"Charles Ingrid - The Sand Wars 04 - Alien Salute" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ingrid Charles)

"Amber," he said, to capture her attention. "Look at me."

Her face turned. She used her hair to veil her thoughts from him, its
strands sweeping down and covering half her face. One soft brown eye
watched him warily.

He could think of nothing else to do and nothing that he wanted to do
more. He crossed the room and knelt beside her on the pillows, and took her
in his arms. Gently he swept back her hair.

The expression in her eyes shocked him. "You love me," he said quietly,
and was surprised to hear his voice waver.

Amber shook her head. "Dammit, Jack. It took you long enough to see
it."

"I haven't been looking."

"No." She reached up and traced the side of his face where a very faint
scar swept into his dark blond hair, all that was left of a laser burn she'd
doctored for him long ago. "And if I were looking, what would I see?"

A heat rose in him and he found it difficult to answer, "The same, I
hope."

She hugged him tightly again, burying her face in the curve of his neck
where it met his shoulders. That was all the answer he needed.

The pile of pillows shifted, covering the floor near the Bythian courtyard
window as they lay back. Jack fought for control, trying to move slowly, his
hands seeking out, then holding the curves of her body. She answered,
biting his lower lip gently, then moving away so that she could open his
shirt. She uncurled the hairs on his chest as though they were buds and
found his own nipples, and caressed, then kissed them.

She took her robe off. Bare skin touched bare skin. The port wine dark
sky without sheltered them in privacy. A house lizard skimmed the curtains
as Jack moved over her. She tangled her fingers in his hair, drawing his face
close to hers, gentle brown eyes widening in the mystery of their first
lovemaking.

Even as he moved to open her, lightning struck his mind. Its blue fire
silvered through and he stiffened, unable to move without pain. All desire
was seared from his flesh even as Amber moved to draw him closer.
Paralyzed, his senses darkening, he could say nothing as he slipped from
consciousness, knowing Amber's mind had struck to kill him.

He came to, sweat cascading down his torso, and Bogie said, *I am
sorry.*