Authors: Kim Baldwin,Xenia Alexiou
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Suspense, #Lesbian
As soon as he walked into his den, Senator Terrence Burrows clicked on the late-night local news and waited anxiously for some reference to the explosion. It was soon one of the top stories. Although the location was remote, a news crew had managed to arrive before the fire was fully out. The video was dark, but it appeared as though the ten-story building had become roughly three floors of burned rubble. Especially satisfying was the cutaway shot of the automobile found parked at the site.
“An explosion rocked an abandoned office building thirty miles southwest of the capital this evening,” the newscaster announced. “Authorities are searching the wreckage, but they say several floors collapsed on top of each other, so it will take some time to determine whether anyone was inside at the time of the blast. A rental car found at the scene had been leased earlier in the evening at Reagan National Airport, but the name of the person who rented it is being withheld pending notification of relatives. No cause for the explosion has yet been determined.”
He lit a cigar. Tomorrow he’d treat himself to a night out and celebrate his accomplishment.
Nicely done, Terrence
. He imagined he was hearing the voice of his father and could almost believe it was so.
Yes, indeed. Nicely done.
“What about the tape? The original,” Monty Pierce asked, looking from Hayley to Domino. “Has that been destroyed?”
They’d parked in the lot of a closed convenience store, a safe distance from the scene. “No. I still have it,” Hayley replied. “But I’ll get it for you.”
“I’ll deliver it to you personally,” Luka promised, glancing in the rear-view mirror at Pierce. “We’re not going to discuss this any more. She’s been through enough. No one touches her. Is that understood?”
Pierce met her eyes in the mirror. “Yes.”
Beside him, Grant said, “You have my vote, Luka.”
“You want me to drop you in Arlington?” she asked. Pierce needed medical attention, but a trip to the hospital would raise too many questions. He could get someone to come to his house, but she wasn’t sure how he felt about being taken there since Hayley was with them.
“Yes,” he replied. “Close by.”
She nodded and started the car. They were silent during the fortyfive minutes it took to reach Arlington. She parked on a side street around the corner from Pierce’s house and got out with him and Grant, telling Hayley to stay put.
As they headed down the block toward Pierce’s home, Luka pulled out her cell phone and handed it to him. “Order them to abort both targets.”
While he was on the phone, Grant drew her aside. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Luka.”
“I do. Like I said, she’s innocent.”
“I don’t doubt that any more.” Grant regarded her steadily. “I’m talking about your feelings for her, and don’t try to deny it. I’ve known you too long. People like us live in the shadows, Luka. We stay away from romantic relationships, for good reason.”
“Joanne, I appreciate that you’ve always looked out for me,” she said. “And continue to do so. You were the only one who ever did, you know. Put me first, treated me like a human being instead of a weapon to be allocated. You were taking a big personal and professional risk when you warned me. I’m very grateful. But after all Hayley has learned about me in the past twenty-four hours, you don’t need to worry about any romantic involvement.” She wished it could be different. “After tonight, she’ll want nothing more to do with me.”
“It’s probably for the best,” Grant replied. “You know that.” She laid a hand on Luka’s shoulder. “By the way, I haven’t thanked you for saving our lives.”
“I was happy to repay some of my debt,” Luka said. “For making all those years growing up a lot more tolerable.”
Pierce finished his conversation and handed Luka the phone. “I heard some of that. I suppose I should thank you as well.” Without waiting for a response, he turned to address Grant in an uncharacteristically gentle tone of voice. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Monty, I’m fine. Stop fussing over me.”
“He’s enjoyed fussing over you for years,” Luka observed. “Why stop now?”
The two of them looked at her in surprise, then at each other. Even in the dim light of the nearby streetlight, she could see Pierce’s face redden.
“You’re the one who needs fussing over.” Grant put an arm around Pierce’s waist. “Let’s get inside and patch you up.”
“And make some calls,” Pierce said. “We need to take care of our friend the senator ASAP.”
“I want to take care of this one personally,” Luka said. “And I don’t want to waste time with discussions. As far as he’s concerned, all three of you are dead. And we’re going to let him hold on to that idea. That’s why we needed to leave your car. It’ll help convince him and give us time.”
“Does that mean you’re still with us?” Grant asked.
