A/N: Hi, Everyone!
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"Wow," Rachel exclaimed in a soft, sighing whisper. She'd never shared anything so intimate, but she could understand why people enjoyed it so much.
Their chests had stopped heaving, but Quinn's vibrated again with laughter.
"'Wow' doesn't even come close," she argued huskily. "It gets a lot better, I promise."
That brought a smile of satisfaction to Rachel's lips. She'd wanted their loving to be incredibly special because that's how she felt about the blonde – a special, unique feeling unlike anything she'd ever known with anyone.
Quinn's response thrilled her and sounded so sincere that she pressed a hard kiss on her lips.
"Control yourself, Rach," Quinn teased, running her fingers through Rachel's dark tresses.
Then she cupped Rachel's head with her palm and pulled her back to her for a long, sweet kiss. Rachel gently sucked Quinn's tongue into her mouth until a low, hungry sound gurgled from the blonde's throat.
When their lips parted, their gazes tangled. They stared into each other's eyes, intently searching. Rachel wondered what Quinn hoped to find in hers. The dark, possessive gleam in hers sent a tremble over Rachel. Her nipples tightened in reaction. Their bodies were still so closely entwined that she felt the blonde's body also begin to react in renewed arousal.
"You should have told me," Quinn whispered intently, her dark hazel gaze never leaving Rachel's.
Rachel didn't want to discuss her virginity or make a big deal of it. Nor did she want to tell her that she was the first person, man or woman, who had ever tempted her to part with it.
"I'm the one who did the seducing," she reminded, hoping to stave off any more discussion of the matter.
Quinn, however, wasn't satisfied with that response. She started to speak, but Rachel placed a hand over her mouth. "We have to get moving." She wanted nothing more than to spend the day, or several, in bed in the blonde's arms. There was so much about her that Rachel still needed to explore.
Quinn looked over to check the clock. "You're right. It's after eleven and we have to be out of here by noon."
The ex-agent didn't mention that Finn's men might have tracked down Max and the rented Jeep by now. Given enough time, they would eventually find them.
Rachel signed. "First dibs on the bathroom," she said, wondering how to gracefully extricate herself from their embrace. Even though they'd just shared an incredible intimacy, she suddenly felt shy and awkward. She had no experience to fall back on, and modesty had her searching for something to cover herself.
"How about we share a shower? It'll save time," said Quinn, sounding as innocent as could be.
Rachel blinked and then studied her wickedly suggestive expression. Quinn's eyes had that hungry look again. Her stomach muscles clenched, but she had to resist temptation.
"You don't really think that will save time, do you?" she admonished, laughing and wedging some space between their upper bodies.
When she started to sit up, Quinn cupped her breasts in her hands. The contrast between Quinn's pale skin and her own naturally tanned flesh gave her a thrill. She watched the blonde watching her as her breasts swelled, the tips budding. Quinn teased them to hardness. When she felt Quinn's nipples hardening with hers, she cried out softly. "Quinn!"
She held the brunette's gaze. "I know, we have to go, and you can't take a shower. You can't get your neck wet. But we could share a quick bath."
So sexy. She was so beautiful and irresistible that Rachel felt herself melting all over again. She barely recognized her own throaty voice when she finally managed a response. "A bath sounds nice."
Quinn twisted around until her feet hit the floor, scooped the brunette into her arms, and lifted her up as she stood smoothly. Her strength and obvious desire stirred Rachel's into a frenzy again.
"Gun," Quinn mumbled as she locked her mouth on Rachel's neck, sucking strongly, drawing another gurgle of approval from deep in her throat.
Rachel grabbed the gun from the bedside stand and then wrapped her arms around Quinn's shoulders, rubbing her breasts against the blonde's in a futile attempt to ease their tight ache.
Rachel locked the door behind them once they'd entered the bathroom and then scattered kisses all over Quinn's chest while the taller woman reached down to turn on the faucets. They paused for a long kiss as water filled the tub and steam began to fill the room.
