In Too Deep: A Romantic Suspense Novel

by Landish, Lauren

  As a member of the staff, I was lined up with the others at the gate while the stands cleared. The actual burial would be a private family affair in Boston, where Jeff and Tawny both had family, and I was sure would hold a proper Irish wake for her.

  As the crowd filed by, quite a few stopped to ask how I was doing, and I could tell that the story of my actions was already circulating amongst the locals. It would only be a matter of time before someone talked to the press, which I didn't want to have happen. I kind of hoped that it would at least stay small scale enough that the unfortunate cycle of the news would move on to the next headline-grabbing crisis.

  Dwayne, my student from the fourth period class who'd shown so much leadership during the shooting, was one of the last to stop by, accompanied by his parents. I knew his Dad was one of those men who just couldn't seem to stay on the right side of the law and had a rap sheet that ran into multiple volumes.

  "Hey Swag," Dwayne greeted me, dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt. I'd never seen Dwayne in anything other than t-shirts and wondered if the young man even owned a shirt with buttons. "Good service."

  "I'm sure you would have liked the music to have a bit more bass to it," I said. Dwayne offered his hand and we shook. "You doing okay Dwayne?”

  “Oh you know me, I’ll be fine.”

  I nodded. “So does that mean I’m going to see you in class next week?"

  Dwayne chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, you will. You'd be happy to know that I even did some homework the other day, and not just reading Iron Man either."

  I nodded, noting the chagrined look that came over his father's face. Dad moved on, leaving Dwayne behind. Dwayne watched him go and leaned into me. "Hey Swag, can I ask you a favor?"

  "Go ahead," I said.

  Dwayne's eyes cut left and right, and he dropped his voice low. "Listen, this thing . . . it kind of woke me up. Would you mind if I stopped by sometimes to get some help? I was thinking, maybe I can be more than my old man."

  I patted him on the shoulder. He was one of the local tough guys, and if the word got out that he was turning to the books, he'd have all sorts of problems with his so-called friends and acquaintances. "We'll talk Monday. Find me during lunch."

  He grinned, then shook hands with Melina and took off on his way.

  The sky rumbled, and we could feel the first few drops of rain start to fall. Instead of the tears I thought it would feel like, it somehow felt like it was washing away something, some of the pain and rage of the past few days.

  On the way home, Melina was quiet, watching as the rain splattered and dripped down the passenger window. "It was a good service," she said quietly, her hands folded in her lap.

  “It was,” I agreed. “Hey, are you needed at the pharmacy today?"

  Melina shook her head, leaning her forehead against the side window and closing her eyes. She was exhausted, and couldn't fight it any longer. "Jay closed the whole thing today. He said for me to take tomorrow off too, someone would cover for me.”

  "That's good," I said. "Because you’re wiped out. You should crash when we get home."

  She nodded silently, giving me an appreciative glance before closing her eyes again. In the ten minutes between leaving the stadium and getting home, I heard her start snoring lightly, and I had to jostle her shoulder when we parked. I was tempted to carry her into the house in my arms, but the way she was sleeping, there was no way I could have gotten her out of the car without her waking up anyway. Still, she was asleep again minutes after lying down on the couch, and I thought for a moment about helping her out of her blouse and skirt before they got wrinkled, but decided against it.

  After I changed into some casual clothes, I sat down at Albertine, getting down to work. I knew that Pinzetti was EPA, and I knew some of the information on him. It was time to turn Albertine loose again.

  First, I pulled up the information on his cell phone. It didn't take long, and I downloaded his call and message history for the thirty days prior to the incident, knowing that while quite a few of the names would be useless, there had to be some nuggets of information in there I could use.

  I knew that the normal method of data correlation would be useless. Pinzetti wouldn’t have been the sort of operative who checked in with his bosses on a routine basis. Still, I had the computing power to check all of it, and the desire to do so. After noting each phone number he called and the names associated with each, I created a list based off of frequency. The first was to his boss in the EPA, which I could understand. Despite being a dark matter operative, Pinzetti had to keep up external appearances, and that meant that some of the time he actually was doing work for the EPA. The second most called line was to a house in his name back in Olympia, Washington. I assumed it was his home and was at least a little surprised that he’d be married. I hadn't interacted with the man much, but he didn't seem like the type to be married to me.