“I never left.”
Pierce looked at her thoughtfully. “In that case, I have an assignment for you, Domino…”
“I almost wish I could write an article about this—not that anyone would believe it. But I really don’t want to risk another experience as a human bomb. Once was more than enough.” Though Hayley’s tone was light, Luka knew the horrific nightmare she’d been through had shaken her badly.
Hayley let out a big sigh and leaned back against the headrest. “Ow,” she said, immediately bending forward again to rub her skull. “I hurt all over. Even where I didn’t know it was possible to hurt.”
“I’m taking you to my place for tonight and perhaps a couple of days. You’ll be safe there. You can’t go anywhere familiar until we’ve dealt with Burrows.” She could finally take her to her home without having to think of her as a target. Without having to be Domino or anyone else but herself. The thought elated and saddened her at the same time, because although she could be herself without guilt, she also knew that it was too late to make a difference to Hayley.
“What do you intend to do with him?”
‘I can’t talk about—”
“You know, forget I asked. I don’t want to know, and frankly I
don’t give a damn. He deserves whatever he gets. And boy, safe sounds like a wonderful place to be.” She yawned, closed her eyes, and settled back against the seat.
“I’m glad you’re all right with staying with me.” Luka glanced at her, wanting to say more, needing to know whether Hayley would ever agree to see her again once the danger was past, but her breathing was already slowing. Now wasn’t the time.
After they drove over the bridge into DC, Luka found a quiet street where she could ditch the stolen car, around the corner from a cabstand. She roused Hayley, and they taxied the rest of the way to her condo.
As they rode the elevator up without speaking, they stood at a distance from each other, Hayley leaning against the wall. She tried to suppress a yawn, and Luka finally took her eyes off the gray elevator door to study her. She looked pale and exhausted under the fluorescent lights, and for the first time that evening Luka realized how close she had come to losing Hayley. The thought made her sick to her stomach, and the feeling intensified with the realization that she’d lost her anyway.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked once they were inside. “Coffee? Something else to drink?”
“No, thanks,” Hayley said sleepily. “I just need to crash for a while.”
“Of course. Give me a minute and I’ll get things ready for you.” She hurriedly changed the sheets and dug through the drawer in her bathroom for an unused toothbrush. By the time she finished, Hayley was asleep on the couch.
She bent to wake her, but instead gently lifted her and carried her to the bed, then stood debating whether to undress her to make her more comfortable. Her clothes were filthy so it should have been an easy decision, but the uncertainty of how Hayley felt about her after the last twenty-four hours made her hesitate.
She stripped off Hayley’s red blouse, now mostly gray from the dust of the explosion, and her torn, stained jeans. Beneath were the lacy red bra and panties she’d watched Hayley put on that morning after their night of lovemaking. At the memory, she felt a twitch of desire low in her stomach.
As she stood there, lost in Hayley’s near-nudity, Hayley opened her eyes groggily.
Luka averted her gaze and quickly reached for the blanket to cover her. “Sleep now,” she said gently. “And I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll take the couch. It’s fine, it’s—”
“No, stay with me. I want you here.”
Luka tried not to read too much into the soft plea. Hayley was simply afraid, and who could blame her? “All right,” she said, against her better judgment. She wanted to lie next to Hayley more than anything, wanted to escape again from everything that was wrong, in the embrace of the woman who made it all feel right. But she knew the embrace would not be there as it had before, and that in a few days Hayley would be gone forever. Sharing a bed with her tonight would make it so much harder for her to say good-bye.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off her boots, then stripped off her shirt and stepped out of her jeans. When she turned toward Hayley, Hayley seemed a bit more awake. She was watching her and had the bed sheets turned back, waiting for her.
After Luka stretched out beside her and covered them both, Hayley moved easily into her arms as though they’d been doing it forever. She fell asleep with Hayley’s soft breath against her chest.
When Hayley woke, it took her a full minute or two to remember all that had happened and to realize she was lying in Luka’s bed, wrapped in her arms.
Luka was still asleep, and it wasn’t light out yet, so she remained where she was, sorting through all she had learned about the woman she had so completely fallen in love with, despite all obstacles.
