by Kelly Goode
‘Neat trick,’ I said, noting my voice sounded slightly raspier than normal. I couldn’t deny the attraction Carter roused in me even if I didn’t know what to do about it.
Pretend he’s ugly.
My mind was quickly gaining control over my hormones and I pulled my hand from his grasp and stepped inside.
‘You’ll find something to wear in the wardrobe,’ he said, clearing his throat, ‘as well as toiletries in the bathroom. I’ll meet you back in the main briefing room when you’re ready. Take some time to rest and get your head straight.’
‘Ok,’ I stammered, but I didn’t feel ok. I pushed my hands through my long, red hair, taking in my surroundings. This room was going to be my home, my sanctuary, and yet it felt as claustrophobic as the cell I’d slept in at the detainment unit.
The walls were clinically white with a single bed on one side, a dressing table and a wardrobe against the other.
‘So I guess I’ll leave you to it,’ Carter said, turning to walk away.
‘Wait,’ I said, reaching out and grabbing his arm. His bicep contracted beneath my touch, the solid mass of muscle indicating just how strong he was.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.
There was concern in his blue eyes and I bit my lower lip. How could I tell him I didn’t want to be left alone in this room without sounding like a complete wuss?
Carter seemed to sense my reluctance for him to go.
‘Don’t you want to shower and change?’ he asked.
‘Yes, it’s just…’
My voice trailed off and I took a deep breath to steady the flood of emotions threatening to consume me.
‘Could we…? Could I…?’
Why couldn’t I just say how I was feeling?
‘Is there somewhere else we can go for a little while?’ I blurted.
Carter seemed surprised by my request, and I hoped he’d ignore the fact it sounded as if I’d just propositioned him.
‘I know a place,’ he said slowly, and I didn’t know whether to be worried or excited by the hint of mischief in his blue eyes.
10
Carter took Ember’s hand before the logical part of his brain could take over. This was probably the stupidest thing he’d done in years but after looking into her beautiful, frightened face, he knew he couldn’t deny her request. He was supposed to be reading her case file and assessing her weaknesses, not taking her on a tour of the facility.
Ember followed silently behind him as he led her up the stairs towards level one. His heart was racing as the consequence of breaking the rules sent a bolt of adrenaline around his body.
Ember’s hand felt hot inside his own, hot and so very small. He figured he would crush her bones if he squeezed too tightly.
Carter released his hold on her and placed his palm against the panel beside the door to the shooting range. It was the only place he could think of where they wouldn’t be disturbed.
‘After you,’ he said, holding the door open.
Ember nodded her thanks before walking inside. He followed and engaged the locks behind them. She jumped at the sound and he appreciated it would take some time before that particular noise wouldn’t remind her of the detainment unit.
Carter observed her as she warily moved around the room. It was obvious she didn’t want to talk so he opened the weapons locker and selected a gun.
That got her attention.
Her eyes flicked between his face and the gun, and he wondered if he was making her nervous.
‘Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea,’ he said.
Ember shook her head.
‘No, it’s fine.’
Carter took a box of bullets and loaded the ammo into his gun, before taking up a position at one of the firing points.
The room was twenty-five metres long and as he lined up with the target at the end, he felt Ember approach. Her scent was distracting enough without her being so close to him.
Carter fired and was relieved when he hit what he’d planned and didn’t end up looking inept in front of her. He turned his head, noticing her cheeks were slightly flushed from watching him. He had to stop himself from staring at her lips as her tongue darted out to moisten them.
Carter beckoned her forward and at first, he thought she was going to refuse.
‘Come here,’ he said, feeling a jolt of excitement when she obeyed. ‘I’ll talk you through it.’
Carter engaged the safety and placed the gun in Ember’s hand, watching carefully as she studied it, turning it over in her palm. Her green eyes blazed with anticipation and he smiled at her enthusiasm.
‘When you’re ready, turn off the safety and take aim.’
She did as instructed, moving towards the firing point. She held the gun outstretched, and lined up a target. As she pressed the trigger, she staggered backwards from the force of the action. She missed the centre mark, but came close to one of the outer targets.
Maybe she was a natural.
‘Not bad for your first time, but you need to work on your stance,’ Carter said, the smell of gunpowder lingering in the air around them. ‘Let me help.’
‘Ok.’
‘Start by spreading your legs shoulder width apart.’
Ember moved as directed.
‘Now you need to bend your knees slightly, don’t be so stiff. Use both of your hands to support the weight of the gun.’
‘It’s heavy.’
‘It’s supposed to be. That way if you miss, you can always hit the bad guy with it instead,’ he quipped.
She smiled and Carter felt himself mirroring her action. If he kept grinning like an idiot, he’d give himself jaw ache.
‘Now aim at the target on the far wall again,’ he said. ‘Squeeze the trigger gently with your finger, allowing for the recoil this time.’
‘Ok,’ she replied breathlessly, barely flinching this time at the sharp crack of the bullet releasing.
‘Nice,’ Carter said, impressed with how quickly the demure redhead picked up the basics. Maybe he’d gauged the reason for her recruitment all wrong. He’d thought she was the bait - the distraction -but she was a serious candidate.