  After creating my database of both phone numbers and e-mails, I put them into Albertine, tracking each of them down. It was a pretty massive pile of information I was seeking, and I couldn't just walk away. Instead, I stayed at the computer, waiting while Albertine gave me initial analysis of each number and message. Those that were obviously not interesting, such as the Mexican take-out place that he'd called twice to put in orders, I discarded. The same for the flurry of calls to his bank and credit card companies after I'd frozen him out.

  Those that I didn't kick out, I sent out for deeper analysis, tracking and networking them. I was looking for one that stood out, touching into the deep networks that I was familiar with. That would take time, however, so I let Albertine do its work. The rain had stopped while I was working, and Melina was still lying on the couch, the evening sun glinting off her hair. She looked so beautiful that I couldn't help it, I sat down on the floor in front of the couch and just looked at her, spellbound.

  When Melina stirred, I reached out, stroking a lock of hair out of her eyes. She hadn't gotten a cut since coming to New Mexico, and she was starting to get bangs that could hang in front of her eyes. I’m not one to question a woman's choice in hairstyle, but she needed a trim.

  My fingers continued, just barely brushing over her cheekbones and jawline, unable to stop themselves. As she lay there, I realized that there was something in Melina that I'd been searching for my entire life, the perfect completion to my soul. In Melina, I had found someone who had everything I needed, and who needed everything I offered. I didn't need to hide any secrets from her like I had with everyone else, and I promised myself right then that I never would. I could give myself to her, and never need to hold back.

  Melina stirred again on the couch, and I pulled my hand back, worried I'd disturbed her. "Don't stop," she whispered, her beautiful eyes fluttering open, her eyes dark and precious. "That's the best way to wake up I've ever had." She smiled her angelic smile, and reached out, cupping my cheek. "You once said I rescued you. How?"

  "Before meeting you, I was losing faith in humanity," I said simply. "With what's in that spare bedroom, and everything else . . . I was losing hope. There was nobody out there for me I thought, and everyone was out for themselves. Then I met you, and you reminded me that the world is more than doomsday computers and shadow agents. You brought sunshine to my dark life, and for that you saved me."

  "You saved me too," she said softly. "I was trapped in a dead-end life, with nothing to look forward to except working another dead-end job, and maybe settling for someone I didn't love just so that I wouldn't die alone."

  "By surrounding you in a world of insanity," I lamented, and she shrugged, a pretty decent effort considering she was laying on her side with one shoulder trapped against the couch.

  "I'd rather be in a world of insanity for an unknown amount of time with you than to be without you, no matter how long I live. In fact, laying here, I know one thing that I want more than anything."

  "What's that?" I asked.

  "Make love to me," Melina said softly, her voice intens
e even though it was soft.

  I nodded, my heart aching with her words. "Here or the bedroom?"

  Melina laughed softly. "As wonderful and as beautiful as it makes me feel, I'd have asked you to do it with me in the middle of the football stadium," she said, "or anyplace you'd ever ask. You know, I still dream about that time at the resort.”

  "Public streak to you, huh?" I laughed back, a warm stirring beginning in my shorts. "I like it."

  "I know you do, but I think this couch will be fine for now," she purred.

  Yet again, Melina had known what I needed even before I could say the words. Leaning into her, we kissed, her tongue slipping around mine until both of us were sighing and moaning lightly. "I could do this for hours."

  "I hope not," she chided me teasingly. "There's a lot more of my body to explore than just my lips."

  I laughed, my humor growing as I recognized the difference between our clothing. She was still dressed in her somber blouse and skirt, looking kind of like a slightly stern office worker. I, on the other hand, had stripped down to a t-shirt and some running shorts, getting comfortable after wearing a suit for so long. For some reason, even the melodramatic sunlight that lit our couch added to the ridiculousness of the entire situation, and I was soon laughing hard, happy.

