Chapter 18
AN: Okay, parts of this chapter might be a little … adult … so reader digression is advised.
"Boss, there's cameras all over this place, he's going to see us coming for miles, we aren't going to get the element of surprise on this one." Michaels said.
"Did someone say they were in need of a cloak of invisibility?" Trivette turned around and a huge smile broke across his face.
"Buzz? Buzz Lee? Girl, you are a sight for sore eyes! How have you been?!" He said as they hugged warmly.
"Keepin' my nose clean, Jimmy, I'm workin' for the FBI now, but what I do is classified of course." She said with a wink towards Gage.
"Now, point me to your nearest computer, I'll have you cloaked in less than five minutes." She said, Michaels motioned for all of them to follow her.
"There, you have about five minutes before he gets wise, this guy is good, he's gonna figure out that it's just a loop." Buzz said.
"Let's move!" Walker said as they filed through the front gate toward the house.
"Police! Search warrant!" Walker yelled as the DEA agents in front of him busted through the door. The guards at the door were caught off guard and reached for their weapons, Walker and Michaels put them down with one shot each.
Sydney and Gage filed through the mansion with the DEA SWAT team Sydney lead one team upstairs, Gage covered the downstairs. Sydney's frustration grew as she heard room after room be announced clear, that bastard couldn't have gotten the drop on them, he had to be hiding somewhere.
Suddenly, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye in the hallway, going for the stairs.
"Freeze!" She yelled as she gave chase, the man spun around and they both discharged their weapons at the same time. She grimaced as the bullet from his forty five hit her in the cheat area and he stumbled back as hers did the same.
Sydney winced as she gingerly massaged her chest where his bullet had impacted, thankful for the bullet proof vest that saved her life, because that would have been a kill shot for sure.
"Well, there's our guy. Right through the heart, nice shot." Michaels said as she nudged the now dead drug smuggler.
"Thanks." Sydney said as she came down the stairs.
"You okay?" Walker asked as he immediately noticed that she was favoring her left side.
Gage's heart came to reside in his throat as, in the name of professionalism, he struggled against the knee jerk impulse to run at Sydney and crush her to him.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks to the vest." She said as she gave her boss a reassuring smile as she turned to Michaels.
"I'm sorry I killed him, I hope that doesn't complicate your case, I am sure you wanted to question him."
"Shit, girl! You did us a favor! You killed him before he could get the word out to get rid of his records and evidence, his whole rolodex is intact, all we have to do is thumb through it and start serving warrants." Michaels said as she turned to Walker.
"It was nice working with you again, Ranger Walker, you have a fine, fine team here at company B." She said as they shook hands.
"Likewise, Agent Michaels. We'll just get out of your hair, unless your team needs a hand."
Michaels waved him off. "Naw, we got this, you all have done enough already and I know you have tons of paperwork to fill out and process.
Sydney inwardly groaned as she and Gage followed Walker and Trivette out the front door to the mansion. Paperwork, she had completely forgotten about the paperwork, and with a case like this, there was going to be stacks of it.
"You know, I was thinking; it's been a long, tough few weeks for all of us, why don't we all just …. Go home and get some rest, we can start on filling out the paperwork first thing in the morning tomorrow." Walker said as he looked to Trivette with a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"Yeah, I mean …. Paperwork can be tedious, best to tackle that with a clear head." Trivette replied with a grin as Walker turned to the two junior rangers.
"Why don't you two go home and get some rest, we'll pick this up first thing tomorrow." He said, and had to bite back a chuckle as the two rangers practically dashed to their car.
Sydney tried to hide it, but she knew Gage caught her grimace, and how gingerly she eased into the passenger seat.
"Syd, are you side you're okay?" He asked, the worry in his voice evident as his bright blue eyes searched hers.
"Yeah … just sore, I feel like someone smacked me with a sledge hammer, but its still better than being dead, which is what I would have been if I hadn't been wearing the vest." She said as she offered him a dry smile, but it faded as soon as she looked at him.
His remained on the road, but his expression was so pained that it made her heart ache for him. He pulled up to a stop light and finally turned to look at her, his eyes were burning a heated passion that it almost made her forget how to breathe. She had never in her life ever had a man look at her like that.
The fire in his eyes dulled as a storm of emotions rose inside him, and he blew out a huge, frustrated sigh before he spoke.
"I almost lost you again today, Syd." He said, his voice barely audible.
"We're Texas Rangers, Gage, risking our lives is what we do." She replied as the light turned green and they drove the remainder of the way back to her apartment in an uncomfortable silence.
Gage pulled into a visitor space, they sat there in silence, after what seemed like a fortnight, Sydney couldn't take it anymore.
"Well … I guess I will see you tomorrow then." She said, as she opened her door, she wasn't sure if she kept the hurt at his suddenly cold demeanor out of her voice as she exited the car, willing her tears to wait until she was in the safe confines of her apartment.
