SHIELD Agent Eleanor Flint

Chapter 25

The first thing I heard the next morning was a keyboard clicking. The next thing I heard was the traffic from the street below. Though it wasn't the street I was used to. It was a Malibu street. After living in the city long enough, you pick up on the differences. I turned in the bed and reached to the other side, hoping to find Henry there. But the spot was empty. Keyboard clicking, right. 

I peeked one eye open and gazed at the empty place in the hotel bed. I opened both eyes and pointed my head down to look at the work desk. There he was, already dressed in a black t-shirt and cargo pants. I slowly sat up and slouched to pull the sheets around me. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and stood up with the sheets still wrapped around my shoulders. I approached Henry as he sat at the desk on his laptop and curled my arms around his shoulders to place light kisses on his neck. 

"Morning," he greeted. 

"Hmm," I hummed onto his neck. Henry's eyes did not leave the computer screen as I continued to kiss his neck. I kissed his ear before I rested my chin on his shoulder and gazed at his computer screen. My eyes scanned over a few important words as I took in the big picture. 

Jonathan Bell. Property Seller and Investor. Building and House Flips. 

My lip twitched and I furrowed my brow. "Is that his cover up?" 

"It would seem so," Henry replied. "He owns a building not far from here. It's completely abandoned... Or so everyone says..." 

"Ooh, spooky," I intoned. I glanced back at the disheveled bed and clothes that were scattered about the hotel room. I hummed a laugh. "Sleep well?" 

"A bit," he answered. "You were up quite a bit, thought I'd let you sleep in." 

I sighed and turned my head back to rest on his shoulder. "My brain decided to play a recap of my past trauma." 

"I know," Henry monotoned. "It woke me up a few times." 

I frowned and kissed his shoulder. "I'm sorry." 

Henry turned in the swivel chair and pulled me into his lap. The sheets almost fell from my shoulders and I pulled them back around me. Henry pulled back the sheets to hold my waist and gazed down at my body. I recoiled from his gaze, feeling my cheeks flush, and he pulled me closer to him. Henry smiled lightly before he pushed my hair back to reach my neck and began to plant soft kisses on my skin. I hummed a smile and weaved my fingers through his hair. I glanced at the clock that had almost been knocked from the night stand and looked down at the file papers. 

"Henry," I mumbled. 

"What?" He looked up from my neck. 

"We're kind of on a clock, so when do you want to head out?" I asked. 

Henry pressed his lips in a thin line as he thought. His thumbs rubbed up and down my waist and he looked back at me. "We can leave after you take a shower and eat something." 

"Good deal," I replied.  

~~~

I eyed the cup of coffee that Henry held in his hand. The grogginess of the morning had yet to leave me and I was itching for something to wake me up. The shower this morning didn't do much other than waste more of our time. I put the blame on Henry but kept my mouth shut. Henry took another sip from his coffee and glanced down at me. I averted my gaze and he smirked. 

"You can try it, just ask," he offered. 

"I'm not inclined to burn my throat," I replied, turning my head back to the street.