Save Me If You Can

by Jones, Christina C

  He opened the folder and began scanning it, but quickly grew bored. He didn’t care where Harrison went to school, who his mother was, none of that. What was the connection to Wolfe?

  Not even a minute later, his eyes landed on something that made him sit up a little straighter. They’d questioned Harrison – thoroughly, they thought – without getting much new information that was actually valuable to their current predicament. He claimed to have told it all, but that couldn’t have been true.

  He’d never mentioned… hot damn.

  Quentin hit a few more buttons, searching for something further. He clicked around, searched a little, then clicked around a little more, until something else interesting made him lean toward his screen. He let out a low whistle, then shook his head as he muttered under his breath.

  “This motherfucker...”

  &

  Nine years ago, São Paulo

  Being nervous never crossed Savi’s mind as she led her new “friend” through the lively streets of São Paulo, with their hands intertwined. Halfway to her hotel, she stopped to whisper something in his ear, then waited for him to nod his acceptance before they continued on. He said nothing, made no moves to touch her any more intimately until they reached the door of her hotel room.

  He stood behind her as she fished her room key from her purse, then grabbed her at the hips, pulling her against him. With one arm hooked around her waist, he used the other hand to move her hair aside, clearing a space to press his lips to her neck.

  “Mmmm,” she moaned, as his tongue replaced his lips, licking and sucking, teasing his way up to her ear until she was panting, and short of breath. She shoved the keycard into the slot, yanked it out once the indicator turned green, then opened the door.

  He pushed her inside, then thrust her toward the table that butted against the couch in the middle of the room. She turned to him, grinning as he shoved her backward until the hard edge of the table pressed against the back of her thighs. Easily, he lifted her off her platform heels and placed her on the cold, polished surface.

  “You said don’t be gentle, right?” he asked, reaching under her skirt. “I’m not down with smacking you around or anything like that, but...” As he said that, he yanked her panties away from her body, wrenching them down her legs. “We can certainly get a little wild.”

  Savi squirmed against the cool marble on her bare skin, arching against him as he pushed a first, then second finger inside her. “Definitely not into getting hit,” she breathed, gripping the edges of the table. “If you tried it, I might have to kill you.”

  He laughed, and she did too, knowing he didn’t realize just how serious she was. Their eyes met, and their gazes held for a moment before he cupped her face in his free hand, and did something that defied the request she’d made on the way to the hotel: He kissed her.

  Gently.

  But she couldn’t make herself pull away. She stayed right where she was, enjoying every second as he sucked her bottom lip, drawing it between his, nipping, kissing, slipping his tongue into her mouth to meet hers. The smoky sweet flavor of their beers from earlier lingered on his lips and tongue, and she savored it. His fingers were hot and skilled, stroking her into a frenzy, and she savored those too.

  Slipping her hands under his tee shirt, she let her fingers skim over the defined ridges of his stomach, getting high off the feeling of her skin against his. She moved her hands along his waist, around to his back, as one of his hands crept under her shirt as well.

  She gave in, losing herself in pleasure as he cupped one of her breasts through her bra. Her fingers touched something hard, hot at his waistband at the same time he hesitated, with his hand between her breasts.

  Shit.

  They reacted at the same time, with her kicking him away, even as he stepped back. She swallowed hard, heart racing, still throbbing between the thighs as she looked down the barrel of her own gun, pulled from the holster attached to her bra.

  He held it like he meant it, aimed directly at her face.

  But that’s okay, she thought. She was holding his gun like she meant it, too. If he looked like he wanted to make a wrong move, she would put two between his eyes before he finished the thought.

  “Who the fuck are you?” she snapped, closing her legs, then sliding down from the table, never taking her eyes off her suddenly unwelcome guest. She knew better than to invite him up without checking him for weapons, knew better than to let him find hers. But her mind was clouded in a way it normally wasn’t when she was on the job, swimming in the guilt of taking another life. She was looking for an escape from that… and had apparently walked into a trap.

