by Radclyffe
morning she had awakened in the guesthouse in a stil room beneath a
silent dawn and realized that Valerie had disappeared while shed slept.
“Wheres Blair?
Hara did not turn, and even in the darkness, Diane knew that she was
watching Blair. The cloud cover was so dense even the light from the
ful moon barely penetrated the inky sky.
“Sit ing on top of a dune, fifteen yards down the path and ten feet of
to the right.
“It feels like thirty degrees out here, and you just let her go? Diane
snapped.
“Thirty-eight
degrees.
“Never mind, Diane mut ered, hurrying down the stairs to the path. A
minute later she knelt beside Blair. “Put your jacket on.
“Thanks, Blair said, shrugging into it. “You dont need
to stay.
With a sigh, Diane shifted around to sit facing the same direction as
Blair and leaned against her. When Blair wrapped an arm around her,
she snuggled closer and lightly rested her head on Blairs shoulder.
“Couldnt you brood inside where we can have a fire?
“Its a lot harder to do if youre comfortable. Blair pressed her cheek to
Dianes hair. “Do you have any idea how much I hate waiting here, safe
and sound and protected by armed guards, while Cam is out there
somewhere with people who want to kil her?
“I think I know, Diane
whispered.
“Oh, honey, Im sorry, Blair said. “Of course
you do.
“Renée cal ed Paula with an update, Diane pointed out gently.
“She said everything was fine and that Cam was resting.
“I know. Blair sighed. “But that was three hours ago and theyre not due
here for another four at least. Anything can happen. She reached beside
her and dug her fingers into the cold sand. “I just want to be able to
protect her the way she protects me.
“I bet you already
do.
Blair laughed harshly. “Hardly. Since everyone thinks Im so important, I
seem to be the one destined to wait, just like tonight.
“You
are
important
“Im no more important than Cam or you or Stark or any of the
others.
Diane wrapped both arms around Blairs waist and hugged her. “You,
Blair Powell , may not be more important than the rest of us, although
I happen to think youre pret y special and Im sure Cam does too, but
its not about Blair Powel .
“No, its about the first
daughter.
“Yes. And I imagine that makes it al the
harder.
“Theres a reason youre my best friend, you know, Blair said
softly.
“Besides the fact that Im smart, beautiful, and wel -connected in the art
world?
“Those are definite pluses, but you might be the only person other than
Tanner whos ever understood that having a famous father mostly just
sucks.
“Yes, I never did think living in a mansion was al that cool when it came
with a bunch of state troopers hanging out on the front porch. Diane tried
not to shiver from the cold. She sensed Blairs mood beginning to lighten
and wanted to keep her talking. “Tanner could relate, because she had
to put up with a lot of the same thing. Not the bodyguards and
everything, but having a lot expected of her because of who her father
was.
“Mmm, Blair said, pat ing the sand shed squeezed into a hard bal back
into the ground. “Tanner understands. But shes not a girl, like you are. Its
not the same.
“You mean you wouldnt snuggle with Tanner in the dark? Diane
teased.
“Snuggling is not what I had in mind with Tanner. Definitely not when
we were teenagers. Blair thought back to how wild and drop-dead sexy
Tanner had been then. “And I dont think I would, even now. After al ,
Ive had a lot more practice resisting you.
“Thanks, I think. Diane kissed Blairs cheek. “We have to go inside,
sweetie. Ive of icial y frozen my ass of .
Blair reached for Dianes hand as they rose. “Thanks for coming out to
get me and just forget ing it.
“Cams going to be okay, Diane said gently. “Shes amazingly good at
what she does, and besides, Felicia and Renée are with her.
“I know. As they started back toward the house, Blair added, “Cams
going to figure out a way to help Valerie, too.
“Thats what I keep tel ing myself. I have to believe it, because I cant
stand to think of anything else.
“Sometimes its bet er not to think. Blair stif ened. “Did you hear a car
door slam just then? She hurried up the stairs, tugging Diane behind her,
and rushed past Hara into the kitchen. The room was empty. She raced
toward the front of the house, Diane right behind her. “Paula, is someone
here? Is Camoh my God!
Blair skidded to a halt, barely stopping herself from throwing her arms
around a beaming Mac Phil ips. He was unnatural y pale, and whereas
hed always been slim and muscular, now he was simply thin. But
his gaunt face was stil handsome and his blue eyes bright and merciful
y pain-free. She hadnt seen him for several weeks, and he had stil
been in the rehab center then, recovering from the gunshot wound that
he had sustained while protecting her during the at ack on the Aerie.
“Oh my God. What are you doing here?
Mac clasped Blairs hand, half shaking it, half holding it. “I got a cal
late this
morning from the commander to pack my bags, and Id barely finished
when a
Humvee with two of Tanners people showed up, andhere
I am.
