Double Agent

A Deal's a Deal

I stashed my phone back into the hidden compartment of my case once again, and took off for a shower. I knew that I'd done the right thing in calling Henry. It would have rung alarm bells if I hadn't, and that could have led to all kinds of complications. The last thing that I needed right now was another agent weaseling their way into the house to keep an eye on me too. I had to keep my focus and do my job. I'd sort the rest out when I got to the bottom of what these guys were keeping from me.

Standing under the hot water, I allowed the steam to fill the room, and disappeared to my happy place for a while. Taking a mental break from everything as I imagined the crashing of waves and soft sand beneath my toes, taking myself back to a fond memory of the happiest day of my life, spent on the most beautiful beach I'd ever been to, feeling a level of relaxation that I'd never managed since then. When I finally stepped out and wrapped a soft blanket around my wet body, I returned to my bedroom, coming to an abrupt stop upon opening the door and spotting Dash sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Dash, you startled me." I gasped, clutching my chest.

He didn't reply as he appeared to falter, his attention peaked as he drank me in, eyes darkening when they swept over my chest, making me very conscious of the water droplets that were slowly running over my skin, and the small towel which was the only cover I had over my naked body.

"Sorry." He replied, his voice low and raspy whilst his gaze didn't waver from the towel covered portion of my body.

"I don't think you can see through them with wishful thinking you know." I said sarcastically, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning against the wall with a smirk. "Unless you have x-ray vision and forgot to tell me of course."

He laughed in response, clearing his throat awkwardly. It was strange to see the big bad criminal looking awkward and even a little shy. It was quite endearing actually, and I found myself smiling goofily. It was only when he began to get to his feet that I shook off the affectionate moment, and progressed into the room, opening the closet and pulling out some clothes that I'd packed away the night before.

"So, how can I help you?" I asked, laying some jeans on the bed and a simple long sleeved top next to it.

"I needed to ask for your help." Dash answered, a little hint of urgency in his tone, which I suspected was due to the threat of a repeat of yesterday.

"Okay. What do you need?"

I crossed to my case and rifled through it, pulling out a matching set of black lace underwear. I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me, and almost burst out laughing when I turned around to see the red tone that was now flushing Dash's cheeks whilst he stared determinedly at the wall.

"You okay there?" I teased, trying not to laugh.

"Maybe I should discuss this with you when you're dressed." He said croakily.

I knew that I shouldn't be enjoying the situation, this was completely against professional protocol, I was getting too close. But he elicited excitement and flirtation in me, and I was enjoying it like a forbidden drug that I wanted more of.

"You have my attention." I shrugged, "I think it's just yours that's lacking here."

As though it was a challenge to him that he couldn't ignore, he whirled around just as I stepped into my underwear, slowly sliding the silky lace up my legs as he watched with darkening hunger flashing in his, usually icy, blue eyes. I watched his Adam's apple move as he swallowed sharply, the tension between us heightening rapidly, and his lips parting softly as they reached the apex of my thighs. It was exhilarating to tease him in such a manner. It gave me a sense of power and was getting rather arousing to watch him study the way my fingers skimmed under the towel, brushing against my soft skin. His fingers twitched at his side, as if he was struggling to keep from reaching for me. I found myself wishing he wouldn't hold back, I wanted his touch, my skin was on fire and I craved a closeness. This was a game that I shouldn't have started, but I couldn't help it. What had started as a challenge of wills, as a taunting game to entertain myself, was rapidly becoming a forbidden yearning that I was struggling to contain. A very clear boundary line that I wanted to leap across. I was autopilot as I drew nearer to him, seeing his ragged breathing becoming clearer with each step I took, until I could feel his warm breath on my cheek, his head tilting down and his lips feeling temptingly close.

"I think you should wait downstairs." I whispered, my heart pounding against my chest. "Before we do something we shouldn't."

He reached out a hand, brushing his knuckles over my cheek and sending shockwaves radiating throughout my tingling body.

"Thank you." He muttered affectionately, before sweeping from the room.

I stood staring at the door, confused by his choice of departing comment. It felt like such a strange remark to make in exchange for being told to wait downstairs after I'd teased him as I had. With the rapid evaporation of the heat and tension of moments before, I felt the cold of being in just a towel for the first time since entering the room, and continued to dress quickly, before following him downstairs and stopping by the kitchen.

Sage and Luke were the only ones in the room when I entered, both entwined around each other, playfully smooching and laughing whilst they cooked bacon in a frying pan on the stovetop.

"Ugh," I groaned, inhaling the delicious scent, "Don't suppose there's any spare?" I asked, reaching for the bread that sat on the sideboard.

"Sure." Luke shrugged, slipping out of his fiance's grasp and tossing a few extra rashers in the pan with a satisfying sizzle. "Did you just have a run in with Dash?"

"No. Why?" I answered, registering the slightly higher pitch of my voice, whilst keeping my eyes rooted on the bread that I was spreading with ketchup.

"Just, he looked a little tightly wound when he came down a minute ago. Thought you two had argued or something."

Or something...

"Oh. Nope, all fine." I lied. "You guys have done a great job tidying in here." I chimed up, changing the subject to a much less dicey one and gesturing around at the glass free surfaces, and bullet clear floor.

Sage gave me a strange look, and I had the feeling that she knew I was hiding something. I attempted to throw her off with a smile, but with the responding grin that I got, I was left even more unnerved. I finished making up my sandwich, and excused myself to chase down the reason that Dash had wanted to talk before. Joining him in his office out back.

"Hey." I said brightly as I entered, taking a bite out of the sandwich and trying for a more casual, friendly approach that didn't inspire awkwardness earlier.

He closed the laptop that he'd been staring at when I entered, his lips turning up in a smile.

"Hey, thanks for coming by."

"No problem," I shrugged, "What did you need?" I asked, diving in for another bite, and placing my plate on his desk.

He looked amused by the eagerness with which I devoured my sandwich, and I found myself relieved that there wasn't an awkward heir between us now.

"The night that we met, I asked you for your help with a new shipment." He began, "I know I told you to leave so you didn't get hurt. But you didn't go anywhere. So, I wanted to ask, will you still help me?"

The weapons, of course. The brewing war between him and Jonas. Since finding out about his solo mission away from the support of his father, I now knew his urgency for the weapons that he'd lost the night that we pulled the raid on the docks. I swallowed, feeling deflated as I realised I'd have to accept the plea for help. It was what I was here for, and now was time to move forward with the plan. It was time to put into action the set up that would become the end of the road for the Calaways. I pasted a fake smile on my face, ignoring the initial desire to reject his request, and answered:

"Of course I will, a deal's a deal, right?"