Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter with a VERY VERY big thanks to Sweepeaspatch! Who helped me with my spelling and grammer mistakes and gave me a few tips.
Chapter 4
Beach bar el Tropico
"Richard…" Camille began. She sat next to him at a small table. "You are kind of stiff."
Richard gave Camille a somewhat angry look. "That's the point isn't it? I'm on the lookout," he said as he wanted to shift in his seat, sit away from Camille, but couldn't.
"The point," Camille repeated, "Is not to attract attention to yourself so they'll know who we really are instantly."
"I'm just alert Camille…"
"Just try to relax." She said softly as she sat even closer.
Richard felt the side of her body pushing against his arm. He swallowed and froze. How could he relax with her being pushed up against his body?! Well... Just his arm, but it did enough to make his body and mind go crazy. And she just looked all calm and reserved, like this was not unusual at all. Which of course was the meaning of working undercover... To be that good so no one would see through their act.
"Take a sip of your drink," Camille suggested as she drank from the straw in her iced tea. "Everything is okay." She whispered soothingly as she leaned back in her chair and lazily dropped her arm over his chair and put her hand on his back.
That made him freeze even more.
Camille sighed inwardly. What did the man need in order to relax? This way, their cover would be blown quickly.
"Are you pushing me again?" Richard questioned softly, not to be overheard by others.
"What do you mean?"
"Pushing me." He said as his hand went to his drink. He hated how his hand shook heavily and betrayed his nervousness. "To see me as more human."
"Non, to see your more human side. That's what I meant when I said that." She explained as she remembered their conversation just before going to sleep with the thundering storm around them. It had been that one night that they had 'slept together' in the weather station.
"Are you now?"
"Seeing your more human side? I hope not. You're one ball of nerves." Camille blurted out unsatisfied. If this was the best he could do, then that didn't bode well at all..... "I meant that I wanted to see what is underneath the nerves." She quickly explained.
"I'm not one ball of nerves and…" Richard began to defend himself but couldn't talk anymore because his throat tightened the moment she bent forward and he felt her breast pressing against his arm again.
"Could you not do that?" He managed to utter after a moment. It was as if his throat had constricted so bad, that his voice could not make a path behind it. But somehow, it had managed and sound finally left his mouth, forming a few words. A sentence even.
"What?" Camille asked totally oblivious of his problems. She was getting annoyed now. It seemed that whatever she did, it was never good in his eyes.
"You know, the pressing… " He gestured between them awkwardly.
"What?" She looked down at herself, then at him.
"You pressing yourself…" With your breasts and your body... .
Realization slowly dawned on her and she sighed inwardly. "You mean this?" She asked as she pressed herself up against his arm even harder and pulled a short strand of his hair from his face.
Richard swallowed visibly.
"It's just an act. Don't worry. I won't jump you." She quipped.
He gulped the moment her hands touched his face again.
"I can't concentrate if you're doing things like that."
"Well, you have to get used to it, because we are supposed to be lovers, remember?" Camille commented impatiently. How could she get through this day?! Ever?!
"Well... Lovers can have quarrels or cold relationships…" Richard offered.
"What is your problem?!" Camille pushed herself away from him angrily.
He saw her black eyes, dark as holes, staring at him fiercely. Almost burning through him if they could. The set of her jaw. "A lover could also sit over there." Richard suggested totally unfaded by her fierceness.. It seemed that he was getting used to her... Her moodiness and the arguing seemed easier to handle then seeing her as the attractive woman she was.
"Have you ever been in love Richard?" She asked as she looked at him incredulously.
"Well… Yes."
"And did you want her to go sit far away from you too?" Her French accent sounded heavily, betraying her impatience and irritation with him.
"No..." Richard thought about that for a moment. He thought about Sasha, the woman he had loved so dearly. "But this is entirely different."
"How so?" Camille asked amused now as she placed her chin on her hands and stared at him. She was hoping to get yet another snippet of information from this impossible man. Another glance behind his high, almost impenetrable walls.
"We're not lovers."
