"Leo, this is Natalie."
"Hi, Natalie."
"It's great to finally meet you, and thank you for bringing the wig."
"My pleasure. It looks great on you."
"I think I going to run upstairs and change. As much as I've enjoyed wearing it, I think it's frying my brain."
"We don't want that," Oliver quipped. "Your brain is much too clever to let anything happen to it."
"Aww, that's so romantic," she grinned, shooting him a look. "I'll be right back."
As she disappeared up the wide staircase, Leo began pouring coffee into a large mug.
"Is that for me?" Oliver asked hopefully.
"What's it worth to you?" Leo joked, handing it to him. "I assume things went smoothly when you left."
"No problem. Thanks for bringing the bag. We did decide to separate. I took the service elevator and Natalie left separately and stuck close to a crowd of guests. She looked great as a blonde with those big black sunglasses, like a movie star from the forties, especially with that red scarf around her head. The hotel was still chaotic, cops everywhere."
"What happens now?" Andy asked. "When do we leave Vegas? Do we go straight to the UK? Do I use my passport?"
"One step at a time," Leo replied. "We need to check in with the office and find out how they want to handle things."
"You were right, Leo," he said, an unexpected yawn sweeping over him. "I'm suddenly feeling wiped out."
"That's what happens."
"What's that?" Natalie asked walking in wearing jeans and a baby blue T-shirt with the world TROUBLE written across the front.
"Crashing after the adrenalin rush," Leo replied, "and that's quite an outfit."
"Jeans and a T-shirt is an outfit?"
"It is when you're wearing them," Oliver remarked a wicked grin. "The designer must have been dreaming about you when he came up with that top."
"Very funny!"
"Hey, if the shoe fits! Are you ready, Leo? We have a lot to go through."
"Sure. Andy, you should head up to your room and lay down."
"I will. I'm starting to feel really strange. Thanks again for everything."
As Leo and Oliver left the kitchen and disappeared into the hall, Natalie opened up the cupboard and poured herself a bowl of granola.
"Do you want some, Andy?"
"No, but isn't it a bit late for breakfast?"
"I didn't have any," she replied. "Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?"
"Leo made some spaghetti a little while ago. It was great."
"You're definitely crashing," she remarked, studying his red eyes. "Go on up to bed. I have no idea when we'll be leaving or where we'll be going so you should grab some rest while you can."
"I am, right now," he said wearily, sliding off his chair. "I guess I'll see you in a bit."
As he ambled from the room, she poured the milk into her cereal and carried it across to the kitchen table. She was exhausted but still too wired to rest. It had been a frightening, thrilling, wild ride, and as she sat down and the silence settled around her, she took a long, deep breath. That she was crazy about Oliver had never been in question, but her love for him was almost overwhelming, and it wasn't just their white-hot chemistry between the sheets. It was everything about him. His wry sense of humor and quick wit. His unshakable confidence. His ability to cook up a meal as brilliantly as he could cook up a scheme, but most of all it was how she felt when she was with him. He filled her with self-assurance and made her feel as if she could do anything, which was ironic considering he was such a take-charge man.
The calm quiet was soothing her soul. She could feel her shoulders dropping, and the sense of being wound up as tightly as a watch spring was easing. As she began to eat her cereal she recalled the moments when things could have gone horribly wrong, but went wonderfully right. Finding the microdot had been a freakish stroke of luck, and the memory made her grin. Lady Luck was on their side, that's what Oliver believed, and maybe he was right. Andy had done so much to help them, and he'd never struck her as a risk-taker. His courage had surprised her.
As she took the last mouthful of cereal, a wave of fatigue swept through her body and she detected a vague ache crawling into her joints. Rising from the table she carried her bowl to the sink, washed it out, then slowly made her way to the stairs. Halfway up she wasn't sure she'd make it to the top, and when she reached the bedroom she barely had the energy to peel off her jeans. Sliding under the covers she laid her head gratefully on the soft pillow, but just as sleep began to descend, she had a hazy sense of something being not quite right.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rolling on her side and feeling Oliver's warm body next to hers, Natalie groggily opened her eyes and stared at the glowing numbers on the bedside clock. 3:07 a.m.
"Hey, beautiful," he purred. "Are you all right?"
"Uh-huh, but I can't believe I slept all this time."
"And I think you need more."
"What about you?"
"I came up around nine and crashed, but you know I don't need much."
"Any news about anything?" she asked, surrendering to a yawn.
"The office is locked on the tracker in the crate. They'll alert me when it starts to move and they'll be following it along with us. We could be heading off anywhere."
"Did you say us?" she exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. "You mean, I'm coming with you?"
"I thought you knew that was a given."
"I was hoping, but I knew you had to get the okay from your people. They said yes?"
"After a great deal of discussion, but they knew I wasn't leaving you behind."
"Oliver," she said breathlessly, throwing her arms around his neck. "This is amazing. I'm so relieved and so happy."
"You've earned the right for a chance to prove yourself, but you've already done plenty as far as I'm concerned. The issue was the importance of the mission, but I convinced them you'd help my chances of success, not hinder them. And I meant it, Natalie."
