RP Log with mattdevlin | International Booty Call
[Follows their onling chats HERE and HERE]
Virginia Stewart stood outside in London night and wondered if Matt was as much a lover of overtime as she and Euan could be. She hadn't thought much about finding out when he finished. Just that she wanted to be there when he was. He'd have no choice but to meet her if she caught him off guard. Right now it wasn't unlike being on a stakeout. She was sure more than a few of the British police had shot her strange looks when they realised she was watching the place, but she had her NYPD badge on her. She could also lie on the spot pretty damn well. It was them ringing her precinct that had her concerned once her boss realised how her impromptu leave was being spent.
She continued to drink from her coffee, the second one she'd had since she'd left the hotel. Jet lag really wasn't agreeing with her, but the idea of meeting Matt Devlin was. She'd had a few messages from U to see how it was going. Although one was more abusing her for leaving him in the lurch, and she infuriated him by just sending back a picture of her cleavage. She couldn't help messing with her partner. She loved him, but it was just so much fun getting him riled up. She pitied the girls on the receiving end, and hoped there was at least one that was tough enough to take him on.
Eventually a familiar looking figure stepped from the government building and Virginia pushed off from the lamp post she'd been leaning on to make her way over to the man in the trench coat. She looked him over, now even more sure that she'd made the right move. She pulled out her badge and flashed it. "Excuse me, wonder if you could help me. I'm looking for Matt Devlin. Tall, Irish and in need of a good tumble. Have you seen him?"
Overtime. It was practically Matt's middle name, so of course he had stayed back. They had signed off a case earlier, so he had paperwork to finish up. It wasn't like he had much to go home to, was it? Ronnie's daughter wouldn't even entrust him wtih goldfish sitting anymore, and Matt didn't blame her. It wasn't like he killed it, it just... got homesick, and died or something. It definitely looked dead. He didn't think goldfish had a hobby of floating belly-up in the bowl and he doubted it was sunbathing. He never had much luck with plants, either. It wasn't hit fault he was challenged in the nurturing department. He had been wrapping his scarf around his neck and buttoning up his coat as he made his way out of the station and into the cold London night. He was planning on a dinner of fish and chips at his local takeaway joint, and probably an early night.
He didn't actually twig immediately when the woman approached him. His reflexive guards flew up around him and he was on immediate alert. That's the mind of a detective for you. His eyes dropped to her badge before she even finished her comment, and he drew in the stamped NYPD on the shiny steel and his eyebrows shot up. He looked back her, his eyes now a little more wide than they had been a moment ago and he cleared his throat. He would be lying if he didn't admit that he never expected her to actually come, despite all the flirting they had done online. To the point Ronnie had taken to teasingly calling her his 'girlfriend' whenever Matt decided to take a few moments on his break to surf Google. "Oh..." he began, stupidly and lacking a certain... anything, really. At least he didn't just grunt at her, which really was only a small step down from what he first offered. "Hey, there. This is... um..." He laughed, glancing around almost as if he expected someone to jump out at him with a camera and tell him he was on some reality TV show. He stuck his hand out for her to shake. "Hey. That's me. Matt. Obviously. Matt Devlin."
Vee watched him in amusement, her mouth permanently curved in a smile as she tucked her shield away. The smile increased when she took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "Hey, there yourself, Detective. It's nice to finally meet you, Matt. I'm Virigina Stewart. Just like I said. But please, call me Vee, okay? Wouldn't want to take your nuts off just yet. I have yet to find out if I even like them."
It was only at this moment that it clicked to Matt that he might not actually spend the night with the remote and fish and chips for dinner. He opened his mouth a little and then drew his lip between his teeth to chew on it briefly before laughing again. This was surreal. He probably should be lecturing about meeting people online, not actually letting it eventuate in his own life. "Vee," he corrected, his breath hitting the cold London air with the word in a swirls of condensation. "It's nice to meet you... in the flesh. Finally. You really didn't have to do this. I didn't actually think you were serious," he found himself admitting as he peered at her. A couple of colleagues passed as they exited the station for the night and he threw them a small wave. This was going to lead to questions in the morning, no doubt. Only, right now, he was wondering if the morning might have him pulling the first sickie of his adult working life.
The tanned blonde broke into a grin. Despite living in New York, her skin had a healthy tone. She could thank her parents for that. When she let herself, she could look like the stereotypical Californian girl, but Vee wasn't one of those. She wasn't even Californian. Just there always seemed to be something about her that made people assume that fact, even before she opened her mouth and the accent slipped out. She was definitely loving Matt's accent, though. It went with the nice package she was imagining under his coat. "Actually, I kind of did really have to do this. The idea of meeting you was driving me crazy. I think it was driving Euan crazy too, but he'd never admit to it. Apparently I have a Look now. A new one that means I'm thinking about you. Go figure."
Matt's forehead creased as he tried to understand how he could be the source of someone having a new look. He didn't think he had ever been someones Look source before. He was aware, though, that she had flown a long way from New York to London and there was no way he could just have a brief chat on the sidewalk and say cheerio. That wasn't why she was here, and he did know why she was here. He knew very much why she was here, and it involved pancakes. His stomach growled just at the thought, but he was glad the passing London knock-off traffic meant she wouldn't be able to hear it. He was also glad for his long, thick coat because despite himself, he was getting aroused. It had been a long time since he slept with someone and she was gorgeous, no doubt. He just didn't know if he was technically the one night stand sort. Ronnie said anyone could be a one night stand sort if they didn't have a stick up their arse about morals. Matt knew that was intended to be an insult, but Ronnie was right. Would it really hurt? "Are you hungry?" he asked her and gestured up the street with his gloves that he had yet had a chance to put on. "There's a nice restaurant just up the street. Unless you, uh... had other plans..." He didn't know how to do this and he was going to come off sounding like a dork. What if she just wanted to go directly to a hotel? Hotels had food, right? He didn't think fish and chips were the proper etiquette for this sort of situation.
