Love Me, Love Me Not

Saile's head pounded with blinding, searing throbs, not just her head, every part of her ached. Rocks dug in her arms and hips and she sneezed from the dust. She held her breath, wondering if the sneeze had exploded her head, but the pain continued with each heartbeat. She'd been blindfolded and thrown in the dirt. Ropes cut into her wrists, burning and numb at the same time.


A warm, strong palm lightly covered her cheek; his callused thumb traced her lips. Love me … not.


"Saile, wake up," Reed whispered.


This isn't how she'd imagined him waking her; her dreams about him had never included ropes or blindfolds. Well… not like this.


"Where's Tanga?" The way her head felt, she wished it would explode.


"The Donk? She's fine, she escaped."


Escaped? Tanga wouldn't have run from a fight. Nausea surged up in waves, pulsing with the throbbing spikes at the base of Saile's skull.


"You don't think she'd go for a posse do you?" Reed asked.


Saile felt an instant of gratitude for the blindfold hiding her expression. "Probably thinks I'm dead," she muttered.


"Drink this." Reed helped her to sitting and held a warm cup to her parched lips. The bitter liquid stung her lips. Her raw throat rebelled and she coughed most of it out. Saile took another sip and kept that one down then Reed helped her stand. Her legs buckled. She staggered and would have gone down except that he caught her. Love me. She fell into his chest. His rugged blend of mesa grime and the day's work brought too much realism to her recently shattered dreams. His pecs flexed against her cheek as he ran his hands up her arms. Heat flooded her with the feel of his strength. How could he do that do her at a time like this? She struggled away, trying to stand on her own and he slipped his arms around her waist to hold her. His thumbs brushed her lower ribcage and he chuckled, his lips brushing her hair.


"Almost like old times," he murmured. His hand slipped down to cup her right cheek and he pulled her up against him.


"Blat-wing!" Saile pulled back and he let go, letting her fall. She tucked and rolled, and stayed down until the dizziness passed.


The scuff of boots, then Reed's knee on the ground kept her from being surprised when he grasped her arm and helped her sit up. He touched the cup to her lips again and she suffered another sip of the bitter drink.