In Love and War

by Natalie Brock

  Kay raised her eyes and looked at Alexander. He just said the words she was hoping to hear when she woke up in his arms. But now, those words had no meaning. “No. Now let go of me!” He released her and she exited the library calling for his manservant. “James. James.”

  Chapter 60

  The barn smelled like a mixture of hay and horses, wheat and damp wood. Michael and Cathy dropped to their knees trying to catch their breath after sprinting in from the field to find shelter from the bombing. The explosions were a few minutes apart, unnerving them more with each blast.

  “Do you think it’s okay for us to be here?” Cathy asked. “Won’t the owner mind?”

  Michael looked up and visually scanned the barn. “There are no animals in here. Could be abandoned.”

  “But is it safe here?” There was a desperation in Cathy’s voice that nearly broke Michael’s heart. She looked at him as if he had all the answers.

  Michael was a seasoned veteran at this point. He had gone through boot camp, through training maneuvers, through “Green Hell” combat training, he watched Army films, and learned all about weaponry and the war machine. He had experienced everything by now except actual combat. And he would have liked to reassure Cathy, but he couldn’t lie to her. “It’s safer in here than it is out there, but not by much.”

  Agitated, Cathy got up and started wandering around the barn. Michael followed her. He put his hands on her shoulders from behind. “I am so sorry I put you in this danger, sweetie. I should never have brought you here.”

  Cathy turned around quickly. “Don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t have missed the picnic for anything.”

  For the second time today, Cathy was giving Michael the impression that she felt more for him than she led him to believe up to now. First the mashed potatoes, and now this. “If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think you care,” he said, trying to sound upbeat.

  Cathy put her hands behind Michael’s neck and pulled him toward her, kissing him tenderly. She pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes. “Make love to me, Michael,” she whispered.

  Startled, Michael took a step back, freeing himself from her embrace. “Why?” He couldn’t believe he just asked a beautiful girl why she wanted him to make love to her. This was a first for Michael Zacharius, who normally dived in without asking questions. But Cathy was different, and not only because he was in love with her -- but because she was a virgin. He needed to know why. “Is it because ... of the bombs?”

  Cathy looked down and nodded slowly. “I don’t want to die without ... without taking the step ... without knowing a man.” She looked back up at him and there were actual tears in her eyes.

  Michael moved close to her again, sliding his hands from her shoulders down her arms and back up again. “And if we survive? Will you regret that you made love to the wrong man? That it was me, and not David?”

  Cathy shook her head no. “I won’t have any regrets, Michael, because ... you’re not the wrong man. You’re exactly who I want to be with.”

  His heart leaped. Was she saying what he thought she was saying, Michael wondered. Was this her way of telling him that she felt the same way he did?

  The look on Cathy’s face was so earnest, so honest. Her eyes were telling him that she wanted him, and not just because they were in a life and death situation.

  There was no question that something changed between them since he returned from training. The kiss in the shower was a clear indication that Cathy missed him like crazy while he was gone. And every kiss since then was different. It was more passionate. It wasn’t just “practice” anymore. She wasn’t just going through the motions. It was the real thing. Michael could feel the emotion behind her kisses now, and he believed with all his heart that she loved him as much as he loved her. Asking him to make love to her proved it.

  He took a deep breath and cupped Cathy’s cheek. “Sweetheart, are you sure?” Cathy nodded without hesitation.

  Michael swallowed the lump in his throat. All at once, this felt like it was the most important moment of his life. It meant so much to him to know that Cathy wanted him, only him, and that she wanted him to be her first, the first man to make love to her. And if Michael’s dream came true, Cathy would be the last woman he would ever make love to. She was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  He took her hands as he dropped to his knees and gently pulled her down with him. She laid back onto the hay-covered floor of the barn and he caressed her cheek. His heart was so full and there was so much he wanted to say to her, but not with words this time.

  He traced her mouth with his finger before pressing his lips onto hers. He felt her shiver when his fingertips slid down the side of her neck, continuing until they rested on her chest. Through her blouse, he could feel her heartbeat -- her heart was racing as fast as his own as he unbuttoned each button on her blouse. With only a slight hesitation, she sat up and removed her blouse. Then she turned around to let Michael unfasten her bra. He placed a kiss between her shoulder blades and nuzzled the silky skin on her back while she slipped the brassiere off her shoulders.

  She looked nervous when she turned back to face Michael; she kept her arms crossed over her chest out of shyness. He whispered, “It’s alright,” and smiled reassuringly, as he removed his own shirt. Then he gently placed his hands on top of hers, and pulled them away from her body, leaving her uncovered.

  Michael brought Cathy’s hands to his lips and kissed her palms, one at a time. It took tremendous self-control, but he avoided looking anywhere but her face for the moment. “Do you trust me?”

  Cathy nodded and smiled. “There’s no one I trust more,” she said, clasping his shoulders and pulling him closer until their lips met.

