by Heather Hart
They woke the following morning to find it was ridiculously humid, so Kassie donned a pair of light tan Capris and a plain navy halter-neck top that was loose enough to catch whatever breeze might be out there. She waited for Robert to join her in the dinghy, then steered them both over to the dock. The clear skies and heat had brought the tourists out in droves, but it didn't bother her. Their mark would be easy to spot on the water, if not the land. His boat, the Euphoria, was typically the largest in the harbor, and so impossible to miss. And if he saw their boat, the Double Entendre, Robert had assured her he would seek them out, not the other way around. She guessed they must be pretty good friends.
"I dunno what it is, but he seems to like me," he said. "Probably because my boat's half the size of his, and he gets to gloat."
"Ooh, is that jealousy I hear?"
He chuckled and shook his head. "No, not at all. I wouldn't trade my little beauty for his colossal beast no matter how much he offered. His has no class. I love my beautiful boat."
Men and their boat size. Robert tied the dinghy to the mooring and offered her his hand as she climbed out. As ever back on dry land, her legs were a little wobbly, but she quickly recovered. Together they took a stroll over to the Baltimore World Trade Center, as much to stretch their legs as anything else. Kassie admired the submarine now stationed in the dock as a museum ship, and wondered at this other mad, submerged world she had signed up for. Everyone around her led such normal lives. But deep down inside she knew she would never have been happy living a conventional nine-to-five existence. Being a spy excited her, and being in love with another excited her even more. She couldn't imagine a different life now, and didn't want to.
Robert slipped his hand into hers, and they strolled over to the aquarium.
"Do you want to go inside?" he asked.
"Sure. Let's be tourists for a day."
Robert purchased tickets, and they stood in line, waiting to proceed through the exhibits. At the ray tank, Kassie ran her hand along the back of one of the larger rays and grinned at a little boy who looked too afraid to touch one. She could see he really wanted to, but clasped his hand protectively to his chest, like it had a will of its own. She neither encouraged nor discouraged the boy, but continued to caress the ray, which just sauntered about under her hand. After a while, the little boy's confidence grew and he held out his hand to the water.
"Come on, we've dawdled here long enough. I want to see the sharks."
His father whisked him rudely away, but the little boy didn't cry. Kassie shrugged. Other people's parenting styles were not her concern. In any case, she wanted to see the sharks, too. Robert was busy reading the information plaque on the wall by one of the tanks, so she left him to it and advanced into the next section. This was their pattern throughout the aquarium, Kassie impatient to experience the sights, and Robert forever attached to the tablets, hungry for the knowledge he could acquire from them. When she ventured into the shark tank, he was still behind, but she didn't mind. He would catch up with her soon enough, and it would give her a few minutes alone to absorb the sights in silence.
Watching the fish as they swam contentedly around the tank was so relaxing. Mesmerized, she focused on a rather blue, ugly flat fish that for some reason caught her eye. About a foot long and an inch wide the pouty fish looked like it really had something to say. It hovered about in front of her for a moment, then seeming bored, floated off to enjoy its next fleeting thought. The black-tip reef sharks swam on the bottom of the tank, as if trying to blend in with their surroundings. She could totally relate. She felt like she, too, was blending in now, just like all the other tourists. Blended, but deadly.
Where has Robert gotten to? As she considered walking back to find him, her attention was diverted by the silken tones of a man just a few feet away from her. He had his back to her, yet there was something irresistible in his tone, and she paused, hoping he would turn around so she could see the face that went with the voice.
When he did turn, she nearly gasped out loud. Close by was a man of almost unspeakable beauty. Groomed to perfection, he had sandy, fair hair and a perfect profile marked by soft, blue eyes and a gentle expression geared to melt the heart of any woman. Beside him was an equally beautiful and demure woman about the same age as Kassie. Her black, silken hair curled perfectly at her shoulders, and she had the sultry eyes of an Arabian princess. Both were impeccably turned out. Kassie wasn't familiar with the designer, but she knew the best-cut clothes when she saw them.
"Come, my darling. Let's move on to the sand tiger shark. These reef sharks are rather tame, hardly exciting at all. I assure you, you'll enjoy the larger fish more; they're like the great whites."
"If you say so, master."
It was a form of address she frequently used on Robert, but always privately, never in public. Hearing it expressed so openly seemed strange. The man was looking directly at her, a half-amused curl to his lips, and she suddenly realized she was gaping open-mouthed. How incredibly rude and unsophisticated of her. She lowered her eyes in shame.
"Is that you, Alex? I thought it was. How are you?"
Robert bounded along the concourse, his hand already extended in greeting.
"Ah, hello, Robert. How odd meeting you here. Quite unexpected."
The man had a strong English accent, the kind that suggested an Oxford or Cambridge education. Kassie quickly tried to gather her thoughts. How had she not recognized her mark? She had seen enough pictures of him.
"Yes, yes." Robert dropped the man's hand and beckoned to Kassie. She walked over to join him. "Kassie and I thought we were alone in town. I didn't see your boat in the harbor."
"Ah, yes, we had to drop her off for repairs. Damned nuisance, but you have to take care of these things when they happen. Let me introduce you both to my, um, partner. Shez."