Virginia grinned, her blue eyes shining. They'd darkened the moment she'd seen him and as they stood here, she was just getting more and more aroused. It wasn't just because she had come here with the intention of an international booty call. She could have had sex back home. There was just something about Matt, and she hadn't been able to put her finger on it just yet. Maybe it was just enough that he was him. And he wasn't trying to impress her with the size of his cock, car, or bank account. He wasn't trying to talk his way into her panties with endless compliments and pathetic lines. She tilted her head and ran her tongue over her lips. "I'm fucking starved. As much as I would love those pancakes now, I think I might have to work up to them. I'll eat anything that's decent food. None of that tiny portion bullshit. How about those English fish and chips I keep hearing about?"
Matt was looking at her warily, wondering if she was a mind-reader on top of everything else. Seriously, if Ronnie was here, he would be giving Matt a right slap in the back of the head now to smack some sense into him. Hell, he would probably pay for the hotel himself, not a very expensive one, mind. He did have a mortgage. He finally pulled his gloves on so his fingers wouldn't drop off from the cold. He figured he might actually need them later. Shit, was he actually anticipating sex? He tried to bite down the guilt at that. What if she didn't want it, and really had just come to meet him? Not that there was anything wrong with that. He could do the chat thing. He'd gone on enough failed dates to manage that. They all liked the talking, but nothing ever seemed to gel. He nodded, smiling. "Yeah, fish and chips are pretty much something you can get anywhere. That was going to be the extent of my night anyway. Are you sure? We can get something more than that. I'm sorry for the hesitance. I just... yeah, I said that. Didn't expect you to actually come."
"You always so apologetic? No wonder you can't get laid. Not that I'm one to judge. I'm probably more forward than I should be. Well, since we can get them anywhere, how about we just grab some and you can show me some of your city before I drag you back to my temporary lair. I promise not to bite your head off. It's also dependent on how we go in the flesh. So far I very much like what I'm seeing, Matt Devlin." Vee gave him another smile and reached out to slide her arm under his so they were linked. She was in London. Isn't this where gentleman had come from? She could be a lady when she wanted. "I'm here, so just build a bridge and get over it, okay? I know it's probably a huge shock and maybe I should have called, but I didn't want to go through the hassle of being on the phone and having to tell you that yes, it really was me, and no, I wasn't trying to defraud you." Her smile turned cheeky. "You can feel me up if you like. Check to see if my breasts are real. Although I'd rather we did it somewhere warmer. My nipples are like fucking icicles in this place. Even with the layers."
Matt just watched her as she spoke and then couldn't help it when he started laughing. He tucked his elbow in to make sure her hand was secure when she hand nestled it and then shook his head in amusement. She was forward. More forward than he was used to, and maybe that was the problem. The women he seemed to encounter in a romantic sense were either intimidated by the fact he was a cop, or wanted to play out any number of fantasies involving handcuffs, guns and uniforms because of it. It usually killed the mood when he told them he didn't actually wear a uniform. That was the whole point of being a detective... to detect things. Then it would seem dating his own kind was the answer, only dating colleagues was awkward. He had tried it, and it ended in weeks of odd encounters at the coffee machine or polite chat in the elevators until they went back on their own merry ways. Virginia was his kind, and not a colleague. He pretended the little smug 'I told you so' ringing in his head didn't sound anything like Ronnie. "I'm finding it very hard to believe you have trouble landing dates yourself," he told her as they walked down the street towards a takeaway shop he knew was really good and very popular. It really was cold tonight, so hopefully it wouldn't snow. London snow wasn't as romantic as it probably seemed when you were stuck in it. "Or why you would need to jump on a flight to another country for a... booty call."
Vee laughed. "Why do I get the feeling you very rarely say either of those words together? And especially don't ever say 'booty'. I really couldn't tell you. I've been asking myself the same thing, but if there really was a Look, then it's all I need. The idea of you and pancakes was far more appetising than any offers I've had recently. Even U, and that's saying something. I guess maybe I just wanted an Irishman that wouldn't spend hours bitching me out over a case after a tumble. My own Irishman." Vee gave a slight shrug as she looked down at the sidewalk, her features softening briefly in the face of actually having to try and deconstruct the feelings behind jumping on the flight. "The actual getting here wasn't very well planned. I just woke up the other day and decided it was time. Could be I'm just sick of American men. Always did prefer the ones from your side of the ocean."
"Not in the context of myself, anyway," Matt said with a wry snort. "Booty isn't really a Brit word. We like shag, mostly. Or bonk. And didn't you say your partner was Irish? And also... willing?" he couldn't help adding. He wasn't trying to cut down her intentions. In fact, he wasn't sure he really minded what her intentions were. If it was just sex and she got on the next plan home, at least they could say they finally met each other, right? He could go another few more months without more sex and all would be well. He was just curious, more than anything. "Or does the partner thing get complicated? Can't say I can have an opinion on that. My partner is a middle aged married guy with daughters and a grandpa car. The only thing complicated between us is when I don't put enough sugar in his morning coffee."
Vee laughed again, realising she and Matt really weren't going to have any trouble with talking and fucking. She couldn't say she understood how his dates had seemed to end so badly if he had been like this with the women. "A grandpa car? Well, that's hardly good for a covert shag, is it? And yes, I did. Euan is very much of Irish descent. It gets complicated. Maybe neither of us will admit to it, but it does. I think it's also comfortable. We know each other inside and out so when we want to fuck, it's just... it's nice. It's not full of pressure, and we get what we want. Doesn't mean I'm looking to date him, or to start anything more than that."
Matt nodded in response. "Makes sense. Still, won't that make it strange if one of you do hook up and you've still got to be partners? This is probably the interval one would make a joke about threesomes or some shit, but to be honest, you would probably be hard-pushed finding someone understanding enough to bonk two detectives, nevermind one. You've got the ones who have the morbid curiosity about corpses, the ones who get grossed out by them, the ones who like cops as a sexual fantasy, the ones who like to play with handcuffs, the clingy ones who don't understand a detective really doesn't work a nine-to-five job, or the ones who used to be married to a cop and now want to just tell you how horrible dating a cop is." He shot her a small, sheepish look. "This is why I generally bowed out of the dating scene."
