Last chapter; epilogue included :) Please heed caution near end of chapter in bold ***MATURE CONTENT ***

14-

The ride down in the lift to the Grand Ballroom is interesting, to say the least. Harry, ever the gentleman, allows her to enter first, of course. Doing so also affords him another lovely view of her equally lovely derriere. After she steps in, and he gets a good view, he follows and stands next to her, putting his arm around her waist. She moves in next to him. When the lift stops at the next floor, he drops his arm, but not before sliding his hand down just a bit. Despite the blush on her checks, Ruth keeps a perfectly straight face as the next person steps in. When the doors close, all reflect proper lift etiquette. All smile. But not too much. And all keep an equally appropriate distance from one another as well.

The lift chimes again, and with a nod to their fellow rider, Ruth and Harry head for the Grand Ballroom. On the way, they pass other formally dressed guests, presumably also headed towards the gala.

As they enter the Grand Ballroom, they look above just like everyone else at first. Great chandeliers hang from the ceilings. Gleaming marble arches surround the immense room as well. Golden trays filled with with drinks and hors d'oeuvres are held aloft by the servers, dressed in black and white uniforms. In the dining room, the crystal and sliver sparkle; crisp linen, white and dark green for the season, cover the many round tables. The band, off to one end of the hall, also gleams, brass instruments reflecting the shimmering light of the chandeliers from above.

The band plays on, welcoming all. And although many guests are already there, many continue to stream in. Clearly, given the crowd from both sides of the pond, the servers, the food and drinks, the Across the Pond Gala or Spooks' Ball as affectionately called by Her Majesty's Secret Service, is no meager affair.

Harry finally takes his eyes off of Ruth but only to see others' reaction of her. He smiles as heads turn at the lovely woman in dark blue, one shoulder exposed and wearing a dress slit up the front as far as common decency will allow. Some of those who recognize Ruth do a double-take. Others simply stare with frank admiration. But no one ignores her.

Harry takes note of every look that passes her way. "See? He says to her. "What did I say?" There is no response. He turns a bit and sees that she is no longer standing right next to him. Rather she is a little off to the side and behind him. He turns to her. She moves in a bit closer to him but does not look at him; instead she gazes above at the marble arches. "It's amazing. The architecture."

"Ruth." He says as quietly as possible but loud enough for her to hear him over the din. "You look wonderful. "

She looks at him then. And nods. But she pulls her wrap around her a bit more.

He leans over to her and whispers in her ear. "Just take a look around. Those are looks of admiration. And you know why?" He replies before waiting for an answer. "Because you're most beautiful woman here." Briefly, he touches her arm. She smiles at him, then and stands just a bit taller.

He's about to add something when a tall, slender man in his mid 40's or so, his hair perfectly coiffured and a shade too light for his age, approaches them. His perfect smile matches his perfect hair. And perfect unseasonal tan, too. "Harry Pearce!" He says, loud enough for those standing nearby to hear. "How in the hell are... And who's THIS?"

"Hello Tom." Harry says, shaking the other man's extended hand. "This is Ruth Evershed. My guest and brilliant desk analyst. Ruth," Harry says. "Tom Leitner. "

"This is Mrs. Cousins?" Leitner says, drawing near her.

"Um," Ruth says, smiling a bit. "About that. Actually..."

"Ruth. Ruth Evershed." He says, rolling her name around his tongue. "The name sounds familiar."

"Yes." She nods. "We actually met years ago when 6 was collaborating with the CIA; it was when the group for -"

His eyes open. "I thought your name was familiar." He stares at her, his eyes dropping down to the slit and all the way up again before actually looking at her again. " But what did you do to yourself?"

"I...um..."

"So, Tom." Harry says. "Anything to drink on this side of the pond?"

"Oh, anything. And everything," he replies. But his eyes remain on Ruth, or rather the slit in her dress. "We spared no expense to entertain our cousins, you know."

"Is that the Mayor?" Harry asks, looking a bit over the crowd, now thicker than ever. "Must be," he adds noncommittally. "I see the press over there. Is that a TV crew?"

Leitner jerks his gaze from Ruth's dress and in the direction where Harry is looking. "Really?" He cranes his neck, squinting a bit. Turning back to Harry a second, he says. "Well...I think ...if it is... I really must... You must excuse me."

"By all means." Harry says. When Tom leaves, Harry smiles slyly. "That was easy."

Ruth slowly shakes her head. "Harry."

"Didn't even have to use a stick." He smiles again.

A little later, champagne glass in hand, she says to him, " I can't wait to hear your speech." She takes a delicate sip, but to the relief of each of them, has no trouble at all.

"Ruth," he says and smiles, "You know what I can't wait for."

She colors but leans towards him. "And I as well."

He gulps the rest of his drink down a little too fast. But he doesn't choke. Just sort of coughs a bit.

"Problem?" She says. And smiles innocently.

"You know," he says, "You're really quite a tease. Aren't you?"

She sips her drink and then shrugs. "We shall see about that. Later. Won't we?"

"I just want you to know that I will get you back for that. Later. Upstairs. "

"Is that a threat, Harry?" she almost purrs. "Or a promise?"

He takes a deep breath, his eyes riveted on her. As a server passes by, Harry reaches above towards a golden tray and grabs another glass of champagne, drinking most of down almost immediately.

"Careful." She says, "I do want you upright." And she smiles just as innocently before. "All of you, you understand."

He leans in, speaking sotto voce. "Ask and you shall receive." Taking a glance nearby, he slides his hand down her buttocks as well.

"Harry."

