Deciding he was going to have to place tighter security on the growing houses and limit access until the plants were big enough to actually be considered a garden, he left the greenhouse and returned to the labor pool.
The arrival of the colonists from Pluto had increased their labor pool considerably, but it had also increased the strain on their resources. They were going to have to work hard to balance the two.
Despite his reminder, he discovered when he returned to work on processing building materials for their construction efforts that his spirits were much higher than they had been in a while. It wasnt until he ended his work shift that he realized it was because hed made up his mind about Sybil.
It had been a week. That was as much as he could stand, knowing that she was so close. He was tired of waiting for her to come to him, sick of sleeping alone when he could be sleeping in her arms.
They would probably be waiting for him. He knew they would be expecting him to come and they knew by now that their security measures were useless when it came to preventing him from getting to Sybil.
Chapter Fifteen
Sybil had spent a solid week wavering between hope and despair-hope that Anka would come to her; hope that he wouldnt, fear that hed taken that woman to his bed and didnt want her anymore; fear that he would come and Meachums dog would have him arrested for trespassing on American soil.
She didnt know whether to laugh or cry when he materialized in her quarters, but when she met his questioning gaze, she did both, uttering a sound about halfway between a chuckle and a sob.
He tilted his head questioningly. Does that mean that Im welcome to stay? Or should I leave before you find something to throw at me?
Sybil sniffed, struggling with tears. Youre always welcome. She surged toward him then, flinging herself into his arms.
He gathered her tightly to him, filling her with warmth, and then found her lips, filling her with heat. She linked her fingers behind his head and dragged him down to nuzzle his ear when he broke the kiss. Theyre watching, she warned against his ear on a breath of sound, hoping he could hear her and the watchers couldnt.
She leaned away after a moment to search his face for understanding.
His gaze was thoughtful, almost puzzled and she feared for several moments shed failed to warn him.
Anka lifted one hand and lightly stroked Sybils cheek, struggling with the truth that had been staring him in the face all along. Sybil had never deserved the lack of trust or the suspicions that hed harbored about her. Shed been honest and faithful from the very beginning, even when shed told him she was afraid. Despite the fact that hed learned she had good reason to be uneasy, hed still thought it went beyond that, that at least part of her fear stemmed from a plot to use him or to learn what she could about them to take the information to her own people.
Hed clung to that willful misunderstanding to protect himself, he realized, not because she had ever done or said anything to warrant it.
He swallowed the words that clogged his throat with an effort. They were for her. Hed had to share virtually every moment they were together with the watchers. He wouldnt share his feelings for her with them, as well.
Resisting the urge to let them know that he knew they were watching and fucking well didnt care by flicking an obscene gesture at them, he smiled at her with an effort. We must stop meeting this way, he said teasingly. I am too hungry when I see you to properly appreciate the meals.
Sybil chuckled huskily, relieved that he seemed to have caught the warning after all and aroused by his suggestive comment. I havent noticed any lack of appreciation.
He gathered her close in an embrace again and then led her to her bed, pushed his boots off, and lay down with her. Not even the last time?
Especially not the last time.
Now I know youre only trying to flatter me, he retorted teasingly.
Hurt flickered in her eyes briefly, but not so briefly that he didnt see it and feel guilt make his chest tight from the realization that hed seen it many times, put that look in her eyes many times. I dont know why you put up with me, he muttered.
Its a job, but somebody has to do it.
He chuckled, struggling for something to say that wouldnt put her in an uncomfortable position when hed had no trouble doing so before. There was so much he wanted to talk to her about, though, that hes never dared ask. Youre wearing far too many clothes to suit me, he murmured.
She lifted her brows at him. I thought you wanted to savor your dinner for a change?
He grinned at her. By playing with my food, nodia, he said chidingly. I cant play when youre so bundled up.
Maybe Id like to play, too?
He promptly released her and rolled onto his back, folding his arms behind his head. Play all you like, nodia. Im all yours.
Sybil stared at him wide eyed for a moment, completely disconcerted by the invitation. She had no idea what he might like or how she was to go about pleasing him. Shed always let him take his pleasure as he would. She did like the comment that he was all hers, though, even if he was teasing. A challenge?
He chuckled. Now that sounds interesting.
It did to her. It also made her uneasy, but she thought he must like much the same things as she did. Otherwise, how would he know so well where and how to touch her?
Practice, she thought dryly, but that didnt mean she couldnt light him up like he did her.
Shifting up onto one arm, she scanned his length. Am I going to have to work with barriers?
You dont want to unwrap your gift? he murmured, his voice shaky with suppressed laughter.
She surged upward and straddled his waist when he tensed to get up. You dont think I know how to turn you on, do you?
I know you do. I was hoping for a test of my stamina.
Thats a challenge if I ever heard one, Sybil said with a chuckled, reaching for the buttons on her blouse. He watched with interest while she opened it from the neck to the hem and then shrugged out of it. She discarded the bra next.
His arms came from beneath his head immediately and he reached to cup her breasts in his palms. No, Sybil said, catching his wrists and guiding his arms back to where theyd been. You get to look, not touch. Its my turn to touch.
She saw his Adams apple bob when he swallowed. Can I at least taste?
She tilted her head, considering it. Maybe just a little taste. Leaning forward, she placed a palm on the mattress on either side of his head and presented him with one breast. She didnt miss the gleam of triumph in his eyes as he opened his mouth and flicked at the tip with his tongue until it stood tightly erect and then sucked it into his mouth. The heat that traveled from her breast to her womb scorched her. She wanted to linger, to allow the heat that blossomed in her lower belly to grow higher, but she pulled away after only a moment. After a moments thought, she nudged his lips with the other nipple, demanding he even up the heat.
The desire flowing through her blood stream like warm molasses increased her eagerness to explore him and quashed her doubts. Pushing herself back along his body, she explored his face, his ears, his throat, teasing him by kissing all around his mouth without touching her mouth to his. He surged upward abruptly, cupped a hand along the back of her head to trap her and