by Loren, Celia
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” He laughed.
Jagger ran to his bedroom, content for the first time in a month.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Britton sat at her desk, watching the rain make its way down the window. The minutes seemed longer over the last thirty days. Time had become her enemy, and she hated it. She wanted to get through this phase in her life as quickly as possible. Britton wanted the pain to be over. She was working on a new case now, but couldn’t find the inspiration anymore.
She skimmed through the file, staring at pictures. It wasn’t interesting to her. She looked around at the other agents in the office. They were all hard at work. She opened her desk drawer and pulled out another file. She flipped open the cover. There was Jagger's face staring back at her. She smiled, longing to be the reason for his dimples. She shoved the file in her bag and straightened up her desk. She wasn’t getting any work done; she might as well just work from home for the rest of the day.
She made her way to David’s office to tell him she was heading out. He was sitting at his desk, lost in paperwork. Things had been awkward between them since the kiss. She didn’t know what to say to him, and she knew he was hurt that his feelings weren’t reciprocated. She couldn’t even apologize. She was still absolutely in love with Jagger. No one else mattered. She knocked on the open door.
“I’m heading out.”
“Before you do, Britton, can you come in here for a second?”
“Sure.”
“Shut the door.”
What did he need to talk to her about? Did something happen with the Jagger case? Was he arrested? Was he okay? Her mind raced, fearing the worst.
“Is everything okay?”
“How are you doing?” David asked.
“I’m fine, why?”
“You’ve been distant and unfocused lately.”
“I’m just upset that I wasn’t able to bring down the Harbingers.” She lied.
“I know, but you got us closer than anyone had.”
“I know.”
“And we have a dirty DEA agent in custody thanks to you.”
“Yes.”
It was true. They were able to charge Hank for conspiring with a known crime syndicate. Although, it didn’t make her feel any better.
“That’s not why I called you in here.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I think you need a change of scenery.”
“What?” What did he mean by that? Was he transferring her to another department? She liked the organized crime division. What was next: counter terrorism? White Collar Crimes?
“I know the outcome of your last case hit you pretty hard. I think it’s a good idea for you to get away from here for a bit.”
“David, I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but she didn’t want to leave Las Vegas. She didn’t want to leave Jagger again.
“You can’t win them all, kid. They want you in Washington: a week from tomorrow.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
She wanted to argue. She wanted to fight with him, promise that she could be better, but it was worthless. She couldn’t be better. She thought of nothing but Jagger since the operation abruptly ended, and she didn’t want to think of anything else. Maybe he was right. It wasn’t like Jagger would ever take her back after what she did to him. She abused his trust. There was no getting that back.
“Okay.”
“You can take the rest of the week to get your affairs in order. I’ll let you know if we need you for anything.”
“Thank you, David.”
She turned to leave, feeling deflated.
“Britton.” He called after her.
“Yes?”
He paused, taking in the lines of her face and the curves of her body. He knew it would be one of the last times he would see her. He wanted to commit her beauty to memory. “I will miss you. You’re a good agent.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Britton didn’t stop at her desk but instead moved straight to the elevators. She would come back to say goodbye before she left. Now she just wanted to get home.
She crawled into her car, feeling her throat constrict. She was going to leave the city again, for good. This was it. Her dreams of running back into Jagger’s arms would never come to fruition. Any hope of ever being with the love of her life had vanished in an instant.
She took off toward her house, lost in thought. No. It couldn’t end like this. She needed to take matters into her own hands. She needed to get him back. She spun her wheel, steering her car into the opposite direction. She followed her memory of the route back to the warehouse. Maybe he would be there.
The ride was long, and each second seemed to drag agonizingly by. She pulled into the dirt driveway but there were no guards to greet her. She continued down the trail, her tires kicking up the dirt behind her. Britton quickly slammed on the brakes as she pulled up to the compound, put the car in park, and jumped out of her seat. She ran into the building, hoping to be met by a loving face.
There was no one there, the place was completely vacant, empty. They must have moved. She ran into the office, hoping to find a possible clue to their new location, but the only thing left in the room was a picture frame on the floor. The glass was cracked and it was covered in dust. Britton knelt down and picked it up. It was the picture from the nightstand in the cabin. Had Jagger really made the effort to steal the picture from their home, and bring it here, only to destroy it? Had he truly given up on them?
Britton felt a tear fall on her cheek. Maybe the move was coming at a perfect time. He didn’t want to see her, after all. He had held onto this picture for ten years, and now wanted nothing to do with it. She opened up the back of the frame and drew the photograph out, allowing bits of glass to fall to the ground. The glass gave off a high-pitched tone as it clattered on the concrete. She clutched the picture to her chest and listened to the chorus around her.
