Honor Under Siege полностью

“Anything. Cam slowly rotated her hips between Blairs legs.

“Just name it.

“Lets see how many times you can make me come, Blair

whispered, “while I think about it.

Cam laughed. “Tough duty.

* * * * *

“Hel o? Diane said distractedly, expecting a wrong

number. “Hi. Did I wake you?

Diane sat up abruptly, the sheet fal ing away unheeded. The

sliver of moon and the glow from the surrounding city cast the

room in dim, gray light. She hadnt been sleeping, even though

it was the middle of the night. “No. I was thinking about you.

An indrawn breath and a beat of silence fol owed. Diane

almost said her name, but knew instinctively not to. She

waited, the seconds interminable.

“Are you home?

“Actual y Im Diane thought of all the conversations shed had

over the years with Blair and how theyd always been

careful, even when there was probably no need to be. Now,

with Valerie, there surely was. “Im visiting friends.

“Ah. Anyone I know?

“Yes. Dianes heart pounded and she strained to hear every nuance

in Valeries voice. “Hows your trip going?

“I shouldnt have cal ed, but I missed

you.

Diane caught her breath. “Can I join you? Im in a bit of a

hiatus myself right now.

“Thats not a good

idea.

“Why not? I miss you, too. Terribly.

“Im not very good company right now.

Diane heard the warning beneath the words but refused to

be deterred. “Shouldnt I be the one to decide that?

“Trust me, it might not be all thatpleasant.

“To be with you? Diane said lightly while mental y translating,

Its not safe .

“Yes.

“Then thats al the more reason to let me come and prove you wrong.

Diane raised her knees and pressed her forehead to them. She closed her

eyes, trying to shut out every other sensation except the sound of

Valeries voice.

A sigh came through the line. “And thats why Ive stayed

away.

“Im sure our friends could help cheer you

up.

“Im not so sure of

that.

Diane hesitated. Blair was the one person in her life whom she

trusted completely. But there was no reason that Valerie should. But

what about Cam? Didnt Valerie trust her? Cam would help Valerie,

if she were in trouble. Wouldnt she?

Would she? Cams al egiance was never in doubt. Blair fi rst. Country

second. And friendship? Diane had no doubt that Cam would risk her

life for Stark or Savard or any of the others. Didnt Valerie, Cams ex-

lover and col eague, fal into the same category?

But then, she didnt real y understand anything that had happened.

She didnt

understand why Valerie had left, why shed stayed away, and why

she was obviously afraid to talk to her now. She wouldnt

understand until Valerie explained it, and she desperately needed to

know. “I want to see you.

“Dian

e

“No one wil know.

Please.

Another endless pause, not even the sound of breathing on

the line.

Diane forced herself not to say anything more than she already had.

She had never begged a woman for anything in her life, not even

Blair when they had been younger and shed been desperately in love with

her. Blair had never known the depth of her feelings, perhaps

because she had already learned to shield her emotions behind casual

nonchalance. It hadnt taken many disappointments before she had

also learned not to make herself vulnerable by asking for things

she couldnt have. Valerie had ef ortlessly changed al that. And

now, if she didnt sense that begging would somehow endanger

Valerie, she would gladly beg. Anything to break this unwil ing

isolation.

“How long wil you be there? Valerie fi nal y

asked.

“How long should I be? Diane

countered.

“A few days would be

good.

“Il try. Diane opened her eyes. The moon had gone behind a cloud

and the room was black. “Dont be afraid.

Valerie laughed thinly. “Of

you?

“For

me,

Diane

whispered.

“I dont think I can promise

that.

Diane smiled. “And I feel the same. Il be

waiting.

“Goodbye,

Valerie

whispered.

Diane sat in the silent darkness for a few more minutes, fi xing the

sound of Valeries voice in her mind. Then she pul ed up the last

number on her cal log and cal ed it.

Im sorry. The number youre trying to reach is no longer in

service.

Chapter Seven

Tuesda

y

B lair paused halfway across the living room and groaned in

appreciation as she smel ed cof ee. She turned toward the seating area in

front of the windows and caught a glimpse of the fi rst streaks of a

hazy orange sunrise outside the windows. Diane sat curled up in one

corner of the sofa in burgundy satin pjs, her blond hair loose and partial

y shielding her face, a mug clasped in both hands.

“Hi, Blair said. “Mind

company?

“No, of course

not.

Blair continued into the adjoining gal ey kitchen, poured cof ee, and