Chapter 5: Second course.

Sherlock furrowed his brows as his mind reached the edge of consciousness and sleep. He kept his eyes closed as his other senses awoke. Something, or rather someone's head was on his chest. He opened his eyes and looked down at the still sleeping Irene. He almost smiled, before grimacing. It took him a moment to realize that his own arms were wrapped around her as well. He tensed awkwardly as he tried to remove them.
Sensing movement around her, Irene slowly woke up. She opened her eyes, confused for a second before realising that her head was rested on the bare chest of Sherlock Holmes. His arms were wrapped round her. Or rather were. Now they were half on her, half hovering. Her body stiffened. This was going to be awkward.
He locked eyes with hers, both trying in vain to play their current situation off. "I...S...Sorry." He stuttered. "I'm not used to sleeping with anyone..."
"It's...It's fine. Neither am I." She muttered. She had had people in her bed obviously, but never when actually sleeping. She was unsure what to do. Half of her wanted to stay where she was, the other half wanting to run like hell.
He sat up slowly, removing his hands from her form before running them through his hair. He looked around the room, and at the clock. It was only 8:00am. 'Oh, good.' He thought, 'We have the whole day to torture each other.' He glanced at her, she was on her side, head resting on elbow, staring at him oddly.
"What?" He asked, annoyed.
'God, he looks good with bed hair,' She thought to herself.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." She smirked. His awkwardness obvious. A small part of her brain wondered how they had even got into that position in the first place, who initiated it?
He eyed her, briefly scanning his eyes over her body. Her nightgown was quite low-he admired the smooth alabaster skin between her breasts, yet again he had a sudden urge to trace his finger down it, wanting to feel the bone beneath the woman. He shook his head and came back to his senses, what was he thinking!?
"Must you wear something so...revealing?" He asked acidly.
"Why, is it making you feel uncomfortable?" She murmured, sitting up also.
"You've seen everything already anyway." She pointed out.
He sneered and looked away. "I'm simply saying its indecent and highly inappropriate given our unromantic involvement. Please, try, in the future to resist showing off your...assets." He stated quickly and matter-of-factly.
"Assets?" She asked with a smirk. "And just because I am showing you my 'assets' it does not imply some form of romantic involvement, Mr Holmes. If it did, I would be out of a job." She pointed out.
He narrowed his eyes, finding a loophole, "Yes, Miss Adler, that is correct. However, you know perfectly well you are not in the presence of a client and yet you decide to wear such outfits anyways. I rather think there's something there."
She rolled her eyes at him. "I don't just show them to clients either. I like to wear revealing outfits. It's more for my benefit than yours. Perhaps I'm trying to convince you to become a client." She winked. "Then again, you certainly could not afford me."
Sherlock locked eyes with her and leaned forward slightly, "I can assure you, Miss Adler, should I ever find myself in the extremely unlikely and highly unimaginable situation where I would require your services, I could certainly afford you."
She also leaned forward, causing her nightdress to gape slightly. "Unimaginable?" She purred. "If you had the funds then why did I pay for your room? And your dinner?" She pointed out.
"Yes, Miss Adler, unimaginable-in the extreme. Like I told you before, everyone thinks I'm dead, I can't exactly keep using my credit cards and personal account, Mycroft would know in an instant." He replied, smartly.
She raised an eyebrow at him but otherwise ignored his first comment. "Exactly, so you wouldn't be able to afford me. Not now anyway." She smirked.
He rolled his eyes, and let her win. There was no use in arguing over grammatical and logistical and hypothetical nitpicks.
Irene suddenly jumped up off the bed. "I need coffee." She murmured. "The coffee here is terrible." She sighed before going to her wardrobe and pulling out a dress. she stepped into the bathroom, put it on and applied some makeup. "I'm going to a small coffee shop nearby, want anything?" She asked, putting her heels on.
"I'll have a cuppa earl gray." He said stiffly. "Thank you."
She nodded at him. "I'll be back soon." She opened the bedside table and took out a small pistol which she tucked into her dress with a wink before walking out of the door.
He nodded. As the door shut he got up and headed to the bathroom, he stripped his pj bottoms off and got in the shower. He washed up and got out. He forgot his change of clothes in the other room. Disregarding a towel he left in the bathroom and crossed to his bag.
The coffee shop was quiet so it didn't take Irene long to get the drinks and head back to the hotel. She took the elevator up, balancing the she got to their room, unlocking it. "I'm back." She said, walking into the room. She looked up and froze as Sherlock turned around. He was completely naked. "Oh, hello." She said with a smirk.
