A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Sixty-Two

"When I mentioned bringing us somewhere special, I did not imagine it would be so close to where I just about died." Markus nudged Mina's shoulder. He couldn't stop the smile from toying at his lips. Maybe it was because there was truth to his words, or maybe it was because he was there with the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Yeah, that was definitely it.

His heartbeat quickened as she reached up and kissed him. Her lips warm and supple. Inviting. He regretted feeling her pull away, even when she spoke. "But I love this place."

He was breathless. "If you keep doing that, I can learn to love this place a lot faster."

Laughing, she gently patted his chest.

Flinching from the tenderness of his nearly healed wounds, he instantly hated to see the flash of sadness flow into her eyes.

"Sorry!"

He really hated to see her pull back and apologize. It was cruel torture.

"Don't be sorry for touching me, Mina." A smile spread across his face. His words dead serious.

"Markus, you said you grabbed plates. Where are they?" Lotte's aggravated voice flowed to them from the blanket spread out on the floor.

He turned back to Mina as soon as he heard her giggle, keeping his voice hushed. "I may have forgotten them."

Her giggle turned into an infectious laugh. He couldn't stop himself from joining in.

"She will skin you alive if you forgot those plates, Markus." Her laughter died down, but her eyes still twinkled.

He couldn't pull his eyes from hers. His heartbeat pounded faster as he began leaning in. She was drawing him in whether she knew it or not. She would be his kryptonite.

Their lips were almost touching. Desire in both of their eyes.

"Markus!" Lotte's voice pulled them both out of their trance.

"She sounds angry. You should go and talk to her." Mina took a step back.

Swallowing, he nodded, still fully mesmerized by her.

"I mean it, Markus. Go, fix the problem." She gave him an encouraging smile.

"You better be easy to find after I straighten this out." He didn't want to take his eyes off of her. Or think about the fact that she might not be alive tomorrow. He'd live for today, that was all that they were promised. "Remember, I cannot walk too far without my leg giving me problems."

He watched her wink at him and turn to walk away. With a mesmerizing sigh, he turned back to find Lotte.

The woman was digging through the picnic basket with Aldrik sitting next to her holding Hans.

"We do not need them, honey. We are just eating sandwiches. It is nothing that special." Markus could immediately see the regret form on Aldrik's face when Lotte gave him a chilling glare.

"This whole day is special. It needs to be perfect, Aldrik." The tears glistened her eyes as her face gentled up. She cupped his face with her small hand. "You are right. I am sorry for snapping."

Markus cleared his throat. He didn't want to intrude on their moment, but he had been summoned after all too. "You wanted me, Lotte."

She turned and looked up at him. Reaching into the basket, she grabbed two wrapped sandwiches. Tossing them up at him, she didn't seem to care about his struggle to catch them. "Today might be your last day with her. Do not end it with any regrets."