Page 18 of Tempting Alec

Grier shook herself and then looked up at him with her green eyes clear and trusting. “I do.”

Alec helped her into the chopper, following her in and strapping himself in beside her, making sure she had on the headset that would allow her to hear and speak with both him and Kane. Kane closed the door before getting back into the pilot’s seat and starting up the engines.

“So that’s the way it is?” quipped Kane.

“That’s the way it is,” replied Alec.

“Good for you.”

Alec shot his friend a smile because for the first time in years, he had found something worth fighting for beyond the mission, something worth risking everything for. And that was a battle he was ready to face.

Chapter 9

Grier

Grier sat in the luxuriously appointed safe room at Cerberus headquarters in Chicago, her fingers flying over the keys of her laptop as she worked to decipher the code that had plagued her since Moscow. She had expected a small room with a narrow cot and a rickety desk. What she’d found instead was a welcoming suite that could rival the best hotel rooms in the world.

The room was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the computer and the occasional murmur from the operatives stationed outside. The walls were reinforced steel, but they’d been painted a soft, neutral cream color that provided the perfect backdrop of the luxurious furnishings. It was a stark contrast to the Agency’s Moscow safehouse and the chaos and danger they had just escaped. Here, within the confines of Cerberus, Grier felt a sense of security, but it did little to calm the turmoil raging inside her.

She and Alec had settled in together. She spent her days mostly working on trying to find the answers to the questions she had. But her nights were spent reveling in Alec’s arms. He was an inventive, caring and passionate lover who managed to take her to heights of ecstasy she had only previously imagined.

Alec was somewhere in the building, likely meeting with Seth or checking in with Robert Fitzwallace, the legendary head of Cerberus, about their next move. The thought of Alec brought a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something deeper that she was still trying to sort out. They had been through hell together, and the connection they had forged in the heat of danger was undeniable. But now, in the relative safety of Chicago, Grier found herself grappling with feelings she wasn’t sure how to handle.

She pushed aside her work and leaned back in the ergonomic chair, rubbing her tired eyes. The code she was working on was intricate, layered with multiple levels of encryption designed to keep out even the most skilled cryptographers. But Grier was determined to crack it. She needed to prove to herself—and to Alec—that she was more than just an analyst stuck behind a desk. She wanted to contribute, to be part of the solution, not just someone who needed protecting.

As she sat there, lost in thought, the door to the safe room creaked open, and Samantha Coltraine slipped inside. Samantha was one of the few people at Cerberus who Grier had known before this nightmare had befallen her. Since their return to Chicago, it had been Samantha who often offered a kind word or a listening ear when things got tough.. Today, she wore her usual warm smile, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes as she took in Grier’s exhausted expression.

“You look like you could use a break,” Samantha said, crossing the room to sit beside her.

Grier offered a weak smile. “I’ll rest when this is done.”

Samantha gave her a knowing look. “You’re going to burn yourself out, Grier. You’ve been through a lot. It’s okay to take a moment for yourself.”

Grier sighed, closing the laptop and rubbing her temples. “I don’t know how to stop. Every time I try to relax, my mind just keeps going over everything that’s happened. I can’t shut it off.”

Samantha nodded sympathetically. “It’s hard to switch gears when you’ve been in survival mode for a while. But you can’t do everything by yourself. That’s what Alec is here for, and the rest of us. We’re a team.”

Grier hesitated before speaking, her voice quiet. “That’s just it, Samantha. I’m not used to this. Depending on other people, letting them in. I’ve always been the one who could handle things on my own. But now, with Alec… I don’t know what’s happening. I feel like I’m losing control.”

Samantha studied her for a moment, then reached out to place a hand on Grier’s. “You are. Or at least I think there’s a part of you that would like to. I can tell you from experience that giving up control has a lot to recommend it, especially when there’s a hunky Dom willing to take it.”

Grier blushed. “Are you talking about what happened in Chicago? Or something more?”

“I’m talking about whatever you want to talk about.”

Grier looked down at their hands, the warmth of Samantha’s touch grounding her. “Both, I think. Alec and I… we’ve been through so much together. I trust him in ways I’ve never trusted anyone before. But the idea of a future with him, given the worlds we come from… I don’t know if it’s possible. And then there’s this other part of it, this thing he showed me at Club Southside. It’s… overwhelming.”

Samantha’s eyes softened with understanding. “You’re talking about the dungeon, aren’t you? The dynamic between you and Alec.”

Grier nodded, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. “I’ve always been strong, capable. But when I’m with Alec, I find myself wanting to let go, to be… submissive. It scares me, Samantha. I’ve never felt like this before, and I’m not sure what it means.”

Samantha squeezed her hand gently. “Grier, it’s not uncommon for strong women to crave a space where they can let go of control. It doesn’t make you weak. It’s about finding balance, about having a place where you can find peace, where you don’t have to be in charge all the time.”

Grier looked up, her eyes searching Samantha’s face. “But what if I’m not enough? What if I can’t reconcile these two parts of myself? I’ve always wanted the fairy tale romance, the happily ever after. But I don’t know if that’s possible with Alec.”

Samantha smiled gently. “Grier, fairy tales aren’t about perfection. They’re about finding someone who understands you, who accepts every part of you—the strong, the vulnerable, the capable, the focused, the brilliant. Alec sees all of that in you, and he’s still here. I don’t think he has plans to go anywhere—at least not without you.”

Grier’s throat tightened with emotion. “I’m just not sure if I can be what he needs.”

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