  He shook his head. “I’ve got the same question, sweetheart.”

  Annoyed at being called “sweetheart”, Savi turned off the safety on his gun, switching to a two-handed grip. “Don’t play games with me. Who sent you?”

  “Nobody sent me. I told your ass I was on vacation.”

  Savi snorted. “Bullshit. On vacation carrying this shitty, government issue Glock? What are you, FBI? Interpol? The CIA would have armed you better.”

  “None of the above.”

  “Then who?” she asked, taking a step closer. “A criminal would have shot me already, so I’m guessing you’re some Boy Scout type, right? So yeah… FBI.”

  Danger flashed in his eyes, but Savannah didn’t care. She was dangerous too, and she would bet her life that as long as it didn’t come down to hand-to-hand, she could beat him. And even then, she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  “I bet I can figure out yours before you figure out mine,” he said, winking at her from the other side of her gun. “American, in Brazil. Prominent piece of shit murdered in a club all over the news earlier. The fact that I’m holding your Ruger right now… you’re CIA. Wet work. An assassin.”

  She rolled her eyes, more annoyed with herself than him. He’d only figured that out because of what she’d willingly told him. Hell, he was only here because she needed a distraction. That plan was working out beautifully – not.

  “Good for you, asshole. The last thing you’ll ever figure out, bravo.”

  “Thanks,” he said smirking. “What, I’m your next target? That why you lured me here?”

  She scowled. “Lured? Are you kidding? I didn’t have to put in any effort to get you up here, first of all. And second… no, you’re not a target, I guess. I don’t even know who you are!”

  Again, he grinned. “Sucks, doesn’t it, Miss Secret Agent Assas—”

  Savi’s move to disarm him was quick.

  Confused, he looked down at his now empty hand, as Savi grinned from the other side of both guns. He was so distracted by his attempt to tease her, she’d simply reached out and plucked the gun from his hand.

  She tucked his Glock behind her, in the waistband of her skirt, choosing her own weapon to point at him. “Now tell me who you are.”

  “You can put the gun down,” he said, lifting his hands. “It’s not that serious, we’re on the same side.”

  She moved her finger to the trigger, then lowered the gun to point at his groin. “Who are you?!”

  “Okay, shit. Special Agent Harrison Cole, DEA. And I really am on vacation, goddamn. Can you point that somewhere else?”

  “Fine.” She raised the gun, aiming the barrel at his chest. “Take off your clothes, Agent Cole.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “The hell? I’m not about to—”

  “Take off your clothes,” she said, loudly enough to speak over his refusal. “In case you’re wearing some type of transmission advice. Take off the clothes, or I can just put two between your eyes. Your choice.”

  Harrison looked at her for a long moment, his expression blank, and she moved the gun in a hurry up and get to it motion. He hesitated, then began muttering curses under his breath as he stripped out of his clothes. “Your ass is lucky I have a sister and a niece to look out for.”

  Savi smiled. “How noble of you.”

  “Wh
atever,” he muttered as he pulled his shirt over his head.

  Savi watched him with an odd sense of satisfaction as he tossed it to the floor, then toed his way out of his socks and shoes. His belt and shorts were next, and when he stood in front of her in nothing but his boxers, still straining with the erection that had started back at the hotel room door, he paused.

  “Those too,” Savi said with a shrug.

  He shook his head, and dropped the boxers.

  He was… incredible.

  Special Agent Harrison Cole, DEA, was covered all over in a rich, honey brown tone, tall and solidly built, with mouthwateringly chiseled arms. His chest was mostly smooth, just a tiny sprinkle of hair, but lower, there was more, leading to a thick, gorgeous, heavy-looking erection.

  Also mouthwatering.

  “Turn around,” Savi whispered, and Harrison narrowed his eyes, even though the corners of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile. He did as she said though, and Savi bit her lip at the sight of his muscled ass and back.

  Damn, he is delicious.

