Free Oslo Overtures by Marion Ueckermann Page B

back beneath his wingsuit, and the softness of his hair as her fingers trailed the strands. Her cheek bore the brunt of his stubble, but she took no notice. It was pain with a beautiful gain.
    She breathed in deep. Was he wearing cologne? Had he put it on especially for her?
    A moan escaped his lips. He pulled away. Closing his eyes, he turned his head.
    Anjelica felt her desire turn to ire. This wasn’t a game. She wasn’t some daisy to be plucked, its petals thoughtlessly discarded. I’ll kiss her. I’ll kiss her not. I’ll kiss her…
    Faster than an adder, her hand struck his cheek.
    His eyes flew open and his gaze bored into hers—the depths of the earth meeting the highest heavens. Kyle rubbed his cheek. “What was that for?”
    “I’m tired of playing games. Make up your mind what you want, because I’m done tip-toeing on the edge of romance. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a plane to catch, an act to perform.” With her head held high, she turned and strode away.
     
    ~*~
     
    Kyle was confused. Had she just confessed, in a manner of speaking, to being interested in being romanced by him?
    But what about Erick?
    Leaving his chute on the ground, he ran after her. He needed to kiss first, ask questions later, or he was going to lose her. For the second time, he stopped her in her tracks. This time his grip on her tightened, afraid she’d slip away again. His mouth came down harder, with more passion than he knew he possessed. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? When he’d finished kissing her, he nuzzled his face into her hair, ignoring the whistles and cheers from passing wingsuiters. Could he trust himself to speak? He had to let her know how he felt. “If I fly on the wings of the dawn you are there…”
    Her labored breathing heated his neck with every breath. He felt her cheek move with her smile. “I don’t think it quite goes like that, or that the psalmist had me in mind when he penned his words.”
    “No. But these words haven’t left me from the moment I met you. I can’t get you out of my mind. You envelop me.”
    “Then why are you fighting this? I don’t understand.” Her eyes sought the answers in his.
    How could one word cause so much turmoil? Kyle breathed out the answer. “Erick.”
    A frown creased her brow. “What about Erick?”
    “You tell me.” Was she really going to play dumb?
    “There’s nothing to tell.”
    “Really?”
    She smiled at him. He hadn’t seen her smile this up close and personal. “Really.”
    His heart did a million barrel rolls, breaking all the safety rules. “You mean you’re not involved? You’re not in love with him?”
    She buried her face in her hands and laughed. “Heavens, no. Why would you think such a thing?”
    Did he dare tell her? He looked away. “I—I saw you in his arms…twice. Saw him kissing you.”
    Anjelica clasped his cheeks and turned his face to her. “Silly.”
    “I did see it,” Kyle protested. “I didn’t mean to… I came looking for you after you ran out on Saturday night. You and Erick were on the path near the garden. And then yesterday, here at the drop zone…”
    “Kyle,” she stroked his cheek, searching his eyes, “what you saw on Saturday was Erick misunderstanding what I was trying to tell him, taking what I hadn’t given.”
    “And yesterday?”
    “Claiming more than my peace offering.” She shrugged it off as if it didn’t matter to her. “Erick and I go a long way back.”
    “You were in love with him before?” Kyle couldn’t help the questions coming. He needed answers. He needed reassurance. And somehow, he didn’t think Anjelica would mind giving the answers this time.
    She threw her head back and her laughter filled the air. “When I was ten.”
    “The first time you were in love?”
    “Yes.”
    “What happened?”
    She shrugged. “I grew up.”
    She wasn’t telling him everything.
    “But what happened after you grew up?”
    Her answer came in two syllables, and Kyle