Page 81 of Savage Beauty

“What’s unusual?”

What’s he… Oh, I said this is unusual. He’s asking me why I said it. “I’m not used to this.” I stop touching him and scan the floor for my clothes. “With William, and…” My shirt’s crumpled against the wall, and I bend at the waist to reach for it. “We would just have sex and then get on with it. With our day. You…you want to…” I stumble, both with my words and into the wall.

“I want to what? Hold you? Make love? Over and over? You walk around in only your panties and yeah, I’ll never get enough.”

I roll my eyes because I can hear the tease. With my bra in hand, I search the room for my sundress. Maybe I should shower and put on a more work-appropriate outfit.

He steps closer, and while it is tempting to just fool around and waste the afternoon in here, we can’t. I hold out a hand to stop him, because I know it won’t take much for him to make me forget all that we have to do. “You have a flight this afternoon, right?”

He glances at his wrist. His watch is one of those that scuba divers wear. I recognize the dial because Sam had one like it.

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“And I’ve got a letter to write.” I point at the bathroom. “Go get your shower. Now.” I use my stern voice and face, the same as I’d use with an intern.

He tugs me into his arms and gives me a sloppy, wet kiss. Haze clouds my brain, but thankfully he listens, and just as quickly, he pops my rear and disappears into the bathroom.

“You like my behind, don’t you?”

He grins over his shoulder. “I love that firm ass of yours. And those mighty fine legs, too.”

My gaze follows his down my body. Barely there boobs, but like Mom once said, some men are leg and ass men. I wonder if there’s a gene for that. It would be interesting to find out, but it would be hard to derive the benefits of such a study.

The rushed sound of pouring water enters the room, and it has the effect of washing away the Max haze. I find my clothes, twist my knotty hair up into a low bun, and locate my old laptop.

By the time Max returns, his skin dewy, smelling like a fresh fragrance-free bar of soap, I’ve finished the letter. It’s a highly unusual letter, but I’m not sure what else I can do to prove the truth of my story. And I want my job back. I’ve invested my career in cellular regeneration research. We’re on the cusp of something great.

I spin the laptop to him so he can read what I’ve written:

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is to confirm that Anton Solonov abducted Dr. Sloane Watson. He illegally transported her to Cambodia against her will.

The Arrow Tactical Security Team rescued her from the compound where she was being held.

The reasons for her abduction remain unknown, but multiple agencies, including but not limited to Interpol, the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and Arrow Tactical are currently investigating the reason for her abduction and for the associated attempted abduction of her sister, and the murder of Felix Hernandez.

The signatures below are from Arrow Tactical team members who can verify the veracity of Dr. Watson’s claims.

He reads it, and those blue irises become hard to see through his squinted eyelids.

“Do you need glasses? I can increase the font size.”

“Sloane, you think this is what they’re looking for?”

“What else could I provide?”

“I’m not sure, but I have to tell you, I don’t like this at all. Maybe you’re right. Maybe we jumped to the wrong conclusion about who is coming after you and why. But it strikes me as all kinds of FUBAR that you’d need to write a letter like this.”

“What’s FUBAR?”

“Fucked up beyond all recognition.” He bites out the words and I cross my arms below my chest.

“What else am I supposed to do?”

“I’m not sure.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But I can tell you that this doesn’t sit right. Can you hold on to this letter? Come back with me. Let’s meet with the guys in D.C. Let’s see what light they can shed on everything that’s happened.”

“I have a chance to get my old job back. I can’t risk… She’s interviewing my replacement next week. I can’t leave.”

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