For once Olivia doesn't care about the time on the clock.

She has nowhere to be, no meetings to attend or papers to push. The offices are closed today, and even though she's on call as always, it's otherwise a free day for her to enjoy as she sees fit.

And currently what she sees fit is enjoying the young lover she's taken.

They kiss each other, both so completely love drunk, and Olivia can taste herself on his lips. She cards her hands through his hair and holds him close, enjoying the musky scent of his bare skin. They've been awake for a little bit, and after a passionate tumble in the sheets they're just bathing in the afterglow.

Truly she couldn't believe the effect he had on her. He made her feel like a wild animal in heat, so wanton and gluttonous for his touch. She felt near insatiable, as if she craved him constantly since their first coupling. Sure, they kept a straight face in public, feigning disinterest in the office and acting coy everywhere else, but once they were behind closed doors their clothes were quickly shed so they could copulate as fast as possible. Sometimes she felt as if she were a new bride on her honeymoon and had to remind herself about the reality of the situation. As lovely as it was, whatever this was between them it would be fleeting. She found herself now counting down the days until they left for Britain again.

Tiago pulls away from their kiss and brings his hand up to her cheek, stroking her softly.

"You look beautiful when you come." he whispers, rubbing the tip of his nose against hers.

She blushes, "Oh stop it." she says, sneaking a little kiss on his lips, "You're already got what you wanted, you don't have to try and flatter me."

"Got what I wanted? I'll never have enough of you." he says seductively before kissing her again, a little more fervently this time, "You know, I have an idea." he tells her.

"And what is that?"

"Maybe we should just stay in bed all day, hmm? We can order some room service and just relax and make love."

"That does sound alluring." she says, "But I think I'll need some fresh air eventually."

Tiago pouts, "You don't like my idea? I think it's a great idea." he nuzzles her neck, "I can make it worth your while. You can do whatever you want to me."

The hairs on the back of Olivia's neck stand up at his suggestion and she thinks of all the ways they could enjoy one another if they just wasted the day away in bed. From what she can feel it seems like Tiago is already ready to go again as it is. She nearly forgot what it was like to be with a man so young, hard at the drop of a hat and so quick to pick up where they'd left off. It seemed he was even more insatiable than her.

"Be careful what you wish for." she purrs, "There's a whole side of sex that a young man like you has never been subjected to."

He raises his eyebrows, "And you think I would ever say no to that? I mean it – do what you want to me, tie me up if you have to."

"I just might, Tiago."

Truthfully, she would love to tame him into submission; he was a young stallion, but he had a lot to learn still. Though he was far from inexperienced there were many ways he could improve, and Olivia had no issue teaching him and showing him exactly how to pleasure a woman correctly. In only a few days he'd come a long way, and Olivia had greedily reaped the benefits.

"If only the public knew how obscene you can be." Tiago jested, "If they could only see how well you can suck a man off-"

"Tiago!" she laughs, "Who's obscene now?"

He plants a kiss on her jawline and gropes at her breast, rubbing his hips against hers and making her quiver in delight.

"It's only because you bring it out of me. You've bewitched me and now I'm under your spell."

Olivia scoffs at that, surely it's the other way around. He was the one who enchanted her with his handsome face and intriguing accent; he was the one that had seduced her far too easily. She instinctually wrapped her legs around him and gripped his upper arms to steady herself. He took that as his sign to continue and gazed into her eyes as he sunk himself in her.

"Such blue eyes." he murmured as he rocked his hips against her, groaning as he filled her to the hilt.

It all felt so much like a dream, as if she'd awoke aroused in the middle of the night from another barrage of indecent images - but this was somehow no dream. She called out his name, low and hungry on her lips, and it was as if there was nothing else in the world at that moment except the feeling of his flesh against her.

Tiago didn't quite get his wish. While they had ordered brunch and ate it in bed, Olivia had become quite restless and felt like she needed to get out of the hotel for a bit. Around noon they'd ventured out, and Olivia took Tiago to a place she'd read about in a guidebook.

The place was Nan Lian Garden, and when they stepped inside Olivia was entranced by its beauty. This was her kind of sight-seeing, unlike the bars and clubs Tiago sought out. They walked around the grounds and gazed upon the great pavilion and all the many plant species that were flourishing; it was nice to be in such a peaceful, natural place and not just amidst the chaos of the city. As they strolled Olivia felt his hand at the small of her back a few times. It probably looked like a perfectly platonic gesture to most people, but she felt her heart flutter every time he brushed his palm against her.

They came upon a clearing near the pond. There was an empty bench near the water so they sat down to watch all the fish gathering at the surface of the pond. It was perhaps hundreds of Koi, all brightly colored and bobbing to the surface with greedy open mouths. As Olivia was watching the fish splash and swish, she noticed that Tiago stiffened next to her.

"I want to apologize." he said, suddenly staring at feet rather than his surroundings.

"For what?"

He paused, "For my misbehavior back in London. I didn't consider the consequences or how I was affecting everyone else. I'm sorry that I embarrassed you. I'm-" he shakes his head, "I didn't mean to embarrass myself."

"Misbehavior? I'm assuming you mean for your promiscuity?" she asks.

