#frank woods x bell | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

quizzyisdone · 1 year

Text

Take On Me | Fem! Bell Reader x Frank Woods

A/N: Hi!! I know it has been forever since I post for BOCW and honestly, I miss it a lot. Adult life just doesn't really lend itself well to having creative hobbies (shocking). But here's a little something for Valentine's Day that definitely is not projection at all :) Masterlist Pairing: Fem! Bell Reader x Frank Woods Word Count: 3.2k Synopsis: Woods has always hated Valentine's Day -- it's just a pathetic marketing gimmick for big businesses to take your money and for society to make you feel bad if you spend it alone. Bell, on the other hand, would beg to differ. Warnings: Strong language, mentions of alcohol, Woods is a jackass at one point but don't worry he makes up for it

*Title inspired by Take On Me, by a-ha

You walked glumly down the sidewalk, attempting to avert your eyes from the restaurants that lined the streets, young couples all enjoying a nice Valentine’s Dinner inside. Even the damn weather was romantic.

Light flurries of snow cascading around everyone, intricate snowflakes landing delicately in your hair and onto your coat. It wasn’t bone-chilling cold either, perfect for a stroll down the street, holding hands with the one you loved. Warm yellowish hues from inside the various buildings emanated onto the street, along with the sound of laughter and idle chatter as well. It would’ve been the perfect atmosphere to set the mood for a date with Woods. The idyllic late winter day.

You clutched the brown paper bag filled with his favorite beer to your chest, careful so as not to drop it. It was your little Valentine’s Day gift, small and inconsequential enough to play off as just a kind gesture and completely not at all related to the present holiday. Admittedly, your feelings were a little hurt when Woods had gone off on a sarcastic tangent about how much he hated Valentine’s Day the other day and that it was just a stupid corporate holiday.

He was kind of right, but it was still fun to celebrate, at least for you. A nice little date, free from the worries of either of your jobs or maybe at least a gift from Woods would have been nice. You two had never even been in the same state, or even country for that matter, during the holiday since you started dating.

Maybe missing Valentine’s Day was kind of your fault anyways, since after his little joking tangent both of you agreed not to celebrate or do anything -- it was just a normal day. Ironic, considering a day with Woods could scarcely be considered normal due to your work with the CIA and his with the Marines. A normal day wasn’t getting called into work and both of you just sitting on the couch, too exhausted to truly spend time with each other in a manner other than physically being in the same room.

Truthfully, life had been rather boring lately, your relationship wasn’t missing love per se, but it was missing that old excitement.

You turned off of the street and into the apartment building where you shared a flat with Woods. After climbing up two flights of stairs and finding your door, you reached into your coat pocket for your keys, opening to the door to find Woods putting his own jacket on and grabbing the keys to his truck.

“Hey babe.” He said, barely giving you a glance in acknowledgment as he tied his boots.

“Hi.” You said, confused and frowning. You crossed your arms. “Where are you going?”

“Oh, over to this dive bar with Adler, he just got back into town, thought I’d get a drink with him.” Woods explained, none the wiser to how upset you were. You harshly placed down the brown bag. “Uh, what’s in the bag?” He asked.

“Something I got for you. I wanted to do something nice for you.” You crossed your arms and put on the angriest expression you could muster to hide how defeated you felt. He opened it, revealing a six pack of his favorite imported beer, very difficult and expensive to get in America. Instead of a smile and a thank you, he furrowed his brows, frowning.

“We weren’t supposed to get each other anything.”

“It wasn’t for Valentine’s Day. It was meant to be a nice gesture” You spat, stomping off and into the living room adjacent to the foyer. “Not even a fucking thank you.” You whispered under your breath.

“Thank you?” He yelled from the other room, following you, now clearly just as angry as you. “We agreed not to get anything for each other. I don’t fucking want your gift if you’re just going to be an ass about it.”

“I went to seven different liquor stores across the entire Philadelphia city limit in the snow and paid nearly fifty dollars for a six pack of special imported beer that you’d go through in one sitting because I knew this was your favorite and now you don’t want it. Some gratitude would be nice. ”

“Why would I want it if you’re gonna act like a bitch?” Woods bellowed. ‘Bitch’ had hit a nerve, he had never called you that before, but then again the two of you never got into any bad arguments before. Regardless, you stood your ground.

“Maybe I’m acting like a bitch because your first response was to chastise and question me for getting you a present and now you’re yelling at me.”

“I didn’t even want to celebrate Valentine’s!”

“Maybe I did because I never get to be with you anymore, you’re always too tired or too busy to fucking be my partner.” Your pitch became quieter and you suddenly became aware of the tears streaming down your cheeks in a torrential downpour. “You haven’t touched me in forever. I miss you. I wanted to celebrate it with you, I never got to experience any of this.” You said through clenched teeth.

Evidently, the tears did not sway Woods, as he continued yelling.

“Well I have and it’s not that fun. Sorry I’m exhausted from saving the entire fucking free world, Bell.” He retorted.

You scoffed.

“Get off your fucking soapbox, Woods. You and I do the exact same thing, and I still make time for you.” You turned your body away from him facing the wall, not even wanting to see him. “It’d be nice if you could do that for me too.”

“I do!” He explained, almost childlike in his declaration -- like a toddler so boldly claiming that the sky was green because he said so.

“When was the last time you even took me out when it wasn’t my idea?” Woods paused, attempting to remember (to which he couldn’t). “See? You don’t even remember. Go and hang out with your buddy, don’t bother coming back if you don’t want me anymore. I’ll get the hint.” You said dejectedly, walking off to your bedroom but stealing a glance at Woods, who only glared daggers at you, brows furrowed, looking almost annoyed with you.

You lightly shut your bedroom door the exact moment Woods slammed the front door shut, the vibration of which could be felt against the wall and you could hear a distant clang and glass shatter. You placed your back against the wood, slowly sliding down into the floor and placing your head between your knees, sobbing.

You instantly regretted that ultimatum you just gave him, Woods was the only person you have after MK-Ultra, while he had everyone. He didn’t need you, you needed him. To ground you, to keep you sane.

---------

Woods stomped off to his truck, angrily shoving the key into the ignition. The drive to the bar was erratic and rage-filled, as he gripped the steering wheel with an iron clasp and swore under his breath, muttering counter arguments that he could’ve used in an attempt to justify his actions.

Arriving at the bar, he slammed the door shut, scanning the front of the building for Adler, whom he found almost immediately, nursing a cigarette as per usual. The person who stood next to him, however, utterly enraged Woods. Fucking Hudson.

Despite himself, Woods strided to where they were standing, waiting for him.

“Hey Adler.” He greeted the scarred man. Adler nodded back in acknowledgement.“The fuck you doing here, Hudson?”

“Well aren’t you in a great fuckin’ mood.” Hudson retorted, jabbing Woods’s shoulder. “Come on, we can argue inside when we’re sat down and drunk.”

