Protecting Kinsley

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Kinsley muttered to herself the while drive back to Aaron and Abigail's house. Mostly calling herself a fool for kissing Carter when she specifically told herself not to. Did she have no control around the man? She wanted to blame his attire. Workout clothes men could be so tempting.

They why were you never tempted by any of the agents? Her mind whispered. Shut up.

It was his scent. That mint and spicy clove scent messed with her mind. Throw in sparing and it had a recipe for disaster.

Liar.

Fine, she liked him. There she admitted it. Not like it changed anything. He was still off limits. It was going to be harder to resist him now that she knew his taste and the feel of his... body. She was not going to think about that particular part. That big broad long part.

Great now she was angry and horny. Ugh could this day get any worse. Maybe she would run around Aaron's property until she collapsed. She was pent up again. Embarrassment had a lot to do with that. She hadn't been caught making out with a guy since high school. The shock on Carl's face was imprinted in her mind. As humiliating as it was getting caught and as angry at herself as she was for giving into temptation she didn't regret it.

Being with Carter was as close to feeling normal as she had been in the past weeks. Everyone was scared she was going to break any minute, so they treated her with kid gloves, except Abigail. She knew her to well and dished it all back on her. Carter was the only other person. Too bad now she had to avoid him. Fighting with him had been fun even if he did beat her. He alone challenged her.

Maybe...no she needed to stay away from him. That man had forever stamped on his forehead with a bow around his neck. She didn't do forever. She barely did temporary.

“I’m finding a new gym.” She announced as soon as she saw Abigail. Aaron was standing next to her on the phone. Most likely talking to Carter. Who else would he be talking to in hushed tones this early in the morning?

“Why?” If Carter had told her, Abigail was a great actress. Unless he hadn’t said anything.

Kinsley sputtered for a response. She didn't want to tell Abigail about her and Carter if he hadn’t said anything. There was nothing to tell anyway because nothing was going to happen again. “Because I don't like it. What other gyms are in the area?”

“Sorry, sweetie. There aren't any.”

Kinsley stared at her in horror. “What? That's it? That little gym is all this town has?”

“Sorry, Kins, this is a small town.” Abigail shrugged apologetically.

“This would be so much easier if you two had a gym.” Kinsley shook her head. Okay, she had two choices. Go back to Carl’s apologize and move on or find somewhere else probably in another town.

“The house wasn’t big enough to accommodate a computer room and gym without demolishing the whole house and rebuilding, so I opted for the computer room.” Aaron said joining them after ending his call.

“You couldn’t have just tacked it on the back of the house?” It would have been a simpler solution or maybe not build the holy mother bunker of computer rooms. Who needed that much room for computers? Apparently these two.

Aaron opened his mouth then closed it looking bewildered. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

Kinsley scoffed. Men.

“So where is the closest gym besides Carl’s?” she said calmly.

There had to be an alternate solution. She wasn’t ready to go back to DC. Abigail offering her to let her stay out hear had been a godsent. She needed time away from the big city to clear her mind and get focused again. The fight with Carter showed her she needed to focus more. True he was a Delta, but she should have been able to hold her own better. She was slow, sloppy. She needed training, but who would help her? most of the teammates had a loved one they’d rather share their free time with before their next mission. Heath wasn’t an option. The little s**t would probably spend the whole time trying to get in her pants. He was by definition a horn dog. She would end up trying to strangle him. There was the big guy what was his name? Mike, she could ask him.

“Or maybe one of your teammates has a gym I can use. Maybe they can help me get back in shape.”

“You could always use the on base gym. That’s where I go.” Aaron suggested.

A smile formed on her face. Why hadn’t she thought of that? “That would be perfect.” on base gyms were open 24/7 365 days a year. She could work out whenever she wanted without having to wake anyone. This would solve a major part of her problem. “Is there anyone there that offers classes or someone to work with me?”

“Work with you?” Aaron asked shocked.

Kinsley looked at him uneasy. “Sparing with Carter proved to me I’m out of shape.”

“Kins, it’s only been a few weeks.” Abigail started to argue but Kinsley held up her hand.

