Chapter Twenty-three 3 page

"What about us?"

"I'm not letting you go anywhere without me. If you travel, I'm coming."

A faint smile flickered across Blair's mouth. "Kind of like a groupie?"

"Your number one fan."

"What about at night?"

"With the press corps downstairs?" Cam's gaze flickered around the room, and she sighed. "I can't stay here every night."

"Then I'm staying with you at your place."

Cam groaned. "Jesus, if you can just be patient a few-—"

"No."

"Blair," Cam sighed and brushed her mouth over the top of Blair's hand. "All right, as long you promise to stay here if I'm out of town."

"Until I go home."

"Agreed."

Blair smiled. "There, see? That wasn't so difficult, was it?"

"Perfectly painless." Cam leaned forward and kissed her, sliding her fingers into Blair's hair. She let herself linger in the soft, warm comfort of Blair's mouth, savoring the press of Blair's body along the length of hers. The connection steadied her, centered her, and she would need that in the days ahead.

Chapter Five

"So what about that suggestion?" Blair slipped her fingertips inside the waistband of Cam's trousers and brushed the back of her fingers over Cam's abdomen.

"You mean the one where we ignore the fact that I'm out of a job and that we're in the White House where someone might notice if we never leave the bedroom?" Cam curled both arms around Blair's waist as they swayed together, hearts and bodies attuned. "God, you smell so good."

Blair laughed softly and pulled Cam's shirt free. Her laugh became a soft purr when her hand met skin, and Cam stiffened, emitting a throaty growl. "I was thinking more along the lines where we have a quickie, short but intense. Maybe right here on the sofa. I seem to remember you liking it quite a bit when I knelt between your le—"

The phone rang, and they both cursed simultaneously. With a sigh, Cam stepped away, automatically tucking in her shirt.

"Don't be so quick to give up on that idea," Blair muttered as she snatched up the phone. "Blair Powell...Hi...Yes, she's here... When?...Okay, fine." She clicked off the phone and tossed it onto the sofa, then faced Cam with a frustrated expression. "I feel as if I'm in that groundhog movie. The same goddamn scene keeps replaying."

"Your father?" Cam was already on her way to retrieve her jacket and weapon.

"Just about. Lucy Washburn."

Cam turned as she shrugged into her shoulder harness. Lucinda Washburn was the White House chief of staff and the second most powerful person in the nation. Others might assume that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs or the head of the State Department might hold that position, but Lucy Washburn was the president's confidante and his oldest adviser. She was also an accomplished politician in her own right and somehow always managed to juggle the simmering Capitol Hill rivalries, shifting loyalties, and internecine power struggles to the president's advantage. "She wants to see me?"

"Both of us."

Their eyes met in silent acknowledgment that a command appearance in Washburn's office was never good news.

When they arrived in the West Wing, they were shown directly into the chief of staff's office. Lucinda Washburn, an imposing auburn-haired woman in a double-breasted, charcoal pinstriped suit, stood at the windows overlooking a lush garden, her back to the room. She turned at the sound of their entrance, the lingering remnants of sadness softening the strong lines of her jaw and deepening the shadows beneath her hazel eyes. She squared her shoulders and strode to greet them, indicating the seating area in front of her desk with a sweep of one arm. A thin gold filigree bracelet that matched her earrings encircled her right wrist. "Blair, Cameron. How are you?"

It was the first time the three of them had been together since Blair's evacuation from her makeshift sanctuary in Maine upon Marine One the day before. Blair still found it hard to believe that it had only been two days since the world had exploded. So much had happened in those forty-eight hours to alter the landscape of an entire nation's existence that time itself seemed to have been altered, each moment somehow stretching toward a point in a future that was clouded with questions and uncertainty. Blair reached for Cam's hand, instantly comforted by the warm, solid strength of the fingers that closed around hers. She glanced quickly at her lover, whose eyes said that the connection mattered to her too. Blair felt a wash of appreciation, because Cameron made it so easy to love her. She never let her unshakable strength diminish her tenderness, or her need. Blair smiled her thanks and turned to the woman whom she'd known since childhood.

"We're alive, Luce, and that's what counts." Blair sat on the floral brocade love seat in front of a wide, glass-topped coffee table, her hand still clasping Cam's. "But everything else has gone to hell. Cam's been taken off my security detail."

"Yes, I know," Lucinda said, settling into a chair across from them.

"So I guess my father does too?"

Lucinda nodded. "There really wasn't anything to be done. Considering everything that's happened, all we've been trying to do is follow protocol in an effort to reestablish some kind of order."