Maybe he would place a bet with Pete after all. He had a feeling Ember Lane could be the first recruit to break the “First and Only” curse and see her assignment through to the end.
11
I smiled at Carter’s praise, wondering when would be the best time to admit that I’d been shooting for years. He seemed so happy with my progress that I didn’t want to ruin the moment. I decided to play along for a little while longer.
‘Want to try it again?’ he asked and I nodded.
I took up my position, keeping the gun outstretched as I lined up the target. I didn’t recognise the make or model of the gun, but I liked it. It was heavy but felt comfortable inside my palm. Maybe Carter would let me keep it after I’d finished the assignment.
Shooting reminded me of my life before the detainment unit. Before I made the biggest mistake of my life and followed a madman down a path of destruction.
Feeling Carter move behind me, took me away from those dark thoughts and to ones far more primal in nature. He adopted a similar position to me, adjusting my body until my back fitted snugly against his hard chest.
I tried not to squirm as his hands settled on my waist. My breath quickened as he nestled his cheek against mine, a tingle travelled down my spine as the bristles on his face scraped against my jaw. I imagined that’s how it would feel if he kissed me and hoped he couldn’t feel how wildly my heart was beating.
‘Pull your stomach muscles in.’
I immediately complied. The intensity in his voice sent sparks of excitement through my body. Carter’s hands pressed harder into my waist.
‘Like this?’ I asked.
I had a stranger wrapped around me, yet I felt oddly safe in the cocoon of his arms.
‘Yes. Feel the weight of the gun in your hands,’ he continued. ‘Imagine it’s a part of you. N
ow breathe deeply.’
His hands left my waist and travelled slowly up the side of my body. His touch sent heat rushing to my very core and I released a ragged breath as his hands came to rest on my shoulders.
‘Pull your shoulders back.’
Carter extended his arms until his hands closed around mine, covering the gun. I was finding it harder to breathe except in short bursts. I felt my body shiver as he leaned forward, pressing his chest harder against my back.
‘Have you lined up the shot?’ he asked huskily.
I nodded as confirmation, even though I could barely focus on the target ahead of me.
‘Take another deep breath and fire.’
Carter pressed my finger down on the trigger and the bullet hit dead centre.
‘Perfect.’
I felt his breath in my hair and knew if I turned my head, our faces would be only inches apart. I swallowed deeply and tried not to look disappointed when he released his hold.
‘Why don’t you shoot a few more rounds before we go back?’
Carter left me to it and began examining the other guns and rifles in the locker, although I had the feeling that he was still secretly assessing me.
I reloaded the gun with the bullets he’d left for me, and fired until empty. I felt powerful wielding a weapon again.
Guns were far more accurate and reliable than my own powers, though I deliberately missed a few targets so Carter didn’t get suspicious. I’d enjoyed his hands-on approach to training and was hoping for a few more sessions.
I reluctantly handed the gun back to Carter, which he checked and cleaned before putting away.
‘Don’t tell anyone I brought you here,’ he said, and the scars on his eyebrow deepened as he frowned.
‘Will you get into trouble?’
I thought he was going to make up some macho bullshit about not caring but he shrugged his shoulders and rubbed his chin.
‘I don’t know…probably…maybe. We have certain rules and regulations when it comes to handling recruits.’
He abruptly stopped talking, and I wondered whether he was thinking about his hands being all over me earlier, the same as I was.
I tried to make light of the situation, feeling the tension intensifying between us.
‘Your secret is safe with me, Agent Liam Carter,’ I teased. ‘You’re the closest thing I have to a friend in here so I’m not going to do anything to piss you off.’
Carter’s blue eyes narrowed and I realised I’d said the wrong thing.
‘We’re not friends, Ember,’ he said coolly. ‘I’m your handler, nothing more. This here was a one-off. As it’s your first day, I’m being nice. Any further panic attacks or unauthorised requests will be ignored. Understand?’
I nodded.
‘Sure thing, boss,’ I replied sarcastically. ‘I understand perfectly.’
12
Carter escorted me back to my room in silence. How could a man who’d made my body burn when he’d touched me, suddenly turn so cold?
I placed my hand against the panel next to my door and he grunted something about meeting me in the briefing room in an hour. I nodded my head in acknowledgement and watched him retrace his steps down the corridor and disappear around the corner.
At that moment, the door opposite mine opened and Harvey stepped out.
‘Everything ok, Red? Why are you only just coming back now? Did that guy, Carter, give you a hard time?’
Concern crinkled his brow, but I didn’t spend much time analysing his questions or the rest of his face.
He’d obviously made good use of his free time and taken the opportunity to shower. He only had a white towel wrapped around his hips and his skin glistened as droplets of water fell from the ends of his short black hair and ran down the hard, plains of his muscular chest, which appeared smooth and perfect, until I saw a dark purple, jagged scar over where his heart would be.
It was too irregular a shape to have resulted from an operation and I wondered how he’d acquired it.
‘You’re drooling, Red.’
