Shadows of Our Past

by Tanya Jean Russell

  Taking her nipple into his mouth, he flicked his tongue back and forth setting every nerve in her body alight. She arched back, giving him better access, and resting one hand behind her to support herself she curled her other hand into his hair, enjoying the feel as it wound around her fingers. Pressing gently against his scalp, she silently asked for more and he instantly obliged, his teeth grazing as he nipped lightly and then again more firmly, his beard teasing her flesh. Just as she thought she couldn’t take any more, he shifted his attention to her other breast and she groaned with pure pleasure.

  Pulling his hips closer she tugged at his belt, unbuckling it before yanking his jeans and boxers down in one swift movement. The moment his clothing was out of the way she slid her hands around, enjoyed the feel of his tight ass cheeks in her palms, gripping tightly before sliding one hand around to the front. The silky feel of his erection twitching as she touched it made her smile. Curling her fingers around his girth she slid her hand up and down his length slowly. He gasped with the movement and lifted his head. She leaned forward, taking ownership of his mouth as he tried to calm his reaction to her touch.

  Tightening her grip on his backside, she pulled him closer so one of his thighs pressed against her core, her own building need making her desperate for any kind of relief. As she stroked him his erection seemed to grow and as a bead of moisture appeared on its tip she carefully slicked her thumb through it, coating him with the movement. He growled long and low into her mouth and clamped his hand over hers.

  “Stop,” he said, the word coming out on a hiss, his expression tense.

  “What? Don’t you like it?” she asked with mock innocence, unable to stop the smile that curled her lips.

  “Fuck,” he said, resting his forehead on hers as he continued to hold her hand motionless. “I’m going to lose it here and now if you carry on.”

  At his words she pulled her hands away and placed them either side of his head. The power she had over him sent her own lust spiraling. She’d never had any problems expressing what she wanted when it came to sex. She just didn’t really bother that often. It was usually more effort than it was worth, but his raw responses were setting her on fire.

  “And that’s a problem because?”

  “Because I need to be inside you.”

  She pushed him back, undoing her own jeans and fighting to get them off as the damp fabric seemed to cling to her. Finally free, she slipped her pants off with a lot more ease and leaning back against the cold metal of the washing machine she perched on the edge before taking Jackson’s hand and placing it between her legs.

  Wrapping his other hand around the back of her neck he kissed her hard as his fingers gently explored. Stroking gently back and forth as he drove her to a desperate need before sliding first one and then two fingers inside her. She gasped at the intrusion and he stilled at the sound. Making it clear what she wanted she rocked against his hand, letting the tension inside her curl tighter and tighter.

  It wasn’t enough. She needed more. Pulling his hand away she shifted her hips, angling so his swollen erection replaced his fingers. He pulled away and she moaned her displeasure.

  “Condom,” he muttered as he ducked down and fished his wallet out of his jeans pocket.

  Pulling the small silver packet out, he started to tear it open but she reached out and took it from him, hooking him closer with her heels as she did so.

  “Let me.”

  As she placed the condom at the top of his erection, he hissed, and she wondered just how aroused she could get him if she took her time putting it on. Her need to feel him inside her was too strong though and she dismissed the thought, unrolling the condom down his length, her breaths ragged with anticipation as she guided him to her entrance.

  He pushed into her with a need as strong as her own, and the sense of fullness tipped her over the edge. Matching his rhythm, she wrapped her legs around his hips and dug her nails into his back as he thrust into her. The world shrank until all she could see and feel was the man in her arms and the relentless rhythm that was pushing her closer and closer to ecstasy. She whimpered as her whole body tensed before finally letting out a cry as her senses tumbled into oblivion, every nerve ending vibrating and pulsing with the orgasm that ripped through her body. Jackson held their rhythm and continued to pound into her until his own body stilled and he let out a roar as he found his own release.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Waking up in Jackson’s arms, Amory smiled. Thanks to the number of times Jackson had woken her in the night she hadn’t had much sleep, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so well. She quietly slipped out of the bed, her body complaining with a mass of aches as she moved.

  Peering out of the window, she was thrilled to see the rain had left a crisp and clear sunrise that hinted at the first touch of spring. She wasn’t sure why it mattered to her so much that today was a success. Perhaps it was because it was the first time she had been proactively involved in pulling something off that was all about fun. About making someone’s dream come true rather than preventing misery and delivering punishment. Despite the chance of preventing that misery, the satisfaction she had once felt in her job was waning, replaced only with the weariness that being continually surrounded by the grey and dank underworld brings. By contrast, today would be all about optimism and enjoyment for Alice and her friends.

  Turning back to the bed she smiled at the sight of Jackson, sprawled out, one arm by his side and the other flung above his head. She climbed back next to him and nuzzled up to him, letting him know she was grabbing a shower so she could prepare for the day. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this kind of happy excitement about her work. Actually, she wasn’t sure when she’d last felt like that about life in general either. They were heading rapidly toward a mountain only she knew was coming but she felt optimistic that he’d understand, that they could make a future together.

