"I'm here," low, softly spoken words warmed my ear, the palpitating warmth of breath rippling across my hairline. A large hand cradled my waist, dipping in the curve. It trailed across, lifting as it hit my hip until only the lightest traces of fingertips skimmed my skin. A tingle flashed over my nerves, the tickling touch rousing the attention of every tiny downy hair on my body. Supple lips found my lobe, pulling the fleshy skin in to the crevice of a parted mouth and waiting tongue. My breathing hastened, heart quickening in my chest as the arousal spread.
"Mmm," Ant's throat emitted a vibrating rumble as his mouth lowered to my jaw, his tongue gently tracing across until his nose slid against mine, the marker for his lips to find my mouth, parted in silent moaning. His hands reached up to the nape of my neck, fingers interlacing with the roots of my hair and pulling me sharply to better his access. His tongue dipped between my lips and mine met his hungrily, feverish with desire. Feeling the pining in my body he pulled me back, his fingers locking to a fist tangled in silky locks. He wasn't going to give me everything too quickly, I could tell.
He leaned back slowly, the detachment of his body agonising as he left me breathless in the apex of my desire. He pulled the shirt from his torso, face obscured and hulking frame shimmering with sweat. A thin silver chain dropped from the fabric, slinking back against his collar bone as the shirt peeled away from his face.
He glared down at me, primal with lust he expertly controlled. His hard jaw and pointed chin tipped as he watched his own hands stroke across my hip to the buttons on my silk blouse. With one savage movement he tore it apart, silk cracking against the fastenings and surrendering to his command. His green eyes glittered; locked into mine; one large, wicked hand caressing down until it reached the tender flesh of my thigh. His fingers traced upwards- slowly, torturously so, until they reached the beginnings of the most sensitive skin. His eyes didn't divert from me for a second as he observed the effects of his slow, deliberate movements, clenching his brows down with his own suppressed desire as he watched my back arc from the sheets, leaning in to him with craving. His fingers entered silken wetness, parting me with tender but unyielding exploration. I gasped as he hit the aperture, his thumb suddenly sliding down to the excruciatingly sensitive swell of nerve endings, circling purposefully with tormenting delicacy. And then his digits delved in, a strangled gasp of pleasure escaping my lips-
I woke- sick, clammy, and wet. The dampness between my thighs had soaked through to my shorts. I hurriedly took a sip of warm water from the glass next to the bed, swallowing down the lump in my throat. A sex dream. I wasn't sure what was worse; that or the nightmares. It had been Ant with his hand against my waist, the sentimental moment we'd shared obviously unlocking something in my mind that unfurled in my subconscious. But then... Jase. That dangerous sparkle in his green eyes- something I knew all too well. It was a look that said you were in trouble. But why Jase? As soon as the shirt lifted I knew the torso wasn't Ant's, the build was different. Then the delicate chain dropped and I knew, yet I didn't wake. It carried on the same, if anything the fervour increasing until I jolted awake.
He had been in my head, the absence of his presence- though welcomed, had jarred me. Ant had brought me to the apartment, leaving me at the front door as Jase strolled casually forward. He'd grasped Ant's waiting hand and pulled him in for a blokey hug to say goodbye. As soon as the door was closed and locked he strode back to the couch, switched the TV off, picked up his beer and phone and paced to his room. This was what you wanted.
I blinked hard to put the intensity of the dream behind me. It was early, unsociably so. It dawned on me that if Jase was finally backing off I might have a little more freedom to explore. At this hour the rooftop would be deserted, I could swim in privacy. Without giving myself too long to think about it I got up and dressed in a bathing suit, slipping some shorts and a white vest over the top.
I scrawled a note and left it on the kitchen island, Jase would be able to find me if he needed to. The thrill of solitude rushed me out of the door as silently as I could manage, practically running down the corridor to the elevator. It wasn't until it opened at the top floor that my heart stopped drumming loudly in my chest. I'd made it, I was here without being reprimanded or hauled back inside. The undisturbed turquoise beckoned, I shunned my clothes and sank my foot in to the water, cool and tempting.