Quinn laid the gun on the soap shelf and then ran her hands down the brunette's back until they settled on her ass, squeezing softly. Rachel moaned and reached up to toy with one of the blonde's nipples, earning her another moan of pleasure from her lover.
Quinn captured Rachel's mouth in another searing kiss and pushed her back against the wall. Sensing the brunette's eagerness, Quinn's hand ghosted over Rachel's breasts before heading down her abdomen to where Rachel desperately wanted her. Rachel spread her legs readily.
Quinn paused as she poised two fingers at the brunette's entrance, as if waiting for permission.
Rachel nodded frantically. "Yes, please, Quinn. I need you," she moaned.
That was all the encouragement the blonde needed as she plunged her fingers into Rachel. Her head fell back in ecstasy as Quinn's fingers hit her perfectly just there. Quinn wasted no time in attaching her mouth to Rachel's exposed neck and sucking on her pulse point, causing Rachel to moan in pleasure.
The blonde set a fast pace as Rachel wrapped her legs around her waist, trying to get as close to the other woman as humanly possible. Just when Rachel didn't know how she could feel any more pleasure than she was, she felt Quinn's thumb press firmly against her clit in rhythm with her thrusts.
"Oh, God, Quinn!" she cried out. It only took another thrust or two before she exploded in another fierce eruption of pleasure.
Quinn pressed her forehead against Rachel's, and they sagged against the wall, momentarily exhausted. Their breathing was labored again, with each fighting to draw air into depleted lungs.
"Whew!" Quinn exclaimed on a harshly exhaled breath.
Rachel didn't even have the strength to laugh. She gave the blonde a shaky smile, then a light kiss on the nose. Rachel clung to Quinn's sweat-slick body with what little strength she had left in hers as she lowered her feet to the floor.
Quinn tightened her hold on her, turning them both toward the tub. After testing the temperature, Quinn shut off the taps and slowly started to ease her into the water.
Rachel tried to tug her into the water. "Now, it's my turn to return the favor," she said seductively.
But Quinn resisted. "Better not," she said, her husky voice and dark eyes giving away just how much she wished she could take the brunette up on her offer. Quinn pressed a hard kiss to her lips, then drew in a rough breath and continued. "We would just end up wasting even more time."
Rachel knew she was right. She reluctantly released him. "Fine, but next time, you're all mine," she replied throatily as she slowly eyed the blonde's deliciously naked body.
She saw Quinn lick her lips in anticipation. "I'll hold you to that," she said as she took a step back.
With some distance between them, Rachel immediately felt naked and exposed. She pulled curtain to block Quinn's view.
"Hey!" she complained.
"I'm shy," Rachel responded, grabbing a washcloth and soap.
Quinn's sexy laughter echoed in the small room. "I'll help you get over that," she promised with a wink.
Rachel smiled to herself but wondered at the blonde's assurances. Would she get the chance to grow accustomed to Quinn's loving? Would there ever be a time and opportunity to make love until they were totally comfortable with each other? She doubted it, and it scared her to want it so badly.
As soon as Quinn was out of sight, doubts started to assail her. For years, the only future Rachel had considered was the successful completion of this assignment. She hadn't allowed herself to think beyond that goal.
She had never allowed herself to become emotionally involved with anyone. Never allowed herself to care so much, so fast. Had she just risked their lives by tempting fate? In her life, caring too much meant inviting pain and heartache.
One thing was certain. They had to concentrate on getting back to D.C. She couldn't fail now. She couldn't worry about relationships or the future or anything other than bringing Finn Hudson to justice. Everything else had to be put on hold until she'd accomplished that objective. She needed to stay focused, but it was getting harder and harder to do, with Quinn so near.
Quinn watched TV while Rachel finished bathing, and then they switched places. By the time she had finished showering, Rachel had dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt. She was getting really tired of stiff, itchy new clothes but didn't have much choice. Soon she would be home and could get comfortable again.
Just a few more hours.
Then what? What would happen when she no longer needed Quinn's protection? When her promise to Leroy had been fulfilled and their extraordinary partnership had been dissolved? Would that be the end of it? Would Quinn go home, get on with her life, and chalk up their time together as just one final assignment to be forgotten?
