CHAPTER TWELVE
"You have beautiful hair," he murmured, his hand smoothed over her hair, his fingers tangling in the soft strands as he relished the feel of her lying against him. She was warm. She was sweet and everything he'd ever wanted.
And she liked him!
He knew she felt at least some affection for him, though perhaps not as much as he felt for her. Hell, he'd fallen in love with her the day he met her. He had known it was love. Known the possessiveness, the joy, the sheer delight he found in her could be nothing else. He wanted to hold her forever but he knew, realistically, it wasn't possible. He could only hold her for now and see how she reacted when she awakened.
And that part terrified him.
Would she hate him?
He could never tell with her. She was as predictable as the wind.
It's real!
Lisa mused to herself. She'd never felt this happy or free and her heart thudded against her ribcage like it wanted to get out.
She sighed against his chest, a soft little sound that clenched his heart as her hand smoothed over his chest and then back again. He stilled, his breath nearly suspending as she repeated the action, her body tensing.
"What happened to you?" Her fingers picked up the nearly invisible line of scars that criss-crossed his chest.
"Flying accident."
"What kind of flying accident?" She leaned up enough to open drowsy eyes, though her gaze was as sharp as ever. "Don't be a smart aleck."
He was willing to bet she drove her father insane. She was too curious, too independent, and too set on having the answers she demanded.
"I was pretty young when it happened. I'd just learned how to fly and was showing off."
"How come I'm not surprised?" She snorted at him, a completely unladylike sound that surprised the heck out of him.
A beep suddenly caught both of their attention.
Who could that be?" Rick asked, annoyed.
"Ohmigod! Ohmigod!" Lisa screamed and scamper out of bed like the devil was after her. "I'm dead, do you hear me? D.E.A.D! How could this have happened?"
Picking up her receiver she took a deep breath before answering. "Commander Hayes speaking. Yes. Be right there, sir. Yes sir. No sir. Thank you, Captain."
After placing the receiver she turned to Rick. "Come on! Don't just lay there, get your clothes on, we're late! Damned it! I need a shower and god, my hair is a mess."
"Calm down, Lisa. What's the big rush? It's not like we're under attack...
"Hello! Secret Mission?" Lisa replied and quickly disappeared into the lavatory.
Now it was Rick's turn to panic.
"Shit! Roy's going to kill me!" he yelled and jumped out of bed, and quickly fell flat on his face.
Rick found himself lying on the floor; annoyed he turned and saw that Lisa's panty, pale pink satin trimmed in lace was caught on his right foot.
Who would have believed that tough, ice queen Commander Hayes adores satin and lace undies underneath her perfectly starched uniform?
Rick laughed then and felt as if everything was right in the world. Being chewed out by Roy didn't seem so bad anymore.
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Claudia was shocked and pleased to note that Lisa's appearance was greatly altered as she came onto the bridge.
Her eyes were brighter, her skin more radiant, her hair more lustrous and ... still damp? Claudia blinked as if doubting her sight and looked at Lisa again.
My god!
She's glowing and there's an aura of... of joy about her.
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"Is there something wrong, Lisa?" Captain Gloval asked, not looking up from the plans he had in front of him as she walked in.
"No, Captain. I apologize for being late, sir. It will not happen again."
Gloval looked up now and studied her. He zoomed in on her face, noting her bright eyes-- confident and determined.
Lisa knew she had to stay cool and detached under the scrutiny.
"Any changes?"
"None, sir."
"Good. We'll move the mission to tomorrow at 0600. I want you ready, suit-up and on standby for launch. The timing has to be perfect, Lisa or..."
"Captain, I am ready--"
"That's my decision, Lisa." Gloval said to her and took his pipe out of his pocket.
"I understand, sir," Lisa replied and turned to leave.
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"Stop, Lisa!"
"Go away, Rick! Damned it! I can't believe it that I screwed up like that. I told you! I told you that I didn't have time for distraction but obviously, "no" is not a word in your vocabulary. Are you happy now?"
"You invited me in," he reminded her. "And I'm not leaving, not now, not ever."
His response only fanned the flames of the anger brimming inside her.
"You're crazy, Rick!"
"It's not the first time I've heard that accusation," he assured her, his expression confident and sure.
Lisa had to fight to keep her foot on the floor instead of slamming it into his handsome face.
"You are a pain in the ass!" she snapped and whirled around to give the punching bag a hard round-about-kick.
"No, Lisa. I promise, not just any ass will do. Only yours."
She was right, Rick admitted as he watched her expression turn from anger to shock, he was crazy. He should be running from her instead he was standing here, watching the flames of anger simmer in her eyes and the anger she'd been bottling up since her meeting with the Captain rise to the surface.