"That's ridiculous," Blair snapped. "My personal security detail has nothing whatsoever to do with national security. It has nothing to do with what happened—"

"It does, Blair," Cam interrupted gently. "The assault on the Aerie was timed to coincide with the airliners hitting the Towers. Those hijackings and the gunmen at your building were two arms of a single assault."

"Yes," Lucinda said, regarding Cam intently. "That seems to be the only conclusion." She looked at Blair. "Which means that you played a key role in a terrorist plan to destabilize the nation. Obviously, your ongoing security is now of the utmost importance."

Blair's fingers tightened around Cam's. "So we're going to high priority coverage."

Lucinda nodded.

"An agent physically in the room with me twenty-four hours a day. Doubling the number of agents on every detail. Limitations on social appearances and foreign travel." Blair shivered nearly imperceptibly, then held Lucinda's gaze. "For a few days, maybe. But for weeks? Maybe months? I can't take it, Luce. I just can't."

"We don't know what kind of time frame we're looking at." Lucinda's tone was kind but unyielding. "We don't know anything yet, Blair. We don't know if this was an isolated terrorist cell acting alone on orders from outside this country or if this represents just one faction of a highly organized national network that may be planning another attack right now on Chicago or Los Angeles or Dallas." She leaned forward, her expression intent, but her eyes gentle. "All we know is that you were singled out for elimination. We must assume that you are still a target."

"What makes this any different than any other day? The entire focus of my security team is to protect me from the potential of attack. And they do it very well." Blair looked at Cam. "Just like they did on Tuesday."

"From the limited intelligence we have available thus far," Lucinda said, "the attack on the Aerie was nearly flawless. You were all lucky to survive it."

"I agree with Lucinda, Blair," Cam said. "There might have been only one strike team capable of that kind of assault, and if that's the case, they've been eliminated. But we don't know that. We don't know that there isn't a second team already trained with a contingency plan for another strike. We just don't know."

"If that's the case, Luce," Blair argued, "then why take my most experienced agents away from me? Cam and the others are the best people to protect me."

"Ordinarily, I'd agree, and I have, in the past. This isn't the first attempt on your life, and we've kept your security team in place." Lucinda gave Cam a look that was as close to an apology as she ever offered. "But this time, there was inside help. A United States Secret Service agent was involved in an assassination attempt on the first daughter. Clearly, we have a profound breach in security. No one is above suspicion."

Blair stiffened. When she spoke, her tone was flat and deadly. "You're talking about my lover."

"I'm giving you the opinion of the highest-ranking members of our security services."

"I don't give a flying fu—"

"An opinion, by the way," Lucinda went on, "that I don't happen to share. And neither does your father. Which is why you're both sitting here right now." Lucinda smiled wryly. "And if you would simply let me brief you, I could probably save us all a lot of time."

Blair opened her mouth, then sighed deeply and settled back against the sofa. "I'm sorry. Go ahead."

"Justice and the NSA want to keep the investigation into the incident at the Aerie under their jurisdiction as part of the larger inquiry surrounding the terrorist attacks."

Cam spoke quietly, her tone mild and uncritical. Her eyes, however, shone hot with emotion. "It will take that kind of multijurisdictional commission two years to investigate something of this magnitude."

Lucinda laughed. "You're being generous, Commander. I would have ventured closer to three."

"Ma'am," Cam acknowledged with a tip of her head. "Your estimate is probably more accurate than mine. Either way, it's too long not to know the scope of the threat to Ms. Powell."

"Yes, well," Lucinda said, serious once more, "however long it takes, I believe we all can appreciate that regardless of intentions, the greater emphasis of any investigation must be on the national threat."

Blair saw a muscle along the edge of Cam's jaw flutter, and she sensed the utter stillness in Cam's body that she had come to know preceded the lightning strike of her lover's rare but powerful fury. "Are you baiting her, Luce? Because it's not a very good idea."

Lucinda kept her eyes on Cam's face. "No, I wanted to see for myself exactly why the president has such faith in her."

"Maybe it's because I love her," Blair said sharply.

"No," Lucinda said softly, "it's because she loves you." She settled back in her chair and crossed her legs, one smooth silky glide of tight flesh along tight flesh. "So let me explain, Commander, your new assignment. The president intended to be here, but he was called away for, an emergency meeting. You may assume the orders come from him."

Cam nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"You will head a special investigative team appointed by the president whose sole purpose is to determine the origination of the assault on Ms. Powell's apartment building, ascertain how deep the intelligence breach goes within our security ranks, and establish how this operation was associated with the attacks on New York City and Washington, DC."

