Chapter Nineteen

The moon was shining brightly, lighting Kwame's way as he strolled along the beach. It was late to still be up but he found the night sounds relaxing and he was heading back to his cabin anyway.

The sound of the geo-cruiser returning made him look up and smile and he wondered idly if Wheeler had enjoyed the show, though he didn't doubt that he'd enjoyed a few hours alone with Linka.

The Fire Planeteer had managed to get tickets for the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that had been opening on Broadway that night. The composer himself was going to be in attendance and seeing the look of excitement on Linka's face when their friend told her about it had said it all.

Wheeler had called it an early Christmas present for his Russian colleague but given the closeness that had arisen between them lately, Kwame was sure it was closer to being a date. He was pleased for them, and couldn't help smiling again when Linka's laughter carried on the breeze.

Not intending to disturb them the young man cut across the wooded area behind Wheeler's cabin, to go directly to his own but as he did so he heard them talking and what he heard made him pause.

"I'm sorry you didn't get to meet him," Wheeler was saying, "I guess seeing him on stage doesn't really count."

"Of course it does! His speech was inspiring, and the music was incredible. I never expected more, or even that much." They stopped briefly while she hugged him. "Thank you for tonight Yankee, I really had a wonderful time."

"Me too." He replied warmly. There was a pause and then Wheeler's voice continued, "Sooo, are you gonna ask me in so we can continue that wonderful time?"

Kwame frowned, surprised that the American would be so tactless when Linka was obviously in charity with him. The African moved forward in the shadows so that he could observe her reaction.

"What exactly are you suggesting?" Linka's back was to her door and her companion was standing immediately in front of her, his hands resting on the doorframe on either side, trapping her between them.

"That, I could give you a few more reasons to thank me." He brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek and then shocked Kwame completely by moving both hands to her waist and pulling her lower half into contact with his, sliding them down to cup her rear.

His voice dropped even lower as he bent his lips close to her ear, but Kwame could still hear, "Can you feel how much I want you?"

Linka blushed and pulled away, her back pressing against her door and her eyes darting around as if looking for hidden cameras.

Wheeler laughed. "They're asleep, but if you're worried about being seen, we can just talk inside." He reached passed her and opened her door.

"Will you promise to behave yourself?" She asked in her usual bossy tone, crossing her arms in front of her.

"I think we both know that I have no intention of behaving," The American told her, pulling her back into his arms, "Now are you gonna start co-operating or shall I just have my way with you out here?"

Kwame was furious, never having suspected Wheeler would act in such a way, and with Linka of all people. He took a step forward and opened his mouth to intervene when Linka started to laugh.

"When do I ever say 'nyet' to you Yankee?" The Russian put her arms up around Wheeler's neck and brought their lips together.

The African watched in stunned silence as after a heated couple of minutes, Linka stepped back out of Wheeler's embrace across the threshold of her room, her expression positively wicked as she held out a hand to him in invitation.

After the Wind Planeteer's door closed behind them, Kwame continued on to his own cabin looking thoughtful.

Laying with her head on Wheeler's shoulder, their bodies still wrapped around one another, Linka smiled and opened eyes that were sticky from the previous night's makeup. That was one disadvantage of not properly preparing for bed she thought, you always looked a mess in the morning.

Disentangling herself carefully so as not to awaken her companion she still couldn't resist pressing a light kiss to his lips, before slipping into the bathroom to clean up. After removing the remains of her make-up and brushing out the tangles in her hair, Linka turned on the shower and stepped inside. She noticed the bathroom door open and smiled, guessing her absence had disturbed her companion.

She assumed he'd go back to bed once he'd used the facilities however so she jumped when the shower door opened and he stepped inside.

"Morning Babe." He mumbled, obviously still half asleep as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her shoulder.

Linka laughed and held him back, giving him the time he needed to wake up properly. She knew when he had because he started to nibble at her neck. "Mmm Yankee, I have a full day planned."

"All the more reason to start it right." His mouth moved to her shoulder so that he could give her the sort of attention that would leave a mark without it showing. "You did say you wanted to try the shower again."

"Wash first." She instructed, and found herself pinned against the wall, with her mouth locked against his. When he let her up for air she tried to contain her amusement, "Oh, it is going to be one of those mornings."

Wheeler grinned at her, letting his fingers trail down her sides to waist, and then lifting her, "I don't know what you mean."

Silently co-operating, she wrapped her legs around him but continued the conversation, "You are being contrary just to prove that I am not in charge."

