Twice as Hot

by Gena Showalter

Chapter Twenty-Three

 

  Apparently, two fingerswith a thumb in the middle was a code between Cody and Rome. Not for peace, as I'd kind of hoped, but for something terrible about to go down. His fingers had formed a K for Catastrophe, even though the word started with a C (as I'd pointed out). That was the beauty of the code, Rome said, as if I lacked the sense to tie my own shoes.

  I figured that's why Cody had helped Desert Gall track us. To warn us of this impending Katastrophe - or paraster (paranormal disaster), as I liked to say - as well as stay in her good graces and prove his worth, his trustworthiness.

  What was about to go down, though, Rome didn't know.

  All I knew was that I'd never seen him this frightened. Yes, frightened. Whereas for once, I, Little Miss Icebox, had my fear under control. Don't get me wrong; I was scared. Scared out of my freaking mind, but I wasn't letting it rule me this time. Or maybe I had more control because Rome was filtering for me again. Either way, Sherridan and my team needed me, and I would not fail them.

  "How you doing?" Rome asked me as we exited the bus we'd just spent half an hour bumping around on. We'd had to wait for it for several hours, hiding all the while, but finally morning had arrived, followed quickly by the bus. Things no longer seemed at a standstill.

  I luxuriated in the chilled, fresh air, the cloying scent of mingling perfumes fading, and yawned. God, I was tired. Wait. Didn't I owe Rome a response? How was I doing, he'd wanted to know. "Good. " Rome yawned, too. "Let me know if that changes. "

  "You better believe I will. "

  "Good," he said.

  We walked another half hour before he phoned John and gave him our location, certain we weren't being tailed. Ten minutes later, a car picked us up in front of an abandoned, wood-slats-over-the-windows home. The driver didn't speak to us, didn't really even look at us.

  It was another fifteen minutes before we reached the airstrip. At least there were no incidents along the way. However, we beat Tanner's plane, which meant more endless minutes to wade through. Hello, new standstill.

  Or not. "Sponge-bath time," I muttered. "Where's the nearest bathroom?"

  "Down the hall, to the right. I'll be there in a minute," Rome said, turning his back to me to talk to a man I didn't recognize.

  "Uh, no, you won't. "

  Silence. He didn't even flick me a glance.

  I took that for agreement and strode the length of the hall. The bathroom was spacious, better than I'd expected, with white tiles and chrome facets. In fact, rather than cleaning up in a sink, I would get to use a wide shower stall with a dark privacy screen.

  Since PSI owned this little building, John must have made sure his agents had the proper facilities. I wondered if all the airstrips they owned - and there were a lot, since they had one in every major city - were like this.

  I locked the door, stripped in record time and climbed inside. As the water hit me, I was able to relax, really relax, and not worry about a bad guy busting in on me. More than having all the amenities, the airstrip was heavily guarded. We'd passed two security stations on the way in.

  Except. . . Rome sat on top of the closed toilet lid when I emerged on a steam cloud, holding a bundle of clothes. I gave a startled gasp, hand fluttering to my chest.

  "You've got to stop sneaking up on me!" I was totally buying the vicious dog I'd threatened him with when we returned home. Barking might just save me from a heart attack. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around myself. "Any more of this, and the bad guys won't need to kill me. You'll have done it for them. "

  He rolled his eyes. "Clearly I didn't really scare you, since you haven't turned me into an iceberg. We'll be contacted when Tanner's plane lands, so. . . " He was dressed in all black again. His hair was damp, slicked back from his face. We'd both had a shower last night, yes (and had fun while doing so), but we'd also scaled a building and run for our lives since then.

  "What? You're staring," I said, even though I was the true culprit in that department.