Woods reluctantly obliged him, opening the door and scanning the room for a table, considering the bar was completely full. He found a high top table and sat down, beckoning for a server, for which he ordered three whiskeys and a round of shots for the table.

Silence ensued for a brief moment before Adler broke it.

“So why the hell are you in a bad mood this time, Woods?” He asked, exasperated in a way that indicated that it wasn’t so uncommon for the sergeant to swing by in a sour mood. Woods immediately went on the defensive.

“The more important question is why the fuck Hudson is here? Don’t you have a wife and kids to celebrate Valentine’s with? She pissed at you too?” Woods spat, and Hudson sighed deeply.

“So that’s what this is about.” Adler chuckled to himself.

“If you have to know, Jenny’s not in town right now,” He explained. “Few days ago she was really upset and needed a vacation, so I told her I’d watch the kids while she went down to her mother’s house for some alone time.”

“Oh and so I guess you just left the kids at home by themselves.” Woods retorted, realizing belatedly that his statement was a bit unfair. For all his faults, he had always known the man to be a devoted husband and father. Hudson rolled his eyes.

“What kind of father do you take me for? This sixteen year old girl down the street needed some pocket money so I’m paying her to babysit them. Happy?” He rolled his eyes and Woods let the matter drop. “So now that I’ve answered your question, what has put you in an even worse mood than usual? Is it Bell?” Hudson asked.

Woods groaned. “Yes, okay? We got into a fight.”

“About?” Adler beckoned Woods to explain.

“Well,” He began. “So a few weeks back, right? I went off on some rant that Valentine’s Day is stupid and we agreed to not celebrate it. But today I guess she went back on her word and got me a gift and made me look like an asshole for not getting her anything. Then we got into a fight. That’s it.”

“That can’t be it.” Hudson scoffed. This time it was Woods’s turn to roll his eyes.

“Fine.” He huffed. “Words were… exchanged.”

“And what the hell exactly did you say to her?” Adler piped up. Woods rolled his eyes again, slamming his beer bottle down.

“Fine.” He huffed, beginning to regale every single gritty detail of a five minute fight, seeing as Hudson and Adler would’ve pried everything out of him some way or another. Throughout his story, Woods kept stuttering over his words, pausing, taking deep breaths. He still couldn’t get over that ultimatum.

“You called her a bitch?” Hudson stared at Woods, his eyes glaring daggers.

“That was your first mistake.” Adler snickered.

“No, that was his hundredth mistake. Your first mistake, Woods, was ranting about Valentine’s Day in the first place.” Hudson paused, noticing the very displeased expression of the man across from him. Not wanting to get into a bar fight tonight, he chose his next words carefully. “Hear me out, I can tell you every reason why you’re wrong, if you want. If you don’t, that’s fine. Drink your pain away and let your relationship with Bell go down the drain.”

Tense silence filled the air as Woods retreated back into his head. He certainly hates Hudson, doesn’t think the man does a damn thing right, but he’s been married for the better half of a decade for a reason, right? Woods slowly nodded his head, it couldn’t hurt to hear the man out, and besides, even in his rage, even after the ultimatum you gave him, losing one of the only people he actually cared about was one he couldn’t bear.

“Okay. Well, as we all well know, Bell doesn’t remember anything about her life.” Hudson glanced at Adler, who suddenly found a keen interest in the glass of whiskey in front of him. “And in the past three years, she hadn’t been able to celebrate any holiday other than Christmas last year because of schedules. Everything is a first for her, making it special to her. So your first mistake was ranting about Valentine’s Day.”

“Wh- How?” Woods sighed.

“Jesus Christ you’re so fucking dense.” Hudson mumbled to himself, rubbing his forehead. “It’s her first and she has someone who she loves dearly to celebrate it with. Probably felt like a gut punch. And still yet, she tried to make it special in spite of you. You practically spat on her for it. You called her a bitch and yelled instead of just accepting it and spending the night with her. That’s all she wanted.”

Oh. Maybe he was onto something.

“You are all Bell has.” Hudson stressed, the way he was explaining the situation to Woods, you would think he has experienced this exact situation. Perhaps he has, Woods did find that break up letter to Hudson from some girl like fifteen or so odd years ago. “And she’s probably feeling pretty neglected.”

“So why do you all of the sudden like Bell?” Adler asked, shame from the mention of what he did to you still painted on his expression.

“I like her well enough, and she’s proven herself.” Hudson took a sip from his drink and laughed softly. “But I like proving Woods wrong more.”

“Shut the fuck up, baldilocks.” Woods grumbled and Adler snorted, while Hudson let out a small chuckle at the creative insult. “I’ve gotta go.”

Unceremoniously, Woods removed himself from the high barstool, fumbling in his pocket for his wallet. He placed a twenty on the table, leaving without a word.

“Y’know he’s never gonna admit that sometimes you’re right.” Adler said, a cigarette between his teeth as he popped open his zippo lighter.

“I know.”

Woods glanced down at his watch as he approached the door to your shared apartment. It was only seven when he left. Fuck. He hoped you might still be awake. As quietly as he could, with a bouquet in one hand and his keys in the other, he unlocked the door.

“Bell?” He whispered, hoping to hear at least a TV or the radio playing. Instead, it was dark, with only a small glow emanating from the oven light in the kitchen. “Babe?”

No answer. Shit. He set his keys down on the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room and turned on a lamp. Gingerly, he made his way to your shared bedroom, opening the door softly.

On the bed, he found you asleep, facing towards the door and your hand lazily resting on the pillow on his side. He sighed, it was clear you had fallen asleep crying, your eyes puffy and cheeks red even in sleep. Woods took off his boots, setting down the bouquet on the nightstand.

As stealthily as a man of his size could manage, he crawled into bed, facing towards you. He held the hand that was resting on his side in his own hand, bringing it to his, softly kissing your knuckle.

“Bell.” He rested his free hand on your hip, rubbing soothing circles with his thumbs. Woods smiled softly as your eyes fluttered awake. Instead of returning his soft gestures, you simply grumbled, taking back your hand and flipping over on your other side. He didn’t know what he expected, but it wasn’t that. “Baby, I’m sorry.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re drunk. Go to bed, you'll feel differently in the morning.” You said, sniffling and barely audible.

“I didn’t drink anything. Baby girl, I am so fucking sorry.” He scooched closer to you, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you flush to his form. “I’m sorry for complaining about Valentine’s, I’m sorry for the beer, I’m sorry for calling you a bitch, I’m sorry for being a fucking jackass to my girl.”

Silence ensued for a few minutes, only interrupted with your occasional sniffle. You sighed, sitting up and facing towards him. You gave a sad smile.

“Frank, I just want us to be normal.” Your voice cracked as the tears began again. “I don’t want this shitty military stuff anymore. I just want to be a normal couple who does normal couple things.”

“Oh, baby girl. Honey, I am so sorry.” He shushed as he sat up, holding you in his arms so tightly, as if he was afraid you’d shatter into dust and leave him forever if he didn’t.

