Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

“And you did it.”

“Almost. I came home one day and found her in my bed with some guy who turned out to be her husband. Both of them had been living on my money for years. Every cent I gave to Carmen—all the money she’d ever asked for, for trips while I was away for work, expensive clothes, you name it—she used to support her husband and build up a pretty good savings.”

“What did you do?”

“I told them to keep the money, but if I ever saw them anywhere near my property I’d shoot them. Haven’t seen them since. That was three years ago.”

“So, aside from being an evil conspirator out to help a villain take over the world…you also think I want to use you for your money.”

Shield looked away.

“Well, that’s just great. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll soon be going off to jail and will never see you again.” Wagner walked over to the chair with her clothes and felt to see if the T-shirt was dry. “I need to get some sleep. My shoulder hurts and I’m exhausted, as I’m sure you are.”

Ryden flipped the shirt to let the other side dry, then did the same with the hoodie. Then she stared into the fireplace, opening the blanket slightly to let the heat reach her skin. Although she felt safe with Kennedy there, she wished more than ever she could be alone. She could understand and accept Kennedy’s anger when it had to do with lying about who she was and what she had been asked to do. But she refused to deal with the accusation of being a gold digger.

Money had never been important to her. She’d spent just about every extra dime she’d ever made on shelters and animals. Ryden figured they needed it more than she did, and half the time she wasted what money she did have on her. She either lost it somewhere between cushions or cab seats or forgot and left it in a pocket and the washing machine destroyed it. What mattered were her wax creations and privacy. “We should stay in here with the fire. You can have the couch. I’ll sleep on the floor,” Ryden said, without turning around.

“No.” Kennedy’s voice came from right behind her.

She was so startled, she whirled around and almost collided with Kennedy. “I don’t mind the fl—” She inhaled sharply when she saw the look in Kennedy’s eyes. Dangerous but not threatening. Hungry but not angry.

“No, I don’t think you’re after my money.” Kennedy stood so close Ryden felt her breath with every word spoken.

“G…good, because I don’t give a damn about how much you earn, Kennedy.”

“Good. And my name, Ryden ,” Kennedy stressed her name provocatively, “is Harper.” Her gaze never strayed from Ryden’s eyes.

“I know.” She couldn’t stop looking at Kennedy’s mouth.

“And no, I don’t think you’re evil or deliberately hurt anyone.”

“When did you change your mind?”

“When you took that bullet for me.” Kennedy ran one finger up Ryden’s injured arm, caressing it lightly and slowly under the blanket. “That shot was meant for me. If you hadn’t shoved me, it could’ve gotten me in the heart. You didn’t know I had a vest on.”

“I saw him aiming at you.” She was surprised to be answering coherently. Kennedy’s eyes and touch were mesmerizing and put her completely off balance.

“I’m grateful you did.”

“So, are you okay with the couch?”

Kennedy ignored her question and surprised Ryden with one of her own. “What do you feel right now?”

Ryden swallowed hard. She was breathing even harder. “My stomach, it’s fluttering.”

“Mine, too.” Kennedy licked her lips and Ryden’s whole body reacted.

Contrary to anything she’d ever done, she let the blanket fall from her shoulders and placed her hand behind Kennedy’s neck. She pulled her close and, with their mouths touching, said, “I want…” Then she kissed Kennedy softly on the lips and pulled back.

Beneath her hand, she felt Kennedy shiver. As she ran her fingers through Kennedy’s hair, she was filled with an excitement and aggression she’d never known before.

Kennedy gently placed her arms around her waist and pulled her close. She felt dizzy with desire, the pain a distant memory.

“Tell me,” Kennedy whispered.

“I want to kiss you so much I can’t feel my shoulder.”

Kennedy looked from her mouth to her eyes. “Show me, Ryden.” She sounded breathless.

Ryden involuntarily moaned before she pulled Kennedy’s mouth to hers. She kissed Kennedy slowly, licking and sweetly biting her lips, and when their tongues finally met, both moaned in unison. Ryden had never kissed anyone so thoroughly, so passionately, and had definitely never wanted so much to rip someone’s clothes off to feel every inch of their beautiful body.

As though her hand had a will of its own, her fingers threaded through Kennedy’s hair, stroked her neck, then caressed a lazy path down her back, where she felt Kennedy’s muscles tighten at her touch. “This is crazy,” she said in Kennedy’s mouth, unable to let go of those lips. “I don’t want to stop kissing you.”

She felt Kennedy smile against her mouth. “I don’t want you to.”

She attacked Kennedy’s mouth again and sucked her tongue. She moved her hand from Kennedy’s back to her ass and Kennedy moaned.

“Yes.” Kennedy encouraged her, her voice a hoarse whisper.

Ryden pulled their pelvises tighter together, massaging Kennedy’s ass as they kissed.

“You’re driving me crazy,” Kennedy said. “If we don’t stop, I’m going to—”

She didn’t wait for the rest. She grabbed Kennedy’s hand and brought it to her breast. “Touch me.”

Kennedy cupped her breast and Ryden threw her head back, so overcome with ecstasy she saw stars behind her closed eyelids. In a heartbeat, Kennedy unclasped Ryden’s bra and gently caressed her nipples. Men never touched her like this; their fumbling efforts were always abrupt and brief, and her breasts were often an afterthought, a short, unsatisfying prelude to what they really wanted. She was melting under Kennedy’s hands. She almost screamed in pleasure when Kennedy pinched her nipples. “I need your mouth there,” she managed, her heart pounding in her ears.

Kennedy kissed her fiercely once more before she bent to kiss her breasts.

She ran her hands through Kennedy’s hair as Kennedy massaged and licked her nipples. The stimulation was so intense she was rapidly nearing climax. “Harder. Please, Harper.” She lightly pulled on Kennedy’s hair.

Kennedy sucked hard on her nipples.

“Oh, God. I’m…please, don’t stop.” This was another new moment for Ryden. She was about to come, and Kennedy had never even gone under her belt. Was that possible?

“Come for me.” Kennedy sucked one nipple as she massaged the other.

“I want to.” Ryden’s legs trembled, her stomach tightened, then her whole body spasmed as a powerful orgasm shot through her. She would have dropped to the floor if Kennedy hadn’t held her tight. Out of breath, she rested her head on Kennedy’s shoulder. “I didn’t know that was possible.”

Kennedy laughed. “Are you all right?”

“Embarrassed, but yes. I’ve never come with anyone, let alone without…”

Kennedy squeezed her tight, mindful of her shoulder. “Don’t ever feel embarrassed for who or how you are.”

Ryden looked at her. “I don’t want to, not anymore.”

“How’s your arm?”

“Okay, I think, but—”

Suddenly, Kennedy froze and placed her finger over Ryden’s mouth. “Chopper.” She pointed up.

“Helicopter?” Ryden whispered. “Your people?”

Kennedy grabbed the shirt and hoodie off the chair and thrust them toward her. “They would’ve called to say they were coming. Get dressed.”