Party Spirit series #1

Christmas celebrations at CI5 are always rather incestuous affairs.

For obvious reasons, active agents like Bodie and me aren't encouraged to gather all together in one place at a prearranged time outside HQ, and security limits the number of visitors allowed within the hallowed precincts. Probably ashamed to have anyone see the Victorian dump we have to work in, if the truth be known.

Call me slow if you like but I didn't realise until I actually got to the party my second Christmas with the squad that the unfortunate events of last year's do had not been forgotten. That first year the party had included typists, tea-ladies, the lot; this year the powers-that-be (read George Cowley) had decreed the agents were to have our own, separate binge.

I can't think why.

I mean, two pregnancies, four fights, three broken engagements and a divorce isn't much.

Must've bin that broken bottle of Glenfiddich that did it.

Very unforgiving, our George. But we love him just the same.

I think.

Anyway, for some reason Bodie and I were late and when we did arrive we found all the girls had already been booked.

Gonna 'ave to 'ave a word with George about female equality around 'ere. I mean, only one woman for each six to seven blokes is stretchin' 'em a bit thin. I'm surprised his Calvinistic soul doesn't faint at the thought.

Did our best, both of us, but they seemed to think our late arrival was a personal insult. Some of the blokes got a bit stroppy as well. Thought Murph was goin' to crown Bodie at one point when all he did was ask Susan a civil question.

Well, I thought he expressed it civilly.

Mind you, I could've told 'im it wasn't any good -- she'd already told me 'no' rather decisively.

Twice.

Some women have no taste at all.

Made do with each other then. All George's fault, we told each other, linking arms. Mac and Lucas weren't doing too well, either. Not with the birds, I mean. They were doin' OK with each other so far as I could tell.

I'd had my suspicions of those two for a long time. Nudged Bodie, wondering if 'e'd noticed 'em twined in a knot on that sofa. Caught a sort of wistful look in 'is eye. Got worried for a minute, specially when 'is 'and came snaking around my bum an' he started breathin' 'eavy in my ear.

Felt a bit better when he said: "Wouldn't consider a sex change, would you, sunshine? I'm feeling deprived."

"'s not the only thing you're feeling," I told him shortly, edging away. Not too far, though; I don't mind Bodie. He touches a lot; doesn't bother me. Get in a bit on my own account when I want to. Easy with one another, we are.

Or were.

Too soon to tell yet.

'ad plenty to drink. Bit to eat. Even remember talking to George at one point, something about the security arrangements for an upcoming state visit. Must 'ave made sense, I s'pose, because he listened politely to our suggestions. Either that or 'e was pie-eyed as well. No way to tell if he was; carries his drink like a gent, does Cowley.

Around about 3.00 he piled us all into taxis, sent us off to our respective homes. Takes care of us, times like that. Purely selfish, of course; wants to make sure he won't 'ave to go to the trouble of training a new crowd should we all lose our licences. Still, he'd paid for the cabs in advance which was nice.

Trouble was, Bodie was so taken aback at bein' told there was nothin' to pay he got out at my place with me and the cabbie 'ad gone before we realised.

'ad to laugh, 'e looked so daft standing there on the edge of the pavement waving 'is 'and all pathetic-like, too well-brought-up to yell out loud in the middle of the night.

Hauled out my keys; picked 'em up again. Told 'im to stop swearin' like that unless 'e wanted to spend the night on the mat and got the door open for us.

Decided we'd better 'ave a coffee, sober up a bit before we went to bed. Nothing worse than gettin' in to bed and finding your head goes on going down and down and your feet keep floating up and up -- horrible sensation.

Dunno what we talked about; lot of nonsense, I expect. I know we spent a lot of the time giggling but then Bodie's always made me laugh, even while he's irritating the hell out of me. Full of party spirit the way we were we'd've laughed at anything up to an' includin' Cowley doing a striptease.

Finished our coffee and got ready for bed like good little boys. The Cow had been fairly explicit about what 'e'd do to anyone late on duty next day. Told Bodie not to be so bleedin' daft when he talked about sleepin' on the sofa. Actually, I was feeling too knackered to go sortin' out blankets and pillows for him; much cosier all round to 'ave 'im in with me. Plenty of room in there for two, I'd always found.