  "I know," he replied, taking the blame. Or had he been doing so, too? Score! His gaze raked me, hot, intense. "Of all the outfits I've seen you in, excluding the glistening skin you wore while showering with me, this has to be my favorite. White terry cloth, nothing underneath. " My heartbeat sped into supernova. "We're not having sex again," I blurted. "Not until our friends are safe and sound and you, like, love me again. Because the more I'm with you, the more I love you, and I hate, hate being the only one emotionally involved. "

  "Fine," he said.

  I blinked in surprise, a little disappointed he hadn't made a declaration of undying love then and there.

  Anything for nookie, right? "Come again?"

  "I said fine. No sex. " He stood. "Like you, I'm too concerned. My daughter's mother is out there, and disaster's on its way. Top that off with fatigue and a shitty mood and I'm just bad company right now.

  But since we're stuck here, I'm going to do what's most beneficial to our team. "

  "And that is?" Whatever he was doing, I was doing it, too. Except for sex, of course.

  "Rest. With you. We're not going to do anyone any good if we collapse again, and I'll sleep better if you're close. "

  Rest sounded. . . heavenly, I realized, yawning again. I'd only had a few hours' sleep myself the past few days and my adrenaline levels had been up and down so much I had whiplash.

  "Lead the way," I said.

  He handed me the clothes he'd brought for me. "Get dressed or I'll forget why I don't want to have sex. "

  "Fine. " I dropped the towel.

  His animal gave a quiet snarl.

  His eyes bored into me, burning me, as I strapped on my weapons, then dressed. Wicked me, I took my time, hoping to remind him of the many other times I'd done this for him.

  "Gonna be uncomfortable," he said, motioning to where one of the knives protruded.

  "I know. " I sauntered to his side. He had an erection, and he didn't try to hide it.

  "This way. " He wrapped his arm around my waist.

  I was shivering, and it had nothing to do with being cold, as he ushered me down the hall and into a bedroom. A full-size bed, brown comforter, no other furnishings. Strictly for resting between jobs or flights, I guess.

  Rome kicked off his shoes and lay down. I tossed mine beside his and did the same, nuzzling up to him.

  He threw an arm and a leg over me, my back to his chest, holding me tight, as if I were a precious treasure he needed to guard.

  My weapons were uncomfortable, just as he'd predicted, but I didn't remove them. An agent - a true agent - had to be ready for anything at a moment's notice. A few minutes passed, but they seemed like an eternity. I rolled the other way, but was still uncomfortable. I rolled back to him.

  "My mind is wired," I said. "I'm not sure I'll actually be able to sleep. "

  "We'll talk for a minute and wind you down, then. "

  "'Kay. 'Bout what?"

  "About the fact that I like the thought of making you mine," he whispered, breath trekking over my cheek. "I like the thought of you being Belle Masters. I didn't realize just how much until you told me the wedding was canceled. "

  I. . . I. . . must be dreaming. Must have fallen asleep without realizing it. This was too surreal to take seriously. Unless he was belatedly trying to sweet-talk me into that nookie. "Don't talk like that. Besides, who said I'd be taking your name?"

  "Why not?" Warm fingers caressed my wrist, along each of my fingers.

  "Why not take your name?" Lexis's words chose that moment to invade my mind: You're going to continue to plan your wedding, but he'll want nothing to do with it. Another man will court you, but Rome won't care. Do you hear me? He won't care! You're going to date this other man. It's him you'll marry. Him. Not Rome. Him. One thing she'd said had come true so far: another man was indeed courting me. But everything else. . . wrong. Rome obviously cared about the wedding (somewhat).

  I did not plan to
date Jean-Luc (at all), much less marry him (ever), didn't view him romantically (even a little). I couldn't imagine that changing, either.

  Had Lexis lied to me, then? I wouldn't put it past her. She was clearly willing to do anything to win her ex back.

  "Oh, you'll take my name. Why not talk like that to you?"

  "Just. . . let's wait until things are a little calmer before discussing it," I said. The subject cut me up and left me raw, and I needed to be at my best right now.