“Baby, we can be normal. I’ll take you to the movies, I’ll take you on more dates, I’ll bring you flowers, I’ll win you the biggest stuffed animal at the fair, I’ll even celebrate Valentine’s Day with you.” He kissed your temple, pulling you even closer as sobs racked your body. “Please, I just need you in my life.”

“Please don’t ever leave me.” You whimpered.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, doll.” He held you, strong and steadfast, guilt from the events that transpired earlier sweeping over him. “I couldn’t live without you. God, I’m so fucking sorry, baby girl.”

“Me neither.” The two of you remained there, locked in an embrace and peacefully silent. For hours, you felt as if he was going to leave you, and without him, you’d quite literally have nothing. Without him, you’d have to crawl back to the man that hurt you the most.

To have the normally gruff, brash Marine sergeant here, admitting to you how much he needed you in his life, it almost felt that for once in your life, that you were a normal person. Not some brainwashed freak.

“I got you a present.” He pulled his head back to look at you. A soft smile creeped across your features. “It’s not as good as those beers you got me,” He reached over the nightstand, presented the bouquet of flowers. “And it took me forever to find, considering every florist was either closed or sold out. But you deserve this, and so much more.”

“Oh, Frank. They’re perfect. Thank you so much.” You gave him a quick peck, looking over the bouquet with a proud smile on your face. Your first flowers from him.

“Bell, I also have a very important question for you.” He smiled earnestly at how your eyes were lit up, just from flowers. You nodded, beckoning him to ask. “Will you be my Valentine?”

Your happiness turned into straight glee as you practically exploded with joy.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” You exclaimed, pushing him down and straddling him. You giggled and peppered his face with little kisses all over as he grinned, chuckling along with you. “Of course I will.” You said softly, pulling back as you placed the flowers on your side’s nightstand.

You returned to his side, cuddling up flush against his chest as he smiled down at you, like today never even happened. Your hands drew small circles on his chest and you sighed contentedly, this was a feeling that you had missed these past few months. Just you and Woods -- nothing else.

“Baby?” He hummed. You let your eyes close, the threat of sleep drawing ever near.

“M’yeah?”

“We’ll do something more fun tomorrow, okay?” Woods grinned as he also let his eyes close, pulling you even tighter towards him.

“This is good enough for me.” You lazily smiled against his chest.

So needless to say I'm odds and ends But I'll be stumbling away Slowly learning that life is okay

#pls excuse the title but tbh idc if the song is a giant meme #the lyrics just fit a wood x bell ship so nicely #frank woods #frank woods x reader #frank woods x bell #russell adler #jason hudson #bocw #black ops cold war #cod #call of duty #quizzy writes

268 notes · View notes

efingcod · 20 days

Text

Go All Night Chapter 3 (explicit version)

One | Two | Three* (sfw version)

Minors DNI

I never posted the explicit version of Chapter 3 here. I really don't remember why. But today I say fuck it. Also, I really do love this fic, it came out of a series of separate writing prompts the lovely @nanobyting sent to me. As well as a snippet of an idea about stockings and garters another friend put it my head.

Also, you do not need to know anything about Black Ops to read this. It is just a sexy cool fic that I wrote for funsies.

“All right,” Mason said as he handed her a beer and held up his own to cheers her. “Thanks for saving our asses.”

Bell tapped the neck of her bottle to his.

The room was packed, which was not surprising for a hotel bar on a Saturday night. She hadn’t planned on coming down here. In fact, she had been about to get ready for bed when Mason knocked on her door and practically dragged her out. He had been so damn insistent.

At least he let her redo her makeup before they went back downstairs. She’d get some looks with smeared lipstick and mascara running down her face, that’s for sure. Though she was still wearing the dress - with the straps adjusted to make them even.

Luckily, she didn’t have to feel too overdressed, the hotel had hosted a wedding earlier, and from the looks of it some of the guests had made their way to the bar after the ballroom had closed.

Bell crossed her legs and took a sip of her beer.

“God, those guys are having fun,” Mason said, beer in hand, pointed to a group of wedding guests who were very over-served dancing and singing to music that wasn’t even playing.

Bell looked over her shoulder and, at that moment, caught the eye of one of the guests. She noticed that someone was looking at Mason as well.

“Shit!” She hissed and turned back, “Think we’re about to have company.”

“Yeah, me,” Woods said as he walked up to their table and set his beer down.

“Good timing.” Mason nudged him in the ribs. “Bell was gonna have to beat them off with a stick.”

At that, Woods turned to Bell and rested his hand on the back of her chair.

“That so? Should we leave you to it, Bell?”

While he had a smile on his face, there was an odd look in Woods’ eyes when he said it. Was he upset ? Had she taken things too far in the van? Bell meant what she said, but she wasn’t so sure she should have said it out loud.The adrenaline from their escape had still been coursing through her system, so she took a risk. And then Mason had interrupted them before Woods could respond.

“One of them was checking you out, Mason,” Bell deflected.

“Don’t mention that. I even look in that direction, and Em’s gonna know.”

“You like to pretend you’re on such a tight leash.” Woods rolled his eyes. Then he explained to Bell, “Em used to be in the CIA with us. She knows how it is.”

“Oh, how is it in the CIA, exactly ?” Bell asked with a faux innocent tone before taking a sip of her beer.

“How do you think she and Mason ended up together?”

Bell pressed a hand to her chest, looking at Mason wide-eyed, pretending to be scandalized.

“ Mason. ”

Mason sighed. “Not you, too. Come on, Bell, I bought you a beer.”

“That’s true you did,” Bell said as she leaned forward and placed both hands on her beer.

Woods was still resting his hand on the back of her chair. She caught a whiff of his cologne. Unlike her and Mason, he had taken the time to shower and change before heading downstairs. That surprised her. Bell thought he’d be quick to grab a beer, or even something harder, after the night they just had. He had also changed into jeans and a sweater. He looked good and was getting his share of glances from the wedding guests around them.

Mason checked his watch.

“Oh, I told Em I’d call her tonight,” His said, his tone was a little strange, “Guess I’ll go do that.”

Bell and Woods both watched him go.

“That was abrupt,” Bell observed.

“Yeah.” Woods took the seat across from her. He set his drink down close to hers.

She began to feel nervous. He wouldn’t want to talk here, right? Or would that be better? Get it out in public, and she could hide in her room until morning.Bell cringed at the thought of talking about it at all.

But instead, Woods gestured to the wedding guests. “They seem like a fun group.”

“Very different from the party this evening,” She agreed but did not turn to look. Accidentally catching the eye of a drunken wedding guest again would only add to the awkwardness she already felt.

“Oh yeah, so after all that, what did you think of that party?”

“It wasn’t so bad. I was able to skirt the ballroom pretty easily.” She played with the label on her beer as she spoke, “I don’t know what I was so worried about.”

Bell glanced up at him, he had been looking at her face as while she was talking, but his expression wasn’t revealing much.

