The Four Winds

He took her hand and led her to the bed. She reached for the lamp, to turn it off. He stopped her, said, “Don’t,” in a rough voice. “I want to see you, Elsa.”

He threw his shirt and undershirt aside, kicked off his pants, and took her into his arms.

“Tell me what you want,” he murmured, his lips on hers.

He was asking for words she didn’t know, answers she didn’t have.

“Maybe you want me to kiss you here? Or here?”

“Oh, my God,” she said, and he laughed, kissing her again. His touch was magic, created a need she could neither control nor deny, made her desperate for more.

His hands were all over her, touching her with an intimacy she’d never imagined. The world disappeared, spiraled down to nothing except her desire and her need. No one had ever known her like this; he showed her the power of her own body, the beauty of her need. She dared with him all the things she’d always dreamed of. Relief came in waves; she felt ethereal, bodiless, at one with the air in the room. Floating. When she finally came back to herself—and that was what it felt like, becoming corporeal again after being nothing but need—she opened her eyes.

Jack lay on his side, staring at her.

She leaned boldly forward, kissed his lips, his temple. Somewhere in all of it, she realized she was crying.

“Don’t cry, my love,” he whispered, drawing her into his arms, holding her close. “There’s more where that came from. I promise you. This is just the beginning.”

My love.

* * *

“YOU ARE GOING TO wear a groove in the floor,” Natalia said, exhaling smoke.

Loreda stopped pacing. “It’s been two hours. Maybe she is dead.”

Ant shot up. “You think she’s dead?”

Loreda shook her head. Stupid. “No, Antsy. I don’t.”

“She’ll be back,” Natalia said. “Jack will see that she is returned.”

Loreda heard footsteps outside.

“Ant,” she said harshly, “come over here.”

He darted to her side, pressed up against her hip. She put a hand on his shoulder protectively.

Natalia got to her feet, stood in front of them as the door opened.

Jack and Mom walked in.

“Mommy!” Ant hurled himself at their mother.

“Whoa,” Mom said. “Slow down, buddy. I’m fine.” She leaned down and kissed the top of his head.

Jack said, “She should sleep now.” He helped Mom over to bed and got her settled in.

Ant immediately climbed up onto the foot of her bed and curled up like a puppy.

Loreda, Natalia, and Jack moved toward the door.

“Is she really okay?” Loreda asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “A nasty blow to the back of the head, but it will take more than that to slow your mother down. She’s a warrior.”

“It’s dangerous,” Loreda said, realizing for the first time how true those words were. Everyone had told her, but she hadn’t truly understood until tonight. They were risking everything to strike. Not just their jobs. It could go really badly.