This story copyright © 2003 Mia McCroskey
The characters from The Avengers and other sources are the property of their respective owners.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] people have read this story since April 2004
Steed plans a surprise
Emma flirts with danger
Chapter 10
"Happy Christmas wife," Steed whispered into Emma's ear. She had just snuggled back into bed after visiting the bathroom and he'd wrapped his arms around her.
"Happy Christmas husband," she replied, turning her face to touch her lips to his. "The first of many."
"Ummm," he returned her little kiss with a more determined one of his own. She ran her tongue over his lips, then slipped it into his mouth to caress his. He sucked it gently, his hands wandering over her body on top of the satin shift. She rolled toward him, drawing her top leg up over his and pressing close so that the tip of his hard penis nestled against her belly.
There was a knock at the door.
"Have they no respect for the newly wed?" Steed groaned against her mouth.
The knock was repeated, and a distinctive voice called out, "I just want to give you some breakfast."
"Amanda," Steed and Emma said in unison. Emma slipped out of the bed and headed for the door, stooping to pick up her discarded dressing gown and put it on.
"I'm sorry to bother you," Amanda was saying as she opened the door. "But I thought you would like these." She held out a tray bearing a bowl of sliced strawberries and a bowl of whipped cream. "You need to leave for the airport in five hours."
"How thoughtful of you, Amanda," Emma said, her lips curling into a wry smile as she took the tray.
"Enjoy," Amanda said with a sly grin and backed away from the door. Emma carried the tray back to the bed where Steed had pulled himself up to a sitting position. She set the tray on the bed near the foot and dropped her dressing gown to the floor before climbing in beside him.
"What did she bring us?" he asked, leaning forward to see the tray.
"Lie down," Emma commanded, kneeling to reach for a strawberry.
Puzzled, Steed scooted back down. Emma reached over and drew the covers off of him, then she placed a half strawberry over one of his nipples.
"Emma?" he looked curiously at the bright red berry. It was cool against his skin. She smiled enigmatically at him, then dipped a half berry into the whipped cream and took a slow bite. She dipped another one and pressed it against his lips. He bit it, beginning to get the idea. She fed him the rest, then placed another half berry on his other nipple. She worked her way down his body, strategically placing berries in sensitive spots. He sighed as she stroked one up his penis, so she dipped her finger into the whipped cream and smeared it over the tip, then balanced the strawberry on top.
Satisfied with her work, she returned to his face with a berry in her lips. She fed it to him, then began working her way back down his body, sumptuously eating each of the berries off of him.
"Put another one there," he sighed after she'd eaten both of those on his nipples.
"This is my breakfast, Steed," she said mischievously. "I'll eat it from where I want."
"Have seconds," he pleaded. She chuckled, slurping the berry from his bellybutton, then moving down to the ones on his thighs. She worked her way down one thigh to his knee, then up the other one, placing herself between his sprawled legs. He sucked in an anticipatory breath as she took the berries off of his balls with her tongue. Then he exhaled it in surprise as she pulled away. She smiled teasingly at him as she reached back and dipped her finger into the whipped cream.
"Oh my," he said as she ate the berry and slathered more whipped cream all over his shaft. "Oh don't stop."
She started at the base and licked upward over and over, the musky taste of his semen mixing with the sweet cream at the top. He raised himself on his elbows to watch her, shivering at the feel of her hair brushing his thighs with each long, slow lick.
At last the cream was mostly gone and she took him into her mouth, sucking the last of it off as he dropped back down onto the mattress and moaned at the pressure building in his loins. His pelvis rose to her and she took him again, sucking harder as she caressed his thighs and hips.
"Come for me," she said, dropping her mouth over him again. He pushed deeper into her throat and she swallowed, suppressing the gag reflex to take his entire length. He moaned again at the exciting sensation of unfamiliar textures and pressures, thrusting sharply into her, filling her throat with his hot, salty cum. She held him tight with her lips, swallowing him down as he writhed beneath her, his moan turning into a wail.
"Let go," he gasped as he softened in her mouth. She released him, swallowing the last of his sour, musky essence and pressing kisses into the curly hairs at the based of his genitals then onto the soft skin of his flat belly. He lay panting, running one hand through his own hair, the other still clutching the sheets at his side.
