Honor Under Siege

sorry. Renée inched away and leaned on her elbow, trailing the fi ngers

of her other

hand absently up and down Paulas stomach. “Sweetie, you got a

promotion that

you deserved. Im real y proud of you. Dont you know that? Because if I

didnt

let you know

that

“No, Paula said quickly. “I mean, I never gave you a chance to say you

didnt want me to do it.

Renées eyes darkened. “Is that how I make you feel? That I dont want

you to be Blairs security chief?

“No, Paula said, frustrated. “But it means Il be traveling more, and

working more, and probablyI dont know, distracted. And that af ects

us. She cupped Renées jaw and traced her thumb over Renées cheek. “I

dont want anything to come between us.

“Youre a secret service agent, Paula, Renée said mat er-of-factly. “Just

like Im an FBI agent. At least, I was.

“Hey. You stil

are.

“Yeah, maybe. First my shoulder, now my leg. If I dont rehab a

hundred percent theyre going to pul me out of the fi eld. Renée looked

away. “Were not talking about me. Were talking about you. She glanced

back to Paula, her eyes intent. “I understand what your job requires. Im

okay with it. Im proud of you. Im just hings are tough right now, but its

not you. She leaned down and kissed

Paula hard. “Sweetie, its not

you.

Paula drew Renée into her arms again and returned her kiss. “I hate for

you to be unhappy.

“I just need to fi gure out what Im going to do if they transfer me to a

desk job somewhere. Renée closed her eyes. “I dont think I can take

that.

Paula tightened her hold, frightened more by the despondency in Renées

voice than the thought that her lover might be transferred across the

country. “Itl be okay. Your leg wil be fi ne and youl be back to duty

before you know it.

“Im not going to accept a post somewhere if it means Im never going to

be able to see you. Renée caressed Paulas chest, then circled lower,

unconsciously tracing the line of muscles down to the base of her bel y.

“Not after everything thats happened.

Paula tried to focus on being supportive, but Renées persistent caresses

were starting to sap her concentration. Casual y, she covered Renées

questing hand and drew it away from the trigger zone that was

dangerously close to igniting. “I know. I feel the same.

“We havent made love since I got shot, Renée observed softly,

extracting her hand from Paulas grip. She cupped Paula very lightly

between the legs. “Miss it?

“Oh, geez, Paula choked, her legs starting to quiver.

“Yeah.

Renée squeezed gently. “Have you been taking many solo

fl ights?

“Not many. Paula fl ushed as she felt a fl ood of wetness between her

thighs. “Oh.

“Mmm. You did miss me, didnt you? Renée gripped a lit le harder and

jiggled her hand.

“Stop. Paula slammed her hand down over Renées, ef ectively

preventing her from moving her fi ngers. “Honest. Dont. Il get real y

excited, and we cant until your legs better.

Renée laughed. “My leg might keep me from working, sweetie, but it

doesnt keep me from taking care of the important business. She lowered

her head and licked Paulas nipple into rapid at ention. When Paula

shivered and moaned softly, she worried the smal , hard knot tenderly

with her teeth. “So I think you should hold very stil . She sucked until

Paula moaned again. “While I make you come.

“Renée, Paula said hoarsely. “We should

wait.

Renée shifted and guided Paulas face to her breast. “No. Waiting is the

last thing we should do. She hissed in a breath as Paulas mouth closed

over her nipple. Delicately, she traced the hard prominence of Paulas

clitoris with her fi ngertip. When Paula jerked and started to pul back,

she gripped her between thumb and forefi nger and squeezed. “Were

here together right now, Paula. Feel me now, sweetie. Feel me.

Unable to resist the persistent caresses, Paula closed her eyes as Renée

fondled her in just the right spot with just the right pressure to make her

come. Spinning toward orgasm, she whispered the one thing of which

she was total y certain in a suddenly uncertain world. “I love you.

Chapter Six

D iane was quiet tonight, Cam said as she sat on the side of the bed and

pul ed of her shoes. She unbuckled her belt, lifted her hips, and shed

her trousers. Across the room, Blair undressed, tossing her blue jeans

and T-shirt into the laundry basket in the bedroom closet. The circles

that had surfaced beneath her eyes earlier in the day had deepened, giving

her a haunted look.

“Things are stil pret y awful in Manhat an, Blair said. “She closed the

gal ery for a while.

“Its going to take some time before people and businesses recover. Cam

gave a mirthless laugh as she removed her shirt. “I guess recover is an

optimistic word.

“Adjust to a new reality is more like it. Naked, Blair brushed her fi

ngertips over Cams chest as she slid past her and into bed. “I guess were

just catching up to the rest of the world.