Honor Under Siege

by Radclyffe

  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.

  She bade the others goodnight and walked down the hall to

  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.