A/N ~ The mission begins in this chapter. Carter and Reese put on a show for Berger, bump into a few unexpected people, and share a taste for something sweet. Thanks to wolfmusic for looking this over and providing some much needed critique. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer ~ I own nothing you see here.

Carter wasn't fully prepared for the splendor and opulence that was the Berger mansion once she got to Montenegro.

The two story structure stood on three acres of property that boasted sculpted greenery and shrubs, tall fir trees, and was surrounded by vast mountains. The picturesque landscape suited it since the country's name itself meant 'black mountain'. Inside there was a waterfall at the entrance, marble statues, and golden columns that stretched further than her eye could see. The tile under her feet was decorated with black onyx and mother of pearl insets. As her high-heels sounded on the ceramic floor, she felt akin to royalty.

It was just past 8pm when she arrived, and there were at least two hundred people littered about the ballroom, the buffet area, and a few couples were in the dimly lit areas of the terrace outside. The poker room was at the southern end of the property, and only certain invited guests were allowed in. She gave the name Tadic and it gained her swift entry to the room. She was asked to wait just beyond the main gambling area while the doorman informed her husband that his wife had arrived.

Reese wasn't fully prepared for how stunning Carter would look when she arrived.

When he saw her, his reaction was both immediate and intense. He felt a powerful jolt travel straight to his groin. Her heavy mane fell in curly waves across her shoulders. She bent her head and a tendril fell forward. He found the simple movement of her fingers tucking it behind her ear incredibly erotic. The bright aqua fabric of her dress clung to every curve of her body, and the scoop neckline revealed a tantalizing hint of cleavage. Reese was blown away. She was nothing short of exquisite. She saw the look on his face and smiled, no doubt satisfied with the effect she had on him.

He leaned over to his right where Klaus Berger sat, and asked his host to be excused for a few moments. He indicated that his wife had arrived, and once Berger took in the sight of her, he announced a short recess of fifteen minutes. Reese thanked him and got up, striding towards her. He captured her gaze and held it, feeling his body grow hot with each step he took. Desire surged through him, and when he finally stood before her, he put his hands around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. She gasped a little in surprise, but her hand slid up his chest and she readily returned the kiss he began to take.

Her mouth was warm, her tongue smooth, and he could feel himself come alive when her fingers brushed softly over the nape of his neck. Through the sheer fabric of her dress he could feel her nipples start to harden, and although he wanted nothing more than to take her to a secluded spot to finish what he'd started, he reluctantly pulled away.

"Well," she murmured, breathlessly, "That was a very interesting way to say hello."

Reese stared at her lipstick smeared mouth, wanting to kiss her once more. She took a handkerchief from her clutch and wiped at his lips, smiling as she did.

"You started it," he replied huskily, and his eyes wandered over her body.

"Well, you told me to make an entrance, so I did."

He loosened his hold on her a bit and she turned sideways, sliding her arm around his waist.

"Was he watching?" she asked, and both their eyes turned to Berger. He had indeed seen the public display, and the gleam in his eyes was unmistakable. He was practically salivating.

"He most definitely was." Reese pulled her around to face him again, letting his arms slide possessively around her hips.

"How's the game going, honey?" she asked.

"I'm not doing too badly."

"How much?"

"Almost one million."

"Not bad at all. Mrs. Tadic is going to have to find a way to help you spend some of your winnings. She may need a new diamond necklace….or two."

She playfully touched him, leaned into him and smiled adoringly as she spoke. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Berger approaching. Like a fish who'd taken the bait, he was about to be caught on the hook.

"Mr. Tadic, you must introduce me to this striking beauty. She has cast a dark shadow on every other woman in the room."

Berger's smile was absolutely lecherous, and Carter turned to Reese while she waited for the introductions.

"Of course. This is my wife, Jocelyn Tadic. Joss, this is Klaus Berger, our host this evening."

Carter took his hand and let him raise it to his lips for a kiss. He lingered on it longer than was necessary, but she was excellent at hiding her disgust at his touch.

