Warmth pulled me from the comfort of sleep and I realized that at some point I had become tucked up against his side. I wanted to stay here forever tucked against his side in my party dress. He wasn’t muscular, but I suddenly realized that even though he didn’t have the dark colors and muscles as Kevin had, he was still really cute in a different sense.

I loved him. I wasn’t sure why. I has sworn to myself I would only feel this way about Kevin, but maybe Kevin was right. Maybe I hadn't loved him. Maybe this desire to curl up against Rod was what love actually was. These emotions that ripped through my body just like the damned coughs.

I turned away from him as, if on cue, I was hit by another spate of coughing. When I finished coughing he pulled me against him and kissed the top of my head. “I should go search for my room. Who knows what people will think of us now.”

“Mmm, don’t leave. I don’t care what they think. Let them speculate as long as they stay away from you.” I leaned back against him enjoying the comfort of his arms holding me against his body.

“So maybe you don’t mind, but I am kind of scared about what Kevin might do to me for sleeping with his precious sister.”

I groaned, “I'm guessing that means you heard that whole conversation.”

He laughed, "Parts of it. That's what gave me the courage to say something to you the next day. I knew I couldn't get rejected worse than that. I honestly hadn't expected you to be willing to do more than hold hand and chat for a long time since you just got rejected by Kevin."

I felt my cheeks getting hot, "I uh. I didn't plan to move so quick. I just realized that maybe I did like you when I saw you with the other women."

"Who knew I needed jealousy to get you to return my feelings!" His voice was light and jovial.

Was I jealous? But didn't jealousy mean love, so that was further proof.

"I should still go get ready for whatever these crazy people throw at us today, and I should probably do so before Kevin comes knocking to check on you."

“It’s already too late. He’s probably waiting outside that door to ambush you. Stay with me.” His arms loosened on me as he started to detach himself from me, and I rolled over and grabbed him, pulling him down toward me, but he was stronger and simply picked me up instead.

“You should get dressed in your leathers today. We will probably all have some task or another to help the village. And I don’t think you can work in this pretty dress.” Damn it. He was right.

“Don’t leave yet, I will need your help.” I started to pull of the dress forgetting how sensitive he was, and he turned bright red and spun away quickly. It was strange how touch had bothered me for so long, and I was so worried about my honor, and at the same time standing naked in front of someone didn’t bother me. God I was a person full of contradictions.

I pulled on the pants and the loose corset. “Alright, now turn around and help me tighten this up.”

“Yes, ma’am” I sighed as he laughed. I could feel his hands working down the laces,, and it was pure torture having to stand there while he did the laces. He started to pull the collar up, and then suddenly kissed me on the neck making my knees feel kind of weak.

And then suddenly the collar was pulled up around my neck and latched tight. “Rod!” I spun around to face him, “You don’t tease a girl like…”

His mouth was on mine quickly shutting me up. He pulled back, “There, is that better now?”

I glared up at him, “No.” And then I pulled him down and kissed him. “Now it might be a little better.”

He smiled, “Third times the charm?” He leaned down and kissed me again. I didn’t want him to leave.

“I guess. I’m coming with you to find your room. I don’t want any of those crazy girls to think they can have you.” I pulled on the leather jacket and boots that went with the exile outfit. The whole thing was caked in sweat, and I really wished I had something to wear other than just this outfit or the dress.

Rod through his hands in the air, "I have to change out of these party clothes they put me in. Unlike you I am not comfortable being naked."

“I won’t watch while you change, but what if Kevin is out there? I can help protect you from his wrath...” I offered the only protection he seemed to care about

He seemed to take a second to think about it then nodded. “Deal. You can come with me, but no turning around.”

I gave a small and quiet cheer making him laugh. “Well come on, let’s go.” I grabbed his hand and walked out of my room holding his hand.

The main room was quiet with only a few people scattered and asleep around the room. I could see now that there were what looked like pottery cups all over the place and the place stunk like… like alcohol. Did these people have a drinking habit at their wild parties?

I could see Kevin sprawled on a couch with Sandy leaning on him. Maybe he hadn’t noticed that we had left. I motioned toward Kevin and Rod nodded. We crept past him and again it struck me just how handsome Kevin was, but there was no other feelings attached with that thought now. Had all my feelings attached themselves to Rod instead? Was I that fickle of a creature?

Fire was curled up with another a brown skinned woman on the couch. She lifted her head for a second, winked at me and lowered her head back down with her eyes closed at if asleep. How much did she see and know? What was Fire’s role in this society?

In a corner I could see Dan leaning his head on another man’s shoulder with the other man head leaning against his head. Next to them were lots of cups, and I figured tonight had been about drinking away their sorrow or something.

A hand clasped my wrist and I turned back to find Rod frowning at me and shaking his head. He gently led me toward his room, opened the door and quickly pulled me in before shutting it. “And remember you promised not to look while I changed.”

“Hmm, maybe I remember that promise…” the look he gave me just set me off laughing, and soon his frown disappeared and he was laughing too. “Oh fine, I won’t look, this time.”

I turned away from him, and I could hear him moving around as he got dressed, and I was so tempted to turn around and embarrass him to get that lovely red blush, but I stuck to my promise. “Hurry up. I’m getting tired of waiting…”

I shut up as his arms wrapped around me and I spun in his arms to face him. I hadn’t seen what he was wearing under his black cloak, but now I could see and feel the strange black mesh fabric that made his long sleeve shirt and pants.

“What is your shirt made of?” I ran my hands over the strange fabric and tried to lift part of it and found it surprisingly heavy.

“It’s woven with Kevlar and metal a long time ago in a time when war and fighting were common place. I found these in the one of the storage closets in the wall and figured that this mission of yours was as good a use as any.” He leaned down and kissed me gently, and then pulled away.

“Come on. We should leave before your self-appointed protector wakes up and realizes he’s been sleeping on the job.” We were only inches apart, but it felt like too far when standing so close.

Suddenly the door burst open, “What did you do to her you dishonorable worm? How could you use her? She is innocent and honorable and you just…you… you dishonorable little worm!”

I started laughing and Kevin sputtered to a stop. “We did not do anything dishonorable I swear dearest brother.”

He tried to say something and simply couldn’t. His face started to turn red and then he stormed off.

Rod smiled down at me, “Well that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

I nodded and pulled him close. He was too far away and now that we had gotten Kevin’s brotherly objections out of the way, I kissed him quickly, and then pulled away marveling at how easy this had become once I was touching someone I loved and cared about. The unexplainable feelings it built inside of me must have been why I could accept this now.

He held onto my wrists and rested his forehead against mine. “Come on beautiful. We should go get our assignments.”

“Mmmhm,” I reached up and stroked his fine white hair. Neither of us wanted to move. I knew it was necessary. I knew I had work to do. But I just wanted to sit there in his company. I remembered how Bryan had tried to get me used to company, but I had only analyzed it. Now I understood, sometimes it was nice just to take a second and stand there with someone beloved.

I pulled back till our arms were outstretched and eventually he had to let go of my hands. “I don’t want to go, but you are right. We need to go out there.”

He nodded and held one of my wrists as we walked out into the main room where people were beginning to wake up. It was time for a new day and a new job, and I could face anything with Rod at my side.