  They inched closer and closer to each other until their bodies were flush, chests touching, no space between them. Michael locked his arms around Cathy, his hands streaking up and down her back, getting tangled in her long hair. And she held onto Michael tighter and tighter, as if she couldn’t get close enough.

  Still on their knees, they continued kissing slowly and sensually until Cathy slipped her tongue between Michael’s lips, just the way he taught her. As their tongues played in each other’s mouths, he remembered telling her that a French kiss was a way to let your partner know you wanted more. So he leaned her backwards onto the ground without breaking the kiss.

  At last, Michael leaned away to drink in Cathy’s naked physique with his eyes. Her body was so beautiful, so perfect. Round in all the right places, pointed and curvy in all the others. She looked like a goddess and it took his breath away.

  No matter what else happened, this was the best day of his life. If this was the end of time, if a bomb were to drop on this barn, he knew he would die a happy man.

  He traced the shape of a heart over her chest with his finger, causing her to shiver. He looked up at her face. “Are you cold?”

  Cathy shook her head no. She smiled seductively and touched Michael’s cheek. “Not anymore.”

  Michael slowly licked his lips. Not anymore. He thought those had to be the sexiest words he ever heard anyone say. He rested his hand on her waist, captured her mouth and kissed her passionately. Almost without thinking, his hand strayed upward, skimming the surface of her flesh until he cradled her breast and rolled her nipple under his palm and between his thumb and forefinger. So soft, so warm, so silky.

  Now that he tasted the fruit, Michael’s mind went hazy. His carnal cravings grew stronger, and his eager hands roamed Cathy’s body faster and faster, as they claimed more and more of Cathy’s flesh for his pleasure.

  But what about her pleasure? The haze cleared momentarily and Michael worried that she might not like this, that she might push him away and tell him she didn’t want to continue, and that would be the end. That thought was almost unbearable because Michael knew even now, that once would never be enough for him. Michael looked at her face. “Are you okay?” he asked breathlessly.

  Cathy s
lid her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him close for another kiss. That kiss told him everything he needed to know. He sighed with relief and continued the journey, pressing his hands and lips into her creamy breast.

  “Oh Michael,” Cathy moaned.

  Hearing his name uttered like that in the heat of passion drove him wild. He needed more of her. He needed all of her. So he inched her slacks down and, while she wriggled out of them, he removed the rest of his own clothes.

  This was it. Michael felt himself approaching the point of no return. He slipped his hand between her thighs and he could tell she was ready for him.

  “I love you, Cathy,” he whispered next to her ear.

  “Mmmm.” Cathy nuzzled her cheek against his and smiled. “Show me,” she whispered. She looked into his eyes, and he kissed her once more before he sank into her warmth.

  Chapter 61

  “Three cheers for war, noble and beautiful above all.”

  -- Benito Mussolini

  The next morning, Cathy and Michael hitched a ride and were sitting in the back of a farm truck. They had fallen asleep in the barn yesterday and woke up after nightfall. The bombing stopped, but they decided it was too dangerous to be out on the road at night, so they would set out again in the morning. Neither one of them minded spending the night. In fact, it gave them the chance to make love several more times before dawn.

  Once sunrise came, they went to retrieve the motorcycle, but it wasn’t where they thought they left it. They looked everywhere for the next hour, up and down row after row of wheat, but it was gone. Michael surmised it was stolen.

  Riding in the back of the truck toward base, Michael held Cathy in his arms. He continually stroked her hair, kissed her head, laced his fingers with hers. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her.

  Last night, she was a whirlwind of emotions, afraid she was going to die, excited and nervous at the prospect of her first sexual experience, then more relaxed and confident the second time, and the third, and the fourth time. Now in the light of day, she was starting to feel fearful again, but for a different reason.

  Michael touched her chin and turned her face toward him. “You okay?” He must have read the expression on her face or felt her body tense up. How is it possible that he knew her so well in such a short period of time? No one else “got” her the way he did.

  “I’m fine,” she told him. But she wasn’t. She had broken her own rule. She had grown completely dependent on someone else for her happiness. And in her world, that meant he wasn’t going to stick around.

  His arms tightened around her, drawing her closer, kissing her lips, as if he knew she needed reassurance. “Good,” he said between kisses. “Good, because I’ve never been better.” He put his hand on her cheek. “Everything’s different now, Cathy. Everything’s changed. We’re together now, really together, and I never want to be with anyone else for as long as I live.”

  Oh how she wanted to believe him. “Michael, what are you saying?” She knew she shouldn’t ask because she’ll only get pulled in deeper. But looking into his blue eyes, sparkling in the morning sun, brimming with sincerity and hope, she wanted more than anything to be carried into his plans and dreams.

