I believe very strongly that when it comes to desire, when it comes to attraction, that things are never black and white, things are very much shades of grey. – Brian Molko
Jessica
"Jess, hey wake up! Time to get dressed for the big performance, darlin'." The youngest's eyes were instantly open when Sam shook her shoulder, but her brain was slow to catch up with the rest of her body. The short nap had done little in the way of making her feel more rested.
Jess sat up in bed with her hair disheveled squinting at Sam as if she were tiny print. Sam stood back from the bed and tried (not so subtly) not to laugh at Jess's appearance. She turned on her heel and walked over to a long mirror to fix her hair in a high ponytail while chuckling softly.
Pulling the comforter off both stiffly and while enough force to send it onto the floor, Jess climbed out of bed and stretched with a yawn. She grunted as she leaned back to pop her spine.
"Good morning, gorgeous," Sam said sarcastically to Jess's reflection in the mirror. Jess groaned insolently at her eldest and reached over to grasp at the handle of her luggage. Walking sluggishly into the bathroom with her suitcase in tow, she shut the door audibly.
Jess wasted no time in getting ready. In thirty minutes she had showered, pulled on her evening attire (a lovely but simple, flared, black cocktail dress with a fitted waist), and had almost finished styling her hair. Normally she would take more time to do everything - especially considering whom she was meeting up with in a few hours - but they didn't have a whole lot of time. She wanted to iron over a few details of the mission before Sam had to leave too.
Jess chose to style her hair in a sophisticated but also uncomplicated fluffed –up side sweep that complimented her round face. She tugged on a pair of pantyhose (which she hated) and looked herself over in the mirror half a dozen times before exiting the bathroom. She went looking for the make-up bag, when she entered the bedroom and promptly noticed that Sam was helping herself to its contents at the mirror.
Jess watched her as she finished applying light mascara and looked over her should to ask, "Well how do I look?" She struck a pose.
Even though Sam had landed the less glamorous role of picking up silverware, she still looked lovely in her fancy uniform. She sported a red, long-sleeved silk blouse with a pair of khaki pants. Her pants really showed off her hips and made her bubble butt even more visible.
What was "worse" was that her red ponytail almost seemed to point to it. There's no way anyone will be able to keep their eyes off of that view. Not even trying to be jealous right now – I look damn good – but still.
Sam had other notable qualities besides her backside – computer wiz, wicked shot, down to drink four bottles of wine if you're having a shitty week, etc. She was a good agent, an even better sister, and a close friend. Jess's siblings kept her feeling grounded and level. Surely, she would float up into the stratosphere without her tethers.
"You look fine Sam. Adorable even."
"Adorable? Eh, I'll take what I can get with this get-up. Thanks though. I really just need to blend in-"
*knock, knock, knock*
They stopped, glanced at each other, and then stared back at the door. Sam moved in one fluid motion silently to the door to look through the peephole. Her sister's face went pale at what she saw. Jess cocked her head at the sudden change in expression and reached for her sidearm.
Sam shook her head at Jess when she pointed the gun at the door. "No, it's ok, put it down." Jess lowered her piece but kept her finger on the trigger.
Taking a deep breath, the eldest opened the door, stared silent daggers at whoever was there for an entire minute, and then stepped aside. The well-dressed man that entered the room was quite handsome with bronze skin and an angular, broad face. His nose was a bit large but his eyes were lovely and dark. He smirked when he saw Jess and then turned his attention to Sam.
By the way that Sam was giving the man the stink eye, Jess gathered that he must be Agent Greco. Jess knew little of their previous relationship – Sam refused to discuss what had transpired between them – but she knew enough about Sam's feelings about him to discern that she didn't care for him. Whatever had happened must have been of some significance because while Sam glared ominously, Greco smiled sweetly at her.
"You did not tell me that your sister was so beautiful, Samantha. It runs in the family?" He spoke in a thick, Italian accent. Sam rolled her eyes and shifted her weight sassily to one side.
"After four years, that's the first line you use? Ever the charmer, huh? I think I heard you use a similar line on about a dozen Czech girls." Sam looked past Greco nonchalantly, "Jess, meet Agent Alessio Greco." Jess nodded at him. She had to admit that watching them interact peeked her curiosity about their "mysterious" past.
"You always could see through my words." His ostensibly genuine smile grew larger. "A pleasure to meet the pretty sister of Agent Wilson as well." Jess blushed just a little. She could certainly see what Sam must have seen in him a few years ago.
"Uh-huh. So are you here to discuss business or what?" Sam wasn't even trying to hide the disdain in her voice.
He sighed, "Alas, to my great disappointment, this is not a personal visit." He opened one side of his coat and pulled out two earpieces. He handed one to Sam – who plucked it from his hand like he was handing her garbage – and handed the other to Jess as she finally put her weapon down.
"This is how we will keep in touch. Clear and comfortable, these mics are almost invisible to the naked eye. Press the tiny button here – he pointed – to transmit your voice to all linked mics. Double tap to only transmit to the closest mics – within a hundred yards. And press it again to cut off the transmission."
Jess and Sam placed the devices in their ears. "Wow it's like it's not even there! Nice." Technology could be amazing sometimes. One of the perks of being a spy was all of the cool gadgets you got to use.
Greco flashed Jess a smile, "Yes, they are quite amazing. But moving on, I assumed both of you have been briefed on everything?" Greco looked between the two women for confirmation.
Sam answered, "We've been over it extensively. Now if we're done here, I have a car to catch." Damn, cold. Can't get away from him fast enough, huh, Sam?
