JUDGING ELLIE

by Catherine Snodgrass

  Tonight. Her smile quickly faded. Tonight she was going undercover.

  Cool air rushed around her, followed by the rattle of the shower curtain sliding open. Ellie wiped the water from her eyes and glared up at a very naked Kurt.

  "What the hell do you think you’re doing?" She draped the tiny washcloth in front of her breasts, scowled, and quickly moved it lower.

  He shrugged one shoulder and gave her an innocent look that screamed a warning. "Showering. You said we were short on time. This should help." He stepped into the shower stall behind her and slid the curtain shut.

  "Do you know how close you are to the end of your life?" she pushed out through bared teeth.

  Kurt smiled and grabbed the soap. "Come on. We’re conserving water. I’ll wash your back. You wash mine." The lather grew in his hands. He rested the bar in its holder and traced his hands over her breasts.

  Shock waves of electricity ripped through Ellie. She gasped for breath and fumbled for the wall to keep from falling.

  "Kurt, please…"

  He slipped his fingers lower, spreading soap in their wake. Suds slipped slowly down her stomach, trailing down her hips and thighs.

  Ellie clamped her legs closed. "No."

  He stood back. "All right." Grabbing her hand, he slapped the soap into her palm and presented his back to her. "If you wouldn’t mind."

  She stared at that vast expanse for what seemed an eternity before she lathered her hands and swooped over his skin. Her touch was accompanied by his sharp intake of breath. So, she wasn’t the only one affected. A double-edged sword, at best.

  Empowered, Ellie took her time, tracing his spine, the sharp contours of his shoulder blades and each defined muscle. Down and around, up and over. To his perfectly tight backside and the cleft in his buttocks. To his shoulders and the cut in his biceps that quivered under her touch. Down his legs, up his thighs, inside, out. The small jerky motions his body made beneath her hands gave her a perverse sense of power, of pleasure.

  "God, Ellie, please," a ragged gasp tore from his throat. He clutched the towel bar like an exquisite sacrifice. He was hers to do with as she pleased. She was totally in control. Damn, it felt good.

  "Turn around." An order, not a request. And Kurt obeyed. He was harder, bigger than she’d ever seen him. The knowledge she had the power to do this to him was the biggest aphrodisiac a woman could have. The question was, what did she intend to do about it? There was only one thing she could do, and she gave herself over to that demand.

  Twisting around, she backed slowly against him, bent forward, reached behind and guided him deep into her moist heat. He sank deeper into her than ever before, his generous length bumping against her cervix, a kind of pleasure pain. She shifted her hips, mutely appealing for more.

  A low groan ripped from his throat. One muscular arm wrapped around her waist while the other grasped the shower rail in an effort to keep them from falling. He shifted, allowing her to press her palms flat against the water-streaked ceramic tile, and gave her the full measure of his passion. Slowly, he began to thrust, each motion deliberately savored. She arched her back, gasping, unable to catch her breath, and urged him on. Kurt obliged, finally putting one hand on each side of her hips, driving into her faster and faster.

  Ellie’s world was upside down. She reveled in the feel of Kurt straining against her. The warm water caressed them both as they pressed ever closer, their labored breathing a counterpoint to the slap of skin on skin. The tension snapped, and a delicious, drawn-out climax quaked between them, all shaking muscles and shuddering breath. For a moment, he rested, chest and stomach muscles heaving against her spine. With gentle care, he eased from her body.

  Without a word Ellie soaped between her legs, rinsed quickly, and stepped from the shower. Kurt turned off the water seconds later and followed. He waited in the bathroom while she towel-dried her hair in the bedroom, then his shadow fell over her. She glanced up as she lifted her arms to braid her hair.

  "Here…let me."

  He moved over to where she sat on the bed, slid behind her, and picked up the rich mass of her hair. When the last pin was in place, he caught her arms in a gentle hold and brushed a kiss against her shoulder.

  "I’m not sorry we made love just now. I’m not sorry we ever made love. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Hard as it might be to believe, I love you."

  Those damned tears flooded her eyes once more. Ellie blinked them away and stood. "I have to get ready for work. Do you suppose I could have a little privacy?"

