Andrei

 

I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.

Even though I had a thousand other things to worry about – including the reason why Mirois was so keen to have the woman across from me in a body bag – it possessed me. Every other thought circled back to it. And the memory wasn’t fading in the hours that passed.

If anything, I wanted to indulge in it again.

It had been a split-second decision to take it to that level.

Not that I regretted the impulse. Not when I could still recall how sweet Faye had tasted, the way her body had gone pliant against mine and her fingers had wound into my shirt. It had taken every ounce of strength to break away.

Yet now, as things began to piece themselves together in my head, I knew Faye wasn’t out of danger. In fact, her “death” may have exacerbated it.

For now, the Knight name was at risk.

Though I couldn’t be certain, I had a feeling Mirois was working to serve up planted traitors of the Order. A lot of the ones I’d seen were all young, stupid rookies. They might have been even following orders. It would be their word against hers. And without someone like Faye coming forward to indicate Mirois was the mole, they would go down.

Mirois was planning to crucify them all to keep her name unstained. And in doing so, especially if she could indicate Faye Knight as a traitor, it would cause more chaos within the Order.

It was perfect. Until the TLO took down HQ, they needed Mirois in her position, spreading discord and feeding lies to unsuspecting agents. And from what I’d seen, it was already working.

I still wasn’t sure if the ashes reference was tied to the fact that Crane’s had turned up at HQ. (Something I hadn’t told Faye yet. She was worried enough about everyone.) Perhaps it was, but as of yet, nothing had happened. Was it a message that Mirois alone understood? Or was it an indication of what was to come?

Once we got to Canada, I was planning on sending a message to Roy that I knew he would understand and pass along. While I was certain the Lafis and the Weslarks were taking precautions, it never hurt to be too safe. I'd already notified the Zimas in Russia to step it up.

I must have eventually drifted off because Ulma was shaking me awake and whispering that the car for Faye and I was delayed. Imogen had gone to sort it out. Sitting up, I saw that we’d landed. Damn, I must have been more exhausted than I realized if I’d slept through that.

Faye was already awake and looking curiously at Ulma as she urged me to take their car.

“Otherwise you vill be waiting for her for another hour!”

“I don’t mind,” Faye piped up.

“Neither do I,” I said. “Ulma, you go. Rest. We can wait.”

She was clearly torn, but at our insistence, she finally caved and left with Hubert. I watched them go, fully awake and my mind darting through different plans.

Getting up, I went and got us some water, then came back. The plane’s lights were dim in the cabin and it made the peach dress that Faye was still wearing glow.

I sat down next to her and smiled. “You know, you can go and change.”

Faye smoothed a hand down her dress and took a sip of the water. “Do I look that rumpled?”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said. “It’s just a bit cold is all and you’re wearing a light dress…” Suddenly I wished I hadn’t said anything, though I still thought it was too cold.

Putting down her water, she shrugged and looked out the dark window. “I’m fine.”

I laid the back of my fingers on her arm and she jumped. “You feel cold.”

“Well, I’m not,” Faye said, somewhat testily.

“Did you sleep?” I asked, draping my arm on the back of the couch and downing my water.

“Not really,” Faye answered.

I fiddled with my glass, then put it down. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Faye said, her shoulders rising.

“If something is wrong, Faye, you should call me out on it,” I said. “I know I can be an ass.”

“Not everything is about you Andrei,” she responded.

“You sure about that?” I asked with a grin.

That got her attention and she turned around. Arms crossed, she glared at me. “Yes.”

“You’re still mad about the kiss,” I said before I could stop myself.

Faye gave me a flat, incredulous look. “I am not. Do I think it was unnecessary? Yes. Did it possibly save my life? Sure. Do I care about it at this moment? No.”

“Alright,” I said, reaching forward and tugging on her hair. She swatted me away.

“Why do you act like a player if you’re not one?” Faye demanded out of nowhere.

