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, so I 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 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 nightstand 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. 

"Then stop giving me the side eye." Henry tossed the cup into a trash bin as we passed. 

I pulled my phone out to check the building address, then flicked my eyes up to the large apartment building that sat a block away across the street. It sure was abandoned, at least it looked like it on the outside. I put down my phone and nodded my head toward the building.