Born of Ice

Chapter Three

   He sighed with something as close to contentment that he could get under the circumstances. He stood under the water with no real goal now that he had finished washing himself. The water soaked in, going straight to his old bones. He was unaware of how long he had been in the shower before he heard movement outside the bathroom door. He shut the water off, tying a towel around his waist, he grabbed his knife and made his way out towards the sound. He was just about to round the corner when he felt someone attempting to take him down. He twisted, grabbing ahold of the culprit, flipping them onto their back.
   A pair of shocked eyes locked with his as he realized that it was Tisha staring up at him. Her eyes lowered down his chest before jolting back up to his face, red creeping up her neck. She averted her eyes, clearing her throat before a squeak of a voice came out.
"Can you please cover back up? It is most unsettling to see."
   He was getting ready to retort with sarcasm when he realized that the towel had come untied, revealing more than he wanted to. He felt the heat rushing to his face as he quickly tied the towel back around his waist and stood up, taking a big step backwards.
"What the hell were you doing trying to take me down like that anyway?"
"Me? You were the one sneaking up on me! I heard you making noise!"
"Me? I just got out of the shower to see who was making noise when you tried to sneak up on me! Wait...if you weren't making that noise then who the fuck else is in this house?"
   They both peered at the kitchen where the noise was coming from. He helped her up before they both made their way towards the noise. The poked their heads around the corner carefully before he nearly landed on the floor seeing part of his team shuffling about, putting things away in various places. He stepped out from around the corner, placing his hands on his hips before clearing his throat to get their attention. They dropped what was in their hands, whipping around to eye him with suspicion. Their faces turned tomato red before peering curiously behind him. He saw dots being connected as he realized that Tisha had come out and was mimicking his stance at them. Big beaming smiles took over their faces as they eyed them both before anyone spoke.
"I didn't realize we would be interrupting anything Eric. Truthfully, we didn't honestly think you had it in you to do anything. Our sincere apologies."
"You have 3 seconds to explain why you're here before I start to throw things. I work alone and most certainly have not done anything you have in your head. I was simply showering while she was sleeping."
"Sleeping...right...well headquarters sent us with supplies after hearing rumors that the lovely people you stole her back from is in an uproar trying to find her. They have groups of people posted at nearly every exit from the city checking everything going out. You won't be able to leave the city with her when planned. Extraction has been changed until we figure out how we are going to do it without causing blood shed. We are stationed in another safe house about 30 minutes from here under the guise of being on a fishing trip so we could get into the city without raising any suspicions. We figured you'd both be sleeping while we dropped off supplies so we didn't think we would find you in such compromising positions. Don't mind us we are almost done anyways."
   They gave them a wink before returning to unpacking. He gave an indignant snort before turning to head back towards the room he dumped his stuff into. He heard her soft footsteps behind him as he entered his room. She blocked the door as he was closing it stepping around it to eye him with her hands on her hips. He eyed her suspiciously as he waited to find out what she wanted.
"What did they mean when they said they didn't think they had it in you?"
"It's not important. Can I get dressed in peace now?"
"No. I want to know what they mean. They clearly know you well and felt the need to jab at you so what did they mean."
"You must have lived a sheltered life if you do not know what they meant. They have it in their thick skulled brain that we have slept together which you aren't helping being in here when I am in nothing but a towel."
"That is only part of it. Why wouldn't you be able to sleep with a woman?"
"Is this conversation so important that I can't get dressed first?"
"Yes. The faster you speak, the sooner I will leave so spill it."
"For the love of everything holy woman. Anyone ever tell you that some information is private?"
"Yes and I ignored it. Is there something wrong with you? Do you prefer the company of males?"
"Good God no. Jesus fine it's because I have not been with anyone since shortly after my turning. Can I dress now?"
"Why haven't you been with anyone?"
"That is none of your business. I'm dropping this towel regardless of whether or not you leave. Decide now if you want to see that or not."
   He growled as he turned towards his closest to investigate what they had brought for him to wear. He grabbed a pair of sweats with a t-shirt. He dug around a drawer and found a pack of boxer briefs that he gladly opened, snatching the first pair out of it. He turned back towards the bed, depositing the clothes on top so he could untie the towel from his waist. He let it slip from his waist as he grabbed the boxers to slip on. He slipped the sweats on and then the shirt before looking up to see her eyeing him curiously. He let a groan slip as he felt his body stirring at her gaze.
"Why are you still in here?"
"Well you wouldn't tell me why so I had to see if you had sustained an injury. There did not appear to be damage to anything so I am still left with no answer as to why a healthy male would not be active in such a manner. Truly there is no shame if you prefer male company."
   He let loose a purely predatory growl as he came around the bed, stalking straight towards her. Her eyes widened as she backed towards the door. He saw the panic set in as she realized she had just backed herself up against a wall. He slammed one hand against the wall next to her head and the other wrapped around her throat as he leaned in towards her. He felt the heat emanating from her body as he leaned down to her ear to whisper.
"I assure you it has nothing to do with my preferences. I would love nothing more than to explore what they were thinking right now. However, that is something neither you or I would be ready for. So you are going to exit my room now so that I can focus on what I need to do since we will be stuck here longer than expected. No more testing my patience understand?"
   She nodded her head slowly as he let go and stepping back away from her. She eyed him a minute longer before exiting the room. He groaned, running a hand through his wet hair as he realized what he had just admitted to a virtual stranger. This was going to be a long mission.