  “Oh don’t worry, I plan on exploring all of you," I said when I could speak again, cupping her breast through her blouse. I ran my thumb over the nipple area, Melina's groan encouraging me. She pouted when I let go, but her smile reappeared when I reached for the first button on her blouse, slipping it through the hole and revealing a bit more of her remarkable cleavage.

  We kissed again, my hands working blindly to unbutton her blouse while our lips tasted and caressed each other. I finally got the last button free after an almost frustrating struggle, sliding the nylon from her shoulders and leaving her in just her skirt and her bra. Pulling her into my lap, I kissed my way down her throat to her breasts, which were high and proud in their bra on her chest. Kissing the swells that spilled over the top of her cups, Melina pulled me in closer, plunging my face between the soft pillows. "Oh Cam, yes . . . so nice . . .”

  We stayed there, her in my lap and my mouth feasting on her breasts, sucking and tasting the exquisite softness of her skin. Reaching behind her, I unclasped her bra and took it off, capturing her nipples as soon as they came into view. Melina groaned and squealed at the same time as I rolled the hard small bit in my mouth, running my tongue over the small protrusion. Suddenly she started to shake, her hips twitching uncontrollably in my lap, her still panty-covered mound rubbing over my shorts. Clutching me close she came softly, crying out her happiness as her skin flushed the delicious coral pink I'd come to associate with her orgasms.

  "How . . . how the hell do you do it?" she asked when she could think again, grinning down at me. “You play me like a violin. Which, by the way, I assume you play like a virtuoso."

  "Not the violin, but I do play the piano," I admitted. “But not too well.”

  She looked around, surprised, then back at me. "Well, in any case, I want to do something special for such a special man. Hold on right here."

  Getting up from the couch, my eyes were glued to her as she disappeared to the back of the house, reappearing a minute later with her hands behind her back. "Now, tell me, my love," she said, getting on her knees in front of me, her breasts dangling on my thighs, "do you like hat you see?”

  "Of course I do," I said, trying not to laugh. I knew she was up to something, but I didn't know what, and I wanted to see where she was going with this.

  "What do you like best?" she asked, setting something down between her feet and bringing her hands up to tug at my shorts. Easing my shorts down, she grinned as my cock popped into the open.

  "I love your eyes and your smile best," I said, "but the rest of the package isn't that far behind."

  Melina grinned and took my cock in her hand, pumping it slowly.

  Before I knew it, she wrapped her lips around the head of my cock, sucking it deep into her mouth and bobbing up and down. My groan started deep in my chest and my eyes rolled back as she worked my cock in and out of her mouth, until I was gasping, trembling on the edge of coming. She pulled back, grinning. "Yep, you like this too. But I have an idea that you might like a little better."

  Getting up, Melina undid her skirt, and I saw that she was bare underneath, having taken off her panties in the back. Her amazing hips were at my eye level from where I was sitting, and I could smell the arousal wafting from her, my cock twitching in desire.

  She turned around, and at first I couldn't tell what I was looking at, other than her normally amazing ass. But it wasn't just her ass that she wanted me to look at, I could tell. Instead, as she wiggled back and forth, I saw the sheen from between her legs. I reached out and smacked her on the right butt cheek. "Ah, so that's what you want. I like it."

  Melina turned her head back and nodded, handing me the small tube of lubricant. "I know we don't do this often, but tonight . . . let’s make tonight special.”

  I nodded in understanding, taking the bottle of lube and smearing it over my cock. Just the thought of what we were going to do had me rock hard, and the sight of Melina's ass swaying back and forth added to my arousal. Soon, I was ready. "Did you prepare yourself?"

  She shook her head. "I didn't have time. But it’s enough.”

  I stood up and took her into my arms, pulling her tight to me, taking away her control. She didn't want it that night, she wanted me in charge. And I was more than man enough to do what needed to be done. "On the couch, Melina.”

