Lady Jaye didn't change before heading to Flint's office. She hoped to keep him distracted and off-guard. He must not have heard about Beach Head's display of affection that morning, or he would have been much angrier in the motor pool. He had thought the whole thing was pretty funny, but hearing about the kiss would likely take the humor right out of the situation.
She heard Duke's voice from the open doorway as she neared the office. "Little lovebunny! Oh, jeez. I don't think I wanted to know that. Man am I ever gonna tease him about that." There was a pause. "I just can't picture the two of him together. But after he kissed her this morning—"
"He WHAT?" Flint interrupted.
Duke laughed. "Yeah, on the way back from the obstacle course, right in front of everyone."
Lady Jaye paused outside of the door and peeked inside. Duke seemed oblivious to the scowl on Flint's face, which he turned on her when he saw her standing there. She swallowed and said, "Flint, you needed to see me?"
Duke turned around, the amusement leaving his face as he noticed her looking into the room. "Hey, tell your boyfriend that I may have said the regs don't apply to us, but he doesn't have to rub it in our faces."
Lady Jaye stepped through the doorway, forgetting about her outfit in the face of Flint's anger. Duke goggled at her and said, "Of course, if you go around dressed like that it's no wonder he couldn't help himself."
"Duke, I told you there's nothing going on with me and Beach Head. He's just trying to make my life miserable by making everyone else think there is."
Duke shook his head, grinning. "Uh huh. I bet that if Flint had tried that you would have decked him." He headed out the door calling, "See ya later, sugarboobs."
Lady Jaye glared after his retreating figure. She was reminded of Flint's presence when he cleared his throat to get her attention. "He kissed you?"
Turning to face him again, she replied, "You told Duke about 'sugarboobs?'"
Flint shrugged. "It was funny." He was eyeing her again, she noticed.
She shut the door behind her and stepped closer. "Well I certainly didn't kiss him. If it makes you feel any better, he did it just to make me mad, not because he got off on it."
His eyes narrowed. "So you decided to show up later in that?" he asked, gesturing at the bikini.
"Flint, I 'm sorry. I was just trying to mess with his head. It's become a mental contest on top of the physical one…and I want to win both."
"You're stubborn, arent' you?" he asked with a small smile.
She grinned back. "I thought you knew that already." She stepped into his arms and felt his immediate response to her nearness. "You know you're the only one that I want," she whispered.
He bent down to kiss her. "Are you just getting back at me for wanting to keep our relationship secret? I can't exactly run around telling everyone the truth now."
She looked into his eyes and smiled. "I've got it all worked out," she told him. I hope, she added silently. He raised his eyebrows in question, and she continued, "Trust me for a little longer?"
"I trust you," he whispered, kissing her again. "Is the door locked?" he asked, reaching for the tie on the bikini top.
The next few days of punishment PT flew by in a flurry of aching muscles and bruises. Lady Jaye kept up her training with Snake Eyes, though, despite the added stress on her body. Things were progressing well—she even managed to soundly thump Alpine in a sparring match, although Beach Head didn't see that as much of an accomplishment. She even found herself holding back a little, not wanting to give away her progress to Beach Head before she fought against him.
They had both settled down on the comments and teasing; not that the others had, of course. They had to endure endless chatter from their teammates, most of whom had taken to calling the drill instructor "little lovebunny" when they thought they could get away with it.
The PT was no worse than it had been, but one memorable morning the six Joes had been running the obstacle course, and were nearing the finish line when several of their teammates swarmed the field, chasing after them. Anyone unfortunate enough to be caught had been promptly tackled, carried back to the mud pit, and dumped in. Beach Head stood and watched it all with a smug smile, telling Lady Jaye and the others that they had to start again from the pit every time they were thrown in. Flint, Clutch, Duke, Roadblock, Wet Suit, and Bazooka were obviously enjoying themselves, even though it took three of them to carry Leatherneck, screaming in protest, back to the middle of the course.
Lady Jaye nearly made it to the finish line when they were busy with the marine, but Flint tackled her just shy of the end. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, heading back to the pit. She squirmed and pummled his back, but he only laughed and held on tighter. "Sorry," he chortled, "But when Beach Head asked for our help, I couldn't say no." With that, he flung her into the mud and took off to chase after someone else.
She missed movie night and the weekly poker game to train with Snake Eyes, but there was no way she was going to slack off now. She had too much riding on this. He was willing to spend more time with her, and she was grateful. She wanted very badly to beat Beach Head during the first match.
Beach Head ended the last day of their PT by having them run for the first three hours. Whoever logged the most miles in that time would be the only one who didn't have to spend the last two hours running the obstacle course. Not only that, but the winner would get to yield the paintball gun. Lady Jaye had the advantage on that one—she easily outdistanced the others, claiming the gun and watching as her friends started the course. She thought about going easy on them, but after three days of taunts she was ready for a little revenge.
Beach Head approved of her eagerness, although his expression didn't change. He was surprised to see this side of her, watching her laugh gleefully as she used up an entire case of paintballs on the other Joes. He didn't even mind when she imitated his voice, yelling insults and mimicking a few of his favorite phrases. And she was a good shot, hitting her mark most of the time, even making Shipwreck dance as the pellets flew at his feet. She knocked everyone off the high beam, although she had to resort to coming dangerously close to Leatherneck's privates to make him fall off. The marine cupped his hands protectively over himself, and the next shot took him right in the shoulder. He overbalanced and fell, and Lady Jaye let out a whoop of triumph. She forgot herself for a moment and smiled hugely at the drill instructor, saying, "Okay, Beach Head. Now I know why you love your job." He smiled back and they walked alongside of the others as they continued the course. Beach Head pointed out some good angles that he had discovered, and they took delight in watching their teammates try to avoid the fire.
Everyone grumbled a bit when they finally finished the course for the last time, but for the most part they were so happy to be done with the punishment they didn't take it out on her. Most of them would have done the same in her position, anyway.
That night Lady Jaye thought about her meeting with Beach Head in the morning. She only had to be with him for two hours, but she wasn't sure what to expect. She snuggled closer to Flint and fell asleep.
Arriving in the gym promptly at six, she was surprised to see Snake Eyes waiting for her. He told her that Beach Head would be there shortly, but he had asked for Snake Eye's help in working with her. She stared for a moment, nonplussed. She had thought that Beach Head's attitude toward her revolved around a need to dominate someone he didn't like, but his concern must be genuine if he bent enough to ask someone to help him. Could he really be interested in her welfare rather than just being on a power trip?
She shook the thoughts from her head and faced Snake Eyes across the mat. They continued from where they had left off the night before, working on blocks and counter throws. Beach Head came in a while later and stood off to the side, watching. He nodded his approval even though they were working slowly, letting her get the feel of the movements.
when the first hour was up, Beach Head thanked Snake Eyes and gestured Lady Jaye to the center of the mat. She faced him, watching for signs that he was about to attack her, but he only stared at her. Finally he said, "I'm not going to spar against you until our match in a week. Every mornign you'll get an hour of working with Snake Eyes and an hour to practice against someone else. I won't even watch most of the time."
She nodded and opened her mouth, but before she could reply, he turned to leave and said, "Don't let anyone say I wasn't completely fair about this."
Lady Jaye looked up as Scarlett walked into the gym. Her friend smiled and said, "I hear you need a sparring partner for an hour."