Sherlock froze as she entered the room. His eyes locked with hers. He inwardly groaned as he saw her eyes rake down his form. He quickly threw his clothes in front of his crotch. "I...I thought you'd take longer..." He stuttered.
"There was no queue." She said, a glint in her eyes. "Tea?" She held out the hand that contained his drink. "Careful though, lid slips a bit, might want to use two hands"
He glared at her. "Would you mind holding it for a minute. My hands are full."
"Oh, I noticed. However I feel my grasp is slipping. Sweaty palms you see." She smiled sweetly at him. "So I would really appreciate it if you took it off me. Rather not burn myself."
He closed his eyes, livid and humiliated. He dropped his clothes and reached for the cup. "Thanks." He muttered, fumbling with the cap.
"No, Mr Holmes. Thank you." She winked, her eyes raking over him as she sipped her coffee.
Sherlock kept his gaze down as he picked up his clothes and retreated to the bathroom. He shut the door and groaned as he put his clothes on. How was he ever going to live that down? He splashed water on his face, leaning over the sink and looked up at his reflection in the mirror. He closed his eyes again, and sighed. He swallowed and put his mask of indifference on once more.
He re-entered the bedroom.
"Hows the tea?" She asked with a smirk as she sat down on the bed, sipping her own coffee. Today had turned out better than expected. No more wondering what Sherlock Holmes looked like naked. It was better than she had expected.
He grabbed his tea and sipped it slowly, leaning against the window, carelessly. "It's fine." He muttered.
She bit down on her lip to stop herself from laughing. They were making awkward small talk to avoid the 'elephant in the room' "Weathers nice."
He glanced out of the window. "Yes." He answered, lowly. "So, what's on the agenda for today, Miss Adler?"
"What would you like to do? You can choose seeing as you're giving up your free time to help me. And considering that all my ideas, you won't approve of." She winked.
"I really don't care. I'll leave it in your hands. We, are, however, hostage here." He said, glancing around.
She sighed. "True. I think we should probably scope the place out. Make sure no one is following us or anything." She shrugged.
He nodded in agreement, sipping his tea again. "A solid idea, Miss Adler."
"Don't take your mobile with you. They all have EMP's." She put her own mobile on the table, along with her coffee cup
He pulled his out and did the same. "Well? Care to lead." He asked sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes. "Come on then." She turned on her heel, out of the door, knowing he'd follow.
He did as he was told, keeping behind her slightly. "Please, refrain from mentioning...the incident...ever again. I would appreciate your discretion."
She nodded. "Of course. The way I see it, we're even anyway."
He nodded in appreciation. "Thank you. Where are we going?" He asked, curious.
"Just looking around." She made herself look nervous and shaky.
He followed her, scanning the people that walked past them, assessing each. Her fear was visible. In a moment of concern and...senti...concern he grabbed her elbow, pulling her towards him, placing his other hand on the small of her back.
"Stay close." He said lowly.
Irene let herself be pulled with a small smile. He believed her nervousness. Her eyes glinted slightly, something he would see as appreciation for his actions. She nodded at him, leading him down corridors. She could smell chlorine.
Sherlock smelled it too. He frowned, his memories of pools were not happy ones.
"The pool, Miss Adler, really?" He scoffed.
They walked into the room with the pool, no one was there as she knew there wouldn't be. "Yes, Mr. Holmes. The pool." She grinned suddenly and pushed him in with a laugh. She had to convince him that this was the 'new her' sensitive under all her cold layers. She giggled like a teenager. Secretly enjoying herself.
Sherlock was outraged. He bobbed in the water, staring daggers at her. "What the bloody hell was that for?!" He cried.
She looked at his face and laughed again. A strong, untainted laugh that struck her to the core and made her breathless, she clutched her sides. "It's...called...'fun.'" She gasped between laughs. "Ever heard of it?."
His nose twitched in anger and loathing. "Is...this...FUN!?" He asked, as he lifted himself up at the edge of the pool, got out, and picked her up, throwing her in.
She gasped as he threw her into the pool. However an idea hit her, a fun but mean idea. She took a deep breath before she hit the surface and pretended to panic for a second before going still, her body resting on the surface as she held her breath.
Sherlock's eyes widened in fear. He quickly jumped into the pool, wrapping his arms under hers and lifting her back up and against her chest, luckily he had had training as a lifeguard.
She inhaled with a laugh and slipped out of his hands, treading water. She splashed him in his shocked face and laughed. "Yes. Yes this is fun." She giggled. Not even faking it anymore.