‘Huh?’
I snapped my mouth shut, embarrassed that I’d been openly gawping at his body.
‘Do you want to come in?’ he asked.
‘No…no!’
‘You sure about that?’
Harvey raised his dark eyebrows as he leaned against his doorframe.
‘We still have time to kill,’ he continued. ‘I can think of several ways to pleasurably pass it together. I’ve been in solitary confinement for a long time. As must have you…’
I swallowed deeply.
‘I…I need to shower,’ I said feebly.
‘Shower with me.’
‘You’ve already showered.’
‘I don’t mind getting in again. For you…’
I shook my head. ‘You don’t even know me.’
‘I could get to know you very well, Red. If you come inside, that is.’
‘Ask Sasha instead,’ I snapped, shuffling backwards until I was safely inside my own room before slamming the door shut.
I leaned against the cold wall, trying to regulate my breathing. Harvey was right. All those weeks of isolation were catching up with me. That was the only reason I was acting like some hormone-driven teenager under any man’s attention.
My body craved a release, the rush of an orgasm that I’d denied myself night after night in my cell for fear of an S.P.T.F agent secretly watching and hearing me.
I took a few minutes to explore my small room. Searching the drawers revealed plain and functional underwear. There were several pairs of trousers and matching tops in the wardrobe, and I didn’t dwell on how they knew what size to provide.
I shrugged out of the horrible blue jumpsuit and went into the small on-suite bathroom. After relieving myself on the toilet, I switched on the shower. There was a bag full of necessities next to the sink and I gratefully brushed my teeth and shaved my legs.
Stepping under the shower, I sighed as the hot jets pounded against my skin. I washed the stench of the detainment unit away, turning the temperature up to the maximum setting.
I have always been able to withstand higher than usual temperatures and the scorching water felt cleansing, like a baptism of fire.
My slick skin felt ultra-sensitive and I exhaled deeply, sliding my hand between my legs, searching out that spot that made my knees tremble and my breath hitch in my throat. I rubbed and groaned, pressing my fingers deeper and harder.
It was only slightly concerning that I was imaging it was Harvey’s hand bringing me to orgasm and not my own. I blamed it on the fact I’d seen him half-naked and didn’t examine it any further than that.
It was only a fantasy after all.
I pictured Harvey’s hard body pressed against mine, his black eyes turning that clear blue colour as they had in the van. I imagined the intensity on his face as he watched me writhe around his probing fingers.
I whimpered as I felt the intense pleasure radiating from my core, signalling I was almost there. It was a feeling I’d been deprived for so long.
I rubbed faster, building to a climax which when it came, was so violent, I lost my footing and landed awkwardly on the wet shower floor.
13
Harvey tried to appear nonchalant as Ember entered the room. No longer dressed in the regulation blue jumpsuit, she seemed slimmer than he remembered. Her hips looked tiny in a pair of tight black trousers and he reckoned his hand would span the width of her waist. Her arms were almost twig-like and he hoped she had some kick-ass supernatural powers, as physical strength was not something she could fall back on during a fight.
Harvey was surprised when she stopped beside him rather than sit down with Sasha or Mari at one of the tables.
‘Have I missed anything?’ she asked.
‘No, Gerrard isn’t here yet.’
‘That’s good. I thought I was going to be late.’
Her green eyes swept over him as she smiled to herself.
‘What?’ he asked sharply, annoyed that he felt insecure beneath her gaze. ‘Prefer me without my clothes on, Red?’
Her cheeks coloured and she looked away, no doubt remembering that fleeting moment in the hallway when she’d actually looked as if she might take him up on his offer of joining him in his room.
She was a tough one to figure out and he had no idea why he kept trying to. He wasn’t here to make friends.
‘I don’t prefer you in any way, Harvey,’ she said defensively. ‘I was just thinking that all we’ve done is swap one uniform for another.’
Harvey looked at Mari and Sasha, only just noticing that all four of them were dressed in black trousers and black t-shirts although he couldn’t miss the scathing look Sasha threw in Ember’s direction.
The blonde was obviously used to being the centre of attention and he wouldn’t put it past the succubus to take out her competition. Ember needed to keep her guard up and her wits about her.
‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right, Red,’ he said. ‘Though I must admit, I prefer this uniform to the other one. Black is a better colour for me.’
Ember inclined her head, as if trying to read something from his answer. Her red hair was wet and scraped back into some sort of knot at the base of her neck. His fingers itched to release the locks from their confines and he wondered what those sleek red strands would smell like or how they would feel between his fingers.
He was losing his mind!
Harvey abruptly cleared his throat and nodded towards the far end of the room.
‘They have coffee and sandwiches over there.’
Ember’s eyes widened and Harvey heard her stomach rumble in anticipation. She placed a hand against her tummy in an attempt to cover the noise.
‘Sorry about that. I’m hungry,’ she said, with a self-conscious half-smile.
‘Me too,’ he said, though what he craved wasn’t on the menu. ‘Let’s grab something before that chief comes back to bore us all to death. Personally, I think he likes the sound of his own voice.’
