TO SERVE AND OBEY

Chapter 6

The moonlight dips through the artificial pane of his tent, playing over his arresting torso. It illuminates the muscled slope of his shoulders and the hard flat plane of his midriff. She holds her breath. He looks so good she wants more of him but, he is sound asleep and she has duty in ten minutes. Aleska thinks a cool walk in the pre-dawn forest just might quieten down her hormones and help her process what she just allowed to happen. She knows  in hindsight that it will be a distraction allowing herself to become intimate again with Stone, but she has no restraint left. She'd tried from the very second she'd laid eyes on him again to bury her feelings for him but always at the back of her mind, he was there occupying her thoughts, dragging her back to their heated past, reigniting the fiery passions of their unfinished relationship. What's a girl supposed to do? She was human ... contrary to popular belief.

It had taken her almost a year and six months to forget Stone ... then six months ago, she had dated a civilian. It hadn't lasted long. She had not been able to forget Stone and now ... she had gone and ripped open the wound. Its sting was bitter sweet ... her future unknown. They were soldiers of different countries.

Aleska walks about forest. The small yellowish moon hovers above the giant trees. The moon grows paler as it rises higher into very early morning sky....making their surroundings ominous by the close, almost impenetrable canopy of trees. Aleska enjoys the companionable silence of the pre -dawn rain forest. The early morning air is crisp. The colossal trees covered in hanging vines offer some protection from the nippy whispering wind. She does not venture too far; in five minutes she must climb the portable tower to commence her duty. Very soon the sun will rise and the wildlife's daytime creatures will begin their morning shift; conversations from the parakeets and birds will fill the air with their chatter. The piercing vibrations of the cicadas will ricochet through the jungle when they fly overhead. With still too much unspent energy, Aleska runs up the stairs to the observation tower. She will take over from 2nd Lieutenant Simon Hack who is in charge of their weapons and equipment; and most importantly he was charged with chef duties. All the soldiers treated him with respect, their sustenance depended on him.

'All quiet. Nothing to report Major,' he salutes her and signs of.

'Thank you,' she signs on and commences duty. She does not really need the energy boost from coffee, but the aroma of the piping hot brew has her pouring some into a mug.

Aleska has been on watch for an hour and some when she feels his presence even with her back turned to the stairway.

'You should not be here,' she turns around and is surprised to see him in jeans and a T shirt. He looks gorgeous.

Stone smiles broadly at her. She looks deliciously tousled with her cheeks pink, and her eyes drunk with satiation...he beams proudly, taking personal credit.

'And why shouldn't I be here?' He brazenly plants a kiss on her lips. She tastes delectable ... just a hint of coffee. He wants to deepen the kiss. She steps away from him.

'I'm on duty.'

Stone is surprised at her cool dismissive manner. So, was the blazing passion between them last night, just a one night thing? Wounded by her dismissive manner, he attempts conversation.

'You should have woken me up.'

'Why? There was no reason to disturb you?' Her eyes do a quick scan of their surroundings.

'I could have walked you to your duty point.'

Aleska laughs softly. 'You have such good bed side manners.'

'Don't mock me.'

'I'm not.'

It was true. She discovered that in Serbia. He could be such a charming and chivalrous gentleman. It was one of his many attractions. Stone sees the sincerity in her eyes, an even broader grin breaks out on his face.