necessary. What she felt for Cameron Roberts was something she hadn't experienced since she had been innocent enough to believe in love. More than anything else, it frightened her.
She thought her normally imperturbable security chief looked tense, and Cam's eyes showed a hint of shadow that spoke of fatigue. Blair's stomach tightened.
'What is it?' she asked quietly.
'There's been further contact from the stalker,' Cam said flatly. 'A photograph was left -- a photograph that makes it clear that he's been watching you. It may be nothing more than his way of letting us know that he's around - empty posturing. But it may also be an indication that he's escalating. I have to assume that to be true.'
Blair took a deep breath. 'What do you intend to do about it?'
'I thought it only right to inform you first that I am flying to Washington later this morning to conference with the Chief of Staff and my bosses. I would anticipate that a task force will be formed to investigate and apprehend this individual.'
Blair said nothing, turning to look out her windows into the park below. She thought she knew how a caged animal felt. 'What will that mean for me?'
Cameron saw the rigid set of her back, and heard the slight tremor in Blair's voice which she tried to hide. For an instant, Cam wanted to take Blair into her arms and comfort her. Instead, she forced herself to say, 'I would imagine you'll be moved out of the city until he's apprehended.'
Blair spun around, her blue eyes nearly purple with fury. 'You mean they'll close me up in some compound with guards 24 hours a day, as if my life were so insignificant I could walk away and leave everything behind.'
'No! As if your life were too important to risk for single moment!'
'Bullshit!' Blair spat. 'The only thing you people care about is protecting the reputation of the United States government and the people who run it.'
Blair turned on her heel and stalked to the opposite side of the room, stepping behind a half-wall partition that enclosed her sleeping area. After a moment, Cameron followed. Blair was hastily throwing clothes into a suitcase.
'Exactly what do you think you're doing?' Cameron said, a deadly seriousness in her tone.
Blair didn't bother to look up. She threw jeans and underwear into the bag, searching on the dresser for her wallet and keys.
'I'm getting out of here. I wouldn't suggest you try to stop me. I don't think my father would be pleased if I were man-handled by one of his Secret Service agents.' Then she reached for her bag and was stunned when Cameron grasped her forcibly by the shoulders, stopping her in her tracks.
'You listen to me! I don't give afuck what your father thinks! I don't even give afuck whatyou think! You're not leaving this apartment.'
For a brief second, Cameron became every person who had ever conspired to keep Blair a captive in a life she had never chosen. A life she had been forced to live by virtue of her father's ambition. She swung her hand at Cameron's face, lashing out not at the woman who had done nothing more than attempt to protect her, but at the faceless many who had carried out their orders despite her wishes.
Cameron intercepted the blow with her left arm, angry not at Blair for attempting to strike her, but at Blair's stubborn refusal to accept that she was in danger. Cameron's fear surfaced on a wave of uncontrollable desire. She pulled Blair into her arms and covered Blair's lips with her own. She kissed her roughly, her hands pinning Blair's arms to her sides as she pressed her body hard against Blair's. For a moment Blair was too stunned to react, but there was never an instant of resistance. When she felt Cameron's mouth on hers, she kissed her back, her tongue pressing urgently to join Cameron's, her arms clutching Cameron's waist, her legs straddling Cameron's thigh tightly.
Cam's breath rasped in her chest as reason threatened to desert her. She wanted Blair so badly, and her body was racing beyond her control. She groaned, moving her head enough to bury her face against Blair's neck. Blair arched her pelvis into Cam and tilted her head back, exposing her neck as if for sacrifice.
'Oh oh god, Cameron god please -- touch me,' she managed to gasp.
The sound of Blair's voice sliced through Cam's consciousness, paralyzing her as awareness crashed upon her.
My god, what am I doing!
Cam halted her feverish caresses, but did not let go of the woman in her arms. Instead, she cradled her closer, pressing her lips to Blair's ear.
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Forgive me,' Cam whispered urgently, her body shuddering with arousal.
'No!' Blair choked. 'Don't stop. God, don't stop.'
'I have to,' Cameron murmured in anguish. 'I have to.' She couldn't do this, not again. She couldn't feel this much, she couldn't want this much, she couldn't be this vulnerable. She had not touched another woman with passion since the morning she had last made love to Janet. Six hours later she had held her lover as she lay dying. She had vowed never to feel the longing, nor the loss, again.
Blair pushed away from her unsteadily, running her trembling hands through her hair. Her eyes were bruised, from passion and from the pain of Cam's rejection.
'No, of course you can't. It's not in your job description, is it, Commander? You can't feel anything for me because it would interfere with your duty. Isn't that right?'
Cam willed her voice to be steady. 'When I meet with the others in Washington later today, I'm going to resign from this position. Whatever you may think of me, I will not jeopardize your safety by remaining. Ican't do my duty, simply because Ican't think of you as just another assignment.'
Cam turned to leave.
'Wait!' Blair called.
