Coulson had a giddy smile on his face, and motioned for May to enter the room first. As she walked by him, she gave him her best dead pan look and Coulson couldn't help but stifle a laugh. May was standing in the middle of the room when Coulson returned from sending off Ian and Chloe, their bell boy and clerk.
"You couldn't find anything more cheesy?" May remarked on his conversation with the hotel employees. She had her arms crossed and her back was facing him.
"How long ago was your last vacation Mel?" Phil came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs digging deep into her always tensed blades.
Melinda loosened up a little and let her head roll back, her eyes closed.
"Too long," she breathed and Phil smiled as he undid her knots.
He gave her a shoulder massage for two minutes before May regained her senses and walked away from Coulson.
"You unpack and I'l order some room service. Anything specific you want?"
"Surprise me," Phil answered as he shrugged off his coat.
They dined on the best meal the motel had, along with a complimentary mini bottle of champagne for the honeymooners. Phil lit the table candles and Melinda scoffed and shook her head, but went along with it none the less.
"So, exactly what do you remember of your magical vacation in Tahiti?" Melinda asked after dinner.
"Well, after seeing two Lokis, one piercing my heart, I woke up on a beach chair in Tahiti. There was this masseuse, and a waitress serving me drinks. What's strange is that I don't remember doing any vacation-y stuff, like sight seeing or what not," Phil held a long pause before continuing, "Should've realized it then," He took a long sip of his chardonnay.
"What's your ideal vacation, Mel? You know, not one which you're forced into whether you're dead or stranded."
"Ever since Bahrain, I haven't let myself go easy. You've seen that. But before that, Andrew and I used to make plans; take a break, run away together..." May dazed off, reminiscing.
"Where would you go?"
"Maui. Walk around bare feet in the sand, have mai tais in the sunset. Then we'd end the night with a romantic swim, or a dip in the hot tub."
"You don't miss those days? When you didn't have to be so- I don't know, guarded?"
"And be what? Vulnerable? Come on, Phil" Melinda stood off her chair and walked around. "You know me better than that. I can't have outside forces clouding- I can't have emotions clouding my judgement; getting in the way of my abilities. I don't want to jeopardize myself" she sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him, "and get people I care about locked in the crossfire."
Coulson leaned forward on his chair, "I'm sorry, Mel. I shouldn't have."
May smiled to the floor and shook her head, "You know it's not you." She sighed and pushed off the bed.
"I'm going to take a shower, clear my head. You can sleep on the bed."
Phil watched Melinda walk into the bathroom without closing the door behind her. He slowly drank his flute as he heard the shower turn on. Maybe it was the steam mixed with the fermented grapes spreading through his system, but it was enough to make him bold. He chugged the flute and slammed it back on the table hard enough to send a crack through it. Phil pushed off his chair and began to unbutton his shirt as he walked to the open bathroom.
Melinda stood under the sprinkler, letting the warm water race down her body, each drop dragging away her tensions. She raked a hand through her scalp, thoroughly wetting her mop of hair. The warm water was enough to pleasure her, but the familiar hands that rapped around her waist drew a moan from her lips. She didn't push him away, let him draw her body into his, raising the temperature in the room. Coulson kissed the end of her shoulder, and worked his way closer to her neck.
"I know this isn't exactly Maui, or running away-"
May turned around before he continued, "But you're here, and it's far away enough for me." She dug her fingers into his close cut hair and pulled him down, kissing him hard.
"I know I have your loyalty," Phil said in between kisses.
"And you have my trust. Now shut up and kiss me," May ordered and Coulson laughed into the kiss.
Best vacation ever.