"So this is the woman you've told me about. She's much more beautiful than you described. You haven't done her justice at all, my dear John."

"Thank you; you're too kind Mr. Berger. It's a pleasure to finally meet the man who's taken my husband away from me for so long. I get so lonely when he's away from me even for a day."

"I assure you, Joss - can I call you Joss?"

"You may."

"The pleasure is all mine." He turned to John, finally letting Carter's hand go and put a hand on Reese's shoulder. "I do hope to see much more of the both of you this week. As much as is possible in fact."

As he walked off, Carter fought to keep her smile in place.

"He likes you," Reese said.

"You told him about me? What'd you say?"

"A little. Just enough to whet his appetite. And now that he's seen you in the flesh…."

"He wants to know more," Carter said, finishing his sentence.

He's not the only one, Reese thought, and his eyes lingered on Carter's mouth as she spoke. The other players were gathering at the table again, and Reese reluctantly let Carter go.

"I'm going to hang around for a while longer, take a look around," Carter said, and he nodded.

Berger was calling Reese's name and he turned to see him beckoning him over. "Mr. Tadic, there's someone I want you to meet."

"I'll see you back at the hotel," Reese promised.

"Ok."

"Klaus, -" Reese turned to him, an intrigued look on his face.

"I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. He's from Krosno, in Poland. Please meet Senator Dawid Belka."

Warning bells accompanied by red flags went off in Carter's head, when she heard Klaus introduce Reese to Amelia's husband. Carter turned slowly and watched as they shook hands. She scanned the room quickly, wondering if Amelia was here as well, but she saw no trace of her in the room.

When she'd called Amelia to return the keys to her apartment before she left, she'd told her that she and her husband were taking an impromptu trip to see old friends. She was on her way to the airport, so Carter promised to send them to her whenever she got back. How much of a coincidence was it that the Senator was here? And just how close was he to Klaus and his wife? Carter caught Reese's eye as he returned to his seat, and raised an inquisitive brow before her gaze turned to Dawid. He was just as suspicious as she was.

She slipped outside the poker room and headed for the buffet. Food was the last thing on her mind, but she needed to blend in, and joined the crowd of people with plates in their hands that'd descended like a swarm around the elaborate spread. There was food of all kinds, and she filled a saucer with fruit, cheese, crackers and meat before taking a flute of champagne from a smiling waiter. Pretending to sip from the glass, she walked outside onto the terrace to get a better look at the property.

In the dimly lit area outside, it was quiet. Besides the occasional laughter from a small group of people gathered on the terrace, the only sound that was heard was the flow of water from the stream in back. For a man who dabbled in terrorist activities, Carter was surprised that his house was not properly guarded. There were no signs of security personnel at any of the windows or entrances. People were free to go wherever they pleased, it seemed.

She came upon an area furnished with huge plush day beds, and when she got closer she could hear the muffled sounds of sex and saw a couple ignorant of everything else around them. They were in the throes of passion. She hurried passed them, and walked a little further until the sounds of the party had all but disappeared. The crowds could only be seen from a distance and she came upon what had to be the master bedroom. It took up two floors of the house, and had ceiling to floor windows. Sheer curtains were the only barrier to outsiders that Carter could see. The sleeping area was on the ground floor, and a winding staircase led upstairs to an entertainment area, and a portion of the room specifically designed to carry out every dark and deviant desire you could imagine. She stood near a column, making out the glow of a lamp just inside, right before it was switched off. Just then, she saw the shadow of two people; one sitting on the edge of the massive bed, and another kneeling down in front of them.

Carter set the flute down on the ground and put the plate of food beside it. She rose slowly and moved from behind the column to get a closer look. She hid behind one of the fir trees, and reached into her clutch to pull out a small night vision monocular with a camera. What, and who she saw next, made her sick to her stomach. Mrs. Berger's face was clear; Carter recognized the hauntingly beautiful woman from the photograph she and Reese got from Snow. While her husband was playing poker with his guests, she was playing oral games of her own with a teenage boy.