It hurt even to think about the what-ifs.
And that scared her senseless. The hurting part. She'd had more than her fair share of hurting. She had been so careful not to care too much about anyone, yet Quinn had sneaked past her guard. The blonde had crept into her wary heart while she'd been too busy staying alive to notice the risk.
Rachel couldn't worry about it now. They had to get back to Virginia. Their best hope was that Leroy had all of Finn's men rounded up by now. Max should still be in jail, but they couldn't relax until Karofsky, Puck, and the others were accounted for. Not to mention anyone in the agency who remained on Finn's payroll.
Rachel sat down on the bed and started pulling on her shoes, but when the bathroom door opened, her gaze flew to it. She caught her breath at the sight of Quinn, still damp from her shower, wearing nothing but a towel.
Gorgeous didn't even come close to describing her. Extremely sexy. Incredibly feminine. Unbearably attractive. Her long blonde hair settled over her shoulders and back beautifully. Her thin towel clung to her breasts and ended just below the apex of her thighs, leaving little to the imagination. Rachel's blood began to heat all over again.
Quinn returned her stare with equal intensity until the emotion flowing between them became almost too painful to bear. Panic clutched at her chest and climbed into her throat.
Her brave, sexy lover was also one of the most honorable people she'd ever known. That thought crowded out her physical appeal and reminded Rachel that she'd complicated Quinn's life, endangered it, and made the blonde an unwilling accomplice to the nightmare she'd been living for months.
"What's wrong?" Quinn asked, obviously sensing Rachel's distress, her voice concerned.
Rachel shook her head and dropped her gaze, then concentrated on tying her shoes.
"Rachel?" she inquired softly.
Quinn started toward her, but Rachel rose and put out a hand to halt her.
Quinn frowned. "You're not sorry are you? You don't regret…"
"No!" Rachel's emphatic response seemed to reassure the other woman. Quinn gave her a smile, and she returned it with one of her own.
"You're sure?" the blonde asked.
She nodded. "Positively."
Quinn studied her for another few seconds. "Good," she said. "I don't want you to have any regrets."
When Rachel gave her head a vigorous shake, Quinn finally turned away and started pulling clothes out of shopping bags.
Rachel tried to lighten the mood. "I'm just worrying again," she said, moving toward the window to peek out the curtain. "Everything looks quiet, and there's only one car in the parking lot. We're probably the last to leave."
"Yeah, I imagine most of their customers are vacation travelers. Everyone else probably got an early start," the blonde commented.
Rachel kept her gaze on the parking lot, but her attention stayed on Quinn. The brunette heard her putting on her bra and panties, then jeans, the zipper sounding especially loud in the quiet of the room. When Quinn tugged a yellow T-shirt over her head, Rachel turned to watch the flex of her light abs as she pulled the shirt down over her torso.
Everything she did, every move she made, fascinated Rachel. She wanted more time to explore, wanted to sate herself with the blonde and then start all over again. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest at the idea of unrestrained, uninhibited loving.
Until today, she'd never thought of herself as a particularly sensual woman, but Quinn had changed that image forever. She wanted to smell and taste and feel until she had her fill. Just a pipe dream at this point in her life.
Quinn's concerned voice broke her reverie. "Rachel? Are you sure you're okay?"
Rachel realized that she was staring at the blonde again and licked her suddenly dry lips. "To be honest, I'm having a little withdrawal here. I want to go back to bed with you and stay there for a long, long time."
She could see the effect her honesty had on Quinn. Her hazel eyes darkened, her jaw tightened, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her whole body went tense, and then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled.
"Someday soon," Quinn swore softly.
Rachel forced herself to breathe deeply, too. "I'm going to hold you to that, Fabray," she quipped, her mind flashing back to the promise she made to the blonde in the bathroom earlier.
She knew Quinn was thinking the same thing when the blonde grinned, a purely sexy, purely wicked grin that lightened her spirits. "You won't have work too hard at it."
Rachel shivered. "Promise?"
"On my life," Quinn replied intently.