“Did you know about this? Blair asked
Paula.
“No. Paula tried to look serious and in-charge, but she couldnt help
grinning at their old team member. “Apparently it was arranged after
we left DC. She careful y clasped Macs shoulder. “How are you
doing?
“A hel of a lot bet er than I was yesterday. Im of icial y cleared for
light duty starting next week, but Ive been sit ing around al this week
doing nothing but going crazy. He reached down for his suitcase but
Wozinski grabbed it first.
“I have that,
sir.
Mac raised an eyebrow. “Jesus, Greg. Im not your
boss.
Gregs face was total y serious. “No sir. Anything you need, just let me
know, sir.
Mac looked perplexed, but Blair understood. Mac had almost died
trying to save her, and when an agent was wil ing to make the
ultimate sacrifice, other agents considered them heroes. The same
thing had happened to Cam when Cam had been shot in the line of
duty, and Cam was just as uncomfortable with the adulation as Mac
seemed to be. Blair hooked her arm through Macs and gave him a lit le
hug. “Does Felicia know youre coming?
“Im not sure, Mac said, blushing and looking even more handsome.
“She told me about her new posting with the commander. He met
Paulas gaze. “And Renées.
Paula nodded, realizing that they had more in common than ever. She and
Mac were al that remained of the
original team. Theyd been together
before the commander took over, and now they were the veterans.
And they shared something else, something almost more criticalthe
women they loved were both
part of the commanders OHS team. Renée and Felicia were
involved in something potential y more dangerous than any of them had
ever experienced. She squared her shoulders. “Shes real y happy about
it, and I think its exactly where she belongs.
“Yeah. Mac nodded. “Felicia
too.
“Come on back to the kitchen, Blair said. “Are you
hungry?
“I could Mac broke of at the sound of footsteps on the front porch, and
both he and Paula automatical y stepped between Blair and the door,
their shoulders touching, shielding her.
“Its Tanner, a voice cal ed as a knock
sounded.
Paula opened the door just enough to check outside, blocking the view
into the room. After a second, she swung the door open and Tanner
Whitley strode in with her characteristic saunter, a strikingly beautiful
blonde in a naval uniform by her side.
“Mac, Tanner said. “I trust the trip went al right? Without waiting
for an answer, she kissed Blair soundly on the mouth. “You look
terrific.
“You dont look too shabby either, Blair said, thinking that with her
windblown dark hair, piercing dark eyes, and muscular build Tanner
looked every inch the playgirl she had once been, rather than the
head of a huge corporate conglomerate and the owner of Whitley
Island. As usual, she was dressed in casual pants, an open col ar shirt,
and wel -worn black boots. Blair smiled at the blonde who held Tanners
hand. Adrienne was more than a decade older than Tanner, and Blair
had only to see Tanner with Adrienne to know that the new peace in
Tanners eyes was entirely due to Adriennes presence in her life. The
gold wedding bands they wore only af irmed what was obvious from
seeing them together.
“Hel o, Adrienne. How are you? The last time Blair had seen
Adrienne had been immediately after 9/11. Adrienne had been spending
almost al of her time at the nearby naval base where she was
stationed.
“Slightly less crazy than last time we
met.
“I wish we werent always dropping in on you quite so
unexpectedly.
Adriennes calm blue eyes held Blairs. “Were happy to have
you, anytime, under any circumstances.
Blair was certain that Cam would not have confided any of
the details surrounding their precipitous return to Whitley
Point to Tanner, and she knew that Tanner would not have asked,
but she understood Adriennes message. Without even
knowing the circumstances, Adrienne and Tanner would be
there for them, whenever they were needed. To her horror,
Blair felt her eyes sting with tears. “Thank you.
“Tanner, darling, Diane said, kissing Tanners cheek. “Thank
you for the wine and other essentials in the guest house. She
extended her hand to Adrienne. “Thanks for taking such good care
of us.
“If you need anything else that our security people cant get
for you, just let us know. Well see to it.
“How are you at pinochle? Blair asked.
Stark groaned. Adrienne smiled.
* * * * *
Just after midnight, the door to Blairs bedroom opened slowly
and
a thin shaft of pale yel ow light slashed across the
room. “Cam?
“Hi baby, Cam said. “Did I wake you?
Blair rol ed onto her side and turned on the bedside lamp.
She canted the shade so that most of the light angled away
from the bed and then sat up. “No. I wasnt sleeping. Are you all
right?
“Beat, but okay. Cam sighed as she crossed to the bed. “Im
going to take a shower and talk to Stark for a while, then Ill
“You dont have to shower and you can wait until tomorrow to
talk to Stark. I want you to just come to bed.
Cam hesitated. “Okay. Ill wait until the morning briefing to
check in with Stark. But the shower isnt optional.