"We are now." Camille said as she bent towards him and kissed his cheek seductively, letting her lips linger a moment longer then was necessary. She liked the feel of his skin underneath her lips. It made her want to do more then just kiss... She pulled back quickly. Somewhat shocked by her own thoughts and feelings.
"Pretend lovers. Nothing more." Richard mumbled as he looked around the restaurant and avoided making eye contact. His cheeks flushed and he swallowed nervously. She had pulled back from kissing him ever so teasingly, he was sure she did that on purpose, to toy with him. It probably meant nothing to her, the way she touched him, the way her lips lingered on his skin. But it set his whole body on fire. Whether he wanted to or not. It seemed to his dismay that he had no choice in the matter. His body just did what it wanted,despitewhat his brain wanted to say about that. He was glad that he could at least control most parts of his brain. What was he? Some sort of Neanderthal? If it had been up to the reptilian part of his brain he would have dragged her into his bed to kiss her senseless and touch her everywhere. He scolded himself immediately for these thoughts. A light headache began to form on the left side of his head. This was just too much to handle for him. All those conflicting feelings that were tearing up his inner being.
"Non, not pretend." Camille said as she took a sip of her iced tea and she also scanned her surroundings. "Real. You have to believe that it's real. Otherwise it won't work."
Richard swallowed. It was as if his body had chosen that exact moment, with those exact words, to let sweat break out. He could feel a drop of sweat dripping down the cleft of his chest. Great, as if he wasn't warm enough already. "I can't just pretend that I'm someone else. " Richard muttered chagrined as he pushed his blouse against his chest and closed his jacket a bit in an effort to hide the sweat stains that would probably begin to form soon.
"We've been over this this morning. You were the one who agreed to this job were you not?" Camille asked sternly in a business like voice.
Richard took his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. He needed a shower. A cold one. A very cold one. With a normal spray, not that one drop that would come out of his own shower. And it was all her fault. He looked at her, at her beautiful face. How he hated her! No, that wasn't right... He didn't hate her... He hated his reaction to her! If only he could... If he could put some distance between them... Sort out his heavy reaction to her... Control his inner turmoil...
"Richard?" Camille asked. It was like he wasn't paying attention.
He looked up from his deep thoughts. What had she said? Was he supposed to answer? Something about.. Agreeing... This job... This morning? O yes... "Well.. Er... Yes... Not at first... But you know they didn't have anyone else to play the man part so I... Volunteered.." Did he really volunteer? Or was it the commissioner who had practically forced him to? Come to think of it... It wasn't like there wasn't another choice. "Do you really think I had another choice in the matter Camille? Please! The commissioner practically ordered me. Were you even there?" He said with venom in his tone because the heat was really getting to him.
Richard wanted to put something cold to his face. He looked at his tea. Why had he ordered tea right now? He needed cold things. And quick! "Are you finished with that?" He said as he stared at her iced tea, and the ice cubes in it. They seemed very alluring to him, all of a sudden. He needed them, and right now!
"Non." Camille stated surprised as he grabbed her drink away from her and put it against his cheeks. Richard gave a loud sigh at the coolness that radiated of it. When he saw the look she was giving him he said "Hubbies share everything do they not? I'm just practicing."
Camille rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. She wasn't ready for a rant about the heat right now. She had too much on her mind already.. And the heat wasn't that bad at all. It was still morning. The afternoon promised them heat, but for now, it was pretty cool. And there she thought he was getting used to the climate. And would finally give up his rants about it... Was she wrong...!
"Is it so awful to sit here with me and pretend that you are my lover?" Camille questioned somewhat angrily.
"Yes…" Richard blurted out instantly. Oops.. That was the wrong answer given the look on her face and in her eyes. "I mean-" He stopped hugging her iced tea.
"-What?! Is it so difficult to just cuddle with me, and pretend?"
"Well, yes." He swallowed. Cuddle with her? Pretend with her?
She gave him a hard glare.
"If it doesn't feel right… when my heart isn't in it…" Richard explained as he enjoyed the coldness of the ice cube. This piece of frozen water was quite the life saver!