  "Sure." He rubbed his chin where the spirit gum had reddened it.

  Ellie examined his face. It was strange and familiar all at the same time. The soft brown beard and mustache replaced by taut skin and angular cheekbones. "How did you get that scar on your chin?" she finally asked.

  He traced it with one finger. "My little sister hit me in the face with the end of a vacuum cleaner attachment when I was six years old."

  "Why?" She had to ask.

  He grinned. "Because I cut all the hair off her favorite doll."

  Ellie didn’t want to laugh, but she couldn’t help it.

  He smiled with satisfaction. "Is there somewhere I can put my clothes?"

  "Yes." She wiggled into a pair of silk panties. "In your own home."

  "Not open for discussion, love." He patted her bottom as he passed, then laughed at her outraged glare.

  Ellie shut and locked the door behind him. She doubted it would hold back a determined man, and Kurt was definitely that. Maybe it was time she faced facts—she was addicted to him, being with him, making love with him. It was worse than having an unlimited supply of chocolate within hand’s reach. More humiliating was that he knew the effect he had on her and used it to his advantage.

  But who had the advantage in the shower? She called the shots. Ellie smiled as she buttoned her camouflage blouse. Looked like she wasn’t the only one fighting urges here.

  A sudden thought struck her. They hadn’t used protection. She froze, fingers numb on the buttons. What if she got pregnant? It was too late to do anything about it now, but what if? She did a rapid calculation and they were safe. Surprisingly, disappointment filtered in.

  The phone blasted out a ring and jolted through her thoughts. This time of morning, there was only one person it could be. She didn’t know if she had the energy to talk to her mother. She certainly didn’t have the time.

  A second ring cut off halfway through. Since her mother wouldn’t give up until she at least got the answering machine. That could only mean Kurt had picked up. Curious, Ellie picked up the cordless to eavesdrop.

  "Who the hell are you?" Her mother’s haughty tone demanded answers.

  "I’m Kurt. Who the hell are you?"

  Ellie smothered laughter under her hand.

  "I’m Eleanor’s mother. Don’t get smart with me, young man. I’ve heard about the shenanigans going on there. Bernadette McFee has been very informative."

  "I beat the thieving old biddy has. Did she also tell you she’s violated several California State laws regarding her tenant?"

  "She only has Eleanor’s best interests at heart. Let me speak to my daughter right now."

  Time to take action. Ellie raced down the stairs and shook her head at Kurt. A broad smile cut across his face.

  "She can’t come to the phone right now. It’s not…convenient. For either of us."

  Her mother sucked in an outraged gasp. God only knew where her mind was. "How dare you engage in intercourse while you speak to me!"

  "Intercourse?" His silvery-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh…you mean sex. No, we’re done with that for now. You just missed it though. But I could probably go for a nooner. Why don’t you call back at lunch?"

  That left her mother sputtering. Before she could recover, Kurt jumped in again.

  "Is there a message I can give to Ellie when she gets done washing sweat and other various bodily fluids from her body?"

  El
lie turned the mouthpiece away and bit back a shriek of laughter.

  "Tell her to call me." Each word was shoved out through clenched teeth. A loud click announced that her mother had slammed down the phone.

  Ellie released her pent-up laughter. "Well, what do you know, Kurt Orin Duncan. You do have your uses."

  He gave her a wink and seated the receiver on the downstairs wall unit. "And I kill spiders, too."

  "What more could a woman ask for?"

  He leaned over to the coffee table and picked up a piece of bread slathered with peanut butter. "Breakfast?"

  She slipped it from his fingers and together they walked into the kitchen. His expression turned solemn as he filled their mugs with coffee. He handed Ellie one, then reached up and flicked his index finger at the corner of her mouth.

  "Peanut butter." But instead of wiping his finger on a napkin, he drew it to his mouth and licked it off.

  Ellie’s heart tumbled. How could such an innocent gesture feel so intimate? Because it was something shared.

  "If you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’m either going to have to take you right here on the floor or walk around hard all day."

