Free Sleeping With the Enemy by Kaitlyn O'Connor Page B

lovers on his own world were under any hard and fast obligation to cleave to one another, particularly in the budding of romance. Part of the excitement of it was learning one another and, unfortunately, that also led to disappointment on occasion and one or the other would decide they simply weren’t suited.
        The chances were that Sybil would even if she understood completely. They were too different. Where would they find a meeting of minds, hearts, and interests?
        It was far better not to think about it-especially now. He was too… needy, little though he liked to acknowledge it. He’d lost too much, been severed from his roots, and he would not be able to handle disappointment well if she rejected him.
        He needed to focus on the good of all, on trying to unravel the political mess of preserving what they had left against the aggression of the Earth people. He had to keep his wits about him.
        There could be no harm in looking, however, of taking pleasure in the joy of living that only desire for a beautiful woman could engender. For a little while, he could enjoy the pulse pounding excitement of flirtation with a desirable woman who, if not similarly enchanted with him at least seemed curious. He could fantasize, as long as he was discreet and kept a tight rein on himself.
        It would be playing with fire. He knew it would, but the urge was too compelling to completely ignore it. For the first time since the disaster on their home world, he actually felt as if he was alive not merely existing and, as grateful as he was to be a survivor, it wasn’t enough.
        His decision made, he carried Sybil’s suit to the recycling unit and resolutely stuffed it into the hopper. When he’d selected the design that most appealed to him, he programmed the processor and ordered it to be delivered to her once finished. Noting the time to completion, he left the recycling center and went to check the progress of the ‘feast’ he’d ordered prepared. It seemed propitious that it was expected to be served within an hour after she would receive her new clothing.
        Resisting the urge to return immediately to his quarters to examine his own skimpy wardrobe for something that might appeal to her and spend the time while he waited grooming in an effort to attain whatever perfection he could, he headed to his office to review the details of the latest disaster. His dress uniform and a bath would be sufficient. Anything more and the entire populace of the fucking base would be speculating that he was serious in his courtship.
        
    * * * *
        
        Sybil had mixed feelings when Holly left to join the others in the observatory. She hadn’t particularly welcomed Holly’s company but it had been a distraction from her thoughts and once she left there was no distraction. Beyond that, she strongly suspected the reason Holly had left was to report to the others and discuss what she might have been doing when she was alone with the aliens.
        She didn’t like the sense that she’d become an outsider rather than a part of the team, but she wasn’t sure that joining the group would dispel what seemed to be a widening chasm. Even if she’d thought it would help, she didn’t feel comfortable sitting with them in her underwear. She hadn’t liked the way Spencer had looked at her.
        The arrival some time later of clothing was almost a relief, regardless of the fact that it was delivered by one of the creepy little gray droids. The discovery that it wasn’t her suit as she’d thought dispelled the relief very quickly, though. Shocked at first when she examined it, anger very quickly took precedence. It was the material. She was sure of that. It just wasn’t her suit.
        She wasn’t sure what the hell it was! She flung it down on the bunk as soon as she realized it wasn’t what she’d thought, holding her anger inside with an effort and mentally berating Anka and the aliens in