She moved up beside him, kissing his chest and his collar, his Adam's apple, and finally his lips. She rested her head on his shoulder and they breathed together for a while, Emma's fingers tracing vague patterns on his chest at is rose and fell.
"Your turn," he said at last, his eyes popping open to twinkle at her. She obligingly sat up and pulled the shift off over her head. Dropping it on the floor, she stretched out on the bed.
Steed made slow work of placing the rest of the strawberries on her body, each one on a thick cushion of whipped cream.
"You realize the cream isn't nearly as good for you as the berries," she observed as he drew a white line between her breasts and down her stomach.
"I'm about to work off the ill effects," he replied, stroking her inner thighs until she spread her legs. He dipped up more whipped cream and slathered it over her vulva, then he lowered his face to lick her clean.
She shivered beneath him, but tried to hold still and not dislodge any of the berries. He slid his tongue into her and out, caressing her clitoris until it hardened. Her vagina flooded with warm fluid and he licked her more, teasing her with his tongue until she came again.
"Oh John," she groaned as he put his tongue on the line of cream on her stomach and began to lick his way up. He paused to slurp up the berries on her ribs. When he took the ones covering her hard nipples she couldn't hold still. Her back arched toward him as he sucked and nipped and kissed her breasts, then moved up to her throat, and finally her face.
"Roll over," he said, holding himself above her, his lips caressing her ear. She rolled beneath him and he reached down to press his hand between her thighs, pressing his thumb into her, forcing her legs apart. He knelt between them and lifted her hips. She drew up her knees, rising to him and turning her face in the pillows. She clutched at them in anticipation of his entry into her.
He hesitated and she looked back over her shoulder to see him smearing more cream on himself. He caught her eye and grinned and she shook her head ruefully. He parted her with his fingers, stroking her from behind in a way that always drove her quickly to frenzied arousal. She moaned into the pillows. He penetrated her, slick and cool at first, then hot and solid, forcing in deeper, nudging against her cervix so that she cried out little yelps of pleasure. They incited him, driving him to sharper, harder strokes until she wiggled her ass, breaking his rhythm and sending him over the edge. She moaned as she came in long, surging contractions that he matched with squirming, pulsing thrusts until he was drained once again.
"Emma," he moaned as he slipped out of her, reaching around her to stroke the fronts of her thighs, then up her torso, bending over her to cup her breasts. She stretched her legs out beneath him and he slipped to the side, holding her from behind.
They lay spooned together for a long while, their hearts pounding in a syncopated rhythm as their breathing gradually calmed. Finally Emma rolled away so that she could face him. He freed his arm from under her and brushed a lock of hair off of her face.
"Amanda might not appreciate what we did to her breakfast," he said with a contented smile. Emma chuckled, catching his hand in hers to kiss his palm.
"On the contrary, darling, it's what she intended," she said. "And she said we have five hours -- closer to four now. Shall we go celebrate Christmas with our guests?"
He ran his fingers into her hair, then pulled her close to kiss her. She indulged him for a moment, her lips parting under his as he stroked her jaw. Then she pulled away, smiling affectionately as she climbed off of the bed and stood up.
When she'd closed the bathroom door Steed sat up and reached to the foot of the bed, pulling the tray toward him. Now he saw that there was a note tucked under the strawberry bowl.
My dear Emma and John, I know you can find many
ways to put these to good use. Merry Christmas! -- Amanda.
Emma stepped lightly down the back stairs into the kitchen. The big room was filled with cheery light and the smell of coffee and roasting goose. It pleased her to know that her friends and family had made themselves comfortable in her home, and that Nancy had overseen the start of Christmas dinner as planned.
"Good morning!" Dottie West rose from the kitchen table where she was sitting with Caro. She crossed to the counter where mugs had been set out near the coffee pot.
"Good morning ladies," Emma said, movement outside catching her eye. She peered through the window. Caro followed her look.
"They're playing American football," she explained.
"Cream, right? And sugar?" Dottie asked, holding up the coffee pot.
"Yes, two please," Emma replied, crossing the room to get a better look outside. The Stetsons -- all four of them -- were split up in teams with Sally, Sara, Ted, and -- to Emma's astonishment -- Tara. Nancy stood on the sidelines with the younger Hill children.
