When Auggie disappeared into the bathroom – and firmly shut the door – Annie flopped backward onto the pillow. She stared at the ceiling, hardly believing what had just happened.
Waking up to find herself curled around the toned form of August Anderson had been… Oomph was all her brain could manage. She'd seen Auggie working out, even seen him without his shirt a time or two. This, though, was different. Those arms caging her, those hard, sinewy thighs rigid beneath her…
Oomph, her brain said again. She turned to bury her head in the pillow and was immediately overwhelmed with the clean, yet entirely masculine, scent of her handler and best friend. This was his bed, after-all. Of course the sheets and pillows would still be warm from his body.
What are you doing, Annie Walker? Your life isn't complicated enough without lusting after your best friend? Your best friend AND CO-WORKER? Sure, the CIA supposedly encourages inter-agency dating. But Joan is like a mamma-bear around Auggie. Would she take kindly to me breaking his heart? Let's face it, in the end I damage the guys in my life. I cannot afford to hurt Auggie- not professionally and it would kill me personally.
The doorbell ringing, followed almost immediately by a hard knock, tore Annie from her thoughts. She glanced at the bathroom door but decided that answering the front door herself was definitely preferable to walking in on Auggie in the shower. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the images of that naked body stretched out, water dripping down his…
God, Annie, pull it together.
Apparently Auggie had heard the doorbell and insistent knocking. The water sounds ceased and his voice shouted from the bathroom. "Get back in bed, Annie. Don't you dare answer that door."
She grinned. By the time she heard him emerge from the bathroom, she'd yanked open the door to smile at…
"Jai?"
He cut his dark eyes down, and then back up more slowly, taking in every inch of her bare skin. That look should have either made her feel dirty or weak kneed. Mostly she just felt ridiculous.
For his part Jai didn't miss the loose t-shirt and very short shorts, the mussed hair, the blush coloring her cheeks, or the faintest red mark on her neck peeking through the tangled waves. "I stopped by to make sure you were all right. Do you need anything?"
"I'm uh, fine. Better, really. I think I'll head home after breakfast. You're sweet for stopping by."
"I don't like the idea of you knowing where I live, Wilcox, much less the idea of you showing up at 8am on a Saturday."
Jai rolled his eyes for Annie's benefit. "Give it up, Anderson. I know where you live, what beer you like to drink, the tequila you like to ply Annie with after a mission, even the name of the last woman you slept with."
Annie narrowed her eyes. Jai had gone from sweet, caring friend to caustic bitterness in 60 seconds. She opened her mouth to snap at him but no sound came out. A long, slightly damp, very bare, arm circled her waist. She teetered slightly as her whole body was pulled backwards against the tense man behind her. She felt the droplets of water transfer from his chest to the back of her shirt. She felt the humid heat of his towel plastered against her bare thighs. Her pupils dilated, her breath shuddered out of her still open mouth, and her body trembled.
Auggie dipped his head to nuzzle Annie's neck. "Well that last shouldn't have been too hard to figure out." He raised his head and gave his best cat-that-got-the-cream grin. "She's fine Jai. I'll feed her and tuck her back in bed and make sure she doesn't try to save the entire world in one weekend. Thanks for stopping by." With his free right hand he grabbed the door and slammed it in Jai Wilcox's face- somewhat chagrined that the nosy bastard hadn't been standing in the doorway when the door shut.
Oh my… oh hells no, he did not just allude that we slept together last night to Jai Wilcox! Joan will cut me in little pieces and feed me to… whatever she can find. Oh God Oh God…
He was still holding her – tightly. She could feel each deep, steady breath he took. She could feel a great deal, in fact.
Only the eyes are broken indeed.
"I cannot believe you just said that. DID, that."
"Did what?" The hand he'd used to slam the door in Jai's face was now gently stroking the back of her hand where it lay against her leg.
"Don't you dare play the innocent with me, August Anderson. You basically told Jai that we slept together last night!" She tried to twist out of his grip. Her anger would be much better conveyed face-to-face.. and with at least five feet between them. Those soft stroking finger clasped her wrist. The arm across her waist locked into place. She huffed her displeasure.
She made an entirely different noise when his lips skimmed over her ear.
"We did sleep together last night, Annie. Jai was stopping by just to goad me. I'm your handler. I'm handling the situation."
Her snort was authentic Annie.
"The protective parts of me work just fine, too, Annie." Those damned soft lips skipped lightly over her shoulder. He released her and turned her, hands on her shoulders, toward the bedroom. "Get back in bed before you start coughing and getting Terrapin germs all over my apartment."
She giggled. "Yes sir."
But he's not letting go. Those fingers aren't holding my shoulders and they aren't pushing me. They are … oh hells, yes, they are CARESSING me. I am so totally screwed."
"Auggie?"
"Mm?"
"You have to let me go if you expect me to get back in your bed."
"I'll try not to think too hard on the dual meaning of that sentence." With a final squeeze he released her.
Annie turned at the doorway between kitchen and bedroom. "Wait. Are you going to cook in only that towel?"
His answer was a trade-marked Anderson smirk.
Oomph, her brain said.
Thanks for all the kind reviews; I am flattered and honored.
As always, the copyrights and trademarks for Covert Affairs are retained by their original holders. This story is for entertainment only and no commercial purpose is intended.
Oh, and the "terrapin germs" bit is a reference to the University of Maryland mascot: a terrapin. If you'll recall, this whole "mess" started when Annie was on a mission on the UM campus.