Free Diva (Jit'Suku Chronicles) by Bianca D'Arc Page A

wouldn’t fall apart in front of him. Not now. Not after the joy and pleasure they’d shared.
    Her dreams had come true last night, but reality was biting them both in the ass today. As she’d thought it would. Duty called to both of them.
    “Thank you for passing on this information, and I’ll be selfish and thank you also for waiting until now to do it.” He laughed and leaned down to kiss her lips, smiling. When he lifted his head again, his gaze was soft and sad. “But you know what this means. You’re a smart lady.”
    “I’m guessing it means you’ll probably have to go put down an Andrakian rebellion, and I’m the one who sent you into the thick of it.” She let just a bit of her discomfort show.
    “Don’t think of it like that,” he told her, hugging her close, swaying a bit from side to side. “No matter what happens, this is my job. Whether you were the conduit for the information or it came to us through more regular channels, once command hears of this, my unit will undoubtedly be sent in. It’s what we do. So it’s not your fault in any way. Remember that, Maggie. This is who I am. It’s what I do.”
    She placed her hand over his heart, feeling the strong beat of it. “I know. It’s what makes you so darn attractive to me. You’re a strong man who protects others. That’s really sexy.”
    She would leave him with happy memories of their last moments together, she decided. She’d tease him and remind him of the magnificent hours just past. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. There was time enough for tears when she was alone again and he was out there…fighting a war she had sent him into the middle of, no matter what he might say.
    His strong hands tightened on her waist as he smiled. “Honey, you’re the sexy one in this relationship.” His gaze held hers as he seemed to realize what he’d just implied. “That is…if this is something you want to continue.”
    “Are you out of your mind? Of course, I do. Whenever. Wherever. I know we’ve both got obligations, but I want you in my life, John. I hope you want the same.”
    “Are you kidding?” His smile was back, and it held the force of the sun, the mystery of the moon. “I thought I showed you last night how much I want to be with you.”
    “Oh, you did, Captain. You certainly did,” she agreed, reaching up to place soft kisses along his strong jaw. She was going to miss him so much. Maybe she could keep him here a little longer. “If you need a secure com station,” she whispered, “mine is top notch.”
    But John pulled back, his expression turning serious again as he was reminded of his duty. Dammit. She hadn’t meant to do that, but she knew it couldn’t be helped. She was going to be late already, and he…well…she knew he had a job to do. She understood it. Hell, she even admired it.
    “No, Maggie. You’ve been involved in this too much already. I’ll use military channels from here on out. Hopefully, nothing will trace back to you in any way. I’m not putting you in more danger.” He kissed her one more time, sweetly, and then stepped back, letting her go. “I hate it, but I have to go.”
    She glanced at the chronometer on the wall. “So do I.” She hated to have to say it. “I’m already late.”
    “You go first. I’ll sneak out a few minutes later. Just in case the hotel’s security isn’t as good as you’re paying them to be.” He gave her a lopsided smile that threatened to loose the tears straining behind her eyes.
    She retrieved her bag reluctantly, then he walked her toward the door.
    “I don’t want to leave,” she admitted in a small voice.
    He put his arm around her shoulders, tugging her close again. “It means a lot to me to hear you say that, Maggie mine.”
    She turned, clinging to him desperately for another long moment while they stood together, in front of the doorway that would separate them again…maybe forever. Fate could be cruel, she decided in that moment. To allow