Vee smiled wryly. "Well, I think we've kind of drifted apart in the bedroom department anyway. I can't actually remember the last time we took a tumble. Being just partners and friends seems to be working for us so far. Partners nearly always snipe at each other at some stage in their careers regardless." Her hand shifted slightly like she was maybe trying to feel for muscles under the sleeve of his coat to see if there were muscles. "Fuck, I'm over the ones with all those fetishes. Even I don't give a shit about handcuffs anymore. They're nice, but only when you're in the mood. I'm not interested in a threesome, by the way. Just in case you wound up thinking I was over here to recruit you for me and Euan. Not sure he'd be into it, either. Once I'm with a guy, I'm with him. He just has to understand I got a partner. Just like you have a partner."
"I've never really been one into handcuffs in the bedroom," Matt admitted to her with a small shrug. "Maybe I've just never had the right avenue to explore it. Don't get me wrong. Now I realise I'm making myself sound like some sort of by-the-book guy in bed, never step out of the right boundaries. I'm not, I promise. I'm a little like that with my job, but I'm also known to be cutthroat in solving a case. Believe it or not, I do know how to have fun when I need to. I am Irish, after all. Just need to bevvy me up a wee bit," he laughed. "Ronnie wants me to find a nice girl and settle down with. He thinks I need a life, said he, himself, is beyond one of those. Only, we get caught up in case after case, I don't seem to remember to stop and find one."
Virginia waved a hand at the street around them. "You've got one now. Or enough of one for me to crash it by turning up out of the blue. Are you sure you don't mind? I mean, if you need me to fuck off, I will. Just say. I know I'm pushy, but you can just tell me to fuck off. I'm sure I'll huff, and puff, but I won't blow your house down. Ronnie's your partner? And by bevvy it up I'm assuming you mean get you drunk. Well, I do have a hotel room with a mini bar. We might be able to fix that."
Matt shook his head. "No, I don't mind. We just signed off a case, it's for the courts to decide now. It was one of those ones that just sometimes fucks with your mind until you finally see the answer somewhere that the answer shouldn't be. Only detectives would really understand that. Satisfying to finally slap the cuffs on the fucker. That, there, wets my knickers more than being cuffed to a bed during sex," he said with a smirk. "And aye, that's what I mean. Drunk, on the booze. I can't say I would be opposed to a couple of shots after the busy day I've had. With London fish and chips, though, it usually soaks up the alcohol before it hits your bloodstream."
Vee smirked in turn. "So does that mean we should get doubly pissed? Might need more than a mini bar for that. And yes, I understand. It is always far more satisfying slapping the cuffs on the fuckers than anything else. Usually why I need a good tumble, too. Unless it's been one of those particularly messy cases and I just want to go face down on my bed and sleep for a week. So now I know at least one turn on. That'll be helpful to file away."
Matt pressed his lips together and hummed in thought. "Admittedly, I thought it might have been a face down on my bed and sleep for a week kind of day when I was leaving work. Now I think I've tapped into a reserve adrenaline supply somewhere along the way," he joked as they reached the fish and chip shop. It was already getting a line up, the knock off crowd often having the same idea as Matt would at the end of a busy week. His stomach was growling now that he had let himself get hungry for dinner and the chips smelled amazing. He took their place in the line and turned to her with a smile. "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer. Just put it down to me being too used to falling into interrogation mode. But... what do you see getting from this? The trip to London, meeting me...?"
Vee tilted her head back to meet Matt's gaze. "Extra adrenaline is always a plus. Not as if we can knowingly go out and score something to help us out when we'd just have to turn around and bust them. As for what I hope to get out of this... I don't know. I was counting on pancakes, but there's no stove top in my hotel room. We could just mix up the batter, I guess." She smiled a little before she held up her free hand. "Okay, okay, in all serious? I really didn't know. I guess I just wanted to meet you for myself and find out what was here beyond the internet flirting. I realise saying anything about relocating to London is beyond premature. We've only just met. I suppose if this was ever more than a booty call I wouldn't be opposed to moving. In the future. In the far, far future."
"Your partner would miss you," Matt pointed out, tilting his head slightly as he listened to her. "And locating here, you'd have to work your way up the detective ranks again. Sure you would want to do that? All premature, I give you that, but I guess the distance thing has been what has rang bells with me. A booty call is one thing, but depends how complicated we let things get in the morning. I've never done anything like this before. I might be cutthroat in my job, but personally, I'm basically as boring as all hell. That's why I keep questioning it, and I apologise. I just don't want you to have wasted your leave or money on a flight."
Vee nudge him with her shoulder. "I haven't wasted my money, trust me. Or my leave. Even just this has been worth it, and that's saying something. I'm not denying sex with you would be fucking great, but if you're not into it... you're not into it." She pressed her lips together briefly as she watched him. Euan would miss her, and working back up the ranks would probably suck big time. Vee didn't know what to do. She didn't know if distance would work. She didn't even know what the next morning would be like. Maybe it was just a bit of fun to be had and that would be it. She reached up to grab the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss, her own interrogation methods coming into play. It was all well and good talking about it, but at some stage they did need to see if the physical part was strong.
The kiss took Matt by surprise. Technically, it wasn't that he wasn't expecting it because they were talking about having sex together. They both seemed willing enough, even if Matt was exhibiting some hesitation. It was just his careful nature to do so, but how burned could he get from sex with someone willing and clearly interested in exploring something with him, even if it was just temporary. One night, even. When she didn't comment on what he had said about the job and the distance thing, he figured it wasn't something she was ready to think about. Fair enough. It was hardly like they were anything but strangers yet. He had just been curious to niggle away in her mind a little deeper. That right there was probably why he wasn't so successful on the romantic front. He probably asked too many questions, and definitely didn't wear his heart on his sleeve. He nearly lost his balance in the embrace, but his weight fell back onto his foot when he took a small step back to stop him falling over. It was only a few beats of surprise before he kissed her, his hand going to the back of her head as he deepened it a little on returning the gesture. It usually was a kiss that told whether something was going to proceed to more, and it had been a long time since he had kissed someone that felt this good.
