Radclyffe - Honor Under Siege

Diane tightened her hold and strained beneath her, wrapping

both legs

around the back of Valeries thighs, Valerie immersed herself in

the heat pouring off Dianes body. Dianes passion was like

nothing shed ever felt. The fire burned effortlessly, searing into

those dark, barren places where shed learned to hide her feelings,

not realizing that eventual y that which was buried, died.

Desperate not to lose the connection, Valerie tightened her grip

on Dianes upper arms, digging her fingers into the firm,

pliable flesh. When Diane moaned, she instantly pul ed away.

“Im sorry. I didnt mean

“No. More. Diane dragged Valeries head back down, her fingers

twisting through Valeries hair. She pressed her mouth to Valeries ear.

“You cant hurt me. Not by touching me. Im dying to have you inside

me.

Valerie sobbed out a cry of need and wonder. She pushed herself down

until her face was pressed to Dianes stomach, then she cupped Dianes

breast with one hand and fil ed her with the other. She squeezed and rol

ed Dianes nipple as she pushed into her, higher and deeper, thrust after

thrust.

“God, Diane gasped, arching frantical y to meet each stroke. “I dont

want to come but youre going to make me.

“Yes, Valerie whispered urgently. She kissed her way lower, gliding her

tongue over soft skin and trembling muscles and into the fragrant heat.

She hummed as her lips found Dianes clitoris and she licked lightly.

“Oh no, Diane pleaded. “Dont make me come so soon.

“I want you, Valerie whispered, before sucking her even more firmly.

Diane gripped the sheets and pushed down hard around Valeries fingers

as her clitoris swel ed to fil Valeries mouth. “So good, so wonderful, so

oh, oh Im

Valerie watched Dianes face reflect the pleasure that rippled around her

fingers and pulsed between her lips, and thought shed never seen anyone

as beautiful.

She didnt stop caressing her, inside and out, until Diane murmured a

weak protest and twisted away.

“Love, Diane whispered. “I wont be able to walk today if you

dont stop.

Tenderly, Valerie placed a delicate kiss at the apex of Dianes

sex, then rested her cheek in the hol ow adjacent to her

hipbone. She continued to fondle her breast, smiling as Dianes

mouth curved in obvious enjoyment. “Thats what you say , but

thats not what your body is tel ing me.

“My body is greedy. Diane gazed down through heavy

lidded eyes. “Insatiable, in fact, for you.

“Real y? Valerie kissed low on Dianes bel y, then nuzzled her

face a little lower. “I can handle that.

“Oh, I know you can. Take your clothes off and come up

here first, Diane murmured. “I want you, too.

Valerie shed her tank and panties and slid into Dianes

embrace, easing her swollen center against Dianes leg. She

kissed her lingeringly, slowly rocking against her. “I only have a

minute.

“Can you come this way?

“I think so, if you help

me. “Anything.

“Play with my breasts, Valerie said thickly, already sliding

faster up and down Dianes thigh.

“Youre so wet. So beautiful. Diane pulled on Valeries

nipples.

“Does it feel good, darling? Rubbing against me like that?

Getting me all wet? Will you come for me?

“Oh, yes. Im almostalmost, Valerie gasped. “Kiss me. Kiss

meoh god, Im so close.

“Soon, Diane breathed, capturing Valeries mouth and

squeezing her breasts rhythmical y. As Valeries motions grew

more frantic, Diane plunged her tongue deeper, matching

Valeries frenzied thrusts. Sensing Valerie struggling to orgasm,

Diane drove her hips up and forced her leg more tightly

against Valeries clitoris. “Harder, darling. Press yourself har

“Im going to come. Valeries head fell back, her eyes wide

and fixed on Dianes. “God, I love you.

“I love you, Diane cried.

Shuddering, Valerie spilled onto Dianes welcoming body

and col apsed into her arms.

* * * * *

With several minutes to spare before the briefing, Valerie

knocked on the door to the guesthouse. Savard answered.

“Hey, Savard said, holding the door wide. “You missed a

good show at Mathesons compound a couple of weeks ago.

“So I hear. Valerie stepped inside but hesitated before going

any further. “Im sorry I didnt make it.

“Yeah, me too. Savard glanced toward the adjoining room

where

Cam and Felicia waited. “It could have been any of us in

your spot. Im glad it wasnt me.

“I appreciate that. Valerie grasped Savards arm. “Listen. Cam

told me about what happened in Boston. I owe you for taking

care of Diane.

“No you dont, Savard said dismissively. “But if you real y feel

like you do, you can plan on sticking around here where your

friends are for a while.

“Thank you, Valerie softly. “Ill do

that.

“Good. Savard turned and started toward the command center. “Then

lets go to work.

“Good morning, Cam said as Valerie came in. Felicia nodded to her.

“Our priority for the day, and every day until its accomplished, is to

identify your handler. Wel work from the assumption that hes an

associate of Mathesons, because otherwise we dont even have a

starting place.

“Al

right.

