Free Tess Awakening by Andres Mann

fatigues.
    “Tess, think about it. You were taken
prisoner. According to protocol, the Army will not let you go back
in combat until they have completed your debriefing and
psychological assessment. You are even entitled to repatriation!”
His voice now had a tinge of desperation. He was disappointed to
the core. He wanted her back in bed, not back to the desert chasing
ghosts.
    “I don’t care about protocol. I’m going to
find the girl before the bastard kills her; period!” She left no
room for argument.
    Jake reluctantly got out of bed, still naked.
He approached Tess and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Are you
always so relentless?”
    Tess freed herself violently, suddenly
recalling the manhandling she received by Amir. “You are hurting
me! Let me go!”
    Jake dropped his hands and pleaded: “Tess, we
both have been through hell. We deserve to rest and heal our
bruises. Besides, I want more time with you!”
    Tess put her hat on. “Don’t get any ideas,
buddy! That was a comfort fuck. Let’s not make it more than it
was.”
    Jake most definitely did not agree. “Do you
really think that’s all it was?”
    “They all say that when they want more. Let’s
not make a big thing about it. Come on, get dressed. If you want to
spend more time with me, it will be on a chopper, not in bed!”
    Jake was furious. He would have loved to tear
off the ugly military clothes, expose that flesh that he craved to
touch, throw her in bed and smother her with his body which ached
with a need to possess her once more. Last night, it was gentle and
brief. Now, he wanted her with lust that he had not felt for a long
time.
    “Tess, get real! The chances of finding that
girl are practically nil. Even if you do, that bastard will
probably have killed her.”
    “If you don’t come with me, I’ll go by
myself. As they say, it’s not over until it’s over.”
    Jake wanted to scream and walk away, but he
wanted her even more. He also realized it was not going to happen
just now. It had to be her way. Once she made up her mind, no power
on earth could stop her.
    “All right, Tess, fine. Let me take a quick
shower and we are on our way,” he said resignedly.
    “Excellent; I will go downstairs a get two
lunch bags. I will be in front waiting in the Humvee.” That’s it;
end of discussion.
    Jake quickly checked out, jumped into the
vehicle Tess had running on the hotel driveway, and set off for the
base camp. While munching their sandwiches, they both marveled at
the ironies of a relatively modern city going about its business in
the middle of a major war in its backyard. There seemed to be
little out of the ordinary, men and women walking through town,
businessmen driving to work, people in the modern shopping malls.
The only sign of something amiss was the presence of several
military vehicles at major intersections.
    After passing through the base checkpoint,
they stopped at the command building. Tess jumped off the Humvee
with the ease of a dancer, in the process further impressing Jake,
who was still feeling the deep-seated soreness in his muscles. This
woman is something else, he thought. Behind her beauty, she is a
tough cookie with a determination and drive that few people
possess.
    Tess knocked on Colonel Reynolds’ door. The
CO hailed her in.
    “Tess, where the hell have you been? I have
people all over looking for you!”
    “Not to worry, Sir. I just went to get some
rest in Kuwait City.”
    “You shouldn’t be out. As a matter of fact,
you should still be in the hospital.”
    “No time for that, Sir. I would like to join
with the units headed for General al-Saadi’s positions. I have some
unfinished business to attend to.”
    “Yes, I heard what’s happened to you, and I
can’t blame you for wanting to get even, but I can’t allow it. Let
the Third Infantry take care of him. You have been through hell. I
would like you to have some rest.”
    “Colonel, if I don’t go back, Alkan will kill
a little girl.