Wanting Forever

Part 15

       

Trace stepped out of the simulator complex into the waning afternoon light. Golden hour. Effone would be gorgeous in this light.

When he'd awakened that morning, there was a woman pressed to his side. Christ, she was beautiful. Maybe not in the traditional way, but she was funny and blindingly intelligent. Her hair was something he couldn't stop thinking about.

She'd awakened slowly, and the soft noises that escaped her throat as she did so sent jolts directly south. As her awareness of her situation set in, her hand moved over his chest as if to confirm he was real and not imagined. It had been the most sensual experience he'd had in years. Whether that was because he had developed a deep attraction to her or something else, he wasn't sure. After burying her face in his neck and thanking him for the sleep, Effone had quickly removed herself from the bed. On her way out the door she'd suggested they get dinner that evening, and if things stayed sober, maybe they'd review their moratorium on the physical aspects of their relationship. Considering they'd already slept together, he, for one, was drinking nothing stronger than water for the rest of the day.

With that in mind, he hurried into the Northspace Grand and almost ran over his friend Wade.

"Hey man, in a rush?" Wade said, slapping Trace on the shoulder.

Trace looked over Wade's shoulder to the elevators with a lot more impatience than usual. "A little bit."

"Have you seen your partner? She got a message earlier today and practically ran out of the room like the hounds of hell were on her heels. She didn't come back."

Trace hadn't heard anything, but if she'd tried—he'd been tied up all afternoon. "What? When?"

"Earlier. Right after lunch."

Trace pushed past Wade as something like fear jumped up and turned his stomach into a knot. When he arrived at their floor he pushed through the elevator doors before they'd fully opened. He knocked on Effone's door, and the person who answered definitely wasn't Effone.

"Can I help you?" The older gentleman looked at Trace with a suspicious eye.

Trace only shook his head, muttered a "Sorry," and then turned away. Where could she be? Had something happened to her ship? She wouldn't just leave without a goodbye...would she?

Trace lengthened his steps to his own room, picked up his comm and was about to send Effone a message when he noticed the note on the floor. It seemed to have been pushed under the door. "I'm leaving. 18:00. Mooring 42." The paper was wrinkled in spots as if it had gotten wet, and the ink was smeared.

She cried when she wrote this note.

Everything in his hands fell to the floor as he tore out of the room, into the elevator, and through the front doors of the hotel. Less than one hour and she'd be gone...

Rain poured relentlessly from the sky in sheets, but there was no wind—even with his narrow knowledge of airships he knew wind was the limiting weather factor—so the ship was unlikely to be delayed.

"Captain Pacifica..." he asked of the poncho-covered security officer at the mooring Effone had listed on the paper. He had to pause to catch his breath after running close to a mile in the rain. "Has she boarded yet?"

"No, sir. She's been on and off but she is not onboard at this time."

There wasn't anything for him to do but wait. And the rain did not relent.

Five minutes passed. His shoes filled with water. Every inch of clothing he wore was wet. But it would be worth it to see her before she left.

A figure exited the terminal building and headed toward him. He guessed it was her even though the yellow rain slicker didn't reveal much about who was underneath.

The figure stopped a step away from him and then peered out from under the hood. Effone's eyes were red.

Trace reached forward, gripping her upper arm. "Eff, what's going on?"

"Trace, you found my note." The rain sluiced off the bright yellow hood. Her eyes, usually so vibrant when they landed on him, were frighteningly devoid of happiness.

"I did. After scaring the man who'd checked in to your room."

"I didn't know what else to do." She reached up with a shaky hand and swiped at her eyes. It was hard to tell if there were tears or not as the downpour continued. She pulled Trace with her past the security guard, who started to protest, but Effone silenced him with a shake of her head. The two of them ended up just inside the dockway, out of the rain. "This whole assignment is top security. I can't tell you where I'm going, how long, why, or when I'm coming back."

"What about communications? Can I call you?"

Effone looked down at her hands. "No. We're under a comm blackout. No unnecessary communication." She looked up again, the pain of the loss plain on her face. "I'm so sorry, Trace. I promised things this morning that I never dreamed I couldn't deliver."

"It's okay." His hands moved to cup her face. He was going to take every opportunity to touch her that he could. "I'll see you again. Have your Admiral call my Admiral when you're back."

"This is why I didn't want to get involved. When I get back you'll be three thousand miles away." She waved her hand between them. "We can't...won't work as...as...anything beyond work partners." She tried to turn away even though he still held her face. "Why did I do this to you?"

"You? Effone, you didn't do anything to me. In fact, I asked you out."

She sniffed loudly. "Fine, why did you do this to me, you cruel bastard?" The words came out of an ironic smile filled with sorrow.

"I won't do it again." This was like ripping a bandage off of a wound that wasn't ready to be uncovered.

Effone's hand went to his neck and she pulled him down until his forehead met hers. "Please do. If I ever see you again, do it over and over. I wouldn't give up the time we've spent together for anything." She leaned back and looked into his face. "Do you hear me?"

"Yeah, and I promise I will see you again. You can count on that." Behind them, Trace heard the rustle of a poncho.

"Captain Pacifica, the bridge is calling down. We have to cast off."

The words of the security officer barely cut through his consciousness. He could feel her shaking. "Eff, you have to go."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling them close together. "Shut up. They can't leave without me." Her voice took on the barest hint of desperation.

His heart threatened to burst in his chest. The depth of his feeling for her shocked him. They hadn't even had sex and he was just about to offer to help her run away from this. To help her to stay with him. He held on until her grip loosened.

Effone stepped back out of his reach. She swiped at her eyes one more time. "You're right. I have to go."

    "Look me up when you get back. I'll come as soon as I can."