Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(19)

"I'm going to the kitchen first," she slid off the bed and headed for the door.

"Don't eat it all," I called after her and grinned on my way to the bathroom.

*

Corinne

"I can't move," James mumbled, leaning back on the sofa. I didn't tell him that earlier, Ilya and I had sex there. We'd been neat about it, at least. "You have such a great view," he added, staring at Seattle and Puget Sound in the distance.

We'd served chicken cordon bleu for Rafe and James, with plenty of vegetables for me. They'd polished off all the chicken, along with the Italian cream cake for dessert.

"I'm not carrying you to bed, but you're welcome to the second bedroom," Rafe offered.

"Really?" James turned to Rafe.

"As long as you pick up after yourself."

"I always do." He pretended offense.

"Honey, this place is plenty big enough," I shrugged. Rafe knew, as did I, that James was still in crisis mode. It would take a while, with Leo's help, to get him back to normal. James was a good fighter-with an enemy he could see.

Somebody had tried to poison him, and he'd never suspected anything like that. It had thrown him-just as it had several others. He'd gone from trusting the military he'd worked for to distrusting almost everyone.

James needs to have sex, Rafe informed me in mindspeech as we watched Auggie's assistant rise and wander toward the extra bedroom.

Any suggestions? I asked.

Not now-nobody in the program is suitable, Rafe responded. Leo still has the list, but there's nobody there for James.

I understood what it was like not to have anyone support you so intimately. Without Ilya, I wouldn't have come back at all. James needs somebody who cares about him, I returned. Not just a casual f*ck.

Relationships take time, he reminded me. A casual f*ck may help in the interim. Men aren't wired like women, he wrapped his arms about me. Even gay ones.

Are you being philosophical?

I'm being horny. I hope you're feeling the same way. We can have meaningful sex in our bedroom. Or on the table. Or on the rug in the media room. Your choice.

Rug?

Excellent choice.

*

Opal

I'm getting notification of some seismic activity in the Seattle area, Matt's text read.

Not unusual for this part of the world, I replied.

Just putting you on notice, he sent a smiley face with his second text.

Really? You're using smiley faces? I thought it was in your job description that you could never, ever use smiley faces in official communications.

I have a special dispensation from the President.

You do not send smiley faces to the President, I pointed out.

Nah, I send frowny faces to her.

Why are you concerned about seismic activity? I was back to the original subject.

Something just feels off, he said. Keep your eyes, ears and fast little feet on alert, he added. Anything new with Corinne?

Not yet. I do get the idea that she'd do anything to protect everybody here, me included.

I'm still marveling at what she's done so far. I just wish we knew what we're up against-she wants this enemy as much as we do.

She does-I can see it in her face, I tapped into my phone. Look, I'll keep you updated. Go save the world or something.

I would, if there weren't so much paperwork involved.

Always a comeback, I said and shut off my phone.

*

Corinne

Ilya and I were in the throes of climax when the earthquake hit Seattle, and while it barely rocked Mount Pilchuck, it did major damage to parts of the city near Elliott Bay.





Chapter 5

Corinne

"Power is out in much of the city," Auggie muttered while pulling on a clean shirt and stomping through the command center. I understood that, even before he'd called me on his cell ten minutes earlier, saying he wanted me to come for him, Laci and Laci's day guards.

"Laci, why don't you let James take you to Auggie's quarters," I said while Auggie barked orders at subordinates.

"Will we be all right?" Laci's voice quivered in fear. I understood then that she'd never been in a substantial earthquake.

"We're fine where we are, and if that changes, I'll get us out of here," I promised. "Go with James. We'll keep you updated. You may want to see if the TV is working in his suite-just to see what they're saying on the news stations."

"Will that help?"

"You bet." I smiled and hugged her. "Ask James for a tablet, and send messages to let him know what's going on. Take Nelda and Ray with you."

"I'll do what I can," she promised.

Rafe, Maye, Opal, Nick, Marcus, Leo and Auggie stood near the bank of computer screens, looking as if they were ready for a football huddle to plan their next move. Auggie nodded his thanks to me for giving Laci something useful to do before turning his attention back to the monitors. Nelda and Ray ushered Laci from the room, leaving me to join the huddle around computer screens.

I hadn't contributed yet, other than to pull Laci, Auggie and the other two away from Seattle, where things were going crazy. I knew, and she'd likely hear it on the news soon-part of the sea wall had been crushed, allowing water to rush into a section of vulnerable and unstable land at the waterfront.