Camille narrowed her eyes. Well, that was clear! His heart wasn't in it. He wouldn't even touch her. "Okay you've made yourself perfectly clear. You don't want me close, you're not attracted to me. Funny thing that this job has got nothing to do with that." She snapped curtly.
Did he see hurt in her eyes?
Camille looked away and took another sip of her drink. She put up her walls instantly. She didn't let her feelings show. She pushed the dull ache and pain in her chest away quickly. But it wouldn't let itself be pushed away just like that. Her throat became dry and her breathing more shallow.
"So you weren't like this with the woman you loved?" She asked, trying to change the subject away from her and her feelings. And prodding him for information. Something she loved to do.
"No I…. I wanted her close." He needed another ice cube. Right now. His big trembling hand didn't fit in the glass so he wheedled the cold cube out with two fingers and put itagainst his neck.
Camille raised an eyebrow at that as she looked at the other ice cubes in the glass.
He did want the woman he was in love with close. So there is some life in him after all. He just didn't feel that way about her. A tidal wave of disappointment and hurt washed over her."Just pretend that I am her then." Camille offered quickly, acting like she didn't care at all that he was not interested in her.
"I couldn't. I could never. You are totally different." Richard didn't face her. He had his attention on the ice cube that was melting now. He took off his wrist watch and put the ice cube against his wrist. Maybe that would feel better. O it did... How he wanted to moan in delight! But he held himself back.
He couldn't? He could never? He could never like her like that? Even pretending was too difficult for him?! Hurt again. This time, it felt like a blow to her stomach. Her nostrils flared in pain and she tried to cover that up by biting on the straw of her stolen drink.
"What are the two of you doing? You don't seem like lovers at all." Snapped the waiter as he came by and took one of the used glasses. They were practicing and it was a disaster.
"Dwayne, really." Richard muttered as he looked up at him.
Dwayne gave him a pointed look when he saw the ice cube and raised an eyebrow.
"The heat is really getting to me." Richard complained.
"The heat?" Dwayne asked surprised. "It's still morning, this is the coolest moment of the day." Usually his chief started his complaints and rants about the heat in the afternoon. Since he already lived here for two years. He looked at Camille. Waves of anger were radiating from her. And something else which he couldn't quite pinpoint.
"I don't know what made it worse. I-" Richard's breathing hitched sharply when Camille put her hand with a slap on Richards upper leg as she clenched her teeth. He flinched visibly and had to pull everything together to not jump up from his chair. The little cooling down that he had managed with the ice cube had been totally undone now. He felt her hand burn on his upper leg. Her fingers were on the inside of his thigh. It wasn't an indecent touch, but it could become just that. In his mind. It was just a sensitive spot she had hold of, he told himself. The annoying thing was, every spot on his body she touched was sensitive, or became sensitive. His throat became dry again. A known reaction to her.
Camille turned towards him heatedly. "You are mine for the time being." She snapped as she looked in his eyes.
He froze to his chair. Didn't even dare to swallow anymore as he looked at her fiery dark eyes that were spitting fire at him in anger. His throat wasn't only dry now, it felt like there was sand paper in there.
"And I am yours. There's no running away from this. So make the best of it. However you hate it…" She ordered as she looked at his lips. She wanted to do a good job. She was good at her job.
"Is this what you do to all your men?" Richard asked flabbergasted. He was surprised that he had even found his voice, that words would leave his dry throat, and that he could still breathe let alone say something so forward to her. Maybe he was getting used to her behavior and was learning to be more assertive towards her. Or maybe he was just less affected by her outbursts.
"Okay, that's my cue to leave..." Dwayne said quickly as he made himself scarce.
Camille bent forwards to him, somehow taking her hand with her in her movement, creeping up his leg. He wondered if she even noticed. He opened his mouth to tell her but was distracted and captivated by the anger that was coming off her in waves directed at him.
"If you have any sex drive in you, now is the time to use it." She ordered angrily.