Sherlock scrunched his face in fury and annoyance. "That's hardly funny, Miss Adler!" He scolded, stern and serious. He softened, slightly, however, as he watched her laugh. It was the happiest he had ever seen her. He fought a smile himself. He treaded water, bringing a hand up to wipe the dark, curly strands of hair from his face.
"It was funny and you know it." She splashed him again with a grin. "Just be thankful that I told you to keep your mobile in our room"
He put his hand up to block the water she had splashed, grimacing as he did so.
"Would you please stop that! It's highly immature!" He spat.
Irene swam over so that she was in front of him. "Mr Holmes, we just threw each other into a pool. I'm pretty sure all maturity has gone." She grinned.
He frowned, realising she was probably right. He eyed her. There was something awfully...exciting about seeing her wet. Her hair clung to her face and her dress was more than see through. He berated himself for looking and caring before quickly glancing around the pool.
She grinned again as he looked around. "Oh, I forgot to mention. I've rented the pool out." She said as she started to float on her back. "We have it for the day."
"Why would you do that?" He asked, confused.
"Like I said, fun. Seeing as we're stuck here, we may as well enjoy ourselves. You weren't up to any of my usual ideas so I had to get creative." She replied with a smile, looking up at the ceiling.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "And you figured swimming in our clothes would be sufficient?"
She went back to treading water so she could look at him, she swam a bit closer again. "Well, it's not exactly like we had swimsuits. If it bothers you that much then we can always take them off." She smirked.
He swallowed as she closed their proximity. He could just get out of the pool and return to their room, and be done with this nonsense, yet, a small part of him didn't want to. He somewhat enjoyed seeing her so...carefree...carefree with him. So he stayed, and indulged her. And himself.
"So, was this a good idea, or a bad one?" She asked, not moving away, silently thankful that she had put waterproof mascara on.
He rolled his eyes, "I'm not one for water, Miss Adler." He hissed.
She tilted her head to the side and put her arms around his neck with a grin, using him to support herself. "Yet, you're still here, in the pool. With me." She smiled.
"I don't really have much of a choice, do I?" He returned, uncomfortable with her physical familiarity.
"You can get out if you want to, I won't be offended. Much." She murmured.
"I can't leave you alone." He replied, stiffly.
She leaned in close to him. "Because of Moran? Or for a completely different reason?" She whispered.
"The former, of course. I don't know what other reason there would be." He snapped.
She rolled her eyes at him and swam away from him a little. "Fine. Do what you like, stay or go, or get out of the pool." She shrugged before jumping up a little and then plummeting to the bottom of the pool. She opened her eyes when she went underwater and blinked against the chlorine. She swam over to Sherlock and pulled on one of his legs.
Sherlock felt a yank on his right leg before he was pulled under. He blinked against the chlorine before grabbing her hand and pulling it off his leg. He pulled them to the surface. She came up directly against him. They were eye to eye and both very wet.
"Don't do that!" He snapped, though part of him was starting to have fun.
"Why? Scared you'll enjoy it?" She wrapped her legs around his waist, weighing him down so that they both slipped underwater again.
Sherlock was forced to grabbed her waist as she brought them under. He struggled to get her off of him, which turned into a wrestling match. They fought underwater before climbing to the surface for air. He gasped, inhaling.
"Miss Adler..." He warned, yanking her body against him, his hands gripping her pelvis, "Don't test me." He growled, their noses almost touching.
She gazed into his eyes with a smirk. "Why, what are you going to do?" She murmured back, attaching herself around him completely.
He gazed at her, his eyes softening. He cupped her jaw with his hand, pulling her head towards his, "Or I might do...this." He whispered huskily, leaning down to kiss her. As she closed her eyes he smirked, and dunked her down, retreating across the pool a small smile dancing on his lips.
Irene climbed back to the surface, coughing and spluttering. She glared across at him. "Oh, you really shouldn't have done that." She dove down underwater and speedily swam across to him. She pulled at his leg again, this time not letting go. As she pulled him down she attached her lips to his, taking the air from his mouth before shooting up to the surface with a grin.
He opened his eyes in shock as she pressed her lips to his. Though it was underwater the electricity between them was titanic. He shot up to the surface, wiping his hair from his face. He locked eyes with her. The tension between them was immense.
She gazed into his eyes, her breathing heavy and her lips tingling from where they had been connected. She told herself that it was just because she was out of breath. Just because she had been underwater. Ignoring every impulse that told her to kiss him again.
