Honor Under Siege - Radclyffe

“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.

“Anything, Renée murmured. “Anything for

you.

* * * * *

Just before seven, Blair walked with Cam as far as the

guesthouse. A light rain fell beneath a gray sky and in the

distance the ocean was rough with angry chop.

“Winters coming, Blair said, and for some reason, that made

her feel melancholy.

Cam took her hand. “Lets get married at the Lodge in

Colorado. We can call Doris today and make arrangements.

“What? Blair gaped, then her eyes brightened with

pleasure. “What brought that on?

Cam brushed her thumb along the crest of Blairs cheek.

“We havent stopped moving for the last two months. I want a few

days with you when all that matters is being with you.

“You do? Blair glanced down the path to the guesthouse where the

current office of the Deputy Director of Homeland Security

was located, knowing that Cams agents waited for her inside

and that the work her lover was doing was critical to the nations

wel -being. She also knew that the work was essential to C a m

s wel -being. The last thing she expected was for Cam to be

thinking of anything except work.

“Im sorry, Cam murmured as if reading her mind. “Im sorry that I

havent made

it clear to you how much I need you.

“Cameron. Blair skimmed her fingers through Cams hair. “You

made that perfectly clear not more than an hour ago.

Cam grinned briefly. “That too, but more than anything I need you

Her eyes darkened and she touched her palm to her chest. “in here.

Blair caught her breath. “Oh my God. You have to go right this minute

or Im going to have to drag you back to bed. You cant say things like

that to me when were standing out here and I cant have you.