A Study in Seduction (BBC Sherlock Holmes x Reader)

Muffins

Warnings: not proofread :/

"Oh, for the love of God."

Time? 4:30 in the afternoon. Place? 221B. The kitchen, to be precise. If it can even be called a kitchen anymore. At present, it looks more like a war zone.

"It's okay! It's not that bad. We've got another box...somewhere..." 

John Watson has been out on business for three days. Sherlock Holmes is bored. Y/N, bless her soul, has been attempting to assuage her roommate's thirst for activity ever since, and, unfortunately, suggested baking.

"It's really not okay, Y/N.  It can't be this difficult."

"It's just a mistake, that's all..." 

"It's muffins!"

True, you'd think an adult woman and a professional chemist would make quick work of boxed muffin mix. However, thinking the challenge might do the detective some good, she let him take the lead. 

Consequently, the kitchen is now covered tip-to-boot in splatters of oil, egg, and chocolate batter. As are Y/N and Sherlock themselves. They're down to the fifth (and last) box of muffin mix, and as much as Sherlock hates to admit it, Y/N's little strategy is working. He's been truly and thoroughly vexed for the past hour-and-a-half. It's almost better than a case.

In fact, it is better than a case, because she's here. And the smudge of batter on her cheekbone makes his chest warm in a way he'd rather ignore.

"One more go. Come on. Fifth time's the charm."

"That's not the expression..."

"Oh to hell with the expression," she scoffs, smacking him on the arm. Sherlock frowns.

"You do it."

"What?"

"The muffins. You do it. It's the last box and I'd rather have something to eat at the end of this ordeal." He's given up completely now, thrown up his hands and begun to pace the kitchen.

"What's the magic word?" She cocks an eyebrow, challenging him. He likes the challenge. Lives for it, even. She's the only one that does it. It's a stimulant, a game. Everyone else seems to live in fear of retribution. 

"Oh, piss off." But he can't help it...he's smirking.

Y/N sucks in a deep breath through her teeth. "Hmm...that's not the way my mother raised me." She makes as if to leave the kitchen, but he stops her two steps in.

"You do it. Please?"

She looks at him over her shoulder. She knows she's won, he can tell. And he's not used to losing, but the way she's grinning, he thinks he might start losing more often.

"All right, fine." Y/N saunters back to the counter. She snips open the package, wipes out the bowl. Then, expertly, she whips the ingredients together and fills the muffin tins halfway. "I hope you were paying attention."

"Oh, please." Sherlock rolls his eyes.

"Look at that, we've got a new favorite word! How refreshing," Y/N teases, offering him the whisk. He pouts at her, hops onto the counter, and takes a lick.

"I hate baking."

"Oh, come now. You can't tell me you didn't have a little fun trying to figure this out." Y/N slides the pan into the oven, then hops up beside him and nudges his leg with her toe.

"It was an excellent distraction," he concedes, "I commend you."

Y/N chuckles "See? I told John I didn't need his silly list."

"List?" Sherlock raises an eyebrow. "What list?"

"Oh, it's nothing." She's kicking her feet now. She's embarrassed. She always fidgets when embarrassed. "He just wrote me a list of things to do with you when you inevitably get bored."

"Did he?" Sherlock feels his face go red. He doesn't know why he's blushing. Maybe it's that his two roommates fuss over him enough to have a list in the first place. Maybe it's that he can feel the warmth of Y/N's thigh through the fabric of his slacks.

"He did," Y/N laughs nervously. "But I told him I didn't need his help, thank you very much."

"Got me all figured out, have you?" Sherlock hands her back the whisk and watches intently as she pokes out her pink tongue to have a taste.

"I think I do, yeah." She's staring at him funny now. He can't think why. In fact, she's started laughing.

"What is it?" He snaps, feeling suddenly naked. She licks her thumb, then wipes the corner of his mouth with it. The gesture is benign...innocent. He doesn't know why his pulse is fluttering at such a rate, but hopes she can't feel it as she cups his face in her hand.

She chuckles, blushing as she sucks the residual batter from her thumb.

"That's just been bothering me all afternoon."

A/N: Aaaand WE'RE OFF! God, it's been ages since I've written anything on here. It feels a little weird. How do we like it so far? Good? As always, drop requests below! I'm always up for the challenge.

Kisses! 
LuckyHolland