"Yes." he says, "And for what it's worth I'm not nearly as bad as you seem to think I am. I can count on one hand how many people I've slept with. Well, I guess two hands now that we've-" he stops himself, "Either way. It's not that many people. But I apologize for being so inappropriate with other colleagues."

Olivia can't help but laugh, "Surely you can't be serious? Especially after the last few days."

He gets a solemn look on his face, "I am serious. I should have been more professional."

"I'm not sure what that says about me then." she says, "It seems like my professionalism has gone out the window."

Tiago looks out at the water then, a distant look in his eyes. "I didn't intend for anyone to find out about Peter and I. He was so ashamed when Claire found us. In fact, he told me he never wanted to see me again the night before we flew out here."

"So, you saw him against my orders?" Olivia says, raising her eyebrows, "I told you to stay away from him."

"I know." he says, the guilt obvious in his voice, "But he came to my flat with some stuff I'd left at his place, and he told me never to come near him again. He told me he was afraid word would get out about us and he would be terminated."

"Ah. I see." Olivia says, "It should be obvious by now, but I'm not in the business of terminating employees on their sexual orientation alone, only if they engage in poor conduct on the job."

"I figured. But-" he pauses and looks at her, "Are you okay with it? Now that we… There's been more men than women in my past, that's all I'm trying to say."

"It doesn't make any difference to me, Tiago." she tells him, "I can't dictate who you, or anyone else for that matter, is allowed to be attracted to."

"You're sure it's okay? I was always told – I just – I'm worried I disgust you."

"Does it seem like you disgust me?" Olivia says, letting her hand rest on his knee since there was no one around to see it, "I mean considering the things we did just this morning? I certainly wouldn't do things like that if I felt revolted by you."

She takes her hand away and they sit in silence for a moment. Old memories begin to claw at the corners of Olivia's mind, and she finds herself beginning to speak.

"Sometimes you remind me of my best friend very much. He's passed on, unfortunately. He was hired at MI6 the same year I was. We spent so many years in the service together. He was amazing at what he did, and everyone who met him was completely fascinated with him. Including me."

"Oh?" Tiago asks, "Is that so?"

Olivia gulps down before she continues, suddenly invaded by the flurry of memories she'd kept at bay for so long.

"His name was Roberto, and he was from Gibraltar. Everyone called him Bert though, even though he didn't look much like a Bert. He was the most beautiful man I've ever met." she couldn't help the smile that came to her face when she thought of him; olive skin kissed by the Mediterranean sun and jet-black hair that hung in loose waves, with the brightest green eyes she'd ever seen.

"It was like love at first sight, but it soon became apparent to me that he was not interested in women. I loved him anyway. We had so many adventures since we were usually partnered together. Once we spent many weeks in Argentina on a mission, and even traveled around the countryside a bit in our free time. Wineries, ranches, even Iguazu Falls. Then one day he said he wanted to take the ferry from Buenos Aires to Punta del Este in Uruguay; I had no reason to say no. We spent the day sunbathing on the beach and met a man there, a British man of all things. His name was David. He was very handsome. But Bert and I both wanted him, so we made a bet on which one of us could get him in bed. Bert won."

She looked over at Tiago, who was still listening and watching her with curious eyes.

"I was so jealous at first, but I couldn't stay mad forever. They continued their relationship back in Britain, and were together until-" Olivia almost finds herself unable to say the words, "Until Bert died. I spent so many weekends with them at David's home in Brighton. No one at MI6 ever knew about David aside from me. I kept that secret all those years. I couldn't see my life without Bert. He was a constant fixture, the best thing in my life truly – even more important to me than Matthew, as horrible as it sounds. I told him things I've never told anyone else, and he dried my tears after every mission we botched. We saw things-" she trails off again, "Things no one should see, we saw them together."

"He died in my arms, you know. It was supposed to be an easy assignment, but Bert was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up being shot in the lung. I watched him suffocate as he bled out. I-" Olivia can feel the tears falling from her eyes, powerless to stop the flood that she'd kept at bay for so many years, "I couldn't save him. I couldn't save him.."

She remembers the light leaving those beautiful green eyes, those eyes she'll never look into again. The pain hits her as if not a single day has passed since his death. Tiago doesn't say anything, but he takes her hand and squeezes it, bringing her back from her reverie.

"That was fourteen years ago. I can't believe it's been that long. When you walked in for your interview, and I heard your voice, it was like Bert was alive again. You reminded me of him so much. That's why I was so keen to hire you. As if I could get a little piece of him back." she laughs through her tears then, "But aside from being handsome and having a Spanish accent you're really nothing like him at all."

Tiago laughs then too, squeezing her hand again, "At least you think I'm handsome."

He reaches out with his other hand and wipes her tears away, the same way Bert used to. It causes her to choke on a sob, and she covers her face with her hands.

"I'm sorry." she says, "I don't know why I told you that. I haven't spoke of him in so long."

"It's alright." Tiago tells her, and wraps his arms around, drawing her close and resting his chin on the top of her head. There was still no one to see them, so they sat like that in silence for a bit as she collected herself.