"I'll need free access to various intelligence files, including those of the FBI, ATF, CIA, and Justice," Cam replied immediately.

"You'll be granted clearance and provided contacts, but your inquiries will need to be very circumspect."

Meaning that this is a secret commission. Cam did not voice the question, knowing that she would not receive an answer. "I want to choose my own team members."

"Granted."

"I want the original members of Blair's security team reinstated as soon as the Justice inquiry clears them."

"That will take some time, but I'll see to it." Lucinda lifted a shoulder. "Nothing makes their wheel turn quickly."

"When we find the people responsible, I want to coordinate the takedown."

"Cam—" Blair protested.

Lucinda broke in, "You'll coordinate any strike team efforts with a military liaison."

"Agreed," Cam responded.

"The president will name the liaison."

Cam considered arguing for her own choice of military personnel, but one did not question the president's authority during negotiations like these. "I want to attend the daily briefings of Blair's security detail."

"The new commander may take offense."

"Possibly," Cam said. "I would. Nevertheless, these are my terms."

Lucinda tilted her head and appraised Cam with interest. "What makes you think you have any bargaining power here, Commander?"

"Because you know that I'm going to investigate with or without your sanction, and you'd prefer to know what I'm doing. And what I find out."

"If you were to undertake an unauthorized investigation, you'd be placing yourself in violation of any number of security regulations. Theoretically, you could lose your clearance, possibly face prosecution."

"Lucinda, what the hell?" Blair started to rise, and only Cam's hand in hers held her back.

"It's okay," Cam said quietly.

Blair rounded on her, her blue eyes flashing. "If you think I'm going to sit here and listen to her threaten you, you're crazy."

"I'm not threatening her, Blair," Lucinda said. "I'm only laying out the facts. And the reason that you're here listening to this, against my advice, by the way, is because your father doesn't want to keep this a secret from you."

"And why did vow want to keep me in the dark?" Blair sat forward on the edge of the sofa, her free hand fisted on her thigh.

"Because I knew you wouldn't like Agent Roberts heading this investigation, and your reluctance could interfere with her—"

"Bullshit, Luce. Nothing interferes with Cam's effectiveness, and you know it."

"Not her effectiveness," Lucinda said gently. "Her safety."

Blair jerked. "What? Do you think I would compromise her in some way? Risk her life?"

"No, I think your resistance would distract her, and distraction can lead to mistakes."

"I have never wanted her to do this job, and she knows it." Blair's words sliced the air as her body quivered. "Do you think she was distracted the day she stepped in front of me outside my apartment building and intercepted the bullet that was meant for me? Do you think she was distracted on Tuesday when she stood in front of me again- —"

"Blair," Cam murmured. "It's—"

"But she's still doing the job." Blair's voice cracked but she continued, "because she has to, and I know that. Because not doing it would hurt her more than anything that might happen to her, even..." She finally lost her battle to block out the images that, under ordinary circumstances, she so successfully kept at bay. Now she couldn't stop reliving the nightmare of her lover dying. She turned her face away from Lucinda and Cam, closing her mind to the memories.

Cam, stood, ignoring the surprise on Lucinda Washburn's face. "Let's go, baby. It's been a tough couple of days, and I need a break."

"I need a decision, Agent Roberts," Lucinda said.

Cam circled Blair's waist with one arm. "I'll let you know tomorrow. There are some people I need to speak to first."

"That's a bit irregular."

"These aren't normal times."

"I'll expect your answer in the morning."

Cam nodded as she and Blair turned to leave. "You'll have it."

Once they were beyond the hearing of Lucinda's deputy chief of staff, Blair asked, "What are you waiting for?"

"You and I need to talk, and I need to go to New York tonight."

Chapter Six

Blair and Cam walked in silence through the warren of offices that was the nerve center of the nation. The West Wing at almost any hour of any day was alive with activity, but now the very air was charged with a sense of urgency. Aides, deputy chiefs, military advisers, and security personnel hurried through the halls, all looking as if they were on a mission of vital importance and already behind schedule.

They nodded to the Secret Service agents stationed at the elevator to the residential floors, and once inside, Blair asked, "Why New York and why tonight?"

Can looked as though she was about to answer, but when the elevator doors slid open and they stepped out, she nodded in the direction of Blair's suite. "Your security chief is here."

Paula Stark stood just outside Blair's door, her gaze fixed on some point on the opposite wall that appeared to hold great interest. She wore a dark suit, and her face was nearly the same shade as her white shirt. Blair's new chief did not look toward them as they approached,

"Paula?" Blair queried as she stopped in front of the Secret Service agent.

