gently as Cam moved away. “Youre partly right, you knowabout my
being guarded. I used to think there was no real need for protection
and I resented them for trying, especial y when it meant having them in
my life twenty-four hours a day. I stil hate iteverything about itbut
mostly I hate that one of them could be hurt trying to protect me. But
theyre very good and theyve saved my life and I trust them with it,
now. Al of them. She took a deep breath. “And I know that I need
them.
Diane shivered. “I saw Paula jump in front of you and I saw her get shot.
Thank God, it was just a mil isecond, but I saw her body jerk, and Il
never forget the shock on her face. She looked down at her hands which
were clasped tightly in her lap. “Al the way back here, I kept
wondering if Valeries already dead. If someone
“Shes not, and you cant think that way. Blair took Dianes face
between her hands. “You never give up. Okay? Its not al owed. We will
win.
“God, Diane laughed unsteadily. “Youre turning into one of
them.
“Bite your tongue. Blair released Diane and opened the door. “Come
on, lets go inside.
Tanner stood waiting with Cam next to the vehicle. As Blair and Diane
slid out,
she wrapped her arms around both of them. “Hey, you two
okay?
“Just shaky, Diane
said.
“Weve got a fire going and a nice bot le of wine waiting for you,
Tanner said.
“I dont even want to think about why you need your security people,
Blair whispered against Tanners ear, “but I owe you for the rest of my
life for them. She closed her eyes, trying to banish the sight of Cam
lying on the floor. “Thank you so much.
“Dont even go there, Tanner said grimly. “Im just sorry I wasnt there
myself.
“You did exactly what we needed. Blair eased away from Tanner. “Is
Emory inside already?
“Yes, she volunteered to check out Stark and Tanners security guard.
Cam wrapped her arm around Blairs waist as they walked to the house.
“Stark took a hard hit and I ordered her to stand down. Im sorry, but
I need to contact Wozinski to find out whats going on back there.
“I understand. Just promise me youll try to get some sleep tonight,
too. Blair held the door open and waited until everyone
else disappeared inside before asking, “Do you need
something for your ribs?
“No, its tolerable. Ill wrap this up just as soon as I can.
Cam cupped the back of Blairs neck and kissed her gently. “I love
you.
Blair kissed her back, far less gently. “I love you
too.
“If thats a come on, I might be too tired to deliver tonight,
Cam said.
“It is, but I think Im too tired to accept delivery. Blair gave her
a gentle push. “Go do what you have to do. Theres always a
shower to look forward to in a few hours.
* * * * *
“Wheres Diane? Blair asked when she looked in on Adrienne
and
Felicia in the living
room.
“She wanted to be alone, Adrienne said. “Do you think shes
all right?
“She will be, Blair said. “Its the first time shes ever been shot
at.
“If she needs a little escape from all of this, she can stay
with Tanner and me, Adrienne said. “The atmosphere around
here might be a little intense for her the next few days.
“Tanner never mentioned you had such a knack for
understatement.
“Speaking of my spouse, Adrienne said, rising, “I should find
her and get her home before she decides to stand guard herself.
She glanced at Blair. “Shes more than wil ing, if you need her
Blair shook her head. “No. And youve both done enough.
Were fine.
“Weve got plenty of people to secure this location, Felicia
added, setting her coffee aside and standing as wel . “Im going to
check in with the commander.
“And I want to see Emory, Blair
said.
the bedroom the agents used when they were off-shift. As
she knocked on the partially open door, it swung open
before she could catch it, affording her a glimpse of Emory
Constantine leaning over a semi-nude young woman stretched out
on the bed. Steph Fletcher, one of Tanners security guards.
“Sorry. Blair started to close the
door.
“Thats al right, Emory cal ed. “Were
done.
Blair stepped inside as Emory drew a sheet up to the shoulders of the
wiry, short haired redhead. “Im going to leave my cel number right
here on the bedside table. Emory crossed to a smal desk and
scribbled something on a piece of paper that she then placed next to the
redheads holstered weapon. “Six hours of bed rest, minimum. If your
chest pain gets worse, you develop a cough, or you feel lightheaded, cal
me immediately. Otherwise, Il see you first thing in the morning.
“Look, thanks. Steph was already pushing herself up, clearly intent on
returning to duty. “I real y appreciate everything, but
“You know, Steph, Blair said conversational y. “I bet Tanner would
put you right on the inactive list if she thought you werent a hundred
percent. Not that anyone would tel her
Steph groaned and flopped back down. “Okay. Okay, I got it. Roger on
the six hours bed rest.
“Thank you. Emory fol owed Blair into the hal . “Is there someone who
can give me a ride to a hotel?