"Nooo." He kissed the place just behind her ear that always made her shiver, "I don't care about being in charge." He rocked against her, letting her feel his growing desire.

"Then let us get ready for work." She teased.

His response was to lift her higher so that he could pay special attention to her breasts.

"Contrary!" She gasped, and let out a soft moan as he brought them together.

"Don't throw your head back," He advised with a gleam of mischief in his eye as he continued to love her. She buried her face in his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. "I don't ignore your bossiness to prove that I can do anything I want to you, though that's kind of a side benefit, I do it because it turns you on."

Linka made a noise of protest but as what he was doing was rather distracting, it wasn't very convincing.

After their release Wheeler moved them back fully under the spray, keeping them locked together but letting the water fall between them, teasing their flushed skin. "Dance for me? Like you did in the water."

The beautiful Russian nodded and closed her eyes, letting the beat come to her. She knew she'd have to be more careful here, there was a lot less room, but she also knew that Wheeler would support her. Linka started small, gripping him tightly with her legs and then letting the wave of feeling fan out so that her body undulated starting from her hips.

As the movement grew bigger she arched herself and reached over her head to brace herself against the wall, pushing Wheeler back against the far side. A moan of desire escaped his lips and he bent them to her breasts once more, his hands supporting her back, "God you're incredible!

Linka laughed and changed the rhythm, adopting the jerky movement she'd used when pole dancing and the memory nearly made her lover lose it then and there but he forced himself to hold on, joining the dance as her body returned to rub against his and he cradled her there.

In the wake of their passion they sank to the floor, a tangle of limbs, though now their touches and kisses were loving and reassuring.

Just before they forced themselves to get up and start getting on with the day, Wheeler looked deeply into his lover's eyes and said with laughter brimming in his own, "Please tell me that this time, you want to do that again?"

"I do not understand how people can convince themselves that killing a defenceless animal is some kind of sport!" Linka exclaimed, turning off the news on the radio and practically slamming her bowl down as she joined Wheeler at the kitchen table. "It is disgusting and barbaric!"

His eyes reflected her own anger at what they'd just heard, "Canned hunts are the lowest of the low, but aside from helping the local authorities that actually want help, all we can do is keep trying to get the word out and hope the weight of public pressure will force those places to shut down."

"It is not enough." She insisted, "By the time the world wakes up the hunting will have ended because all of those beautiful creatures will be extinct!"

"You're preaching to the choir Babe," he told her sympathetically, reaching across to brush a tear from her cheek. "If you ask me we should set up a nice game ranch for all those 'hobby' hunters and let them shoot each other."

That drew a smile from her, "Sorry, I do not mean to yell at you."

His look softened and he gave a shrug, "I wasn't taking it personally."

"Good morning." Kwame's entrance burst the bubble they lived in whenever they were alone so after returning his greeting they both focused on their breakfasts. "What are you doing today?"

"I promised Gi I'd help her do a maintenance over-hall on the eco-sub." Wheeler answered between mouthfuls.

Linka smiled at the eagerness of his answer, she knew he loved playing with machinery. "I do not have anything planned, did you need help in your garden?"

Kwame nodded, "I would appreciate that, thank you. Will you be ready after breakfast?"

Taking her empty cereal bowl to the sink, she replied, "Da. I will check my e-mail very quickly and then come back for you."

As soon as she left the room, Kwame surprised his fiery friend by getting straight to the point. "I heard you last night."

"Huh?"

"When you got back from your date." The African said solemnly "I was taking a walk and I heard you and Linka. Wheeler what are you thinking?"

Wheeler swallowed hard, "Uh… it wasn't a date… but uh, when you say you 'heard us'… what exactly, did you uh, hear?"

His cheeks darkening as he realised what his friend was likely thinking, Kwame made haste to reassure him. "Talking! I heard the two of you talking, though as I heard what you were talking about I put my headphones on as soon as I reached my cabin to be sure I would not hear anything else."

Kwame's embarrassment dispelled some of Wheeler's and he couldn't help laughing. "Good."

"It is not funny my friend." The Earth Planeteer said sadly, "You are risking your friendship, perhaps even the good will of the team, and for what? You said yourself it was not even a date."

"I'm not risking anything," Wheeler sighed, and when his friend started to argue, "I'm not, ok! Look, this is just supposed to be between me and Linka, it's what she wants, an adult relationship without any strings attached. It's easier to have that with a friend than risk a relationship none of us can maintain the way things are, you know?"

Kwame looked at him doubtfully, "Even you cannot really believe that."

The American glared at him, "I'm not going to hurt her!"

