Note: I'm continuing because someone challenged me to write more. :)
Chapter 2
Bond rushed through the airport busted and beaten from his mission. Luckily they allow him through without question because of a special tag on his passport.
Bond tried to wash up on the plane as well as he could but he needed to get to M.
The past few months Bond has been trying to work up the courage to ask her out, on a proper date. He was terrified she would laugh at him and send him home or away for an extended mission.
This is odd behaviour for James Bond. Women never usually make him feel that way. Confidence has always been his allure to the opposite sex.
Tanner and Moneypenny know how he feels about her and they do not judge, much. Moneypenny always has a smug smile on her face whenever Bond finds the most minute excuse to see M.
Tanner has dropped a few hints about Bond being arrogant in assuming she would be interested in the likes of him. He asks Tanner if she is seeing anyone. Tanner shakes his head. M is still biting from her husband's death.
Bond decided to wait, her grief will dissipate and then he will ask her out. In the meantime Bond plays with girls available to him. He swears to Moneypenny that he will stop the moment M says yes.
It is not just his pursuit of other women, they tend to throw themselves at him. The only two who haven't have been M and Eve.
Vesper tried to remain stubbornly aloof but Bond pushed that facade away quickly enough. Vesper was an excellent actress. She even fooled him for a time.
Older woman are not usually a challenge for him. They feel alone and undesirable to men because men of their age make them feel lesser than what they are. This makes them very easy targets on the job. He has always found older women are fantastic lovers and why men can't see beyond age is astounding.
M is the major exception and she never gives in to his flirtations. M does not believe he is sincere, or just refuses to accept it. That is the only explanation. How can he convince her?
Gifts? They are for getting out of trouble. Dinner out? M might be embarrassed by the age difference.
No. Tanner needs to help him get her away from London. Away from work responsibilities and give him the time he needs to seduce her properly. Time to prove how he feels. Maybe a weekend away once her foot heals.
Bond takes a taxi to M's flat. It is late now, after one and he doubts she will be awake. It is Saturday night and Tanner has been there since they spoke the night before.
Tanner is going to get an earful when he gets there. The flat is dark as Bond breaks in.
Bond walks along to M's room. He eases the door open slowly. The only light coming from streetlamps outside.
Bond cannot make out M but what he does see shocks him a great deal. There is a man in her bed.
Tanner has his arm cradling M's neck and her head is on his chest along with a book.
Bond's heart is about to burst and as he sees her with him. It can't be? No...he must have been reading to her.
M moves and wraps her arm around Tanner's midsection as she snuggles closer.
Bond moves forward fists clenched. He crouches close to Tanner's ear.
"Tanner...what are you doing in bed with M?"
Tanner stirs and stiffens as he see's James' face in the gloom only centimeters from his. He feels a warm body draped over him as he becomes aware of his surroundings.
Tanner realizes suddenly how this looks. However in his defence, he is fully dressed and this is likely the only reason he is not dead.
Tanner gently moves out from under M's arm, placing a pillow under her arm instead. Tanner covers her gently and makes sure her injured foot is not tangled in the bedding. He then follows Bond out of the room and down the stairs.
"How did the mission finish up?"
"No...no I want to know exactly what happened to M? You and I had a deal Tanner. When I'm gone you look after her. I never thought I had to spell it out for you that I did not want you to LOOK after her like that!"
"Bond...come on. The two of us are fully dressed. I fell asleep reading to her and that is all. The medication makes her unable to focus well enough to read."
"Are you sure that is everything Tanner?"
"Nigel use to read to her and she loved it. That is all. I swear I never touched her...well, I never touched her sexually."
"Tanner tell me what happened." Bond pours himself a drink as the two men stand in M's sitting room.
"M tripped over my briefcase in the office yesterday and I had to pick her up and carry her to medical. I could tell the second she landed that it was going to be bad. It is a bad sprain and she is to keep off it as much as possible this week. I felt responsible and here I am. Looking after her."
"Good. You can go home now or sneak in to Eve's flat to visit her. I will take over."
"I cannot leave you alone with her! She told you not to come and I will not stand by while you attempt to cajole her into sex while under the influence."
Bond's glare cools the room considerably. Tanner swallows nervously.
"You think that of me?"
"Well what would you have me think. You do tend to get carried away around beautiful women."
Bond smirks as he shoots back his glass of scotch and pours another. "I do admit that."
"Eve told me about China how you had her blouse undone before she even had the chance to object. Face it Bond...I've heard you take women up against walls with your comm accidently on and although their protests were half hearted, it still sounded forceful on your part. Do you think I am going to let you do that to M?"
"I would never! Never do that to M...without her permission that is."
"I know you say that things are different with M, but I still am respecting her wishes and asking you to leave."
"I'm staying and I wanted to ask you how to go about trying to get through to her...to convince her of my feelings. I was thinking of asking her away for the weekend. Get her away from the office and out of London. You and Eve could come along to relieve any pressure M may feel about being alone with only me."
