Morgan nodded. “I think I know what you mean. After a good mission, or even after a shambles like today, it’s nice to get with the guys and tip a couple of brews and just enjoy that relaxation. And refine the stories you’ll tell. Man, I can’t believe I walked into a trap like that. And the poor slob who led me in, he didn’t even know the setup. They blew him away trying to get at me. By the way, you were great in there. Quiet as a pro.”
“Well, I am a cat burglar,” Felicity said.
“Yeah, I guess. Can you really see in the dark?” He stared into her face.
“Better than anyone I know,” Felicity said, smiling. “Born with it.”
“Pretty handy in your line of work. By the way, how did you find me?”
They were in front of Felicity’s building and she let the question pass. The Corvette purred down the ramp into the parking garage.
23
Felicity wanted to feel useful but Morgan wasn’t making that easy. He winced when she grabbed him around the waist and bellowed in pain when she tried to support him by gripping his left arm. He politely declined assistance on his way across the parking garage, but by the time they reached the elevator she was squeezing his hand.
Once in the apartment, he headed straight for the bathroom. On the way, he shed his light windbreaker, shoulder holster and shirt in a trail along the floor. Felicity gave one brief huff of exasperation and followed, picking up garments as she went. By the time she reached his shirt, Morgan was washing his side. Felicity’s eyes widened as she watched blood flow into the sink with the soapy water.
“Ow! I didn’t realize,” she said. “That’s a lot worse than it looked with your jacket on. What’s the damage report?”
Morgan grimaced. “Less than I deserve. Some bruised knuckles. Sprained left shoulder. This flesh wound here, where some shotgun pellets scraped me. Don’t seem to have any in the skin. Sure hurts though. You got any gauze and maybe some surgical tape laying around?”
“Wait a minute,” Felicity said. “What I have is a doctor who won’t be asking any questions. Let me get him on the phone.”
Felicity was in the living room and had punched the first four numbers when Morgan said, “No thanks. I’d just as soon handle this myself.” After only a moment’s hesitation, Felicity put the telephone down and joined him in the bathroom. He was rummaging around in the medicine cabinet. Felicity went to the shelves behind sliding doors, which stood to the left of the sink. A quick scan across those shelves revealed everything he needed, and she gathered up the armload of supplies as he pointed them out.
Wrapping his side in a towel, he moved to the living room and settled onto the couch. With Felicity’s help, he applied an antiseptic and covered his wound. Felicity fumbled with the bandages, while he was obviously an expert in first aid.
“Lord, you’re so stoic about this,” she said while taping him up. “Led a rather active, dangerous life, haven’t you? I have to wonder how many times you’ve done this for yourself.”
“Maybe just a couple more times than I care to remember.” When they finished bandaging him, he leaned back on the sofa, almost chuckling at his situation. It was the first moment she accepted that he really was all right.
“You know, I’m not used to seeing you smile,” Felicity said, “but I love it when you do. Drink?”
Morgan closed his eyes for a second to relax his muscles and quiet the niggling voices of angry nerve endings on his side and in his shoulder. He opened them just as Felicity brought his scotch and her Bailey’s to the couch and settled in. He gratefully accepted the glass and they lapsed into silence again. He didn’t expect to, but he found himself looking into her deep emerald eyes and realized that he had something to tell her. As if it was the natural thing to do, he reached out and took her hand.
“By the way, you ought to know I’m off your payroll now.”
“What?” Felicity was startled.
“You saved my life. Cancels all debts. Besides, it’s personal now. I’m doing this for me. And you. I’ll make sure you get what’s owed you, but I won’t take your money, okay? We’ll just work together. And by the way,” he softened his voice, “how did you find me?”
Felicity stared into the plush carpet, her hair flipped down, hiding her face.
“I., well, I don’t know. I just, er, just knew you were heading into danger. Almost like the feeling I get when there’s trouble ahead for me. I just feel it. But this time it was almost like a panic coming over me, like an anxiety attack. You know?” Her head snapped around and she stared into his face, as if she expected to find signs of skepticism, laughter or derision. He felt none of that.
“I know,” he said. “I’ve felt it. Couple of days ago. In Belize. It steered me right to you. And it scared me. I guess I resented feeling that way about somebody else. At least, that’s how I felt at the time.”
“And now?”
“Well now it’s different,” Morgan said, glad to see the brief look of worry pass from her face. “It’s kind of good to know it’s mutual. Almost like having someone else inside my head. My instincts have saved my life lots of times. I’m guessing the same is true of you. Now we’ve saved each other’s lives thanks to that same weird, er, whatever it is.” He closed his eyes again for a second and licked his lips, preparing himself to take a big step into open space. “Look, I’m rambling and you’re just listening. What I wanted to say is…well, we share a peculiar closeness. I’d kind of like to get a bit closer.”
Felicity’s eyes laughed at him, all tension drained from them. “Now did you go through all that malarkey just to be saying you want to get laid?” She smothered his startled response with an intense kiss. After a brief hesitation, Morgan put his right arm under her long legs. She locked her arms behind his neck and he lifted her effortlessly.
He couldn’t fail to notice Felicity was partially covered with brick dust from a vacant lot in the Bronx. Nor could she have missed the dirt and perspiration and hint of blood smell on him. Instead, their earthy condition heightened their lust, calling back memories their first meeting.
“My goodness,” Felicity chuckled. “We’ve already spent the night together, and this happens at three-eleven in the afternoon.”
She clung tightly to him until they reached her bedroom, where Morgan gently lowered his lovely bundle onto the down comforter and watched, fascinated, while she squirmed the once expensive dress up over her head. It took only seconds for him to shed his remaining garments.
He stood for a moment, drinking in the richness of her naked form. How like a Greek statue, he thought. Classically beautiful, her skin was that same uniform creamy color everywhere, like marble. She was flawless, without blemish. He wondered how she reacted to his body, swathed in white around the middle, his legs and arms scattered with scar tissue from near misses in past conflicts.
She lay back and her hair became a scarlet whirlwind on the pillow. Here scent was sweet citrus and he could feel her body heat despite the distance between them. Her lips pouted. Her fingers implored. He could stand no more.
Morgan descended on her, and this time the kiss was hard and cruel, his breathing tight, labored. Felicity’s legs rose, locking him hard in a velvet vice.
Morgan’s hands excited her like no one had before, and his hands were everywhere on her, exploring, coaxing, drawing her on, to the very edge of orgasm. It was as if he somehow knew exactly what touch would inflame her most.
At precisely the moment she teetered on the brink, when her every nerve was screaming for release, he entered her. He throbbed within her, huge and swelling, sending shock waves throughout her body with each wonderfully slow movement. Felicity arched her back, screaming her ecstasy. She could fully feel exactly how hot he was. They would pace each other, and reach the finish line together.