She didn’t doubt that much, but there was a lot she didn’t know. The last time she was here, Luka had said she loved her, that she’d never felt this way before.
And she’s certainly risked her life more than once to rescue me.
She had even gone against the EOO for her. Shouldn’t that be more than enough to forgive the lies and deceptions?
The moment she learned that Luka was Domino, realizing their relationship was based on lies had shocked and horrified her—especially the fact she’d been Luka’s assignment. Knowing that Luka and the EOO had followed her, spied on her, and listened in on her phone calls made her feel vulnerable and violated.
But Burrows was the culprit here. The EOO had merely reacted to his plan to bring them down. And Luka wasn’t the cold-blooded assassin she’d been led to believe, but a woman assigned to track down—
what was the word she used?
—the sickos, drug lords, pedophiles, skin traders. Those the law couldn’t touch.
Hayley had covered enough stories to know how many times the worst of humanity escaped justice through some legal loophole, only to kill or molest again. How was Luka any different from a cop on the street, really? Weren’t their intentions the same? To make the world a better, safer place?
By the time the sun came up, she had forgiven the deceptions and accepted the lethal occupation Luka had chosen. If they were to build some kind of future together, it wouldn’t be easy to watch her leave on an EOO assignment knowing first-hand what kind of danger she’d face. No doubt they would have a lot of secrets between them still, regarding where Luka went and what she did.
Luka certainly was resourceful and able to keep herself safe. And Luka seemed ready to be honest with her now about the things that were most important, such as how they felt about each other.
But, did Luka want a future with her as much as she wanted one with Luka?
It was time to find out. Luka had stirred and Hayley tentatively touched the bruised shoulder peeping from beneath the sheet. “You’re hurt.”
A hand gently caressed Luka’s side, below the bandage covering the wound from her encounter with the barricade. She opened her eyes to find Hayley lying on her side, propped up on one elbow, watching her.
She peered down at the bandage, bloodstained again from her exertions the night before. It was her worst injury of several. As she moved to sit up, the ache in her side competed with the pain in her shoulder from where the ceiling had hit her, and she winced.
“We need to take care of that,” Hayley said. “I was a nurse, you know.”
“I remember.” Luka met her eyes, trying to gauge what Hayley was thinking. Her eyes twinkled, but her expression was unreadable.
“I imagine in your line of work you keep a pretty well-stocked supply of bandages and first-aid supplies, am I right?”
“Yes.” Hayley’s reference to her “line of work” in such a matterof-fact way was a positive development.
“Thought so. First step is to get you cleaned up.” Hayley got out of bed and went to the doorway. Her tone was all business, but she had a half smile on her face. “A long, hot bath.
Now
, Luka. Come on, let’s go. You took care of me, now it’s my turn.”
“You got pretty banged up, too.” Luka followed Hayley toward the bathroom. Indeed, Hayley had an array of small cuts and scrapes, and a couple of rather impressive bruises, but she acted as though they weren’t bothering her. They were both filthy from the explosion, their hair more gray than the color they’d been born with.
“You’re worse. So you’re first,” Hayley said. She preceded Luka into the bathroom and turned on the hot water. “I don’t suppose you’re the bubble-bath type?”
“Sorry, no.”
“I’ll put that on my shopping list, then.” She turned to the medicine cabinet and perused its contents. “Now climb in there while I see what you’ve got to fix you up.”
Luka stripped off her black bra and thong underwear, then pulled off the soiled bandage and slipped into the water. The old-fashioned, claw-foot steel tub was large enough to stretch out comfortably in. It did feel wonderful. She leaned her head back against the curved side, closed her eyes, and let the hot water work its magic.
Behind her, she heard Hayley pulling things out of the cabinet— probably gauze, tape, antibiotic ointment, and who knew what else.
The next thing she knew, Hayley was in the tub with her, facing her from the opposite side.
“Mind sharing?” Hayley crooked an eyebrow mischievously and splashed her like a kid in a wading pool.
Luka had never experienced much light-hearted fun, and she certainly didn’t expect it from Hayley this morning, so she wasn’t sure how to react. “Uh…sure,” she stuttered.
“Turn around and let me wash your hair,” Hayley commanded as she reached over the side for a bottle of shampoo.