I slipped in, feeling the traction of the water against my limbs as I tread softly, feet undulating in rhythm. It was blissful, after a few gentle laps I circled around, doing nothing in particular but enjoying the seclusion as the sun reached higher into the sky. When the doors of the elevator scraped open I knew it was over, either somebody else would come to interrupt my solitude or it was Jase, demanding I came back at once.
The latter proved true, Jase whirled around a sun lounger- clearly hastily dressed in jersey shorts and flip flops. His tanned rippling torso was bare, silver chain glittering in the sunlight. Of all the mornings to confront me topless.
"Jack called, he wants you in," Jase glared down at me from his lofty position.
"Okay," I replied, waiting for an immediate chiding that promised to come. I hauled myself out of the pool, privately smug when a splash of water wet Jase's feet and he stepped back in irritation. You didn't bring a towel- well that wasn't ideal. Droplets slipped down my body, standing straight but awkwardly as Jase stared impatiently. "I forgot to bring a towel," I murmured, uselessly swiping my hands across my skin a little to try to wipe off some of the moisture.
"Too much of a hurry to get out?" He glared tempestuously. He was right. I'd been so preoccupied with hurrying out of the apartment before he could stop me that I'd forgotten to bring anything with me. I slipped my shorts and vest on, the white fabric clinging to my chest and instantly soaking through.
It wasn't until we were in the elevator that he cocked his head slightly towards me, the doors sliding to a groaning close.
"You think this is how it's going to be?" Jase folded his huge defined arms across his naked chest.
"I thought... I thought you'd backed off a bit, you didn't come last night," I replied lamely.
"Something came up," he levelled in a low growl. "What I do is none of your business. But every move you make from the second you get up in the morning is my business." The doors opened at our floor, before he could say another word I stepped into the corridor and began towards the front door, skin still slick with water and the soft scent of chlorine.
"Get showered and get dressed," he ordered as soon as the door clicked to a close behind us.
"I'm not a child, you don't need to instruct me on how to get ready," I retorted hotly. I was irritated, the placidity the pool had inspired dripped off me along with the beads of water. Jase provoked such a childish streak of rebellion in me, but I was grating on myself just as much as I probably was him. Combined with lack of sleep, I felt ready to rip his head off at any point.
I dressed quickly in jeans and a top, and lightly applied some makeup. My hair had been up in a bun and was only damp in a couple of parts, it could survive being unwound and left natural. The drive was tedious in the thick of morning rush hour, road blocks and diversions hindering the journey in the direction we were headed. By the time we arrived on base I felt even more intensely irked by Jase's presence, the few occasions of freedom from his oppressive company with Ant made me yearn harder for a life without him in it. Although your dream seemed to say otherwise.
"Look who it is," Jack smiled tightly, haughty arrogance exuding from him. Jase had bumped in to a commander or someone high ranking, judging from his look of importance, and was deep in conversation in the corridor.
"Hello," I pressed my lips together too, immediately unnerved by Jack's overly familiar manner.
"Good time last night?" He raised his eyebrows and retrieved some papers from the nearby printer.
"Uh yes, I suppose so," I nodded, not returning the question.
"You seemed to get a lot of attention," Jack stated, the undefinable tone bothering me. What was he trying to say? And why was he saying it? How on earth was I supposed to respond to that? I still felt out of depth in many strains of communication, I'd forgotten the social rules of play and the art of conversation.
"I don't know what you mean," I replied dumbly, eyes narrowing.
"I saw," Jack looked down at the sheets and smirked knowingly. "You had everyone in the room looking. So-" he glazed over the inappropriate comment and sat opposite me. "You've been signed off by the consultant and the physical therapy team, great news. You can finally start those women's classes- what was it; Pilates or..."