  “I’m saying I want to marry you, Cathy.” Cathy was startled. That was a little more than she expected him to say. “After the war, I’m going to take you back to Morgantown. Oh baby, I can’t wait for you to meet my parents. They’re gonna be just as crazy about you as I am. You’ll be part of a family -- my family.”

  Cathy had never been part of a real family. The idea was so foreign to her. It was hard for her to even imagine Michael’s parents welcoming her with open arms. “And we’ll have our own family together, sweetheart. I want to give you everything you never had, Cathy. I may not have much right now, but I’ve got you, and that’s everything. Everything I have, everything I am ... is yours.” He drew her closer and covered her lips with his.

  It was impossible for Cathy not to get lost in his kiss, in his words, in his dreams. She finally believed in something. She believed in Michael. Wrapped up in his kisses, Cathy was on the verge of tears. She was allowing herself to feel the emotions she normally suppressed, and she was no longer sure where Michael ended and she began.

  For the rest of the ride back, she stopped being afraid. This wasn’t part of her plan. This wasn’t the dream she expected. No, this one snuck up on her and, in so many ways, it was even better than she imagined. So she settled into Michael’s embrace and held him close. And for the first time in her life, she allowed herself to hope that dreams really do come true.

  Chapter 62

  “A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.”

  -- Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander in Chief of the Japanese Navy

  The farm truck dropped them off about half a mile from base, so Michael and Cathy walked the rest of the way on foot. Hand in hand, they re-entered the base. The sentry in the lookout tower must have spotted them and alerted someone of their approach, because they were immediately accosted by Sergeant Richards upon arrival. In fact, it seemed like he’d been waiting for them. He pulled Michael by the collar.

  “Now you’ve done it!” Louis yelled.

  “Done what, Sarge?” Michael pulled himself out of Louis’s grip.

  “Don’t give me that innocent act. You went off base. You went AWOL and you know damn well that desertion’s a crime in the Army.”

  Cathy looked at Michael and asked nervously, “What does AWOL mean?”

  “I’ll tell you what it means,” Louis barked. “It means Absent Without Leave and it’s a court martial offense.”

  “But we came back. I wasn’t deserting, I swear!” Michael hoped his sincerity was enough to convince Louis of his innocence.

  “You know better than that, Private. Coming back is just a technicality, and frankly, I wish you didn’t. You’re both in hot water. Deeeeep, hot water.”

  Michael looked at Cathy and realized that, for the first time, he’d gotten someone he cared about into trouble. It was one thing for him to be in trouble, or for him and Joe to get called on the carpet for some practical joke they played. Michael could handle that. But he couldn’t handle getting Cathy in trouble. The only thing he could do was make sure she wouldn’t take any heat.

  “Okay, Sarge, you got me. I’m sorry. It will never happen again. Come on, Cathy.” He took Cathy’s hand and started to walk away.

  “Not so fast, pretty boy. You’re going on Report. Both of you. And not just for sneaking off base.” The Sergeant seemed to be enjoying throwing his weight around. “But for stealing military property. There’s a motorcycle missing and I have an eyewitness who said they saw you take it.”

  “I was just borrowing it,” Michael quickly explained, pleading his case. “I wasn’t stealing it.”

  “Oh really? And where is it now?”

  “Um.” Michael was out of excuses.

  “What are you going to do to us?” Cathy sounded frightened, like she sounded last night during the bombing. It killed Michael to see her scared like this.

  “Nothing,” Michael answered quickly before Louis had a chance to speak. “He’s not going to do anything to you, Cathy.” Michael turned to Louis. “Look, it’s all my fault. It was all my idea. You gotta leave her out of this. She’s just a civilian.”

  “I don’t ‘gotta’ do nothing, Private,” Louis smirked, practically making fun of Michael. “What I am gonna do is file a formal report against you. You can expect to be court martialed and you better believe a dishonorable discharge is in your future,” Louis added sardonically. “This is the kind of thing that follows a man around for the rest of his life, and for generations to come. You’ll bring shame to your entire family. Your life is officially sewage!”

  Michael pulled Louis aside and spoke quietly. “Listen Sergeant, I don’t care what you do to me. I deserve it. And I’ll take an
y punishment you dole out. But please, I’m begging you, she’s an innocent. Please don’t put her on Report. Please.”

  Louis stroked his chin and he eyed both Michael and Cathy. “Any punishment, huh?” Louis started formulating ideas. He finally caught Michael red-handed and the ball was in his court. It was time to get even. “For starters, there are a few latrines that need cleaning.” Louis was going to enjoy extracting his pound of flesh from Michael. “Private, you’re confined to your barracks until I speak with the Colonel and we figure out what to do with you. Come with me.” Louis gripped Michael’s arm and then looked at Cathy. “As for you, young lady, you’re an accessory to a crime. If I catch you hanging around with this hooligan again, I will file an official report on you. For now, go back to your job while I decide what to do to the both of you.”