The Adventure Continues

[abrightboy]

For thatsfascinating.



The villa Malcolm rented was in the Languedoc, not far from Marseilles, south of Avignon. It was a very historic region, though Malcolm was particularly not interested in visiting Marseilles again. There was a charming village nearby the villa and if they were going to go to an historic city for a day, he'd rather make the trip over to Montpellier, where he'd never been at all, much less with Dr Whitly.

The villa had six bedrooms. As the driver brought their luggage inside the bright and spacious main room, Malcolm handed him some folded Euros and thanked him and shut the door behind him.

"First choice of a room is yours," he told Edrisa with a smile. "But you might want to explore first."

Comments

[thatsfascinating]

"That's true!" She furrowed her brow, tilting her head the other way. "Do they pay you?"

[abrightboy]

The question surprised him.

"Do... do people suggest that they don't?"

There were some rumours - mainly regarding what a weirdo he was - that he was sure circulated. He'd have never guessed that one.

[thatsfascinating]

"Oh...no, I was just wondering how that worked. I mean, you're not technically a police officer, and you're brought in on a case by case basis, so I wouldn't think you're salaried...not to mention you almost definitely don't actually need the money..."

Edrisa would totally work for no money too if she didn't have to pay for student loans and a shoebox apartment. For the rest of the lease, anyway.

[abrightboy]

"Oh. They pay me on a case by case basis," he explained. "I bill them and they pay me."

He did bill them a flat rate, rather than billable hours; he worked a lot more than could be expected and he didn't, as she pointed out, really need the money.

[thatsfascinating]

"That makes sense. I could do that. Although he'd want me for all the cases that came in, not just the ones you were working. I'd be too busy to work an entire case with you."

She knew her input was vital to the cases the rest of the team worked, but she was rarely involved after she submitted her report.

[abrightboy]

"Yeah, I don't think it's honestly actually feasible for you," he admitted. "My specialty is something that's not used for every murder investigation by any type of law enforcement."

[thatsfascinating]

"Whereas mine is." She sighed playfully. "I'm just too important. It's a curse."

[abrightboy]

He smiled broadly. "Is it hard being needed all the time?" he teased. "What's it like?"

[thatsfascinating]

"Ugh!" She rolled her eyes playfully. "So hard! Just crime scenes and dead bodies, left and right. I mean, you would think the murderers in that city would be a little considerate!"

[abrightboy]

"We couldn't solve a single murder without you," he told her, leaning in to brush her cheek with his nose.

[thatsfascinating]

She smiled, her expression shifting from teasing to sincerely pleased by the appreciation.

"I need you," she replied, pressing her forehead to his. "All the time."

[abrightboy]

He let his eyes close.

"I believe you," he breathed. "I'm not really sure what you could possibly need me for," he admitted, "I'm an awful lot of trouble. But I believe it's true."

[thatsfascinating]

If she were to list all the things she needed him for, they would be in that pool for a long time.

"Everything," she answered simply. "I need you for everything."

She kissed him again.

[abrightboy]

"You're wonderful," he murmured against her mouth as the kiss broke. He glanced around. The breeze was picking up a little, making it chilly in the pool. "Want to go in?" he asked. "Have a glass of wine? Some local cheese? It's... possible I had them stock the kitchen with certain items before our arrival," he told her coyly.

[thatsfascinating]

"So are you," she replied, nuzzling his nose.

She lifted her eyebrows at his coyness. "Oh did you? I suppose we can go in." She smiled, her eyes shining with eager curiosity. "See what you have in store for me."

[abrightboy]

"Just a little pampering. A little light sheer indulgence. You know," he said, managing to get out of the pool without splashing his cast too much before offering her his hand to help her up. "France things."

[thatsfascinating]

She took his hand and climbed out of the pool, and rubbed her arms a little, really feeling the breeze now that they were out of the water. "We should have brought towels!"

[abrightboy]

He grinned. "What if we hold hands and run inside and drip all over the floor like a couple of hedonists?" he suggested, offering his good hand again and wiggling his fingers.

[thatsfascinating]

She grinned and took his hand, interlacing her fingers with his.

"Ready?" she said. "Set...go!"

And she ran for the door.

[abrightboy]

He laughed as they ran. When was the last time he laughed so much and so freely before he was with her? He couldn't remember.

Once inside, her hand still clutched in his, he lead her through to one of the bathrooms and grabbed a fluffy robe, helping her into it.

[thatsfascinating]

She laughed with him. She was so happy. Giddily, deliriously happy. Happier than she'd ever been.

She followed him to the bathroom and got into the robe with his help. It was so extremely fluffy that she couldn't help but grin all the wider. She grabbed one for him and helped him put it on, being careful with getting the cast through the sleeve.

[abrightboy]

Once she got his hand through the sleeve, he shrugged it the rest of the way on and then tugged her into his arms, wrapping them around her and resting his cheek against her temple.

[thatsfascinating]

She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly, closing her eyes and breathing him in.

"I'm so happy," she whispered. "And so lucky."

[abrightboy]

He took her face in his hands and gave her a gentle, lingering kiss.

"Come to the kitchen," he said, looping his good arm around her and heading in that direction. "I have treats."

[thatsfascinating]

"Oooh, treats!"

She wrapped her own arm around his waist, leaning into him as they made their way to the kitchen.