Page 32 of Unintended Love

Ashlin giggled. “With my life.” And she did.

She took extra care to moisturize her face and apply her makeup. Their CIA training included makeup techniques to enhance various parts of their face to look sexy, demure, and years younger, which she had used in South Sudan, but none of those were appropriate for meeting her husband for the first time in over five months. She wasn’t going to count the time they had argued on the Riggs compound airstrip a few weeks ago. She went with colors that enhanced her high cheekbones and gave her green eyes a light, smoky look. Still in her underwear, she declared her face as good as it was going to get and returned to the bedroom.

Kira held up a satin blouse. “Green goes well with your auburn hair and goes perfectly with your eyes. By the way, I love your eyeshadow. Perfection. He won’t be able to take his eyes off yours.” She shoved it, hanger and all, to Ashlin.

“I can’t decide which pair of slacks.” Kayla held up a pair of black slacks and a pair of tan ones. “Two questions: Which one fits more comfortably? And which pair makes your ass look smaller?”

“The black for both answers,” Ashlin replied.

“Then black it is.” Her team leader handed her the black pair and returned the other to the closet, where Mia stepped out with two pairs of shoes.

He held up a black sparkly pair of sandals. “I just love these, and they’ll dress up your outfit a little.” She held up the second pair of low silver pumps with a sparkly green bow covering most of the toe. “But these are so cute and go so well with your blouse and, of course, your eyes. He’ll look at you from head to toe and see a well-dressed, sophisticated woman.”

“I’ll take the pumps,” Ashlin announced. “You’re right, it’s a little cool out there this evening, and I don’t want cold feet. Pun intended.”

“I already called for a car service.” Kayla smiled at Ashlin. “By the time you get dressed and downstairs, it should be here. You should make it to the pub with a few minutes to spare if traffic stays sane.”

Ashlin bypassed the driver’s hand when he opened the door, and she stepped out of the black car onto the sidewalk. “Thank you,” she threw over her shoulder as she all but ran into Clint’s arms.

He immediately crashed his lips onto hers but then gentled the kiss, taking a deeper. She didn’t know who backed off first or if they did it in sync.

Clint leaned back. “I don’t know which to say first, you look beautiful or that I missed you so damn much.”

She smiled. “Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and whispered into his ear, “I missed you so fucking much.”

“Get a room,” a teenage boy yelled from the sidewalk as he swooped to skateboard around them.

They both leaned back and laughed.

Clint looked tentative, as though waiting for her reaction, and then said, “I’m ready, anytime you are.”

“We’ll see.” That’s not what Ashlin really wanted to say. Her heart wanted to take it slow, but her body wanted a man-provided orgasm. It had been far too long since Clint had touched her intimately, and her battery-operated boyfriend couldn’t get things done the way Clint could with his mouth and fingers. Better yet, when he slid into her. Just the thought of his touch on every part of her body made her wet and aching.

She looked up at him and saw where the nearest hotel was located. Then her stomach growled embarrassingly. “But I’m starved. Let’s go eat.” She felt a tingle run all the way up her arm to her heart when he took her hand and led her into the authentic-style pub.

They were quickly seated in a back corner, and Clint sat beside her on the bench seat against the wall. “I can’t stand to be that far away from you, even if it’s across the table.” He leaned over and kissed her once again.

Ashlin grinned. “I know the truth. You’re as bad as me. We both have to see the entire room and every exit.”

With one hand, he cupped her face while holding her other hand in his. “True, but tonight, I don’t want to let go of you.” Then he gave her another gentle kiss that was rudely interrupted when they both felt the presence of someone in front of them. The slightly embarrassed server handed them two menus and listed the specials in a true Irish brogue before asking what she could get them to drink to get them started.

“Do you have Guinness and Harp on tap?” Ashlin asked.

“Yes, we do, and Rian is riding the stick right now.” He leaned in a bit and lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Between you and me, he pours the best half and half. I think it’s because he just got here from Dublin, and people have higher expectations back home. Shall I bring you one?”

“Make that two, please.” Clint gave her a small smile.

“It’ll be my pleasure,” he said and disappeared.

“I had no idea you liked dark beer.” He turned to face her, still holding her hand.

She mirrored his position and gave his hand a small squeeze. This was a great opening for what she wanted to talk to him about. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Clint. I think we should use these next few days to get to know each other better…” She looked at their joined hands and hesitated. She finally raised her gaze to meet him. “Before we jump into bed again.”

He held her eyes captive. “If that’s what you want, I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to be comfortable.”

Ashlin let out a long, slow breath and placed her other hand on top of his hands. “Thank you.” She replied, then added, “In truth, you know more about me than anyone else on this earth. Even more than my teammates.” She needed to lighten the mood. “They know some things you will never know, but that’s girl stuff.”

He gave her that beautiful, tender smile. “Feel free to skip those details. And in return, I won’t share some of the conversations I have with men.”