  His voice was low, husky, clearly not joking. The way his lovely eyes stared into hers backed him up. And in that second Ellie knew she couldn’t deny what her heart demanded to say.

  "Kurt, I…"

  He placed his fingers over her lips. "Don’t say anything yet, sweetheart. I want you to think about a few things first. I might have out and out lied to you about who I was. And believe me, I have cursed myself seven ways to Sunday for that. It was stupid of me. But one thing’s for sure—I never lied about my feelings. Never. Think about that today. Think about everything that happened since you gave that wig back to Susan. Please."

  She stretched on tiptoe, he bent closer, their lips met somewhere in-between. He tasted of peanut butter and coffee. Or was that her? It didn’t matter, they were one. Ellie would have told him then and there just how she felt if she hadn’t been afraid he would think she was caught up in the moment. So, as they sealed their kiss, she left the words unsaid.

  "We need to get going or we’ll both be late for work," he said. "I’ll drive so you can eat."

  "Don’t forget I have an eye appointment this afternoon."

  "We’ll grab lunch, then go."

  Ellie decided she could get used to being chauffeured. To actually be able to eat and enjoy her coffee rather than gulp it down or do without? Well, that was a treat. Kurt drove her straight to the side door of her building, and kissed her good-bye.

  The first person Ellie saw when she finally stepped from his car was First Sergeant Yost. The man’s wide-eyed expression pleased her to no end, but she kept her mouth shut. Anything she said now would be scathingly sarcastic. Let the old devil dog think what he wanted. No doubt he’d be cornering Kurt later demanding all the sordid details.

  She breezed into her office, nodding good mornings to those she passed. Kurt’s flowers greeted her. She gave them a drink and settled down to transcribe a court-martial.

  "Think about everything…"

  Memories poured in. He could have left after knowing she wasn’t his suspect, but he’d stayed. Yes, he could have stayed for the sex, but flowers the next day said more. He asked for a truce between her and Agent Duncan, defended her against Yost, bought her lunch, even went Christmas shopping with her knowing she was choosing her own gift. He never blinked at the cost. What was it he said?

  "She’s worth every penny and more."

  "Definitely marriage material."

  And he’d been talking about her. Emotion clogged her throat. Words blurred together both on screen and on the recorder.

  "Are you all right, Staff Sergeant?"

  Ellie jumped at the sound of the Staff Judge Advocate’s voice. Blinking her vision clear, she glanced up at Colonel Scott. She didn’t have too much interaction with this man, but she sure did like him. His bald head, sky blue eyes that always seemed to smile, a compassion for his people, a toughness no one could doubt—he was just about the greatest boss she’d ever had. Would it be too silly to confide in him that she’d fallen in love?

  She pressed her fingers to the base of her throat. "Just overcome by emotion, sir, thinking about how lucky I am."

  He cocked his head to one side. "I’d be overcome, too, if I’d just escaped death. Come to my office, Staff Sergeant."

  Ellie followed without a word and he did not offer any further conversation. When they stepped into his office, she saw why. Kurt, Jess, and Vic waited there. Jess jingled the change in his pocket. Vic rested his forearms on his knees. Kurt alternately paced and stared out the small window. All three looked up when she entered with Colonel Scott. He closed the door behind them.

  "Sit." The colonel waved his hand toward the sofa and two chairs as he settled behind his desk. Once there, he laced his fingers before him. "Staff Sergeant Severance, there’s not much sense re-hashing all this. Everyone here knows the story. Judging from your rush of emotion moments ago, and the fact that Agent Duncan is vehemently opposed to this plan, I will surmise that a relationship has developed between the two of you?"

  "Yes, sir, it has." Kurt’s tone defied him to say something against it.

  The colonel laughed and let his head sag dramatically. "It’s beginning to feel like the damned Love Boat around here. Every time I turned around…" He jerked his head up. "Have you met the Stuarts and the Taylors, Staff Sergeant?"

  Frowning, Ellie shook her head.

  Colonel Scott smiled and leaned back. "No doubt you will soon enough." His gaze shot among the men. "Unless you’ve got them involved somehow, and I should be pulling some extra chairs in here?"