Virginia's arm slipped around Matt's waist as she let herself get caught up in the moment. She didn't even remember that they were in line in a fish and chip shop even if she could still smell it. Although this close she could smell Matt, and that was definitely doing more for her senses. He tastes like coffee, and something richer, something that just had to be him. She could feel the control of the kiss start to slip to him, and Vee worked on claiming it back as her tongue slid over his before pushing against it. She could definitely stand to kiss him more. At least she knew this part wasn't broken, and it even served to make her hungrier for sex with him. No matter how much he tried to claim he was pretty boring, Vee could tell the kiss was saying otherwise. He clearly had a lot of energy he needed to expel, and Vee was more than happy to help him with that. Someone cleared the throat pointedly, and Vee was ripped back ino the present, blinking rapidly as she pulled back from the kiss and turned her head to find an Englishman glaring at her. She looked to her other side and saw that the queue had moved quite a bit without them realising. There was only two people in front of them now. Vee stuck close to Matt as they started to move forward so they weren't holding things up. She looked up at him and started to laugh before pressing her face into the crook of his neck, only slightly embarrassed.
Matt actually felt somewhat cheated when they were forced to break the kiss and he was a little unsteady on his feet for a moment when he turned to glare at the wannabe aristocrat done up in a Burberry coat with his nose stuck in the air and what looked to be a brushed and gelled moustache. Matt's slightly reckless side really wanted to kick in and push the guy up against the wall to rough him up a bit, but clearing one's throat in a chip shop wasn't actually against the law and the guy was a perpetrator. It would have felt good to trip him, though, and Matt was seriously considering the action when the two people in front of them moved on and it was their turn. He placed his standard order, with salt and vinegar, agreeing to lemon when asked if he wanted it and then let Vee order what she wanted. It was her first time stomaching English takeaway. The works with enough grease to sink a ship might not be to her taste, but Matt was starving now in the wake of the kiss. He knew it was hunger for his dinner, but another hunger was overshadowing it now. He took his wallet out and placed a £50 note on the counter to pay for their dinner. Now he just had to hope he had the patience to wait for the food to cook.
Vee just ordered what Matt had asked for, not in the mood to stand around and um and ah over what she wanted. Not when she just wanted to kiss him again, and not when she knew there was more than just kissing to come. She pulled him out of the way of the queue when he'd got his change and pulled him far enough away from the moustache man to start kissing him again. Surely they had time for a longer kiss than the one they'd just shared. She even unbuttoned his coat so she could really get in nice and close to him, her arms sliding around his waist as she moaned softly when their lips met. Talking seemed to be off their particular menu for the moment, but Vee wasn't complaining. Not one bit.
Matt was aware that anything more than this and he would likely have to arrest them both for indecent exposure. At least they were sort of a little more concealed now they were out of the line and just in the waiting area. Plus, the shop really was busy, it was easy to blend in. He kissed her back... again, letting himself lose his composure for a few moments. But he had to pull back and out of the embrace a little before he lost control. Plus, a lot of his colleagues were patrons of the shop. It would raise questions - and eyebrows - if he was seen in a clinch like this with some unknown woman. Matt wasn't sure he was ready for those sorts of interrogations yet. His hands were resting on her arms as he shot her an apologetic look. "Sorry, it's maybe just a little too exposed for comfort," he admitted, glancing past her briefly to see if anyone he knew had spotted them. Like Ronnie, who had actually been the one to introduce Matt to this shop one week when he was on the outers with his wife and she kicked him out of the house.
Vee gave a shake of her head as she licked her lips, but she didn't pull away completely, her arms still around his waist. "It's okay, Matt. Don't worry about it. I'll resist any jokes about you being British and uptight. I really don't think you're as uptight as you'd like to think. I can definitely feel something below the surface," she smirked. She moved her hand down under his coat to give his ass a squeeze, her face remaining pleasant and innocent on the surface. "We still didn't actually work out if it was my place, or yours, did we?"
"Actually, I'm not British, I'm Irish," Matt had to point out with a cheeky smirk. "And aye, I can definitely vouch for something being under the surface now. Are you sure you want to brave my place? It's small, and... probably extremely blokey. Not saying it's a shit hole, but it's nothing special. But you'd have the freedom to bugger off if the night doesn't go how you planned," he reasoned, watching her for her reaction.
"Alright, so maybe it's just the potato up your ass that needs removing," Vee replied with a grin. She shrugged off his comment at the place being too blokey. "C'mon, I'm an NYPD detective. What exactly do you think I'm like? I'm no fucking princess. I don't care what your place looks like. I'm pretty sure I'll like it. And if I do have to 'bugger off' then I promise I won't be weird and awkward and not chat to you online."
Matt laughed and was going to answer, but their number was called with their order. He collected the two dinner bundles wrapped in paper so they could finally escape the chip shop. His apartment was actually within walking distance, a few blocks from the precinct. He had a car, but rarely used it to get to work. Public transport was easier in London and he tended to walk to and from work, whatever the time of day was. He held the door of the shop open for her and they made their way back out onto the sidewalk. "Up for a small walk?" he asked her, doing his coat up with one hand again. "The weird, awkward thing? You might need to let me indulge in that for awhile, but don't worry, I'd get over it. I don't hold grudges unless someone hurts someone special to me, and it's generally more than grudges I hold."
Vee slipped her hand back into the crook of his elbow to walk closely with him again. She had to let him take the lead as they walked, having no idea where they were going. In a way it was nice not to know the area inside out. She could actually discover a few things, get to know the man and the place. She caught a whiff of their dinner and her stomach let out a growl. Jet lag made her hungry, she couldn't help it. "I'll indulge you in whatever you want, Detective. I'm nothing if not accommodating when I need to be."