Carter looked away from the revolting scene, and scanned the room looking for the safe. No safe was visible to her eye, but right before the entrance to the walk-in closet, there was a large scale portrait of Klaus and Pia. Carter smiled.

"Bingo."

She'd bet anything it was hidden behind that framed photo. Having seen enough, she made her way back across the large estate and into the house. Just as she was about to head for the front entrance, Amelia walked in.

Carter swore, and walked in another direction.

She hid behind a tall statue, watching as Amelia worked the room, and caught up with a few people she knew. She stood rooted to the spot, willing her friend to leave the area, when a blonde not more than five feet away from her called Amelia's name. Amelia looked around to see who it was, but to Carter's relief, instead of waiting for Amelia to come over, the blonde walked in her direction instead. With Amelia distracted, and finally moving to the main ballroom, Carter made her way out the front door.

Things just got more complicated than they needed to be.

"…that was an interesting way to say hello…."

Reese was staring at the cards in his hand but his mind was still on the smell, the feel and taste of Carter when he'd held her in his arms just a moment earlier. She walked into the poker room like she owned it. Not only had she succeeded in getting the attention of Berger - the man who's attention they needed most - but she gained the stares and glances of every other straight male in the room as well.

She'd been ready, just like he told her.

He played the rest of the game, won a considerable amount of money and pretended to be interested in the conversations he was forced to be a part of. He'd found out that Dawid Belka had been childhood friends with Klaus. They'd attended the same boarding school and had been close for many years. He and Klaus had also been involved with a few business ventures including a new one that Klaus alluded to during the evening. They never outright spoke of the details while he was present, but Reese got the feeling that Dawid was slowly being enticed into dealings with terrorists just as his good friend Klaus was. There was also a huge possibility that he had a stake in what was in this mysterious briefcase they were sent to procure.

It was after midnight when Reese left the estate, and he sat in the back of a hired car on the ride to the hotel. Though he knew that he and Carter had a lot to discuss about their assignment, about Dawid Belka and the briefcase, he was more interested in seeing her, being near her again. He didn't quite understand it. He and Kara had worked closely together, played the part of husband and wife, lovers, many times over. But something was different. From the moment he sat down with Carter and Snow in the café in New York, something was different. She was like the taste of something sweet after having nothing but bitterness on your tongue your whole life.

Sweets.

Coincidentally his eyes caught a sign outside the window on the street. He asked the driver to stop and walked in. The patisserie was just about to close, according to the young girl who looked tired but still managed to offer him a smile. He scanned the offering of cakes and pies that were left, and made his purchase. Once settled in the back seat of the car, the pastry box sat on the leather next to him.

Sweets for the sweet, he thought with a smile.

Carter sat in the hotel room in the middle of the bed with her legs crossed. The layout and floor plan of Berger's home was in front of her. She'd been studying them for the last half hour but her mind was elsewhere. The monocular was on the bed beside her, as was her dress that she took off but hadn't bothered to hang up. She'd washed her face, changed into a pair of dark leggings and an oversized t-shirt and sat on the bed. The TV was on, but the volume was low, it was nothing but white noise in the background. She looked up as she heard movement at the door. Seconds later, Reese walked in with a wicked smile on his face and a pastry box in his hand.

"What's going on?" he asked, as he shrugged out of his coat and jacket and threw them over the back of the couch.

She rubbed her forehead in frustration, and fell backward onto the bedding. "Ugh!"

"Hey, what is it?"

"We have a problem," she said looking up at him.

"Dawid Belka. I know," he said, nodding.

"Amelia's here too."

"What?"

"I saw her tonight, right before I left."

"Did she say she was coming here?"

"No," Carter answered, and propped herself up on her elbows.

"Did she tell you about Berger?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"She didn't, John. When she told me she was leaving town with her husband to see old friends, she didn't say a word about who they were."

"Well, Klaus has known Dawid for a long time. He's invited both of them to stay through the weekend, so they'll be at dinner tomorrow night. There won't be a way to avoid them. You'll have to act as if you don't know her when you're introduced."

