Chapter Two
________________________________________________________________________
Motel
England, May 23rd, 2004
He stood with his back to the door, bent over something obscured from her view. His body jerked in abrupt, violent motions, his actions sheathed from her prying eyes by the width of his muscular body.
She took a moment to look around, nudging the door slightly wider, its silent advance unnoticed by the preoccupied Lux Veritatis warrior.
For a moment, Lara entertained the thought that a tornado had touched down inside Kurtis' room, ravaging only his belongings, disturbing no one else as it faded silently into oblivion. Then she realized it was only a typical bachelor pad lying before her in devastation, and relaxed. *I shouldn't be surprised anyway. He's never struck me as the sort of man with incredible domestic skills.*
She remained in the dingy hall, simply observing him, his hunched posture affording her an enticing view of his ass. The muscles in his hard back corded beneath the thin material of his T-shirt, accelerating her heartbeat even as she attempted to persuade herself that he had no effect on her. At his hip, the Chirugai glinted in silent wait, attracting her dark gaze for a moment.
"You realize coming alone to a man's motel room makes certain implications?"
She jerked, startled, at his voice.
He spoke calmly, without turning, and she reluctantly stepped inside, leaving the door gaping behind her. "Do you have eyes in the back of your head? Is that another one of your special Lux Veritatis powers?" Lara demanded sardonically.
Kurtis smiled, a hint of bitterness in the curl of his lips. "I heard you open the door."
"I could have been a maid."
"Does this look like the sort of establishment that boasts a cleaning crew?" he asked, finally turning, quirking one eyebrow in her direction. He hefted a navy blue duffel bag in both strong hands, tossing it aside.
It landed with a thunk at her booted feet.
She prodded it lightly with a toe, and crossed both arms over the jean jacket she'd donned against the brisk spring weather.
"Can I help you with something?" he asked coldly.
Their eyes locked briefly, dangerously, hardness in both gazes as they peered at one another. Smirking coolly, Kurtis slipped a hand into the front pocket of his jeans, fumbling a moment without breaking eye contact. A moment later, he withdrew a pack of cigarettes, removing one and gripping it loosely between two fingers. "You mind?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yes I do. And you know it."
He shrugged, then clicked open the lighter which had materialized in his other hand , touching its writhing flame to the end of tightly rolled paper.
Lara's mouth flattened briefly in displeasure. *The lummox is trying to get a rise out of you. Just ignore the fact that he's an immature bastard and act maturely. One of us has to, at least.* she warned herself silently.
"You come here for anything specific?" Kurtis asked, expelling a ring of smoke.
"Yes. I came to say that I...*regret* that I was so abrupt yesterday. I should have recognized your talent for being an idiot and just drowned you in the pool instead of wrestling around like a barbarian."
He snorted. "Was that supposed to be some sort of half-assed apology?"
"No. It wasn't. *I* don't need to apologize. You're the one who broke into my home and attacked me. You're lucky I didn't shoot you on sight." She paused a moment, eyes blazing. "Maybe I would have, if that particular sight hadn't scared the living shit out of me. But then again, your face has a tendency to evoke that reaction in me. I suppose I should have been better prepared."
"You tracked me all the way to my motel just to insult me?" he demanded, removing his cigarette and straightening, both hands clenching to hard fists.
"Well that wasn't my original intent, but somehow our conversations always seem to turn out this way, don't they? Maybe that's because it's so difficult to carry on a civilized conversation with an overgrown, self- satisfied gorilla." She pivoted on a heel, the thick silken cord of her braid whipping behind her. "I don't even know why I bother."
The door slammed as she stretched out a hand for it, shutting with force sufficient to splinter wood. The ensuing crack echoed in tense silence, magnified in the small room.
Lara turned slowly, mahogany orbs catching intense cerulean ones.
He thrust the cigarette onto cheap carpeting, and ground it to a slow death beneath one boot.
"Don't you think that's cheating, using your magic tricks to trap me in your room? What are you going to do now, fly me through the air and throw me down on your bed?"
He clamped a hand around her forearm, tugging her to him, eliminating the space between them. She tilted her head slightly to peer upward into his face, their foreheads nearly brushing. His bangs grazed her flesh in the lightest of touches, prompting a shiver down her spine.
"What-do-you-want?" Kurtis said, emphasizing each word, his eyes boring fiercely into Lara's.
'You' seemed a bit forward and a lot more than she was willing to admit, but it seemed the only answer that sprang to Lara's clouded mind. It almost spilled from her lips, but she forced it down at the last moment, remaining stubbornly silent. She had a feeling that had she replied so boldly, he might have shoved her up against the wall and began to kiss her.
As it was, he restrained himself admirably, unless his interest in her had merely faded over time and their closeness didn't bother him. She doubted, however, from the heated look in his normally cold eyes that his thoughts lingered on the weather.
She cleared her throat, and paced backward a step. The tension in her coiled body eased slightly, now that there bodies were no longer pressed up against one another. "The disk I stole in Rome; it's encoded. It won't allow me access to the files on it. I thought you might know something about extracting the files, since you were obviously employed by the man I snatched it from."
"I don't know anything about the disk." he said coolly, releasing her arm. "I was just sent after you with orders to retrieve it."