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Virginia Stewart stood outside in London night and wondered if Matt was as much a lover of overtime as she and Euan could be. She hadn't thought much about finding out when he finished. Just that she wanted to be there when he was. He'd have no choice but to meet her if she caught him off guard. Right now it wasn't unlike being on a stakeout. She was sure more than a few of the British police had shot her strange looks when they realised she was watching the place, but she had her NYPD badge on her. She could also lie on the spot pretty damn well. It was them ringing her precinct that had her concerned once her boss realised how her impromptu leave was being spent.
She continued to drink from her coffee, the second one she'd had since she'd left the hotel. Jet lag really wasn't agreeing with her, but the idea of meeting Matt Devlin was. She'd had a few messages from U to see how it was going. Although one was more abusing her for leaving him in the lurch, and she infuriated him by just sending back a picture of her cleavage. She couldn't help messing with her partner. She loved him, but it was just so much fun getting him riled up. She pitied the girls on the receiving end, and hoped there was at least one that was tough enough to take him on.
Eventually a familiar looking figure stepped from the government building and Virginia pushed off from the lamp post she'd been leaning on to make her way over to the man in the trench coat. She looked him over, now even more sure that she'd made the right move. She pulled out her badge and flashed it. "Excuse me, wonder if you could help me. I'm looking for Matt Devlin. Tall, Irish and in need of a good tumble. Have you seen him?"
Overtime. It was practically Matt's middle name, so of course he had stayed back. They had signed off a case earlier, so he had paperwork to finish up. It wasn't like he had much to go home to, was it? Ronnie's daughter wouldn't even entrust him wtih goldfish sitting anymore, and Matt didn't blame her. It wasn't like he killed it, it just... got homesick, and died or something. It definitely looked dead. He didn't think goldfish had a hobby of floating belly-up in the bowl and he doubted it was sunbathing. He never had much luck with plants, either. It wasn't hit fault he was challenged in the nurturing department. He had been wrapping his scarf around his neck and buttoning up his coat as he made his way out of the station and into the cold London night. He was planning on a dinner of fish and chips at his local takeaway joint, and probably an early night.
He didn't actually twig immediately when the woman approached him. His reflexive guards flew up around him and he was on immediate alert. That's the mind of a detective for you. His eyes dropped to her badge before she even finished her comment, and he drew in the stamped NYPD on the shiny steel and his eyebrows shot up. He looked back her, his eyes now a little more wide than they had been a moment ago and he cleared his throat. He would be lying if he didn't admit that he never expected her to actually come, despite all the flirting they had done online. To the point Ronnie had taken to teasingly calling her his 'girlfriend' whenever Matt decided to take a few moments on his break to surf Google. "Oh..." he began, stupidly and lacking a certain... anything, really. At least he didn't just grunt at her, which really was only a small step down from what he first offered. "Hey, there. This is... um..." He laughed, glancing around almost as if he expected someone to jump out at him with a camera and tell him he was on some reality TV show. He stuck his hand out for her to shake. "Hey. That's me. Matt. Obviously. Matt Devlin."
Vee watched him in amusement, her mouth permanently curved in a smile as she tucked her shield away. The smile increased when she took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "Hey, there yourself, Detective. It's nice to finally meet you, Matt. I'm Virigina Stewart. Just like I said. But please, call me Vee, okay? Wouldn't want to take your nuts off just yet. I have yet to find out if I even like them."
It was only at this moment that it clicked to Matt that he might not actually spend the night with the remote and fish and chips for dinner. He opened his mouth a little and then drew his lip between his teeth to chew on it briefly before laughing again. This was surreal. He probably should be lecturing about meeting people online, not actually letting it eventuate in his own life. "Vee," he corrected, his breath hitting the cold London air with the word in a swirls of condensation. "It's nice to meet you... in the flesh. Finally. You really didn't have to do this. I didn't actually think you were serious," he found himself admitting as he peered at her. A couple of colleagues passed as they exited the station for the night and he threw them a small wave. This was going to lead to questions in the morning, no doubt. Only, right now, he was wondering if the morning might have him pulling the first sickie of his adult working life.
The tanned blonde broke into a grin. Despite living in New York, her skin had a healthy tone. She could thank her parents for that. When she let herself, she could look like the stereotypical Californian girl, but Vee wasn't one of those. She wasn't even Californian. Just there always seemed to be something about her that made people assume that fact, even before she opened her mouth and the accent slipped out. She was definitely loving Matt's accent, though. It went with the nice package she was imagining under his coat. "Actually, I kind of did really have to do this. The idea of meeting you was driving me crazy. I think it was driving Euan crazy too, but he'd never admit to it. Apparently I have a Look now. A new one that means I'm thinking about you. Go figure."
Matt's forehead creased as he tried to understand how he could be the source of someone having a new look. He didn't think he had ever been someones Look source before. He was aware, though, that she had flown a long way from New York to London and there was no way he could just have a brief chat on the sidewalk and say cheerio. That wasn't why she was here, and he did know why she was here. He knew very much why she was here, and it involved pancakes. His stomach growled just at the thought, but he was glad the passing London knock-off traffic meant she wouldn't be able to hear it. He was also glad for his long, thick coat because despite himself, he was getting aroused. It had been a long time since he slept with someone and she was gorgeous, no doubt. He just didn't know if he was technically the one night stand sort. Ronnie said anyone could be a one night stand sort if they didn't have a stick up their arse about morals. Matt knew that was intended to be an insult, but Ronnie was right. Would it really hurt? "Are you hungry?" he asked her and gestured up the street with his gloves that he had yet had a chance to put on. "There's a nice restaurant just up the street. Unless you, uh... had other plans..." He didn't know how to do this and he was going to come off sounding like a dork. What if she just wanted to go directly to a hotel? Hotels had food, right? He didn't think fish and chips were the proper etiquette for this sort of situation.