“I like the way you smell, Blair said, folding back the covers
and patting the bed beside her. “If you dont get in here soon, Im
going to think youre avoiding me.
“The only thing Ive been thinking about for the last twelve hours
is you. Cam kissed Blair, put her weapon in the top drawer of
the bedside table, and undressed rapidly. “But Im still going to
shower. Ill be back in a few minutes.
Blair waited until she heard the shower running and then fol owed Cam
into the bathroom. When Cam stepped out of the enclosure and reached
for the towel that Blair held, Blair shook her head. “You just stand stil .
Il do this.
“You know what Id real y like? Cam said as Blair toweled her hair and
then wiped her face and neck.
“No, darling, what? Blair bit back a murmur of concern when she saw
that the bruises on Cams shoulder and hip had spread, darkening in
the centers to almost black.
“Id like that massage. Im too damn tal to sleep in the back of an
SUV.
Blair knew that if Cam was asking, she was more than stif from sleeping
in the car. She was hurting. “I think that can be arranged. She dried
Cams chest and stomach, then her back. Kneeling, she gently smoothed
the towel over Cams but ocks, down the outside of her legs, over her
calves, and up her inner thighs. “Turn around, darling.
Slowly, Cam turned. She skimmed her fingers through Blairs hair and
then over her cheek. “Feels good.
Tenderly, Blair dried Cams thighs and hips, taking care with the bruise
on the right side. “Youre so beautiful.
“Lets go to bed, Cam said
thickly.
Blair rose, her nipples tight beneath the T-shirt she had worn to bed.
“Come on, Im not done yet. She took Cams hand and led her into the
bedroom. “Lie on your stomach and get comfortable.
Cam complied, pil owing her head on her folded arms. When Blair knelt
next to her, she said, “Arent you get ing undressed?
“Not just yet. Blair decided it was safer if she kept her T-shirt and
panties on. Although her only intention was to help Cam relax, she
became aroused any time she touched her, for any reason. Starting at
the back of Cams neck, she worked her way down, pausing when she
found the clusters of knot ed muscles along the way and gently
massaging them until they softened.
“Jesus, Cam mut ered at one point, “that feels
great.
Blair smiled. “Good. Now turn
over.
Cam careful y flipped over. Her limbs felt loose, her mind more than a
lit le hazy. She was also wet. Blair knelt beside her in a short T-shirt
and skimpy panties, her hair down, her face void of any makeup. Her
ful breasts pressed against the thin cot on as she leaned forward, her
hard nipples clearly visible. Cam swept her hand up Blairs side and
cupped her breast.
“Stop that, Blair protested with more determination than
she felt.
<
br /> “I want to touch you, Cam
murmured.
“Tonight is for you. Just
relax.
Cam sighed but she felt so good she couldnt argue. She moved her
hand to
Blairs side and left it there as Blair
worked.
Staying away from the bruise on Cams right shoulder, Blair circled her
thumbs along the muscles under her col arbone. Cam had a warriors
bodyher sleek muscles long and tight, her breasts smal and round. Her
nipples were neat pink circles, as compact and hard as the rest of her
body. Scars marked her chest and thighthe gunshot wounds she had
earned in bat le. “I love you very much.
“Makes al the dif erence, Cam
whispered.
Blair smiled. “I know. She stroked Cams stomach, then worked her way
down the front of Cams legs. As she slowly skimmed her fingers along
the insides of Cams thighs, she felt a dif erent kind of tension infuse
her lovers body. She leaned down and kissed Cams stomach, then
rubbed her mouth over Cams navel. “Feel good?
Cam twisted her fingers in Blairs hair. She was so relaxed she could
barely move, but every nerve was singing with arousal. “Not even
close.
“That bad, huh? Blair stretched out along Cams uninjured side,
resting her
cheek in the center of Cams stomach. She drew one leg up over
Cams and nestled her sex against Cams calf. “If you promise to lie stil ,
Il see if I can make you feel better.
“Youre hot, Cam whispered, drawing strands of Blairs hair through her
fingers. “I can feel how hot you are against my leg.
“I am, Blair said, smoothing a fingertip up and down the cleft between
Cams thighs. “Im very hot. And wet. Thats what happens when I touch
you.
Cam groaned softly. “Seems the same thing happens
to me.
“Oh
yeah?
“See for yourself, Cam whispered, her fingers trembling as she caressed
Blairs face.
“I love this, Blair said. “I love you. Now dont
move.
Cam closed her eyes as Blair softly, ever so softly, massaged her
clitoris until she climaxed. Blair moaned quietly, her mouth against
Cams stomach, her legs shaking as she rubbed against Cams leg until
she came.
“I didnt know it was possible to come without moving a
muscle, Cam murmured, the last tendrils of tension bleeding away.
“Jesus, I couldnt get up now if I had to.
“Good, Blair said lazily, turning on her back so she could reach the lamp
