Page 204 of Fury
23
BREAKING THE RULES
Carrera
Carrera logged out of ALPHA, closed his laptop. “What just happened?”
“Go ask her,” G-ma said.
Carrera alarmed the house, went upstairs in search of Slash. The guest bedroom door was closed.
Knock-knock.
A few seconds passed before she opened it. She wore a bathrobe, but no smile. “I’m not staying in your bed.”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
“I’m about to jump in the shower.”
“What happened back there?”
She stared into his eyes for several seconds. “Lemme shower first.”
“We can talk on the porch off my bedroom.”
One nod, then she shut the door.
He showered, pulled on gym shorts, and waited outside. Several minutes later, she joined him on the small screenedporch off his bedroom. Standing side by side, he clasped her hand, but said nothing.
“What we have is no different than Jazz and Russell,” she said breaking the silence.
Nothing could be farther from the truth, but disagreeing would put her on the defensive, push her way, and make her think she wasn’t being heard.
Instead he said, “Because we’re focused on the cases?”
She peered over at him.
In the moonlight, her blonde hair glowed like an angel, her electric blue eyes the beacons guiding him home.
“That’s it exactly,” she replied. “We hated each other, start screwing for work. Now, we’re living together. You say you love me, I’ve said it back, but how well do you really know me?”
“I know that you’re passionate about your career, you’re loyal to your friends, to Elsa and Luciano. I know you’re fearless and a total badass. Riding your bike frees you, the water is your happy place. You make love to me with an intensity that turns me into a beast. You’re very smart, very observant,” he said. “But I know you bury your feelings, you would feel abandoned if Elsa died. You’re the best kisser. The. Best. Kisser. I know how you move when I’m inside you, and I know how to unleash your inner wild.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Your lipstick is light pink and you wear smoky eye makeup, but only at night. At work, you wear a little blush on your cheeks… and the same pink lipstick. You’re never without your switchblade.”
She unearthed it from the pocket of her robe, and he smiled. “Like a security blanket.” After a beat, he said, “you’re terrified of trusting me, with good reason.” He turned toward her, captivated by the light emanating from her eyes. “We arenothinglike Jazz and Russell.”
Even the darkness couldn’t hide her true feelings. The tension in the hand he’d been holding fell away, her jaw stopped ticking in her cheek. She breathed deep, releasing an audible sigh.
“I wouldneverhave sex with anyone for work,” he said. “I did it because it was you. I wanted to do whatever it took to get back in your life.”
“Sex is a pretty strong motivator,” she pushed back.
He handed her his phone, told her his password. “Check my apps. I’m not on any dating sites, I have no social media accounts. I went to Blue Suit because I was semi-stalking you.”
That made her smile.