Virginia grinned, her blue eyes shining. They'd darkened the moment she'd seen him and as they stood here, she was just getting more and more aroused. It wasn't just because she had come here with the intention of an international booty call. She could have had sex back home. There was just something about Matt, and she hadn't been able to put her finger on it just yet. Maybe it was just enough that he was him. And he wasn't trying to impress her with the size of his cock, car, or bank account. He wasn't trying to talk his way into her panties with endless compliments and pathetic lines. She tilted her head and ran her tongue over her lips. "I'm fucking starved. As much as I would love those pancakes now, I think I might have to work up to them. I'll eat anything that's decent food. None of that tiny portion bullshit. How about those English fish and chips I keep hearing about?"
Matt was looking at her warily, wondering if she was a mind-reader on top of everything else. Seriously, if Ronnie was here, he would be giving Matt a right slap in the back of the head now to smack some sense into him. Hell, he would probably pay for the hotel himself, not a very expensive one, mind. He did have a mortgage. He finally pulled his gloves on so his fingers wouldn't drop off from the cold. He figured he might actually need them later. Shit, was he actually anticipating sex? He tried to bite down the guilt at that. What if she didn't want it, and really had just come to meet him? Not that there was anything wrong with that. He could do the chat thing. He'd gone on enough failed dates to manage that. They all liked the talking, but nothing ever seemed to gel. He nodded, smiling. "Yeah, fish and chips are pretty much something you can get anywhere. That was going to be the extent of my night anyway. Are you sure? We can get something more than that. I'm sorry for the hesitance. I just... yeah, I said that. Didn't expect you to actually come."
"You always so apologetic? No wonder you can't get laid. Not that I'm one to judge. I'm probably more forward than I should be. Well, since we can get them anywhere, how about we just grab some and you can show me some of your city before I drag you back to my temporary lair. I promise not to bite your head off. It's also dependent on how we go in the flesh. So far I very much like what I'm seeing, Matt Devlin." Vee gave him another smile and reached out to slide her arm under his so they were linked. She was in London. Isn't this where gentleman had come from? She could be a lady when she wanted. "I'm here, so just build a bridge and get over it, okay? I know it's probably a huge shock and maybe I should have called, but I didn't want to go through the hassle of being on the phone and having to tell you that yes, it really was me, and no, I wasn't trying to defraud you." Her smile turned cheeky. "You can feel me up if you like. Check to see if my breasts are real. Although I'd rather we did it somewhere warmer. My nipples are like fucking icicles in this place. Even with the layers."
Matt just watched her as she spoke and then couldn't help it when he started laughing. He tucked his elbow in to make sure her hand was secure when she hand nestled it and then shook his head in amusement. She was forward. More forward than he was used to, and maybe that was the problem. The women he seemed to encounter in a romantic sense were either intimidated by the fact he was a cop, or wanted to play out any number of fantasies involving handcuffs, guns and uniforms because of it. It usually killed the mood when he told them he didn't actually wear a uniform. That was the whole point of being a detective... to detect things. Then it would seem dating his own kind was the answer, only dating colleagues was awkward. He had tried it, and it ended in weeks of odd encounters at the coffee machine or polite chat in the elevators until they went back on their own merry ways. Virginia was his kind, and not a colleague. He pretended the little smug 'I told you so' ringing in his head didn't sound anything like Ronnie. "I'm finding it very hard to believe you have trouble landing dates yourself," he told her as they walked down the street towards a takeaway shop he knew was really good and very popular. It really was cold tonight, so hopefully it wouldn't snow. London snow wasn't as romantic as it probably seemed when you were stuck in it. "Or why you would need to jump on a flight to another country for a... booty call."
Vee laughed. "Why do I get the feeling you very rarely say either of those words together? And especially don't ever say 'booty'. I really couldn't tell you. I've been asking myself the same thing, but if there really was a Look, then it's all I need. The idea of you and pancakes was far more appetising than any offers I've had recently. Even U, and that's saying something. I guess maybe I just wanted an Irishman that wouldn't spend hours bitching me out over a case after a tumble. My own Irishman." Vee gave a slight shrug as she looked down at the sidewalk, her features softening briefly in the face of actually having to try and deconstruct the feelings behind jumping on the flight. "The actual getting here wasn't very well planned. I just woke up the other day and decided it was time. Could be I'm just sick of American men. Always did prefer the ones from your side of the ocean."
"Not in the context of myself, anyway," Matt said with a wry snort. "Booty isn't really a Brit word. We like shag, mostly. Or bonk. And didn't you say your partner was Irish? And also... willing?" he couldn't help adding. He wasn't trying to cut down her intentions. In fact, he wasn't sure he really minded what her intentions were. If it was just sex and she got on the next plan home, at least they could say they finally met each other, right? He could go another few more months without more sex and all would be well. He was just curious, more than anything. "Or does the partner thing get complicated? Can't say I can have an opinion on that. My partner is a middle aged married guy with daughters and a grandpa car. The only thing complicated between us is when I don't put enough sugar in his morning coffee."
Vee laughed again, realising she and Matt really weren't going to have any trouble with talking and fucking. She couldn't say she understood how his dates had seemed to end so badly if he had been like this with the women. "A grandpa car? Well, that's hardly good for a covert shag, is it? And yes, I did. Euan is very much of Irish descent. It gets complicated. Maybe neither of us will admit to it, but it does. I think it's also comfortable. We know each other inside and out so when we want to fuck, it's just... it's nice. It's not full of pressure, and we get what we want. Doesn't mean I'm looking to date him, or to start anything more than that."
Matt nodded in response. "Makes sense. Still, won't that make it strange if one of you do hook up and you've still got to be partners? This is probably the interval one would make a joke about threesomes or some shit, but to be honest, you would probably be hard-pushed finding someone understanding enough to bonk two detectives, nevermind one. You've got the ones who have the morbid curiosity about corpses, the ones who get grossed out by them, the ones who like cops as a sexual fantasy, the ones who like to play with handcuffs, the clingy ones who don't understand a detective really doesn't work a nine-to-five job, or the ones who used to be married to a cop and now want to just tell you how horrible dating a cop is." He shot her a small, sheepish look. "This is why I generally bowed out of the dating scene."