Luka wasn’t about to argue. She spun around, and Hayley carefully pushed her below the surface to wet her hair.
Hayley snuggled up behind her, knees bent, cradling her body between her legs. Her nipples brushed Luka’s back, and then she was massaging her scalp with skilled hands, taking her time. Hayley’s lips brushed over the bruise on her shoulder, then along the side of her neck.
She fought the urge to squirm.
Christ.
Involuntarily, she tilted her head slightly to allow greater access to the sensitive skin beneath her jaw. The brush of Hayley’s lips became small bites and nips.
The sensation was driving Luka crazy. The water wasn’t the only thing making her wet. The urge to kiss Hayley became intolerable, so she tried to turn in Hayley’s direction and grimaced at a stab of pain in her side.
“Does it hurt that much?” Hayley asked.
“Wanting to kiss you hurts more.”
“That smooth talker’s back, I see. Well, that kind of pain is easy to remedy.” Hayley shifted so Luka didn’t have to twist too far, and their lips met. Luka lost herself in the slow welcome, finding the answer she needed, had been aching to hear. She knew, in that sweet exchange, what they’d built was real and lasting, and Hayley had somehow found a way to accept everything.
“Hayley, I hope you…we…” she began, when their mouths parted.
“Shh, Luka. We’ll work it all out,” Hayley said, before kissing her again on her neck, and again.
“It must be difficult for you to understand and accept what I’ve done, what I have to do, because that’s not going to change,” Luka said shakily. “Let alone that I’m horribly ill-equipped with how to deal with falling in love and sharing a life with someone—”
“Luka.” Hayley hugged her close. “I don’t claim to understand everything you do, but you’ve helped me realize its necessity. I can’t say I like it, but not because I think it’s wrong to use lethal force when there’s no other way. I just worry about your safety—even though I know how resourceful and brave you are. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She punctuated this sentiment with a kiss in the middle of Luka’s back. “As to your inexperience with love and relationships, well, as long as you want a future together as much as I do…” She let the question hang in the air, waiting for confirmation.
“You know I want that, Hayley. More than I’ve ever wanted anything. For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong to someone. Something I suppose I’ve always wanted but never believed I could have.”
“Then stop worrying. We’ll figure it all out together,” Hayley said, hugging her tighter. “Because that’s what you do, when you’re in love. And I’m so very much in love with you.”
“I love you, too, Hayley.” Though Luka was unfamiliar with this kind of intimacy, it came very naturally, and she allowed herself to fully enjoy being here right now.
They washed each other, kissing and caressing, neither feeling the chill of the water as the heat between them increased.
“Let’s patch you up and maybe continue this somewhere else?” Hayley whispered in her ear before nipping her lobe lightly.
“I say we leave the patching up for later,” Luka replied, “and skip to taking this somewhere else.”
“Patience, Luka. Patience.” Hayley showed her dimples.
They got out and Hayley expertly tended to Luka’s side and shoulder, Luka stealing kisses, and then she returned the favor, cleaning and bandaging the abrasions on Hayley’s back and sides.
When they were done, Hayley led her back to the bedroom. “Look at these sheets. Maybe we should—”
Luka picked her up, carried her to the couch, and laid her on it. “Sorry, Hayley,” she said, looking into Hayley’s eyes as she positioned herself above her and gently urged her legs apart. “You can’t walk around naked like this and expect me to spend time changing the linens when I could be making you come.”
“Jesus, Luka,” Hayley moaned, throwing her head back as Luka kissed her way down Hayley’s body, pausing to lick, nip...fevered bites on the swell of her breasts before she sucked each nipple to full erection.
Hayley’s nails raked along her back as Hayley began to writhe beneath her, and then her hands were in her scalp, pushing her lower, insistent. “Please, Luka. I need you there.”
She pushed Hayley’s knees up and spread them apart, then stroked her tongue the full length of Hayley’s sex, eliciting a long groan of pleasure that shot through her and doubled her own arousal.
Luka tried to go slowly, but their long foreplay in the tub and her desire to express her love made her unable to restrain herself. Hayley exploded almost at once, as did she. But they had all day together to share their bodies in every way imaginable, slow and fast.
A little before six that night, Pierce called with details of Burrows’s plans for later that evening.