LITMIR.BIZ

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not in bed?’

      ‘Jazz—there’s no time for this.’

      Tyr didn’t even break stride. He didn’t stop until they reached the village hall, where he could access the computers. She was about to follow him inside the building when he stopped her. Caging her against the door with his arms either side of her face, he brought his face close. ‘You could have been killed back there.’ He shot each word into her face like a bullet. ‘At the very best, you could have been seriously injured. You should have stayed in the pavilion when I told you to.’

      ‘So I’m supposed to hide under the pillows until you come back? Forget it, Tyr.’ Thrusting her hair out of her eyes, she made a contemptuous sound. ‘If you think I’m going to take orders, you picked the wrong wife.’

      ‘I didn’t pick you. This situation was thrust on both of us.’

      Her mouth fell open on empty air as Tyr’s harsh words resonated around them. Her stomach curled with shame because what he said was true, and everything they had been to each other last night was obliterated in the stinging aftermath of those few destructive words. She’d told Tyr she loved him, but now she remembered he’d never said anything in return.

      ‘You’re right about this situation being thrust upon us,’ she agreed, relieved her voice sounded so steady. ‘And in case you’re in any doubt, I don’t like this situation any more than you do. How can I, when I’m tied to a husband whose attitude towards women is stuck in the Dark Ages?’

      ‘Not now, Jazz.’

      She was ahead of him when Tyr reached the door and stood in his way. ‘You will listen to me,’ she insisted, thrusting her hands out to hold him off. ‘I’m not the helpless female you seem to think I am. I’m your equal in every way. Either we do this together, and I mean all of it, Tyr, the good bits and the bad, or you can forget this marriage.’

      A long silence followed, then Tyr pulled back. ‘Wait there and calm down,’ he advised.

      Jazz ground her jaw, but at least she didn’t say anything she might regret later. She leaned back against the door, grudgingly accepting that if she had followed Tyr inside, the emails he had to send would probably not be sent, and right now the desperately needed equipment was more of a priority than her pride.

      After sending the messages he came outside. Jazz had moved from the door and was standing a few feet away. She was the first thing he looked for, her eyes the first destination he sought. She was still angry and who could blame her? Taking hold of her shoulders, he brought her in front of him. ‘Understand this, Jazz—I will never allow you to endanger yourself. Understood?’

      She tipped her chin up. ‘And I will never allow you to face risk alone. Got that?’ She stared at him, unflinching. ‘And now it’s time for you to tell me everything, don’t you think?’

      Releasing his hold, he stood back.

      ‘Don’t you dare say there’s nothing to tell,’ she warned as he shook his head.

      ‘This isn’t the place, Jazz.’

      ‘Oh? Where is the place? Shall we wait until we’re sitting round the boardroom table in Skavanga?’ Firming her jaw, she gave him such a look. ‘There is no right place, Tyr, but there is a right time, and that time is now.’

      ‘That piece of paper we signed? It might make us husband and wife, but it doesn’t give you the right to rifle through my mind.’

      ‘Coward.’

      Jazz had always known exactly which of his buttons to press. ‘I’m a killer, Jazz. And I’m very good at what I do. Is that enough for you?’

      She shook her head. ‘You’re a soldier and a hero who was following orders,’ she argued evenly. ‘You never could shock me, Tyr, so don’t even try that tactic with me. You don’t frighten me and I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying put until you tell me everything.’

      ‘You think I’m a hero?’ he flashed. ‘Is that what you think?’

      ‘That’s what I know. Sharif hasn’t kept all your secrets, so I know exactly what you did.’

      ‘Everything?’ he said scathingly.

      ‘Enough to know the man I married is a hero,’ Jazz said quietly. ‘Enough to know you rescued your battalion by risking your own life. And before you start trying to frighten me off with tales of how dangerous that makes you, let me ask you one simple question: Would a brother who adores me agree to our marriage if Sharif thought you were a dangerous man? Isn’t it more likely that Sharif loves you as he loves me, and that he believes somehow, and even I’m not even sure how, yet, that I can help you?’

      He said nothing for the longest time, and then he voiced his haunting thoughts. ‘I can never forget the children’s faces.’

      Reaching out for him, Jazz gripped his hand.

      ‘There are no age limits in war, Jazz. No sanitised battlegrounds where only adults hold a gun and only bad guys do the shooting.’

      ‘Don’t you think I know that, Tyr? But you have never stopped trying to help people. You haven’t given a thought to yourself. You’re a creator, not a destroyer, and now it’s time for you to think about rebuilding your own life, when you decide what it is you want.’

      They were talking as they had years back. They were older and the topics had changed radically, but so had they, he reflected as Jazz’s frank gaze pierced his heart.

      ‘Who do you think stood at my brother’s side when Sharif reclaimed the kingdom?’ she went on gently. ‘Who walked through the battlefield with Sharif so we could learn together what we had to do to repair the damage of our parents’ rule? I didn’t flinch then and I won’t flinch now, from whatever you have to tell me.’

      He shook his head. ‘I don’t have time for this. I only wish I did. I can’t halt my work for selfish reasons. I can hardly keep pace with all the rebuilding in Kareshi as it is, so I certainly can’t indulge myself in marriage or children.’

      ‘You talk as if you’re doing this alone,’ Jazz interrupted. ‘But you’re not alone any longer, and I don’t want you to stop your work. I want to work with you, Tyr. I want our children to know the satisfaction that comes with building and repairing. I want to mine your time and your energy, and your vision for Kareshi. I want to share you with Kareshi. Just one small step at a time,’ she argued stubbornly when he obviously looked unconvinced. ‘And if there’s more you haven’t told me, I know you will, but not now, not all at once. Wounds take time to heal and even you can’t rush that process.’

      ‘You always were stubborn,’ he murmured, flashing her a glance.

      ‘You bet. And I haven’t changed,’ Jazz assured him.

      Taking hold of both his hands, she stood in front of him. ‘Submit,’ she suggested in a whisper. ‘You know you’re stuck with me for life.’

      A few tense moments passed and then with a laugh of triumph he kissed his love, his passion, his life, his soulmate Jazz, and one kiss led to another as the flame between them raged white-hot. There might have been people around, but neither of them noticed. Passion as fierce as theirs could accept no restrictions. They remained locked in their own world until the headman passed on his way home and made some remark. ‘What did he say?’ he asked Jazz.

      ‘He said a passion as fierce as ours is a blessing for the village,’ Jazz explained, smiling, her lush mouth still swollen from his kisses. ‘That blessing comes in the form of many children, all in the service of Kareshi.’

      ‘We’d better get on it, then.’

      Jazz faked a punch. He dodged out of the way, then, grabbing hold of Jazz’s wrist, he strode back at speed towards the pavilion. He paused at the entrance. ‘You were scared for me?’ He wanted to hear her say it again.

      She smiled into his eyes. ‘You

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