"Which you didn't do." Lara pointed out. "I imagine Bartolli wasn't too pleased about that."
Kurtis shrugged. "His problem. I'm moving on to other opportunities."
"Such as?"
"Whatever looks interesting. Bartolli's a fat piece of shit anyways. Pay was crappy."
"Then you don't know anything?" Lara pressed.
"No."
"Kurtis this is important. I *need* to access those files; remember when you asked me about Egypt, and I told you it was complicated? This disk could un-complicate it a bit. If you know anything-"
"Computers aren't my thing. And I'm finished here anyway. Think I'll head back to the States." *You obviously don't want me here, and America beats the hell out of these goddamn European countries.*
She eyed him a moment as he stooped to retrieve his bag. "Then you're not going to help me. At all." Her voice rang flat.
He pondered that a moment, perusing her beautiful face from beneath thick dark lashes. "No. I don't think so."
"Fine. Nice meeting you, Kurtis. Send me a postcard."
* * *
She entered cautiously, gun out before her, stepping lightly over polished tiles. At her feet, a line of muddy footprints marred the once immaculate floor, advancing in the direction of the kitchen. She followed them apprehensively, heart thundering in her ears, perspiration slicking both palms beneath the gloves she wore.
*Returning home to find my front door wide open is never a good thing.* Lara thought grimly, placing each boot carefully. Her progression down the hallway seemed agonizingly slow to her, anxiety roiling in the depths of her stomach. Bile thrust against full lips, its acidity lingering in the warmth of her mouth.
The pistol barrel scanned the hall before her, sweeping its length before she carefully edged to the kitchen entrance.
Using her weapon, Lara prodded the partially-open door wide, her slender body following a moment later.
She tensed in anticipation of an attack.
Nothing.
An unpleasant scent lurked in the air, its thick presence nauseating, and yet somehow familiar. It was an odor she'd encountered before, numerous times. It writhed in sensitive nostrils, rippling her brow into lines of concern.
Death.
The unwelcome aroma clung to each lithe curve, molding within every folded crevice of clothing, the fresh tang of blood intensifying her drumming heart. She felt its pounding rhythm thrumming powerfully against her ribcage, its beat augmented in the eerie silence.
She paced forward a step, wary.
Her eyes sought each corner, probing them thoroughly, searching for some sign of danger.
Still nothing, but the repulsive smell persisted, growing stronger.
Another step.
And another.
Her boot thrust something soft, contacting flesh. Full lips parted in shock, a startled spasm shuddering her entire body. Her weapon lowered, mahogany orbs seeking the body she'd kicked.
"Oh my God."
* * *
Kurtis arrived only a few minutes behind her, skidding straight through the unclosed gate, his bike roaring throatily as he reduced its speed. He parked beside her jeep, the motorcycle's masculine purr dying reluctantly into oblivion.
The Boran X rested heavily in one large palm, drawn the moment his machine's momentum ceased. He thumbed the safety, and stood, eyeing the front door, trepidation tightening his chest as he warily approached the Croft mansion.
He noticed the intruder's prints immediately, and touched the reserves of power deep within him, prepared to use the Chirugai at a moment's notice. It hummed at his side, quivering lightly within its restraints.
He crept steadily forward, pursuing the trail left to him by the trespasser.
His boots lightly caressed shining floor, only a light whisper marking his progress.
He thrust the Boran X from corner to corner, body tense, every muscle taut in expectation. His breath slipped softly through slightly parted lips, flaring soundlessly into the surrounding atmosphere.
It took him several strained moments to reach the kitchen, gun still poised threateningly in front of him. Cautiously he entered, unknowingly taking the same path Lara herself had only minutes earlier.
His gaze fell on her a few seconds later, standing over a crumpled figure, head bowed, shoulders slack in misery. The sound of his entrance prompted her eyes upward, her pistol spinning around to target his chest.
Recognition graced sorrow-tinged features.
Her arm drooped, fingers going limp, the firearm clattering at her feet.
* * *
His gore thickly coated the floor surrounding her. It splashed beneath her knees as she sank, white-faced and trembling, to his side. Swallowing against the thick lump crusting the interior of her throat, Lara gently reached both hands to his face, swiping aside clinging droplets of crimson.
She felt a fierce burning just beyond thick dark lashes. Inhaling deeply, she cleared sodden strands of hair from his blank eyes, fingertips gently caressing gnarled skin. Dimly, she heard Kurtis move past her, methodically completing a thorough search of the kitchen to be sure they were safe.
She cradled Winston's head in her lap, peering numbly down into the face of the man who'd been a part of her family since she was a small child. *Who did this to you?* she thought, stroking his forehead in a soft gesture so unlike the hardened woman bestowing it.
He crouched at her side, holstering his gun. She felt his hand lightly touch one slumped shoulder, the warmth of his body briefly lending her some comfort.
Unbidden, a single angry tear traversed the length of her face.
Furious with herself for showing this weakness in front of him, Lara turned her head, blinking to clear both eyes.
Kurtis lightly brushed his thumb across the trail of wetness, tentatively placing an arm around her sagging shoulders.
