You'll dine with us, Lestrade, and then you are welcome to the sofa until it is time for us to start. In the meantime, Watson, I should be glad if you would ring for an express messenger, for I have a letter to send and it is important that it should go at once."
      --Sherlock Holmes, Six Napoleons

Sleep dragged at my eyelids as I struggled to open them and ascertain what it was that shook me so forcefully. The blurred colours of my vision gradually settled themselves into the familiar pale lines of my intimate friend Sherlock Holmes bent over me.

"You were harder to wake than usual," he commented.

"I don't have your stamina for an active night as well as an active day," I retorted.

He pouted in his coquettish fashion and sank closer so he was inches from my ear, "My dear doctor, don't say you are having problems keeping up with me..."

I grabbed him and dragged him towards me so he fell along my body, "You could never be too arduous for me," I purred into his ear, "I could make you gasp for breath anytime."

"Oh really?" he murmured, softy chewing my lower lip.

I rose to his challenge and forcefully kissed him, entwining my tongue around his and exploring his mouth, continuing until he broke off for breath. "I win," I whispered and licked his cheek; I had the satisfaction of winning this small argument and feeling him shiver in pleasure at my gesture.

"So is it time to make ready for tonight's adventure?" I said quietly, partially releasing him so he would be able to sit up.

"If you are talking about our excursion, then no." He cast me a meaningful look.

I was puzzled. "Then why--" I began but was rendered inarticulate by his passionate mouth sealed over mine; his tongue tickling along the roof of my mouth, drawing my desire to feverish levels. He withdrew his mouth from mine to deliver a series of nips along my jaw that sent jolts down to my groin in expectancy.

Trying to master my libido, I asked, "what about Lestrade?"

"What about him? Unless you want a third I don't see a reason for waking him," he grinned his tempting smile at me, "unless you have some unfulfilled desires?" He quirked an eyebrow at me.

But my passions were overriding any inclination to be playful. My fingers gripped his buttocks and pulled hard, dragging his groin to connect with my own. His erection communicated itself to me the same time that he was made aware of mine. "You know what I mean," I breathlessly said as the pounding in my groin made it virtually impossible to think coherently, let alone speak straight.

"He is necessary for the arrest," he began, but I knew him better than that.

"So he couldn't have waited at the police station? And I did mean this would be dangerous with him next door," I interjected.

Holmes gave a low laugh and lent his face closer still so his tempting mouth was hovering, almost touching my own. I watched his fingers play with the curls on my chest during his explanation, "Remember when I asked you why you came with me on these cases and you replied 'I cherish your company, the mystery is thrilling, and the suspense and adventure are overwhelming.'?"

"I recollect vaguely," I answered, "you understand my attentions were on what we were doing rather than what we were saying at that particular moment."

He didn't even blush. "Ah well, this is the situation: the mystery is tonight, my company is right now and your suspense shall be whether we are caught or not."

Our breath mingled as it escaped from our mouths and for several moments afterwards there was no movement as he awaited my response. I licked my lips and tried for an admonishing tone, "Don't let this swell your ego too much; doing this under Lestrade's nose-- I know what you are like."

He grinned so unashamedly I had to stop him: I touched my lips to his and played my tongue around the edge of his mouth until he grasped my chin and made it hard for me to breathe. I was sweating like a fever victim as his kiss slowly moved down my body, undoing all my garments in its path to allow him access to me. Just before he undid my trousers I forewarned him, "I will be useless for any action in tonight's escapade."

He growled deep in his throat and looked up at me with a glint in his eyes, "You can go straight to bed when we return," and I struggled to prevent myself from crying out as he plunged straight down onto me. A challenge indeed.