Gage wrenched open his door and was around to her side just as she turned around.
"Syd … we need to talk." He said, unsure of how to begin, there was such a torrent of emotions going on inside him that he wasn't sure what to say, or how to say it.
Sydney rubbed her face wearily 'Oh well, best to get this over with' she said as she crossed her arms in front of her and waited for him to speak.
"You have got to stop talking and acting like your life doesn't mean anything, Syd. Because it DOES mean something … it means EVERYTHING to me." He said.
"Gage I don't know what you want me to do, I have a risky job, one that puts my life in danger every time I put on my badge, there is nothing I can do about it. But if you are going to ask me to give up my job, then the answer is no. I have worked my ass off to get where I am and I am not going to give that up for anyone, and if you expect me to, then ... then you never really loved me like you say you do." She said, spilling her words out in one breath, lest she lose the courage to say them.
Gage was rendered speechless again, Sydney's intuition was right on the money, how did she know? He ran his hand through his hair, this damn woman, she was going to be the death of him, he just knew it.
He had never met anyone that made him want to sing from the rooftops, and want to pull his hair out at the same time. The sight of her standing there, in that painfully adorable way she did when she was pissed, with her chin jutted out and her hand on her hips just made his anger melt away right there and then.
Before he knew what he was doing, he was pushing her against the side of the car and ravaging her mouth with his own. Her mouth opened in surprise at the sudden onslaught of passion from him and he took that opportunity to slide his tongue between her lips to stroke hers.
And here he was planning to tell her that he couldn't be her partner any longer because watching her risk her life day after day was torture for him, but now he never wanted her out of his sight … ever and the thought of someone else watching that rear of hers made him insane with jealousy. Because he knew Barker would be first in line, and he wasn't about to give him that chance.
He didn't get a chance to think about it anymore, because she was suddenly pulling him toward the elevator. "You … are coming up stairs with me … now." She said, desire dripping in her voice.
Once inside her apartment, they never even made it to the bedroom, as soon as Sydney closed the door, he was on her again; he knew he should take it slow, but who was he kidding, he was a slave to his desires now.
It seemed as though Sydney was every bit as eager, for she had already shrugged out of her shirt and was working on pulling his off, all the while never breaking their kiss.
Gage's breathing quickened as he drank in the sight of her clad only in a pink satin lace bra, he could see her nipples poking through the thin fabric, hard and aching to be touched.
He obliged and undid her bra and slid it slowly off her shoulders, a growl escaped from deep within his throat as he took in the sight of her topless and he felt like the luckiest man on the whole damn planet.
Her hands, light and soft caressed his bare chest, in turn, he looked as good topless as she knew he would. Her eyes darkened with excitement as she explored his sculpted body with her hands. It was she this time who pushed him back against the couch and claimed his mouth with hers, she straddled him and took total control … and he loved it.
Without even breaking their kiss, her hands found the button to his jeans, she undid it and unzipped his fly, after the prize she could feel throbbing against the now painfully tight fabric.
His hands came to find the waist of his pants as he attempted to shrug out of them, her hands on his arms stopped him, waggled her finger at him as she stood up and pulled off her jeans and underwear and stepped out of them.
Gage's erection throbbed painfully against his jeans at the sight of Sydney's completely naked body, free of the obscurity of clothing. A flash of realization suddenly came across her exotic features.
"I'll be right back." She said as she disappeared into the bedroom, in her absence, Gage took the opportunity to free his hard, throbbing manhood of the imprisonment of his jeans and underwear.
She returned after a moment, holding a condom in her hand. His breath caught in his throat and a wave of pleasure shot through him as she slowly slid it on, just the sensation of her dainty hands performing that simple act was almost enough to make him come right there.
She straddled him again, he growled deep in his throat, he could feel the heat from her core even through the condom and it drove him mad with desire. Finally losing what shreds of resolve he had left, he clasped his hands around her hips and pulled her down onto his cock.
She leaned forward and claimed his mouth with hers this time and began a slow, agonizing rhythm. The taste of her kisses and the feeling of her breasts pushing against his chest brought him closer and closer to the point of no return, his hands tightened clasped her backside as he pushed against her; she buried her face in the valley of his neck and collarbone as her rhythm began to quicken.
She clenched her teeth and he buried his face in her as their orgasms hit them like a freight train, both overcome with too much pleasure to cry out, or even breathe. She collapsed against him, breathing hard, and his whole body felt like it was made jello.
Once she felt she could stand without falling, she rose and walked to the bedroom. A wolfish grin crossed Gage's face as he heard the shower turn on, he rose to follow her, dying to satisfy a fantasy that had long tortured him of shower sex with his beautiful and alluring partner.
AN: Sorry, I know, I am terrible for ending it there but man its long enough LOL, also reviews, please! They are my pay for writing!