Exhaling shakily, Lara released the slaughtered butler, turning her face from the brutal sight of his murdered body. His innards trailed wetly from the slashed ruin of his abdomen, severed veins dangling grotesque and exposed from shredded flesh.
Both strong arms enveloped her fully now, one hand raising to gently tilt her chin from the grisly scene, his rough and callused fingertips surprisingly kind.
She allowed herself to be weak a moment, resting her forehead against his chest, grateful for his warm body and the soothing motion of his hand as it stroked the back of her head. His chest moved softly against her with each breath he drew, the rhythmic drumming of his heart thundering comfortingly beneath one ear.
He rested one stubbled cheek against the top of her head, tightening his hold on her slender body. The calming passage of his hand ceased, and she instantly regretted the removal of his warm fingertips, their presence immensely comforting.
His palm slipped over the soft curve of one cheekbone, caressing it in a gesture far more tender than she would have thought possible. His thumb drifted lightly beneath one eye, clearing the last remnants of moisture from satin flesh.
After a moment, Lara pushed him away, and stood, eyes hard.
"What's on the disk that's so important to Bartolli?" she asked coldly, steel in her voice.
Kurtis, still kneeling on the floor, lifted both eyebrows. "What?"
"The disk, Kurtis. What's on it that caused Bartolli to send someone to retrieve it, killing a harmless seventy-year-old man in the process?"
He shook his head, draping a hand lightly across one knee. "I told you I don't know anything about the disk."
"Then why did you come back here? And, please, try not to lie to me. It would be detrimental to your health."
He peered upward at her for a moment, then slowly rose. His fingertips lightly touched her chin, lingering a moment longer than was appropriate.
"Answer me, Kurtis." Lara demanded, sounding more weary than angry now. Her eyes slipped briefly closed.
"I'm telling you the truth. I have no clue what's on the disk. But I think I might have an idea how to bring up the files."
"Really. That's interesting, considering that earlier today you claimed computers weren't your thing, and that you didn't know anything about the disk."
"Maybe I wasn't being completely honest." He shrugged, then nodded his head to the door. "Go get it. I'll clean up the mess in here."
"No." she replied quietly, her gaze surging back to Winston's corpse. "I'll do it. Just give me a moment." She remained fixated on the old man, a pensive, saddened look he'd never seen before seizing hold of beautiful features. "He's been with me since I was a little girl."
Kurtis watched her a moment longer, then slipped silently out, refraining from touching her as he brushed past.
* * *
Croft Manor England, May 24th, 2004
She dropped wearily into the waiting armchair, rubbing sleep-crusted eyes as full lips parted in a yawn. Kurtis turned his head to watch her antics a moment, experiencing the first pangs of exhaustion himself. He stretched his muscular legs out before him, crossing booted feet at the ankle.
His gaze flickered once more to the computer screen.
Exhaling noisily, he rotated both shoulders, working the kinks loose in cramped muscles.
"Any progress?" Lara asked tiredly, rising to come around to his back. She peered over one strong shoulder, lightly resting both hands against the warm material of his shirt.
"No." he said as coolly as ever, shifting slightly beneath her touch. "Nothing's working."
She thrust both thumbs into the base of his neck and began to knead the taut flesh there, her hands tightening and slackening as they massaged tense muscles. He continued to work, making an impressive effort to ignore the heat of her fingertips, his body slowly, lethargically relaxing beneath the soothing motion of her hands. Only the quiet tacking of computer keys permeated thick silence.
"It's after midnight. Time for a break. It's been a long day; we can always try this again in the morning."
"I don't need much sleep." Kurtis responded distractedly.
"Yes you do." Lara argued, emitting a quiet snort of derision. "I remember what you were like after being awakened unexpectedly. It wasn't a pleasant experience." She trailed a finger absently over weather-roughened flesh, lightly stroking the nape of his neck.
He swallowed hard, and trained both beautiful eyes intently on the computer monitor.
"I'm taking a quick dip in the pool. It always seems to relax me a bit, and God knows I need a bit of relaxing after all that's happened today. Then I'm off to bed. You're welcome to stay. For tonight." she hastily clarified. "No sense in you driving back to some motel when you'll probably just be out here again tomorrow, trying to sort this out. I've got plenty of room."
"Fine." he answered indifferently.
"Fine." she repeated, her touch withdrawing from his skin. "I suppose I'll see you in the morning then."
"Yeah." Kurtis said, and waved a hand dismissively in the air.
She retreated moments later, turning her back on him and slipping quietly out the library door.
* * *
Its chill rippled around her dangling feet, shimmering ethereally in the dim overhead illumination. It enveloped slender ankles, slithering up shapely calves to caress bare flesh.
Lara shivered, and skimmed one foot lightly across the water's quiescent surface.
The liquid spread outward in disturbed undulations, slipping into quiet oblivion across the pool's width. Keen eyes tracked their progress, riveted to the minute waves. She tossed aside the towel draped over her lap, and plunged forward, into the water's embrace.
An explosion of froth geysered upward, surging over her head. She felt the water's bulk pressed all along her scantily-clothed body, and reveled in its calming touch. The chestnut cord of her hair, still tightly bound, drifted softly at her back. She remained suspended in churning liquid a moment, blinking in the swirl of foam, before arching her back and stretching both arms overhead, kicking for the surface.
