Chapter Three: Thank you.

The flat was empty and Mrs Hudson was out, a good thing to if the night was going to end up where she thought it would. The best thing was she knew he was going to be good from what she had heard from her newest client. Janine was a curvaceous brunette who loved leather, but also a good gossip. She was her favourite. Janine had information on Sherlock that she needed, but she would only give a bit and want a lot, her sort of girl especially with her 'try anything once' attitude. Irene really didn't want to be able to walk out of the flat tomorrow. She had nowhere to go, no-one to see, so why shouldn't she make the most of what would likely turn out to be a one night only thing.

Sherlock slung his keys on the desk and shed his jacket. He pulled out his phone out of his pocket and switched it off before placing it on the desk to. Irene moved towards the house phone, placing one elegant hand on it she removed it from its station and laid it down next to it. "Won't be needing that." She smirked.

"No, and you Miss Adler will not be needing this either." He took her bag out of her hand and slid it behind his chair. Holmes saw her raise an eyebrow. "John's slow, but not an idiot." He smirked.

"Why do you think he'll turn up here? A nose for it?"

"Bad girl. He has always had bad timing." Holmes placed his hands on the top of her arms and then ran them down until they were resting on her hips. But apparently Irene had had enough of what little teasing there had been. "Specking of giveaway's." He felt Irene inhale a short breath as he continued to whisper into her ear. Making sure that the lose hair on her neck began to move and tickle her. "The lipstick is nice, of cause, but I think people might notice if I wear it."

And there it was, the last straw. She grabbed him by the fabric of his shirt and in no time she had pulled him to the door of his bedroom. "I love a challenge."

He spun her so her back was against the door frame. They were inches apart from each other, he could feel her heartbeat. "So do I. And it will be you begging for mercy." The hand that had been resting just above head came down to turn the nob of the door. He pushed her in and slammed the door shut behind them. 'Sometimes bored works.' He thought to himself as she pulled him to the bed.

"Shut up Sherlock or I'll leave."

He lifted his head from where he had been sucking a mark on her long smooth neck. "No you won't. You. Love. This. Too. Much." Sherlock said huskily as he made his way down her body. The air flew out of the pillows as she throw her head back on them. She couldn't believe how easily he had made her fall apart. As he hooked his fingers into her stockings on the underside of her thighs. 'The woman' shivered at the feel of his finger nails tracing a line down her legs after the silk material. They were thrown across the room with one landing on the shoes that she had kicked off earlier. Irene pulled him up and crushed her lips against his for a passionate kiss. Her hands wondered up and down the silk shirt that was still covering his back.

"Mr Holmes I do believe you are wearing far too many clothes."

"Then please do me the honours." He rolled them over so she was straddling him with a smirk. "Don't get any ideas Irene."

Unbuttoning his dark green shirt she smiled. "Far too late for that Mr Holmes." she was going toughly enjoy this. His hands where once again on her thighs, but this time where creeping upwards, pushing her dress over her head. She couldn't remember losing her bra or been turned over onto her back again, but oh god how she loved what he was doing. He'd go painfully slow one moment, giving sweet teasing kisses running from her lips over her breasts, to passionate trusts that pushed her hard into the mattress. Sherlock was a far better lover than she had imagined, Janine may have told her what he was like, but hearing it and having it done to you are two completely different things.

When morning came it hit Irene just exactly what she had done the night before and it brought a huge smile to her face it feel the effects of her on Sherlock, even after all that. Feeling the all too familiar bulge against her back she turned in her bed partner's arms. The grown he gave as he momentarily lost her warmth set her into a quite giggle.

"And what are you giggling at?" Holmes whispered into her ear.

"You."

"Thought as much." He smiled and laid her onto her back softly. He hovered over her. "I'm surprised you still here Miss Adler." Sherlock placed a kiss on her collar bone.

"I was asking myself that." How tempting it was to run her fingers through his hair, to run them up and down his chest and stomach was great. 'What have you done to me Sherlock Holmes?

"So much for the Dominatrix, Irene." He smirked. "Though I must admit if that was you being a submissive I don't think I could survive the normal you." Kissing her again he moved off her. Throwing the sheet away from him, he stud and walked out towards the bathroom. Irene could barely move, there again she had no reason for wanting to do so. …..

...

"John where are you going?" Mary shouted from the kitchenette.

"Out." Said John sounding like a child trying to hide something.

"You're going to see him aren't you?" Mary walk from where she was. "Looks like I'm picking her up again then?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be I find it hilarious…" she really did. "…are you really that worried about Sherlock hunting out 'the woman'?"

"Trust me Mary. She is the devil incarnate." He unplugged his phone from its charger and stepped closer to her. "Bye." He smirked.

"Men, so predictable." She kissed him and just before he left the flat she grabbed his coat. "What?"

"Knock."

"Sorry?"

"When you go into the flat. Knock."

"I'm not going into his bedroom and why? This is Sherlock remember."

"Yes I know that, but as you said…she is the 'devil incarnate'." She winked and walked away.

"OH GOD! Mary! Thanks for that horrible image." John had doubted he would find anything like that, but his own words said by someone else made him think again.

"You're welcome." Mary smirked in the kitchen.

John walked to the bus station thinking taking that rather instead of the train would give them more time to say their goodbyes if they were together. It was full of the usual people and one or two that he hated for good measure. A couple of chavs texting with their hoods up. 'What is the point of having your hood up in less it's raining?' he thought. Then there were about five OAP's along with Terry from flat seventeen. Both John and Mary couldn't stand him. Terry would have his friends round 'til the early hours of the morning almost every weekend. John couldn't think of the last time Mrs Hudson or Mary's mum had come around on a Saturday.

