Paul turned off the engine as they pulled up infront of their pine log cabin.
"Wow… it's beautiful Paul." Rihanna smiled at him.
"Well… we need to find out what's going on and it's the holiday season. Most of the complex is booked out to Senators and the like. They all know what's going on with us so I'm hoping they'll be fruitful with leaking information, especially after they've had a few drinks down them." He chuckled. "I called ahead and informed the staff that this was our honeymoon, we need to make it believable. Now… sorry to broach the subject but what do you want to be called?"
Rihanna chuckled. "I kind of like Rihanna Meyers Davis… if that's ok with you?"
He smiled. "That's perfect. Now, after I carry you over the threshold, we'll need to scout for bugs."
"Ok." Rihanna got out of the car and walked up the small drive towards the beautiful two storey log cabin. There were lights already hung around the upper balcony and the railings outside. Lights hung from the slope of the roof and she could see the faint outline of a Christmas tree inside. She could feel the cold chill in the air and from the looks of the other cabins; they all had log fires as well. Her smile faded somewhat as she reminded herself that this wasn't her honeymoon, it was all a show. But she figured that seeing as she was in over her head anyway; she may as well enjoy the ride.
Paul joined her on the deck at the front and unlocked the door. He placed a hand on her arm to stop her entering and smiled evilly at her. "I wasn't kidding." He swiftly lifted her effortlessly into his arms and carried her through the door; dipping his head his kissed her softly on the lips. "Welcome to our home Mrs Rihanna Meyers Davis."
Rihanna smiled as he placed her back onto the floor. "Why thank you Mr Paul Davis." She watched him close the door and caught the bug detector he threw at her. They spent the next hour chatting amicably about their plans for the holiday until they were satisfied that the cabin was clean. "Right I suggest we get the luggage out of the car and get a fire started. I for one am in need of a hot shower and a change of clothes."
Paul sniggered softly. "I actually think you should keep what you have on."
Rihanna rolled her eyes. "I don't think so hun." She walked out onto the deck and he hesitated, her use of that word once the cabin was clean confusing him. He guessed she wanted to keep in the role to a certain point to be sure they didn't slip up… he sighed and followed her out to the car.
"Here… let me take the heavy ones babes."
"Thank you." She kissed him lightly on the lips and gathered up the rest, heading back into the cabin.
"You go have a shower and I'll start the fire. Shall I put some coffee on?"
"As if you need to ask me that?" She laughed as she headed up the stairs to the bathroom and the guest room. She stopped on the balcony and looked over the cabin. The large lounge area was dominated by the fireplace and a large Christmas tree, and on the secondary level on the other side of the lounge was the master bedroom. The double doors were open and she could see the room had French doors out to a balcony of its own. She heard Paul in the kitchen unpacking some food they had brought with them and smiled as she made her way to the main bathroom.
Paul heard her close the bathroom door and the shower switch on. After he had started the coffee pot, he set to work on the fire and then carried their luggage up to the master suite. He stopped in the doorway and took in the scene before him. A large vase of roses were on the bedside table, the room dominated by a huge king-size bed, with voile curtains hung from the bedstead. There was a large couch opposite the bed with a coffee table and a door which led into the walk in closet. Another door to the side he presumed led to the en-suite bathroom. He placed the cases on the floor and walked to the door and opened it. Sunk into the floor there was a large tub, with ornate taps. There was also a shower cubicle and separate sinks for them both.
He walked out and opened the French doors, moving onto the private balcony. The view was amazing and stretched out over the valley and to the mountains where snow was already present. The lake shone in the evening glow of the setting sun and he could hear the birds within the forest. He shook his head and made his way back inside.
"If only this was real, it would be perfect." He muttered as he made his way back to the lounge area to check on the fire. That done he gathered together Rihanna's new ID, drivers licence, credit cards and placed them on the table. He had guessed she would want to keep her own surname and had already had the various items made up in the name she had suggested. He shook his head, sometimes it was scary how well he did know her and yet at other times… she just amazed and shocked him.
He heard the shower click of and her soft footsteps as she headed into the guest room and turned on the hair dryer. He poured out the coffee and leaving hers on the side, grabbed his jacket and took it out onto the deck. He sat down on the top step and looked up at the stars which were visible in the gaps of cloud, wishing for once that he could be like everyone else on this planet, wishing he would just see stars instead of the devastation that often came from those planets so very far away.
Sometimes he wished he could just forget all that he had seen and live in ignorant bliss like those around him. But despite this wish, he knew in his heart that he would never walk away from the program… it was his life. Even if it left little room for anything else… it was a price he was willing to pay.
