?"

"Not the mission...you."

"Me?"

"He is flirting with you."

"He is only trying to be charming where Vesper is not."

"It may be more than that and I will escort you to your room and you will be sure to lock the door."

"You are overreacting Mitchell will be in the room beside and Tanner across the hall. You are on the other side and I brought ear plugs just for the occasion."

"What occasion?"

"Being in the room next to yours there is bound to be a lot of noise. That and Ms. Lynd has been all over you since I arrived. It's any wonder you've had time to sleep and heal at all. I do hope you didn't over tax your stitches in your exuberance to satisfy her?"

I can see James smile. "M is this your way of asking if I am fully functional again? I would be more than happy to prove to you that I am."

"Bond! Stop that! Don't be ridiculous...besides the Doctor already told me you are."

"How come I cannot flirt but Tanner and bloody Mathis can?"

"There is no reason for any of you to flirt with me. I am married and unavailable so them flirting with me is harmless."

"What about me...you say their flirting is harmless...I disagree, but if that is the case am I not harmless then also?"

"Well no, that would be the definition of a 00...Bond...not harmless."

"Why M, I do believe you are tipsy from all that wine."

M laughs and slaps his chest. To my shock he grabs her hand in his and pulls it to his lips.

M frowns in the moonlight. "James...my hand."

"Yes...it is." James does not release her and he pulls her into a hug.

"James...this is highly inappropriate...let me go."

James whispers something into her hair and M pulls back from him with a completely shocked expression on her face.

I have no idea what he says to M but she pulls away forcibly and walks back inside.

James frowns, sighs and turns to follow her running his hand frustratedly through his hair.

I rush inside and up the stairs, barely noticing that I am crying.

The lover that I am using to save my other lover is in love with his boss and the irony is that it hurts.

To be continued….