Very conscientious we were at first, keeping ourselves to ourselves, remembering the other body in the bed wasn't one of our birds. OK when we were awake and talking. In any case, after a bit we got used to the idea of being in bed together and stopped worrying when we touched accidentally. By the time I dropped off to sleep -- about two minutes after he did, I think -- he was lying with his knee tucked against my thigh and one hand on my waist. Warming it, he said. Didn't feel all that cold, but I let it pass.

Dunno what time it was when I woke up. Too early to get up, anyway. I was warm and comfortable, snuggled up close to someone and feeling fruity. Was just coming around to the idea of waking 'er up for a bit of friendliness when I recalled who it was in bed with me, one arm laid over mine.

Feeling didn't go away.

Got worse, if anything.

I was about to roll away from him slowly, without waking him, when he let out a great big sigh right in my ear and started to rub my shoulder gently with the palm of his hand.

Nearly died of shock.

Didn't say anything. Couldn't. Thought he was doin' it in his sleep at first, you see. Thought I'd wait until he stopped and then slide back to my own side of the bed. But he didn't stop. Anything but. Before long he was running his hand over my chest, brushing his fingers over my nipples and raising a positive forest of goosepimples all over me.

Knew I ought to tell him to stop. Knew I wasn't going to. Knew if he did I'd do everything I could to get him to start again.

Didn't think I'd 'ave any bother, not the way 'e was breathing, deep 'n hard; long, warm, shuddering waves of it over my neck.

Turns me on something cruel, that does.

I tried to turn towards him but he wasn't 'avin' any. Got his left arm under me and pulled me to him, holding me on my back, half on him, half on the mattress; used his right hand to explore all over my chest and stomach, driving me wild.

Did my best to lie still at first. Couldn't keep it up. Not with the way he'd got me up, if you follow me. Snaked my right arm behind me and over him, feeling down his flank.

With my head where it was I could hear his heart going like the clappers against his ribs, echoing mine. Both of us so ruddy turned on, I thought dizzily, could use us instead of a searchlight.

Got a bit reckless then. Reckoned 'e wasn't going to go coy on me, not at this stage. Slid my hand over his hipbone until my fingertips found him.

Rubbed gently up and down the length of him.

Felt like sun-warmed velvet. Beautiful.

Then his hand closed on me and my heart was bangin' away in my throat, nearly choking me.

Was desperate to come. Had to come. Had to. No longer mattered how. If he'd stopped I'd've gone ahead and done it for myself, right there in the bed beside him.

But he didn't stop. Pleasured me perfectly. Exquisitely. Brought me right to the brink and fell over it with me, making a noise in my ear like the creak of an old leather armchair.

Me, I'm more of your muted-foghorn type.

Lay there for ages too knocked-out to think.

Bodie wasn't saying anything, either. Thank god.

My fingers were all slippery with him; surprised me I found it so pleasant. Unexpected that, same as everything else. Wondered vaguely how it'd taste. Didn't 'ave the guts to lick my hand and see, though.

In the end, when the continued silence was getting unnerving, I let him go and wriggled around to face him; opened my mouth to say 'is name.

Quick as a flash, his hand came up, one finger lying firmly across my lips.

Wasn't much light in the room, just enough for me to see the warning look in 'is eye but the message was obvious. Say nothing. If we didn't talk about it it hadn't happened and we could carry on as before.

Well, we could try.

We'd 'ave to -- unless we wanted to explain to the Cow what had gone wrong between us.

If it had.

'ave to wait an' see, wouldn't we.

Do my best to make it OK, Bodie, I promised silently, turning over away from him.

Didn't think I would but I went back to sleep. So did Bodie. Know that because he was snoring like a traction engine when I woke up. Left 'im lying there while I went an' 'ad a shower. Felt better about facing 'im fully dressed.

Needn't 'ave worried; he was just the same as he always is, suave bugger. Too good-lookin' for 'is own good.

Or mine.

Gave 'im a smile just to show there was no ill-feeling. Made 'im blink a bit.

Made me feel a whole lot better, that did. Thought I was the only sufferer up to then.

But we got to work awfully early. Not like us.

Told the Cow to look on it as his Christmas present. Didn't seem to impress 'im.

Me, I'm, wondering what New Year's gonna bring me.

-- THE END --