She remembered the sound of Matty’s laughter as Jagger flew him around the yard. She remembered the comforting words of the family when she was worried for Jagger’s safety. She remembered the embrace of her brother, the brother she assumed she’d lost forever. Maybe now she had.
She folded the picture and slid it into her pocket. It was time to go back to her house. She needed to pack. A new adventure awaited her. She would force herself to forget this place again.
Her car sprang to life and she was instantly reminded of the night of the accident. Now that she knew everything, all of the secrets, that night didn’t haunt her anymore. Now her betrayal was what haunted her dreams. Britton would have to live with that for the rest of her life. She drove on in silence.
Britton pulled into her driveway and eyed her house. In a week, it would no longer be hers. She would be back to an apartment in D.C. Good thing she hadn’t put down any roots: at least any roots that she was able to hang on to. She stepped up to her door and fished her keys out of her bag. Something yellow caught the corner of her eye. There was a daffodil in the garden. She hadn’t planted it. She didn’t remember it ever being there before. It must have grown and bloomed overnight. Unless…
She flew through the doorway and into her living room. Her heart stopped at the sight of his face.
“I had a dream about you this morning.” He said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Jagger was comforted by her reaction as she first took in the sight of him. She couldn’t fake her relief, her happiness. In that moment, it was all he needed from her. His demeanor remained uncertain; Britton didn’t know how to read him. Why was he there? Did he want to see her as much as she wanted to see him?
“A dream?” She asked.
“Actually more of a memory. You were curled up in the fireplace. You were covered in casts from the accident.”
“How...” She thought she was alone in those woods.
“I was hoping you’d be there. I came to ask you to run away with me.”
“But you didn
’t.”
“After seeing what I had already done to you, already put you through, I knew you wouldn’t be safe with me.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make. I thought you had run out on me.”
“And look where it got you. You’re a successful, beautiful woman and you did it all because I wasn’t holding you back.”
“I failed at my first undercover assignment.”
It hurt him to hear that. He was her assignment. Fate hadn’t brought them back together, the United States Government and the FBI had. He wanted to lighten the conversation, for both of their sakes.
“I don’t think you failed. You totally could've had me.” He winked at her.
Britton began to laugh. It was the first time she laughed since she left him at the warehouse.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She repeated herself over and over again.
Jagger was hoping to play it cool, but as soon as he saw her face, his body warmed and he wanted nothing more than to hold her as close as he could.
“I needed to see you.” He said, stepping toward her.
“I did too.”
They stared at each other, neither knowing which should make the first move, or even what the first move should be. They knew they needed to talk. She needed to explain herself, and he was willing to listen. He needed to know that she truly loved him and it wasn’t all a lie. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life thinking it was a lie. It was eating him up inside.
Their faces were close and the heat between them was intoxicating. Jagger’s eyes rolled back as he was reminded of her scent. He wanted to breath her in. She was too much for him to handle. How had he been able to last an entire month without seeking her out? No matter how hurt he was, his body craved hers.
“I have so much to tell you.” Britton started.
“Are you still going to arrest me?” He leaned in closer to her.
“No.”
“Good.”
He hurled his arms around her and crushed her against his body, devouring her lips. He had missed her mouth, her lips, her scent. He grabbed her lip gently between his teeth, yearning to be closer to her. He lifted her off the ground, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around him, pushing her pelvis into his. He was ready for her, and she was unable to ignore his throbbing member practically bursting through his jeans. She shot her hand down his stomach, caressing the rock-hard waves of his abs.
She teased the top of his jeans, tickling his skin just under the rim of denim. Her thumb grazed his button and he moaned. Britton dove south over top of his jeans, grabbing him fully in her hand. She squeezed, ever so gently, triggering him to beg for more. She wanted to give him more. She wanted to give him everything.
Jagger pulled away, knowing that if he let it go any further, he could be caught in another trap. He lowered her to the couch and sat next to her, it took everything he had to restrain his desire to take her in that moment.
“How am I supposed to trust you?” He looked her directly in her eyes.
“I never told them anything about you.”
He believed her. Otherwise, he would have been in jail. He inched closer to her. “Then why do it to begin with?”
“I wanted to…” she had to catch her breath. She couldn’t focus while listening to her own blood pumping in her ears. “I told you I spent ten years hating you.”
Jagger sat back, mulling over this idea. “So you wanted to take me down?”
Britton could see that this conversation was not leading down a path that would satisfy the craving that she had been suppressing for too long.
“Jagger, I have no right to ask you this, but I need you to trust me. I was not planning on turning you in. I was also not planning on falling in love with you. I couldn’t control the latter.”
