Whispered Lies

“Good idea. How much longer do you really need to get the school’s computers up and ru

Once the files were uploaded, she used a secure deletion program to overwrite the files on her local system multiple times, removing all traces of their existence from her hard drive. She’d have to be just as thorough covering her tracks when she vanished, but not until she knew Babette was safe.

Gabrielle closed the laptop. “I could be finished in two hours. I put all the necessary parts in the data vault before we left Georgia. All I have to do is launch the remaining parts of the program. And once I leave, if Gotthard needs anything more from here, he’s set up to use a remote access without being detected by the IT staff.” She stood and walked over to him. “What’s that odd look all about?”

“You did all that yesterday?”

“Of course. I didn’t know how soon we might have to leave, but I can make it still appear as though I need another two days if necessary.”

“You are one hot techno babe.”

The grin he gave her hugged her heart. Her stomach fluttered with a sudden happiness that left her weak in the knees. Forget about later or tomorrow for now. The only guarantee in her life was each minute she drew a breath.

“You better get dressed if you don’t want the principal to call you into his office for being late,” Carlos warned.

She rolled her eyes. “LaCrosse doesn’t really worry me so much anymore, but there’s no need to be late. So I’ll get dressed.” Untying the robe, she let it fall to her feet.

Leaving the only scrap of clothing she wore beneath the terry robe. Black lace panties.

“Holy mother of-” He covered his eyes with his hand. “We only have one condom left.”

She sighed loud enough for him to hear. “Fine. I’m dressing.” At the closet, she slowly flipped through the few choices she had. And wiggled her butt a couple times just to see if he was watching her.

Vain, yes, but she’d never had this kind of male attention.

She felt his body at her back as one hand came around to her breast and the other slid down her abdomen, weaving a finger beneath the lace of her panties and touching the spot as if he had it marked from last night.

Her knees did buckle this time.

He caught her and murmured, “I warned you to get dressed.”

“I was…trying…to-,” she gasped.

He lifted her back against his front and moved around until he sat down in the armed chair with her in his lap.

“Grab the chair arms and don’t let go,” he whispered.

She did, shivering at the promise in his voice. One condom left or not, he wanted her.

He hooked her legs with one arm, lifting them toward her chest, and slid her panties off. Tossing those aside, he lowered her legs and pushed them apart with his knees. His lips grazed her neck. The hand he held her with now toyed with her breasts. Her nipples became taut, aching buds.

When his fingers between her legs started moving, she arched at the shock that ran through her. Her knuckles tightened. She gripped the chair, every muscle in her body clenched. Her nails dug into the plush upholstery.

He whispered something erotic in Spanish, but she was lost to anything except the sensations that washed over her and vibrated between her legs. All her focus was on his fingers. He’d take her so close to the edge then pull her back, then dip one finger inside her and start it all over again.

His fingers abandoned her breast. She wanted to cry out, but his next move banished any complaint when both hands glided over her naked skin to part her legs gently. He used fingers of both hands, caressing the sensitive area he’d exposed. He teased her folds, but this time without any hint of stopping.

She started climbing higher, reaching for that pi

He plunged another finger inside and massaged a spot deep within her.

This time she exploded with a force like she’d never felt before. She called his name, begged him not to stop. The power of her release shook her to the core. When the tremors subsided, she lay gasping and limp in his arms.

He held her wrapped within his protective embrace.

“What…” Take a breath. She took two. “Did…you…do to me?”

He snuggled his face into her hair. “You smell like something I want for breakfast. I’d say we located your G-spot.” The laughter in his voice was pure male arrogance, but she had to give the devil his due.

She hadn’t even known she had a G-spot, so he’d earned the right to sound cocky.

“I’m really late now.” Late and not interested in computers. She wanted to climb back into bed with him wrapped around her. Worse, she wanted to stay with him.

If only there was a way, she would.

“Good thing or we’d use that last condom. If we don’t finish up here soon, I’ll have to get even more creative.”

That sounded like a great idea once the feeling returned to her lower half.

He stood her up, setting her on her feet, and walked her to the bathroom or she’d have fallen flat on her face. While she stood there dazed, he stepped away and returned with her underwear and some clothes on hangers.

When she took them, he caught her chin and said, “So don’t get in a huff this time when I tell you not to come out until you’re dressed.” He kissed her quickly and closed the door.

She stood there, her heart breaking. How could she leave this man? He embodied everything she’d wanted in a man she could care about.

Hooking the hanger on the towel rack, she chuckled sadly. In what alternative universe would she be able to be with someone like Carlos? His first responsibility was to his duty, which meant handing her back to Joe as soon as this was done.

If that was to happen, better to keep her feelings private and not let Carlos know how much he was coming to mean to her. He was only doing his duty, protecting the world. He wouldn’t have met her if she hadn’t put herself at risk.

Gabrielle managed to put on clothes and straighten her hair, but she was nothing more than a dressed linguine noodle that had been overcooked by the time she emerged from the bedroom to find Carlos in the living area.

“Your sister called,” Carlos told her. “She’s fine, just wants to talk to you.” Carlos pressed a button and handed her the phone. “It’s dialing her and I’ve got the bug jammer working right now so no one can hear what you say.”

Gabrielle lifted the phone to her ear.

“Fauteur de Trouble,” her sister sang out upon answering.

“I hope you are not being a troublemaker.”

“Who, me?” Her sister laughed, then turned serious. “Amelia’s back.”

“When?”

“Late last night. I saw her at breakfast. She said she’d left with Mandy Massey on a trip, but Mandy pretended to be friends so she could use Amelia to get out of school because Mandy said her dad wouldn’t have let her go to South America alone. After Mandy and Amelia hit the airport, Mandy said she had tickets to meet some guy in South America so she bugged out on Amelia. Amelia says she heard Mandy got sick and her parents pulled her out of school. Is that any help on your student list?”

“Yes, that’s a great help,” Gabrielle said, cursing herself for having to lie to her sister and involve her in this. “Was Amelia upset?”

“Not really. She was more interested in showing off her new haircut and clothes. I admit she looks different, maybe even a little more with it, but nothing I’d call a press conference for.”

Gabrielle smiled at her sister. Babette was such a spotlight queen and considered few bright enough to shine in her presence.

“She’s leaving again in two days,” Babette added.

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. Amelia is prattling on worse than ever from her latest soapbox on the fuel crisis and being physically challenged. I get that and know having a prosthetic leg is not easy to deal with, but she can be so obnoxious. And the only other thing she talks about is how important her father is and how only important people come to Columbia to see him and important meetings happen there. Come on. The girl needs to expand her vocabulary. How important can a man be who grows coffee beans?”