"Ma'am," Stark responded stiffly. "In case the commander hasn't yet informed you, I've been assigned as your new security chief."

"Yes, I know."

"I'd like to review your plans for the next few days."

"I don't know that I have any." Blair's voice held just the slightest edge of irritation. "And now isn't a very good time."

"I understand. I'll be happy to wait."

Blair stopped with her hand on the doorknob. "For how long?"

"Until it's convenient for you to meet with me."

"This is a new tactic," Blair said with the barest hint of appreciation in her tone. She glanced at Cam, whose eyes held a glint of humor. "If I don't decide to come out for forty-eight hours, you'll get awfully hungry out here, Paula."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you already look done in."

Stark shifted and met Blair's gaze, "I'm fine, Ms. Powell. And I appreciate that you weren't given any notice of these changes, so I don't wish to disrupt your schedule."

"Your presence is a disruption. But you've always known that."

"Yes, ma'am. I should have said any more of a disruption than necessary."

"Fair enough." Blair smiled with a mixture of humor and bitterness. "So, can I expect you to talk like you have a stick up your ass from now on, then?"

"I'm not sure," Stark replied seriously. "I really haven't had time to work on a command voice."

Blair sighed and pushed the door open. "Come on in. Your approach is unique, and there's no way you could match Cam's command voice anyhow. But for God's sake, relax."

Just inside the door, Stark stopped and looked toward Cam, who had walked to the far side of the room, and gave her a brief shrug of apology. Then she returned her attention to Blair. "I'd like to say right now that I have no intention of replacing the commander. However, I've been given a job to do. A job which I consider vital, and I intend to do it in the best way possible. My way."

"Well. That sounds a lot like the previous security chiefs I've dealt with." Blair flopped down on one of the sofas and indicated a nearby chair. "Sit." She trained her head in Cam's direction. "Are you going to join us?"

"I've got some calls to make. And I think this ought to be between the two of you." She smiled at Blair and nodded to Stark as she headed for the adjoining room. "I'm glad to see you're on the job, Agent."

"Thank you, Commander."

"Let's get this over with, Stark," Blair said testily. "You'll find that the daily briefings are not one of my favorite exercises."

Stark took a breath and launched into her prepared speech. "The first team, at least temporarily, will consist of myself and two to three other agents, depending upon the circumstances. Right now, I don't have the duty assignments because I've just been given the names of your new team members."

Blair's eyes narrowed. "I'm not happy about working with strangers, especially if we're at Priority One."

"That's why I'll be on the first team. Outside the perimeter of the White House, I'll be your primary agent."

"It'll be tough, doing double duty as both the crew chief and my primary."

Stark's expression didn't change. "In my opinion, that's the appropriate action."

"All right. Thank you, that will make it easier for me."

"As to the commander—"

"There's nothing about Cam's presence in my life that's open for discussion." The faint warmth that had seeped its way into Blair's voice since they had begun talking quickly disappeared. "You and I are friends, Paula." In fact, for a few brief hours in what now felt like the distant past, they'd been more than that. "I hope you're not going to suddenly pretend that you don't know what she means to me."

"I was going to suggest that the commander attend daily briefings, since I'm sure you would both prefer that."

Blair tilted her head and studied Stark appraisingly. "And you don't mind that? My lover and your former boss observing your new command?"

Stark released a long, pent-up breath and leaned forward, her hands clasped loosely between her knees, her eyes holding Blair's unflinchingly. "It doesn't matter whether I mind or not. What matters is that your security team functions effectively, and I believe it will run more smoothly if the commander is aware of the daily plan." She separated her hands and curled her fingers over her knees, her voice softening for an instant. "But just so you know, I won't forget anything."

"They should have assigned more agents like you in the past, Paula," Blair said quietly.. "I might not have found it necessary to disappear quite so often."

"I'd like it if you could promise not to do that in the future, Ms. Powell," Stark said, all business again. "Because the danger is far more than theoretical now."

"I can't." There was no aggression in Blair's voice, only an undercurrent of regret. "But I'll do the best I can."

Stark nodded. "Then we have a plan." She leaned back and unbuttoned her jacket, the first break in her formal posture. "We need to talk about the next few days."

"I'm flying with my father to Manhattan tomorrow to view.. .the scene."

"I'll discuss the itinerary with Agent Turner," Stark said, referring to the president's security chief. "And you'll be staying here tonight?"

"You're blushing."

"I've been working on that," Stark acknowledged conversationally. She grinned for a fleeting second. "No luck so far."

"I don't know where I'll be tonight."