"Do you know what I really hate about pilots?" Lisa snarled, eyes narrowing, a little quiver of anger working over her body.
"We're tough and we don't give up?" Rick said and arched a brow mockingly.
"No! You're always so damned egotistical. You think the whole freakin' world revolves around you! Well I got news for you, I don't need you!"
"You need me alright, Lisa. You just don't know it..."
"You're not a nice man, Rick."
"No," he agreed calmly. "I never pretended to be."
"It shouldn't have been you," she sighed, looking both emotionally defenseless and a little disgruntled.
"I'm out of my depth with you. I'm a grown woman forgodsake!"
Lisa turned her back to him then and sat down on the mat.
"Whether you want me or not, you got me so deal with it. I'm not easy to get rid of," Rick said and sat down next to her as he watched the play of emotions across her face.
"My life is ruined," Lisa wailed after a while.
"Don't be so dramatic, Lisa."
"Easy for you to say, Hotshot! You didn't have the Captain giving you his "I'm disappointed in you" look this morning. I let him down, Rick."
"Lisa, you're one of the most trusted and admired officer of the SDF-1. You're brilliant, calm and confident without being arrogant. You know what you're doing and--"
"Cold," Lisa said, finishing his sentence.
"Beautiful. Focused. Loyal. Amazingly funny and hot," Rick finished without commenting on Lisa's negativity. "Do you know that I turn to oatmeal just thinking about you?"
"That's not fair," she whispered urgently, standing up, she turned toward the women's locker room. "Why do you turn everything into sex?"
Standing up with her, Rick spread his hands out innocently. "I'm just talking to you. Sex came out of your mouth, not mine."
She frowned darkly. He frowned right back at her.
"I know what you're doing. You're trying to provoke me into kicking you in the face," she informed him imperiously. "But it's not going to work. It was just sex, Rick".
He laughed and his blue eyes sparkled with a brazenness few men could manage successfully. He managed it exceedingly well. "Really?"
An enigmatic smile tilted his lips and she knew he was up to no good but before she could say anything, his head dipped down and he kissed her. A real kiss. A lip-sliding, mouth-open, tongue-tasting kiss that had them both painting and wide-eyed.
I love you, Lisa.
He wanted to say but he knew she didn't want to hear it so instead he said, "I've been wanting to do that all day. I missed you."
"Oh," she said, looking up at him and feeling a bit dizzy. Lisa had never viewed herself as one of those weak-kneed females who could be overcome by a man in a single glance, by a single kiss. But she was overwhelmed by him.
"Do you.... do you know what my part is in this mission, Rick?"
"No. There was no mentioning of it in the briefing and you know how closed mouth Roy can be."
"I'm leaving the SDF-1, Rick."
"Say that again?"
"My mission is to convince my father and the Council to give the civilians on board the SDF-1 a place to live. They didn't ask to be in this situation, Rick. They have been very patience with us but when they find out tomorrow what their future is going to be, there's going to be panic and a lot of angry people. That's where I come in, I'm plan B. I'm their alternative. If I fail to convince the Council..."
"You're the VIP Package Skull Squadron is secretly escorting off the SDF-1's re entry route?"
"Yes."
"I don't--"
"My father will not let me return once I'm off the SDF-1."
"Then don't go. Send someone esle-- Claudia or that, what's his name, your friend, like a brother to you?"
"Daniel?"
"Yea, him. Have the Captain send him."
"You don't understand, Rick. It's got to be me."
Upon reaching the women's locker room, Lisa went in, leaving Rick standing outside.
"Aren't you tired of being a coward, Lisa?" Rick said as he followed her in.
Lisa whirled around, shocked at Rick's audacity yet at the same time angry over his accusation. "Me? A coward?" An imperious thumb pointed into her chest. "I'm a realist, Rick. Unlike you, I prefer to see the truth rather than the pretty lies you want to feed me."
Rick crossed his arms over his chest, slowly. "When, Lisa, did I ever lie to you?"
"Every time you touch me," she yelled back. "You want it all, don't you?"
"Yes!" He snapped, facing her squarely now. "I told you from the beginning that I wanted you—your heart, your soul and forever. You were the one who kept running, who kept refusing to face facts. You're the liar, Lisa, not me."
"I never lied to you." Her hands swiped through her hair, frustration and pain evident on her face. "I told you from the beginning that I can't give you the kind of relationship you want from me."
"I don't want just a damned relationship with you, Lisa. I want forever."
Lisa stared at him wide-eyes.