She sat down beside him, her coffee in one hand, her hair dry and stared out across the lake. "It really is beautiful out here."
"The brochures do not do it justice."
Rihanna lifted her head and gazed at the sky. "Looks like snow."
Paul laughed softly. "I don't get it. Why do people go nuts over snow?"
Rihanna looked at him. "Don't you ever just want to leave all the 'yes sir, no sir' bullshit behind and just be free? That's why people love the snow. It brings all ages together, all walks of life with no ranks to answer to. It makes us feel like children again, before we had to worry about money and life insurance… gives us the chance to just play."
"Play?"
"Yes play. Snowball fights, make snow angels, and build snowmen…" She looked at the vacant look on his face.
"I've… I've never done any of those things."
"Well that's going to change." She met his gaze as he turned to look at her. "The Air Force isn't your whole life Paul, there is room for more if you just allow it."
He sighed and searched her eyes. "How much do you know Ri?"
She shook her head and returned her gaze to the lake. "My father used to tell me stories when I was a child, of an artefact found in Giza that allowed people to travel to other planets. I would fall asleep listening to those stories and dream of far off places and alien civilisations. He always described them in such detail, with such passion…" She let out a deep breath. "Not long after I was assigned to you he came to see me and he told me that they weren't stories. It was real. He told me that we had made great enemies out there and that people within the Government were fighting for control as rogue units tried to take advantage of our new allies. He warned me to be careful who I trusted within the Pentagon."
"Yet you trusted me." He caught her frown as she returned his gaze. "Why?"
"I've seen you make enemies within the Pentagon Paul, people whom you should really be trying to get on your side. I've noticed the increase in late nights we've put in, the classified files that keep passing over my desk, the murmured phone calls. I don't know what it is about you, just something inside me, from day one, told me to trust you. It made me loyal to you which is why I am sitting here right now. I know you're involved… I just don't know to what extent. I know that your involvement had also affected your personal life which saddens me because you are such an amazing person, the envy of a lot of officers within the halls we work and the subject of many females' attentions. I know how hard it is for you to have anything to call your own, why your relationships have failed… your priorities are where they should be right now Paul. Don't doubt that. All I know is I intend to stand by you through this and if at the end we find ourselves wanting to stay together, then we shall."
"Do you mean that? Because I've got to tell you, I have fallen so far already it scares me. Legally, you are my wife and the feeling that alone gives me… is hard to describe."
She smiled softly. "Weird isn't it."
"I am so close to falling in love with you Rihanna, but I've held myself back for fear that when this is over, you will want nothing to do with me and I couldn't…"
"Paul that is not going to happen." She held his face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes. "Even if we are not together in this way, I will still be with you in whatever capacity needs be. I feel the same Paul."
Her voice was soft and as he gazed into her eyes he smiled as small snowflakes began to fall. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
Rihanna laughed and stood up from the step, pulling him up with her. "I think it's a little late for that statement."
"You could be right." He mused as they headed back inside. He locked the door and made his way over the fire, dimming the lights as he went and settled on the floor next to her, pulling the afghan over them and leaning back against the couch. "I want to share so much with you, if I do this, there will be no secrets. Even if I have to fight the President…"
Rihanna sniggered and moulded herself against him. "I can see the headlines now. 'Davis does it again!' Now that would give them something to talk about."
Paul snorted. "Like they don't have enough already." He settled his arms around her and pulled her into his lap so she was resting against him and leant his chin on her head. His gaze settled on the fire and he smiled at the shadows that danced around the room. "You know, right now, there is no place I'd rather be than here with you."
Rihanna smiled and turned within his arms. Reaching up she pulled him in for a tender kiss, one she hoped would show him exactly how she felt. She heard the soft moan that escaped his lips as he deepened the kiss and shifted so he could lower he onto the floor. He broke the kiss as he settled over her, resting on his forearms to look down at her. The firelight gleamed in her eyes and caught the highlights in her hair. The smell of the burning logs intermingled with the scent of the pine tree that loomed over them. Her gaze never left his as he traced her cheekbone, down to her chin. If he was honest, he'd known this was coming. His arousal that first night had honed him into the fact that this woman would be his undoing.
But as he gazed down at her now, his train of thought altered. She may just be his salvation. He moaned as her fingers gently moved up his chest, undoing his shirt button by button. Carefully she slipped it off and threw it onto the couch beside them. When she looked back into his eyes, his silent question had been answered. She was his.
