Page 67 of Witness Security Breach

She spread her legs wider in invitation.

Sliding his hand up to the back of her neck, he held her tight as he took her mouth and kissed her, deep and hard and wet. His first press into her was long and excruciatingly slow as though it brought him both pleasure and pain.

Which she understood. The friction relieved one kind of ache while making another deepen at the same time.

He rolled over, taking her with him, up into a sitting position. Her legs went around his waist, her hands to his shoulders. He held her hips, guiding her up and down the steely length of him. Pushing up on her knees for leverage, she pulsed with liquid heat, flowed with their building rhythm, matching his hunger and desperation.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said between ragged breaths. “You’re perfect.”

They took each other harder and faster, his mouth sensual and sweet, his hands wild and possessive. Her heart brimmed with so much love—with the surety of his, bright as a star—that she cried. Happy tears.

Another shuddering release spilled through her. His arms locked around her waist and he drove her down, grinding roughly until he found his own.

In the past, at this point, once both parties had been physically satisfied, she would’ve said something callous and goading to establish distance and got the heck out of there.

Instead, when Aiden pulled her down beside him and wrapped his arms around her, she sank into it. Reveled in it.

The sun was fading, and it was nearly dark.

Snuggling with him, she was glad they’d made love slowly, so she’d always remember every caress, every whispered word of affection, each kiss and exhilarating breath of their first time.

First.

With many, many more to come.

Emotions barraged her. The world had changed.

Even she was different. Sort of. She wanted to be strong enough to handle this, brave enough. Aiden was right. It took courage to love.

“What are we supposed to do now?” she asked as a prickle of anxiety wormed to the surface. “Exchange BFFs bracelets? I guess it should say lovers. What does one put when your BFF is your lover?” Charlie pressed her lips together to stop the babbling redirection pouring out of her mouth. She had to be honest with him. Face her fears. “I don’t know how to do this, a relationship, and I don’t want to mess it up.” Her stomach flip-flopped. She wanted it to work between them more than anything, but... “I’m scared.”

“I know.” He squeezed her arm and rubbed up and down. “We’re going to keep doing the same thing that we have been. But we’ll do it under one roof, sharing the same bed, only sleeping with each other. No bracelets.”

She chuckled, her trepidation easing. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Simple, yes. Easy, not always. But don’t forget.”

“What?”

He kissed her temple and tightened his embrace. “We’re the dynamic duo. Together, we can do anything.”

Next to Aiden, she felt invincible, like they could conquer the world. Maybe they could make a relationship work. Find happiness one day at a time.

The cell phone on the nightstand buzzed. A text came in.

Aiden reached over and grabbed the phone. He showed her the screen as he opened the message.

An orange jumpsuit wouldn’t suit me. What do you want to trade?

“Even if Walsh agrees to give us Albatross, he’ll never follow through and make good on it.”

“We just have to buy Edgar time. Keep him safe until we can get to him.”

Charlie nodded. “We should ask for money, too. To really sell it. Anyone corrupt would.”

AS GARCIA ILLEGALLY parked her car in a bus lane on Elk Place, her cell phone rang. She kept the sedan running, took out her mobile and noticed it was the office.

She was about to answer, but she spotted her confidential informant. Her CI abhorred working for the FBI. Most did. After getting busted and charged with drug possession and an intent to distribute, being an informant sounded better than jail, so here they were.