“I did manage to catch a waiter and try some hor d’eourves,” Bell went on, “I wish I could have gone back for more.”

Woods chuckled at this statement.

“Like you wouldn’t eat the food!”

“Oh I definitely have. It’s just that Mason and I were joking about asking you to smuggle some food in for us.”

“In what?” She gestured to her dress, “This doesn’t exactly have pockets.”

His wide grin faded slightly as he looked her over. “Yeah, guess you’re right.”

“Though this dress is surprisingly versatile, isn’t it? Great for dancing, cocktail parties, late-night weddings, and shootouts at French arms dealer’s mansions,” Bell said with a smirk, “Would have been interesting to poke around that panic room, though.”

Woods hummed in response. He had a strange look on his face.

“What?”

He placed his hands around his beer as if studying the label intently. Then he took a swig, wiped his mouth, and cleared his throat before setting it down again. Bell looked at him expectantly.

“You shouldn’t have been in there.”

“Oh, come on, Woods-”

“You’re dressed like that because you were supposed to be a guest, so you could walk out with them when the shit hit the fan,” He said gruffly. His blue eyes flicked up to meet hers.

He was serious.

Bell couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was he scolding her? Yeah, she had told them to stand down, but she had handled it, hadn’t she? She did her job. Adler certainly didn’t have a problem with it.

“Don’t tell me you were worried?” The side of her mouth turned up, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. When he didn’t respond, her smile faded.

“I thought you were impressed,” Bell said in disbelief and shaking her head. “Isn’t that what you said in the van?”

Fuck she didn’t want to bring up the conversation from the van, but he wasn’t making sense to her.

“Yeah, Bell, you did great. I keep running it over in my head. It was a huge risk-”

She could feel her ears getting hot, she barely heard what he said.

“I’ve taken risks before,” Bell interrupted, “You didn’t think I could handle it? I saved you and Mason twice.”

“No, Bell-” Woods started to say as he put his hands up.

But she didn’t want to hear what he had to say. It was apparent to her that he hadn’t thought she could handle it. But why? They had gone on dangerous missions before. Hadn’t she proved herself? Maybe she didn’t have as much experience in the field as Woods and Mason- who did really? But she thought she had at least gained some of his trust and respect.

“Is this because of what I said?” She didn’t wait for him to respond before continuing. “I felt insecure for a moment. I thought I was confiding in a- I thought you were someone I could trust with that.”

“Whoa, hang on,” Woods said as he pointed to himself, “After everything, you don’t think you can trust me ?”

I can trust you in the field. Sounds like that’s about it.” She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from him.

Woods huffed and picked up his beer. He leaned back in his chair and looked anywhere but at her.

A silence fell over them. Bell leaned back in her chair and pretended to scan the room as well. Conversation usually flowed easily between them, so the silence magnified the tension. She didn’t think he would judge her so harshly for telling him that she felt out of place. If anything, Bell had thought, based on everything she knew about him, he might understand. It sure seemed like he had. Well, that was a mistake.

Bell stood up. “I’m tired. I should head upstairs.”

Woods looked surprised. “You haven’t finished your beer.”

Bell shrugged.

“Fine. Guess I’ll see ya,” Woods said dismissively as he took a drink from his beer and appeared interested in something on the other side of the room.

Bell set her jaw and turned towards the exit. She strode out of the bar and headed for the elevator bay. While Bell waited for the elevator, she felt her anger quell. Maybe she had reacted too quickly. She hadn’t let him speak. But did she need to?

She had to admit she was a bit disappointed. But she reminded herself that she didn’t know Woods that well. There must have just been this idea of him in her mind formed from hearing all the stories people told about him- and Mason. Bell had only met them, what, a month ago? Maybe less?

Well, that’s fine. No one else on the team was particularly warm with her, so why should he be any different? Once this mission was over, she’d probably be back behind a desk, anyway. So who cares what he thought of her personally?

It was her fault anyway. She knew she couldn’t be vulnerable with these people. She should have known they would have judged her for it. The only reason why she thought Woods might be different is that she wanted him to be different. And that was stupid.

Her heels dug into the soft rug under her feet. Bell sighed. It would be nice to get out of the dress and take a shower.

Against her better judgment, she glanced back at the bar. Woods was still sitting at the table, but he wasn’t alone. Someone had taken the seat she had vacated. It looked like they were in conversation. As much as she’d like to tell herself she didn’t care, she still did. But that feeling would fade if she could just stop focusing on it.

Bell turned her attention back to the elevator, which was still making its achingly slow descent to the lobby. Likely held up by wedding guests going back and forth between their rooms and the bar.

Looking down the other side of the hallway, she saw Mason sitting in one of the private phone booths. Why didn’t he use the phone in his room? Maybe to give Woods some space, she realized.

She shifted her feet, anxious to get upstairs. A melodic sound caught her ear. The elevator had finally arrived.

A crowd of drunken wedding guests flooded out of the elevator once the door opened. They parted to make room for her and immediately joined back together behind her.

Bell stepped inside the elevator and leaned against the handrail, sighing. The doors were nearly closed when someone caught the bumper, triggering them to open again.

It was a man in a suit. He had his arm around a woman in a cocktail dress. They staggered into the elevator and huddled in a corner. They were drunk. Thankfully, they kept their voices low, but occasionally the woman let out a soft sound.

Bell gritted her teeth and stared hard at the floor indicator panel, willing the elevator to move faster.

The numbers lit up in turn as the ancient elevator slowly ascended.

When the elevator reached her floor with a ding, she felt relieved to finally be able to step out and head for her room.

“...should have asked her….” Bell could hear the woman say before she burst into giggles, and the door closed, muffling any other sound.

She turned her key and walked inside, letting the door shut before bolting it. Then she sighed and sat at the vanity. Unclipping her hair, she shook it out and picked an errant piece of glass out of it. Under the focused vanity light, even under her makeup, it was easy to make out the cuts and bruises on her face.

“Ugh, aren’t you a mess,” Bell said grimacing at herself in the mirror.

Looking down, she inspected the shoes. They seemed to be the only thing still in good shape, which was a surprise. Running in heels was challenging, but she thought she managed pretty well. Though she hoped she’d never have an assignment like that again. Turtleneck, boots, and armor were preferable to heels, makeup, and nothing between her and a bullet but some silky fabric. The scar on her chest peeked out from under the edge of the dress. She traced her finger over it.

“Armor didn’t help you much then, now did it?”

She had gotten lucky, then. She had been lucky tonight, too.

Every night any of them came back alive was at least partially due to luck, wasn’t it?

A knock on the adjoining door shook her from her thoughts. Rising from the vanity, she walked over and opened the door.

“Woods? I thought-” She stopped.

What did she think? That he’d be spending more time at the bar? That he wouldn’t be going upstairs alone? Well, he wasn’t alone now was he?

“Place suddenly wasn’t so interesting,” He said with a grin, “Miss me?”

Bell studied his face impassively. She noted that he had removed his sweater and was only wearing his undershirt and jeans.