"Sorry. Won't happen again." He takes a sip. " Here." he adds. Then takes a last sip of his drink. "But I do need to touch you. Now." At her look of consternation, he says, glancing at the band. ""Care to dance, Miss Evershed?

She smiles, then. "I would love to."

He beams. Leading her onto the dance floor, he takes her hand in his, placing the other on the small of her back. They begin to dance almost sedately. Others soon join in. When the dance floor becomes crowded leaving little space between couples, he pulls her into him, a smile on his face. Her eyes open.

"Sorry," he says, his expression belying his words. "But what do you expect looking the way you do tonight?"

"Harry." She whispers in his ear. "I'd expect no less. From you, that is." And she leans into him as well.

He breathes in her ear. "You think others will notice if we leave?" His hand slips just a bit lower.

"We can't leave." She says, shaking her head a bit at him and his straying hand. "We just got here. And you have to give a speech, you know."

"Bugger the speech. And the Home Office. And the bloody ball. And the…."

She pulls him into her even more. "I think, Sir Harry," she says, with a bit too much delight on her face, "It's going to be a very long evening. Quite long, in fact."

"Oh, God." He says into her ear. "And I thought I knew all about torture." He presses into her some more. She holds onto him just a bit tighter.

Later, much later, after his well-received speech, she finally goes back to get her wrap at their table. Harry's eyes as usual are on her the whole time. Turning to leave she says, her dimples flashing, "Ready?"

"Ruth." He says a serious look on his face. "Have you forgotten something?"

She stares at his expression.

He smiles then. And holds out her purse. "You act like you're in a hurry. Or something." He says.

She laughs, taking her bag. "And you say I'm a tease."

"Serves you right," he says, still smiling. "After the torture you put me through all evening."

She simply shrugs, but her eyes sparkle.

"What say you," he says, "We get the hell out of here?"

***WARNING: The following subject matter is rated MATURE for ADULTS only: IF not appropriate for you, please heed warning and skip to EPILOGUE.

They begin to walk side by side, but a moment later she looks behind her. He is two feet behind. Again. Watching her.

She shakes her head." Coming, Harry?" She says.

"Oh, make no mistake about that. He says catching up with her. "We shall. Indeed we shall."

The ride in the lift up to their room is quite interesting by anyone's standards. As soon as they enter the empty lift, he pushes her into the back wall and begins to kiss her. "Harry," she manages to murmur against his lips. "What if someone..."

He shrugs. But when the lift chimes, he pulls away. The door opens but there is no one there. The door slides shut. And as soon as it does, he leans into her, this time practically flattening her against the back wall. "Feel that?" He asks.

"Harry," she says, "Not only can I feel that, I think that the people on the next floor can as well."

He laughs and is still laughing when the door opens. He continues to laugh until they are standing in front of their door. Both have trouble opening it. Harry drops the card. Ruth picks it up. She tries to insert in the slot but fails. "Give me that." He says, taking it. "Man's work. Inserting things. Into other things..."

The door opens.

As ever, the bed looms in front them. Stepping into the room, Harry all but kicks the door closed. Quite unnecessarily, too. Then he reaches behind and double locks it. He removes her wrap, his eyes on her the entire time; her eyes now as dark as her dress. The room is silent expect for their breathing.

She nods. And reaches for him.

That is all he needs. In moments, his hands are up her slit and beyond. Seconds later, her dress is unzipped. And when he pulls it halfway down, her breasts are revealed, delighting him. He stares a moment before actually reaching up and touching them. But only for a second. He all but pushes her onto the bed and none too gently, either. But then again, there is nothing gentle about her touch as well. She yanks his shirt out of his trousers, his tie soon following. And in seconds, she undoes his trouser button. Unzips him as well. And finds exactly what she wants. He groans. But it doesn't stop his exploration of her. Reaching underneath, he all but rips her knickers off. When she begins to pull her dress off, he says, "Leave it," using a voice she has never heard but has only dreamed about.

He kicks his trousers and boxers off expertly, still kissing every inch of her, even as she continues to stroke him. Finally, finally, his hand finds her and she begins to moan. He continues to stroke her, but stops now and then. "Just getting you back," he says. For the whole evening." Her moans turn into cries of pleasure. After a while, he climbs on top of her, his knees between the slit of the dress. And when he finds her other slit, she begins to cry out in earnest. And when the expected happens, both clutch at one another, calling out the other's name. Over and over.

Spent, they soon pull apart, he gasping for air. She breathing heavily. His breathing slows. "I love you." He gasps. "I have for a long time."

"I know, "she says, still smiling, "I love you, too."

"Then what took us so long?"

"I don't know. Doesn't matter. Does it?"

He doesn't answer. Just holds her to him even tighter.

And holding onto each other for dear life, they sleep.

-END of Mature post-

Epilogue:

"Housekeeping!"

"Oh, God," Ruth says, picking her head up from Harry's chest. As the doorknob begins to jiggle, she whispers. "Harry! Do something!"

"It's ok," he says, rubbing his now unshaven face into her cheek, "She can't get in. Double locked. Remember?"

"Housekeeping!"

"Yes, but…. "

He nips at her ear before getting up. When he walks over to the door, stark naked, it is Ruth this time who gets a perfect view of his derriere. She smiles, especially when he opens the door just a bit, hiding behind it for decency's sake. "Would you please come back later?" He says politely.

"Ok." Replies the chambermaid, the same one as the other day.

The door closes. But as she leaves, she hears giggling and a man's laughter.

She reaches for the little sign hanging on the doorknob. Flipping it, she hangs it back up.

DO NOT DISTURB.

Smiling, she goes on her way...

-the end-

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I wish you and yours a healthy and happy New Year!.

Thanks for reading/feedback! And see you next year! :)