  As she rubbed the soap between her hands, the shower curtain was pulled back and Jackson stood there, smiling at her with that sexy half-smile of his. A quick flick of his gaze over her very naked body let her know just how pleased he was to see her. Without a word he stepped over the edge of the bath and pulled the curtain back into place.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, raising her eyebrow but unable to completely hide her own smile.

  “Well, I wanted to make sure you had a proper wash,” he said, taking the soap from her hands and rubbing it between his own before turning her around and easing his slick palms up and down her back.

  “Well, if you insist,” she replied, closing her eyes at the sensations that flooded her.

  As his hands curled around her hips and slid downward she gasped.

  “I thought you wanted to help get me clean. This feels like it’s going to get very dirty.”

  “Let’s see if we can manage both,” he said, his words caressing the nape of her neck as his fingers slipped lower.

  ****

  When she’d finally managed to finish her shower, she detoured to the kitchen en route to check that Roberts had arrived. Holding the mug of tea she’d acquired for him from a scowling Maggie, she nodded in greeting.

  “You’re really good at this,” she said, gesturing to all of his equipment.

  “Mmm,” he murmured unenthusiastically in response.

  “I mean it. Those photos you brought in from the weddings you’ve done were brilliant,” she said. “I mean, we all knew you were good at the whole telephoto, investigation-type photography because we see these shots all the time, but we didn’t know you did such great civilian work.”

  He continued unpacking bits and pieces of metal and plastic which she was sure all had some very technical purpose, but didn’t answer.

  “You don’t need to do this job,” she said, hoping a bit of flattery might warm him up a little. She didn’t work with him one on one very often so this was too good a chance to pass up.

&nbs
p; “You’d make bags of money as a commercial photographer,” she added, knowing he’d like the idea given how often he moaned about what they were paid by the Force.

  “The job suits me,” he replied without looking at her.

  Okay, not exactly an easy conversation but at least he’d replied. Maybe she was making progress and it had only taken two years to pull it off. She didn’t need everyone to like her but she was used to a certain amount of professional respect. She’d worked hard enough to earn it, but Roberts seemed to go out of his way to let her know he didn’t give a shit about her track record and it rankled.

  ****

  Alice and her friends each happily took a glass of champagne from the tray Amory offered as they chatted animatedly about one of their husbands and his dreadful karaoke performance the previous week at Alice’s birthday party. It was clear that, despite how much the poor chap in question had enjoyed himself, he wouldn’t hear the end of it for a very long time. Amory forced her smile to stay in place, the normality of the women’s relaxed chatter such a stark comparison to her own life it knocked her off balance.

  Placing the tray down she wondered if she’d ever be able to achieve the sort of comfortable happiness that this group of women radiated. Her desire to have a life where fear and tension weren’t constant companions rose in her chest, even if she knew the kind of lives they had wasn’t an option. For a moment she wondered what it would be like to be settled, to be married and have someone you could turn to, someone you could share your hopes and fears with. Someone like Jackson.

  “Would you like a glass, Olivia?”

  She snapped out of her thoughts, and smiling at Alice she accepted the champagne being offered. Alice and her friends flicked through the range of gowns hanging on rails around the room. They were beautiful, and it was easy to understand why they were all having such a good time choosing.

  The costumier had explained to Amory that if they wanted to be really authentic, they should have a range of dresses of differing quality to show the variety of social classes from Austen’s novels and social events. Having chatted to Alice about it, they’d agreed that they’d rather have the beautiful Regency dresses that the more upper-class characters would have worn. In Alice’s words, “they wanted to play dress-up.”

  There was much hilarity as the ladies attempted to lace each other into corsets, Alice’s very generous bosom close to overflowing, despite the fact that they had deliberately left the corsets loose.

  “Not too tight,” Alice said, giggling as one of her friends pulled.

  “I know, Alice,” the woman replied, rolling her eyes with mock annoyance.

  “We certainly don’t need to see any more of you than we have already,” teased a petite blonde holding up a dusty pink dress.

  “Never mind that,” Alice laughed as the empire bust was pulled into place on her muted pink silk dress. “I need space for cake.”

  Amory joined the group’s peals of laughter. These were her kind of people. Cake should definitely come first.

  “Well, we probably wouldn’t meet with the approval of an historian, but I feel like we’ve stepped back in time,” Alice declared once they were all ready.

  Taking in the corkscrew curls, white tights, and ballet pumps all in place, Amory had to agree. The whole thing was a little bit wasted on her, but she knew Holly would have been absolutely delighted by the detailing on the outfits.

  Amory snapped a final “getting ready” shot of the group on Alice’s camera to add to the informal memories of their day and handed it back to her.

