Grace stood over the small stove in the kitchenette, a satisfied smile on her lips. What did any of her thoughts matter, really? The worst-case scenario was that she would go home at the end of the week with a hell of a story to tell people, not to mention memories of some of the most amazing sexual experiences of her life, and ten grand. She was working on a couple of omelets when Sands came out from his bedroom.
"Finding your way around pretty well now, huh?" Grace asked.
Sands smiled at her. "Guess I am, huh? Breakfast?"
Grace laughed. "I think this qualifies more as brunch; breakfast was served in the bathroom."
He made his way to her and slid one arm around her waist from behind. His other hand pushed the hair away from the back of her neck and he nibbled on the flesh there. "I could make several meals out of you, Gracie."
"And I think I'd have to let you," she said, her breathing once again going ragged. "But some sort of nourishment is needed, don't you think? You know, we need our strength, after all."
He pulled her robe down her shoulder and let his tongue glide across her skin. "Mm hm…"
"You're insatiable, Jeffrey."
"And damn proud of it."
Grace placed the omelets onto two plates, then made her way out of Sands' intoxicating hold. "Come on, you. Eat." Sands sat down at the table and began to eat…almost hesitantly. "Not good?"
"Huh? No, no, the food's fine, er, great. Just got lost in my head for a minute."
"Oh. Everything all right?"
"I had a sister," he blurted.
"What?"
"After last night and this morning, I owe you some of that information you were after. Up for it?"
Grace put her fork down. "Yeah," she said softly. "I mean, if this is what you want to do."
A small smile crept onto his face. "Well, don't stop eating, Gracie, you were right about needing your strength – there's still lunch and dinner to get through." He heard a soft laugh come from her and was satisfied. When he heard her fork scrape against her plate, he began to talk again. "Rachel, my sister, was seven years younger than I was. When I was eighteen, my parents died in a car accident – drunk driver…"
"Oh…I'm so…"
"My dad was the one who was drunk off his ass. He killed himself, my mother, and the couple he slammed his car into. It was inevitable and I can't say that the visit from the police was a surprise to me. Anyway, being the 'legal adult' I was, and not having anyone else to do clean up my father's mess, I didn't go away to school like I was supposed to - I stayed home and took care of Rachel."
Grace wasn't sure what to say. What passed through her lips came out as, "You don't seem like the type to do that…I'm impressed."
Sands shook his head. "Don't be, I was a different person then."
"Um, what happened?"
"I went to a local college, still studying what I wanted to – criminology. I didn't mind taking care of Rachel. Our ages were far enough apart that we didn't hate each other…" Sands cleared his throat. "I did well in school - bet you didn't figure me for a bookworm, huh?"
"Not really," Grace replied.
"I finished up with school, started the process to get into the CIA…She was a senior in high school when I was given an assignment. I'll spare the details, but she was killed by the men I was supposed to be…I started taking things in my own hands then…stopped 'playing well with others'…I became and there's no going back."
"I like this," Grace blurted without thinking. Shit! I said that out loud! Oh, God…Oh God…Oh…
"Some people think I'm a fucking psychopath that's out to get himself killed."
"Are you?"
"Sometimes."
"And the other times?"
Sands pushed himself back from the table a little. "Don't know, Gracie. I seem to do a damn good job of making you moan though."
"That you do," Grace said, relieved that Sands said nothing about her blunt confession.
"I'm just a good fuck, right?"
Grace all but chocked on her orange juice. "What?"
"What you like about me. I mean, you know damn well that I lie, steal, kill…"
"Part of the job, right?"
"I've changed the job description. The chemistry's here, we've proved that, but that's as far as it goes, right?" If she says yes, then I don't have to worry anymore.
Grace forced her voice to sound confidant. "Of course." Thank God he can't see my eyes…at least I know now…it's just physical.
There you go, no strings attached. No worries, she's just like the others and she won't tear out any body parts…save for one. Dammit!
Author's Note: Sorry for the short chap and for the fact that it took so long, but I've been quite the busy girl. Hang in there with me! Twists to come!