Kate Donovan - Exit Strategy

“Yeah, I’m thrilled, too,” she muttered. “I can’t believe Kristie ratted me out.”

“She didn’t. I went looking for you. Checked your apartment, your family’s ranch, then ended up at her place. She wouldn’t tell me where you were, but I guessed.”

Miranda eyed him curiously, noticing for the first time that his military outfit was sexy as hell, especially over his lean, muscled body. “You went looking for me? Why?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t like the way we left things. I thought I must have said something to offend you. If I’d known you saw that stupid videotape, I would have come after you sooner. To explain-”

“Forget it.” She looked him over again without bothering to hide her admiration. “I can’t believe you bluffed your way in here. It’s pretty amazing.”

“It was easier than I thought. His guards have gone to seed over the years, protecting him from imaginary threats. I knew that if I could get to Kell, I could convince him-half by bullying, half because he would want it to be true. I’m his hero, after all,” he added wryly. “But the guards were as terrified and convinced by my tantrum as Kell was.”

“That’s because you’re the world’s most persuasive guy,” Miranda told him with a sigh. “And you make a great Brigadier, by the way.”

He hesitated, then insisted, “We should get going. Kell’s guards are supposedly in their quarters, so we should be able to sneak out-”

“We can’t leave. Not yet. But…” She stepped up to him and ran her fingers over his chest. “I appreciate the rescue attempt. It wasn’t necessary, but very cool. Did I mention how good you look in this uniform?”

Ortega winced. “I have a feeling that’s the drug talking, but thanks. Get your things together. We’ve got to move.”

“I haven’t thanked you yet for charging to my rescue,” she told him, sliding her hands behind his neck.

“Hey.” He grabbed her wrists and pulled them to her sides, then assured her gently, “I took advantage of you once. I’m never going to do it again.”

“I agree. It’s my turn to take advantage of you.” Pressing her hands against his chest, she backed him over to the bed. Then she gave him a shove.

Rather than falling onto his back as she’d hoped he’d do, he sat down, his tone solemn. “Miranda…”

“My turn, Ortega. You’ve called all the shots up till now. Can’t I have my way just once?”

He licked his lips, then nodded. “Sounds fair.”

Amused, she tugged her dress over her head and threw it onto the floor. Then she straddled him and pushed him again, and this time, he cooperated fully, laying back and watching as she unbuckled the utility belt that held his gun and holster, then went to work on the buttons of his khaki shirt.

She ran her fingertips across his chest again, this time connecting with bare, tanned skin. Then she took off her bra and waited, and Ortega obliged her by stroking her breasts appreciatively.

“Oo, that’s nice.” She smiled. “Finish getting undressed while I get a condom.” She crawled over to the nightstand and grabbed her purse, dumping it onto the comforter and rummaging through the multicolored packets.

“Expecting an army?” Ortega teased.

“I thought they were just props,” she confessed with a laugh. “This is so much better. Let’s try a blue one.”

“Wait.” He pulled her down alongside himself, then cupped her chin in his hand and gave her a long, lingering kiss.

Inspired, she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, savoring the mint taste. His hands began to roam over her breasts, and her back, then inside her panties, tugging them down gently.

“It’s time,” she murmured, sitting up, then stretching and rolling the blue condom over him. Flashing a mischievous smile, she straddled him again, then slowly, luxuriantly, fit him into her.

The rush of sensation she felt was so intense, and so disorienting, she actually believed for the first time that the power pill was playing Cupid in this adventure. Forcing herself to exhale, she struggled to gain back a hint of spiritual balance in the midst of the heady physical pleasure.

“Miranda?” Ortega asked, his voice husky.

“I’m just trying to find my center,” she explained without opening her eyes.

“I’ve got a better idea,” he told her, rolling gently so that he was on top. “Why don’t I find it for you?”

She laughed with delight, then wrapped her arms around his neck again, murmuring words of appreciation and encouragement as Ortega proceeded to make good on his offer.

“Mmm, Ortega…” Miranda stretched, then snuggled into her pillow when they had finished. “I forgot how good you were at that.”

He propped himself up on his elbow and looked directly into her eyes. “Exactly how mad are you going to be at me when you finally sober up?”

She enjoyed the bronze glow for a moment before explaining, “It’s not the drug. It’s something else. Role-playing gone berserk, I think.”

“What does that mean?”

She shrugged. “I needed to be convincing in the role of your mistress, so I spent hours fantasizing about you before I got here. I guess I got myself all lathered up.”

“And I’ve been fantasizing about you for more than a year,” he admitted, adding hastily, “but not with that stupid alibi video. I swear.”

“Are you sure you want to bring that up now?” Miranda taunted him, then she sighed. “I was looking for an excuse to be disgusted with you that day. If it hadn’t been the tape it would have been something else. I just wasn’t quite ready to admit that you were an okay guy.”

“And now you are?”

She sat up, pulling the sheet along with her to cover her breasts. “I guess so. And you can thank Jonathan Kell for that. You’re such a hero in his eyes. So noble. Or at least-” she paused to glare “-you were until today. Did you have to be so rough on him?”

“I had to convince him-and you-that I was the Brigadier. A man with a ruthless agenda. And it worked, didn’t it?”

“It worked for me,” she agreed with a laugh. “But poor Jonathan is probably still shaking. We’d better get down there and reassure him a little. He’s very sensitive, Ortega.”

“Forget Kell. We’ve got to get out of here before he figures out the truth. He could get a communication from the real Brigadier at anytime. Then we’d be screwed.”

“I don’t think they communicate much. And the whole Brigade is scheduled to arrive this weekend, so I think we have some time.” She smiled reassuringly. “We can’t leave now. You’ve created a brilliant opportunity for us to get valuable intel. Dates, locations, names. We don’t need the Brigadier’s identity so much anymore. All we have to do is stake out the fortress this weekend and watch him arrive. But I get the impression their timetable is aggressive. The more we can find out, the better prepared the country can be when they make their move.”

She could see he was listening, so she explained, “He only talked to me in generalities. Political theory, that sort of thing. But he thinks you know the specifics already. If you’re clever-and we both know you are-you can get him talking. Really talking. Just get in touch with your inner spinner. I’ve seen what Kristie can do, and you trained her, so you might be even better.”

He shook his head, laughing. “My inner spinner? That’s a new one.”

“You’ve got to try, Ortega. There’s so much riding on this. More than we originally suspected, I think.”

He pursed his lips, then spoke carefully. “If I agree to stay tonight-to try to get as much information out of him as possible-will you agree to leave with me tomorrow morning? No arguments?”