  While his back was turned, Savi reached for her phone, plugging in the secure code to unlock it. She navigated to her CIA database, typed in another series of passwords, then typed in Harrison Cole when the screen she wanted came up. There was indeed a hit, but she frowned at the information that came up.

  “This says you’re a cop. A detective, but that’s still not the same thing as DEA.”

  “I know what my files says,” he replied, his voice edged with annoyance. “There’s a reason for that. Can I put my damned clothes on?”

  “No.” Bringing her phone to her ear, she make a quick, hushed phone call. When it was over, she smiled. “Come around here, to the couch. Sit down.” She wiped the grin from her face before he turned around, and pointed the gun at him again even though she’d already decided she didn’t need it.

  It wasn’t that hard to figure out that Harrison was probably deep under cover, hence the deception in his file. He probably was on vacation, with whatever piece of shit criminal he was supposed to be shadowing, and seeking a break. Searching for respite, just like she was, and as far as she was concerned… now that she knew who he was, they could get back to what they were doing before.

  She tossed her phone back onto the table, placed his gun beside it, then rounded the couch to stand in front of Harrison. He didn’t look at her, keeping his eyes pointed toward the ceiling as he relaxed his head on the low back of the couch. Without a word, Savi started stripping off her clothes, and then he gave her his attention.

  Even though he watched until she was completely nude in front of him, his expression didn’t change. He looked positively bored, if she only went by his face, but he couldn’t hide the reaction of his body. His body was hard – impressively so – and he was sticking straight up, ready and waiting. With her Ruger still in her hand, Savannah lowered herself onto his lap, with his erection between them.

  He draped his hands behind his head, swallowing hard as Savi pushed the barrel of the gun against his jaw. “Special Agent Savannah Briggs, CIA. I won’t hold you here against your will, Agent Cole. If you wanna get your gun, get dressed, leave… you can. Or…” she smiled, biting her lip as she glanced down at his hardness pressed against her flat stomach, then reached over him, pulling a condom from her purse on the table. She held the little plastic package up in front of his face. “You can stay.”

  Harrison scoffed, shaking his head as his eyes drifted over her body. “You are crazy. Sexy as hell… but crazy.” Still… he made no move to remove her from his lap, lowering his hands to instead cup handfuls of her ass and squeeze. “Or maybe my ass is crazy, for not getting the fuck out of here.”

  Giggling, Savi leaned forward, trailing kisses over his neck and chest as she gripped him in her hand and gave a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be worth it… promise,” she whispered into his ear, then pulled the soft cartilage between her teeth.

  In one swift motion, Harrison disarmed her, then flipped her on her back on the couch, positioning himself between her legs. Savi may not have been as in charge as she thought, but that didn’t matter, not any more. All that mattered was the sweet, sweet friction between her thighs as Harrison sheathed himself and then pushed inside of her, burying himself deep as he propped her legs around his waist.

  It was so good, skirting the line of pain and pleasure, filling her up, igniting a gratifying tingle that touched her all over as he began to move. Slow, confident, deep strokes that made her whimper a little just before he pulled back, and dig her nails into his back as he did it again, and again, and again.

  He lowered his chest until they were skin to skin, then went to work sucking and nibbling her neck. She opened her mouth, but couldn’t form words, only desperate little gasps of pleasure.

  “What’s wrong, Agent Briggs?” Harrison shifted so they were face to face, then grinned as she met his eyes. “Cat got your tongue?”

  &

  Present day…

  “So you’ve got a little girlfriend or something, huh? What’s her name?”

  Harrison remembered that question like it had been posed just yesterday, instead of six years ago. He’d been grinning at his phone after a particularly filthy email from Savi, when somebody walked in, and immediately figured out what his smile was about.

  He’d been careful. Very careful not to let any information about Savannah slip. Damien Wolfe was a man who had many enemies, and could easily become an enemy himself. The last thing he wanted was his involvement with Wolfe to become a liability for Savi.