“I want you to scan the files Davis has compiled of known

Matheson associates, including the academy students. We might get

lucky.

Valerie smiled rueful y. “We could use some

luck.

“Before we get to that, Cam said, “I want Stark to join us so she can hear

how you got behind our lines. She opened her phone and pushed

several buttons. “Chief, can you come down for a minute? Thanks.

While they waited, Valerie and Felicia got cof ee and opened several

boxes of doughnuts that Tanners day crew had delivered.

“Its good to have the team back together, Felicia

said.

“It is. Valerie opened the refrigerator for milk. “Hows

Mac?

“Hes back on the team, too. Hes up at the main house seconding for

Stark. Im sure youl see him later. Felicia smiled and stirred her cof

ee. “Hesmaking a remarkable recovery.

Valerie studied her with interest.

“Real y. Felicia met her gaze.

“Quite.

“Wel , good for

you.

“Yes, it is. She sipped her cof ee. “Ah,

Diane?

“Luckily, shes forgiven

me.

Felicia shook her head. “I dont believe she ever thought there was

anything to forgive.

“I hope youre

right.

At the sound of the front door closing sharply, Felicia said, “Time for

round two. Starks not going to be happy.

“I dont blame her. Valerie fol owed Felicia back into the other room and

sat at the table next to Cam. Stark sat stif ly across from her.

“Good morning, Chief, Valerie said

formal y.

“Agent

Lawrence.

“Valerie wil do, Valerie said

softly.

Stark seemed to relax by degrees. “Sorry. That was quite a stunt you pul

ed last night. We could have kil ed you.

“I wanted to talk to

Cameron. “Did you ever

hear of a phone? “I dont like

phones.

“How about a car? You could have driven right up to the foot of this

road and our people would have stopped you, checked your ID, and cal

ed me.

“Assuming they were al your people, and

trustworthy.

“You dont trust us? Paula flicked her gaze to Cam, who said

nothing.

“I trust you and the other people in this room. And Mac, and

Hara, and Wozinski. I dont trust people I dont know. Valeries face

was hard to read. “Besides, I might have been fol owed.

“How do you know you werent? Paula couldnt keep the anger from her

voice. “You know youre a target, and you could have led whoever

might be fol owing you right here. And showed them a back door in.

“Number one, Valerie said, “anyone who might want me dead already

knows where you are. I was extracted from here a few weeks ago,

remember?

Paula said nothing, but the muscles along her jaw

tightened.

“Number two, no one fol owed me last

night.

“How do you know that? Paula

demanded.

“Because Ive been on the island since late last week. No one has

been fol owing me.

“The marina, Cam said, annoyed with herself for not having

anticipating that.

Felicia laughed. Stark merely stared. Savard made a point of not looking

at her lover.

Valerie

smiled.

“Yes.

“You came in by

boat?

“I rented a slip at the marina for my cabin cruiser a

while ago.

Cam glanced out the window, realizing how far ahead Valerie had

planned her moves. On some level, she must have been uneasy with her

assignment from the beginning. “You set up an alternate identity when

you were here working with us last month. So when we did a sweep for

any newly registered guests last week, you didnt turn up. You were

already there.

“I worried when the Company sent me in to infiltrate your team that it

wasnt going to turn out wel . Its always prudent to establish a new

identity when you cant be certain that any of your old ones wil be safe.

Valerie spoke directly to Cam. “And I knew if you wanted to get Blair

to someplace inaccessible, youd come back here.

“Your handler doesnt know about any of

this?

“No.

Stark made an exasperated sound. “So last night you just circled around

the tip of the island on foot and walked down the beach.

“Yes. Not exactly the route Id use for a surprise at ack, but it got me

where I

wanted

to

go.

“So we can assume, Cam said, “that Matheson and your handler suspect

were here. They know the general area since they were able to

extract you

undetected, but we hadnt established a perimeter that far from the houses

at the time.

“Tanner has had reconnaissance boats on the water twenty-four hours

a day since weve been here. Stark looked pointedly at Valerie. “Other

than normal marina traf ic, every vessel is monitored to ensure they

arent at empting a beach landing.

Valerie felt a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and relief at the

disclosure. Stark trusted her or she would not be discussing

their security measures. Valerie could tell her col eague was still

angry with her for ignoring procedure the night before, but at

least she was talking as if they were still on the same side.

“Im sorry I put your team in an awkward position, Chief, she

said. “To tell you the truth, I just wanted to get here.

“Wel , we didnt shoot you, which is the main thing. It would

have caused all kinds of hassles trying to come up with a cover

story for that.

Cam gave Stark a nod, part affirmation, part prompt.

Stark rose. “If you dont need me any longer, Commander, Ill

go back to the marina and look at everyone who has a slip or

rents a room there.

“I think were done, Chief. You intend to advise Tanner of

the situation? Cam struggled not to issue orders to secure the

marina.

“Immediately, and Ill inform Egret and Ms. Bleeker that

the marina is off-limits for the time being until weve secured it.

“Thank you.

Stark nodded to the group and left.