"No Wheeler, I did not for one moment think you would." His friend retorted, "But neither do I believe that you will be able to walk away with your heart intact. You might have Linka convinced that you take these things lightly – though I admit it surprises me somewhat that she would seek such a relationship with anyone – but the rest of us have seen the effect she has on you every time she shoots you down."

"Wow." He was a little stunned by Kwame's concern, but touched by his opinion of him as well. He shook his head, "Thanks man, but… there's nothing I wouldn't do for her, not ever, and yeah I know where that leaves me and I'm willing to take the risk." He laughed softly, "It's not exactly a bad deal, and who knows, maybe she'll decide that it works, 'cos you know, it really does."

Kwame winced, "Too much information."

Wheeler laughed more easily then, "Don't worry, she'd kill me if I told you anything more than that." He stood to clear away his breakfast things but paused to add, "She's different when we're alone, not how you would expect."

"I gathered that last night." Kwame sounded disapproving and his friend shook his head.

"Nooo, that's not what I meant." He turned back and leant on the cabinet. "It is about more than that, it's about friendship and supporting each other. We're not just playing about… ok maybe we were playing about last night, but even then we've come a long way to be able to joke with each other like that."

Kwame nodded, "No strings attached?"

Wheeler smiled, "She has the option to walk away, and it's up to me to convince her that she doesn't want to. And yeah, before you ask, she's worth it, however it ends up." He pushed himself away from the sink and headed for the door, "Now if we're done with this girly heart to heart, I have work to do."

As the American exited the kitchen, Kwame heard him greet the Water Planeteer and a moment later she entered with a cheerful smile that drew an answering one from him. "Good morning Gi, I trust you slept well?"

She went past him to the cabinet but he could hear her smirk as she answered, "Not as well as Wheeler did I think."

"If he slept at all," Kwame mumbled under his breath, not intending his team-mate to hear, but it was obvious she did when she turned back to look at him.

"What did Wheeler say to you?" she asked suspiciously.

Kwame's eyes searched her face, "Do you know something?"

Gi licked her bottom lip nervously, "I might do."

"I heard them… flirting, when they got back last night. Linka invited him into her cabin." His cheeks darkened again. "I did not get the impression they were going to talk."

The pretty Asian sighed and nodded before gathering her breakfast things and joining him at the table. "I caught Linka sneaking back into our room in London, wearing only his t-shirt. She told me it had been going on for a while then."

"It is wrong Gi, you must see that." Kwame shook his head, "It would be different if they were a couple, but Wheeler made it clear that is not part of the arrangement. Even if they felt they could be open about it perhaps it would not be so bad, but clearly Linka is ashamed of her behaviour to be hiding it this way, and I must admit that I do not understand how she could have ever let it happen."

The Water Planeteer swallowed a mouthful of toast and said, "Our lives are dangerous, Kwame. She woke up one morning and decided she was missing out and I'm not sure I can blame her for that."

Kwame met her eyes, his own grave, "I can blame her for using Wheeler when she knows how he feels about her. He might be convenient, and I am sure he acts as if it is no big deal, but she would have been doing both of them a favour if she had gone out and found someone she could love."

Gi's mouth dropped open in a silent 'oh'. She swallowed, "You think… you think he has feelings for her? Real feelings I mean, beyond attraction and friendship."

"I know he does."

"Linka doesn't." the Asian girl told him, "Really, she's crazy about him but he's got her convinced he's not interested in long term relationships. That was kind of part of her decision, I mean she could have waited forever to meet someone she could marry or she could have a physical relationship with the person she really wants to be with."

Kwame's eyebrows rose, "She told you that?"

Gi grinned, "Trust me, you don't want to know what she told me. It's the way she talks about him that convinced me, but yes she said she accepted it would hurt when he ended it but that she was happy being with him."

"Do you really believe that either of them would stay here if the other ended it?" he shook his head, "I do not. At first yes, they would make a show of being friends and it all being ok, but I do not think they could stand it for long, especially if one of them got involved with someone else. They have both felt too much for too long. Wheeler says that their relationship has changed, that they confide in each other, do you believe that could survive under such circumstances?"

Tears prickling her eyes, Gi said, "I don't think Linka would leave though, she's too proud."

"Wheeler once told me that she bottles things up until it all gets too much, then she talks to him." Kwame continued. "I think they have that in common, they only talk to each other when things get difficult."

"And if they can't talk to each other anymore…" Gi didn't finish the thought but asked, "What can we do?"

Kwame sighed, "Absolutely nothing."

To be continued…