His smile softened his face. For some reason, hearing her say that she loved him made his heart soar. He felt again as though he was invincible.
Their eyes met and she couldn’t help herself. Her lips were drawn to his and she grasped at his shirt. He put little effort into pulling away, but managed to break away.
“We still need to talk. ” He said.
“I know, but shut up and kiss me.”
He was amused by her aggression. He liked this side of her. She pushed him down onto the couch and crawled on top of him. She took her shirt and bra in her hands and pulled them both over her head. Jagger marveled at the sight of her beautiful breasts as they bounced out of her bra. His desire didn't go unnoticed and only drove Britton more crazy; her body needed to be connected to him again.
She crushed her lips to his and ran her fingers through his hair, sending chills down his spine. While letting her take control was exhilarating, he needed to take it back. He needed to take her in his own way. He slid his hands up her skirt and grabbed her bare hips, lifting her up, and pushing her to the floor. He fell on top of her, almost knocking the wind from her chest. Britton caught her breath in enough time to be scooped up again and thrown against the wall. The force caused a painting to fall off the wall, breaking its frame.
“Don't worry...it’s an ugly frame anyway.” She panted through shallow breaths.
“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t.
He continued to move her down the hallway, crashing into the wall again on the way to the bedroom. They both couldn't get enough of each other, each making up for their previous month of pure agony. He grabbed her hair and pulled back, exposing the soft skin of her neck. He lowered his mouth to its calling, playfully digging his teeth into her flesh. She smiled and screamed with pleasure.
Reaching the bedroom, Jagger threw her onto the edge of the bed and swiftly tore her skirt from her body. Britton sat up, reaching for his pants. He pushed her back down and climbed over her. His tongue traced her lips and made its entry. He caressed the inside of her mouth, reminding her of what she had almost given up again.
Jagger wanted more. He didn’t want to give. Today he wanted to take. He inched his body up, positioning his hips over her chest. He guided her hands to his zipper, cuing her to pleasure him. She did as she was told, slowly freeing him from his confines. She opened her mouth, begging to taste him. With her soft hands she guided him into her warm mouth, her tongue exploring his cock. She closed her lips around him as he pushed deeper into her. She glided her tongue around him, taking her own pleasure in his moans. His hips moved faster, begging for more. She dug her nails into his back and he fell forward, taking the lead.
Jagger marveled at her body. It was not only the body of a woman who was pleasuring him, it was the body of a woman who had betrayed him. Even still, it was the body of a woman who he loved. He needed to remind her of that love. He pulled out from her mouth and looked into her yearning eyes. He remained focused on her while he kicked off his pants. He lowered his mouth to hers, keeping his eyes locked with hers. He didn’t want to look away. He didn’t want to forget this moment, no matter what was to come.
“Britton, I still love you, no matter what you have planned for me.” His words were honest.
She wanted to promise that she had no plan other than to find a way to be with him, but her words escaped her, as in that moment he pushed himself inside her. They were one. They moved as one, and they never broke their eye contact. If they never finished their conversation, it wouldn’t have mattered, because the end result would have been the same. They knew they loved each other. Nothing else could possibly matter in this moment. Their heightened cries filled the room in unison as Britton met every thrust of Jagger’s hips; neither wanting this to end, neither wanting to come.
Britton grabbed his hips, pulling him in deeper, harder. She wanted to stay connected to him. She didn’t want him to leave her. She moved him faster, keeping her pace with his. As he pushed deeper, she lost control of her body. Her eyes rolled back and her mind screamed. And as their eye contact broke, they both released together. Jagger collapsed on top of her as he emptied himself into her, unwilling to separate. She tilted, begging him
to stay within.
Their moans silenced, and Jagger lifted himself off of Britton, rolling to her side. They stared at the ceiling, willing the other to speak first. Jagger found Britton’s hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. He gave a light squeeze before he spoke.
“Did you expect me never to find out?”
Britton had no answer to the question. It was one she had asked herself every day during her time undercover, and every day since it had ended. She kept looking to the ceiling, hoping that an answer would come to her.
“Deep down, I knew one day you would find out. I just refused to believe the day would ever come.”
“So now what? Do we just live under the radar of your boss, praying that one day you don’t have a sudden change of heart and confess everything I’ve ever told you? I don’t know if I can live like that.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You say that now, Britton, but it was so easy for you to lie to me then. What would be so different in the future?”
She turned to him, angered by his assumption. “It was never easy to lie to you.”
He believed her but said nothing.
“Maybe this is it.” She put the words out into the universe, only hoping that he would kill them instantly.