Rachel returned her smile and then crossed the room to collect the small pistol from the nightstand. She stashed it in the fanny pack she'd bought at the store last night, added the plastic bag with the disabled electronic bug they'd smashed and bagged, along with the refrigerator magnet. It was further evidence of Finn's treachery.
Quinn tucked the Glock into the waistband of her jeans and covered it with her shirt. They were ready again.
Quinn looked at her. "What now? Rent a car and drive to D.C.? Or take a cab to the airport?"
"I would vote for flying, but the airports would be the most likely place to look for us. Especially Dulles," Rachel said.
"We could drive into Ohio and catch a flight to Newark, and then rent a car," Quinn suggested. "They can't watch every airport in the region."
Rachel nodded. "I want to call Leroy again and get his input before deciding."
She could tell the idea didn't sit well with Quinn. Why? Was it just an ego thing or a genuine mistrust of the deputy director? Surely that couldn't be the case. Quinn was here as a favor to Leroy.
"The fewer people who know our plans, the safer we'll be," Quinn reminded.
"Leroy may have news about Max and the others, and I want to make sure Finn's still behind bars," she explained.
Quinn seemed reluctant but finally nodded. "Okay, we call Berry, but not from Max's cell. We'll bag it up with anything else we don't want and toss it in the dumpster. We can find a pay phone to call Berry." She looked around. "Is that it?"
Rachel had already bagged up what few clothes she wanted to take with her and discarded the others. After surveying the room one last time, she nodded. "I don't think there's anything else."
"No extra underwear?" The frown on Quinn's face kicked up in a provocative grin. Her hazel eyes sparkled with mischief.
Rachel felt her face heat at the suggestion. "A good old safety pin will suffice in the absence of built-in panty pouches."
Quinn nodded, grin still in place. "Glad to hear it."
Rachel had forgotten to give the blonde some money in case they got separated. Turning her back, Rachel unfastened her jeans, unclipped the safety pin, and pulled out a couple of big bills. When she'd refastened everything, she turned again, slamming into Quinn's chest.
The look on her face was so lascivious that Rachel laughed out loud. "Back off, Fabray. You're altogether too interested in my secret hiding place."
"That's right," she quipped, stealing a quick kiss.
Rachel returned her kiss with fervor, but they refrained from holding each other. When they broke apart, she handed Quinn some money.
The blonde raise an eyebrow. "This is the first time I ever got paid for a kiss." She tucked the bills into her pocket.
"Consider it an advance," Rachel teased.
"On services to be rendered?" the blonde asked with a seductive waggle of her eyebrows.
"Sounds good to me," she replied huskily.
Quinn made a move to take her into her arms but quickly backed off. "Crap."
"I know." Rachel felt the same way. She didn't want to leave their little cocoon and face the world again, but they had no real choice. "A cab or a rental company?"
"There's a little restaurant a couple of blocks down the street," Quinn told her. "I noticed it last night. Why don't we walk down there, get something to eat, and see if any of Hudson's men crawl out of the woodwork? It if looks safe, we can hire a cab to take us to the airport."
Rachel thought about it. Flying would certainly be the fastest way to make the trip. Quinn probably didn't want to waste any more time on the road dodging henchmen. Quinn had gone above and beyond her duty as a private citizen. Quinn had to be anxious to get rid of her and get back to her normal life.
The idea shouldn't hurt, yet it did.
"Sounds like a plan." Rachel hoped her tone sounded brisk and professional. It was time to start putting some emotional distance between them. Turning from Quinn's probing gaze, she added, "I'm starved."
"Rachel?" Quinn stopped her as she reached for the doorknob. When she turned, Quinn placed a brief, firm kiss on her lips and then nudged her aside.
"I'll go first, make a sweep of the parking lot, and toss our trash in the dumpster. Then I'll check the office and signal from there if it's all clear," the blonde explained.
Rachel sighed but nodded in agreement. As Quinn made her way around the motel lot, Rachel watched for any sign of trouble. She'd guarded the backs of other agents in the past but never one that meant so much to her. She barely breathed until she saw Quinn waving an all-clear from the doorway of the office. Quickly donning a pair of sunglasses, Rachel joined her on the main sidewalk, where Quinn put herself between the brunette and the busy street.