  "All I'm trying to say is that, if Memory Man never returns my memories of you, I still want a chance with you. I want to date you, get to know you again. "

  A flash of white-hot tears stung my eyes. I could only hope the ceiling wouldn't start raining next. "And if you ultimately decided you didn't want me?" The question sprang from my deepest fears, unstoppable, pain-drenched.

  "Right now I can't imagine not wanting you. " He sighed. "Go to sleep, Belle. Your mind isn't quite so wired. " It was true. While we'd been talking, he'd obviously been filtering, the darling man. Just then, I was drained. "We'll figure everything out later. "

  "Wake up , Viper . You're sooo not Sleeping Beauty. "

  The voice floated through my mind, familiar, beloved. Smart-assy. "Tanner?" Slowly I cracked open my eyes. The lights were on, golden bulbs illuminating Tanner's gorgeous features and blue hair. "Tanner!" I sat up and threw myself into his arms, squealing with delight. He was here, in the flesh, healthy and whole. "Let me look at you. " I pulled back from him, studied his face. He'd lost a little weight, his cheeks a little more hollow, but his skin was flushed with vitality and his blue eyes sparkling.

  He shook his head, tsked under his tongue. "Any excuse to get me into your arms, you hussy. " I slapped his shoulder, but couldn't hold back my grin. "I'm glad to see your hospital stay didn't dampen that dazzling wit. So where's my surprise? You said you were bringing me one. "

  "I'm right here. "

  The female voice came from the corner of the room and drew my attention. My gaze landed on beautiful, angelic Elaine. I swung my focus back to Tanner, shock flowing through me. "How?"

  "John relented," Tanner explained. "Strapped her to a lie detector - he didn't trust my word for it, said I was biased - and she passed. It's something we should have done to Reese the lying vampire a long time ago, but whatever. John allowed her to join the agency and help us on this case. "

  "I thought she wasn't interested in joining another agency?"

  "I, uh, changed her mind. "

  I looked back at Elaine. She was once again covered from neck to ankles in black cloth. Her shirt possessed a long hood that I suspected could be drawn up over her face to shield even that energy-draining skin. I remembered all too well what had happened the last time it had been exposed.

  She gave me a half smile, hesitant and unsure.

  "I'm glad you're here," I told her sincerely.

  The smile grew, and she threw a quick, longing glance at Tanner. "Me, too. "

  "Did you get your meal and your iPod? I will kill John when I return if he failed to do as he told me he would. "

  "I did, thank you. No need to kill anyone. "

  "Oh, and guess what? I've renamed her Super Absorber," Tanner said.

  I tried not to cringe. "You realize that name makes her sound like a tampon, right?" His brow furrowed. "No way. "

  "Yes, way. "

  Elaine nodded reluctantly, as if she hated to disappoint him. "It does. I'm sorry. I should have told you, but you were so proud. "

  Tanner threw up his arms. "Fine. I'll keep thinking. "

  "Rome will - " Hey, where was Rome? Frowning, I swept my gaze over the bed. The covers were rumpled, but empty. "Anyone seen Rome?"

  Tanner nodded and motioned Elaine over to him.

  The girl inched her way toward him, feet dragging, as though she was afraid to get too close. When she reached his side, he wound his arm around her waist, not the least bit frightened by what could happen despite all he'd been through. I stiffened, she gasped.

  A minute ticked by in silence.

  Tanner didn't tremble, didn't fall and gradually I relaxed. I felt sad for them, though. Obviously he'd moved on from Lexis (hip hip hurrah!) and just as obviously he and Elaine had feelings for each other.

  But they were doomed. They could never touch each other, skin to skin, which meant they could never. . . Stop right there. I did not want to imagine Tanner having sex. Although, I supposed there were ways around it. Phone sex, self-pleasure in front of each other, full-body condom. Uh, stop. Now.