She broke into sweet air only a moment later, parting full lips to breathe deeply.
Something moved among the shadows. She tensed, eyeing the Glock lying serenely on her abandoned towel, too far away to help her. *Shit.*
He stepped into her view, his eyes holding hers. Her eyebrows lifted briefly in surprise, then lowered once more as she adopted a casual look. She tread water gracefully, her gaze trained on his as Kurtis paced forward a step, nearing the pool's edge.
Then, as she watched, he began to undress, fumbling with his holster a moment before unbuckling it and dropping it at his feet. The Boran X skittered lightly over damp tiles before settling to a reluctant halt a foot or so from the pool's edge.
Kurtis' Chirugai joined it a moment later.
Her throat constricted harshly, sudden anxiety spreading hotly all throughout her.
He tugged his shirt over muscular shoulders, baring perspiration-slick flesh to widened mahogany orbs. Then, clad only in jeans, Kurtis lowered himself to the pool's edge, swiftly stripping off his boots and socks.
His body dropped heavily into the water a moment later, the echoing splash strangely muffled by the insistent drumming of her heartbeat. She looked away, hastily clearing water from thick dark lashes. *I should leave. I'm wearing only my swimsuit, and he's now half-naked. That can't be a good combination.*
Unbidden, her eyes drifted to the place he'd disappeared, his dark head still having yet to appear.
She sensed something at her feet, and glanced down, at the same moment something jerked hard on her ankles, pulling her beneath the water's frothing surface. "You son of a bit-" Lara yelled, a moment before her lips dipped into foaming liquid. Chill water invaded her lungs, pooling in the interior of her throat as he submerged her completely.
She surfaced moments later, to find him drifting before her, a smirk creasing handsome features.
Lara shook loosened strands of hair from stormy eyes, attempting to hold a glare on him, a task she found increasingly difficult as he trailed a hand up one shapely bare arm. Their foreheads grazed lightly, his breath falling warm over her damp flesh.
Gently, his hands explored her naked abdomen, thumbs smoothing heatedly over toned muscles. She sought him with her own fingertips, the move rendered without thought, both hands dropping beneath the water to caress his bare chest. They floated serenely, bobbing slightly up and down, the gradual motion pressing their bodies more firmly into one another.
They continued to tread water, gazes locked, his cool cerulean orbs burning intently into her dark eyes. Slowly his hands trailed to her waist, resting lightly against softly curved hips. He stroked a thumb up her side, prompting a shiver all throughout her body.
*It's nice to just relax after staying up half the night trying to crack the code on that damn disk, and after Winston was murdered earlier. But I think this is going to go too far, if one of us doesn't do something about it.* Lara thought, a tinge of regret settling thick in her chest.
She placed both hands on his shoulders, tensing to shove him away.
His damp lips closed hotly against her throat, instantly halting her motion.
She shivered against him, and her fingers tightened on dripping flesh. He trailed kisses across Lara's collarbone, ending at her shoulder, then working his way back up once more until he arrived again at her face.
Their mouths twined in a warm, seductive kiss, bodies slick with sweat despite the chill of the surrounding water.
Kurtis skimmed both rough callused palms upward, the gentle passage of his fingertips coming to rest in the small of her back. Their lips opened slightly against one another, tongues meeting and tangling.
She broke away a moment later, breathing heavily, then extracted herself from his grip and began to swim for the pool's edge.
He followed, and a moment later they'd both heaved themselves onto damp tile. Kurtis eyed her from the corner of his vision as she retrieved her towel, climbing to his feet as she turned to leave.
He thrust out an arm to stop her.
She peered coolly at him. "Excuse me. You mind? I'd hate to have to break that."
He moved in closer in a show of open defiance, invading her personal space, one hand plucking the towel from her grasp. "What-are-you-afraid-of?" Kurtis demanded, emphasizing each word in a patronizing way that infuriated her.
"I'm not afraid of anything, least of all you, and you'll learn that in another second if you don't hand me back my towel."
"Every time we start to get close, you back away." Kurtis replied, using his slight height advantage to hold the coveted piece of material just out of her reach. She glared, and contemplated making a leap for it, then decided he'd like that too much, considering the fact that she was wearing only a scant little swimsuit top which might not hold her breasts properly in place if she were to start bouncing around.
"Maybe it's your breath. Ever consider that?" she asked sarcastically. "Anyway, I'm not exactly in the mood to be romantic right now. If you'll remember, my butler, who was like a grandfather to me, was just brutally murdered this afternoon. An event like that doesn't tend to put one in the best of spirits."
"Tell me why you keep running away."
Lara paused a moment, removing her gaze from his, peering off into the distance. "I'm really not in the mood to discuss this right now, Kurtis. I'm off to bed. I'll see you in the morning." She hesitated again, her eyes straying back to his own again, holding that intense cerulean gaze for a moment. "I've seen a lot of friends die recently. I'd like to say I've gotten used to it, but I'm afraid that's something you never quite get used to."
Then, rising slightly on tip-toe, she placed a soft kiss on his mouth and retrieved her towel from his slack fingertips, twining it around her voluptuous figure before padding silently away.