"Alright mate." Slurred Terry.

'Already pissed. That must be a new record.'

"Hi, Terry "John gave an awkward smile to the twenty-something year old man that sat next to him. If it had been a short ride John wouldn't have minded, but this was going to hit rush hour. Which meant twice as long.

"So how are you buddy?" John looked at Terry, blood-shot eyes, yellowing of teeth, reddening and decaying of the gums with shaking hands. *drug addiction, most likely cocaine. Though there is evidence of cannabis on his jacket lapel.* 'Jesus I've spent too much time with Holmes.' "Bit not good, yeah."

"Shame. How's that fine thing of yours? If it's her I'll gladly sort her out for you?"

That was it. "Look Terry back off. I really don't appreciate you talking about Mary like that."

"Hey, mate it was just a joke." He put his hands up in defence.

"But it wasn't though, was it?!" ….

...

"You need to go Irene." Stated Holmes as he buttoned up his light blue cotton shirt.

"You've changed your tone." 'Oh god. How stupid can you be Irene?! Of cause it was going to be a one nightstand.' She said from across the flat. She was sat in his gold dressing gown in John's chair.

"No, I've just had a text from one of John's neighbours. Apparently he's on his way here. And…" Sherlock walked through to sit opposite her. "…I really don't want to explain why you are sat in nothing but a gold silk dressing gown in my flat again."

"It was blue last time." She smirked.

"Yes. Well. If you would." he pointed to his room at the back of the flat. "Before you say anything, I didn't mean it as a question."

Irene sighed and with a pout she stud and walked way. When she finally came back out from his room, she had put her hair, which had been loose when he met up with her, into a ruff ponytail. The top half of her cream dress was covered by his light green silk shirt and adorned with one of his black leather belts fastened around her waist.

"You're used to this aren't you." Sherlock stated with a wide smirk on his face.

She took to steps forward so she was stud right in front of him. "For that, Mr Holmes, you won't be getting these back." She kissed him on the forehead as she ran her finger from his cheek bone down his jaw and leaving at his chin with a flick.

"We'll see."

He looked towards the flat door. "Good-bye Miss Adler and please don't."

She raised an elegant eyebrow at him. 'As if Holmes.' "Laters."

"Adler!" he shouted after her, but clearly she was not fazed by it as he could hear her laughter from up in the flat.

He found himself watching her go. Why he did so he had no idea, but it felt right. Though it was a good thing he did as he could see John getting off the bus at the end of the street. With a sigh he turn his phone back on. Knowing Mary she will have said something as a joke about him and Irene and John being John will have taken it literally. And will therefore ring before daring to enter 221B. Thankfully Mary had clearly guest his tactics for getting information and had helped out a little with that one. God knows how John would have reacted to seeing Irene in his chair like that or worse.

The thought of his friends face at seeing such a thing was broken when his phone buzz five or six times. Mary had left a message…

Sherlock, heads up John is on his way ;) – Mary

Then there were two from John announcing his arrival. And a message from Irene thanking him. Why she had done that he hadn't really got a clue, but still. There was however one message that had caught his eye. It seemed that whenever Irene Adler was around Molly would be there too, or if Molly was on his mind something would happen and Irene would turn up. The chance to read her message went out of the window as soon as John Watson walked into the flat.

Holmes sighed inside, but put on a smile to welcome his old friend. "John? What's wrong? Why are you here?" 'That should put any thought about me and Irene out of his head for the moment.'

"You really need to pick your phone up." 'Oh well done John it's now back great. Good one mate.'

"Sorry?"

"I rang and messaged you and you didn't answer."

"You did? When? What time is it?" he said looking at his watch. He knew the time, but it might help convince John a bit more. "10 o'clock already? I must have been in there for a couple of hours."

"There?"

"Mind Palace."

"Oh, the woman is on your list then?"

"List?"

"Cases?"

"Oh. No. She's done with. Boring." This Holmes did mean. She could be so obvious when trying to hide something. Give the woman whatever she wants and she'll give you the world.

"What? Really?"

"Yes, John. Boring. Mycroft wanted to know what she wanted. I was bored. Now I know. And now I'm bored again."

"What did she want?" ask John casually as he sat in his chair. Sherlock couldn't help but smirk.

"Nothing, but to annoy Mycroft and cost the country millions in trying to figure her out. Same tricks and yet she never ceases to catch out my dear brother." After what seemed like hours of not-so hidden interrogation from John, he was finally left to get on with his neglected experiments.

Oi are you going to answer your phone? – Molly x

Another message from Molly. The exact same one.

I do. – SH

Clearly. \:) – Molly x

What is it with you and these bloody emoticons? –SH

Their cute. – Molly x

How can something that is made out of symbols be cute? – SH

Shut up you. ;) – Molly x

Or what? – SH

No bloody clue. You're the consulting detective. Sorry the ONLY consulting detective. – Molly x

The usual threats about me not being able to have access to the lab etc.? – SH

Yeah that will do ;) – Molly x

What did you want Molly? And if you're bored I'm telling you now that I'm NOT doing anything to annoy Tom again. It makes me incredibly bored afterwards. – SH

No I don't want you to do that. There would be no point anyway. We broke up. No I was texting you to say a body came in yesterday that would give you the opportunity for those tests if you still want to do them. – Molly x

Perfect. Are you still there? Is it your half day? – SH

Yes on both counts. – Molly x

Thank you Molly. – SH