"Krav Maga," my eyes narrowed even further. "It's a self defence fighting system-"
"Yeah, yeah I think I've heard of it," Jack interrupted, uninterested. "So you'll still be required to have a monthly check up, recommended for at least the next six months-"
"Six months?" I interjected, my heart lurching. "And that would... transfer back to a UK doctor I assume if I go back there?" I nudged the gentle reminder that my staying in San Diego was meant to be temporary into the discussion.
"The UK? I don't know anything about that. There are some delays to the restitution settlement, it's a long process I'm sure you understand," Jack batted my concern away. "Now-"
"Sorry- it's just... is there anything to say I have to be here in order to finalise the settlement, couldn't that still be done if I were in the UK?" I couldn't even say with any finality that I wanted to return; I enjoyed being by the sea, and the agency had made it easy for me (with the exception of their choice of security) to begin to assimilate back into normal life. Still, I didn't want to feel like I was held here, and living within the confines of Jase's protection felt not too dissimilar to the cell block.
"I'm fairly certain you have to be present in the state, I'll be sure to check on that," he nodded with a thin forced smile. "Is there some reason you need to return? You don't have family, do you?"
"I... no..." I replied slowly, thrown off by the callous comment.
"Great, so back to-" the door opened and Jack glanced up with irritation. Lorres breezed in to the room, delicate heels clicking against the tiles.
"Paige, how are you?" She smiled pleasantly, not waiting for a response before she continued. "Jack, I need you to courier the West Qurna assessment to Exxon." Lorres flickered her eyes to her subordinate for no more than a second, standing impatiently whilst Jack collected his papers and placed them in a briefcase.
"So," she perched on the edge of the table non-committedly, waiting until we were alone before continuing. "Were you surprised to find out you were right?"
"Right about what?" I smiled in confusion.
"The little analysis you gave me, detecting my leak," Lorres tilted her head, forming an analysis of her own. "Jase didn't tell you?"
"Oh, no he didn't. I had a bad bug or something a few days ago, perhaps he did and I forgot," something flashed in my gut, an alarm I wasn't sure how to interpret, but it told me not to make Lorres too plainly aware of the animosity between Jase and I.
"Are you feeling better?" Her tone was warm and nurturing, but she stood and turned her back to me, pouring two glasses of water.
"Yes, thanks," I took the cool glass from her hand and placed it on the table in front of me.
"So I guess he didn't get to mention my proposition to you," Lorres sipped her water daintily.
"Uh..." I gazed to the side as if gathering memories from hundreds of in depth conversations Jase and I had never had. "I'm not sure..."
"I was wondering if you would consider a career with us as a junior analyst, put that psych degree to good use," Lorres folded her arms gracefully.
"Oh-" I stumbled, taken aback by the offer. Are you surprised Jase kept this from you? "Wow, that's a... very interesting proposition. I just... what would the terms of that be?"
"Right, well we can get down to business another time, I have to run into a meeting soon. But we could start you on a consultancy basis at first- in house, of course; paying you a moderate salary and a stipend for active projects," Lorres observed my face carefully as she assessed me for signs of interest.
"And the... living situation?" I asked cautiously. Jase and Ant's distrust be damned, the opportunity was pretty incredible. I had no idea how I would be able to apply my passion for psychological analysis with the dramatic detour my life had taken, but now it was being handed to me with a pretty red bow on top.
"We assess threat levels on a week by week basis, with some current investigations we've got underway I'm confident the need for personal protection will be gone within two to three months," Lorres smiled smoothly. "I can't say that with absolute certainty, of course," she warned. There was something that ticked in the back of my brain in caution; a vague notion that the potential redundancy of Jase's role could be directly related to the acceptance of their proposal. He's gotten under your skin, into your head. They've done more for you than he ever has.
"So you'd be interested?" Lorres pressed, standing and retrieving her phone from her pocket.
"Yeah," I stammered, wide eyed. "If we can talk more about it so I understand what it is... but yeah, yes, I'm interested," I ended firmly. I was interested, especially if it bought me a way out of Jase's life.