Dresden: For God and Country

Chapter 4

"Go sit on the cot." I told Parker. My voice was tight with excitement, but I kept my expression blank. He looked at me in puzzlement. "Just wander casually back over there and sit down. Trust me." I added. He obeyed, looking very casual as he made another circuit of the room and then sighed and sat down, a perfect look of resignation on his face. Beautiful. I suppressed a smile. He watched me for a minute or two as I continued my pointless examination of the walls.

"Now say my name and motion me over to sit next to you." I said quietly.

"Alex." He said and I turned to look at him with artfully faked surprise. He grinned at my reaction and patted the cot next to him. I came over to him and sat, looking at him expectantly.

"Now what?" he asked.

"Keep smiling and lift my legs up onto your lap." His look of surprise marred his smile only a very little and he did as I asked, if a little uncertainly. I faked a much stronger reaction of surprise at his movement, but permitted his very physical gesture.

"Kiss me." I told him. His hand cupped my face and brought it closer to his. He placed on very chaste kiss on my lips and started to draw away. I followed him back and slowly brought my arms up around his neck. He instinctively moved closer, wrapping his arms around me. He pressed me up against him and deepened the kiss.

More minutes passed as I felt his muscles tense and his skin grow hot. One hand grasped my hip and I unwound one of my arms to pull the hem of my shirt up over his hand. He instinctively moved under it to my skin but he flinched away like it had burned him. I turned my head and whispered "Take it off". He pulled away from me, panic in his eyes.

"What are you doing? We can't." He said, the strain in his voice telling. I felt horrible about doing this to him. It really wasn't fair.

"Trust me. Not much longer, but we have to make it look good." I said. He hesitated, then brought his lips back to mine. His mouth moved to my neck and I turned my head to give him better access. His hands slowly and tenderly lifted my shirt over my head. I could feel him trembling. Gently, hesitantly, he caressed my skin. His hands left burning trails were they passed. Gradually I sank backward till I was lying stretched out on the cot with him on top. I felt his restraint start to crumble and mine showed signs of following.

That's enough, I thought. I wiggled out from under him and scooped my shirt off the floor. Instead of putting it back on, I wrapped it around my hand. I stood on the edge of the cot and stretched up to reach the light. Carefully, I unscrewed the bulb. The light went out and it was pitch black in the room.

"What the heck, Alex?" asked Parker, rightly irritated. I tried to explain fast.

"I needed a reason to turn off the light that wouldn't raise their suspicions and that was the only thing I could think of. They'll send a few men down here to put the light back in and when they come in we'll jump them. Then we'll have a small time window to make our escape before they realize anything's up. We need to go stand on the opposite side of the door."

We moved quickly to the other side of the door and waited. Footsteps came down the hall. Suddenly, I realized that when they walked in they would know something was wrong by the silence.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered before again capturing Parker's mouth with mine. He responded enthusiastically, understanding in an instant this time. There was an ugly laugh from just outside and the door swung open. Four men walked in, facing away from us. Parker and I untangled ourselves at once and launched at their backs. I didn't see what he did, but I jumped up on the big brute in front of me and wrapped my arms around his throat. He was so tall I nearly didn't make it. It was only after I was committed that I realized I really didn't know what to do now. He reached up to pull me off and I used the only weapon I had available. I banged my elbow into his temple as hard I could. He staggered and fell to his knees. I kicked him in the same temple and he collapsed to the floor. By now, my second man had turned to help his companions. He reached out to grab me and I danced away into the dark, snatching my shirt from where I had dropped it. He pursued me and I managed to get behind him. I looped the shirt around his neck and pulled back with all my might. He fought for such a long time, growing weaker and less coordinated. After a minute and a half, he slipped into unconsciousness. At two minutes, I released him. I put a finger to his throat and waited till I felt his pulse and ragged breathing restart. Then I turned to Parker who was watching in sickened awe.