________________________________________________________________________
Motel
England, May 23rd, 2004
He stood with his back to the door, bent over something obscured from her view. His body jerked in abrupt, violent motions, his actions sheathed from her prying eyes by the width of his muscular body.
She took a moment to look around, nudging the door slightly wider, its silent advance unnoticed by the preoccupied Lux Veritatis warrior.
For a moment, Lara entertained the thought that a tornado had touched down inside Kurtis' room, ravaging only his belongings, disturbing no one else as it faded silently into oblivion. Then she realized it was only a typical bachelor pad lying before her in devastation, and relaxed. *I shouldn't be surprised anyway. He's never struck me as the sort of man with incredible domestic skills.*
She remained in the dingy hall, simply observing him, his hunched posture affording her an enticing view of his ass. The muscles in his hard back corded beneath the thin material of his T-shirt, accelerating her heartbeat even as she attempted to persuade herself that he had no effect on her. At his hip, the Chirugai glinted in silent wait, attracting her dark gaze for a moment.
"You realize coming alone to a man's motel room makes certain implications?"
She jerked, startled, at his voice.
He spoke calmly, without turning, and she reluctantly stepped inside, leaving the door gaping behind her. "Do you have eyes in the back of your head? Is that another one of your special Lux Veritatis powers?" Lara demanded sardonically.
Kurtis smiled, a hint of bitterness in the curl of his lips. "I heard you open the door."
"I could have been a maid."
"Does this look like the sort of establishment that boasts a cleaning crew?" he asked, finally turning, quirking one eyebrow in her direction. He hefted a navy blue duffel bag in both strong hands, tossing it aside.
It landed with a thunk at her booted feet.
She prodded it lightly with a toe, and crossed both arms over the jean jacket she'd donned against the brisk spring weather.
"Can I help you with something?" he asked coldly.
Their eyes locked briefly, dangerously, hardness in both gazes as they peered at one another. Smirking coolly, Kurtis slipped a hand into the front pocket of his jeans, fumbling a moment without breaking eye contact. A moment later, he withdrew a pack of cigarettes, removing one and gripping it loosely between two fingers. "You mind?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yes I do. And you know it."
He shrugged, then clicked open the lighter which had materialized in his other hand , touching its writhing flame to the end of tightly rolled paper.
Lara's mouth flattened briefly in displeasure. *The lummox is trying to get a rise out of you. Just ignore the fact that he's an immature bastard and act maturely. One of us has to, at least.* she warned herself silently.
"You come here for anything specific?" Kurtis asked, expelling a ring of smoke.
"Yes. I came to say that I...*regret* that I was so abrupt yesterday. I should have recognized your talent for being an idiot and just drowned you in the pool instead of wrestling around like a barbarian."
He snorted. "Was that supposed to be some sort of half-assed apology?"
"No. It wasn't. *I* don't need to apologize. You're the one who broke into my home and attacked me. You're lucky I didn't shoot you on sight." She paused a moment, eyes blazing. "Maybe I would have, if that particular sight hadn't scared the living shit out of me. But then again, your face has a tendency to evoke that reaction in me. I suppose I should have been better prepared."
"You tracked me all the way to my motel just to insult me?" he demanded, removing his cigarette and straightening, both hands clenching to hard fists.
"Well that wasn't my original intent, but somehow our conversations always seem to turn out this way, don't they? Maybe that's because it's so difficult to carry on a civilized conversation with an overgrown, self- satisfied gorilla." She pivoted on a heel, the thick silken cord of her braid whipping behind her. "I don't even know why I bother."
The door slammed as she stretched out a hand for it, shutting with force sufficient to splinter wood. The ensuing crack echoed in tense silence, magnified in the small room.
Lara turned slowly, mahogany orbs catching intense cerulean ones.
He thrust the cigarette onto cheap carpeting, and ground it to a slow death beneath one boot.
"Don't you think that's cheating, using your magic tricks to trap me in your room? What are you going to do now, fly me through the air and throw me down on your bed?"
He clamped a hand around her forearm, tugging her to him, eliminating the space between them. She tilted her head slightly to peer upward into his face, their foreheads nearly brushing. His bangs grazed her flesh in the lightest of touches, prompting a shiver down her spine.
"What-do-you-want?" Kurtis said, emphasizing each word, his eyes boring fiercely into Lara's.
'You' seemed a bit forward and a lot more than she was willing to admit, but it seemed the only answer that sprang to Lara's clouded mind. It almost spilled from her lips, but she forced it down at the last moment, remaining stubbornly silent. She had a feeling that had she replied so boldly, he might have shoved her up against the wall and began to kiss her.
As it was, he restrained himself admirably, unless his interest in her had merely faded over time and their closeness didn't bother him. She doubted, however, from the heated look in his normally cold eyes that his thoughts lingered on the weather.
She cleared her throat, and paced backward a step. The tension in her coiled body eased slightly, now that there bodies were no longer pressed up against one another. "The disk I stole in Rome; it's encoded. It won't allow me access to the files on it. I thought you might know something about extracting the files, since you were obviously employed by the man I snatched it from."
"I don't know anything about the disk." he said coolly, releasing her arm. "I was just sent after you with orders to retrieve it."