Tanner is shocked at the thought Bond has obviously put towards wooing M. "Bond, I do not know what to say?"
"Sorry would be appropriate to start."
"Sorry?"
"Sorry that you always assume the worst of me. I will spend the night in her room...fully clothed just as you were. You can go sleep where ever you were before."
Tanner looks hesitant. "Fine Bond. If I hear even a raise in her voice I will be bursting in to get you away from her."
"I understand. You care for her don't you Tanner?"
"Yes I do."
"Tell me about what was going on while we were on comms during the mission last night?"
"I was massaging her leg as we sat on the sofa. We were discussing your crush on her and my relationship with Eve."
James looks at Tanner suspiciously. "What are you feelings for M exactly? I know you and Eve are good and I think the match is a good one but I know you care for M too."
"I do Bond and I'm not going to lie and say I would not like to sleep with her."
"Well you just accomplished that and before I got the chance."
Tanner frowns at his joke in poor taste. "As a friend I definitely love her. She is an amazing woman and I don't want to see her get hurt."
"As long as you and Eve are good, I will not flirt with her any longer at the office. However, you need to promise me that you will keep it friends only with M."
"Alright. I will agree to that, and you have to agree to going slow with M. She does not need a fuck up against a wall right now. She needs to heal and trust someone again. M has given you the benefit of the doubt on the job many times but I doubt she will do the same with her heart. I for one think you are genuine and so do Eve and Q therefore we will support you as long as you do not push her too far."
"You may need to define too far."
"Bond. Just take it slow."
"I promise just to slip into bed with her just to sleep like you were."
"Fine. I just hope she doesn't suffer too great a shock and kick us both out tomorrow when she wakes."
The two of them walk back up the stairs and Tanner goes to his room and Bond slips into M's"
"Could the two of you argue any louder?"
"M?"
"Who else would be in my bedroom Bond?"
"Well I did find Tanner in here earlier all snuggled up with you."
"He must have fallen asleep. Turn on the light."
Bond turns on the bedside lamp as he unbuttons his shirt. He is suddenly very tired after the last 48 hours of intense fighting.
"My god James! Look at the state of you." M manages to sit up in her bed. "I was going to yell at you for disobeying a direct order but now I have to order you to medical. I will have Tanner drive you over."
"M, I'm fine and no one is leaving you alone with only one leg to stand on." Bond smirks at her.
"Come on then. To the bathroom." M grabs her crutches off the bottom of the bed and ushers Bond into her bath.
"The towels are there. Have a bath or shower and I will tend to your wounds." M turns her back to him as she goes to the cupboard to collect the first aid kit.
Bond watches her through the mirror as he strips his clothing off and opens the clear glass door to the walk in shower.
"There is room for two M if you would like to join me?"
"I am not able to stand in there considering my foot."
"Well, well...I am pleasantly surprised you would even consider it M and who says I would let your feet touch the ground M?" Bond flirts.
M's face begins to flush red at her misstep and the image in her mind of having her legs wrapped securely around his waist or any other part of his body.
M has had the opportunity in the past to get a look at Bond is swim trunks, but she caught his ass walking into the shower naked through the mirror and my, my...
M sets up the alcohol, bandages and things as she hears the shower end. The steam leaves the shower as Bond moves to stand behind her she can feel the heat coming off him.
"Please have the decency to wrap yourself in a towel before I turn around Bond."
M hears him take a step towards the towels and does as she requests. "M you're no fun."
M scoffs as she moves to sit on the edge of the large stand alone tub in the centre of the bathroom.
James moves to stand in front of her as she begins tending to the cuts across his chest and shoulders.
M cleans and dresses the worst of the wounds and just cleans the minor scrapes on his arms and torso.
"What did you run into?"
"Many angry men and a few disgruntled women."
"I see."
Bond stops her hands as he can see she is upset by his last statement.
"No I don't think you do. I used a woman to enter the compound yes, but I never took her to bed because I called to speak with base and heard you were injured."
"So, why did you divert from your tried and true plan?"
"You were injured."
"Yes? So what has that to do with the mission?"
"M...I was not lying when I told you how much you mean to me."
"I am sure that you think that is true but my point is that the mission was paramount. The mission is always paramount 007 and you know that."
Bond releases her hands and sighs. He takes his finger under her chin and lifts it so that he can look into her eyes.
M's pupils are large and she holds her breath instinctively as he turns her to face him.
"I completed the mission because I knew you would kill me if I didn't. I needed to see you. Not just want...I needed to see for myself that you were unharmed. Not to mention the close proximity of Tanner to your legs and body had my blood boiling."
"Tanner...he and I have an understanding."
"Oh really? And what would that be?"
"Our relationship has evolved into a good solid friendship."
"I can see that, but there are friendships between men and women that become more all the time M. It is called having friends with benefits."
"Bond you actually think I would sleep with my chief of staff? That would be more unprofessional than sleeping with an agent. Anyway none of this is relevant."