  Harrison had kept to himself. Wolfe’s other cronies wanted to hit the strip clubs, do lines, all kinds of other stupid shit, but they did it without Harrison. He kept his nose clean – literally – and his head down, proving himself loyal, and doing what was required, but being smart about it. Especially once Savi was in the picture. Once she meant everything, he had too much to lose.

  For a long time, Harrison had held a particular goal as paramount in his life. Justice for his mother, retribution against his father, payback on his sister’s behalf. That goal had driven him, for most of his life. Through police academy, his time as a detective, and eventually his move into the DEA. There was too much at stake, too many lives to save, too many that needed to end, for him to slip up.

  He needed to focus. He didn’t need a distraction.

  The love affair with Savi… that was definitely a distraction.

  It was one thing to find a woman to fulfill his physical needs. There were plenty of those around. But the thing with Savi… they couldn’t be together very often because of the limitations of their jobs. The times when they could were absolutely about touching, fucking, exploring each other like it was the last opportunity. But it was the in-between times that made it all so dangerously different.

  The times when she was so far across the world that it was the middle of the day where she was, and the middle of the night for him, but they spent hours talking about whatever came to mind, from foreign policy to holiday dinners, from Super Bowl picks to reality TV. The times when he would randomly get an email from their secret encrypted account, and whether it was a sweet message about missing him, or a picture of her as she pleasured herself, captioned that she wished he was there… he lived for those moments a little too much.

  Way too much.

  He felt too deeply for her, for a man who barely had a family of his own. How could he know what love really was? His feelings had grown too strong for a woman who’d been willing to put a bullet through his head the first night they met. The relationship had evolved too much, from a one night stand, to something that he… something that it physically hurt to think about losing.

  It was a vulnerability he couldn’t afford. A liability he couldn’t afford. So… it had to be eliminated. He didn’t insult her by just cutting off communication, which would have maybe been easier. They actually talked, there were tears, and curse words, and… it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have. But
they had to have it.

  Afterwards, even though they agreed to dissolve all communications, agreed to take away nothing except the memories and leave each other in the past… he couldn’t. Savannah Briggs was the only person on the planet who loved him without pretense, without preconceived notions. She didn’t pity him, she didn’t judge him, she just… loved him, and that was a hard – impossible – thing to let go.

  And that’s why Savi was at the door now.

  In the confusion after the attack, they hadn’t had the opportunity to talk. There hadn’t been any quiet, but now there was. Savi had slipped into the room and just stood there, not verbalizing anything, but the weight of her silence said so much. Her emotions were thick in the air, and every trembling breath she took, trying her best not to cry was like a knife through his heart.

  “You are so goddamn selfish,” she whispered, finally, taking a step toward his bed. “Harrison I have ached for you. Wondering where you were, if you were okay… if you were alive. If you had somebody to love, and take care of you now. It was hard as hell, but I figured out how to live with not knowing. So find out that you knew… all this time, that I left the CIA, that I’ve been here, in the US, living a normal life… and you… you couldn’t even bother to leave a note in the mailbox, letting me know that hey… ‘I’m okay.’ I… how dare you?!” Her bottom lip was trembling by the time she stopped, and she pulled it between her teeth, biting down on it, hard, to hold back a sob.

  Goddamn it.

  “Savannah, I couldn’t—”

  “Don’t you say that shit again!” she yelled, closing the distance between herself and the bed. “Don’t you give me that cliché bullshit, about… what? You didn’t want me to wait for you? You didn’t want me to think about you, wanted me to let go, so I could just forget? Well guess what, asshole – that isn’t what happened!”

  “No, Savannah. That’s not why. I wanted to…” – he stopped, taking a deep breath himself to swallow his own emotion before he continued – “If I’d done that… I risked letting someone know what you meant to me. It’s one thing to pay somebody to find you, or watch you. It’s something else entirely to fucking pass secret notes. It puts things in a whole new light, a light I couldn’t afford to shine on you. At any time, I’m taking a chance on being followed, so it’s not like I could sneak and meet up, or leave a note myself, without somebody seeing it. You think this shit was easy, Savi?!”