"Which you didn't do." Lara pointed out. "I imagine Bartolli wasn't too pleased about that."
Kurtis shrugged. "His problem. I'm moving on to other opportunities."
"Such as?"
"Whatever looks interesting. Bartolli's a fat piece of shit anyways. Pay was crappy."
"Then you don't know anything?" Lara pressed.
"No."
"Kurtis this is important. I *need* to access those files; remember when you asked me about Egypt, and I told you it was complicated? This disk could un-complicate it a bit. If you know anything-"
"Computers aren't my thing. And I'm finished here anyway. Think I'll head back to the States." *You obviously don't want me here, and America beats the hell out of these goddamn European countries.*
She eyed him a moment as he stooped to retrieve his bag. "Then you're not going to help me. At all." Her voice rang flat.
He pondered that a moment, perusing her beautiful face from beneath thick dark lashes. "No. I don't think so."
"Fine. Nice meeting you, Kurtis. Send me a postcard."
* * *
She entered cautiously, gun out before her, stepping lightly over polished tiles. At her feet, a line of muddy footprints marred the once immaculate floor, advancing in the direction of the kitchen. She followed them apprehensively, heart thundering in her ears, perspiration slicking both palms beneath the gloves she wore.
*Returning home to find my front door wide open is never a good thing.* Lara thought grimly, placing each boot carefully. Her progression down the hallway seemed agonizingly slow to her, anxiety roiling in the depths of her stomach. Bile thrust against full lips, its acidity lingering in the warmth of her mouth.
The pistol barrel scanned the hall before her, sweeping its length before she carefully edged to the kitchen entrance.
Using her weapon, Lara prodded the partially-open door wide, her slender body following a moment later.
She tensed in anticipation of an attack.
Nothing.
An unpleasant scent lurked in the air, its thick presence nauseating, and yet somehow familiar. It was an odor she'd encountered before, numerous times. It writhed in sensitive nostrils, rippling her brow into lines of concern.
Death.
The unwelcome aroma clung to each lithe curve, molding within every folded crevice of clothing, the fresh tang of blood intensifying her drumming heart. She felt its pounding rhythm thrumming powerfully against her ribcage, its beat augmented in the eerie silence.
She paced forward a step, wary.
Her eyes sought each corner, probing them thoroughly, searching for some sign of danger.
Still nothing, but the repulsive smell persisted, growing stronger.
Another step.
And another.
Her boot thrust something soft, contacting flesh. Full lips parted in shock, a startled spasm shuddering her entire body. Her weapon lowered, mahogany orbs seeking the body she'd kicked.
"Oh my God."
* * *
Kurtis arrived only a few minutes behind her, skidding straight through the unclosed gate, his bike roaring throatily as he reduced its speed. He parked beside her jeep, the motorcycle's masculine purr dying reluctantly into oblivion.
The Boran X rested heavily in one large palm, drawn the moment his machine's momentum ceased. He thumbed the safety, and stood, eyeing the front door, trepidation tightening his chest as he warily approached the Croft mansion.
He noticed the intruder's prints immediately, and touched the reserves of power deep within him, prepared to use the Chirugai at a moment's notice. It hummed at his side, quivering lightly within its restraints.
He crept steadily forward, pursuing the trail left to him by the trespasser.
His boots lightly caressed shining floor, only a light whisper marking his progress.
He thrust the Boran X from corner to corner, body tense, every muscle taut in expectation. His breath slipped softly through slightly parted lips, flaring soundlessly into the surrounding atmosphere.
It took him several strained moments to reach the kitchen, gun still poised threateningly in front of him. Cautiously he entered, unknowingly taking the same path Lara herself had only minutes earlier.
His gaze fell on her a few seconds later, standing over a crumpled figure, head bowed, shoulders slack in misery. The sound of his entrance prompted her eyes upward, her pistol spinning around to target his chest.
Recognition graced sorrow-tinged features.
Her arm drooped, fingers going limp, the firearm clattering at her feet.
* * *
His gore thickly coated the floor surrounding her. It splashed beneath her knees as she sank, white-faced and trembling, to his side. Swallowing against the thick lump crusting the interior of her throat, Lara gently reached both hands to his face, swiping aside clinging droplets of crimson.
She felt a fierce burning just beyond thick dark lashes. Inhaling deeply, she cleared sodden strands of hair from his blank eyes, fingertips gently caressing gnarled skin. Dimly, she heard Kurtis move past her, methodically completing a thorough search of the kitchen to be sure they were safe.
She cradled Winston's head in her lap, peering numbly down into the face of the man who'd been a part of her family since she was a small child. *Who did this to you?* she thought, stroking his forehead in a soft gesture so unlike the hardened woman bestowing it.
He crouched at her side, holstering his gun. She felt his hand lightly touch one slumped shoulder, the warmth of his body briefly lending her some comfort.
Unbidden, a single angry tear traversed the length of her face.
Furious with herself for showing this weakness in front of him, Lara turned her head, blinking to clear both eyes.
Kurtis lightly brushed his thumb across the trail of wetness, tentatively placing an arm around her sagging shoulders.