  She purred at the way I said her name, thick and commanding. Nodding, she stepped from my arms and bent over the couch, putting her forearms on the back cushions. Spreading her legs, she displayed herself for me.

  I was tempted to plunge into her tight hole immediately. After all, she'd asked for it. But I knew better. Instead, I reached between her legs, rubbing the silky soft lips of her folds. I slipped a finger inside her, marveling at the texture inside. Supple, soft, warm and slippery while still clinging, even to my finger. She gasped before pushing back into me, not even giving me a chance to move my finger in and out. I let her pleasure herself for a minute then withdrew, taking my cock in my hand. "Are you ready?"

  I placed my cock at the puckered entrance to her ass and pushed, slow and inexorable. I didn't want to hurt her, while at the same time, I wanted her to feel exactly who was in charge. I reached up with my right hand and grabbed her hair, holding her firmly as I eased inside. "That's it, that's it . . . ” I hissed. "Just a bit more."

  My cockhead finally pushed past her tight sphincter, popping through with almost liquid ease. I stopped, making sure that I could hold myself back, not hurting her. It was with infinitesimal slowness that I continued, pulling back and pushing forward until I was nestled fully inside her. "There we are."

  "That feels so good," Melina gasped, her fingers clutching at the couch's upholstery. "God I feel so fucking full."

  I pulled back and pushed in again, stroking my cock in and out of her almost impossibly tight ass. It was dark heaven, a vise-like constriction around the base of my cock while the rest of it was surrounded by a hot, pillowy caress that felt amazing. We had only ever done it one other time, both of us drunk not on alcohol, but on the erotic energy of the activity. We’d agreed that it was something we would only indulge in occasionally, something that we could look forward to.

  I tugged on her hair again, pushing into Melina's ass once more. It felt so good, and I loved it. We fell into a hot, passionate rhythm, my cock filling her over and over. I pushed a little harder and faster, my hips smacking into the perfect combination of soft flesh and firm muscle, each impact causing both of us to cry out, me in a deep grunt and Melina in a squeal that carried in it both pain and pleasure. She loved it, I knew, and we didn't have to say a word to know what each other was thinking.

  Pausing, I pulled Melina back, letting her hair go and cuppi
ng her breasts. I pulled her around, taking a seat on the edge of the couch and leaning back, Melina's ass still impaled on my cock.

  Melina rode up and down on, giving herself into her passions while I held myself still beneath her. It was supposed to give me the opportunity to hold back a little bit, to prolong our pleasure, but it didn't matter much. She rode me so hard and so fast, I could feel my balls tighten and my orgasm rise within me.

  I reached around her hip, finding her clit and rubbing it quickly. She lost control, her legs nearly going into convulsions as she was hammered on both sides with pleasure. I felt her ass clench around my cock, and her second orgasm leaving her tossing her head from side to side as wetness flooded my fingers. It pushed me over the edge, and I moaned as my orgasm blasted through me hard and powerful.

  Chapter 33

  Melina

  I felt blown away as I looked at the network Cam had displayed on the screen. He’d at first tried to arrange it in a simple box-to-box network, but as the connections grew and multiplied, he'd had to re-arrange it, creating what in the end looked more like a spider's web than anything else.

  "There are this many people involved in this?" I finally asked when my count reached fifty-nine boxes. "Really?"

  Cam shook his head. "No. Like this branch that sort of hangs out on its own, that's Pinzetti's wife and her family," he said. "I didn't focus any attention on them at first because I wanted details on the other more likely culprits, but it was a secondary search item that the computers did after the other networks are complete. Here, let's take that out for now."

  He clicked his mouse, and the screen simplified. "You know, that thing's already a few years old," I said, looking at it. "What are you going to do when the hardware starts to break down?"

  "The hard drive clones itself to an external system once a week," Cam said, "so if something does go wrong, there’s a full backup. The weakest links in the perpetuation of the safety net are you and me.”