Page 24 of Undercover Hearts

Most of all, she needed to escape the growing realization that perhaps it wasn't the pretense that was becoming unbearable, but the lie she was telling herself.

The drive back to the safe house was excruciating, Michelle's fingers white-knuckled on the steering wheel as the car filled with unspoken tension. Beside her, Jenna remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, seemingly content to let Michelle stew in her own emotional turmoil.

They reached the apartment in record time. Michelle fumbled with the keys, hands uncharacteristically clumsy as she unlocked the door. The moment it closed behind them, something in her finally snapped.

"This isn't working," she said, her voice tight with barely controlled fury.

Jenna set her beach bag down calmly. "What isn't?"

"This." Michelle gestured sharply between them. "The pretense that we can maintain professional distance while—" She broke off, unable to articulate the storm raging inside her.

"While what?"

"While you deliberately push every boundary," Michelle snapped. "The touches at the beach, the looks, that kiss on my shoulder—you're enjoying this."

Jenna didn't flinch. "I'm maintaining our cover."

"It's more than that." Michelle advanced on her. "You've been testing me since we met."

"And you've been fighting yourself just as long," Jenna countered, meeting Michelle's gaze steadily. "You want me. Stop denying it."

The blunt truth of those words demolished Michelle's last defense. "You have no idea what I want."

"I think I do." Jenna stepped closer, fearless in the face of Michelle's anger. "I think you want to stop overthinking everything. To stop fighting what's between us."

"There's nothing between us except an operation."

"Lie to yourself if you want, but don't lie to me." Jenna's voice dropped lower. "I feel how you respond when I touch you. I see how you look at me when you think I won't notice."

Something in Michelle's control finally shattered. With a sound that was half growl, half surrender, she closed the distance between them, backing Jenna against the wall with unexpected force.

"Is this what you want?" Michelle demanded, her face inches from Jenna's. "To break my control? To compromise the operation?"

"No." Jenna didn't resist, didn't retreat. "I want you to stop pretending this is one-sided."

The last thread of Michelle's restraint snapped. She crushed her mouth against Jenna's, the kiss nothing like their careful performances for observers. This was raw, demanding, tinged with the anger and desire she'd been suppressing for days.

Jenna responded with equal intensity, hands tangling in Michelle's hair, pulling her closer as if she'd been waiting for precisely this surrender.

Michelle's hands were everywhere—tugging impatiently at Jenna's cover-up, pushing the material aside to find sun-kissed skin beneath. Unlike the previous night, when Jenna had taken control, Michelle dominated every touch, every kiss. She guided them backward toward the bedroom, unwilling to separate even for the few steps required.

"You've been driving me crazy," Michelle admitted against Jenna's neck, backing her toward the bed. "From the moment I saw you."

Jenna's smile was knowing, triumphant even, as she fell back onto the mattress with Michelle following. "Then stop fighting it."

Michelle snapped off Jenna’s bikini top, her mouth finding a nipple. She swirled her tongue around it then sucked on it while massaging Jenna’s other breast, concentrating on the nipple. Michelle switched to Jenna’s other nipple, flicking the hardened nub as she massaged the nipple she had just been sucking on. Jenna moaned while arching her back, and Michelle felt a twinge between her legs at the sound.

Michelle traced kisses from Jenna’s nipple, down her torso, and down to Jenna’s wet pussy. She could see Jenna’s swollen clit pulsing her need, and she looked up at Jenna once before burying her face between Jenna’s thighs. She licked her from bottom to top before coming to rest on her clit, then flicked it with tight, quick motions of her tongue. Michelle squeezed Jenna’s inner thighs hard before she plunged two fingers into Jenna’s slick core, feeling her pussy make space for her. Jenna eagerly spread her legs, giving Michelle the perfect angle to settle in between Jenna’s legs.

Michelle was desperate to fuck Jenna. She had been since she first saw her. It was only now that she was able to admit that to herself.

Feeling her wetness, tasting her desire was driving Michelle even more crazy.

Michelle added a third finger, then pressed down just above Jenna’s heat with the palm of her hand, and Jenna’s hips rose to meet her, grinding against her wrist.

“Good girl,” Michelle whispered, eliciting a whimper from Jenna.

Michelle’s thumb worked on Jenna’s clit, feather light at first then increasing in pressure as she made tight circles, while her other hand kept curling inside, hitting the spot she knew would make Jenna see stars.