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As Lauren’s face clapped against the cement, a hairline crack appeared.
She had worn the mask for two years, practicing her guileless smile so
often that she no longer recognized herself in the mirror. Resisting
the blood that glued her cheek to the ground, she pushed herself up.
Propped up by an elbow, she massaged her jaw.
“
That was for turning me in.” Sydney’s stern expression softened; she
offered Lauren a hand. “This is for helping me break out.”
Lauren’s pride chided her as she eyed the well-manicured hand; she didn’t
have to take this abuse. These days, she craved the one thing a deep
cover mission denied its agent – her own identity. Vaughn’s wife could
take a punch, but the Covenant operative had a few left to pull.
When Sydney tugged, Lauren yanked back. The thud of Sydney hitting the
ground, the crack of her head against the floor, the sharp cry that escaped
her lips were all she needed to hear. Sometimes you have to tip your
hand to win the game.
Lauren pinned Sydney’s arms to her side and straddled her. Captivated
by her catch, she ignored the heart that pound frantically against her
thigh. She had seen her helpless in the prison – tasered into submission – but
even then she was brave, not weak. Sydney’s breathing subsided into a
calm control, but Lauren’s eyes never wandered. She moved a stray hair
from Sydney’s face.
“
I could kill you,” Sydney threatened with a smooth confidence.
Lauren understood what Vaughn had loved – dark eyes, pouting lips, skin
flawless even under close scrutiny. As her thumb traced Sydney’s cheekbone,
she wondered how he managed not to touch flesh so soft. “Give me your
best shot.”
Sydney bucked her hips, but Lauren rode her back to the floor.
“
Come closer,” Sydney urged.
Lauren stroked her adversary’s hair before leaning in. She watched hypnotized
as Sydney lifted her head. Sydney brushed against her lips, leaving intimations
of a hunger unfed. She drew back and let a beat pass.
“
Think you can handle my best shot?”
“
I can’t let you go,” Lauren said. Vaughn had measured her against Sydney
for two years; she wasn’t about to bow out now.
“
Then I can’t make you come.” Sydney’s brazen offer startled Lauren. “You
must miss that, being married to Vaughn.”
Lauren squinted, as skeptical of Sydney’s proposal as she was of her
outstretched hand. Sydney drew her into a second kiss, more fervent than
the first, and then hastily pulled away. “I’m capable of amazing feats,
but not without touching you. One free hand?”
Lauren released Sydney. “I’ll give you two.”
____________________
When Lauren threw her to the ground, Sydney had lain there stunned. Lauren
was a paper-pushing dilettante. Still, her slight frame weighed heavily
on Sydney, as did her gaze. Sydney had always been able to trust her
instincts and her gut was screaming two things: this woman was dangerous,
and she was attracted to Sydney.
Ever resourceful, Sydney turned lemons into lemonade. Lacking the physical
leverage to unseat Lauren, she switched tactics. Before she had used
her body for love of god and country; today she’s use it to save herself.
Years of wanting the unattainable had made Sydney an expert at temptation.
She made certain that her first kiss, although restrained, suggested
innumerable others. She sealed alluring promises with a second, more
ferocious kiss that startled Lauren. Sydney traced her mouth with a wanton
tongue, sliding it roughly between Lauren’s lips before exploring her
mouth.
Sydney knew she had hit pay dirt when Lauren began rubbing against her.
Lauren’s breasts swung full, threatening to escape the confines of her
camisole. Feeling the heat between her own legs, Sydney pulled away and
took a deep breath. “I’m capable of amazing feats, but not without touching
you,” she said alluringly. “One free hand?”
Lauren didn’t blink. “I’ll give you two.”
Newly free, Sydney shrugged off her soreness and readied herself to gain
the upper hand. Instead Lauren surprised her.
Although Sydney’s arms were free, Lauren shoved her back to the floor
and drew her into an intoxicating kiss. Sydney tried to rationalize her
actions, but even a woman of her intelligence couldn’t justify this – succumbing
to the temptation of her ex-lover's wife.
Sydney bit the woman’s lip as she pulled away, causing her to recoil. “What
was that?”
Lauren asked, her brow creasing.
Her tongue lingered on her swollen lip causing Sydney to grin. “As long
as you walk out of here with a few bruises, Vaughn doesn’t need to know
how you got them.”
Lauren nodded as she thrust her hands under Sydney’s shirt, shoving the
fabric up to reveal a flat stomach. She caressed Sydney’s bumpy ribs
before teasing the soft flesh of her breasts.
Get your head in the game, Sydney
reminded herself; she needed to control Lauren, but the feeling of the
hard tip of her left nipple between Lauren’s teeth made coherent thought
impossible.
Abandoning her breast, Lauren reached down and unbuttoned Sydney’s jeans,
pushing them down just far enough. A cool hand slid between the lace
panties and her skin. When Lauren’s thumb arrived at her aroused nub,
Sydney felt exposed. The dampness of her panties had betrayed her.
Lauren offered a beguiling grin as she began massaging Sydney. “My best
shot, coming right up.”
____________________
All lovers should be enemies, Lauren thought as Sydney let out a pleading
moan. An enemy won’t ease off even when you beg because your comfort
is her last priority.
Sydney had tried to entice her with sexual gratification, but that was
the sport in which Lauren had earned a varsity letter. She could put
off her own satisfaction ad infinitum if it meant triumphing over Sydney.
Refusing to yield, Lauren kept stroking Sydney until she collapsed beneath
her.
Lauren lay beside her, wiping away Sydney’s beads of sweat. Leaning in,
she captured Sydney’s lips as deftly as she had elicited her orgasm.
Sydney’s arms snaked around her waist and under her shirt. She smiled
against Sydney’s lips, anticipating the pleasure of her best efforts.
Using her two free hands, Sydney walloped her.
Lauren hit the ground hard, stunned that her captive had knocked the
breath out of her. Winded, she could only watch as Sydney tucked in her
shirt and zipped up her pants.
“
You played me,” Lauren mumbled angrily. Though winded, she tried to stand
up, but Sydney kicked her to the ground again.
“
Lesson one, know your enemy.” Sydney said.
Lauren was on all fours, trying to stand, but Sydney’s gaze turned steely.
She delivered another blow that fractured a rib or two.
“
Lesson two,” Sydney whispered as she bent down. “Never lose control.”
Sydney offered her hand for the second time that night. Their eyes met,
a tacit acknowledgement that Sydney had glimpsed her true agenda. The
question of how much she had given away and how much Sydney had deduced
would be left for another day.
Lauren looked up. “And if you lose control?”
“
Do whatever it takes to get it back,” Sydney replied. She looked away,
like words had been stolen from her tongue. “I meant what I said – Vaughn
doesn’t need to know about this – but make no mistake. You’re no more
a liaison for the NSC than I was a banker for Credit Dauphine. Once I
know you really are, I won’t bother with the appropriate channels. I’ll
take the first clean shot I get.”
Ever more suspicious, Lauren peered at her enemy’s hand. Licking the
bite on her lip one last time, she let Sydney pull her from the ground.
She dusted off her clothes with nervous strokes and took quick strides
toward the door.
“
One last thing,” Sydney said, grabbing her by the arm.
Lauren turned and felt Sydney’s fist connect squarely with her right
cheekbone. “Tooth extractions were all the rage last year; this year,
it’s your basic black eye.”
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