"What?" Richard asked astonished and hurt, and also... That hand was getting awfully close to... Some other body parts... And the heat was just killing him and.... He looked down at her hand that was now so far up his leg that if she would move her little finger one inch to the right she would be touching his-
Camille looked down at her hand now too and pulled it back instantly when she saw how close she had put it to his groin area. That hadn't been her intention at all. She hadn't even noticed that she'd done that. She must have shifted it forward automatically in her anger.
"You think I have no sex drive?" She heard him repeat from far away.
Even more anger washed over her. "I don't know..." She said angrily. She looked up at him again and put her hand on the inside of his left leg, dangerously close to his groin area again, this time on purpose. "Do you?" She gave him a dark glare.
Richard sat so still like a statue that he was sure he'd have back aches tonight because of the tension in his muscles right now. His voice had now completely left him it seemed... As had his breath...
"And do you really want to know what I do to all my men?" Camille asked in a husky but slightly aggressive tone of voice, remembering his earlier question, the one that had really bothered her. Like she was some sort of man-eater!
Richard gulped in shock at that.
It surprised her, how she wanted to move her hand that final last inch to feel what was underneath the fabric of his trousers. How she wanted to remove those trousers and be somewhere else with him, in a secluded area, just the two of them. How she wanted to have her way with him. Get to know him in a totally different way, in an intimate way... She let go instantly and leaned back in her chair at that.
She didn't even know why she'd done that. Pushed him when he was so uncomfortable already... She'd just lost patience. Coupled with feeling hurt and rejected by the things he had said... Wanting to insult and hurt him back? Or maybe push him? What was wrong with her? Why didn't she succeed in making him feel at ease with her? It hurt. She felt sadness wash over her. And why didn't he like her? Why wasn't he attracted to her?
Camille turned her attention back to him. Accompanied with a cold steely gaze. "I wouldn't know, would I? Maybe you'd do better with another female agent. Someone to take my place. If it's too difficult for you to even pretend that you like me-"
"What are you two doing?" Dwayne asked as he had come up to them again.
"You just blew our cover." Richard said as he looked up at him.
"Blew your cover?! That wasn't lovers' behavior."
'We were just having a fight." Camille explained as she didn't look at Dwayne and straightened her purple tank top. She felt her cheeks begin to flush.
"Lovers fight, don't they?" Richard asked carefully of Dwayne.
"Not like that. It felt like hell was freezing over between the two of you. Is it so difficult to be kind to one another just for a few hours?" Dwayne asked annoyed.
"Apparently it is." Camille snapped at Richard as she stood up.
"What... I... "
"Richard just loved playing with my ice cubes." She leaned her hands on the table towards him and he really tried not to look in her top that gaped wide open and gave him a marvelous peek of her cleavage.
She grabbed the ice cube from his hand forcefully and threw it away angrily. He looked from the ice cube on the floor then up to her with wide green eyes. "O, that's just childish." Richard uttered annoyed. He remembered how she'd done that with his Board Master marker months ago among other things. She seemed to have developed this habit of grabbing things from him and throwing them away forcefully right in front of him. Like a toddler would do.
"If only you treated me this last hour like you behaved towards that piece of frozen water, we'd be much further along now! I thought you were going to make love to it!" Camille snapped accusingly as she straightened herself and grabbed another ice cube from her remnants of iced tea and put it with a crunch down in front of him. "Here you go. I won't stop you from hugging and fondling it. Please, do take your time." She barked as she stalked off.
Richard stared at the ice cube in front of him. And then looked up slightly guilt stricken at Dwayne.
'What did you do?" Dwayne asked as he watched Camille leave angrily.
"What? Why would you think I did something?" Richard asked flabbergasted.
'Because she's a pro undercover agent. What was up with you chief?" Dwayne asked as he sat himself down next to him.
"Nothing.' He shrugged.
"The two of you seemed to be biting each other's heads off."
Richard sighed. When were they not? It seemed to have gotten worse these last weeks. Since he had gotten back from London. Why was that? She'd seemed so happy to have him back. At least, he always had known that he'd come back. But she had seemed afraid that he wouldn't. And now he was back for good... Well, for the time being... And she was just biting his head off at every turn...
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