Free Uncovered by Truth by Rachael Duncan

hiccup, tear, and gasp for air. I’ll gladly absorb it. I’ll take every ounce of pain if she’ll let me. “Let’s sit down and talk.” She nods against my chest and I kiss the top of her head before leading her to the couch in the living room.
    After we’ve sat down, she lets out a deep sigh. Her fingers rub beneath her eyes to remove the makeup that has streaked her flawless face. “Ugh, I’m such a mess,” she says as she continues to wipe at her cheeks.
    “Stop it.” I grab her hands to stop their movement. “Every time I look at you, you steal my breath away.” I lean in and pause, needing her confirmation this is okay. She nods just the slightest bit, and that’s all the acknowledgment I need. My lips connect with hers and it’s like fireworks in the dark of night. One simple touch and I’m lost and home all at once. I’m completely lost in her—to her—and find solace whenever she’s around.
    Soon, her lips are parting and I take advantage by slowly sliding my tongue between them. An involuntary groan vibrates in the back of my throat when her tongue reaches out to touch mine. My hand travels up her neck and through her hair where I hold her to me. It’s been so long since I’ve felt her, tasted her that I feel like a starving man. I push back every carnal instinct that’s telling me to lay her down and strip her bare right here, right now. After a minute or so, my restraint is hanging by a thread and ready to snap at any moment. Disconnecting our lips, I place a small kiss to the tip of her nose and rest my forehead against hers. “I think we should talk a bit before we get carried away.”
    She nods but then sits up abruptly, startling me. “Oh my God, Alex. The cameras. Cal has cameras in here and can see us. You have to leave.” She gets up and starts pulling on my arm. Her eyes are wide and frantic as she tries to get me to leave.
    “Relax, sweetheart. He can’t see us right now.” She stops tugging on my arm and furrows her eyebrows in confusion.
    “What do you mean?” She slowly lowers herself back down onto the couch.
    My hand rubs the back of my neck trying to relieve the stress that’s building. I don’t want to lie to her, but I can’t tell her everything right now. “I can’t really go into it, but I have the ability to disconnect the feed while I’m here.”
    “Why didn’t you come sooner? Where have you been this whole time?” she asks. Now that she’s in a clearer state of mind, I can see the wheels spinning in her brain trying to piece together everything that’s happened.
    “I didn’t think it was safe, and I’m staying in an abandoned building right now,” I hedge.
    “What do you do during the day? I know you’re supposed to assassinate Hutchison, but what’s the plan? Why aren’t there people following you? Are you in danger?” It’s like the dam containing her curiosity explodes as the questions pour out one after another.
    Shaking my head, I say, “I want to tell you everything, trust me, I do. All I can tell you is I’m buying a little time while other things get worked out. They think I’m out doing research and setting things up to kill Cal’s opponent, but I’m not.” She opens her mouth looking like she’s going to ask more questions, but I cut her off. “Please don’t ask more questions,” I plead. Her mouth closes and she examines me briefly before deciding not to push the issue.
    “When is Cal coming home?” I ask. The video might be off, but I’d still be in a heap of shit if he came back and saw me here.
    “A couple days. He’s off campaigning.” The tension in my shoulders eases slightly knowing he won’t be coming home soon. Now I can relax a little and enjoy my time with Elizabeth before I have to go back to reality.
    “You don’t go with him anymore?” I hadn’t seen her in any of the recent campaign videos, but I’m curious to know if this is temporary or permanent.
    She shakes her head. “Aaron thought I was