I gaped at her. “I do not. Well,” I amended. “Not all of the time. Not with you.”

“You do. You’ve done and said quite a few things that made me think you were a player.” Her eyes were narrowed. “Is it part of your act? Some James Bond thing?”

“Let’s go with the latter,” I said with a wink.

“So, you really don’t want anyone to get to know the real you, huh?” Faye asked.

“Why are you giving me such a hard time right now?” I asked, leaning in.

Faye didn’t flinch. “You didn’t answer my question,” she said, tilting her chin up.

“Perhaps because there isn’t one,” I said, a bit of a growl in my words.

“Hmph,” Faye said, whipping her head away from me.

“Are you going to be like this until we part ways?” I asked. “We were having such a nice time in Auckland, let’s not spoil it now because of the kiss.”

She whirled her entire body around. “It’s not – are you serious? Why do you keep bringing that up? How many times do I have to tell you I don’t care.”

“I think you do. And I don’t,” I said mulishly, not sure why I kept pressing this.

“Andrei!” she said in outrage. “You are the one who keeps bringing it up! You said it was nothing. Leave it. Honestly.”

Her face had twisted on the word nothing.

“Ah, that’s it, isn’t it?” I asked. “I didn’t mean to hurt you when I said that. I was only–”

“Stop.” Faye’s entire body was tensing up and she balled her hands into fists. “It’s nothing.”

“I don’t think it is,” I said.

“What?” she asked, recoiling slightly and sounding breathless.

I opened my mouth to say something and nothing came out. At an utter loss, I watched as she stared at me, the tension between us building up again and she dropped her eyes.

Suddenly she got to her feet, moving past me and my arm shot out, catching her wrist. Don’t let her go, don’t let her get away, shouted a voice in my head. Keep her close.

Faye tried to twist free, snapping out, “Andrei, I swear, you better–”

“Just sit back down–” I urged her at the same time, pulling her harder than I meant to.

She fell and landed in my lap, her legs sprawled across my knees and as she toppled back, her other hand came up, grabbing my shirt for stability. She was trying to sit up and I reached out and grabbed her waist, trying to help. But my leaning over wasn’t helping matters. Nor was the fact that I was trying to apologize and not laugh at the same time.

“Let me go!” she flashed at me, yanking herself up so our faces were inches apart.

Our breath mingled as I watched her pupils dilate and dart down to my lips, then to the side and back. This close, her eyes were every warm hue of gold. My grip tightened.

“You sure about that?” I asked in a low voice, all the laughter gone.

Faye nodded, but the movement was slow and uncertain. And she’d stopped fighting, her fingers twisting harder in my shirt and her pulse flickering rapidly in her throat.

Suddenly, Faye leaned in and kissed me. A shock went over me, then triumph roared up. I dropped her hand, which went to my face. Her lips were delicious against mine. My blood ran hot as wicked thoughts darting through my mind. Before I could gather my wits and respond, however, Faye pulled away with a squeak and her hands went to her mouth.

“Andrei, I…” she started to say, trying to squirm away, but I still had a hand on her waist.

“Sh,” I murmured. “My turn.”

Pulling her hands away, I traced my fingertips up her neck and to her chin. Holding it, I looked down at her and a smile spread across my own.

Leaning in slowly, I flicked my gaze up to her, then down to her lips. Faye’s chest rose and fell, the gold in her eyes scintillating now.

And I kissed her, hard. So, she’d have not one single doubt.

Faye’s hands pressed against my chest and I slowed down, wondering if she wanted me to stop. Then her arms went around my neck and she was kissing me back with the same fervor.

Now neither of us could stop.

It was as though there was a magnetic force at work, drawing us closer and closer. My fingers wound through her hair, slid over her smooth shoulder and down to her back. Her lips parted and my tongue swept inside, tasting her and tangling with hers.

Moving closer, I pushed her down into the cushions, with her still in my lap and one hand teased up her leg, before gripping her thigh to keep her in place. She was arching against me, our kisses ranging from wild to teasing to slow. Romantic. I found myself lingering in the latter.