"Oh, I think it is."
"And I don't! Let me clean the rest of this and you can take the other spare room."
Bond frowns. "M?"
"What? You didn't think you were going to snuggle in with me did you?"
"Well...I...had hoped."
"Bond don't be absurd. You talk a good talk but it is going to take a lot more than that to make me consider you anything more, than the agent who costs me the most money."
Bond captures her mouth in a surprise kiss. He doesn't push her but lets a slow and gentle kiss roll over her in hopes that she will better understand his feelings for her.
M does not pull away or hit him which is a good sign. Bond's really showing a great deal of restraint considering he is standing between her legs and her fingers are gently touching his chest.
Bond wants to lean closer but then M will feel just how much she affects him and it could scare her.
M cannot believe James is kissing her. His lips are incredibly soft and hot...from the shower. He is restraining himself and places his hands on either side of her on the edge of her tub where she is sitting. Bond's now trailing kisses along her jaw and down her neck. M's still groggy from the medication and being awoken at 1 am.
This is what M tells herself, as she continues to enjoy the hot kisses trailing down her neck. M instinctively tilts her head to one side to allow him better access to her neck.
The sound of her own moan makes her open her eyes suddenly and lean away from James in shock.
"Is that all I am to you M? The agent that costs the most." James says softly in a husky voice at her ear, his eyes filled with desire as he pulls back from her.
M swallows hard as she looks at him. Damn it! She doesn't have a good enough excuse to cover her behaviour. Even pain medication cannot excuse this behaviour considering she took it over 6 hours ago after dinner.
"I...I...think you should go to bed."
Bond has not moved away from her and still looks at her intently waiting for an answer to his question.
"Who's bed?" Bond asks just above a whisper.
"The spare one across the hall 007."
James can tell that M is retreating from the intensity of the moment. It angers him that she is pulling away from him physically and emotionally.
"You cannot hide behind your injury forever M. You gave a bit of yourself to me there. More than I have had the pleasure before."
"Oh I am sure you have had that pleasure before 007. I have even heard it over your comm many times in fact."
"Never like that. I have never managed that much of a connection without touching someone with my hands and, or other parts of my body if you know what I mean."
"Bond. Come now. Let me up and you can make your way to bed."
"Is this how it will always be M?"
"What?"
"I will steal a few moments pleasure from you. Kiss you like that and then you will try to deny the connexion and send me away. Is this the living hell that you are going to force me through your stubbornness to endure?"
"Don't! Just don't."
"Why M? Hitting a little close to the truth!"
"What in hell do you seriously expect from me? I am an old injured woman and I hardly believe you have anything more than a temporary attraction to me."
Bond grabs her hand and forces it up against his pounding heart. "I suppose that is nothing? I have been rock hard since stripping down for the shower just because you are in the same room as I. Feel how fast my heart beats just from a gentle kiss!"
"So what do you want a bloody prize?"
"No I just want you to admit you have feelings for me."
"Bond...I need to go to bed."
"Are you going to give in eventually or am I in for naught but extreme frustration?"
"What the bloody hell does that mean? What you expect from me?" M brows narrow in anger. "Should I let you undress me here against my tub and let you have your way with me just because you are God's bloody gift to women?"
"M…"
"I suppose the less than ten minutes of seduction you put into me with that kiss, is about the average for you. I should be panting your name by now...if you let me up for air that is."
"M. That is not what I meant. You are just deflecting..."
"It certainly sounds like it is all about you and your time and how long you will have to wait to get me naked and aroused enough to relieve your appetites."
"Would you let me finish…"
"I will tell you this Bond, as it stands now it will be a cold day in hell, so don't waste your time and get some willing slut who just wants a handsome man in her bed! One who doesn't care what you think, or do just as long as the chest is muscled and the arms are big."
"Most do and they bloody well enjoy the experience!"
"It is a good thing MI6 trains you so well for seduction, because I learned from instructors long ago, that the complaints on the handsome ones were higher because they are terrible lovers and need a lot more work."
"I've never had complaints!"
"Did any of them live long enough to complain?"
Bond moves back from her as if a viper bit him. He is very pissed off, he needs to leave now...before something worse can be said or happen. He drops the towel and gathers his clothes. He cannot stop himself from lashing out at her...after she metaphorically ripped his heart out.
"I am glad to know where I stand in your thoughts M. And here I managed in one day what anyone else would take a week to do, because I needed to get back to you. I could have screwed a few women there, but I wanted to see you more. I laid my fucking heart at your feet! Goodnight Ma'am!"
Bond dresses like her husband is about to come home to catch him in flagrante delicto with his wife.
To bad the bastard's dead, maybe that would have got more of a rise out of her. It works that way with other women. Perhaps M died with the old man because she certainly feels dead to Bond now.
Bond storms out of the bath and down the stairs out the door. He grabs a taxi for his place and texts Tanner.
I'm out! The bitch is all yours.