“I know that. I’m nowhere near back to field ready but working with Carter showed me that I need someone to work with. Punching a bag and lifting weights on my own isn’t enough.”

“Why don’t you just work with Carter then?” Aaron suggested. Abigail elbowed him in the stomach the same as she had Heath at the barbeque. Kinsley didn’t hide her smile when she saw him rubbing his stomach and Abigail looking up at him with ire. It was like watching a chihuahua take on bull.

You could take the girl out of the FBI, but you couldn’t take the FBI out of the girl. Abigail was still as feisty as ever. Kinsley was glad civilian life hadn’t tamed her.

“I don’t want to work with Carter. What about Mike?”

“No one’s really seen him. He checks in every day and does our morning PT route with us then disappears.”

“And none of you think that’s odd?” she asked with a quizzical brow. If Mike were her friend she would want to know the story behind his disappearing all the time.

Aaron shrugged unconcerned. “Mike is an adult. No one asks where I am every minute of the day, I respect my teammates privacy.”

Kinsley huffed. “I still refuse to work with Carter.” She announced before marching up to her room and slamming the door. By the time she flopped on the bed she realized she just reverted back to her teenage self. Dramatics and all. She might as well have stomped her foot. Good lord what was happening to her? She was losing it. Everyone could see it. she hadn’t even bothered trying to hide it anymore. She was just so tired. She was tired of being angry at the world. It was exhausting.

Fatigue was finally catching up with her after the lack of sleep and working out. After a nap she would go on base and ask about classes or see if someone could work with her. Her last thoughts before drifting off were of green eyes and dimpled cheeks.

Kinsley shot out of bed to the sound of pounding. She was momentarily disoriented about where she was. For once she hadn't been dreaming about the explosion. She didn't dream in fact which was even better. She'd take no dreams over fire and pain any day. A glance at the clock on the nightstand next to her showed it was almost noon. Holy crap. She had managed to sleep for almost five hours. That had to be a new record. She actually felt better too. Another pounding sounded from downstairs reminding her what had woken her.

She hopped out of bed and headed downstairs to investigate. Someone was still knocking on the door when she got downstairs. Where were Aaron and Abigail? She debated answering the door, but it wasn't her house. It didn't feel right.

“Abbie?” Kinsley called out. She had a feeling she knew where Abigail was.

“Down here.” Came her faint voice confirming Kinsley's guess.

Kinsley stood at the top of the stairs to see both Abigail and Aaron staring at their computer screens. Kinsley was convinced they would go blind in the next decade from staring at giant screens for so long. “Someone is at the door.” The doorbell went off just as she said it to emphasize her statement.

“Who is it?”

Kinsley balked. “It’s not my house how should I know. You have the security cameras why don’t you tell me.”

“I’m on a deadline.” She said never adverting her eyes from her screen.

“You can’t take a half a second to look at your security monitor to see who is at the door? Adam what’s your excuse?”

“Working,” he mumbled.

“Good lord, Kins, just answer the door please.” Abigail finally looked over at her and gave her a puppy dog look. Normally those looks didn’t work on her, but the insistent knocking and doorbell ringing was giving her a headache.

“Fine,” she threw her hands up. “Whatever.”

Kinsley pulled the door open without seeing who was there. She wasn’t worried about a threat. Aaron would never let anyone on his property that would jeopardize Abigail. The big bastard loved her too much. Kinsley might be expendable in his mind, but Abigail wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

As she pulled the door open a fist came down in front of her. she leaned back narrowly avoiding it. Carter stood there in horror pulling his fist back. “I am so sorry. I was only trying to knock.”

“I figured as much.” Carter didn’t strike her as the type of guy who would hit a woman period. Even when they had fought he never hit her merely slapped her ass. She squirmed remembering the feel of his hands on her ass. “Aaron is downstairs.” She announced louder than necessary as she stepped away from the door to let him in.

“Okay,” Aaron stepped in and closed the door behind him.

Kinsley noted the entry suddenly felt smaller with Carter standing right in front of her. feeling shy and awkward Kinsley started to head for the kitchen to make lunch when his next words stopped her.

“I’m not here to Aaron. I came here to see you.”

