Page 34 of Culmination
She takes in a deep breath then nods. “You’re right. I know you are. So…where do we start first?”
When I grin down at her and use my thumb to lift up the strap of her bra, she giggles.
“We have work to do, Rafe. God, it’s like this pregnancy madeyouthe insatiable one.”
But she’s the one pouting when I pull away and walk into the bathroom, leaving her hanging.
Then I turn and grin at her. “Come on, babe. Before we do anything, you need a relaxing bath.”
She frowns, placing a tiny hand on her hip, faking a glare in my direction. “First, you won’t kiss me until I brush my teeth. Now, you’re forcing me to bathe before taking me to bed and fucking me? God, Rafe, you could give a pregnant girl a complex,” she teases.
Then she teases a bit more as she slowly unclasps her bra, letting it fall to the floor. She wiggles just enough for her beautiful breasts to bounce, and suddenly, I have a vision of her belly full and round with our child, her tits huge and supple.
Hell, I’m suddenly regretting this bath idea. Even more so when she hooks both thumbs into the material at the sides of her waist and slowly, God, ever so slowly, reveals every inch of her gorgeous pussy. My eyes follow the along with the lace as it slides down, down, down her beautiful, toned legs until she’s stepping out of them, one delicate foot at a time. She kicks them to the side then stands up in all her naked glory.
And fuck me, I’m ready to sing “Hallelujah” and worship the ground she walks on.
Even though I’m eager—and torn—about either getting her into bed or getting to work to end this madness, I resist my urges and draw her a bath. She frowns again when I order her to soak while I call down to room service for breakfast.
“You’re really not letting me get my way, are you?”
I just shake my head, and she disappears into the bathroom in an adorable huff.
We spend the next hour like any couple on vacation: eating, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. After I hold out the last piece of bacon to her, Brie rolls over and pats her belly.
“Oh, God, I’m stuffed. I can’t possibly eat any more. Even if it is bacon.” She sips her tea and watches as I devour it before she can change her mind. “So we haven’t talked about yesterday. Did you find anything at the house while you were there? Were you able to get in?”
After everything with Adrian, I completely forgot spending time in her hometown, where I searched for answers to her father’s clue.
“Babe, come on,” I say, lifting my hands in the air and gesturing towards myself. “What do you think?” I have to duck when Brie throws a pillow at my head.
“Okay, Rafe. Sorry I forgot you’re a badass superagent with some secret government agency that doesn’t even have a name. Of course you got in,” she replies, adding a cute little eyeroll for emphasis.
I grin and rise from the bed, grabbing my phone from the table where I left it last night. When I find the photo, I toss the phone to her. “I know nothing about art, but that’s the painting in question. Do you know what it means?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip while she studies it, zooming in and out and then using her own phone to do research. “I should know this,” she says, glancing at me, “but I’m racking my brain and it’s just not coming to me.”
I squeeze her shoulder reassuringly. “It’ll come to you. Keep studying. I’m going to check in with the office before we head out.”
I don’t really need to check in, but I don’t want her to feel pressured or in a rush. After grabbing my agency phone, I hit speed dial for Agent Howard and wait for him to answer.
“Matthews, what do you have for me?” he asks in a clipped, hurried tone.
“I was hoping you had something for me,” I say, tension filling my head with an ache I don’t need right now.
“Fuck.”
I echo his sentiments. “We’re close. I can feel it, but until this mess is over with, I’m going to be on edge. Have you asked your boss about an undercover bodyguard for Brie?”
He lets out a breath, and I have my answer. “He’s not convinced Ms. Latham is at a big enough risk to warrant it.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I clip. “God dammit, Howard, she almost fucking died. Does he need to be holding a gun to her head before she’s in enough of a risk to warrant it?”
“Phillips,” he warns.
I grind my teeth, holding back the rest of my tirade because it’s not Howard’s fault. I know our boss. He’ll do anything to close another case, even if it means dangling an innocent civilian out there to bring the villain out of hiding. That’s probably why he’s the fucking boss, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Good thing Brie’s with me on this.
Quickly, I recount Adrian’s conversation with Brie and then hold my breath, hoping it’ll be enough.
