“Yeah. Right.” Biting her lower lip in an attempt to dampen her smile, Carter pulled her hands from his grip and turned away.
“Carter?”
She eagerly spun back. “Yeah?”
Fitzy’s gaze had become a question, and she very much knew the answer.
She took a step closer, reaching for the back of his neck, while an arm pulled her against him.
His lips were soft, slow, undemanding—and Carter’s knees were useless as she sank into him. Only then did he deepen the kiss, their bodies molding together.
Her first real kiss, and it was everything. Sweet and sensuous and with James Freaking Fitzgerald.
The moment was brief—too brief—but Carter forced herself to pull away, even as Fitzy’s mouth tried to follow her. He groaned, a quiet sound that made her lightheaded. She pressed a hand against his chest, her eyes fluttering open.
“What was that for?” he whispered.
“I’m pretty sureyoukissedme,” she whispered back.
“Did I?” His eyes twinkled. “Oh. Then I guess it was for good luck.”
Her smile was impossible to tame this time as she untangled herself from his grasp.
They returned to the hallway. Carter paused to fix a lock of Fitzy’s hair that hadmysteriouslygotten misplaced, and when she turned back—there was Adi.
She drew up short.
So did he, his gaze jotting from Carter to Fitzy and back again.
Carter blushed, thankful it was only Adi. Her teammates were the only people in the world she trusted about this.
But Adi didn’t give her one of those knowing looks like she’d expected. He just inhaled sharply and said, “Come on. We’re late.”
“Well, Team Helsing,” said Fitzy, “here we are again. Round three.How are you feeling?”
He might have been doing a marvelous job of acting like nothing had happened, but Carter was definitely not imagining the way his gaze lingered on her longer than the others when the cameras started rolling.
How was she feeling?
Pretty amazing, actually. She tamped down her grin, though, knowing it would hardly be appropriate so soon after Louis’s death.
“Oh, you know,” said Sierra. “It’s been a week.”
“That it has.” Sorrow flashed across Fitzy’s face, but he gave himself a small shake as he turned to face the cameras. “But the show must go on. And as you know, we have a tradition for our semifinal round. One that goes back to season one’s espionage room.” Fitzy returned his wicked grin to them. “Helsing, do you know what tradition I’m talking about?”
Beck pumped his fists. “The dexterity challenge!”
“Nailed it! During the semifinal, each team selects one member to attempt a feat of skill and daring, but you won’t have any idea what the challenge is until the room begins. So, have you chosen who will compete?”
“Beck,” said Sierra. “He has mad skills.”
Carter nudged Beck with her elbow. “He’s our Beck-of-all-trades.”
“All right, Beck, it sounds like—” Fitzy was interrupted by a buzzer.
Sierra let out an animalistic roar.
“Ah, that’s not good,” said Fitzy. “Team Dread’s targeted you again.”