  Jess cleared his throat. "Both women are expecting children, sir. Claudia Taylor is due to have a little girl next month. Rowan is four months pregnant and still sick as a dog."

  "If those two women were involved in this mess, I don’t think even pregnancy could stop them." He focused on Ellie once more. "And now we come to you. You know the risks. I’m sure Agent Duncan has spent some time laying them out for you. Is there anything I can say to make you change your mind?"

  She kept her chin level and thought of Jeremy. "Only a direct order from you, sir, would stop me from going through with this."

  He nodded once, looking resigned. "Why should I be one to stand in the way of justice? Just try to keep her safe and in one piece, gentlemen. She’s a fine Marine. I sure don’t want anything to happen to her."

  Dismissed, Ellie filed out with Kurt and Vic. Jess held back. As they walked down the hallway, she heard him say, "So, you coming to dinner tonight? Vera will be there…"

  Ellie laughed to herself. Colonel Scott and Vera Livretti? Then she grinned with delight. What could be more perfect?

  "What’s so funny?" Kurt asked.

  She jerked her head toward the office. "Jess playing match-maker." She touched him lightly on the arm, caressing him with her thumb through the soft material of his knit shirt. See you at lunch?"

  He nodded. "And then you’re loaned out to NCIS until this is over." As he had earlier, he dropped a kiss to her lips as they parted. Somehow it seemed right.

  * * *

  His final appeal failed as Kurt suspected it would. Colonel Scott’s take on the whole matter was that he was smart enough not to stand in the way of a strong-willed woman determined to seek justice. Reluctantly, Kurt had to agree. Ellie would do what Ellie wanted to do. Nothing and no one would stand in her way. He’d learned that fast from working with Claudia Taylor.

  If he and Ellie were going to have a future together—and they damned sure were as far as he was concerned—he had to accept that quality in her, too. He already respected it, even admired her for it.

  At least she wasn’t mad at him any more or she didn’t seem like it. A bond had formed with her mother’s phone call. No matter how annoying the intrusion was, Kurt had to bless her for giving both of them some common ground, for l
etting Ellie see he was on her side. Now all they had to do was get her safely through this evening’s surveillance.

  As they drove back to the NCIS office in Vic’s sedan, he and Jess dissected the plan again. Kurt would get to the Lost Oasis beforehand disguised as a older local man. It was either that or his Kiki LaRue get up. The last thing he wanted Ellie to see right now was him disguised as a woman. And if he had to run after somebody, he’d prefer not to have to do so in heels. Plus shaving his legs was a bitch.

  Vic swung into his front-and-center parking space at NCIS headquarters. A string of curses soon followed. Kurt looked up to find Lee Parsons stomping across the parking lot toward them. Obviously, local law enforcement had decided not to act on Kurt’s call of a drunk driver.

  One by one they cleared the vehicle and waited. Parsons’ face was that perpetually mottled shade of red.

  "I saw you at the SJA’s, then I saw him bring her to his office." He pointed a shaking finger at Kurt. "Then he kissed her!" His voice echoed across the empty parking lot. "What the hell is this? I want that bitch in jail."

  Jess fanned the air, trying to calm him. "Whoa, son. You’ve got the wrong woman. We’ve learned she isn’t the one."

  "Bullshit! The hell she isn’t. I’d recognize that sweet ass anywhere. I’m telling you she’s got you all fooled. Especially this one." He jabbed his finger into Kurt’s chest.

  Kurt grabbed it. "You touch me once more, you son of a bitch, and I’ll break your finger."

  Parsons jerked free. The red in his face deepened to puce. "She’s playing you all. While she’s dinkin’ you on the side, she’s still plantin’ her little threats. There was a video in my car this morning and the only place I was all night was…"

  Lee apparently thought better of finishing his sentence. There was no need. Kurt already knew Parsons had lurked outside Ellie’s house, watching it. What he couldn’t understand was how Susan managed to sneak a tape into the car without Parsons noticing. Either the big idiot had fallen asleep or she’d slipped the tape in later, after he’d given up on his stint at Ellie’s condo.