Chapter 2

Getting ready for bed in a tiny space took a little manoeuvring, and the fact that they both saw the funny side just made it more difficult.

Wheeler opted to sleep in his jeans, just taking his t-shirt off. Linka however was conscious that she didn't have many changes of clothes and didn't want to sleep in her uniform.

There was no need for Linka to ask for privacy when she changed into her pyjama shorts and shirt as her underwear covered as much as any of her swimsuits, and she didn't take her bra off until her new top was in place... but she couldn't help notice that Wheeler jerked his head away several times as he found himself watching her.

She pretended not to notice of course but the attention warmed her whole body.

Then they had to arrange the sleeping bags and get into them, and there was simply no way of doing that without contact.

"This didn't use to be so hard," Wheeler said, laughing as he tried to make himself shorter but finding his limbs uncooperative.

Linka was giggling uncontrollably as he leant sideways behind her and then tried to find the gap in the sleeping bag with his bare feet. She reached over to help, and he wriggled back down.

She didn't move away quick enough however and as he reached for the zip their heads banged together. "Oh God Babe, I'm sorry!"

"Ow," she was still laughing, "just lay down, I will tuck you in."

"Ok." He grinned - rubbing his head - and laid back, but he had to bend his knees so he was partially on her side of the tent.

When she had them both zipped in, her back to him so that she could fit her shape to his, he pulled a blanket over them both and left his arm resting over her waist underneath it.

"The storm is getting worse," Linka said quietly as the rain and wind got louder.

"Yeah," he kissed the back of her head, "I'm glad we're not alone."

"Me too."

They lay there silently for a while listening to the sounds outside the tent, but eventually Linka said, "I am sorry Yankee, for earlier, blaming you for stranding me out here with the weather."

"There's nothing to apologise for."

"Da, there is. I overreacted."

He was quiet for a few moments and she was a little worried, but finally he said, "You were right though - not about the weather, I didn't know about that - but I did volunteer you to get you alone." Adding quickly, "I wasn't going to do anything creepy or anything, I just like spending time with you when it's just the two of us. It doesn't happen often."

She didn't say anything.

"It was fun though, right? I'm not imagining that?" He sounded like he expected the worst and that prompted her to respond.

Rolling onto her back and turning her head to look at him, "of course it was fun, it always is." She bit bottom lip nervously obviously debating whether to continue, and then deciding to go ahead. "I knew what you were doing, I could have gotten out of it. I wanted to spend time with you too… alone."

"Yeah?" His whole face lit up and it made her smile as she nodded.

Wheeler's eyes travelled to her lips and back, a question in them. She nodded again, more shyly this time, and then tilted her face to meet him as he brought their lips together.

Linka had kissed Wheeler before but it had always been rushed, a stolen moment easily explained away. This time was different not just because it was a slow and thorough exploration, but because she had openly admitted to wanting the contact, allowing them both the space to let it develop naturally.

Neither knew how long the first kiss lasted, and since they were reluctant to part even for air, it seemed to merge almost seamlessly with the second and third.

At last however, Linka shifted uncomfortably beneath her admirer and caused him to roll away as she muttered, "it is like being in a straightjacket."

"Sorry... I didn't mean to trap you."

He sounded worried and maybe a little hurt but the Russian laughed, "not you durak, the sleeping bag. Come back over here."

Wheeler laughed and did as she asked, affection shining in his eyes as she added, "I kept trying to put my arms around you but I cannot like this."

She wriggled her arms free so that she could put them round his neck, and then pulled the blanket up as best she could but still shivering a little. "That will have to do."

Bringing their lips together briefly, Wheeler made another suggestion, "we could always zip the sleeping bags together? It would give us both a bit more room... and more contact."

"...Ok," her hesitation had been slight but the American didn't miss it.

As they began rearranging their bed he said, "Thank you for trusting me, I know it's probably not always that easy given my background."

"Da, you have a lot more experience than I do... and probably greater expectations."

His surprise registered on his face and he stopped her fumbling with a zip by covering her hand in his, "that wasn't the background I meant... is that really what bothers you? That I might be expecting... too much?"

She didn't answer, but kept her eyes on their joined hands.

"Babe, seriously, you hold all the cards here!"

"Then it is a shame that I do not know the rules of the game." She replied softly, her voice almost a whisper. "I do trust you, but sometimes we do not speak the same language. I do not want to mislead you and mess this up... whatever this is."

Wheeler's face softened and he gently removed her fingers from the zip, finishing the job himself and pulling her down into a tender embrace. She went willingly but he could feel some nervousness in her frame. "Are you ready to turn the light off?"

"Da." She waited while he did that and tidied the blanket back over them, then cuddled into him as she had wanted to do.

"For the record, as far as I'm concerned, 'whatever this is', is the start of something special." he told her, "So, I'm going to kiss you goodnight and then we're going to get some sleep, and then tomorrow you're going to kiss me good morning and we'll take it from there. Ok?"

He couldn't see her but he could hear the smile in her voice, "Da."

Their embrace was more than simply 'goodnight' and it lingered - since neither was in a rush to end it - but they did finally settle down to sleep, safe and secure in each others arms.

To be continued...