“Look-” He started but stopped mid-sentence. He was looking at something on the side of her head. Raising a hand, he touched- her hair? No, something was in her hair. When he pulled away, he showed her a tiny piece of glass in his palm.

“Oh, I thought I got all of those.” Bell frowned at the fragment in his hand. “Thanks.”

She raked her fingers through her hair to shake out more.

“Whoa, hang on,” Woods put his hands out to stop her, “You’re gonna cut yourself.”

Woods stepped into her room and guided her to stand by her vanity. He placed the piece of glass on the countertop.

“Lighting is better here,” He said as he raised his hands to her hair again.

“I don’t need help.”

“Getting these out of short hair is impossible,” Woods shook his head, “I can only imagine what it’s like with long hair.”

“Yeah, well, normally I have my hair up and under a beanie, don’t I? It’s fine. I’ve got it.”

“Bell, not everything is criticism.”

Tentatively he raised his hands to her hair again. When she didn’t push him away, he carefully combed through her hair with his fingers.

He still hadn’t said why he had knocked on her door. She should be annoyed. He was acting as if nothing had happened. Though she had to admit it was so much easier to pretend.

Because she was still wearing the heels, her eye level was at his shoulders. Standing this close to him, she noticed that his white undershirt wasn’t hiding much. She could just make out his muscle movements under the fabric. Bell felt the urge to reach up and touch him, run her hands over the rough white cotton covering his chest, and feel his body heat on her skin. Slip her fingers under the hem of the shirt and pull it off him.

But of course, she didn’t. Instead, she closed her eyes. The feeling of Woods’ hands in her hair was so soothing. She was surprised to be touched with such gentleness from this big man with whom she had escaped a shootout only hours ago.

A shootout he thought she couldn’t handle. This guy doesn’t trust you. Remember? And here she was, allowing him to take care of her again. Did he think she was so incompetent she couldn’t even clean herself up?

“All right, Bell. You’re good.”

She opened her eyes again to Woods giving her another unreadable look. Well, she supposed she couldn’t blame him. She probably looked like an idiot standing there with her eyes closed and mouth open.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

He was still giving her that look. Then his hand went to her chin as he tilted her face up. Bell felt a thrill in the pit of her stomach. With their faces so close, she could smell mint on his breath.

“Need help getting bandaged up?”

Bell realized then he was examining the bruise there.

“No,” She found herself saying as she brushed his hand away, “I’ve got it, thanks.”

She didn’t want any more of his help. Even if it meant feeling his hands on her again, it wouldn’t lead to anything except her wanting him more. And what she needed to do was to shake him from her brain.

But he didn’t leave, so she met his eye.

“What?”

“Took me a while to learn,” Woods said as he stroked the hair of his mustache with his thumb and index finger. She could tell he was thinking things through, being careful with his next statement.

“But you know it’s ok to accept help sometimes,” He finished.

“Well, when I need it, I’ll ask for it,” She said in a tone that was sharper than she had intended.

“All right,” He said softly, tapping her shoulder as he moved to leave.

“Woods-”

“It’s ok,” He said held a hand up, “I was being pushy.”

Woods walked to the door and opened it.

“You’re wrong about me, y’know.” He turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. “I’ll be honest, it pissed me off to hear you say it. But I think I know why you did. You can trust me, Bell. I know you don’t believe me, but you really can.”

Bell kept her expression even. She’d like to believe it. It would be easier in the short term.

He let out a soft sigh and moved into his room, placing his hand on his door as if he were about to close it.

“Goodnight, Bell.”

“Goodnight, Woods.”

He gave her a little smile, before saying, “Frank. At least call me Frank.”

Something about his tone seemed a little sad. Disappointed. She could have stopped him, but her heels were rooted into the soft carpet of her hotel room.

“Goodnight, Frank.”

With a soft grin he closed the door. Once she heard the lock slide into place, she moved to close to the adjoining door on her side. Even after it was closed, Bell held her hands against it as if she was bracing for something to burst through it. But nothing would. And Woods wasn’t going to knock on her door again.

Quietly cursing herself, she roughly unzipped her dress and dropped it to the floor. She kicked it in frustration. The silky fabric skidded across the carpet but stopped short.

Very unsatisfying.

Sitting down at the vanity in a huff, Bell frowned disdainfully at her reflection. She needed to shower and go to bed. She shifted her body to stand up again when something on the vanity caught the light and drew her eye.

It was the glass Woods had pulled from her hair. Bell turned it over in her fingers, examining it. A flash of light reflected in the mirror, and she looked at herself again. Setting the glass piece down, Bell placed her hand on the garter belt she was still wearing.

With her thumb, she traced the stiff top edge of the fabric. She fought the urge to rip it off.

She remembered how it felt when Woods ran his hand over her stomach as he put it in place, how the corners of his mouth had turned up when she flinched at his touch. At the time, she assumed he just thought it was funny that he got a reaction from her.

It was easier to pretend he didn’t care. To think of him as just some asshole. To push him away at the slightest perceived infraction. But she was the one who decided that he had judged her. Her snap reaction to her letting her guard down. He had seen her nervous and uncomfortable. She had let him in for only the briefest moment, which was terrifying.

That’s what it was about. Woods had helped her. And he hadn’t deserved her shitty attitude. She should at least apologize.

Bell stood up. Not wanting to deal with the dress again, she picked up the button-down she had discarded earlier in the evening and threw it on.

“Time to get this over with.”

She opened her door and stood behind it and raised her hand to knock.

What was she going to say? Sorry for being a stubborn ass? Not the best opener, exactly. But Woods might like it. He might have a few adjectives of his own to add.

“Fuck it,” Bell muttered to herself and rapped gently on his door.

He didn’t say anything when he opened the door, and his expression was once again unreadable.

Bell opened her mouth to apologize. To say she misunderstood him. She was an idiot. But Woods spoke first.

“I know you can handle yourself,” He said as he folded his arms and leaned against the doorframe, “It wasn’t about that.”

“Then what was it about?”

Woods ran his fingers through his hair.

“Me, Bell.” He stepped past her and into her room. “My own stuff.”

She gave him a curious look.

He sighed, “I- when you were stuck in that room. You didn’t have armor. You had that little peashooter some people like to call a gun -”

To her surprise, Woods sat on her bed. Was he expecting a long conversation?

“You were worried.” She took a step toward him.

“I was worried,” He agreed, “But you were great. I just keep thinking, because you weren’t prepared, I could have made a better call that didn’t put you in more danger. That’s it.”

Bell put her hand to her forehead, exasperated with herself.

“And then I got pissed off-”

“You didn’t even let me explain!”

Bell sighed and sat on the bed next to him, staring at her shoes.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I think I can sleep easy tonight,” Woods sighed, he sounded relieved, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

He followed her gaze to her feet.

“You’re still wearing those shoes. I thought you would have kicked them off by now.”