"That won't work. Amelia will spot me from a mile away and our cover will be blown. I'm gonna have to have a talk with her before dinner tomorrow night."

"I have a feeling that Dawid might have knowledge about the briefcase."

"What?"

She listened as he filled her in on the rest of his evening and his suspicions about Dawid and his possible terrorist ties with Klaus. She wondered how much of her husband's extracurricular activities Amelia knew about. She realized once more that this was a whole different ball game compared to her work in the SEALS. She truly couldn't be sure who was friend or enemy. And just where did Amelia and Dawid lie between those two options?

Where did John lie? She wondered.

He'd told her that he was her partner and she'd chosen to forgive him, chosen to stay and work with him. But could he really be trusted? She still wasn't sure. She wasn't entirely sure either if continuing the physical part of their relationship was wise. Still she couldn't deny the push pull that still existed between them, or the way it felt when he held her earlier tonight.

He stared down at her, and his face softened a little. In the soft light of the room, he looked so beautiful; the brooding eyes, high cheekbones. She remembered the night they spent together, and she blushed.

"What's that?" she asked, looking at the box that was still in his hand.

"Cheesecake."

"No, you didn't."

"I did," he said, smiling.

"John, why?"

"Because I know you like cheesecake."

"Ugh! Yes, I do," she said, pushing it away when he tried to put it in her lap. "You did your homework."

She rolled over and got up out of the bed, but he followed, opening up the box.

"I did. Have a bite."

"No."

"Come on, I had the driver stop so I could pick it up. The least you could do is try it."

She reached for the box and fork he now had in his hands, but he shook his head.

"Let me," he said, and held a piece to her lips waiting for her to open up. When she finally did, the taste of it on her tongue was amazing. It was good, better than most she'd had before.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome."

He bit his bottom lip and she stared at his mouth, wondering what he was thinking. Was he remembering their kiss? Was he remembering their night together like she suddenly was? The feel of his hands on her, how he felt between her legs.

She felt a flush all over her body and she took the pastry box out of his hands. It sat on top of the couch forgotten and she put a hand around his neck and pulled him closer. Earlier, he'd taken a kiss from her, now she was taking what she wanted.

She kissed him hard and deep, nipping at his mouth, tasting his tongue and he moaned. Her hands fumbled at the buttons on his shirt and she pulled it out of his pants. His hands moved from her waist to her bottom, pulling her closer so she could feel his arousal through his pants. Now it was her time to moan as she felt it brush against her so intimately, each touch sending a wave of pleasure to her core. She could feel her nipples harden, she could feel herself getting wet, and she could feel the passion that she'd ignored since Poland start to build once more.

He cupped her face and nipped at her bottom lip, before pulling away.

"Slow down, baby. I'm not going anywhere."

She smiled against his mouth, chuckling a little, remembering how she'd told him the exact same thing not so long ago. She kissed him back, leaning into him, and running her hands over his chest and back. His kisses were gentle, smooth and she loved how his tongue tenderly darted in and out of her mouth. He kissed her neck, and the flicker of his tongue on the skin there was so light, she almost couldn't stand it. Her hands moved to his waist to loosen his belt, and she zipped down his pants. She reached into his underwear to gently stroke him in her hands. She heard him hiss against her ear, the soft movement of her fingers caused him to pause.

"Joss…"

The sound of her name in his mouth was husky, deep and she pressed her lips onto his again. She pulled at his pants and underwear, drawing them down till they pooled around his ankles. His erection jutted forward, he was almost fully hard now. She dropped to her knees and slowly took him into her mouth. His hand touched the side of her face as she slid the flat of her tongue on the underside of him. She ran it over the head, under the rim and finally took him into her mouth once more. She moved slowly over him, drawing out the movement of her tongue over his flesh. His fingers moved through her hair, over the back of her neck and she heard strangled variations of her name. Finally he was slick in her mouth, in her hands, and he looked down on her before drawing her up to stand in front of him.

