Page 39 of Undercover Infidel
When he eased himself from inside me, I whimpered again, this time at the emptiness I felt. He disposed ofthe condom, then gathered me in his arms, kissing me passionately as our hands renewed their exploration.
With the fire crackling near us, I traced circles on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. Whatever complications tomorrow might bring—Labyrinth, Unit 23, the mysterious threats—in this moment, there was only Con and me, intertwined in the ember’s glow.
I had no illusions that this solved anything. Our professional tensions would resurface. The threats surrounding us remained. But for now, in the sanctuary of his bedroom, I allowed myself to simply be a woman in the arms of a man who had somehow worked his way into my heart, something I couldn’t bring myself to regret.
11
CON
Consciousness arrived like a gentle tide rather than by a jarring alarm that typically yanked me from sleep. I opened my eyes to find Lex curled against me, her dark hair spilling across my chest. The weight of her head resting over my heart created an unfamiliar sensation of…contentment.
I’d slept through the night. No nightmares about Fallon’s betrayal, no waking in a cold sweat with fragments of failure echoing in my mind. Just uninterrupted rest with Lex in my arms.
My fingers traced the curve of her shoulder, marveling at the softness of her skin. Her brilliance had first captivated me, but this vulnerability—the trust required in our profession to sleep beside someone—moved me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
She stirred, eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks before opening. The moment of confusion in her eyes cleared, replaced by recognition and something warmer.
“Good morning,” she said, voice husky with sleep.
“It is, indeed.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You’re quite beautiful when you’re saving the world in your dreams.”
She laughed, the sound vibrating against my chest. “Who says I was dreaming?”
“Fair point.” I shifted, pulling her closer. “I could grow accustomed to this.”
“To what?” Her eyes held mine, searching.
“Waking with you. Sleeping through the night.” I hesitated, then added, “Having someone who understands both sides of my life.”
Her expression softened as she traced the line of my jaw with her fingertips. “I’m glad I stayed.”
“As am I.” I kissed her, marveling at how natural it felt. “Though I suspect Mrs. Thorne will have questions about our breakfast preferences.”
She groaned, burying her face against my neck. “I hadn’t thought about that. Your staff?—”
“Are the soul of discretion,” I assured her, though the thought of Bastion’s raised brow made me wince internally. “Perhaps we should face the day.”
In the shower, soap and water weren’t our only considerations as hands wandered and lips met. What began as routine cleansing evolved into something far more intimate, leaving us both breathless, then fulfilled.
When we finally made our way downstairs, Mrs. Thorne had indeed adjusted the breakfast service. Two places were set side by side rather than across from each other at the table, and my coffee was stronger than usual. I couldn’t speak for Lex’s tea, but I assumed it was steeped extra long.
“Sleep well, my lord?” Bastion asked a few minutes later, his expression indiscernible as he refilled my coffee.
“Exceedingly, thank you.” I caught Lex’s eye over my cup, noting the hint of color in her cheeks.
After Bastion withdrew, she leaned toward me. “Does anything escape his notice?”
“Not in twenty years of service.” I buttered a piece of toast. “Now, about today. We need to compile everything we have on Labyrinth’s potential locations.”
She reached for her tablet, professional focus returning. “The suspicious network traffic we identified yesterday should be our starting point.”
We were debating approaches when my secure mobile vibrated with an encrypted message. Kestrel’s identifier flashed on the screen as I opened it.
“Well, this is interesting.” I passed her the device.
She read aloud. “A Russian scientist matching Orlov’s description was seen working at a converted estate in Aberdeenshire. Defense measures in place, including signal jamming and thermal detection grids. Satellite imagery is attached.” She looked up, eyes bright with the thrill of a solid lead. “This could be it.”
I downloaded the attached files to review on a larger screen. “Aberdeenshire makes sense—remote enough for privacy but with port access.”