"Ms. Powell—"

Blair interrupted. "It depends on Cam's plans. If she doesn't stay here, then I'll stay with her in her apartment."

Stark winced. "Security would be far easier to accomplish here."

"That's not my concern." Blair rose abruptly. "I have your number. I'll call you about my plans."

"Yes, ma'am." Stark stood. "Thank you."

Stark had nearly reached the door when Blair stopped her with a question.

"Have you heard from Renee?"

"Yes. She's.. .uninjured." Somehow all right didn't feel quite like the truth. Stark looked over her shoulder. "It sounds.. .bad.. .up there."

"I can't even imagine," Blair murmured. Her expression softened. "Get some sleep, Paula. I won't be going anywhere for a while. And I promise, I'll call."

"Will do," Stark lied, knowing that before she could sleep, she needed to review the dossiers on the seven new agents she'd been assigned and try to choose three whom Blair would be able to tolerate having in close proximity during her waking hours for the foreseeable future. "I appreciate the time, Ms. Powell."

"Lose the stick, Paula," Blair said with a laugh. Stark smiled. "Working on that too."

Cam, sitting on the edge of the bed, hung up the phone as Blair walked into the bedroom. She'd removed her jacket and weapon harness and had rolled up both sleeves to mid-forearm. "How did it go?"

"She's still standing."

"That good, huh?" Cam grinned.

"I'm glad you got them to appoint her as security chief," Blair said as she settled next to Cam. She threaded an arm around Cam's waist and leaned her cheek against Cam's upper arm. "It's so much easier with a woman, and one who knows about you and me. Because I can't go back to the way things were. I can't pretend that I'm not who I am and that we're not lovers."

"I wouldn't want you to." Cam kissed her temple. "In fact, I don't think I could take it either." She eased back onto the pillows and drew Blair back with her until they reclined, Blair curled against her side. "I can't pretend that I don't need you with me all the time."

Blair shifted until she lay full-length atop Cam. "Why the sudden change?"

Cam ran her fingers through Blair's hair, holding the thick blond strands away from Blair's neck so that she could raise her head and kiss her there in the sweet triangle just below her ear. "I'm sorry if you ever thought it was easy for me not to be with you. It's always been hell, but these last two days..." She caught Blair's earlobe between her lips and sucked it softly. When Blair stiffened, she released the small, fleshy morsel. "I don't want to let you out of my sight."

"Same here." Then Blair felt it coming, the powerful surge of tenderness and want and need that coalesced in her heart and body to become love and something far greater than she could define with words or contain with mere flesh. But still she tried to articulate with insufficient phrases and her woefully inadequate touch the places mat Cam filled in her life. "I love you."

As Blair began to unbutton Cam's shirt, Cam tugged Blair's blouse from her jeans.

"No," Blair murmured. "Lie still."

"Blair," Cam protested.

"Shh."

Blair knelt astride Cam's hips, slowly loosing each button until the shirt lay open with a column of flesh exposed down the center of Cam's body. She edged her fingertips beneath the crisp fabric, crested the rise of Cam's breasts until she reached the tight peaks, and brushed lightly over the puckered nipples. She smiled when Cam's hips twisted against her thighs, and she carefully squeezed and molded Cam's breasts beneath her palms, drawing the swollen cores of the nipples between her fingers until she elicited a soft moan from her lover's throat.

"Oh God." Cam's pupils dilated until black eclipsed the gray and desire swam in the dark eddies left behind.

"I never get the chance to go slow with you," Blair said in a quiet conversational tone as she rocked back on her heels and ever so slowly slid the length of Cam's leather belt through the silver buckle at her waist. Ignoring the flutter of muscles beneath the smooth skin of Cam's abdomen, she deftly popped the clasp at Cam's waistband with one hand and drew the zipper down with the other in a single fluid motion. Then, as she turned her hand and slid her fingers into the soft curls she'd just laid bare, she leaned forward and caught a nipple between her teeth. As she closed her eyes and sucked, she circled her fingers over the base of Cam's belly, not touching the focus of her need, but knowing that the motion would tease the blood into the sensitive flesh only inches away. "Mmm. I love how hot you feel in my mouth."

Cam gripped the back of Blair's head and pushed herself hard against Blair's mouth, causing teeth to scrape across her hypersensitive flesh. Pleasure shot straight to her core and struck between her thighs, bringing her hips off the bed. In a voice so hoarse her words were barely recognizable, she rasped, "Bite it."

"Oh no," Blair whispered, pulling back to lick ever so lightly at the swollen nipple. "I don't trust you not to come."

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 743