He spun her round, and his hands pulled her leggings down to the ground, and she stepped out of them. Her panties soon followed. He parted her legs and bent her over ever so slightly while one of his hands cupped her breast. While his fingers squeezed her nipple, he slid his cock between her legs and over her opening. The pleasure of his hardness sliding against her labia was almost too much to bear. She mewled softly.

"John, you -" she broke off mid sentence as he cupped her Mons and gently massaged her clit. His hand, his fingers, his cock, and now his mouth on her ear were all driving her to the edge. He bent her a little lower and she stood on her toes while the head of his cock hit her clit in an agonizingly wonderful way. Her legs were weak, and she started to tremble with want.

His hands freed her from her shirt and he pulled her upwards, turning her face toward his. His tongue moved over hers, a glorious feeling she thought. He kissed her deeply, passionately, while his hands and fingers travelled all over her stomach, her breasts, and filled her with anticipation of him.

He lowered them both slowly to the ground and she rested on her knees. He bent her over, planting kisses on her back, her shoulders and all the way down her spine. She fisted her hands into the carpet as his mouth moved over her bottom. She felt his tongue sliding over them, so warm and wet. When his mouth finally moved over her opening, she could do nothing more than gasp at the touch. His tongue lapped at her, touched her so delicately, so intimately. She squeezed her eyes shut as waves of pleasure moved from the bud between her legs to every part of her body.

"John…" she drew his name out and bit her bottom lip.

"I know, Joss. I know," he said.

He ran his hands up and down her thighs, but he bent down once more to feast between her legs. Over and over the feel of his mouth and tongue pushed her closer to the peak of ecstasy. Her body started to shake, she felt as if she was about to explode.

"Don't come yet, Joss," he said as he ran his hands over her back. "I don't want you to come yet."

He pulled her up again and her back was against his chest once more. She turned to kiss him, fisting her hands in his hair, tasting herself on his tongue.

"You taste so good, Joss," he moaned into her mouth while his fingers squeezed her nipples. He was drawing out her pleasure, building her up so painfully well. She reached around to hold him in her hand. Her body jerked as he started to massage her clit, and she moaned.

He reached for his wallet in the back pocket of his pants, and she heard him unwrap a condom. He bent her over once more and he entered her swift and hard. She cried out at the penetration and she squeezed him as he slowly moved further inside her. She bucked into him, spurring him on, and he finally started to thrust. He plunged into her quickly and forcefully. His movements were strong and deep and powerful inside her. His fingers massaged her clit and she was overcome with pure sensation. She moaned in pleasure, and it wasn't long before she started to come.

John felt Joss' orgasm as he moved inside her. Her whimpers and her cries both mingled with the grunt that passed his lips.

"Joss…"

It was what he wanted, for her to come while he was inside her. He pulled her up once more and he rested on his shins to cradle her in his lap. She relaxed against him while he continued to thrust upwards. Her hands reached around to stroke his thighs, and though she was weak from her orgasm, she still bucked into his thrusts. They were coming harder now, faster too as he sought to completely sheath himself in her warmth.

He bit into the soft skin on her shoulder as he pounded out the last bit of his desire. He massaged Joss' clit and a final thrust sent them both over the edge. His breath hitched in his throat as he moved his hips against her while he emptied himself. Joss whimpered against his seeking mouth and she reached around to gently touch his face. He wasn't inclined to move at all and his hold around her waist grew tighter.

She purred as he ran his hands over her, kissed her neck, and the golden skin of her shoulder. She was so beautiful, so lovely, he thought. He couldn't describe what it was he was feeling at the moment, he was afraid to admit that he wanted this moment to go on as long as possible.

She caught him looking at her, and she returned the gaze. She looked vulnerable, she looked afraid, just as he was, but there was something else there. There was just the hint of courage to go forward with whatever it was that was happening. He swallowed hard.

"Joss-"

She kissed him, interrupting whatever it was he was about to say. She put a finger to his mouth to quiet him, and shook her head.

"I know, John. I know."