“Me too, if I’m being honest-” Bell admitted and stretched her legs out in front of her admiring the way the shoes sparkled, “But I like them. And I’m surprised they’re in such good shape considering everything. Anyway, they’re… uh….”

She trailed off, dropped her legs, and crossed her feet.

“They’re what?” Woods asked.

Bell glanced up at him. He was looking at her over his shoulder.

She huffed and tucked a hair behind her ear before responding, “They’re pretty, ok?”

Then she braced herself for the teasing.

“So, you are actually a girl.”

She playfully shoved his shoulder. “What was your first clue?”

“You did look pretty good in that dress.”

Reflexively, Bell tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, again.

“I seem to remember you telling me that- in a friendly way. ”

Woods looked away from her and rubbed the back of his head. The clean smell of the hotel shampoo wafted in the air around him. She remembered then that he had showered before joining her and Mason downstairs. That his breath smelled like mint. He had cleaned himself up.

She had to wonder.

“About that-” He said, turning his head to look at her again. Then he sighed as if he were rethinking what to say. A slight grin appeared on his face.

“I think I like this outfit better.”

“Oh, you do, do you? Well,” She braced her hands on the edge of the bed, pushing her shoulders down and tilting her head back before continuing, “That’s good because I’m probably stuck in it.”

Bell crossed her legs.

“Stuck in it?”

“Well, yeah. I couldn’t get them on- so obviously, I have no idea how to take them off. Maybe you could help me?”

She was joking. Once she had seen him put the garters on, it was easy to figure out how to remove them.

“Oh, yeah?” Woods said as he leaned closer to her, “I guess it’s a good thing we made up, huh?”

Then he kissed her.

After all that build-up, it took every bit of Bell’s willpower to not just pull him down on the bed on top of her. It seemed like he was trying to do just that as he leaned into her, but that’s not what she wanted to happen. Not yet.

And it wasn’t what she had asked him to do anyway.

Bell let him touch her lips briefly before placing her fingers on his chin and pushing his face away.

“You said I should ask for help,” She said matter-of-factly.

Woods smirked at her. “I did, didn’t I?”

Leaning back on her hands again, she looked at him expectantly.

He slipped his fingers between her skin and one of the straps and traced it down to where the clasp met her stocking.

When he moved to undo it, she stopped him.

“No.”

And when he looked at her questioningly, she placed one heeled foot on his shoulder, guiding him down.

“Like before. On your knees.”

Woods complied. She allowed her leg to slide over his shoulder while he kneeled. Her stockinged thigh rested next to his cheek. He reached up and ran his hand up the outside of her leg. Then he trailed his fingers along the inside of her thigh, bringing his hands to meet at that first strap.

“No,” She said again as he was about to undo the strap.

He stopped and looked at her, amused.

“First things first.”

Bell dropped her leg from his shoulder. Then gathered the bottom of her shirt and held it against her stomach.

Woods nodded and slipped two fingers under the waistband of her underwear. He looked to her for confirmation, but she just raised an eyebrow at him. She lifted her hips as he slipped them off of her.

Bell let out a breath.

Once again, Woods moved to undo the straps.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Bell said, “I think I’m going to leave them on.”

The side of his mouth curled up.

This time she threw both legs over his shoulders and crossed them over his back, encouraging him to come closer. He gripped her thigh and pressed his lips to it. The bristly hair of his beard and mustache brushed against her sensitive skin, sending a tingle through her body. Dragging his lips over her skin, he left the occasional soft kiss there as he moved up her leg. He paused for a beat when he reached the top of her inner thigh. Her toes curled in her shoes as she awaited his mouth on her.

And then he moved along to her other thigh.

The bastard was teasing her.

Bell wanted to kick him lightly but willed herself to keep her composure.

After a few lingering kisses on her thigh, he stopped and turned back. Again she felt how close he was to her, and a thrill rose from the pit of her stomach.

Trying to stay cool, she ran a hand through her hair, tossing it to one side, and looked down at him.

“Need an invitation?” Bell braced the tip of her heel against his back. Mock-threatening.

Woods grinned and kept his eyes on hers as he gently pressed his lips against her. His tongue traced her slit. The sensation of his mouth finally on her elicited a pleased little sound from her.

Reaching his arms around her thighs, Woods held her there, locking them into place. He prodded her slit with his tongue as he pulled her apart with his thumbs.

Here Woods paused again and looked up at her. His warm breath on her exposed flesh was driving her wild. She wanted him now.

Finally, he dragged his tongue over her folds, overwhelming her with the incredibly smooth and gentle sensation. A cry caught in her throat when he reached her throbbing clit and drew circles there.

She could have sworn she saw the edge of his mouth turn up. Moving his hands to her hips, he pulled her forward, closer to the edge of the bed. He seemed determined to take his time with her, slowly working her over. However, his steady movements were quickly building her up. With one hand, she clawed the bedcovers into her fist as heat began to rise in her face. With her other hand, she raked her fingers through his hair as she held him firmly to her and bucked her hips up into him.

He responded by sucking on her clit.

“Frank,” She let his name escape her lips in a moan. This only seemed to encourage him, and he ramped up the intensity. Her thighs began to shake, and Woods tightened his grip around them, holding them in place. Her head was fuzzy, and she thought she heard herself say his name again.

He grasped at her hips, his fingers digging into her skin, pulling her even closer. He was relentless. An intense heat threatened to overwhelm her as sparks fired through her body.

Bell cried out just as she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, and suddenly, everything went white-hot. Her grip on his hair tightened for a moment as he continued to work her through the orgasm. And she was hit with light-headed relief.

Bell fell back into the bed and placed her hands on her forehead.

“God, Frank-” She worked to catch her breath.

After a moment, she felt him gently lift her legs off of his shoulders. He crawled onto the bed next to her and pulled her into him. Then he kissed her again—the faint taste of her on his lips- how their body chemistry mingled together- was intoxicating. Gripping the collar of his shirt and wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled his body into her and kissed him deeply. Guiding him onto his back, she climbed on top of him. Her hair curtained around them as she bent down to kiss him again.

Woods ran his hands up her thighs and hips, then cupped her breasts over her shirt. With his thumbs, he traced her nipples through the fabric. She trembled at his touch, still feeling sensitive, and pushed him away.

“Can’t I at least see you?” Woods asked as he played with the hem of her shirt.

Bell sighed and sat back, purposefully pressing her hips down into him, causing him to gasp. She began working at the buttons of her shirt. Woods’ eyes softened, and his lips parted slightly as he watched her. With his hands, he traced anxious circles around her hips.

When her shirt was completely unbuttoned he tried to touch her skin underneath it, but she slapped him away and smirked at him.

“Patience,” Bell mock-scolded.

He chuckled.

Holding the front of the shirt against her chest, she allowed it to slowly drop down from her shoulders before removing it and tossing it to the floor. Bell did not miss the sharp intake of breath nor the way his cock twitched beneath her. She was pleased to have that effect on him.

Bending down, she kissed him again, but this time he slipped his fingers down her sides and firmly grabbed her ass pressing her into him.

