by Kim Baldwin
“Hmm,” Kris murmured. “I like the sound of that.”
Misha knew exactly what was happening when Kris’s voice got all velvety like that. “Are you already touching yourself?”
“Yup.”
“Aw, man.” The images that flooded her mind stirred up a lovely hum of arousal between her legs. “Okay, I’m going to hang up before I make a U-turn for the airport and the boss man puts a price on my head.”
Kris moaned provocatively. “Spoilsport.”
“Tease.”
“Love you.”
Misha had heard the words often in the past six blissful months with Kris, but each time still felt wonderfully new. Like they’d both been storing up the declaration for years and wanted to relish each occasion when it was finally spoken. “I love you, too.”
Their first two months together had been spent in London, while the villa was brought back to its former furnished glory and as she continued to recuperate. Then in July, they returned to Venice, to host Luka and Hayley for a month. They’d had a wonderfully memorable time simply relaxing, taking walks and boat rides, and spending the evenings in front of the fireplace in each other’s arms. Mishael and Luka had stolen moments to talk about assignments of the past and probable future ones. And Kris and Hayley had exchanged their thoughts and feelings about how it was to share their lives with far from ordinary women.
Allegro gripped the steering wheel harder as the high, razor-topped fence surrounding the sixty-three acre EOO campus came into view. The compound had been home to her for nearly half her life, but she’d never known the real meaning of home until she’d met Kris. She parked the Jaguar outside the administration building, a massive neo-Gothic structure with bell towers like those of medieval cathedrals, and got out. She hadn’t taken two steps before another car pulled up a row away and Luka emerged.
They walked toward each other. It had been three months since Luka and Hayley bade farewell to what they called their “Venice honeymoon.” During that time, Luka hadn’t changed at all, but Misha had finally gotten rid of her cane.
“I’m happy to see you all healed,” Luka said, smiling. “So how is life in the not-so-fast lane?”
“Now I know you’re not referring to cars.” Misha smiled back.
“Very perceptive.”
They started toward the main entrance. “I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but she’s taken away any need to be in a fast lane, period. I’m so happy it’s ridiculous.”
“She’s an amazing woman, Misha. Hayley thinks so as well. She keeps talking about what a pity it is that you guys are so far away, in Europe.”
“Things could change,” Misha said. “I mean, who knows where you or I will end up? Puppets on a string, remember?”
“How is it living between London and Venice?” Luka asked. “Is Kris adjusting?”
“She feels the same way I do. It doesn’t matter where we live, as long as we can be together.”
“You old softie,” Luka said, punching her on the shoulder.
“Look who’s talking.” Misha laughed.
They put their coded ID badges into the security panel and the front door opened to admit them.
“So what do you think today is about?” Luka asked.
“Couldn’t tell you, but Monty sounded pretty severe.”
Luka glanced in the direction of three other ETFs who were just getting on the elevator across the wide entryway. “It must be if he wants so many of us here.”
“You’d think he’d mellow out what with all the action Joanne’s giving him.”
Luka laughed. “Did wonders for you.”
“You have no idea. It’s like we can’t stop.” Misha knew she was grinning like a madwoman, but she couldn’t help it. She punched the elevator button.
“I know what you mean,” Luka replied as the doors opened. They used their IDs again to access the floor containing the EOO executive offices. “Great. I’m about to stand in front of him and now I can’t get the image of him and Joanne out of my head.”
Misha chuckled. “Burns the retinas, doesn’t it?”
“Plain scary.”
“I know. It’s like a car accident. You know you shouldn’t look, but you do anyway.”
“Dinner later?” Luka asked as they got off and stepped onto plush carpeting. “If we don’t have to leave right away, that is.”
“Sure.”
In the large conference room next to EOO Chief Montgomery Pierce’s office, the Organization’s top ETFs took seats around a round mahogany table. In addition to Allegro and Domino, eight other Elite Operatives were also present, as were Joanne Grant and David Arthur, the other two members of the Governing Trio. It was a rare occasion for so many ETFs to gather and share info on one assignment. But the operation they were discussing was a complicated one, and backup operatives would likely be necessary.
Pierce started off by explaining the severity and danger of the mission, and the need to make sure the right operative got the assignment. The rest of them would be on call, to be summoned as necessary.
“Send me,” Allegro volunteered when he had finished. “Let me send the sick fuck to the netherworld.”
Domino rolled her eyes. “Christ, she saves the world and now she thinks she owns it.” The others laughed. Then she added, more seriously, “I’m offering as well, Monty.”
“Thank you ladies,” Pierce said. “But I have someone else in mind. I’m sending in the one with the most fitting profile.”
“What profile is that?” Allegro asked.
“Someone with less experience, but not as openly controversial as you,” he answered, looking at Allegro. “And someone who is not likely to be recognized by the Asian skin traders,” he added to Domino.
Placing his hand on the dossier in front of him, he slid it across the table. Everyone’s gaze followed the file until it stopped in front of the agent it was intended for.
“Lynx,” Pierce said. “Operation Mask is yours.”
About the Authors
Kim Baldwin has been a writer for three decades, following up twenty years in network news with a second vocation penning lesbian fiction. In addition to Thief of Always and Lethal Affairs, her collaborative efforts with Xenia Alexiou, she has published five solo novels with Bold Strokes Books: the intrigue/romances Flight Risk and Hunter’s Pursuit, and the romances Force of Nature, Whitewater Rendezvous, and Focus of Desire. Four of her books have been finalists for Golden Crown Literary Society Awards. She has also contributed short stories to five BSB anthologies: The Lambda Literary Award–winning Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments; Erotic Interludes 3: Lessons in Love; IPPY and GCLS Award–winning Erotic Interludes 4: Extreme Passions; Erotic Interludes 5: Road Games, a 2008 Independent Publishers Award Gold Medalist; and Romantic Interludes 1: Discovery. Her eighth novel, the Alaskan adventure romance Breaking the Ice, will be released in August 2009. She lives in the north woods of Michigan. Her Web site is www.kimbaldwin.com and she can be reached at [email protected].
Xenia Alexiou is Greek and lives in Europe. An avid reader and knowledge junkie, she likes to travel all over the globe and take pictures of the wonderful and interesting people that represent different cultures. Trying to see the world through their eyes has been her most challenging yet rewarding pursuit so far. These travels have inspired countless stories, and it’s these stories that she has recently decided to write about. Thief of Always is her second novel, following Lethal Affairs. She is currently at work on Missing Lynx, the third book in the Elite Operatives Series. For more information, go to her Web site at www.xeniaalexiou.com, or contact her at [email protected].
-o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share