Page 80 of Kiss Across the Universe
Alannah jumped a little. “Oh…!” she breathed.
“Yes, indeed. ‘Oh’. I’m not saying that’s what did it for Kit, but I think it might have been the last straw for him. He always felt like an oddity in the family. Rob was the oldest of twelve children, and seven survived to adulthood and had passels of kids of their own. We had four of them, ourselves, and we were conservative, at that.” Maryann grinned and drained her glass.
Alannah smiled and pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.
“Kit was an only child,” Maryann added. “He was surrounded by cousins and second cousins and all of them were full blood.”
“Oh…” Alannah repeated inadequately.
“No one cared,” Maryann said, waving her hand dismissively. “But Kit did. I think he felt like he didn’t belong. When his mother died, he was the only non-full-blood in the family and he felt alone. Then, suddenly, he announced he was joining the Army for the education grant. Oh my god, was Rob pissed about that! Like this family couldn’t pay for Kit’s education!”
Alannah turned and got the dishwasher running. “He thought Kit was running away?”
“Kit probably was. But then he turned out to be a damned fine soldier, after all. I’ll let you tackle Kit about his career. If you’re sharing the same bed, he might open up a bit and give you the details. I know he was pulled into Joint Task Force 2 very quickly and he spent most of his time there, rushing around the middle east and all the hot spots. But it ate at him, you know. The destruction and violence. He looked a lot older than he was, every time he came home. And he got quieter and quieter.”
Alannah gripped the front edge of the big sink. “So he became a park warden, instead, where all you can hear is the wind in the tree tops.”
Maryann lifted the corner of her mouth. “Interesting way of putting it. Sounds about right, too.”
Alannah explored the water, looking for dishes beneath the suds. “Thank you for telling me this. It helps. A lot.”
“Yeah, I figured Kit probably wouldn’t volunteer the information. But now you can prod him into details, if you want. And you can blame me for slipping and mentioning JTF2.”
Alannah helped Maryann make upthe queen sized bed she had spoken of, and after that, Maryann bid her a good night. Perhaps she sensed the exhaustion that was dogging Alannah. The pillowtop mattress beckoned and despite their afternoon snooze, Alannah could feel sleep pulling at her.
She undressed and slid into the clean sheets with a deep sigh of contentment. She left the bedside lamp on for Kit, and intended to wait for him to arrive.
Instead she was woken by his lips upon her neck, and his arm over her waist, sliding up to her breast. Alannah stretched, every tendon popping and every nerve instantly coming online.
Her movements pushed her breast into Kit’s hand, and he gave a small growl of appreciation.
Alannah turned over to face him. He was as naked as she.
Kit glanced around the room and back to her. “Did you ask for the bed, or did Aunt Mary just assume?” His black eyes were narrowed, but there was amusement in them.
“She asked. Nicely.”
He patted the mattress. “Far softer than the rubber sheet.”
“And wider, too.”
“Let’s take advantage of that,” he said, pulling her to him.
“Oh, you’re all cold from the outside,” she exclaimed, feeling the patches of chilled skin on his chest and arms. “Let’s take care of that, too.”
Their breathing had slowed, butthe heat between them was good. Alannah snuggled up against Kit’s back, rested her head against his shoulder. She aimed for a casual tone, and said, “I was thinking. We should head back out again. Into the mountains. Only, pack more supplies this time.”
Kit didn’t shift or stiffen. He didn’t react at all, and for a long moment, Alannah thought he might actually have fallen asleep already.
Then he said, “You don’t want to go home?”
Her heart jumped. “I want….” She sighed. Why was it so hard to say what she was feeling?
“I thought you’d be glad to go home.” His tone was stiff. “Everything gets sorted out once you’re back there. You don’t want to sort things out?”
She held still, her heart hammering. She knew what he was not quite saying. He had insisted all along that the situation between them would be resolved, once she was home and they could react normally, without the stress of enemies coming at them.
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Alannah said inadequately. “I meant…” Whatdidshe mean? “Iron Grey—Mixon—is all over me. He knows me too well.”