She made a surprised sound, but she had to admit she liked the rough feeling of his clothes against her naked body. The way his jeans felt against her when he pushed his hips into her. Leaving one hand firmly on her ass, Woods reached up with his other and combed his fingers through her hair as he kissed her. He moaned softly into her mouth as she playfully bit his lip. Bell moved away from his lips, down his body, kissing him over his shirt. She traced a hand over his chest until she reached the hem of his shirt and slipped her fingers underneath. His abs flexed at her touch. His skin was warm against her cool hands. As she pulled his shirt up, she kissed his exposed skin.

When Bell had pushed the shirt up to his chest, she sat up again and yanked on it playfully. “Little help?”

Woods looked down and then sat up, making her back up. He brought his face close to hers as he pulled the shirt over his head. Throwing it somewhere, he then kissed her.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” She nodded very seriously. Her hands went to the waistband of his pants.

“Pants, underwear, socks, I want all of it off.”

Bell moved off of him and lay on her side with one hand propped under her head as she watched him get undressed. She bit her index finger and tried to keep her expression even, but even still, she allowed the slightest whine past her lips as he removed his boxers. He winked at her.

She pressed her legs together, feeling the ache for him return.

She wasn’t sure she ever wanted anyone more, but she was still determined to play it cool. Getting up on her knees, with one hand she pulled him towards her and ran her manicured nails through the hair on the back of his neck. Brushing his cock with just the tips of her fingers, she elicited a soft gasp from him. Then she wrapped her hand around him. Woods placed his hands on either side of her face and crashed his mouth down on her. He wanted it too.

“Let me fuck you,” He groaned into her mouth, still holding her face, his lips brushing against her as he said it.

Goddamn, it almost sounded like begging.

Bell wanted to fuck him, too, but she knew to enjoy the thrill of anticipation. That ramping him up would be more fun for both of them. She bit her lip and looked him in the eye.

“Not yet,” She whispered, shaking her head.

Seeing how his face fell, she tightened her grip around him, pumping her hand up and down his length.

He let out a soft sigh, kissed her lips, then her cheek, and rested his parted lips on her ear. She enjoyed hearing the soft little sounds he made as she touched him.

Turning her head towards him, she kissed him again, slipping her tongue just inside his mouth. His tongue met hers, giving her a taste of their intermingling chemistry again and sending a thrill through her body. She deepened the kiss, pressing her body into him. Then she moved down, dragging her lips over the dip between his collarbones. Raking her fingers over his chest, she continued down his sternum, allowing herself to linger there, appreciating the slight flex of his chest muscles. Her hands dropped down so she could brush her fingers along his sides. She looked up at him with a grin when he twitched at her touch.

Bell gently pushed his hips, and he moved back so she could sit on the edge of the bed in front of him.

Lazily she stroked the inside of his thighs with the backs of her fingers before once again gripping his cock. She ran the point of her tongue from the base up to the tip, taking in the taste of the salt of his skin, listening to his soft gasps become moans. Woods’ hands combed through her hair again, and then finally, she placed her mouth around him. His breath hitched in his throat, and she looked up at him then.

“Oh fuck,” He groaned when they made eye contact.

If Bell could have grinned, then she would have. Instead, she moaned on to him, knowing the vibrations would bring him closer to the edge.

God, the noises he made were intoxicating, and when he tried to suppress them, they only served to sound needier, more desperate.

He fucking wanted this. He wanted it as much as she did. Hell, maybe even more.

Bell rolled her tongue over the tip of his cock before giving the underside a few long and slow licks. Then she wrapped her hand around the base, steadily pumping as she continued to work him over with her mouth. She took in as much of him as possible, letting her hand handle the rest.

It wasn’t long before she felt him stiffen in her mouth. His hand gripped her hair. He was close. She stopped.

Woods made a confused sound and looked down at her. Bell placed her knees back on the bed and rose up to stroke his collarbone with her finger, noting how he reacted to her touch before kissing him again.

“I mean, you still want to fuck, right?” She said into his mouth. She could feel the corners of his mouth turn up as he kissed her back. His fingers combed through her hair as he held her to him.

“Oh fuck yeah,” He said when he came up for air.

She smiled at him, looking over his face. A fading soft pink flush contrasted nicely with his blue eyes and dark hair.

He looked so fucking good to her like this. She moved back, allowing her fingers to linger over his skin before completely letting go and laying back on the bed. Without hesitation, Woods joined her on the bed caging his arms around her head. He lifted his hand to brush a hair out of her face.

He had a surprisingly soft way of looking at her. She was sure it was just the way he expressed lust or desire, but the way that look made her feel- she couldn’t take it, she looked away.

This was just sex.

Just a good time.

“Everything ok?” Woods asked, drawing her gaze back to him. The look was gone, replaced with one of concern.

“Yeah, of course.”

She stroked his beard, studying the little white hairs that stood out against the black.

“You’re so handsome it hurts to look at you sometimes.”

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me,” He slipped arms around her back and buried his face in her neck, “What a cheesy line, Bell. I’d expect better from a smart gal like you.”

Bell laughed partly because of his reaction and because his beard tickled her neck.

“What you are!” She said in protest, pushing her hands against his chest.

He laughed and pulled away. She placed the tip of her index finger between her lips and grinned at him again. Despite everything she had just done to distract him, she wanted him to look at her like that again.

That lingering look. The way his blue eyes shone as he studied her face. It made her feel a bit like an idiot to want it.

But he wasn’t looking at her face now, he was leaning on one arm. His eyes were traveling down her body, and his fingers too. Bell bent one leg as his thumb found her clit, and he pushed a finger inside her.

Woods breathed something she couldn’t quite make out and pushed another finger inside her.

She trailed her hand along his abdomen, and he made a little pained noise as she touched his cock again.

“Frank,” Bell said, trying to sound commanding even though her voice shook as he pleasured her.

“God, you’re wet,” He said.

“You may have had something to do with that,” She chuckled but cut it off with a sharp breath.

Woods suppressed a grin as he looked up at her.

“You look good like this.”

She made a sound of confirmation and then found her commanding voice again, “Frank, I need you inside me, now.”

Bell spread her legs as he moved between them. He wrapped a hand around her hip as he eased himself into her.

“Oh,” She breathed and tilted her head back, closing her eyes.

Every nerve in her seemed to react to him finally slipping inside her.

“You ok?” he asked, giving her hip a little squeeze.

“Yeah,” She sighed, opening her eyes, “Feels good.”

Holding soft eye contact with her, he thrust with gentle and steady movements first, allowing her to adjust to him before picking up the pace.

Of course, he had to look so goddamn sexy when he fucked her.

Her breath caught in her throat as he resumed stroking over her clit with his thumb.

The initial sensations were overwhelming. It had been a while since she felt this good. She wanted to hold on to it. The hand still holding onto her hip dug into her flesh.