The midday sun was hot, and their walk brisk. The street was lined with cars parked in front of various small shops. Two lanes of traffic moved steadily along, but no one seemed to pay them any undue attention. None of the passing vehicles held familiar faces or any sort of threat to them.
By the time they reached the restaurant, they were ready for the air-conditioning. Quinn settled into a corner booth with a clear view of the entrance and parking lot, while Rachel made use of the pay phone just inside the front door.
She heard a series of clicks as Leroy's home answering system forwarded her call. He picked up within a few seconds and didn't bother with polite greetings.
"Where are you?"
"We're in Lexington, and we want to fly back, but I wanted to make one last check with you before leaving here. What's happening?"
"Hudson is still behind bars, but his lawyer is pulling out all the stops to get him freed. I convinced the police down there to keep Max until we can make a prisoner transfer."
"Good. How about Karofsky and the others?"
"I'm trying to verify their whereabouts, but they're still wild cards. Our best guess is they won't do anything too stupid or too public."
"So, you think it's safe for us to fly?"
"I don't advise it," he said. "I don't have enough manpower to patrol the airports, and there are too many of Hudson's men unaccounted for. If you keep driving, you'll be one step ahead of them and leave a cold trail."
Rachel didn't know how Quinn would take the news of more hours on the road, but she had to agree. She didn't like the odds of a busy airport. If they flew, they wouldn't have the authority to carry their weapons, so they'd be especially vulnerable.
Leroy barely paused. "You know the drill. Make sure you aren't being tailed, and head for the cabin. It's as secure as any safe house, and you know the alarm codes. I should be there ahead of you, or as soon as I can get there."
"It'll take us another eight or ten hours."
Something in her tone had alerted him to her mood. "Fabray giving you trouble?"
"No," she said.
"Your neck all right? You're not hurting?"
"No, I'm fine, really," she replied. "I'm just ready to be home."
"Soon," he reassured her. "It's been the longest six months of my life, but I'll have you home soon. Then I'm never letting you out of my sight again."
The fierceness of his tone made Rachel chuckle. "Yes, sir," she teased. "Suits me just fine."
His voice dropped to a low murmur. "You know I love you."
"I know," she whispered. His unfaltering devotion had sustained her through some rough times. "I love you, too."
They said goodbye, and she returned to the booth. Quinn stared at her for a minute, her expression unexpectedly grim, and then she turned her attention to a menu.
Rachel frowned, wondering what had caused her mood to darken, but she didn't ask. Instead, she studied her own menu. Once the waitress had taken their order and they were alone again, she outlined Leroy's plan.
"I forgot we'd have to ditch our guns if we flew," Quinn admitted, her brow furrowing. "Does Berry think Karofsky and the others are still tailing us?"
"He can't be sure," Rachel replied with a shake of her head. "They're unaccounted for, at this point. Puck's a wild card, too. I didn't have any concrete evidence against him, so he's not in custody. There's a warrant for Karofsky if Leroy finds him before he finds us."
Quinn looked thoughtful. "Let's hope he went into hiding when he heard about the other arrests."
Rachel nodded. "He's more of a lackey than a thinker, so he and the others might have given up the chase. With Finn and Max in jail, there's no one left to organize the troops. At least, not for a while."
"I'm sure Hudson has someone on payroll who's doing his bidding and seeing that his orders are obeyed," Quinn said.
"That would be Sylvester, his lawyer. She's as conniving as they come and will be the go-between for a while, but Leroy is trying to freeze Finn's assets. In that case, nobody gets paid."
"And a good crook's loyalty has to be bought."
"Right. If we spend another day on the road, all the rats will be abandoning ship."
Quinn gave her a strange look but didn't comment further. Their meal arrived, so they were quiet while they ate. Despite being hungry, the food didn't sit well on Rachel's stomach.
