Chapter 8

Jaime and Oscar had been awake for several hours by the time the plane landed in Manila. Oscar's contact, Manuelo, had met them at the airport so he could show them where they were staying for the night, and to fill them in on the latest details. He led them to a small village on the outskirts of the city overlooking Manila harbor where he informed them that Leonid Chekov was indeed the man they were looking for. They quickly dropped their bags and hit the streets of Manila in search of their prey. Manuelo was going to take the waterfront while Oscar and Jaime took the market district. After what seemed like hours, Jaime thought she spotted Chekov at a vendor stand with another man, and distinctly heard them speaking Russian to one another. Her Russian was rusty at best, but it was good enough to get by. "Oscar. Over there – I think I got him. I'll follow him, and meet you back at the villa." Oscar reluctantly agreed. He needed to make sure Manuelo was able to contact him, but he watched with trepidation as Jaime ran off through the streets of Manila and disappeared from view.

The villa they were staying it was spartan, but clean. It had a tin roof with clean, thick cotton rugs covering the raised wooden floors. There were no panes in the windows, so the fresh tropical breezes could blow in cool air coming off the water. The large porch had an awning hanging over it to protect the villa from torrential downpours. In the living room there was a wooden framed sofa with plush looking cushions in bright colors on top of it. The bedroom had a large bed with netting draped over the sides, the breeze gently wafting the fabric back and forth.

It was starting to rain as Oscar made his way back to their lodging. There was a knock at the door and Oscar jumped - hoping he would see Jaime standing there with Chekov in her hands. He tried to suppress his disappointment when it was only Manuelo, who had come to report that he had found out the sub was indeed lurking somewhere in Manila bay, but he hadn't found any of the men. However, he had discovered that the men had chartered a boat to take them out at 5:30 the next morning. Oscar decided that their best chance was for them to take the men on the boat by surprise. The men on the sub wouldn't suspect anything when the boat arrived, and that would be their best chance to get in. He thanked Manuelo and set about the tedious job of waiting for Jaime.

It was just after 8:00, and still there was no word from her. She should have been back hours ago. The rain was beating down hard against the tin roof, each drop sounding like bullets were raining down instead of water. With each 'plink-plink-plink' Oscar's panic increased exponentially. Where was she? He jumped at each noise he heard, his heart rising with hope that Jaime had returned safely. He tried to focus on some intelligence reports, anything he could do to keep his mind off of Jaime's absence. He paced back and forth like a caged tiger, desperate for a means of escape from his confinement. He watched the hands on the clock tick slowly by, mocking him with their snail's pace. The rain was driving down even harder now, the noise deafening him, the beat drumming it's way into his brain.

He finally decided he couldn't stand it any longer and was about to go out after her when a huge explosion rocked the building. He looked out the side window and could see flames shooting up into the sky from an abandoned warehouse a few blocks away. The sense of dread he had felt since they arrived in Manila had now overwhelmed him. He had lost his wife and children and an explosion, and now he had lost Jaime. Shaking uncontrollably, he summoned enough strength and coordination to turn the door knob to go out and see if there was anything left of Jaime Sommers.

Jaime had followed Chekov clear across town. She had waited patiently for his men to return to discuss their plans. Finally, they went over the details for the next day. Manuelo was right- they had chartered a boat to take them across Manila Bay to their waiting submarine. Thanks to her bionic hearing, she was even able to obtain the password. Once she was convinced she had all the information she needed, she headed back. Oscar would be worried by now, and they still needed time to go over their plan for the morning. She passed by the building right before it exploded. Flames were leaping from the windows, apparently the fire had started when some chemicals which had been illegally stored in the back room were inadvertently ignited. Nothing sinister, but a disastrous mistake. Jaime had stopped to help get some people out of the building and luckily no one was hurt. She was soaked, having run more than two miles back through a thunderstorm.

She was putting her hand on the knob of the door to open it when it appeared to open on its own. Before she even got a step inside, Oscar swept her into his arms and pulled her in, covering her head, neck and lips in quick, urgent kisses.