"No..."
"Yes, forever, Lisa," he bit out.
"I want you to leave." Her voice was rough, ragged with emotion. "I don't want to see you again, Rick."
He said nothing.
Lisa forced herself to meet his eyes and was agonized by the emotions she saw there. But there it was. Anger. Respect. Desire-- all of it focusing on her as if she was the whole world.
His whole world.
"Don't ... Rick. I can't—I'm sorry."
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Her tears were falling freely now, practically blinding her as she knocked on his door.
"Lisa," he said and reached into one of the pocket of his uniform and produced a handkerchief. She took it and blew her nose.
"Oh, Daniel, what shall I do? He wants forever… I can't. I don't know how?"
"Do you love him?" Daniel asked bluntly as he pulled her inside and the door closed behind them.
The words fell against her like a weight.
Did she love him?
"I think I'm in love with him, Daniel, almost from the moment his hand touched mine. There is something about him. Something different and wonderful, something inside of him that calls to me but..."
"But what?"
"I don't know. Honestly I don't know." Fresh tears formed in the corners of her eyes and began to course down her cheeks.
"Yes you do, Lisa," he said flatly.
Looking into his eyes, she shook her head. She didn't want to hear this. It wasn't true. It was just sex, and it was that simple.
"You hide, Lisa. Take for example, your dowdy clothes when you're not in uniform. Your hair. Your attitude. It keeps everyone at a distance. It shouts Go Away. But he didn't go away."
"No, he didn't," she finally whispered and looked at herself, really looked at herself. Daniel's frank argument has made her remember the few clothing she owed that made her feel alive. The ones she longed to dress in, the ones that fit the makeup she preferred, the heels she loved.
And she was reminded each time she "dressed up" that she was alone. There was no one to see her because she had always been safer alone. She couldn't be broken again if no one knew her well enough to break her.
Until now.
Until Rick.
"I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life, Daniel."
"Lisa, please don't cry," Daniel said and wiping away a tear with his thumb. "If you love him—truly love him then tell him. Don't let guilt and fear rule your thoughts and actions. Riber would understand. He would want you to move on. Life is for the living. Don't ever forget that. You're… you're like a sister to me, and I only want to see you happy. If Hunter makes you happy, then go after him."
She reached her arms around his neck, burying her head in his jacket. "Thank you, Daniel, for everything." She pulled away and looked up into his handsome face. "I adore you, you know," she said, and planted a chaste kiss on his lips.
"I know you do. Now, come and sit, I'll make you a cup of tea," he said and smiled but his smile never reached his eyes..
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She knew he would not ask her to meet him here again without it being special and her heartbeat quickened.
A glanced at the mirror wall told her she looked good—hot even and sexy as hell. Truth be told, she'd dressed for him knowing how much he appreciated the latest fashion.
The 5 star Orchid Hotel held only happy memories for her. It was here that Roy had first proposed they commit to a steady relationship almost two years ago.
"Ms. Grant, good to have you with us again."
The dressed maitre d' known as Mr. Smith, bowed, and then escorted her through the dining room. "Your usual table?"
She nodded and smiled. "Commander Fokker will be joining me as soon as his business is complete. I expect him any moment."
The maitre d' beamed as he escorted her to their special table and seated her.
"Thank you, Mr. Smith."
"Something to refresh you while you wait?"
"Champagne."
"Of course. Henry!" he snapped his fingers at the nearest waiter. "Champagne for Ms. Grant."
Thanking the waiter a couple of minutes later, Claudia took a deep breath before taking a sip of the chilled champagne. Looking at her watch, she wondered what was keeping Roy.
"Excuse me, miss, for disturbing you, but I believe the maitre d' has made an error."
Claudia glanced over the rim of her champagne glass to see a dashing officer in his dress blues. He was well over six feet tall, lithe and muscular, with a head of shocking blond hair, too long to be accepted in polite society or in the service.
"An error? What sort of error, sir?"
"I believe Mr. Smith has inadvertently given you my table."
Setting down her champagne flute, Claudia challenged back. "I believe it's you who is in error, as this is my table."
He sighed. "No. I assure you, madam, this is my table."
"Well, what are we to do? As you can see, I'm already seated and there are rules--."
"I see no other choice but for us to share the table." Before she could utter another word, he'd pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.
"No. You can't." Claudia protested and her amber eyes lit with shocked and annoyance. "You see, I await my lover," she finished in a whisper.
He shrugged. "His loss. He should have never left you waiting. Waiter." He motioned to the table. "Another champagne flute."
"I do not recall inviting you to share my champagne," Claudia said and leaned forward to look him in the eyes. "I will report you to your CO for your insolence."
