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Neptune Crossing

Page 42

by Jeffrey A. Carver


  *

  They slipped down the corridor like a pair of thieves, strolling casually whenever anyone else was in sight, and hurrying with suppressed excitement when the way was clear. They darted into the cafeteria and loaded a takeout tray with sandwiches and drinks, and hurried away.

  He felt suddenly awkward as they crept into her dorm compartment and slid the privacy-curtain closed. Julie seemed to feel it as well, but when she put the tray down on the tiny desktop, and turned, and he put his arms around her in a prolonged hug, the awkwardness didn’t seem to matter anymore. She pressed her hands against his chest and whispered, “I know this is crazy. But you made my toes curl, the other night. Will you do that to me again? Please?”

  /// John . . . ///

  There was a note of desperation in the quarx’s voice.

  He ignored the voice. He struggled to find words. Julie answered the silence by stretching up and kissing him . . .

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