Exhaling shakily, Lara released the slaughtered butler, turning her face from the brutal sight of his murdered body. His innards trailed wetly from the slashed ruin of his abdomen, severed veins dangling grotesque and exposed from shredded flesh.
Both strong arms enveloped her fully now, one hand raising to gently tilt her chin from the grisly scene, his rough and callused fingertips surprisingly kind.
She allowed herself to be weak a moment, resting her forehead against his chest, grateful for his warm body and the soothing motion of his hand as it stroked the back of her head. His chest moved softly against her with each breath he drew, the rhythmic drumming of his heart thundering comfortingly beneath one ear.
He rested one stubbled cheek against the top of her head, tightening his hold on her slender body. The calming passage of his hand ceased, and she instantly regretted the removal of his warm fingertips, their presence immensely comforting.
His palm slipped over the soft curve of one cheekbone, caressing it in a gesture far more tender than she would have thought possible. His thumb drifted lightly beneath one eye, clearing the last remnants of moisture from satin flesh.
After a moment, Lara pushed him away, and stood, eyes hard.
"What's on the disk that's so important to Bartolli?" she asked coldly, steel in her voice.
Kurtis, still kneeling on the floor, lifted both eyebrows. "What?"
"The disk, Kurtis. What's on it that caused Bartolli to send someone to retrieve it, killing a harmless seventy-year-old man in the process?"
He shook his head, draping a hand lightly across one knee. "I told you I don't know anything about the disk."
"Then why did you come back here? And, please, try not to lie to me. It would be detrimental to your health."
He peered upward at her for a moment, then slowly rose. His fingertips lightly touched her chin, lingering a moment longer than was appropriate.
"Answer me, Kurtis." Lara demanded, sounding more weary than angry now. Her eyes slipped briefly closed.
"I'm telling you the truth. I have no clue what's on the disk. But I think I might have an idea how to bring up the files."
"Really. That's interesting, considering that earlier today you claimed computers weren't your thing, and that you didn't know anything about the disk."
"Maybe I wasn't being completely honest." He shrugged, then nodded his head to the door. "Go get it. I'll clean up the mess in here."
"No." she replied quietly, her gaze surging back to Winston's corpse. "I'll do it. Just give me a moment." She remained fixated on the old man, a pensive, saddened look he'd never seen before seizing hold of beautiful features. "He's been with me since I was a little girl."
Kurtis watched her a moment longer, then slipped silently out, refraining from touching her as he brushed past.
* * *
Croft Manor England, May 24th, 2004
She dropped wearily into the waiting armchair, rubbing sleep-crusted eyes as full lips parted in a yawn. Kurtis turned his head to watch her antics a moment, experiencing the first pangs of exhaustion himself. He stretched his muscular legs out before him, crossing booted feet at the ankle.
His gaze flickered once more to the computer screen.
Exhaling noisily, he rotated both shoulders, working the kinks loose in cramped muscles.
"Any progress?" Lara asked tiredly, rising to come around to his back. She peered over one strong shoulder, lightly resting both hands against the warm material of his shirt.
"No." he said as coolly as ever, shifting slightly beneath her touch. "Nothing's working."
She thrust both thumbs into the base of his neck and began to knead the taut flesh there, her hands tightening and slackening as they massaged tense muscles. He continued to work, making an impressive effort to ignore the heat of her fingertips, his body slowly, lethargically relaxing beneath the soothing motion of her hands. Only the quiet tacking of computer keys permeated thick silence.
"It's after midnight. Time for a break. It's been a long day; we can always try this again in the morning."
"I don't need much sleep." Kurtis responded distractedly.
"Yes you do." Lara argued, emitting a quiet snort of derision. "I remember what you were like after being awakened unexpectedly. It wasn't a pleasant experience." She trailed a finger absently over weather-roughened flesh, lightly stroking the nape of his neck.
He swallowed hard, and trained both beautiful eyes intently on the computer monitor.
"I'm taking a quick dip in the pool. It always seems to relax me a bit, and God knows I need a bit of relaxing after all that's happened today. Then I'm off to bed. You're welcome to stay. For tonight." she hastily clarified. "No sense in you driving back to some motel when you'll probably just be out here again tomorrow, trying to sort this out. I've got plenty of room."
"Fine." he answered indifferently.
"Fine." she repeated, her touch withdrawing from his skin. "I suppose I'll see you in the morning then."
"Yeah." Kurtis said, and waved a hand dismissively in the air.
She retreated moments later, turning her back on him and slipping quietly out the library door.
* * *
Its chill rippled around her dangling feet, shimmering ethereally in the dim overhead illumination. It enveloped slender ankles, slithering up shapely calves to caress bare flesh.
Lara shivered, and skimmed one foot lightly across the water's quiescent surface.
The liquid spread outward in disturbed undulations, slipping into quiet oblivion across the pool's width. Keen eyes tracked their progress, riveted to the minute waves. She tossed aside the towel draped over her lap, and plunged forward, into the water's embrace.
An explosion of froth geysered upward, surging over her head. She felt the water's bulk pressed all along her scantily-clothed body, and reveled in its calming touch. The chestnut cord of her hair, still tightly bound, drifted softly at her back. She remained suspended in churning liquid a moment, blinking in the swirl of foam, before arching her back and stretching both arms overhead, kicking for the surface.