  "Cat Man was on the airstrip when we landed," Tanner said, drawing me from my reluctantly lascivious thoughts. "Unlike you, he knows how to roll out the red carpet. Told me where to find you. " So he'd left me here to sleep while he'd gone off to work. Someone needed a spanking in a big way.

  "Know where I can find him? " I would not be left out. I was going to help with this case, damn it!

  "He's interrogating Memory Man, I think. I can't believe you guys caught him. Good going!" Tanner gave my back a slap of approval.

  "What!" I threw my legs over the mattress and stood. "Jean-Luc is here? No one told me. Damn it, someone should have told me. Where are they?"

  "Belle. "

  Rome's deep voice suddenly filled the room.

  Fury leaping inside my chest, desperate to escape, I looked around and found him standing in the doorway. I fisted my hands on my hips. "How long have you had him?" A muscle ticked under his eye, a clear sign he didn't want to answer. "Moment he left us alone last night, I had agents on him. First I wasn't sure who he was, so I was being cautious and merely had them knock him out. When you finally admitted his identity, I had his ass thrown in a cage. Then, since I knew we would be here eventually, I had him brought here, as well. " Right away, then. "He helped you!"

  "Wait a second," Tanner said, clearly confused. "We like Memory Man now?"

  "Yes," I shouted as Rome said, "Hell, no. "

  Rome continued, "He's not leaving until he returns my memories. " I turned to Tanner. "Take me to him. Please. "

  "Like I know where he is," Tanner said, holding up his free hand, palm out.

  "I'll find him on my own, then. " I stomped down the hall to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and back-to-normal-color hair and stomped back to the bedroom. Tanner and Elaine were exactly as I'd left them, watching me wide-eyed.

  Rome was where I'd left him, too, but he was studying me through narrowed eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. Stubborn man.

  "Be ready to roll in half an hour," I told them. "Now that the gang's all here, we'll be going to get Sherridan and Lexis. "

  Took me half of that time, Rome on my tail and silent, unhelpful, but I finally found Jean-Luc in an underground holding facility. I studied him through the small window in the door. He lay on a stiff, uncomfortable-looking cot, the room's only furniture.

  "Do you. . . care about him?" Rome asked at my side.

  I ran a fingertip over the glass, leaving a smudge. "He's not a bad guy. Just confused and lonely. "

  "And you're too damn softhearted. "

  I gazed up at him through the dark spikes of my lashes. "That's a bad thing?"

  "When you're wanting to release hardened criminals, yes. "

  Hardened criminals? Ha! "First, I was making progress with him. By doing this to him, you just ruined everything I'd already achieved. Second, I wasn't wrong about Elaine, now was I? Third, Jean-Luc has saved my life and helped me on several occasions. He makes me feel loved. Not like I'm excess baggage to be left in bed, sleeping the day away while other agents do my work for me. "

  "You're mad about that? I did you a favor, letting you rest. "

  "Or maybe you just didn't want to deal with me. " I didn't give him time to respond. "Unlock this goddamn door," I shouted.

  A guard came running, but stopped and waited for Rome's permission. Rome looked at me, teeth clenched, then gave a stiff nod. The door swung open a few seconds later
, and I stalked inside.

  "Belle. " An unfazed Jean-Luc popped to his feet and smiled. "I knew you'd come. " That smile faded, though, as his gaze collided with Rome's.

  "Do not approach her," Rome growled.

  I elbowed him in the stomach. "I'd like to apologize for what you've been through at PSI's hands. I didn't know or it wouldn't have happened. " God, I was so mad. So damn mad. The fire was raging inside me, an inferno. Rome's actions might have set me back months. Took a lot of mental grasping, but I managed to keep every flame inside me. "But I think you know why PSI felt they had to capture you.

  Will you return Rome's memories?"

  "No. "

  See! Before, I'd at least had him thinking about it.

  Rome stiffened.