"That's a beautiful name."
"Scheherazade," the woman said.
She smiled at Robert, and something about the familiarity of her smile made Kassie cringe on the inside. Does he know her?
Kassie nodded. "I'm Kassandra. But Robert always calls me Kassie."
Alex turned his full charm on her, and if Robert's love hadn’t been there to shield her, she could have easily fallen under his spell. His handshake was confident, and his hand lingered just a little longer than convention dictated. He seemed to let her go with the greatest reluctance.
"Well, this is a jolly encounter." He beamed. "We were just thinking about fun things to do for lunch, and then here you both are. Please say you'll join us. We have reservations at Aldo's." He looked directly at Kassie. "I hope you like Italian food."
She marveled at how smoothly he had turned from suggestion to direction. She looked up at Robert. This was most convenient, so of course they would go, but they needed to maintain the facade.
"Kassie and I would be delighted to join you. Though I think we should change into more suitable attire. What time are your reservations?"
"One o'clock."
"Then we shall see you there."
Robert took Kassie's hand and gave it a near imperceptible squeeze. Alex treated her to a most charming beam, and Shez nodded politely.
"We will see you there."
They held back for a moment to allow the others to pass ahead and continue their tour undisturbed.
"That was lucky," said Kassie.
"Very," said Robert, though his eyes narrowed. "What did you think of him?"
"Handsome. Ridiculously so. But I think he could charm a hamster into a snake pit."
"No doubt about it."
It was her turn to squeeze his hand. "You and the girl looked like you knew each other."
"We've met."
She glared at him under her eyebrows. "Oh?"
"She's an asset, Kassie, nothing more. You know the business we're in. You do what you have to, and she was open to exploitation."
"How?"
He was spared answering by the onslaught of a school party anxious
to see the sand tiger sharks, with their ferocious looking teeth.
"Let's talk about this later. Right now we need to get back to the boat. and you need to make yourself beautiful."
"Am I not already?" she said playfully.
"Stunning. But Alex likes his women polished to perfection. And we need to wow him."
"Yes, master."
He gave her a quizzical look, but she chose not to explain. She was thinking about the Shez woman, and wondering just what their involvement had actually been. But there was no time to worry about it now. There was only a little time to dress to the desired effect, and she wanted this man to desire her, not so much for the mission but for her own egotistical satisfaction. Oh, he was nothing compared to Robert, but it wouldn't hurt to make him drool. And then she remembered how he made his money and her motivation altered. She needed to look her best, all right. Not to wow him, but it was the best way to bring the monster down. She hurried her pace and turned her thoughts to what she should wear, and hoped she'd have enough time to achieve the desired effect.
CHAPTER FOUR
Reflections Over Lunch
Her efforts paid off, and she was more than a match for the beautiful Scheherazade. As Kassie crossed the threshold, Robert smiled while the jaws of bussers and waiters dropped to see her meander through the tables. She wore a plain cream curve-enhancing dress, with tiny buttons running up the seam at her back. Even though he was more than familiar with what lay beneath, he found himself salivating at the perfectly round peach swaying before him.
Alex rose from his seat as the couple approached, and the two men remained standing while the maitre d’ made sure Kassie was seated comfortably. She smiled at Shez, who returned the greeting with eyes that didn't smile in return.
"You look beautiful, Kassandra, if I may say so," said Alex.
He rubbed his hand along Shez's bare shoulder, as if reassuring her of his affection. Shez smiled and locked her fingers under her chin, surveying Kassie's outfit with interest. If she liked it, she wasn't saying.
Robert smiled briefly at Shez, but avoided direct eye contact. The fact was he had fucked her, and though on one level he knew Kassie would accept this was what they did—acquire assets—he knew her well enough to know it would still hurt her. But an asset she had been. With her love of yachting, she had been the initial means to bring this whole happy family together.
Alex ordered a very expensive bottle of wine while they considered the entrees.
"The calamari here is excellent. Do you like seafood, Kassandra?"
"Yes, when it's done well."
She smiled, confidently, looking Alex directly in the eyes as Robert had instructed her to do. He knew Alex liked his women to be strong; in fact, the stronger the better, because he thrived on seeing them break under his attentions. Funny. Robert had never wanted to be anything other than a spy, but at this moment he was finding his career choice unusually burdensome.
"You look very well, Shez," he said. "Are you enjoying the season?"
Shez took a sip of her iced-water glass and stared at him over the rim. She licked her lips provocatively.
"I am now."
If her open flirtation bothered Kassie, she didn't show it, but maybe she was too deeply engrossed in her conversation with Alex. The pair certainly seemed thick together, already more like old friends than two people who had only just met. Robert turned his attention back to Shez.
"How long will they be working on the yacht?"
"A few days, maybe as long as a week, they say."
Awesome news. "That's a pity. I'm sure the delay must be frustrating for you both. Where are you staying in the meantime?"
"At the Marriott. Alex likes to stay close to the harbor. He loves watching the boats come in and out."
I bet he does.
The waiter came with the wine, and while he uncorked the bottle, the group returned to more communal conversation.
"You're looking exceptionally fit, Robert. Have you changed your exercise routine?"