“We have plenty of room right here, Blair said as they returned to the
living room. “You can stay here until Cam is sure that its safe for you to
go home.
"I don! know precisely what went on in that hallway, but I heard smre of the
conversation rumng the agents on the way here. That nnnthat mm might have
been trying to kil11re. I certainly cant endanger you or
“No one is going to let you leave, Emory, and no one wants you to. Blair
found a half-empty bot le of wine, refil ed her glass, and poured
another for Emory. “Id be very grateful if youd look at Cam later. Shes
been through a lot this past week and She realized her hand was
trembling and put the glass down abruptly.
“Of course Il look at her, Emory
said.
“Thank you. Is there anyone you need to cal ? The White House wil
take care of devising some story for the press, but if theres someone
whos going to be worried about where you are tonight
“No, there isnt. Emory reached for her wine. “Since my divorce
last year, Ive been living in the family home with my mother.
She travels a lot, as do I, so it works out very well for both of us.
Right now shes in Milan.
Blair curled up on the sofa and regarded Emory
thoughtful y. “Well then, consider yourself our guest.
“All right. Of course. Emory gestured to her evening dress.
“Do you have clothes I can borrow? One of the security guards
gave me his jacket in the car, but I gave that back
to him when
we got here.
“Between Diane and me, Im sure we can outfit you.
“In that case, I grateful y accept. I can e-mail my chief
technician with instructions for the lab in the morning. This
will give me a chance to check on Steph again, too.
“Is she badly
hurt?
Emory shook her head. “I dont think so, but blunt trauma to
the chest can be tricky. Id feel better if I could x-ray her and
get a
cardiogram, but thats out of the
question.
“If you think its necessary, Tanner is very good at making
arrangements for that sort of thing without a lot of fuss.
“You mean no records?
“Pretty much.
“Somehow I get the feeling none of this is new to
you.
Blair sighed, kicked off her shoes, and propped her feet on a
leather hassock. Sometime in the last year shed gotten used
to living with danger. Not just the vague and barely
countenanced possibility of harassment or kidnapping that shed
grown up with, but the life and death reality of bombs and
bul ets. Her lover had almost died, her friends had been shot,
and she had been exposed to a potential y lethal bioweapon.
“No, its not new. She smiled wearily at Emory. “And I dont
think its going to go awayever.
* * * * *
“What the hell went wrong? Matheson barked into the cell
phone as he paced in his motel room. The need to change
locations frequently and the inability to easily access his funds
were wearing on him.
“He wasnt a professional, sir, and the targets were very
well covered, the colonel said. “We knew using a civilian
might be a problem.
Matheson sighed. “It was still a good plan to use someone
who would be seen as targeting Constantine, but relying on
amateurs is
too risky. Were going to have to handle this
ourselves. “It wont be easy without inside help, sir.
“According to my friend in the Company, theyre most likely
back on the island, and its not impregnable. If Lawrence doesnt
surface soon, well have to force her out.
“Sir?
“Well start eliminating her contacts. Matheson relaxed his grip
on the phone. “One by one.
Chapter Nineteen
I f were going to shower together, Blair whispered in Cams ear, “we
have to get up now.
“Did you wake up with an urge? Cam
murmured.
“Mmm. A big one. Blair teased the rim of Cams ear with the tip of her
tongue and pressed her pelvis against the crest of Cams hip. “I went to
bed with one, and it just kept growing. She reached around Cams
body and caressed her breasts and abdomen. “Of course, if youre real y
tired, I could probably manage on my own for a while.
Cam rol ed over onto her back and pul ed Blair on top of her. “Who
needs a shower.
Grinning, Blair sat up and straddled Cams waist. Keeping her weight of
Cams bruised hip, she grasped the hem of her T-shirt and stripped it of
over her head. She let it fal onto the floor beside the bed and skimmed
her hands slowly over her chest and down her abdomen, watching Cam
fol ow the movement of her
hands on her own body. “How do you feel this
morning?
“Surprisingly
okay.
Blair trailed her fingers along the inside of her thighs, her fingertips
brushing Cams abdomen as wel as her own legs. When Cams muscles
tightened, she felt an answering tension between her legs. “Shoulder stif
?
Cam raised both arms and cupped Blairs breasts. “Not
at al .
Blair closed her eyes as her nipples hardened and her breasts swel ed
against Cams palms. “Stil , lets be sure you dont overdo it. She rocked
her pelvis in a slow steady glide on Cams stomach, pressing a lit le harder
with each stroke as the delicious pressure built. She covered one of Cams
hands on her breast with her own, and with her other opened herself so
she could rub more of her rapidly swel ing sex over Cams bel y. Soon
the steady pump and glide of her hips gave way to short, erratic thrusts
and she moaned softly. “Oh God, you feel so good.