A million reasons shot through her mind. See her? Why? Say this morning was a mistake and wouldn’t happen again? Sure, she could agree with that. That he wanted to pick back up where they left off? Dangerous. “Why is this that?” she asked turning back around to face him. She tried to ignore how sexy he looked standing there in a black shirt that hugged his muscles just right or his jeans that showed off his muscular thighs.

Get a hold of yourself.

Kinsley looked up at his face focusing on his eyes. Not that it was much better. She noted the bright mossy green of his eyes. They changed shades depending on his mood. They had been bright this morning now they were more muted.

“I’m not going to apologize for this morning.”

“Things happen.” She shrugged expecting the brush off then his words played back in her head. “Wait, what?”

Carter took a step closer to her putting them only inches apart. “I’m not sorry for kissing you. I’m not sorry for slapping your ass.”

Kinsley was breathless watching him. “Is there anything you are sorry for?” she asked before she could stop herself.

Carter gave her a dimpled smile that made her stomach flip. “Only that we couldn’t finish what we started.”

She regretted it too even if she swore off this man or any man in this group. “I…” she didn’t know what to say to that. Her brain wasn’t working. For the first time in her life she was speechless.

“I’m not trying to pressure you, Kins. If something happens between us great but I won’t push it.”

“Nothing can happen between us.” she blurted out and cringed. That came out horribly. “I like you, Carter, but I’m going back to DC as soon as I feel well enough to. I don’t think it would be fair to start something with you being close friends with Abigail. I don’t want there to be any awkwardness after I leave.” She tried explaining.

“I understand. like I just said, I won’t push it. now moving on to your training.”

Kinsley reared back. “Training? What training?” Had Abigail said something to Aaron and that’s why Carter was here? If that was the case she was going to have a few words with her friend.

Carter gave her a droll look. “I was fighting with you this morning you were sloppy and slow. You need someone to work with you.”

She hated that it was so obvious. “Aaron mentioned the gym on base this morning. I was going to go today and see if they had any classes or trainers that can work with me.” the words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she would have to put her pride aside if she wanted to get back to active duty.

“The base gym is good,” He nodded in agreement. “but their instructors can’t help you. they have group classes not one on one. Let me train you.”

“No,”

“I don’t see why not. We spared well together. You were starting to get your rhythm back before…the other stuff.” He waved his hand in the air like he didn’t know what to call what they shared.

It was better they didn’t talk about ‘the other stuff.’ “I appreciate but given our attraction I don’t think it’s wise.”

“Afraid I’ll tempt you.” he teased but she could hear the serious in his tone.

They were like wood and gasoline. It wouldn’t take much to set them both off. Even now she could feel the pull toward him. “I need to focus on getting back and getting my job back.”

“I just want to help you, Kins. I have a gym at my house we can use. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll leave the choice up to you.”

Was there really even choice? They worked great together. As much as he aggravated her during their match she loved it. He pushed her. Her reasons for keeping away from him were being forgotten. Could she ignore the growing attraction between them? Or was she just being a coward.

No she had to be firm. She would do this on her own. She had done everything else in her life on her own, this would be no different. “I appreciate the offer, but my answer is still no.”

If Carter was shocked by her answer he didn't show. He probably expected her response to be no but felt compelled to offer it. Well she just let him off the hook. She'd find someone on base to work with her.

“Let me know if you change your mind. My offer still stands.”

Kinsley nodded. She wouldn't be. She didn't change her mind. Once she set her mind in something there was no swaying her. “Thanks for stopping by.”

After seeing Carter out she made herself a sandwich though she wasn't feeling particularly hungry and headed downstairs.

“Who was that?” Abigail asked as soon as she stepped off the stairs. “You were gone a while.”

Kinsley rolled her eyes though Abigail wouldn't see it because she never took her eyes off the computer screen. “As if you didn't know.” Kinsley wasn't buying her innocent act for a second. Abigail was up to something and she had a feeling it involved her and Carter. Why she didn't know. Why would Abigail want her to end up with one of Aaron's teammates? What was she hoping would happen? Carter had some magical unicorn c**k that would make her abandon her life in DC and move out here? Not likely.