  “I’ll send you a copy of some of the more flattering shots for your promotional material if you like?” Alice offered.

  “That would be great,” replied Amory, hugging Alice to say thanks. All in all, it had been a great deal of fun.

  With the indoor shots complete Amory led Roberts and the ladies to the dining room to start the much-anticipated lunch.

  “Wow, Maggie, that’s incredible,” she said. She watched as Maggie added the finishing touches to the meal laid out before them. Her words earned her a genuine smile from the older woman. Maggie’s features softened and Amory glimpsed the woman everyone else got to see.

  The feast that was laid out was amazing. It was a creative compromise between authentic Regency and modern taste preferences with beautifully prepared mini-pies with intricately detailed pastry lids, cheeses, asparagus, freshly baked bread plaits, and ham. Mingled amongst the savories were beautiful arrangements of sumptuous fruits, grapes, peaches, and nectarines, and to the delight of the assembled group a range of delicious sweets. Blancmanges made with antique molds shaped like vases of fruit and flowers and even homemade macaroons of various colors. Everything was served up on a selection of silver platters and it was nothing short of spectacular.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  After they’d taken the last of the photos by the lake, Amory left Roberts to start packing up and led the group back to the house, helping them change back into their normal clothes.

  Alice asked if they could also have a couple of shots of the “real them” by the lake, so they headed back out to finish up. Once the photos were done Amory hugged the ladies good-bye and waved them off as they headed back to their cars, staying to help Roberts pack up the last of the equipment.

  “Do you think the shots will turn out okay?” she asked.

  “Seriously? Get a grip. We’re not really here to do a photo shoot. It doesn’t matter,” Roberts replied irritably.

  “It does to them,” Amory replied, nodding in the direction the group had gone.

  “We have more important things at stake here.”

  “I know,” Amory said, shrugging as she spoke. “But I still want the photos to be perfect. It’s a big deal for Alice and for the estate.”

  “You need to focus, Parker. This isn’t what you’re here for.” His voice cold and derisive, he added, “You’re losing your touch.”

  Bristling at the insult and more than a little worried it might be true, she stiffened. She knew that James hadn’t told anyone this was her last job, so it wasn’t a comment born of concern she was leaving, that she might be focused on her next move. It was an insult, pure and simple.

  Drawing herself up, she replied with a tone as cold as his own, “How dare you, Constable. I am the ranking officer and even without that I am the one undercover. I have complete authority here. How dare you question my capability?”

  “Not your capability, boss,” he replied, false sugar coating his voice. “Just your focus.”

  “My focus is not your concern. I know exactly what I’m doing. What are the DCI’s instructions?” Amory returned the conversation to the task at hand before her temper got the better of her. Irritating ass, how dare he challenge her? The fact that he might have a point only made her temper flare further.

  “There wasn’t anything conclusive on the tapes we’ve had so far. That’s the new bugs,” Roberts said, gesturing to a package in an ordinary black bag amongst his equipment. “DCI has advised you to plant some in the communal areas next time Berishka is onsite, not just the private rooms. He’s less likely to suspect surveillance in those places.”

  Nodding, Amory accepted the innocent-looking package.

  “How long from activation until retrieval?”

  “Twenty-four hours.”

  “Is that all?”

  “We can’t take the chance with the longer lasting versions, they transmit and are too easy to find. We have to take every precaution we can if we’re going to get this guy. There are enough here for you to run for seventy-two hours. While we do this, you need to hold cover.”

  “I know what I’m doing, Constable. I’ve been at this for ten years, it’s not like this is my first time.”

  “Well, it’s the first time I’ve seen you rattled. Are you up to it, because if you’re not…”

  “I know what’s at stake. I’m not going to blow it, so why don’t you toddle off and finish packing up then you
can let the DCI know it’s all in hand.”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” he replied, his dislike at her seniority clear in his tone.

  ****

  Returning from helping Ed rewire the fence at the edge of the estate, Jackson decided to walk through the woods hoping to catch up with Amory. Based on her meticulous schedule she should be at the lake about now. It had only been a few hours since he’d woken with her in his arms, but he needed to see her. To reassure himself that she was still there, and if he could get away with it, steal a kiss, or something more.

  His body ached with the need to be near her and he was done trying to ignore it. He really hoped she was nearly finished for the day. Walking through the woods he heard the low tense voices just before he caught sight of Amory talking with someone.

  The photographer, he thought, but as he reached the edge of the woods something about her ramrod straight posture made him stop with his hand halfway up to draw her attention. The tension etched in her face caused him to hesitate.

  The conversation taking place before him didn’t make sense, the words swirling around seemed out of place—sergeant, DCI, hold cover, listening devices. He stood frozen, waiting for his brain to catch up with what he was hearing. Slowly as the conversation continued, pieces finally slotted into place. Shock held his arm in its raised position as he unwittingly stepped forward, willing himself to be wrong.