Free Aiding the Enemy (War Girls) by Julie Rowe

broken his faith in his country’s military leaders. Even his uncle. They had crossed a line he hadn’t even known existed inside him. Herman loved Germany, but something was terribly wrong with the men who guided it.
    He owed her.
    “But your family, your brother and uncle, will they suffer as a result of you saving me?”
    “There is nothing anyone could do to hurt my brother more than he’s hurting now, and my uncle is too high an officer for the actions of his tender-hearted nephew to bring him down.”
    She stared at him, misery turning her face pale and downcast.
    “I promise to be a good husband to you.”
    Tears spilled over and rolled down her face. She wiped them away with her free hand, straightened her back, lifted her chin and cleared her throat to say, “I cannot in good conscience accept your proposal.”
    He frowned. “Really? Why not?”
    “It’s offered under duress.”
    “We’re in the middle of a war, Rose. Our whole lives are under duress.”
    “No, I meant that circumstances alone are the reason you’re asking me to marry you.”
    He paced away then turned. “And if I’d gotten you pregnant, would you marry me then?”
    She gasped. “Oh, well I...of course, we would...would have to marry in a situation like that, but—”
    “That’s duress , isn’t it?”
    “Herman, it is not at all the same thing.”
    “Sounds the same to me.”
    She stamped her foot. “No. One is the result of passion. The other is not.”
    So stubborn. So rational. He paced back and forth, moving from one end of the room to the other. “Passion makes a difference? You surprise me. You’ve always been logical, practical and not given to emotional excesses.”
    “Of course, I strive to behave properly in public or in the course of my duties. But I’m still a woman.”
    “So your argument against our getting married isn’t based on logic?”
    “Not...entirely.”
    “Do you hate me?”
    “No! Never...I simply refuse to trap you in a loveless marriage.”
    “You’re refusing to marry me because you care too much for me and you want to spare my feelings?”
    “Yes.”
    Ha! He had her. He stopped pacing right behind her and asked in a soft voice, “Do you care enough to help me then?”
    She whirled around, the hem of her dress brushing his legs. “I would do anything to help you.”
    “Except marry me.”
    “There has to be another way.”
    “It’s simple, quick and the most likely thing that will allow us to slip away unnoticed.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Stop arguing and listen. Do you trust me?”
    “Yes, but I think this is mad.”
    He put his hand under her chin, urging her to look at him. “Mad is the only thing that’s going to work.” His fingers stroked her cheek and he moved closer still. “We have to discard our old identities and become different people. The military police will be hunting us, but they’re looking for a doctor and a nurse. Not a newlywed couple who only have eyes for each other.”
    Her breathing became erratic, just like his own. “You mean we’ll have to...kiss in public?”
    He nodded, distracted by the living silk under his fingertips. “You have the softest skin,” he whispered, his fingers brushing her ear and neck. “We need to show the world that we’re married. We can’t do that if you’re skittish around me. His other hand pressed against her back, pulling her body into full contact with his. He was hard where she was soft, and he wanted to soak her up.
    “We shouldn’t.”
    The words were barely out of her mouth, then his lips were on hers. She was welcoming and warm, and she responded with surprising sensuality. His nurse, with her prim and proper exterior, hid a tigress inside.
    Her reaction enticed him to deepen the kiss. His lips pressed harder and she parted hers. His tongue stole inside her mouth. She tasted wonderful.
    She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him closer. He obliged by holding her close and insinuating one