  "Will you return them if I torture you?" I asked. "Because I might not have wanted you locked up, but I'm totally prepared to do what's necessary. " There was no way out of this now. This was the road Rome had thrown us on, so this was the road I had to take.

  Jean-Luc laughed with genuine humor. "No. There's no torture you can think of that hasn't already been done at some point in my past. If I haven't broken yet, it's not going to happen. " Rome moved toward him, menace in every step, but I threw out my arm. A puny block, but he stopped.

  I ran my tongue across the roof of my mouth, my mind racing with options. "What if I traded for them?" Both Jean-Luc and Rome gaped at me. Rome opened his mouth, to yell at me, I'm sure, but Jean-Luc beat him to it.

  "Yes. " He nodded, his shoulders squared, his arms behind his back. "Yes, I'll trade you for them. " Okay, wow. Easier than I'd anticipated. Maybe Rome hadn't been wrong to do this, after all. I, too, squared my shoulders. "What do you want?"

  "You. "

  Rome snarled low in his throat, pushing against my arm.

  "Stop," I told him, and surprisingly he did. "You can't have me," I told Jean-Luc, "not the way you mean. But in exchange for Rome's memories I will give you. . . three dates. " That was Cody's magic number, not too little, not too much. "Anything beyond that, you'll have to earn by proving we're meant to be together. "

  Not that he could. But as I spoke, I realized I might be setting myself up for failure with Rome. . . setting myself up to prove Lexis's prediction that I'd marry Jean-Luc true. I paled, but didn't take back my words. This was too important. "Oh, and one more thing. You'll have to do all of this without the memories. You hand them over first, or no dates. If you can't win me on your own. . . " Rome hissed through his teeth. "What are you doing, Belle?" Jean-Luc's hands fisted, but he said, "Fine. I'll date you without the memories. "

  "Who knows? Maybe you'll stop loving me the moment you lose them. You may not even want to go on one date. "

  "I'll still want you," Jean-Luc assured me. "I'll still want the dates. " I nodded, though inside I was trembling violently. "Then three dates it is. "

  "Are you still engaged?" he asked, eyes falling to my hand.

  "Nope," I said, and I couldn't hide the wistfulness in my tone. The ring was still there. I needed to take it off soon. "Not officially. "

  "Belle. " It was another warning from Rome.

  I continued, "I lied - there's still one more thing. Since we're all a happy family now, willing to help each other, we'd like your help stopping Desert Bitch. " Once I'd thought having him at PSI would be a nightmare. No longer. We needed all the help we could get.

  Jean-Luc didn't need time to think. "Yes," he said, nodding. "For you, anything. "

  "Keep the fucking memories," Rome suddenly shouted. "You're not dating her. Or joining our team. " I think he meant to shove me aside and leap at Jean-Luc, maybe even rip out his throat, but I jumped in front of him, eyeing him imploringly. "This has to be done, Rome. For you. For us. " I only hoped it didn't prove to be our undoing.

  Jean-Luc wrapped his fingers around my forearms and gently moved me off to the side. That enraged Rome all the more, animal sounds once again emerging from his throat. The moment I was out of the way, the two men leaped at each other in a tangle of limbs. Fists swung, teeth snapped, legs kicked.

  I inched toward the wall, watching as Rome's skin began to be replaced by black fur, his animal taking over. I needed fear, needed to freeze them before they killed each other. Killed each other - yes, good.

  That image brought a storm of ice inside me that melted the rage that had been boiling.

  But just as an ice ball formed in my hand, Jean-Luc disappeared. I froze in place, too shocked to move.

  Rome froze, too, half man, half cat.

  "Jean-Luc?" I called. I knew where he was. I knew what he was doing, but some part of me was afraid this wouldn't work.

  But suddenly Jean-Luc stepped from Rome's body. Rome collapsed onto the ground, laboring for breath. Jean-Luc, too, was panting. He looked to me, sweat running from his face.

  "It's done," he said. And then he, too, collapsed.