Chained
by ElenaC

Author's Note: This snippet was inspired by the trailer for the new Sherlock Holmes movie starring Robert Downey jr and Jude Law. There is a scene where Holmes finds himself handcuffed to a bed, which resulted in some speculation on LJ's Cox&Co community on what might happen next. I was dared, so...

I opened the door to the hotel room, and I confess that the sight that met my eyes served to almost make me lose both my footing and my train of thought. After all the time I had spent specifically avoiding dwelling upon my friend's physique, here, suddenly and all unexpectedly, I was confronted with it in a way that was impossible to ignore.

Holmes, of course, gave me no chance to collect myself. "The key's beneath the pillow," he told me, for all the world as if he were giving me the results of the latest race.

I stared at the pillow, trying to focus all my attention upon it, and most definitely not upon its specific location and the naked skin and toned muscularity that surrounded it. "You must be joking, Holmes," was the best I could manage in the way of a retort.

"Unfortunately, if there is a joke, it is on me," he returned drily. "Now please, Watson, there are things afoot that require action."

I have no idea what came over me. Suddenly, I realised that here was a chance at payback for the wear and tear upon my nerves that Holmes had a habit of blithely dismissing. Smiling evilly, I walked up to the bed.

He instantly knew that something was up. With a suspicious scowl, he watched me approach, and because his self-control, when he so wills it, is near absolute, his expression did not change when I slipped my hand beneath the pillow and groped.

My questing fingers hit upon the key almost immediately. They also hit upon other things that the pillow was hiding, and since my own resolve has been tested under fire and never found wanting, I continued to touch and grope, avoiding nothing.

Beyond a surprised gasp, Holmes made no sound. I felt his disbelieving gaze upon me even as I studiously avoided his eyes, never ceasing my motions, and quickly - more quickly than I would have suspected even knowing my friend's high-strung nature, - I felt a response.

"Watson..." he breathed, beginning to squirm.

I continued for another minute, then I grabbed the key and held it out triumphantly. "Aha!"

Again avoiding his scowl, I unlocked him, and because I am basically I kind-hearted man, I turned my back when he got up, after a moment and a deep breath, to put on his clothes.

"You've been holding out on me, old boy," Holmes finally said, voice and manner back to normal. "Don't expect me to forget that."

I found myself shivering pleasantly. "I shan't."