"Oh babe, I heard the explosion…I thought…Thank God you're safe." Before Jaime could respond, Oscar began passionately kissing her, his lips enveloping hers, as he ran his hands firmly, almost frantically over her body. Finally, after many years of waiting, of longing, his heart had won out over his head. Jaime felt dizzy from the desire that had so rapidly built up inside her. She felt like she would explode with love for this man. Desperately, she pulled his shirt over his head as he unbuttoned her blouse, sliding the fabric briskly from her shoulders. They quickly removed the rest of each other's clothing, falling to the floor in each other's arms.

Jaime reveled in the sensation of her naked body pressed against Oscar's. Their flesh seemed to meld together until they were one. She had wanted this for so long, the aching desire was finally to be satiated. The rhythmic beat of the rain, falling hard and fast, kept time with their love making -the steamy tropic air was no match for the heat generated between them.

Oscar couldn't believe how right it felt to make love to her. The way her body fit with his, the way she moved in time with him, it was if they were made to be together. He delighted in hearing her soft moans as he moved his body against hers, feeling her hips arch towards him, deepening the contact between them as they reached a blissful release.

They lay there, Jaime's legs entwined with his, her arm draped across his chest, basking in their love for one another. Oscar ran his hand lightly across Jaime's side, watching her squirm ever so slightly when he would graze a particularly sensitive spot. Her smile was so natural, so sweet, he couldn't imagine how he had been able to resist her for so long. "You know babe" he said as he pulled her off of the floor and onto his chest, "I love you." He darted in for a quick, playful kiss.

Jaime smiled tenderly, caressing the side of his face with her palm. "I know you do – it took you long enough to realize it though. Just look at what all you've been missing – you silly, silly man." She reached down to stroke his leg, running her hand up his thigh and across his lower abdomen before sliding it up around his neck. He gasped at her touch, and grabbed her hand.

"Are you trying to kill me? A man can only take so much," he growled sensually. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come to my senses. I guess the thought of losing you made me realize how much you mean to me."

"Well," she said as she playfully stroked the dark hairs on his chest, "you were DEFINITELY worth the wait."

The both knew what was looming before them, but it seemed like an eternity away. Oscar showered and put on a pair of boxers – it wouldn't do to have Manuelo stop by with them in their current state of undress. When Jaime finished her shower, Oscar was already in bed waiting for her, reading Chekov's dossier and going over last minute details for tomorrow. Oscar dropped his papers on the floor when he saw her. She had slicked her wet hair neatly behind her shoulders, and had put on a very delicate white silk negligee with thin straps and a plunging neckline. Oscar could barely breathe as he noticed how it clung ever so slightly to her damp body.

She teasingly sat down on the edge of the bed next to him, leaning over to pick up the papers he had dropped. "Weren't you looking at these?" she asked in a sultry voice.

"Uh…no…as a matter of fact, I think there's something else I'd rather be looking at….You are going to be the death of me you know," he said as he took her in his arms again. Jaime felt a little guilty. She had intentionally brought along the negligee in hopes that this was to be a vacation rather than a business trip. Now with the mission only a few hours off, she knew they were really better of sleeping, but she just couldn't get enough of him.

Oscar slowly slid the straps of her negligee from her shoulders, kissing the cool wet skin as he laid it bare.

While their first time together had been full of desperate passion, Oscar moved more slowly, almost teasingly this time. His kisses were tender as he explored her curves and hollows, each flick of his tongue sending shivers of desire throughout her body. He carefully slid off the negligee, letting the silk fabric slide across her chest and abdomen as he deftly discarded it on the ground. Oscar smiled as Jaime grabbed his hips and pulled them close to her.

"Uh, nuh…not so fast…" he growled sensually as he pulled away from her. "You started this…and I'm gonna finish it." He sat up to get a better look at her. Her face was flushed as she luxuriated in his touch, the feather like strokes from his fingers exciting her almost to the point of ecstasy.

"Please, baby, I need you…now," she murmered hoarsely in his ear, her breath uneven from the gasps coursing through her body. She ran her hands up the back of his thighs, once more attempting to pull him into her. This time, Oscar did not deny her, as he made them one. Jaime was again left breathless. Never before had she been so overpowered by such a pleasurable sensation.

"Alright Miss Sommers. As much as I hate to admit it, I NEED to get some sleep. I haven't had this much…excitement…in, well…ever." Jaime snuggled up against Oscar's chest, luxuriating in the safe haven of his arms.