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When she finished, the young NCO had stood up, stone-faced, and left the room without a word. And also without asking permission, which was a legally objectionable action. No one had suggested that he stay. Or be charged for that matter.
Pappas's comment had been pithy, succinct and to the point: «Lieutenant Nightingale, with all due respect, that was a stupid thing to do.»
Their discussion of how to rectify her mistake had drifted to bed, as many of their discussions did. The relationship had taken both of them by surprise, but when Nightingale put her hand on his neck the first time and hesitantly drew him towards her, Pappas's sixty-year-old brain had been run over by his freshly rejuvenated twenty-year-old hormones. Although he had been faithful to his wife during his entire previous enlistment, the current situation was just too tough. For Nightingale, the combination of nearly a half century of sexual experience and a twenty-year-old's body had been an intensely pleasant surprise. Pappas not only knew some of the oddest tricks, he was back in condition to be able to use them.
He now ran a finger down her perfect back, hooked a thumb into her armpit and turned her to look at him. He pulled her to him, tucking her leg over his and slid his hand down her back. «You had better get a handle on this, soon, or the Old Man will turn you to paste.» He gently caressed her i
She made a hissed inhalation and arched her back. «I know,» she said with a little gasp. She paused for a moment then went on, panting slightly. «I just ca
«On?» asked Pappas, waiting for her to try to answer.
«On . . . uhm . . .» she said as he moved his hand slightly to the side. She stopped trying to talk.
«Are you listening?» he asked, backing away slightly then sliding forward. Docking was abrupt and perfect.
«Umm-hmm,» she murmured. «Definitely.» She slid her leg up to hook over his hip.
«Stop fighting with Stewart and listen to him. He's better at this than anyone else in the company besides the Old Man.»
«Okay,» she squeaked, starting to rock back and forth.
«I'm serious,» said Pappas, giving a little gasp of his own as well-trained muscles clamped. He was on the losing side of the battle now.
«I'll make up to the shrimp,» she said pushing his shoulder to roll him over on his back. She grabbed his short thick black hair in both hands. «Now hang on.»
* * *
Duncan popped the top off the unlabeled beer bottle with a K-bar combat knife and wordlessly handed it to Stewart. The younger NCO was staring unseeingly at the wall of his tiny room. He took a swig without looking at the product, then stopped and stared at the bottle.
«Damn,» he said, looking up at the recently arrived staff sergeant. «I thought I had balls. Raiding the Old Man's home brew is a capital offense.» Beer was getting harder and harder to find. Materials such as barley and hops were strictly controlled under emergency rationing and storage plans. The easy accessibility of the materials to the company commander was a closely held secret of the company.
«He'd understand,» said Duncan, slipping a pack of Marlboro Reds out and lighting one. «He's good people.» He took a deep drag on the butt and blew smoke at the ceiling.
«Unlike certain u
«Who is currently getting her ass fucked off by Top,» noted Duncan, with a wry smile.
Stewart shook his head. «I never thought I'd see the day.»
«Well, he's a good-looking guy . . .» said Duncan.
«No,» interrupted Stewart with a grimace. «I was talking about Top fucking her, not the other way around. I mean, damn, the Gu
«Well,» mused Duncan with another puff on the cancer stick, «I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers.»
Stewart snorted. «Yeah, neither would I. Gotta admit it. Great set of knockers. Prime slice any way you cut it.»
«So,» asked Duncan with a smile. «Is your anger with Gu
«Who says I'm not getting any?» snapped Stewart, machismo aroused.
«Well, I know you're not getting any from Nightingale, although the way you two fight . . .»
«Oh, fuck you,» said Stewart, trying not to laugh.
«And Arnold has already nailed up Lieutenant Slight, so she's right out.»
«No!» gasped Stewart, starting to double up in laughter. «Jesus! Arnold and Slight? Are you sure?»
«Well, I suppose he could have been demonstrating mouth to mouth. . . .»
«Oh, shit!» laughed Stewart, finally letting go of the tension of the argument with the XO. «So when are you and Boggle go
Duncan's face took on a look of deepest sorrow. «I fear never,» he said, placing a hand on his chest in simulated despair. «Methinks that Sergeant Boggle pines for Lieutenant Fallon!»
Stewart laughed so hard that nut-brown ale spurted out of his nose and he started gasping. The battles between the Second platoon leader and his female platoon sergeant were as legendary as his own with the XO. The image of «Boggle» Bogdanovich and the West Pointer wrapped up in Eros's embrace was as implausible as . . . the XO and Top.
«Jesus,» he swore again, after regaining control of himself. «You don't think?»
«Well, not yet,» said Duncan, leaning forward and taking the home brew for a swig. «If you're just going to waste this blowing it out your nose . . .»
«So,» said Stewart with a smile as he wiped beer off his chair, «who are you pla
«Oh,» commented Duncan, handing the bottle back and waiting for Stewart to take another slug, «I was thinking about . . . Summerhour.»
Beer blasted across the room again. Summerhour was a nearly seven-foot, not particularly bright, fairly ugly, male, heavy weapons private. Since Stewart was fairly sure Duncan was straight, the choice could not have been more unlikely.
Stewart finally wiped up the mess, wiped his eyes and gave up on drinking. «You think the Old Man knows?» he asked soberly.
Duncan shook his head. «Everybody thinks I'm some sort of expert on Captain O'Neal. I was only with him for a couple of days. You guys have been training with him for over a year. You answer the question.»
Stewart thought about it. «Probably. I've never seen anything surprise him.»
«I have,» admitted Duncan. «But only when the enemy pisses all over his battle plans. He gets really angry then. Really angry.» He shook his head and finished the brew to the yeasty dregs. «You don't want to see him when he's angry.»