"You could," he said as he accepted the champagne flute from the waiter and arrogantly poured himself a healthy portion. "But I outrank you, so who do you think my CO is going to believe?"
"I must ask you to leave, sir."
He said nothing for a long time, just stared at her then after finishing his glass he smiled enigmatically at her.
"I will leave on one condition; one dance."
"No," she protested as his hand reached out to close over one of hers.
"Just one dance is all I asked."
Claudia tried to struggle but he already had her out of her chair and his arm was already around her waist. And as if on cue, a slow love song began to play.
"Humor me," he whispered, his breath warmed against her ear, sending electric shots through her body.
"I don't want to dance," Claudia murmured but let him lead her to the dance floor anyway.
"You looked so beautiful sitting there alone at the table, so solitary, so vulnerable and yet so confidently sexy that I knew you were waiting for me." Tipping her face to look at him he inhaled her perfume and scent. "God, Claudia, you smell so good."
"And you, flyboy," she chastised, "are late, as usual. I was afraid I got stood up, again."
"Never."
Together they moved to the music, lost in each other's embrace.
"I have a key in my pocket to a suite right here in the hotel," he murmured, brushing his lips across her cheek.
"Dinner… the table… we just can't"
"We can eat later."
"My purse."
"Mr. Smith will bring it up later," he said and practically dragged her of the dance floor, out into the marble lobby and up the carpeted grand staircase. He halted halfway down the long corridor and pushed her up against the wall and kissed her.
When he stopped kissing her, she couldn't speak or think. She just knew she wanted to be with him.
"Hurry, Roy. Get me to that suite of yours or I'm going to start tearing your clothes off right here. Right now!"
The desperation in her voice brought a strange-wonderful tightness to his chest. He smiled and grabbed her by the arm, hurrying down the corridor toward the double doors at the far end.
As they entered the suite, the room glowed with candlelight.
Looking around Claudia saw a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes rested beside the bed. Next to that was a tray of chocolate covered strawberries.
"You had this all planned!"
"Guilty as charged," Roy lowered his mouth to her throat and pressed a slow kiss to her throbbing pulse. "You deserve this and so much more, Claudia. I'm sorry for so many..."
Throwing her arms around him she drew him into her, holding him tightly in her embrace.
"I didn't think we'll be able to spend anytime together at all this week. I missed you, Roy," she whispered, surprised as emotion welled in her throat and she found she was suddenly near to tears.
"We're together, that's all that matters. I don't care about words, Roy. No regrets... none."
He drew back and gently wiped her single tear with his thumb. He wanted to tell her that he loved her, missed her like crazy whenever he was not with her but the words wouldn't come.
Instead he said, "I'm glad Gloval changed his mind. I've thought of nothing but you all week."
In so many ways, Roy did not understand this incredibly sexy-strong woman who was his girlfriend, the only girl he'd ever wanted to keep for more than a night. But he understood her needs, perhaps because they were so like his own.
Claudia lifted her head and meeting his mouth, her tongue flicker out to brush his. "Really? It would have served you right if I had gone home, you were twenty minutes late."
He grinned wickedly. "Had you left, I'm sure I could have found another woman to take your place."
"You're incorrigible, Roy. I don't know why I put up with you?
"You wouldn't have me in any other way, Claudia. I'm just the way you like me."
"Roy?" she asked her voice raspy with desire.
"Yes."
"Will we make the bed this time?"
He smiled a smile that always left her knees wobbly. "I thought you would never ask."
"Arrogant man," she accused as he caught her around the waist carried her to the four-poster, silk-draped bed.
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"Initiate count down, Claudia," Gloval ordered from his chair. "And launch all fighters."
Claudia did as she was told but her mind drifted back to her good-bye conversation with Roy just before he left to the flight deck.
"Don't forget sugar, I'll be expecting you to carry me over the threshold," she'd told him and smiled.
"I'll carry you anywhere," he'd said and instead of giving her his usual mocking salute, he'd grabbed her and kissed her squarely on the lips.
"Don't worry, Claudia. This mission will be a walk in the park. I'll be back before you even have time to miss me."
Watching the dots disappearing from her screen, Claudia sent up a silent pray to keep Roy, Lisa and Skull Squadron safe then focused all of her attention back onto her job.
"Open all channels, Vanessa, it's time to tell the world we're home," Gloval said and stood up, ready to give his speech.
"Captain Gloval! The enemy! They're here!" Kim said and turned to look at her best friends—Sammie and Vanessa instead of Captain Gloval. She wondered if she'll ever see them again.