"Phillip brought the football," Dotty explained as she handed Emma a steaming mug. "Caro and I have just been discussing the business that you all are in -- well, not you so much, I understand," she went on. Emma's gaze snapped to the older woman.
"Has Amanda --?" she paused, afraid of committing the same error as Tara had yesterday.
"Told me that she's a government agent? Yes." Dottie returned to her seat at the table and Emma looked toward Caro. Her sister-in-law smiled and nodded a little. Emma pulled out a chair and sat down.
"And you aren't upset?" Emma asked.
"I was upset about their secret marriage," Dottie said, "this explains that, and a lot of other things. There have been times in the last few years I thought my daughter had gone off her rocker. Now it turns out she was chasing criminals all along."
"I know for a fact that keeping it a secret has troubled her for a long while," Emma said. "But she felt she had to, for your safety, and the boys."
"So she said. And I think I understand that. But still, it's not as if I can't keep a secret."
The sound of a car horn at the front of the house made all three women look in that direction. Frowning, Emma rose and headed down the hall toward the sound.
Steed met her in the entry, tying his tie as he came down the stairs. Emma opened the big front door, then reached out and pulled Steed over to look outside.
Two frail forms were emerging from a big black car, helped by a liveried driver.
"CAROLINE!" Steed bellowed, looking back along the hall toward the kitchen.
"She said they had forgotten the wedding," Emma said, watching the two women as they looked up at the house.
"Apparently they didn't -- except for the date. Caro!" Steed called again, and Harry appeared on the landing above them.
"What is it?" he asked. At the same time footsteps in the hall signaled Caro's arrival in the entry.
"Aunt Helen and Aunt Jessica have just arrived," Steed said, gesturing out the open door, which Emma had just passed through.
"What?" Caro came to stand beside him and look out. "We didn't arrange the car -- and certainly not for today," she said, glancing up at Harry who was coming down the stairs shaking his head.
"So help me, if they delay us getting on our flight --," Steed buttoned his waistcoat and stepped out the door to greet his aunts.
"Yesterday, we know," Helen was saying to Emma as he approached. "Good morning John! Congratulations!"
"Aunts," Steed said, kissing each one on an offered cheek.
"We were just explaining to Emma that we knew you would be too busy for us yesterday, so we came for a visit today," Jessica said proudly.
"I see," Steed said, remarkably calmly, Emma thought. "Come inside. You must be tired after your long ride. What time did you leave home?" He gestured toward the house, escorting the ladies inside. He directed them into the formal sitting room where they seated themselves on the stiff sofa. Caro joined them after exchanging a quick word with Harry, who disappeared toward the kitchen.
"We left at three," Helen said.
"We thought we should arrive before brunch. There is a wedding brunch, isn't there?"
The blissful sense of contentment Steed had been reveling in was beginning to evaporate until he saw Emma's expression. She was barely containing her mirth as she settled into an armchair as if she had all the time in the world for his aunts. I'm the luckiest man on earth. Most women would be looking for a gun right now, or a lawyer.
"It's just family and friends this morning, Aunts," he explained. "Emma and I are leaving soon."
"Leaving?" Jessica asked with a frown.
"On our honeymoon, Aunt Jessica," Emma explained.
"Oh, yes, of course. We didn't consider that, Helen."
"Will you have some tea, Aunts?" Caro asked. "Harry's just getting it for us all."
"I'd like tea," Jessica said, "But Helen is off of it. Have you any mulled wine?"
"Aunt Helen?" Steed turned to her, concern in his voice, "have you been drinking mulled wine?"
"Only in the morning, nephew," Helen assured him. He exchanged a helpless glance with Caro, who shrugged.
"You must be very tired, Aunts," Steed said hopefully.
"Not at all!" Helen replied. "We want to hear all about the wedding. Do you have pictures?"
"Aunt Helen, the wedding was just yesterday," Emma said, "We won't get the pictures for several weeks. Perhaps we could come visit you and bring them for you to see."
"Well yes, I suppose that will have to do," Jessica said, clearly disappointed. "Oh! Helen, what has become of our gifts?" she looked around the room urgently, then at her sister.
"I believe they're still in the car, Jessica," Helen said. "John, go out and ask driver for the gifts."
Cocking one eyebrow, Steed glanced at Emma as he left the room. She was still smiling serenely, remarkably tolerant of his eccentric relatives.
