Radclyffe: Honor Under Siege

Washington, DC. Less than a month after four men shed never met had

tried to kil her.

Sliding her hands into the pockets of her dark navy windbreaker, Blair

sheltered in the shadow of a tal , windswept dune and let the cold

sea breeze and the force of natures power drive the lingering

melancholy away. Crisp, salty air fil ed her chest, and for an instant, she

felt only the promise of a new season and the inner contentment of

being in love. Despite the horror of the last month, shed just spent one

of the best weeks she could remember in seclusion on Whitley Island.

At least two Secret Service agents fol owed her everywhere she went on

the remote, sparsely populated island of the coast of Massachuset s,

but she was out of the public eye and nearly alone with her lover. She

cherished this rare privacy and feared that pleasure was about to change.

As much as she loved the island, she couldnt just disappear. And

after the events of the last few weeks, she discovered to her surprise that

she didnt want to. Al her life shed sought anonymity. Being her

fathers daughter had forced upon her a notoriety she had not chosen,

and she had done al she could to escape the constraints it imposed.

Yet sometime in the last year, that wild, furious need to break away

had al but vanished. She wondered how much that sea change was due

to the woman who walked toward her in the gathering sunlight.

Secret Service agent Cameron Roberts, Blairs one time chief of

security and now her lover, was a few inches tal er, dark-haired, lean

and handsome. Her jaw was a lit le broader, her nose a lit le stronger,

and the hol ows below her cheekbones a lit le deeper than the dictates

of classic beauty demanded, but what Blair saw when she looked at her

went beyond beauty. She saw strength and passion, and above al ,

honor.

“Youre supposed to be in bed, she chided as Cam approached.

Recovering.

Cam grinned. “Bed was

cold.

“Its a hel of a lot colder out here. Blair wrapped her arms around Cams

neck and kissed her, ruf ling the short, almost wavy black hair that

ended just above her col ar. The almost casual brush of mouth on

mouth turned unexpectedly more fervent. She stroked her tongue along

the inside of Cams lip, and delved deeper for an instant before leaning

back. “Whew. Just got warmer.

“Lets see if we can get it up to August. Cam slid one arm around Blairs

waist and underneath her jacket. She stroked Blairs back and nuzzled

her neck. “Although, we probably shouldnt tamper with Greg

and Haras body temperatures quite so much.

Blair jerked and pushed away. “God, I cant believe I forgot about them. I

never forget about them. She peered over her shoulder toward the dunes

where two of her first team security agents stood with their hands at

their sides, facing out toward the ocean as if she and Cam were not

there. Of course, they had seen everything while continuously scanning

the length of beach, the water, and the air.

“Id say that lit le lapse is a very good sign. Cam brushed a strand of

damp blond hair away from Blairs cheek and resisted the urge to kiss

her again. Blairs deep blue eyes were shadow free, a rare occurrence,

and even though shed been up before dawn, shed slept through the

night. That, too, was unusual since the armed assault on Blair in her

penthouse apartment. Cam loved to see Blair

so relaxed and secure that she forgot she was being watched. She

wished she could keep that from ever changing.

“When your eyes go from gray to black like that, Blair murmured, “I

know youre thinking serious thoughts.

Cam shook her head. “No. She tugged Blair against her side

and

started to walk, keeping her arm around Blairs waist. “Just thinking I

love you.

“That sounds serious. Blair slipped her hand into the back pocket of

Cams jeans and squeezed her ass. “In fact, we should probably do

something about it ASAP.

“Okay.

Blair laughed. “Youre too

easy.

“I thought you liked me that

way.

Blair caught Cams hands and turned to walk backwards, swinging their

joined arms lazily between them. The wind whipped her hair around her

face, and her cheeks burned with the cold. She felt wonderful. “I like

you every way you come, Commander. Hard and fast, slow and easy.

Any way at al .

“Jesus, Blair. Have a heart. Cam tilted her head in the direction of the

agents who fol owed along the invisible perimeter of their protection

zone. “They cant hear us, but theyl have a hard time pretending not to

notice if I throw you down on the beach.

“I thought you had bet er control than that, Blair

teased.

“So did I, Cam mut ered darkly. Everything shed thought shed known

about herself had abruptly changed slightly less than a year before

when shed been assigned to protect the first daughter of the United

States. Cam had fal en in love

with her the first instant shed seen her, her blond hair damp from the

shower, her sapphire eyes sparking with anger, her sensual body

blatantly seductive. Blair hadnt wanted protection, and shed done

everything she possibly could to avoid the constraints of twenty-four

hour a day observation. Shed been wild and wil ful, a beautiful feral

creature who defied taming. Cam had fought her desire, but ultimately,

she had surrendered to her heart. “You changed al that.

“Funny, Blair said, returning to Cams side and snuggling against her

again. “I

was just thinking the same thing about

you.

“I

love

you.

“I love you. Blair kissed the edge of Cams jaw. “Your throat sounds

better. Does it stil hurt?

“No, Cam said quickly. Her voice stil became hoarse when she talked

for more than a few minutes, and swal owing was an exercise in

masochism. But she didnt want to remind Blair of the injuries shed

sustained during an armed confrontation that shed promised she wouldnt

take part in.

Abruptly, Blair stopped walking and stepped slightly away. “Why

do we constantly have to cover old ground? You know I can always tel

when youre trying to protect me from something.

Cam winced. “Sorry. Youre right. I need more practice at

disclosure.

“Apparently. Blair sighed. “I suppose we both do. Its just that the very

things I

love about you make me crazy,

too.

“Dit o. Cam laughed and then started to cough. It hurt, and she couldnt

hide it. The finger marks on her throat had faded, but the bruising

inside persisted. “Damn. The cold air is get ing to me.

“I told you not to come out here, Blair snapped. “Damn it, Cameron. She

hated

it when Cam hurt. She hated feeling helpless under any circumstances,

but it was worse when it was Cam and she couldnt do anything. She

picked up her pace. “Lets get you inside. Il make some tea or

something.

“Tea? Cam rasped, trying desperately not to laugh

again. Blairs glower could not hide her smile. “Wel

, something.

They climbed through the dunes toward the multi-level glass and wood

house where theyd been staying for the past few weeks, the two Secret

Service agents keeping pace behind them. Blair stif ened at the sight of

a woman hurrying down to meet them.

“Hi, Paula, she greeted her new chief of security. Paula Stark was an

athletic, dark haired, dark-eyed woman close to her own age. She had

proven herself capable of protecting Blair in dire circumstances more