Her thoughts churned while she considered the best way to handle the rest of the trip. She knew she needed to give Quinn the opportunity of opting out of the mission, yet she hated to broach the subject. Quinn would be relieved or offended by her suggestion, and either option made her sick at heart.
When Rachel had eaten as much as she could manage, she studied Quinn for a minute, until the intensity of her scrutiny caught the blonde's attention.
"What's worrying you now?" she asked, raising her brow.
Rachel wasn't sure she liked having Quinn read her mind or be so aware of her mood swings. She'd never had a truly intimate, sharing sort of relationship with someone who could sense her thoughts and feelings.
Avoiding the problem wouldn't solve it, so she explained. "I'm thinking it might be safer to go our separate ways now. If Finn's men are still searching for us, they'll be looking for Sam and Jessica, not a lone woman who doesn't look very glamorous anymore."
Quinn's expression went stone cold. Her lips thinned and her eyes glittered. The muscles in her jaw clenched, and Rachel knew she'd really ticked the blonde off. Part of her exalted in the knowledge while part of her cringed.
"Trying to give me my walking papers, Rachel?" Quinn's tone rivaled the air conditioning for chill factor.
Rachel fidgeted with her napkin. Then, annoyed with her uncharacteristic restlessness, she tossed it down and looked Quinn directly in the eyes. "I don't want you to feel obligated to drive all the way back to D.C. with me. I know you put your own life on hold to help Leroy, but you've already done more than you bargained for. I think I'll be safe from here on out."
Quinn's expression went blank, her tone bland. "You think?"
Rachel clenched her jaw, wishing she knew what the other woman really wanted. "I'm a highly trained professional, remember?"
"Even the best professional needs backup sometimes." Quinn watched her with unerring intensity. "What about the promise you just made? We have a lot of unfinished business between us."
Rachel sighed. "I'm not denying that," she said, lowering her lashes to hide how deeply the blonde's words touched her. "I'm just suggesting that it might have to wait until this whole case is settled."
Quinn scoffed. "You don't think we make good traveling partners?"
Rachel forced herself to look up at Quinn again. "I'm more like a liability you haven't been able to shake. Not to mention, you're risking your own life."
"If this is all about me, then why don't you let me decide if and when I want to be cut free?" she retorted.
Relief rushed through the brunette. She desperately wanted Quinn to want to stay with her, but not out of some misguided sense of duty and honor. She took a deep breath and forced herself to relax. "You think we can manage to stay one step ahead of the bad guys without risking life and limb?"
The tension in Quinn's expression eased at her attempt to dispel the dark mood, but her steady gaze didn't waver from Rachel's face. Her tone was terse when she spoke again, her expression accusing. "Was that a test, Special Agent Phantom?"
Rachel blinked, disconcerted again by the way Quinn read her thoughts and intentions. When she locked gazes with the blonde again, hers was clear and steady. "Maybe a little one, but please don't be offended. I really want to do what's best for you at this point. You've put your whole life on hold for a long time now."
Quinn lifted a brow in arrogant disagreement. "How long have you been working the case?"
Rachel stared at her. She'd been undercover for a good part of the year, but she'd been working the case half her life. She shook her head, unwilling to voice the whole truth.
They were quiet for a minute, and then Quinn broke the silence with a new suggestion. "I think what's best for both of us is a little moving excursion."
Rachel didn't follow her line of thinking. "What do you mean?"
Quinn nodded toward the window facing the intersection. She followed the blonde's gaze but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"What?" Rachel had no idea what she was talking about.
"A truck rental company," Quinn explained, pointing across the street. "Nobody's likely to be looking for us in a moving van. What do you say to renting one of those for the trip back east?"
Rachel offered her a genuine smile. "I'd say that sounds like a winner. I still have one more phony ID to use."
The blonde's hazel eyes darkened, and her tone grew husky. "In your security pouch?"
Rachel laughed out loud and then rose from the table. "In my jeans pocket, Fabray. My jeans pocket."
Quinn's answering grin warmed her heart.
A/N: Aww, aren't they sweet? Hopefully they are right about the henchmen giving up with Finn in prison! Find out more as Deep Cover continues!