“Reluctantly.”Octavia chuckled but her heart was beating hard. She had known he trusted her but to hear him say it had her reeling. She wanted not...ing more than to grab him behind his neck and pull him down to kiss her, but somehow, she held herself back. Lieutenants didn’t do public displays of affection. It was bad for morale or something. “Thanks, Calix.”Calix shrugged with a smile. “If it doesn’t work, I can always try to find a ship later. Besides, this way I can do some reconnaissance.. It was on a fine spring day that I sat eating cheese and still warm bread and espied a young lady watching me from another bench. When I looked up, she held my eye and said, "Bonjour." Bonjour," I answered.She paused and smiled, then switched to English, "Ah, I think from your accent that you are English."I blushed at being caught out so easily. "Yes, mademoiselle, I have that misfortune." Oh, do not feel so. My Uncle was much impressed by the English men of letters whom he has met. They have. There was no mistaking that Keisha wanted what they wanted and equally as much. "Well, I am guessing all of this," she said, waving her arms around to indicate her surroundings, "probably is not what you expected. You probably thought you were going to hook up with some ex- whore downtown somewhere where the room's plaster is peeling and you have to keep your head down to avoid getting shot."Jack was the first to reply, "to be honest, Chance and I did not know what to expect. Kelly arranged the. It is cooler in here, the trees are in full colour, the birds are singing and we haven’t seen a soul since we set off. I pick up a long grass stalk and tickle you behind your ear, you jump thinking it’s an insect and waft it away. I do this a few times until you grasp the stalk laughing and scolding me. I pull you to me and kiss you… the first time our lips have met for some time. The familiar feel and smell of you makes me feel so good. I hold your face in my hands and kiss you again. Holding.