“Blair, Cam whispered. “Open your eyes,
baby.
Smiling crookedly, Blair blinked and struggled to focus. “Sorry. Im so
close, I
almost She took a shuddering breath. “I need to back of a
minute.
When she started to lift herself away, Cam shook her
head.
“No, dont move. Cam kept one hand closed around Blairs breast, the
nipple vised between two fingers, and slid the other between Blairs legs,
palm up. Her fingers slipped down the hot, wet val ey until her
fingertips dipped just inside. “Now make yourself come in my hand.
Blair caught her lip between her teeth and bent forward to wrap both
hands around Cams arm, just above her wrist. “Tel meif I hurt you.
“You wont. I want to feel everything. Cam started a steady tug and
squeeze on
Blairs nipple. “Fil my hand. Come on,
baby.
With a groan, Blair pushed hard against Cams hand, circling herself
over the smooth firm muscles at the base of the palm. Soon she was
balanced on a razors edge. Panting, she frantical y sought Cams gaze.
“Im going to come.
“Dont hold back, Cam urged hoarsely. “I need al of you.
Everything.
“Push inside me, Blair gasped, her back arching. She jerked Cams arm
hard between her legs, trying to force Cams fingers into her.
Cam buried her hand, her palm riding hard over Blairs clitoris again
and again.
“Oh God, Cam, Blair cried, “there. Oh right there. The muscles in her
stomach and thighs shook violently as she tightened inside, over and
over. When she couldnt hold herself upright any longer, she tried to
brace herself on one arm, but managed only to col apse on her side
next to Cam, Cams hand stil inside her.
“Al right, baby? Cam kissed Blairs closed eyelids, then her mouth.
“Blair?
“Mmm, oh God, wonderful.
“Ready for that shower?
Blair snuggled a little closer and smoothed her hand down
Cams stomach, smiling against Cams throat as she felt her
twitch at the touch. “In a minute, she murmured, caressing
lightly. “Or maybe two, if you can behave that long.
“Ill do my best, Cam
groaned. “That should do
nicely.
* * * * *
Renée Savard stifled a groan and eased to the far side of the
bed, trying desperately not to shake the mattress. Her knee was
so stiff and swol en, she feared she might have to crawl to the
other side of the room where shed left her cane propped against
a chair two days earlier. Only two days ago, when shed actual y
been walking fairly comfortably unaided. Of course, that
was before shed thrown herself down on top of Diane Bleeker
and then sprinted fifty feet down a hal way and hurled herself
into the back seat of a limousine.
“Can you walk? Paula whispered.
“Im just taking it slow, Renée replied. “Go back to sleep, sweetie.
Paula pushed the covers aside and started to sit up. “Ill get
your
cane.
“Dont, Paula, Renée said more sharply than she had
intended. Knowing she must sound angry, she turned onto
her side and stroked her lovers arm. “Hey, Im sorry. But you
should stay in bed for a little while longer.
“Where are you going? Paula caught Renées hand and intertwined
their fingers.
“Its already 0600. The commander will be briefing
soon. “And I need to brief the security team, Paula
countered.
“The commander didnt take a bul et in the chest last night.
You know you should take it easy today.
“I was wearing a vest. The commander took a bullet in the
chest for real and that didnt keep her down for long.
“Youre every bit as strong and dedicated as the commander.
Renée pushed a pillow behind her back, drew Paula against
her side, and kissed the top of her head. “The
commander is amazingId fol ow her anywhere, do anything she
asked. But youre my lover, and I know what you did last night.
I know what might have happened if hed been using different
ammo or you took that shot in the neck. Those few minutes in
the limo last night when I wasnt sure how badly you were hurt
that was the worst kind of hel . God, sweetie, I was scared.
“Hey, hey. I know. Paula rubbed her cheek against the side
of Renées breast. “I know what it was like thinking you were in
one of the towers when they came down. I know, baby.
“So, Renée said shakily, “you get that I need you to take care
of yourself for a little while.
“Im sore, Paula admitted. “Every time I breathe it feels
like someones poking a sharp stick into my chest and out
through my shoulder blades. But Im not going to do anything
except sit at a table and talk. I wont take a shift.
“And after the briefing youll lie down again for three or
four hours?
“Two. Two hours and I wont mention to the commander that
youre having trouble even standing.
Laughing, Renée tilted Paulas face up and kissed her. “I
never realized you were so devious.
“I cant take you being hurt, either, Paula whispered, closing
her
eyes and pil owing her face between Renées breasts. “Maybe
you could just stay here for a few more minutes.