The Project 01 - White Jade

need to know. It's not spying, we leave that up to Langley. You have skills we need . The mission would have failed without you. "
    " I don't know what to say. "
    " Then don't say anything. Just think about it. "
    There was a pause. Stephanie changed the subject. " I can ' t imagine what it ' s like to sit in the oval office. You can ' t win. Half the people hate you and the other half think you ' re supposed to save the world, or at least their part of it. "
    Carter said , " What about everyone who think s the US is to blame for everything wrong in their lives? Remind me not to run next election. "
    Selena smiled. " I ' ll vote for you if you run. "
    " Awwww. Me, too, Nicky, " said Ronnie.
    Harker laughed.
    Carter raised his glass. " Good liquor . "

Chapter Fifty- Four

    Carter stood with Selena outside Grace Cathedral in the coolness of a San Francisco afternoon. The funeral service for her uncle was over. Sunlight sparkled off the waters of the Bay.
    " I t was a good service, " he said .
    She looked at him . " What are you going to do now? "
    " G o up to my cabin until Harker comes up with something new. "
    She cleared her throat and brushed hair from her forehead . " It ' s getting late and it ' s a long drive. S tay in town tonight . W e could get dinner somewhere or just eat in. "
    He looked at her, the depth of those violet eyes. "You're on," he said.
    Her loft took up the entire top floor of her building. Two rows of painted columns ran the length of the main room, rising to a high, floral-patterned tin ceiling. Tall French windows let streams of light pour into each end of the space. Skylights cast rectangles of light on a polished wooden floor of light cherry. Large oriental rugs covered the floor at spaced intervals.
    The kitchen gleam ed with top of the line appliances, stainless steel and granite countertops. A wet bar and wine rack sat to one side.
    The walls were painted in subtle earth tones and whites and showed off a mix of paintings and antique pieces of sculpture and art. Along one wall of the living area were six framed pages of some ancient writing. Track lighting lit everything with exact attention.
    It was carefully arranged , but i t was a place you could be comfortable in.
    " This is beautiful. "
    " Thank you. I love this place. How about some wine? "
    She pulled a bottle from the rack, opened it, and poured.
    They sat down on a long leather couch under a painting. Carter eyed it .
    " That ' s a Paul Klee! "
    " Yes . I picked it up a few years ago. I saw the Klee copy you had in your apartment . I like his work. "
    He ' d forgotten how rich she was . He was looking at a painting worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Maybe even a million. Maybe more.
    " You ' re not worried about someone breaking in here? "
    She laughed. " Oh, no, you wouldn ' t believe the security. Uncle William owned the building and knew someone who work ed in the CIA. He set it up. Besides, everything ' s insured. " Her face changed for an instant when she mentioned her uncle. "I guess I own the building , now."
    She set her glass down. " Nick…Oh, hell. I ' m going to say what I think. What's going to happen if we keep sleeping together ? "
    The elephant in the room. She wasn't just talking about hopping in the sack.
    He took a breath. " I don't know . " He paused . " I know one thing, though. I want you, " he said. It ' s more than sex. I want you . "
    It was true . He hadn't admitted it to himself until now.
    She raised her hand, touched his face, put her hand on his shoulder. He leaned toward her. The ir kiss was light, gentle.
    Selena led him into the bedroom. They undressed. H e ran his hands over the smooth curves and hollows of her body. They lay down on the bed. He tongued her nipples, squeezed her breasts. She made small sounds at the back of her throat . He reached down and she was wet, radiating heat. He grasped her buttocks, pulled her toward him . Her hair smelled of lavender, her breath was sweet under the wine. He was hard, harder than rock. She wrapped her hand around him and guided him in . He lost track of anything but the feel of their bodies moving together. After what seemed a long, long time he let himself go inside her, a shuddering climax that burst over him in waves. She pulled him tight against her as he came.
    After a while he lifted away. He kissed her and looked into her eyes .
    Selena saw something in the look on his face . S he went suddenly still . She put her finger on his lips.
    "