"You have so much confidence in me."
"Why wouldn't I? You were invaluable, and not just in practical terms. Initially I thought you'd distract me, that I'd worry about you and it would get in the way, but it turned out to be just the opposite. I loved having you there."
"Is that why I was allowed to meet Leo?"
"As far as I'm concerned you're now a part of this mission. The office was a formality. I told them about you spotting the microdot. We wouldn't even have it if it hadn't been for you. They couldn't say much after that. Father blustered a bit, but I knew at that point it was a done deal. So prepare to head off to parts unknown."
"But the exhibition is heading for LA."
"That doesn't mean the relic is."
"No, of course not. What if it ends up flying off somewhere?"
"We'll follow, and when we get up you need to pack. We'll be off at a moment's notice."
"What about Andy and Leo?"
"If we leave the country Leo will be staying here. America is his stomping ground. If we end up in New York or some other city in the US naturally he'll stay with the operation. Wherever we go Andy will come with us and be taken over by a handler to be assessed, but he knows Victor, and he's the one who set up the network and security. His input could be imperative."
"Oliver, have you ever gone to the store and left knowing you'd forgotten something?"
"Hasn't everyone? Why do you ask?"
"I saw something, or heard something, and it was wrong. I meant to tell you at the time but there was so much going on I got distracted. Now I can't remember what it was."
"When you say something was wrong, what exactly do you mean?"
"Just what I said. Something struck me but I can't remember what it was and it's driving me crazy."
"But you think it's important."
"It feels as if it could be. It's a question mark. Something didn't make sense."
"Something or someone?"
"I'm not sure."
/>
"Stop trying, then it will come back to you, or you'll hear or see something that will trigger the memory."
"I hope so. It's niggling me."
"Would you like me to take your mind off it?" he purred, nuzzling her neck. "I'm sure I could think of a way to do that."
"I'd be very grateful. I don't think I can go back to sleep with it bugging me like it is."
"You'll have to be very quiet. We have guests."
"I've already proven I can do that."
"Indeed you have."
"Oliver, I loved having you naked inside me."
"Mmm, it was divine," he agreed, reaching across her body to reach for a condom on the nightstand, "but needs must."
"You don't have to."
"I don't?" he asked, pausing and looking down at her.
"I'm on birth control, not for birth control, but the result is the same."
"But I still need to use a condom."
"Because you have something catchable?"
"No, of course not, and I don't because I always use one."
"Then I don't have to worry and, uh, neither do you."
"Are you saying you haven't slept with anyone since you and I were together?"
"I'm saying you don't have to worry."
"Have you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Matter? I'm not sure, and I suddenly feel oddly awkward."
"The great Oliver Barton feels awkward? That must be a first?"
"First or not, it's bloody annoying."
"I think it's sweet. No! Charming. No! Refreshing. Knickers, I don't know what it is, but it's something."
"None of that is helpful."
"No."
"No? No what exactly?"
"No, Oliver," she said softly, "I haven't been with anyone."
"Is that why my beautiful girl is so hungry? The need in you—it feels dire."
"I'm hungry because I missed you so fucking much."
"Natalie…" he purred, moving his lips on to hers and softly kissing her. "I missed you too."
"Your promise is sacred, and when you didn't show up I was so scared, but I had this feeling you were okay. That made the whole thing even worse. Then Claude told me you were fine, and I was walking around with this sick feeling in my stomach. I couldn't believe you'd abandoned me. How could I possibly get over that and be with someone else? Everything still felt up in the air."
"I'm so sorry, Natalie. It was one of those cruel twists of fate, but there was another promise I made, a promise you didn't know about."
"Which was?"
"I promised myself I wouldn't stop searching, not ever, not until I found you."
Giving into her emotion and letting the tears spill down her cheeks, she circled her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"I can't believe this is all happening," she sniffled. "It's so surreal."
"It's happening," he purred, and sliding his fingers into her hair, he gently tugged back her head. "I love you, Natalie, and where I go, you go. Once the office officially accepts you I'm going to insist we be partners."
Before she could respond he was kissing her with a fervent passion, his love for her sweeping him away. As his lips traveled to her neck, he lowered her down, moved on top of her, and nestled his cock between her warm, milky thighs. Waiting a moment to tease her, he rubbed his member against her pussy before snaking into her slick strait, then began to stroke with slow, strong, powerful thrusts. His muscled body was on top of her, and she could fee his bristled chest hairs brushing against her nipples, and his hot breath in her ear.
"When this is over I'm taking you back to that cabin," he whispered, "and I'm going to finish what I started. I'm going to flog you, Natalie, I'm going to flog your gorgeous ass and your pink pussy. I'm going to tie you up and ravage you, I'm going to take you to a whole other dimension of pleasure and pain, and that, my beautiful girl, is a promise."
A surge of erotic energy rippled through her body, and clinging tightly she buried her head in his shoulder and let out a cat-like cry. He abruptly accelerated, and moments later she could sense the shadow of her orgasm, but when he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, the shadow blossomed into a looming climax.