Vee smiled wryly. "Well, I think we've kind of drifted apart in the bedroom department anyway. I can't actually remember the last time we took a tumble. Being just partners and friends seems to be working for us so far. Partners nearly always snipe at each other at some stage in their careers regardless." Her hand shifted slightly like she was maybe trying to feel for muscles under the sleeve of his coat to see if there were muscles. "Fuck, I'm over the ones with all those fetishes. Even I don't give a shit about handcuffs anymore. They're nice, but only when you're in the mood. I'm not interested in a threesome, by the way. Just in case you wound up thinking I was over here to recruit you for me and Euan. Not sure he'd be into it, either. Once I'm with a guy, I'm with him. He just has to understand I got a partner. Just like you have a partner."
"I've never really been one into handcuffs in the bedroom," Matt admitted to her with a small shrug. "Maybe I've just never had the right avenue to explore it. Don't get me wrong. Now I realise I'm making myself sound like some sort of by-the-book guy in bed, never step out of the right boundaries. I'm not, I promise. I'm a little like that with my job, but I'm also known to be cutthroat in solving a case. Believe it or not, I do know how to have fun when I need to. I am Irish, after all. Just need to bevvy me up a wee bit," he laughed. "Ronnie wants me to find a nice girl and settle down with. He thinks I need a life, said he, himself, is beyond one of those. Only, we get caught up in case after case, I don't seem to remember to stop and find one."
Virginia waved a hand at the street around them. "You've got one now. Or enough of one for me to crash it by turning up out of the blue. Are you sure you don't mind? I mean, if you need me to fuck off, I will. Just say. I know I'm pushy, but you can just tell me to fuck off. I'm sure I'll huff, and puff, but I won't blow your house down. Ronnie's your partner? And by bevvy it up I'm assuming you mean get you drunk. Well, I do have a hotel room with a mini bar. We might be able to fix that."
Matt shook his head. "No, I don't mind. We just signed off a case, it's for the courts to decide now. It was one of those ones that just sometimes fucks with your mind until you finally see the answer somewhere that the answer shouldn't be. Only detectives would really understand that. Satisfying to finally slap the cuffs on the fucker. That, there, wets my knickers more than being cuffed to a bed during sex," he said with a smirk. "And aye, that's what I mean. Drunk, on the booze. I can't say I would be opposed to a couple of shots after the busy day I've had. With London fish and chips, though, it usually soaks up the alcohol before it hits your bloodstream."
Vee smirked in turn. "So does that mean we should get doubly pissed? Might need more than a mini bar for that. And yes, I understand. It is always far more satisfying slapping the cuffs on the fuckers than anything else. Usually why I need a good tumble, too. Unless it's been one of those particularly messy cases and I just want to go face down on my bed and sleep for a week. So now I know at least one turn on. That'll be helpful to file away."
Matt pressed his lips together and hummed in thought. "Admittedly, I thought it might have been a face down on my bed and sleep for a week kind of day when I was leaving work. Now I think I've tapped into a reserve adrenaline supply somewhere along the way," he joked as they reached the fish and chip shop. It was already getting a line up, the knock off crowd often having the same idea as Matt would at the end of a busy week. His stomach was growling now that he had let himself get hungry for dinner and the chips smelled amazing. He took their place in the line and turned to her with a smile. "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer. Just put it down to me being too used to falling into interrogation mode. But... what do you see getting from this? The trip to London, meeting me...?"
Vee tilted her head back to meet Matt's gaze. "Extra adrenaline is always a plus. Not as if we can knowingly go out and score something to help us out when we'd just have to turn around and bust them. As for what I hope to get out of this... I don't know. I was counting on pancakes, but there's no stove top in my hotel room. We could just mix up the batter, I guess." She smiled a little before she held up her free hand. "Okay, okay, in all serious? I really didn't know. I guess I just wanted to meet you for myself and find out what was here beyond the internet flirting. I realise saying anything about relocating to London is beyond premature. We've only just met. I suppose if this was ever more than a booty call I wouldn't be opposed to moving. In the future. In the far, far future."
"Your partner would miss you," Matt pointed out, tilting his head slightly as he listened to her. "And locating here, you'd have to work your way up the detective ranks again. Sure you would want to do that? All premature, I give you that, but I guess the distance thing has been what has rang bells with me. A booty call is one thing, but depends how complicated we let things get in the morning. I've never done anything like this before. I might be cutthroat in my job, but personally, I'm basically as boring as all hell. That's why I keep questioning it, and I apologise. I just don't want you to have wasted your leave or money on a flight."
Vee nudge him with her shoulder. "I haven't wasted my money, trust me. Or my leave. Even just this has been worth it, and that's saying something. I'm not denying sex with you would be fucking great, but if you're not into it... you're not into it." She pressed her lips together briefly as she watched him. Euan would miss her, and working back up the ranks would probably suck big time. Vee didn't know what to do. She didn't know if distance would work. She didn't even know what the next morning would be like. Maybe it was just a bit of fun to be had and that would be it. She reached up to grab the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss, her own interrogation methods coming into play. It was all well and good talking about it, but at some stage they did need to see if the physical part was strong.
The kiss took Matt by surprise. Technically, it wasn't that he wasn't expecting it because they were talking about having sex together. They both seemed willing enough, even if Matt was exhibiting some hesitation. It was just his careful nature to do so, but how burned could he get from sex with someone willing and clearly interested in exploring something with him, even if it was just temporary. One night, even. When she didn't comment on what he had said about the job and the distance thing, he figured it wasn't something she was ready to think about. Fair enough. It was hardly like they were anything but strangers yet. He had just been curious to niggle away in her mind a little deeper. That right there was probably why he wasn't so successful on the romantic front. He probably asked too many questions, and definitely didn't wear his heart on his sleeve. He nearly lost his balance in the embrace, but his weight fell back onto his foot when he took a small step back to stop him falling over. It was only a few beats of surprise before he kissed her, his hand going to the back of her head as he deepened it a little on returning the gesture. It usually was a kiss that told whether something was going to proceed to more, and it had been a long time since he had kissed someone that felt this good.