"Where are the children, Caroline?" Helen asked.
"Outside playing. Harry will call them in to say hello when he's finished with the tea."
"We have presents for all of them, of course," Jessica said. From Caroline's expression Emma could see that this was by no means good news. She felt a wave of apprehension about the nature of the gifts.
Harry's arrival with the tea coincided with Steed's return laden with a stack of boxes in both arms and carrier bags hanging from his hands. Emma jumped up to relieve him of some of his burden. The Hill children soon trooped in, followed by the Kings and the other houseguests all looking flushed from their game.
Tea and gifts were distributed, Steed standing over Emma in her chair as she opened one of the boxes. It contained a large, ornate silver tureen. She set it the box on the floor and rose to kiss each aunt. As she returned to her seat she noticed Steed's amused expression and thinking him ungrateful gave him a quizzical look. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "It's a Steed family heirloom. Technically, it's already mine."
The aunts presided over their great nieces and nephews opening gifts that were somewhat hit-or-miss. Emma noticed that all of the children thanked the aunts graciously, then slipped away one-by-one, their parents making no move to stop them. Sara gestured at Jamie and Phillip King to come with her as she left and they followed her. The King adults and other guests also drifted away under Emma's approving nods, and soon the smells of Christmas dinner were drifting in from the hall.
The Hills, Steed, and Emma had recounted most of the wedding when Sally reappeared in the doorway.
"Dinner is ready, the table is laid," she said. "Steed, Emma, you should be going in about two hours."
"Then let's eat. Aunts?" Steed rose, reaching for Emma's hand.
"Oh no, don't let us intrude!" Jessica declared, pushing herself to her feet too.
"You won't join us for dinner?" Emma asked, finally allowing herself to be astonished by Steed's aunts' behavior.
"No, no dear. You go take care of your guests. We'll just go on home. It's been a lovely visit."
Steed squeezed Emma's hand and she closed her mouth around her renewed protest. Caro and Harry were rising to help the aunts toward the door and Steed leaned close to Emma's ear.
"It's no use arguing, Mrs. Peel," he murmured.
"But they said they came for brunch!"
"They got what they really came for, darling." They followed the Hills and the aunts into the entry hall.
"How do you manage it, Steed?" Emma asked.
"I did tell you it was difficult," he reminded her. "Let's say good-bye and get to our guests and our dinner."
"Here we are, British Airways," Lee said, half turning in the driver's seat to look back at Steed and Emma. "I don't suppose you'd care to tell us now where you're going?"
Steed smiled and shook his head. "When you get back to the house, look for the large atlas in the library. You will find our complete itinerary inside. Please share it with Caro and Harry."
"But I'm still not to know?" Emma asked, "Even now?"
"Soon, darling," Steed replied, opening the door to get out of the car. Lee and Amanda helped them line up their bags -- one large one and one small one for each of them -- on the curb. A porter hurried to assist them and Emma turned to their friends to exchange farewell hugs. Steed shook Lee's hand and kissed Amanda on the cheek.
"Have a wonderful time," Amanda waved out the window as Lee guided the car back into the airport terminal traffic.
"Steed, I refuse to go any further without knowing our direction of travel," Emma said, her hand on the cart on which the porter had loaded their luggage. The porter shot a puzzled look at each of them, but waited patiently. Without a word, Steed's teasing grey eyes holding hers, he took a travel portfolio out of his inner coat pocket and handed it to Emma. She cocked an eyebrow at him as she opened it and scanned the top ticket. She couldn't find words to express her surprise, so she simply handed the tickets back and nodded to the porter. She slipped her arm through Steed's and walked with him into the terminal, the porter following with their luggage. They headed for the first class check-in line, where there were two others ahead of them.
"You remembered," she said as last, still astonished at his thoughtfulness and memory. Steed smiled and shrugged.
"You gave me a very short list of the things you'd never done," he said. "We did the other one, so that left this."
"And how do you know I haven't been to Australia since then?" she asked, sliding her hands around his neck in an excessive public display. He grinned mischievously at her.
"I had immigration check your passport," he said. Her brows shot up and she laughed. He chuckled too. "Sometimes it's helpful to be a spy," he added, leaning in to press a quick, almost shy kiss on her lips.
fin