She broke into sweet air only a moment later, parting full lips to breathe deeply.
Something moved among the shadows. She tensed, eyeing the Glock lying serenely on her abandoned towel, too far away to help her. *Shit.*
He stepped into her view, his eyes holding hers. Her eyebrows lifted briefly in surprise, then lowered once more as she adopted a casual look. She tread water gracefully, her gaze trained on his as Kurtis paced forward a step, nearing the pool's edge.
Then, as she watched, he began to undress, fumbling with his holster a moment before unbuckling it and dropping it at his feet. The Boran X skittered lightly over damp tiles before settling to a reluctant halt a foot or so from the pool's edge.
Kurtis' Chirugai joined it a moment later.
Her throat constricted harshly, sudden anxiety spreading hotly all throughout her.
He tugged his shirt over muscular shoulders, baring perspiration-slick flesh to widened mahogany orbs. Then, clad only in jeans, Kurtis lowered himself to the pool's edge, swiftly stripping off his boots and socks.
His body dropped heavily into the water a moment later, the echoing splash strangely muffled by the insistent drumming of her heartbeat. She looked away, hastily clearing water from thick dark lashes. *I should leave. I'm wearing only my swimsuit, and he's now half-naked. That can't be a good combination.*
Unbidden, her eyes drifted to the place he'd disappeared, his dark head still having yet to appear.
She sensed something at her feet, and glanced down, at the same moment something jerked hard on her ankles, pulling her beneath the water's frothing surface. "You son of a bit-" Lara yelled, a moment before her lips dipped into foaming liquid. Chill water invaded her lungs, pooling in the interior of her throat as he submerged her completely.
She surfaced moments later, to find him drifting before her, a smirk creasing handsome features.
Lara shook loosened strands of hair from stormy eyes, attempting to hold a glare on him, a task she found increasingly difficult as he trailed a hand up one shapely bare arm. Their foreheads grazed lightly, his breath falling warm over her damp flesh.
Gently, his hands explored her naked abdomen, thumbs smoothing heatedly over toned muscles. She sought him with her own fingertips, the move rendered without thought, both hands dropping beneath the water to caress his bare chest. They floated serenely, bobbing slightly up and down, the gradual motion pressing their bodies more firmly into one another.
They continued to tread water, gazes locked, his cool cerulean orbs burning intently into her dark eyes. Slowly his hands trailed to her waist, resting lightly against softly curved hips. He stroked a thumb up her side, prompting a shiver all throughout her body.
*It's nice to just relax after staying up half the night trying to crack the code on that damn disk, and after Winston was murdered earlier. But I think this is going to go too far, if one of us doesn't do something about it.* Lara thought, a tinge of regret settling thick in her chest.
She placed both hands on his shoulders, tensing to shove him away.
His damp lips closed hotly against her throat, instantly halting her motion.
She shivered against him, and her fingers tightened on dripping flesh. He trailed kisses across Lara's collarbone, ending at her shoulder, then working his way back up once more until he arrived again at her face.
Their mouths twined in a warm, seductive kiss, bodies slick with sweat despite the chill of the surrounding water.
Kurtis skimmed both rough callused palms upward, the gentle passage of his fingertips coming to rest in the small of her back. Their lips opened slightly against one another, tongues meeting and tangling.
She broke away a moment later, breathing heavily, then extracted herself from his grip and began to swim for the pool's edge.
He followed, and a moment later they'd both heaved themselves onto damp tile. Kurtis eyed her from the corner of his vision as she retrieved her towel, climbing to his feet as she turned to leave.
He thrust out an arm to stop her.
She peered coolly at him. "Excuse me. You mind? I'd hate to have to break that."
He moved in closer in a show of open defiance, invading her personal space, one hand plucking the towel from her grasp. "What-are-you-afraid-of?" Kurtis demanded, emphasizing each word in a patronizing way that infuriated her.
"I'm not afraid of anything, least of all you, and you'll learn that in another second if you don't hand me back my towel."
"Every time we start to get close, you back away." Kurtis replied, using his slight height advantage to hold the coveted piece of material just out of her reach. She glared, and contemplated making a leap for it, then decided he'd like that too much, considering the fact that she was wearing only a scant little swimsuit top which might not hold her breasts properly in place if she were to start bouncing around.
"Maybe it's your breath. Ever consider that?" she asked sarcastically. "Anyway, I'm not exactly in the mood to be romantic right now. If you'll remember, my butler, who was like a grandfather to me, was just brutally murdered this afternoon. An event like that doesn't tend to put one in the best of spirits."
"Tell me why you keep running away."
Lara paused a moment, removing her gaze from his, peering off into the distance. "I'm really not in the mood to discuss this right now, Kurtis. I'm off to bed. I'll see you in the morning." She hesitated again, her eyes straying back to his own again, holding that intense cerulean gaze for a moment. "I've seen a lot of friends die recently. I'd like to say I've gotten used to it, but I'm afraid that's something you never quite get used to."
Then, rising slightly on tip-toe, she placed a soft kiss on his mouth and retrieved her towel from his slack fingertips, twining it around her voluptuous figure before padding silently away.