Chapter 4

~ Linka? Is everything alright? ~

Ma-Ti's voice disturbed the Russian's sleep but for a few moments she couldn't process the words.

~ Linka? ~

~ I am here... sorry Ma-Ti, I overslept. ~

She felt his anxiety ebb away.

~ My apologies, you are normally awake by now, and I did not think Wheeler would be. ~

Their friend was correct, he wasn't awake if the way he was breathing into the back of her neck was any indication. But since he was also very naked with his arms around her and his hands in places she'd rather not discuss with their youngest team-mate, she resolutely shut all thoughts of him out of her mind.

~ I do not sleep well when there is a storm. Are you and the others setting out soon? ~

~ We are already on the way. We should be with you in... ~ he paused as he consulted the others and Linka's heart sped up as she waited to find out if they were about to be discovered, ~ about an hour. ~

She breathed a sigh of relief, ~ We will be ready. ~

After Ma-Ti signed off, Linka carefully disengaged from Wheeler's embrace and slid out of the sleeping bag.

After a short inner debate she gathered her things but wrapped a towel around herself instead of dressing. Then she quietly left the tent and made her way down to the water's edge.

Leaving her clothes on an out-cropping of rocks, along with the towel, she slipped into the water and sighed as the cool liquid covered her body. Submerging completely, Linka relaxed back, letting it help her aching muscles, and finally allowed herself to sort through the memories and feelings of the night before.

They hadn't rushed. Wheeler had explored every inch of her body, always gentle, always tender, until she had practically been ready to beg him to take things further. She'd done her own share of exploring as well, enjoying their closeness as she learned what he liked.

When she'd hesitated or got embarrassed he'd made her laugh and when they finally joined, sharing themselves fully, he'd told her again that he loved her.

Smiling, Linka closed her eyes and turned her face up to the sun, enjoying the warmth.

"Linka!"

She was startled from her reverie by Wheeler's panicked cry and she moved quickly to the bank, raising her head over it, "Yankee? What is wrong?... Bozhe moy!"

The last was in the realisation that he was still naked, but apparently unconcerned by it as he ran across the camp-site and lowered himself into the water with more haste than grace.

"Fucking hell that's cold!" He exclaimed, not stopping however until he was in front of Linka, "Are you OK?"

"Da, of course I am." She answered, confused. Placing a hand over his heart she could feel it beating wildly, "What is the matter?"

Wheeler put his arms around her tentatively, holding her like she was made of china. "You were gone, I didn't know if... I mean I promised we'd take it slow but then you woke up and... you were upset, I shouldn't have... but you wanted... just don't hate me, ok?"

"Oh Jason, I am sorry," her heart clenched as she realised what he was thinking and she put her hands up to cradle his face, "I did not mean to frighten you, I just let you sleep in because you did not get much sleep last night."

"You were gonna kiss me good morning," he suggested, still seeming a little wary.

Linka leant in to kiss him and was relieved when he tightened his embrace and returned the gesture. When they parted he was smiling and she decided it was OK to joke with him a little, "It also occurred to me that if I woke you up we would still be in bed when the others arrived, and I do not think they could be persuaded to leave us there."

He chuckled but he wouldn't be distracted that easily, "you're really ok with this?"

"Making love with you?" She nodded.

"And being my girlfriend?"

She smiled, "I was always ok with that, it was the idea that you did not want to be in a committed relationship that bothered me."

"I did, I do!" He said immediately.

"I know that now." She kissed him again, not able to help herself.

They took their time, just holding each other and sharing kisses, but also recapturing the intimacy of the night before.

When at last they got out to dry off and Wheeler had retrieved a towel from his tent - although he was still walking about with a lack of modesty that made Linka's cheeks burn even as it drew her gaze - he asked, "Will you go with me to America?"

She nodded, "Da. Will you go with me to Russia next month? It is Mishka's birthday and he has made a point of asking me to go this year but we have so little time off, and I do not want to miss time with you either."

He walked over to her - now mostly decent with only a bare chest - and pressed his lips to hers in a leisurely manner before answering, "I will follow you anywhere."

"I love you." She blushed but met his eyes, "I know I should have said it last night but I was a little overwhelmed." He stared at her as if in a trance so she said it again. "I love you."

This time she only just got to finish the sentence before he pulled her into a fierce embrace.

"You don't know how happy I am right now," he told her at last but she gave him an adoring smile and assured him that she had a good idea.

"It is like you said, any time we get to spend together is the best part of the day and now it means even more." Her look turned shy but she didn't turn away. "Last night was incredible."

He nodded, love shining in his eyes but before she could continue they heard the unmistakable voices of their friends approaching through the trees.

Wheeler sighed and placed one brief kiss to her lips. He lowered his voice so that it wouldn't carry, "You still gonna share my tent or do we need to hustle and make it look all innocent?"

"What would you prefer?"

"What do you think I would prefer? I want you with me." He told her, "I don't want you to be made uncomfortable though and I can guess how they'll all react."

Smiling up at him, the Russian gave a little shrug, "I will cope. I want to stay with you, but let us 'hustle' to get everything we need and then zip the tent closed. Then at least we can concentrate on the mission today and deal with that conversation later."

Wheeler nodded and then glanced in the direction of their friend's voices, before turning back to her with a cheeky grin. They still had a few minutes before they came in sight and he wanted one more kiss...

The end