She ran her fingers through her hair, enjoying every feeling. His hands on her hips, the way his thumb circled her clit. Her breasts swayed with the rhythm of his thrusts. She let herself go limp, allowing his movements to take over. Pleasure coursed through her. Bell whined as a particularly well-timed thrust set her nerves alight. Her cheeks began to warm as a soft tingling spread over the surface of her face.

“Oh fuck,” Her voice was a whining gasp as she grabbed his wrist. Her thighs were aching. For a moment, it felt like she was caught, held tight, and couldn’t breathe. Heat rushed up her body. Bell raked her free hand over the pillow behind her head. She felt like she would be stuck here forever, her grip tightened on his wrist, then finally letting out a sob she was pushed over the edge.

He let her catch her breath, entwined his fingers with hers, and kissed the back of her hand.

“Frank,” Bell reached for him, and he smiled at her before bending down to kiss her. He pressed her hand into the bed and squeezed it as he moved down to kiss her neck.

“You ok?”

“Mmm-hmm,” She managed.

“Can I keep going?”

Bell nodded.

He lifted himself onto his arms, his face hovering just above hers. She looked away. It felt almost too intimate to look him in the eye right now.

You’ve got it bad.

Woods sat up and guided himself back into her. Her muscles tensed as her overstimulated flesh reacted to him entering her again. But she bit her lip against it. She didn’t want it to end yet.

Starting slow again, he began to find a rhythm. Then he placed his hands on either side of her as he bent over her. His arms slipped under her, one hand resting under her lower back and the other under her shoulders. Woods pressed his face into her neck, his hot breath hitting her skin, holding her close to him as he began fucking her again. Bell wrapped her legs around his waist, taking a moment to get used to the new angle. To enjoy the intense way the sensations in her body changed.

His body rubbed against her overworked clit as he thrust into her. She grabbed his shoulders tightly, bit back a whine, and jerked her hips into him. He groaned into her neck.

Encouraged, Bell scraped her fingers down his back and ass, holding him there and pressing him into her.

Woods sucked in a breath, “Damn, Bell.”

She heard his muffled voice say, baby, as his fingers wrapped around her upper arms.

His beard tickled her neck as he moved his mouth by her ear, breathing soft grunts next to it.

She felt his body begin to tense. His muscles tightened as he deepened his movements. She stroked the back of his sweaty and surprisingly soft hair.

He came deep inside her, breathing heavily into her skin. He moved his hand from between her shoulders to the back of her neck, stroking her hair there. They lay there like that catching their breath.

Woods shifted and pressed his forehead into her chest.

“That was good,” He said.

“Yeah,” Bell agreed.

A contented silence fell over them. Bell could feel herself fading, but she needed to get up, get this lingerie off of her. Finally take a shower?

“Frank?”

“Mmm?”

“I need to get up.”

He groaned and playfully squeezed her, like he wasn’t planning on letting her go, then rolled off.

Sitting up on the edge of the bed, she turned back to him.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I really need to shower. I didn’t before-”

“What you don’t like smelling like a battlefield? Smoke, grease, sweat-” He grinned at her as he settled into the pillows. V

She gave him a horrified look and sniffed at a lock of her hair.

“Oh god.” She scrunched her nose up. She did smell like smoke. And after he had cleaned himself up too.

“Bell, if those smells bothered me, I’d be in the wrong business.”

She gave him a tired smile and moved to stand up. Then realized was still wearing the heels from earlier. She wanted to kick them off.

“Wow,” Woods said behind her.

Bell turned to look at him.

“Your ass is amazing,” He offered by way of explanation.

“Oh.” She sat back down on the bed, her calves were aching, “It’s the heels.”

He drew himself up and sat next to her on the bed, slipping her shoes off before she had the chance.

“Nah, I think you’ve just got a great ass,” He said, setting the shoes down on the ground, “Now come on, I said I was going to help you with this.”

“You know I don’t actually-”

He put a finger over her lips to stop her. Then he detached the garters from the stockings in turn. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he removed the belt and tossed it on a chair. Then he carefully slipped the stockings off her, tossing them next to the belt.

He looked her over. His fingers traced where the lingerie had made indentations in her skin.

“Shit, did I make it too tight?”

Bell looked down to see what he was referring to and shrugged, “Oh no, that’s just how it is. Binding. Gotta keep everything in.”

Woods frowned at the indentations again.

“They’ll go away,” Bell assured him as she stood up.

“For the record, I’m good with everything out.” Then he grabbed her hips and turned her around, “Yeah, perfect ass. No torture devices needed for that.”

She looked over her shoulder at him and chuckled, “Can I take a shower now?”

Woods slapped her ass, “Now you can.”

“Hey!” Bell turned and placed her hands on his shoulders, pushing him back down on the bed.

“Oh, change your mind? Looking for a round two?”

She sighed, shook her head, and climbed off of him.

Bell walked to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and waited as it heated up. Then she stepped in and let the warm water run over her aching body. She was so tired she felt like she would fall asleep standing up. Picking up the tiny hotel shampoo bottle, she stared at it, willing herself to wash her hair, but she couldn’t. Bell leaned against the cool tile and closed her eyes.

“Hey,” Woods said from the other side of the shower curtain, “Room in there for one more?”

“Of course, but I thought you showered already.”

He carefully peeled back the curtain and stepped in.

“Some gal got me dirty since then.”

“Some gal?” She chuckled and turned to him.

“You ok?” He held her shoulders and tried to look at her face, “Oh wow, you are tired. Don’t fall asleep in here.”

She made a non-committal sound in response.

“Guess you still need my help,” Woods chuckled. He took the shampoo bottle from her and pulled her into his chest. Then he started washing her hair.

“This is ok, right?”

“Yeah,” She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. He helped her clean up, and when they were done, he wrapped a robe around her.

“Ok all clean.”

“Great, want to get dirty again?” She asked halfheartedly.

“Don’t tempt me, baby” He turned her around and guided her to the bed, “You need to sleep.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah, what you don’t like it?”

Bell considered this as she walked to the bed. She tossed her robe over a chair and pulled the covers aside. Then slipped between the sheets and settled in.

“Maybe I could get used to it,“ Bell covered her mouth, “I mean- I didn’t-”

She started to speak when he got into bed and placed his arms on either side of her head. He looked into her eyes as he stroked her hair.

“Don’t tell me this was a one-time-only kind of thing.”

“Just didn’t want to assume anything.”

“Yeah, I get that. But we gotta do this again,” He rolled over and pulled the covers over himself, settling in bed next to her, “This ok?”

She nodded, “Yeah, I want you to stay.”

She wrapped one arm around him and placed her head on his chest.

“I think-” She paused. Then Bell lifted herself on her hands and looked him in the eye. Her long hair pooled on his chest.

“I think I might like you, Frank,” She finished.

“You think?” He stroked her cheek with the back of his index finger. “I like you too, Bell.”

#frank woods #cod bell #call of duty #black ops cold war #black ops #frank woods x bell #alex mason

16 notes · View notes