Oliver was luxuriating in the feel of his naked cock inside her pussy, and her nipples' sharp points against his chest. He knew he couldn't last much longer and slowed for a moment to catch his breath. As much as he ached to climax he wanted more.
"Please, Oliver, please will you let me come? I'm so close."
Her breathy plea was impossible to deny, and slowly withdrawing, he plunged back inside her, and suddenly his fever took hold. He began pumping with gusto, her fingers were digging into his skin, she was arching her back, gasping in short rapid breaths, and as she exploded, her pussy demanded his release. Surrendering to his climax he closed his eyes and groaned through the shuddering spasms. Moments later, his heart pounding as he slipped from her depths, he rolled on his back.
"I love you so much," she panted, curling against him. "Chemistry be damned. It's how I feel about you that's makes this so amazing. It's love."
"Maybe you're right," he murmured, pulling her against him. "Whatever it is, I'm one lucky bastard."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Victor had finally relented and popped some sleeping pills. Too many hours had passed without rest. He'd become edgy and he couldn't think straight, and the next few days were fraught with danger. His departure from the exhibition was a closely guarded secret, but that didn't mean it hadn't leaked out. Agents desperate to get their hands on the relic would have their ear to the ground, and it would only take one loose cannon to screw everything up. He needed to be sharp, on his game, his instincts keen.
Stripping off, he pulled back the covers and crawled into bed. Xavier was quickly recovering, or so it seemed, but Victor didn't want to take any chances and was still undecided about whether to take him to England.
"I'll figure it out when I wake up," he muttered, closing his eyes and letting the powerful relaxant take hold. "I can't focus and I mustn't make a mistake."
Gratefully sinking into the mattress, he could feel himself drifting into the nothingness of sleep.
He was in a cold dark room surrounded by the many treasures he'd stolen over years of crafty collecting. He stared at them, his eyes traveling to each in turn, wondering why they were in such a gloomy, chilly place. They deserved to be shining under the brightest of lights. Each had a replica, its owner proudly believing it to be authentic. Victor not only enjoyed owning the genuine article, he loved the feeling of superiority over the moron who had fallen for his scam. The replicas should be in the shadowy place, not his authentic pieces of beauty.
"You should have known."
A mist was swirling in front of him, and materializing before his eyes like an evil demon, Oleg began floating towards him. With bared fangs he was snarling like a rabid dog, and the fingers of his raised hands were curled, showing razor-sharp, brown fingernails.
"I'm going to rip you to shreds."
Bolting upright, heart thumping furiously against his chest, Victor opened his eyes and stared around the luxury suite. Out of breath and panic-stricken it took him a minute to settle, and reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand, with trembling fingers he brought it to his lips. Gulping the cool water helped, and finally catching his breath he slipped from the bed.
"Vicki?"
"It's nothing, Xav, nothing at all. Go back to sleep."
Staggering across the room to the windows, Victor pushed aside the heavy drapes and stared out at Sin City. The sun was coming up, dowsing the twinkling of the lights that burned through the night. Was the dream a warning, or simply the release of his fears? Deciding on the latter he turned around and headed back to bed. He still had a couple of hours to rest, and it was a couple of hours he desperately needed.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
At the contemporary home across town, the morning had been an odd mixture of
relaxation and impatience. Andy, Leo, Oliver and Natalie had joined together for breakfast, and for a short while Victor and the priceless artifact had taken a back seat to everyday conversation. They'd discussed the desert weather, Andy had touched on his life growing up in Russia, and Leo commented on the vast differences between living on the East and West coasts. It was after the dishes had been cleared up the sense of normalcy had abandoned them. They were packed and ready to move out, but the time of their departure and their destination remained a mystery.
Leo and Oliver decided to work out in the basement gym, and Andy had sheepishly agreed to join them. Natalie wanted to relax and watch television, and after loitering in the kitchen enjoying a second cup of tea, she wandered into the living room. As she settled into the couch and picked up the remote control, she glanced out the window. To her surprise she spied a tall, dark-haired woman dressed in a white skirt and a pale blue shirt, hurrying up the path to the front door. The woman looked innocent enough, but how had she gained entry? The gates were locked and alarmed, and there was no way she could have climbed over the high fence, certainly not in a tight skirt. Then noticing the woman's hand was loitering in her open shoulder bag, Natalie was faced with a decision.
She could run down to the basement and alert Oliver and Leo, or race back to the kitchen and grab her phone off the counter to text them, but there was another immediate choice.
"Shit," she mumbled, staring at the woman as she drew closer. "I don't like this. I don't like this one bit."
But as she'd muttered her concern the woman's hand had lifted, and Natalie had spied the sun glinting off the metal of a small pistol.
Darting to the front door she pressed a panel on the wall.
Springing open it revealed a touch screen with various icons, and tapping on what looked like a fish, a beeping noise echoed through the house, and the path underneath the woman's feet fell away, dropping her into the moat.
"What's going on?" Oliver demanded as he and Leo ran into the foyer.
SPY: His Mission. His Orders. His Promise. Page 13