Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (classic book list .txt) 📗

“I think Myla is utterly fine with what you did,” Sam said, drawing a poke from Beverly.

“What I did?” she asked.

“Fine, what we did,” Sam replied sheepishly.

“Why Sam Cobb, are you ashamed of me?” Beverly asked. Her tone was joking, but Sam could sense the genuine concern underneath the question.

“I would never be ashamed of you, Beverly,” Sam said.

I hope she can tell I mean every word of that.

Beverly searched his face, her eyes narrowing in the pre-dawn gloom.

“I am, however, ashamed of my brother and his inability to realize how far low sounds carry,” Sam said. Beverly raised her eyebrows at that, then realized what Sam was alluding to.

“Yeah, there are things I could have gone to my grave without hearing him say when Sadie and he were courting,” Sam said. “I can only imagine it’s ten times worse now that they’re married.”

Beverly looked wistful for a moment, then changed her expression.

“What were you thinking?” Sam asked.

“It’s not nice to pry into a woman’s mind,” Beverly replied. “You’d think you’d know that with a sister.”

“If you were trying to find a way to kill the mood, that was pretty close to a direct hit.”

“Sorry,” Beverly said. “I didn’t mean to get cross with you.”

“No, I was meaning mentioning my sister,” Sam quipped, drawing a playful slap from Beverly.

“So, not to truly kill the mood by being practical, but did we use a rubber last night?”

Sam pointed to a small trash can next to the bed.

“Yes. I don’t think we need any more little Cobbs running around in nine months.”

“The doctors figured it was my fault Max and I didn’t have kids,” Beverly said quietly. “So you may have wasted that one.”

“It was more than one,” Sam said sheepishly. “I am really feeling like I took advantage of you last night, or was a very bad performer.”

“Men,” Beverly said, rolling her eyes. “You assume I have some back catalog that I’m grading you against?”

Sam squeezed her.

“I was not thinking about anyone else but present company,” he said.

“I was totally wondering if Clark Gable was as dreamy in a…ow!” Beverly started, stopped by Sam pinching her buttocks.

“It’s not nice to tease, Beverly,” Sam said. “I—“

He was momentarily thrown off his train of thought by a very firm grip and stroke around his manhood.

“I have never teased a man in my life, Sam,” she said, grabbing the back of his head with her free left hand. With surprising strength, she pulled him in and brought his mouth to hers while still urging him to hardness. The two of them shared a sense of urgency as she rolled over, hooking her leg behind him and shifting him into alignment.

“I don’t…” he started to say, feeling her warmth beckoning him.

“I know, and I don’t care. In, now,” she breathed, bringing both of her legs around him. In a mutually satisfying movement, Sam followed her instructions.

The sound of a key in the lock jerked Sam back to wakefulness. Both he and Beverly started to move, leading to them bumping their heads together.

“Ow,” Beverly said, starting to giggle, then breaking into laughter. Sam, after a moment, followed suit.

“Well glad to see you guys are awake,” Norah called down the hall. “Sam, your boss says you better ensure that lovely woman you’re with gets a new outfit so no one questions her morals at the hotel.”

Clearly no finger wagging from that direction, Sam thought, surprised at Norah’s cheerful tone.

“Are you two decent?” Norah asked from the direction of the living room..

“Not at all,” Beverly called back cautiously, looking around for her clothes.

“Nevermind, question answered,” Norah said laughingly. “There is a robe that will probably fit you in the closet, Beverly. Sam, you just might be out of luck.”

Beverly got up out of the bed, briefly trying to wrap the sheet around her before simply laughing and standing in front of Sam in all of her nudity. He successfully fought the urge to wolf whistle, instead rolling over to sit on the edge of the bed behind her while Beverly searched for the robe in question. Sam ran a hand down her back, causing Beverly to shiver.

“You stop that right now, Sam,” she whispered fiercely, finding the robe. She turned around as she put it on, giving Sam a mock disapproving look as he openly ogled her.

“I’m going to go get our clothes. Then we are going to take Norah out to a nice breakfast.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Sam said. “Except I’ll buy you both breakfast.”

“I hope you don’t think it’s too forward, but I’m thinking of asking Norah about openings up here at Bremerton hospital,” Beverly said. “I’d like to help deliver babies.”

“Norah really likes it as a place to work,” Sam observed. “So I think you’d enjoy it.”

“You don’t feel like I’m…” Beverly began.

“You are a grown woman, and I enjoy your company,” Sam said, causing Beverly to raise an eyebrow and smirk. “More than that, thank you very much.”

“But I’m pretty sure that didn’t hurt?” Beverly said, leaning in to kiss him.

He slid his hands inside the robe, only to have them swatted away.

“Breakfast.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied.

Beverly left the room and went down the hallway. Sam heard a murmured conversation then some laughter.

In some ways I think we should get Major Haynes to come along. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be proper. Lonely is the commander.

“Norah says it’s nonsense to go out to a diner, we might as well have breakfast with her,” Beverly said.

“I think that sounds like an excellent idea,” Sam said, reaching to take the pants from Beverly’s hands. She pulled them back, smiling.

“I just wanted to look one more time,” she said sadly.

Oh shit, Sam thought, recognizing an imminent crying jag when he saw one. He swiftly wrapped Beverly in his arms as she started to sob, her tears hot against his chest.

“Is everything all…oh, sorry!” Norah said, quickly ducking back out of the room. Beverly started giggling and