But I also couldn’t ignore the insistent heat rising from a dark and dangerous place. My pants were getting tight and I was holding onto Faye so hard I thought I might hurt her. I went to pull away when her fingers slipped into my hair, tugging playfully and I lost it.

A growl fought its way free and I pressed down harder, both arms now around her. Faye was arching up and I was trying to find the zipper for her dress when a distant sound distracted me.

A car horn.

We both froze at the same time and broke apart with a gasp. Faye scrambled away so fast, she almost fell on the floor and I was fumbling for my phone, buzzing in my back pocket.

It was Imogen with the car. She’d already called three times.

When I answered, she laid into me, “Boss, it’s freezing out here, will you hurry the hell up? What were you doing? Sleeping?”

“No, I was checking on something…” I lied. “We’re coming now.”

Faye and I looked at each other as I hung up. The air was shattered between us. Or maybe that was me. Dear God, I’d never had a kiss like that. I couldn’t even think straight. I didn’t know what to say or do. Except maybe kiss her again.

“We have to go,” Faye said, standing up and moving towards the back, where our bags were stored. She grabbed them both and swung around, holding out mine.

I nodded and took it from her. In silence, we left. The big SUV was idling and Imogen shook her head as she got out, crabbing at me in Russian and English. I barely heard her and bid her goodnight as she jogged back to the plane.

“Won’t it be too cold?” Faye asked, peering out the passenger side window.

“She’ll be okay,” I said automatically. “Someone has to stay with the plane.”

After that, neither of us said anything. I drove on autopilot to the house, my brain struggling to understand what was happening. All I knew is that I wanted to both bolt and kiss her again.

The house was located on a lonely hill outside of the city, far enough away that the lights were a distant glow on the horizon. All around it was thick trees and endless mountains. And once inside, the isolation seemed to press the two of us together.

Ulma had already been by, airing everything out and making up a bed. Damn, that woman – earlier I’d told her I would do it. And also damn her for only making up the master.

Clearing my throat, I told Faye to take that one and I headed for a room across the hall. Once inside, I found myself pacing and restless. Part of me knew I should be in the same room as Faye, but I didn’t trust myself around that blonde right now.

No wonder why she thinks I’m a player, I thought bitterly.

Earlier, her saying that had flicked on some raw nerve deep inside of me. One I didn’t even know I had till she said those words. For Faye to think that of me was too much to bear.

But I'd heard and even encouraged those rumors before. Then laughed them off in secret.

Sinking down on the bed, I looked at my hands and sighed. It wasn’t that I hadn’t had a few flings, it was the thought of Faye thinking I’d ever treat her like that.

My fingers curled into fists. Shit.

I hadn’t lied – I abhorred the thought of using women like some kind of manliness scorecard. The thought of my gentle mother or sweet sister knowing I treated a woman like that made me ill. But on the other hand, I’d never been a relationship guy.

I couldn’t be.

Death dogged my work. I’d never wanted to put a woman in the position where she had to worry about me constantly. Or worse, live her life as a haunted widow.

Especially not for someone like Faye who’d already lost her parents to this life.

What kind of irony was it that she’d wound up with me?

When you became a spy, you learned the risks first hand. If anything, I was following in the footsteps of the Knights. How many times had I read their case files?

My head fell and I gripped the back of my neck.

How many times had I avoided meeting Faye because I didn’t want the reminder that there were flesh and blood consequences with big brown eyes to this line of work?

I could kid myself all I wanted – but I’d avoided meeting Faye over these past years. I didn’t want to look into the eyes of an Order orphan. I was afraid it would shake my resolve.

And now I was afraid something else entirely had happened.

Yet underneath that, I was conscious of a warmth I wanted to dive into. Happiness. It was so enticing, I found myself considering something for the first time in my life.

Retirement from the Shifters of Anubis.