Walking down the street in this area of the city this early isn't quite suspicious, but it could be if I'm not careful. The streets are almost deserted, and this area has very little to justify my presence.

That's okay, though. I just need it for the pickup. Somewhere without cameras to trace my arrival. I'll be dropped off somewhere far more populated, both for insurance and to prevent raising alarms.

I made sure to wear a wig that looks similar to the one he saw me in the first time, and - while the long black overcoat hides it at the moment - I've dressed fully femme. I made sure to look similar to the way he'd expect to see me after our rendezvous in the alley.

If only he knew...

I'm pulled from my spiraling thoughts when the SUV pulls up to the curb and the door opens. Without pausing or slowing I pivot instantly to get in.

I see the gun his second is holding immediately, and I disarm him while kicking him in the face before my ass even hits the seat. I throw the metal cylinders I'd been holding into the heads of the other two guys in the car, knocking them backwards before they can even react.

They might have concussions but they'll live.

Then, before they can find their balance and retaliate, I straddle Ivan chest to chest and place his second's gun right to his temple. The gun I pulled from Ivan's waist points back at his still recovering men.

"Hello, my favorite Russian," I purr, focusing on his eyes but keeping my awareness on the other three people in the car that are now frozen in place.

His eyes are shining, and I know he could retaliate if he wanted to... but his not engaging was what I was banking on when I put all of my efforts into subduing his men.

"Any chance you can get your men under control while we chat?"

He raises his hand slowly to tell his men to hold, never taking his eyes off my face. A small smirk has formed on his lips.

"You are a difficult man to keep alive, sexiness."

"Oh?" he says, and I nearly fucking die at his deep, smooth voice.

My core tightens and I have to suppress a moan.

"The hit on you a couple weeks back... they've escalated. They've put a formal kill hit out. Seems you've got one hell of a pissed off ex."

His hands have slowly started moving, each movement measured and intentional... and damn me if I don't let him end up with a hand on each hip and pull me forward so we're aligned in just the right way.

When I feel his body react to mine, I grind ever so slightly, and I can't help but smirk at the way his eyes go dark with desire.

I don't move my guns, though. While I would prefer not to kill his men, I'm prepared to do it if necessary. Hopefully they don't decide an assassin on their boss' lap with a gun to his head is maybe a bad thing.

Wait... or him. I would obviously kill him too. That's why I have a gun to his head. Obviously.

"You warned Aleksandr," he says, his eyes flicking between my eyes and my lips.

His voice is incredibly deep, and his accent is noticeable but doesn't impair my ability to understand him perfectly. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to slam my lips into his again... just for a small taste...

"Yes," I say, voice low. "I did. He's your best, and he's the only one with reflexes fast enough to have pulled it off."

He raises his eyebrow, noting my knowledge on his team, but only smirks and nods.

"I accepted the hit on you," I start, hearing gasps and rustling behind me, but Ivan's hand leaps up to hold his men at bay once again - silently telling them to settle down so I can finish.

I continue as if they hadn't reacted at all, trusting for some unknown reason that he won't let them attack me.

"I've told them they must pay half in advance. Traditional cash drop. They will do the drop in two days, the Eastgate Park by the bronze statue. Pickup is scheduled at 7:30am. You need to have your team there at the time of the drop and intercept it before pickup happens. You must take the money before I arrive. If I get paid, I have to deliver.

Consider it a bonus for all the trouble they've caused trying to kill you. What you do with the guy is up to you, but the person that does the drop is your link to whoever has decided to keep me very busy trying to keep you alive."

His hands have started traveling up from my hips to my waist, and back... slow, firm but gentle. I rock my hips against him once more. Subtle, but enough to elicit a reaction from him beneath me. I keep the guns trained and ready, but my focus isn't really on them while he's touching me like this...

Fuck. This is dangerous. What the fuck are we doing?

"My stop is coming up, my favorite Russian. I have to go."

The letter only included the pickup, the route, the drop off... and a final line so he'd know it was me. I've been tracking the car's movements. They've followed the instructions I gave them in the letter perfectly. Only a few more turns.

Which is good, because I'd have had to kill them all if they'd tried to be clever.

"Stay," his voice is thick, and his grip has tightened ever so slightly.

"I can't. This was already a huge risk," I study his face, stalling for time.

His face has gone more serious, a slight frown replacing the smirk I already miss desperately.

"What's your favorite cookie," I ask quietly.

"Snickerdoodle," he says, chuckling lightly.

His eyes twinkle with amusement as his frown is replaced once again by a slight smirk.

I smile, not even meaning to lean in slightly...

"I'll remember that... for next time. Although... I suppose... ideally, there won't be a next time..."

His eyes flick to my lips... and... God damn it...

I push forward and kiss him, ensuring the guns stay pointed where they should be even though it is very, very difficult to care about that when he's thrust his hips up as he pulls me to him. I plunge my tongue in the second he opens his mouth, battling for dominance in a kiss I don't want to end.

He tastes even better than I remember, and with both his hands gripping me like this...

I pull away... far sooner than I want but far later than I should...

"Fuck..." I gasp, shaking my head, as if that will help.

At this rate he's going to feel what he's doing to me through his pants.

I'm both relieved and a bit disappointed when I feel the car pull over and park, exactly where I've told them to.

"Stay," his voice is husky and man am I tempted... until I remember exactly who I am and what game I'm playing.

I've lost my fucking mind!

"This is my stop. Do an assassin a favor and open the door for me?"

I respond flicking my eyes toward his door, and after a pause he reaches over to open the door without ever letting his eyes leave mine.

"Stay alive, sexiness," I whisper.

Then I flick on the safeties, push the guns into his hands, and dismount him while exiting the vehicle all in one fluid motion before I pull my coat tight and walk off down the street without looking back.

I peel the clear latex I'd painted on my hands off and throw them in a street trashcan after I've walked about a block before I duck into one of my favorite coffee shops... the ones where they have private stalls with vents I can stash bags in.

Keeping these stashes around the city is key for things just like this.

I peel off my wig, change out of the tight purple blouse and grey slacks I'm wearing, and swap the boots for loafers. I remove my makeup, and contour lightly to bring out the more masculine side of my face. Then I stuff the clothes and coat into my duffle, and head out, grabbing a random jacket from the lost-and-found by the back door before walking casually out the front.

Just like after I pull a job.

I see the SUV parked across the street, but I also know they aren't looking for the man I've transformed into. So, I walk out with a fresh coffee and move without a care in the world while they wait for the woman they saw enter that will never re-emerge.

Sitting in my office later that day, I throw myself into work.

I made more progress in one day than I had in weeks - trying to not think about whatever is wrong with me. Instead, I attended meetings, put out fires, developed roll-out plans, and absolutely did not think about him and how he felt beneath me with his hands on my hips.

Definitely not thinking about that.

I have to stop. This has to be the last time. No more... whatever the fuck this is. 

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