He seemed hurt by her words, "Of course. No time to catch up. In that case I wish both of you the best of luck. I will radio you when your black chariot arrives…moje laska." Sam's expression softened quickly and she looked distraught. What the hell does that mean? He bowed to both of them and was gone in an instant.
When he was gone Jess asked, "Is that guy for real?" Jess strapped her gun to her hip under her skirt.
Sam let out an elongated lungful of air. Were you even breathing while he was here? "Yeah, that's Alessio…."
"Wow, you…really don't like him…" Jess felt slightly uncomfortable with inquiring further but she was too curious not to ask, "What does "moje laska" mean?"
Sam had become abruptly interested in the tops of her shoes. "It's Czech…It…it means "my love".
Sam made sure to compliment Jess on how stunning she looked before she too departed and joked that she could probably pick up a number or two effortlessly. Jess was glad that Sam was attempting to be upbeat and casual with her, but the eldest's true feelings were written all over her face. Sam never could hide how she felt very well.
Jess made effort to not press her sister any more on subject. Sam would probably reveal the whole lot to her in due time anyway. All three siblings had that kind of bond with each other: they talked about pretty much everything. Thinking about that got her thinking about Kristen.
The great dining room of the convention center where the show was being filmed was filled to the brim with a host of various types of people. One thing the show had going for it was its diversity. There was no shortage of beautiful individuals all around her. Kristen, you would love the scenery. I wish you here….
A small laugh from the pretty woman Jess was speaking with snapped her back to reality. She smiled courteously, acting as if she were paying attention for the camera that was invasively close to their faces. Thankfully she didn't have to keep it up for long. A announcer came over the intercom and announced that the next intermission was begging. About fucking time.
Jess politely bid adieu to the lady. However briefly they spoke, Jess was glad to be paired with her. It had been a nice distraction from everything, but she needed to get back to the job.
Making her way away from the table, she grabbed a water bottle from an adjacent table and walked over to a more secluded section of the hall. It had been over an hour and she wanted to check in with Sam. Jess wondered if her eldest had run into their sexy contact yet…
Butterflies flitted through her stomach when she thought of him. She was surprised but also not at all surprised. From the moment she laid eyes on his picture, she was dumbstruck by his handsome face. She absentmindedly pulled the hem of her skirt down further.
Get a grip girl. Sitting down at a random empty table, she glanced over her immediate vicinity. The people were few and far between here, only filing up a few tables nearby but thankfully out of earshot. She took a giant gulp of water as she observed them. For some reason her throat felt really dry.
Behind her, a table of joyously loud contestants carried on a conversation in Mandarin. Just off to her left, a man with the most charming of smiles was winning the heart of the woman he was speaking with in inaudible whispers and giggles. Good, no one's looking.
Jess went to make it look like she was fiddling with her earring as she pressed the small button of her earpiece. She double-tapped it so only Sam would hear her, "So how's the table-busting business?"
Sam responded, "Oh you know, thrilling. I've never seen so many dirty spoons in my life."
Jess slouched in her chair and crossed her legs. A run had started in the left leg of her pantyhose. "So…any sign of our mysterious contact yet?"
"No, I've been all over this room and the kitchens but I haven't spotted him yet. You?"
"No sign of him either." She felt a tad disappointed. "Maybe he's waiting to make some sort of grand entrance where he sweeps one of us off of our feet. Always happens in those cheesy spy movies."
Sam chuckled, "Well, we aren't in a movie, James Bond. Why, were you hoping it was gonna be you?" Jess blushed a deep red and was suddenly glad an entire room separated them.
"No! That's totally unprofessional, Sam," she rebuked, feigning ignorance to the accusation.
"Oh really? So when you mumbled about how beautiful he was in your sleep today, that was nothing?" Jess's blush intensified.
"What?! You made that up! And anyway, even if I did find him extremely attractive, I would never try to get involved with him. The hot ones are always trouble."
Jess was so distracted with Sam trying to hide her laughter that she didn't notice the table behind her had gone quiet. The air around her changed too, slowly. A space close to her became abruptly occupied and almost immediately THAT caught her attention.
Sam started to say something else to her, but she couldn't focus on her sister's voice anymore. The presence behind her had her full attention. She did her best to make it appear as though she didn't detect it, but when she felt hot air lightly brush the back of her neck she sat up straighter.
"So you think I'm hot, hmm? You're not bad looking yourself…Agent Wilson." The voice accompanying the words was smooth and sensual. Her chest tightened and her breathing hitched. She dared to peer over her shoulder and tried so very hard to appear calm as she met the gaze of the person behind her. However, one look into the eyes of Oh Sehun and her insides went to mush.
Oh..oh my god..shit-fucking fuck, he's even better looking in person! The blush from earlier felt like the temperature of it had been cranked over to the HELL setting. And she was helpless to stop it.
Sehun's long, elegantly shaped face came around to a perfectly rounded point with alluring eyes that were so mesmerizing that she decided she would be shocked if every girl he looked at didn't melt in seconds. His full lips pulled into a devious grin that could make an ice cube in Antarctica sweat bullets. A backswept black haircut with slightly buzzed sides complimented all it flawlessly. I didn't know someone could be this fucking ATTRACTIVE! FUCK.
He bent his significantly tall, lean, and well-dressed body closer to her, waiting for her to say something back to him with a cocky look in his eyes. And that made all of it official. He was, by far, the sexiest man she had ever seen.
And oh yes…definitely trouble.