He swallowed down every sentiment he was starting to feel. He arched an eyebrow at her, "You're getting awfully friendly, Miss Adler-careful."
She blinked, coming back to reality. "That was merely a means to take your supply of oxygen away." She smirked. "Don't confuse it for anything else."
"Likewise." He retorted, referring to his own trick. He swam to the the edge. His clothes were weighing him down, He took off his blazer and unbuttoned his shirt, stripping it off as well.
He swam back to the middle of the pool, flicking his hair as he swam.
Irene watched him, her eyes glinting a little. She swam past him and to the edge of the pool. She pulled her dress off over her head, well aware of how see through her underwear had become and swam back over to him. "There. Much easier for movement." She murmured.
Sherlock struggled to keep his eyes on her face. He swallowed again.
"Well, I must say I never thought I'd find myself in a pool...with you."
She laughed at his words which caused her to bob up and down a little. "Neither did I. Still, things are always unexpected with you." She said almost fondly.
He smiled slightly, despite himself. He swam a little closer to her, wanting to be nearer without consciously admitting it.
"I rather think it's the other way 'round." He said lowly.
"Well, Mr. Holmes. You should learn not to have expectations when it comes to me." She murmured.
"Trust me," He said, coming nearer, "I never do."
She looked into his eyes, their close proximity a little surprising. "Good. I stopped having them about you the moment we met. Bleeding vicar was not the most likely of disguises" She grinned.
He paused a moment, reflecting.
"How did you know my face?" He asked.
"I told you, Mr Holmes. I like detectives." She paused. "I was well aware of you before you had even heard of me."
"Ah, of course. I'm sure Moriarty gave you enough information for a lifetime." He swam towards the low end, his arms beginning to tire, and the memory of her betrayal stinging him.
She swam behind him, standing up when she could. "Admittedly, he gave me the name, and a couple of photographs. However, I did some of my own research. I like John's blog. I also like your website. Especially the bit on the different types of tobacco ash." She grinned.
"A fellow enthusiast?" He asked boredly, standing up.
She shrugged. "I'm just interested in the way you think. It was a nice surprise to see myself on John's blog, even if it was just a brief post. Official secrets and all that." She waved a hand vaguely.
"I see." He said. "And don't be too flattered by John's post, it was his nod to you, not mine."
"I assumed. There was no mention of me on your website." She pouted. "Easily disregarded, was I?" She smirked.
"Stop being coy." He snapped, "You know that's not true..." He faltered, realising how much he had just re-confessed. "Beating you was one of my sweeter victories, to forget you would be to forget my brilliance, and I'd never want to do that."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "One thing I have never been described as is coy." She murmured. She walked up the pool a little so that she was barely in the water and sat down.
He watched her cross the pool, his eyes harassing her figure as it steadily rose out of the water, exposing her wet, lacey underwear. Not much was left to the imagination, not that he needed to imagine.
"Cold?" He asked, mildly concerned.
"You noticed?" She said with a grin. "A little. Not too cold though." She said, stretching.
He rolled his eyes, walking towards her, the water dripping down his chest and his hair matted. He sat down next to her, keeping his distance.
"What about you?" She turned to face him, brushing her hair out of her face a little.
"I'm fine." He answered, matter-of-factly. He turned to face her, "You look cold."
Her teeth chattered slightly and she shivered. "I'm fine." She muttered. She was happy there, she didn't particularly want to leave and have to lie again.
He hesitated for a moment, before surprising himself and inching beside her, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, running his hand up and down her arm.
She looked up at him, surprised. She couldn't help but lean into him. He was so warm. "Th-Thanks" She murmured.
"Don't get used to it." He muttered, his behaviour betraying his words. "And we're walking back to the room, like this?"
"I never thought about that." She murmured into his shoulder. "Well it's either like this or in our wet clothes. I don't mind either." She said with a slight shiver.
"Our clothes, Miss Adler. Don't be absurd." He replied.
She nodded. "I might go like this though. I can't imagine how cold that dress is" Her teeth started to chatter and without consciously deciding too, she pressed herself closer to Sherlock.
Sherlock got up, nervous by her leaning against him, and grabbed a few towels, he handed one to here and wrapped the other one around himself allowing him to be covered as he took off his trousers, boxer-briefs, and shoes.
"Ready?" He asked her, offering her his hand.
She took his hand and pulled herself up. "Give me a second, and feel free to look away if it makes you uncomfortable." She grinned before taking off her bra and knickers. She wrapped the towel around herself and picked the clothes up in one hand before turning back to him. "Okay, now I'm ready."