Page 56 of France Face-Off
Three months later
Alex smiled as she sat on the balcony of the flat she and Dane had purchased in Zurich, the sun shining down on her face. She’d always wanted to spend more time in the city and had never thought she would actually get to live there or anywhere else for an extended period of time that exceeded her former one-week minimum. Now, here she was, in her own home, with a view of the city in front of her. She was now going on two months in Zurich, working as an interpreter. She was almost giddy with how good it felt to put down roots. For the first time in a long time, she had hope for a future—one with Dane in it.
She’d met with the CIA at Langley and helped them get into the software her parents had stolen from Natalya.
The cybersecurity team had worked day and night to make it happen and had the natural gas flowing again within forty-eight hours of it being shut down. They’d been able to reverse the damage the ransomware had created for Nord Stream. By studying the software, they’d also learned how to safeguard computer systems against future attacks. All because Alex’s parents had sacrificed their lives to help others.
After Baranovsky’s and Natalya’s deaths, Anatoly Petrov had been able to convince the other members of the Energy Summit that no more siphoning would occur. He would put security measures in place to keep it from happening again and allow a multinational review committee to inspect the facilities and the software to assure all countries who’d agreed to reinstate the pipeline and build the new one that they wouldn’t be paying for gas they weren’t receiving. With that promise, he’d gotten the members to sign off on the construction of the second pipeline and on reestablishing the existing one.
“Can I get you another glass of wine?” Dane asked as he set his beer on the table between their two chairs.
“No, thank you,” Alex said. “I’m still sipping this one. What time did Lucie, Dmytro, Ace, Jaz and the baby say they were getting here?”
“In about an hour.” Dane settled in the chair beside her and reached for her hand. “Why?”
She smiled. “I was just thinking…”
“About?”
“About how good it would feel to make love in that big, beautiful shower you had installed.” She hadn’t been thinking that, but now that she had, heat coiled low in her belly. “Know anyone who would care to join me?” she asked as she rose from her lounge chair and pushed the straps of her sundress over her shoulders, letting them slide down her arms.
“I could think of a few.” Dane was off his chair in a second, pulling his shirt up over his head and tossing it onto the balcony.
Alex led the way back into the flat, her dress floating down her body to pool around her ankles. She stepped free of it and shimmied out of her panties.
Ever since Lucie and the CIA had set her up with a new identity, passport and social security number, she’d finally started living her life. The best part of it was the time she spent with Dane, getting to know him better and making love with him every chance she could.
He had performed other assignments for the Brotherhood Protectors International and was happy to be employed, using the skills he’d honed as a US Navy SEAL. As he’d said, the work was rewarding and for the greater good.
They’d been together for most of the past three months, getting to know each other better. Alex wasn’t sure they were ready to commit to marriage, but she couldn’t imagine life without him. Married or not, she knew in her heart they would have the kind of love her mother and father had enjoyed. And that made her happier than she’d been in a long time.
She was even happier when they made love. Alex led the way into the newly renovated bathroom with the shiny white tile and adjustable lighting. She dimmed the overhead lights, reached into the shower and turned it on. Water cascaded down from the rain showerhead. Alex stepped beneath the spray, letting the warm water wash over her head, shoulders and across her breasts.
Dane shucked his shorts and joined her, pulling her into his arms and claiming her mouth with his in a hot, wet kiss.
“I like that you’re adventurous,” he said, sliding his lips over her slick skin.
“I like that you like when I am.” She leaned up on her toes and brushed her lips against his.
“We have fifty-nine minutes until our guests arrive,” Dane reminded her.
She grinned. “Then we’d better get going.”
Dane bent, scooped her up into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. Then he pressed her back against the cool tile wall, pressed his cock to her entrance and paused.
She tried to lower herself over him, but he held her back. “What’s wrong?”
He groaned. “The condoms are in the nightstand.”
“So?” She captured his face between her palms. “I’m willing to take the risk.”
His brow furrowed. “What if you get pregnant?”
“Would that be a bad thing?” Alex was well on her way to trusting this man with her heart. And she was already there in love with him.
“Hey,” he pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, “You carrying our baby would be amazing.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down so that she could kiss him. “I’m thinking that I love you.”