Virginia's arm slipped around Matt's waist as she let herself get caught up in the moment. She didn't even remember that they were in line in a fish and chip shop even if she could still smell it. Although this close she could smell Matt, and that was definitely doing more for her senses. He tastes like coffee, and something richer, something that just had to be him. She could feel the control of the kiss start to slip to him, and Vee worked on claiming it back as her tongue slid over his before pushing against it. She could definitely stand to kiss him more. At least she knew this part wasn't broken, and it even served to make her hungrier for sex with him. No matter how much he tried to claim he was pretty boring, Vee could tell the kiss was saying otherwise. He clearly had a lot of energy he needed to expel, and Vee was more than happy to help him with that. Someone cleared the throat pointedly, and Vee was ripped back ino the present, blinking rapidly as she pulled back from the kiss and turned her head to find an Englishman glaring at her. She looked to her other side and saw that the queue had moved quite a bit without them realising. There was only two people in front of them now. Vee stuck close to Matt as they started to move forward so they weren't holding things up. She looked up at him and started to laugh before pressing her face into the crook of his neck, only slightly embarrassed.
Matt actually felt somewhat cheated when they were forced to break the kiss and he was a little unsteady on his feet for a moment when he turned to glare at the wannabe aristocrat done up in a Burberry coat with his nose stuck in the air and what looked to be a brushed and gelled moustache. Matt's slightly reckless side really wanted to kick in and push the guy up against the wall to rough him up a bit, but clearing one's throat in a chip shop wasn't actually against the law and the guy was a perpetrator. It would have felt good to trip him, though, and Matt was seriously considering the action when the two people in front of them moved on and it was their turn. He placed his standard order, with salt and vinegar, agreeing to lemon when asked if he wanted it and then let Vee order what she wanted. It was her first time stomaching English takeaway. The works with enough grease to sink a ship might not be to her taste, but Matt was starving now in the wake of the kiss. He knew it was hunger for his dinner, but another hunger was overshadowing it now. He took his wallet out and placed a £50 note on the counter to pay for their dinner. Now he just had to hope he had the patience to wait for the food to cook.
Vee just ordered what Matt had asked for, not in the mood to stand around and um and ah over what she wanted. Not when she just wanted to kiss him again, and not when she knew there was more than just kissing to come. She pulled him out of the way of the queue when he'd got his change and pulled him far enough away from the moustache man to start kissing him again. Surely they had time for a longer kiss than the one they'd just shared. She even unbuttoned his coat so she could really get in nice and close to him, her arms sliding around his waist as she moaned softly when their lips met. Talking seemed to be off their particular menu for the moment, but Vee wasn't complaining. Not one bit.
Matt was aware that anything more than this and he would likely have to arrest them both for indecent exposure. At least they were sort of a little more concealed now they were out of the line and just in the waiting area. Plus, the shop really was busy, it was easy to blend in. He kissed her back... again, letting himself lose his composure for a few moments. But he had to pull back and out of the embrace a little before he lost control. Plus, a lot of his colleagues were patrons of the shop. It would raise questions - and eyebrows - if he was seen in a clinch like this with some unknown woman. Matt wasn't sure he was ready for those sorts of interrogations yet. His hands were resting on her arms as he shot her an apologetic look. "Sorry, it's maybe just a little too exposed for comfort," he admitted, glancing past her briefly to see if anyone he knew had spotted them. Like Ronnie, who had actually been the one to introduce Matt to this shop one week when he was on the outers with his wife and she kicked him out of the house.
Vee gave a shake of her head as she licked her lips, but she didn't pull away completely, her arms still around his waist. "It's okay, Matt. Don't worry about it. I'll resist any jokes about you being British and uptight. I really don't think you're as uptight as you'd like to think. I can definitely feel something below the surface," she smirked. She moved her hand down under his coat to give his ass a squeeze, her face remaining pleasant and innocent on the surface. "We still didn't actually work out if it was my place, or yours, did we?"
"Actually, I'm not British, I'm Irish," Matt had to point out with a cheeky smirk. "And aye, I can definitely vouch for something being under the surface now. Are you sure you want to brave my place? It's small, and... probably extremely blokey. Not saying it's a shit hole, but it's nothing special. But you'd have the freedom to bugger off if the night doesn't go how you planned," he reasoned, watching her for her reaction.
"Alright, so maybe it's just the potato up your ass that needs removing," Vee replied with a grin. She shrugged off his comment at the place being too blokey. "C'mon, I'm an NYPD detective. What exactly do you think I'm like? I'm no fucking princess. I don't care what your place looks like. I'm pretty sure I'll like it. And if I do have to 'bugger off' then I promise I won't be weird and awkward and not chat to you online."
Matt laughed and was going to answer, but their number was called with their order. He collected the two dinner bundles wrapped in paper so they could finally escape the chip shop. His apartment was actually within walking distance, a few blocks from the precinct. He had a car, but rarely used it to get to work. Public transport was easier in London and he tended to walk to and from work, whatever the time of day was. He held the door of the shop open for her and they made their way back out onto the sidewalk. "Up for a small walk?" he asked her, doing his coat up with one hand again. "The weird, awkward thing? You might need to let me indulge in that for awhile, but don't worry, I'd get over it. I don't hold grudges unless someone hurts someone special to me, and it's generally more than grudges I hold."
Vee slipped her hand back into the crook of his elbow to walk closely with him again. She had to let him take the lead as they walked, having no idea where they were going. In a way it was nice not to know the area inside out. She could actually discover a few things, get to know the man and the place. She caught a whiff of their dinner and her stomach let out a growl. Jet lag made her hungry, she couldn't help it. "I'll indulge you in whatever you want, Detective. I'm nothing if not accommodating when I need to be."
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