VANGUARD(51)

“Giving sexual advice to the two of us during a medical exam takes matchmaking to a whole new level. Michael’s probably ripping her head off right now.”

“Michael needs to take himself a little less seriously, and so do you. He’s alive, for God’s sake. You’re together. Just relax and stop overanalyzing everything. And since when have you been embarrassed by anything my wife says about sex? You two are best friends; some of the topics I’ve overheard you discussing are mortifying.”

“It’s a lot different when the sex object in question is in the room listening to you,” Sophie mumbled. She dropped her head to the table; it bounced back up again when Anjali sailed through the door.

“My, he has a temper, doesn’t he?” Anjali took a blueberry yogurt out of the fridge. “That’s good. It means he’s probably very passionate in bed.”

“How angry was he when you left?”

“He had to stop shouting when the coughing got too severe,” her friend said with a serene smile. “Then he ordered me out of the infirmary in the most imperious way.” Anjali looked delighted with the entire thing. “You know, if it were anyone else, I’d say he wouldn’t have a prayer of performing with all that medication in him, but he’s clearly a special case. I think you should go for it.”

“I’m done here.” Sophie snatched up her water bottle and stalked to the door. “Thanks a whole bunch, Anjali.”





-





She hid in her quarters until she knew Michael would be asleep, then tiptoed back to the infirmary. His breathing sounded less congested than it had in previous nights.

She slid silently into the bed, so narrow that she had no choice but to sleep right up against him. She sighed with pleasure as she pressed her body against his back. She slipped her arm around him, pulling herself closer, took two or three deep breaths, and started to relax.

In a flash, Michael rolled on top of her, his body pinning her to the bed. His hands closed around her wrists, and his knee pressed between her thighs. In the semi-darkness, she saw his furious face inches above hers. She could feel his muscles trembling, heard the harsh scrape of his breathing, and knew how much energy he was expending to pull off this little display of manliness.

“Why are you here?” he snarled in Orlisian. “Why do you sleep with me every night other than to humiliate me?” His anger might have been alarming if she hadn’t already seen him throw tantrums in the past. Mind you, she’d never been on the bottom of one of them before. “Since you no longer desire me, why do you return to my bed?”

If he hadn’t had her wrists pinned, she would have slapped her forehead in disgust. Possibly his as well.

“You are such a fool,” she snapped. Then she reached up to capture his mouth with her own.

Michael stiffened in shock, then returned the kiss with bruising force. She rammed her tongue past his lips, sweeping over every inch of his mouth. His ferocity didn’t frighten her. She knew him better than she knew herself, knew he would rather die than physically harm a woman. All the terror and desperation of the last several months poured through them as they clung to one another.

Slowly, his grip relaxed, and his kisses became sweet and soft. Sophie slid her hands free and moved them down through his short, spiky hair to his back. She ran her fingers over his shoulders.

“Now do you believe that I still want you?”

“Yes,” he said in a low voice. “Almost as much as I want you, Mana mila.” His words sent a shiver through her body.

“I’m sorry you interpreted my distance as a lack of desire. I want you more than any other man on this earth.” He growled in response, his hands sliding down to her hips. “Stop,” she said. “I’m…I’m afraid.”

His hands froze, and he pulled back to look at her face. “Afraid? Of me?” His expression was horrified. “Did I hurt you just now? I…I did not mean to. I will be good to you, so good, please let me show you how wonderful I can make you feel.” He started to move down her body, but she put her hands on his shoulders to still him.

“I know you would.” She let out a shaky sigh. “But if you do, I won’t be able to keep my wits about me. And I still don’t know how to get you back to the US without the Commandant punishing the refugees and the mission.” She felt tears prick the corners of her eyes. “I’m afraid that I won’t figure it out in time.”