"I might be working a little harder, Alex. But I could say the same about you. You magically seem to get better looking every time I see you."
Alex clearly liked the flattery. "What can I say, Robert? I suppose it's the very good life I lead. Keeps me young."
He dropped a napkin on his lap, and they all sat back as the waiter poured their wine. Alex approved the sample, and the table remained quiet while he poured a little into each glass.
"Are you ready to order, sir?"
"Absolutely," said Alex.
While the waiter had their attention, Robert studied Alex. He certainly seemed taken with Kassie, as he knew he would be. His eyes kept flitting in her direction, drinking her in. His attentions should have pleased him—it was what they were there for, after all, but it didn't. Something stirred in him greater than passion. It was a sense of protection. He knew the evil that worked within Alex, and he wanted to shield Kassie from it. She was a tough cookie, that was for sure, but Alex was a force to be reckoned with. Like Robert, he had a taste for the BDSM lifestyle, but unlike Robert he liked the switch just a little too much. Unlike Robert, inflicting pain was more his motivation than giving pleasure, and Shez had confided once that he had no respect for her safe word when it pleased him to ignore it.
As he sipped his Chianti, he averted his eyes, afraid they'd betray the concern he had for his new submissive. Something kept telling him that this whole mission was a big mistake, and if it were down to him, he'd have dragged her out of the restaurant, there and then, and whisked her off to safety. But Kassie was adamant, and he had to make of it what he could. He took another sip from his wine glass, and allowed their luncheon to play out as it would.
***
What was she, an idiot? It was as plain as day that he'd fucked Shez, no doubt to recruit her as an asset, but it was ridiculous he pretended it hadn't happened. Annoyed, she turned her attention to Alex. If nothing else, she could remain professional, even if he couldn't. They had a job to do, and she was damned well going to see it through.
"So, Alex, you seem to have done pretty well for yourself," she said. "Tell me, how did you manage to invent yourself?"
"Exports and imports."
He didn't even bat an eyelid. The slime bag could grease off a lie without skipping a beat. Well, when she thought about it, it wasn't exactly a lie. He just hadn't been specific about what it was he traded in. She prayed that her eyes didn't betray her disgust.
"Sounds exciting. You must be very good at what you do."
"You might think that." He looked down toward her steak. "How's the filet?"
She hadn't tried it yet, so she sliced off a small end piece to sample. The small sliver was perfectly cooked and almost melted in her mouth. She closed her eyes in appreciation, and when she opened them, she was aware of Alex watching her intently, like she was the steak about to be eaten.
"Good," she said. "The chef here knows what he's doing."
"Oh, he's one of the best."
His entire body was turned toward her, but if it bothered Shez, she didn't let on. Robert had Shez's full attention, and Kassie suppressed the flash of envy, focusing instead on her job. She turned and mirrored Alex's body position, resting her chin on her fingers, and gazing deeply into his eyes.
"I suspect you only ever get the very best."
He smiled. "Always."
The meaning in his eyes was clear as day, and he popped a piece of his veal into his mouth. There was no doubt in her mind that he liked her. She could feel it. If they'd been alone, she wouldn't have been surprised if he tried to fuck her there and then at the table. But they were not alone. And the real truth of it was; if she had gone on his looks alone, she might have felt the same. When she felt herself drifting that way, she only had to remind herself how he earned his living. That killed any thoughts of passion dead in their tracks.
"How did you meet Robert?" Alex said.
She smiled knowingly, pursing her lips as she recal
led their first encounter. There was no need to lie about this.
"In a bar. We discovered certain interests in common."
The light in Alex's eye revealed that he knew full well what she meant. He pursed his lips and quietly nodded.
"What a lucky coincidence."
"I don't believe in coincidences. I like to think of it as fate."
"Indeed."
"How did you meet Shez?"
"As a matter of fact, your friend introduced us. You might even say I stole her from him. Would you say that was very wicked of me?"
"Perhaps a little bit. But I think if you had upset him, then he's long over that now."
He looked her up and down again. "I would say so. Very over it. I find myself quite jealous again."
She felt naked under his penetrating gaze. She knew he was imagining her with her clothes off—nothing new to her about that—but Robert had told her of the depths of his depravity, information that both troubled and excited her. She was still a novice submissive, after all, and as yet Robert hadn't taken her to her hard limit. A small part of her believed Alex would take her there very quickly. She would have to guard as much against her own curiosity as his sadistic bent.
"And you've been a couple ever since?"
Alex hesitated at the word couple, and continued to eat his veal cutlet. "She is mine, yes."
She didn't ask him to explain what he meant by that. "She is very beautiful."
He nodded. "So, Kassandra, what do you and Robert have planned while you're here in Baltimore?"
"I'm not sure how long he means to be here. We're heading south. I wanted to see some more of the bay."
Alex licked his lips, then wiped them with his napkin. He pushed his finished plate away, and cleared his palate with some of the wine. "Then I insist you spend some time with us now, since we'll be heading north when we leave." He lowered his fork and played with the salt pot. "I confess that having to wait for boat repairs is a drag, but now you're both here, it might turn out to be fun after all."