Free Water by Terra Harmony Page A

polished off most of the meat, leaving only scraps for Micah.  I moved on to the fruits but eyed the cheesecake.  "I’m not exactly the warrior princess type you might be hoping for.  I will, however, go Xena on your ass if you don’t pass me that cheesecake."
    Micah laughed again and put two slices on a plate for me, including a very generous amount of strawberry sauce.  I put a large forkful in my mouth and let out a long sigh as the entire concoction seemed to melt in my mouth.  "Will the training be safe? I mean not just for me, but everyone else?" I asked, in between bites.
    "That’s why I am here.  My job is to protect you and, well…"  Micah hesitated, "…to protect others from you."
    He looked down, pushing food around on his plate and, although it was hard to tell in the failing light, it seemed his cheeks had turned pink.  He nearly looked ashamed.
    I decided not to push it.  "With your methods of reining me in, I might be inclined to lose control more often."  I pushed aside some of the plates and moved to sit beside him.
    He grinned and put his arm around me, and we laid back on the blanket together, watching the first stars of the night twinkle into view.
    "The training will be difficult," he said.  "It’s designed to bring you to your greatest potential in as little time as possible.  But I’ll be there the whole way and if there is anything you need, just let me know.  I’ll make it happen."
    I thought about my life up until this point and surprisingly was not disappointed to leave it behind.  Barring Tuesday night Karaoke with a few select friends and some rather fickle house plants, there wasn’t much to go back to.  I had two bids in for photography assignments, but clients don't wait around long before moving on to the next photographer.
    As the sun dipped below the horizon, the temperature cooled significantly. I turned on my side, and he did the same so we were face to face.  He threw his other arm around me, warding off the cold.
    "I'm sorry, Kaitlyn. For everything."
    I raised my eyebrows.  I certainly wasn't going to say it was okay, and that all was forgiven.  Although, another kiss wouldn't hurt…
    His hand moved up to my face, pushing my hair behind my ear.  I grabbed hold of the hem of his shirt, twisting it around my hand and squeezing.  He stopped stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb, and lifted my chin up.  "Are you okay with this?"
    I should have said no.  For the most part, choice was no longer an option.  Now he was giving it back to me.  I moved my hand, touching the bare skin at his waist.  More shocks.  More heat.  "What is that?" I whispered.
    "I don't know," he whispered back.  "Us.  Being together."
    His hand moved to the back of my neck.  It was tense, I could feel him resisting the urge to pull me in the rest of the way.  This was still my choice.  Ultimately, the fear of long years without anyone, of denying the ache in my chest to belong, drove me into him.
    I took a deep breath, inhaling his scent which was a mix of campfire, mint, and amber.  Once our lips touched, he kept me tethered – or was it me doing that to him?  Hard to tell.  Our limbs snaked around each other until we were tangled in a complex human knot.  I rolled on top of Micah, sliding my hand in between us to feel his abs.  My own were sizzling, deep inside.
    He rolled us again, and I landed in something squishy.  The smell of strawberries tinged the air.  I laughed, pulling the sauce out from under me.  He licked remnants of the sticky glaze off my clumsy fingers, then kissed me again. The taste of the sweet berry exploded on my tongue.  I hummed in pleasure.
    He held both my hands to the ground above my head, while his kisses moved down my neck, then over to my ear.  I squirmed.  He tightened his grip, using only one of his own hands.  The other snaked up my shirt.  I stilled, like prey caught in the clutches of a reptile.  I held my breath as his