She wondered what Bert would have thought of Tiago. She definitely knew he wouldn't have approved of this situation she'd got herself into. He would have been proud and amazed that she fought her way up the ranks and was M now. In fact, Bert might have beat Tiago to a bloody pulp for daring to touch her - for daring to taint the honor she'd worked so hard for.

The thought filled her with shame, but shame was nothing new to Olivia. Bert had approved of her marriage to Matthew, but he had no idea about the bitter, angry tears she'd cried the morning after her wedding, wishing she had married him instead. He had no idea that there were some nights she envisioned him instead of Matthew in her marital bed. Perhaps maybe he did know deep down, or suspect it, but if he did he chose not to ever acknowledge it.

Eventually she pulled away from Tiago, "Let's walk around a little more? We haven't seen the other side of the garden yet."

They continued their exploration, and this time he kept his hand protectively on her waist as they went. Olivia strangely hadn't felt so light in years.

Before they retired back to her hotel room Tiago had stopped back in the noodle house and bought yet another box of lotus seed buns.

"Really, Tiago, if you keep buying those you're going to make both of us quite fat." Olivia had jested as he flung open the box and took one.

"It's worth it." he said as he bit into it, "You know what I'd like to do?" he suddenly asked her.

"What is that?"

"I want to take you to other cities." he said, his mouth half full, "New York. Paris. Tokyo. Wherever. We can do a lot of this sort of thing. See the sights, eat good food –"

"And fuck each other?" she says playfully.

"Your words, not mine, darling. But yes. We can fuck each other." he says as he narrows his eyes at her, taking another bite of his bun.

"Remember Tiago, despite everything that's happened this is no holiday. As I've told you many times before." she tries to hide the sadness in her voice, "You're about to be stationed here permanently."

"So? We can't have a little escape every now and then?"

He really is so young, she thinks, so naïve.

"I think it will be a little too obvious if you and I are off gallivanting in foreign cities together, don't you think?"

He seems to ponder it for a moment, "Maybe. You'll come visit me here, right?"

"Visit you? Well, I'll visit Hong Kong when I have to. Usually once or twice a year. Coming out just to visit you-" she can tell the answer is going to hurt him, but says it out loud anyway, "I can't come to visit you, Tiago. I have too many responsibilities at home and frequent air travel to Asia would certainly come under scrutiny in my case."

He swallows down hard, "Oh."

She picked up a bun for herself and sat down on the sofa next to him, so close that their knees touched.

"I'm sorry if that answer disappoints you." she said, "We have to be careful. As I'm sure you realize, this organization is prone to spreading rumors. Don't worry, though, you'll soon be working and believe me the caseload never stops. You won't have time to think about me or plan any frivolous trips."

He pursed his lips and seemed as if he wanted to say something, but whatever it was went unspoken. Olivia absentmindedly bit into her bun, her mind wandering listlessly as she imagined what was going on in London right now. It would only be a matter of time before she was back behind her own desk, barking out orders again, but she found herself missing it anyway.

"Olivia?" he said, breaking her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

He leaned forward and flicked his tongue slowly against her lower lip before he pulled back.

"What was that?" she said, confused by his action.

"You just had some custard on your lip. I figured I'd help you get it off." he said while grinning at her.

That was all she needed to feel her lust return. She quickly discarded her food and climbed on top of him and into his lap, kissing him ardently and pulling at his clothes. She needed to feel his skin against her, she needed to know that this was real. He gripped her hips so hard she thought they might bruise but felt herself not caring about the consequences. She just wanted more – more of him, more of the pleasure he gave her, more of this unbridled joy she hadn't known was possible.

Their session on the sofa hadn't lasted long (perhaps two minutes if she was being generous) but the aftershocks made her weak in the knees, and she collapsed against him as he softened inside of her. He just held her and whispered something in Spanish against her hair, but she couldn't make out a single word he said, let alone translate it. She had to hold her own tongue from saying anything she knew she would regret, though a specific word lingered in the back of her mind as she kissed the salty skin of his neck.

It was unclear how much time had passed when he picked her up gently in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He kissed her again, his teeth nipping at her and making her lips feel pleasantly swollen and full. Their days were numbered, but she was damned if she wasn't going to enjoy this for the night. Tomorrow would bring more work again, more bureaucracy and office politics, but it didn't matter when he was in her arms.

Later that night after he had fallen asleep, Olivia found herself still awake and somewhat unsettled. She sat with her knees tucked under her chin and just watched him sleep. He was on his belly, one arm splayed above his head, and he just looked so peaceful. Not a single line of worry or doubt showed on his face, and she wondered if he was dreaming.

She was reminded of a night so many years ago, a night when she and Bert were on a mission and undercover as a married couple. They'd rented a hotel for the night, one bed of course, since they were supposed to be married after all. Bert had fallen asleep so easily that night while Olivia had battled insomnia as she laid next to him. She had longed so much to reach out and touch his hair, and to kiss him as if he were hers. She hadn't done that, of course.

As she looked down at Tiago's sleeping form she touched his soft hair and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. She wasn't going to hold back this time. She was done with simply yearning in loneliness, done with desiring the things she couldn't have; now she was going to take what she wanted.