Chapter 4
Harm got up to open the
window. The night was warm enough and they were facing the sea. He
turned on the light on the nightstand and stretched out near Nell who
was lying on her stomach with her eyes closed. He pulled down the
sheet that was covering her back until he saw the dragon. It was
sprawled against her pale skin, blue and red and gold, looking
fierce. Harm brushed his fingers on the tattoo, tracing the coils.
He'd never seen such a beautiful work of art. Nell sighed.
« Did the
callsign bring the dragon, or was it the other way around ? »
Nell turned her head to
face Harm and rested her cheek on her hand.
« I told you I
was in a military high school ? »
« Yeah. »
« It was the
hardest time of my life. There are very few women there, and the guys
try to weed us out. Either they harass us, treat us like dirt, make
us do all the chores, or they just ignore us, pretend not to see us.
I was a bit apart because my dad's a Colonel in the Army, but it was
so hard. »
« He is ? »
« Yeah, he's CO
of the Train and Logistics School. »
« Cool. He must
be proud of you. My father and my grandfather were aviators too. »
« I'm fourth
generation. My great grandfather was a military vet and my
grandfather was also in the Train and Logistics. Anyway. I turned
eighteen in April, and the day I graduated I went to the tattoo
parlor. I wanted something to remember I'm stronger than anything
anyone can throw at me. »
« It's beautiful.
And how did you get the callsign ? Someone saw you in a bathing
suit ? »
« I wish ! »
Nell paused, lost in her memories. « Different school, same
treatment. When I entered flight school, I was one of the very first
females to attend. I got all kind of hazing, practical jokes, you
name it. Since it was common occurrence since I was fifteen, I played
duck. You know, water on my feathers. One day, we were coming back
from a training session that had been particularly hard. I was
exhausted, sweaty and cold, I just wanted a hot shower and a meal. »
« Yeah, I know
the feeling. » They looked knowingly at each other.
« At the time,
there was only one locker room for everyone. So I usually took my
clothes with me in the shower, put everything on a chair, and I was
alone enough. Six years of coed dorms, I was used to the lack of
privacy. But this time, I turned to get in the shower and there was
no more curtains, on any of the stalls. »
Harm looked appalled.
« They didn't ! »
« Oh, they did. I
was so tired I just walked in, put my clothes on the chair and
undressed. I just made sure to keep my back to them, so they wouldn't
get a full frontal. And I walked under the spray. After a minute, I
felt a presence behind me, the guys had gathered to watch me take my
shower. So I told them I had nothing they hadn't already seen, and
asked them not to bother me anymore. There was movement again, and
the light changed. I turned my head a little, and I saw the curtain
was back in place. » Nell falls silent again.
« I'm sorry you
had to live through all this. »
« It made me
stronger. When I got out of the shower, I was alone. I got back to my
room and headed to the mess hall. Business as usual. I got my tray,
sat down alone at a table. »
Nell turned in the bed,
looked at the ceiling and smiled.
« The guys came
up to me, snapped to. I got up, a bit uncertain about what was
happening. And they presented me with my newly painted helmet. They
never called me Nell again, I was always Dragon from that moment
on. »
« Nice ! »
Nell snickered. « The
only nice thing about it is they never played any pranks on a female
aviator ever again. »
Harm traced the little
tattoo she had on her breast. « And that one ? »
« It's the shadow
of sparrowhawk. The emblem for aviators in France. We all got one
when we graduated. »
« And why did you
get it on your...chest ? »
Nell has a small laugh.
« It's not on my chest, it's on my heart. »
With a smile, Harm bent
over and kissed the tattoo. « I like it. »
« You like where
it is. »
He smiled against her
skin, and heard her yawn. He settled beside her, put his hand on her
belly and closed his eyes. They both fell asleep with a smile on
their faces.
*****
The sun was up when
Harm woke up. His arm was asleep, for being too long under Nell's
head, so he dislodged it gently and got up. She sighed and rolled on
her stomach. He went to the bathroom, relived himself and splashed
water on his face. When he came back to the room, Nell hadn't moved.
He put a condom on and
slid back in bed. He laid against her and started kissing her neck,
her shoulder, glided his hand on her breast. Nell smiled sleepily and
stroked his hair. Harm caressed her body down to her sex, heard her
sigh of pleasure and pushed slowly into her. She stuck her
fingernails in his nape with a small cry and turned her head to claim
his mouth. He wanted to move slowly, but she kept urging him to go
faster. He paused, withdrawed.
Nell took the chance
and rolled him on his back. She straddled him, planted her hands on
both sides of his head and kissed him hard. Harm grabbed her hips.
Nell straigntened up and took him in her hand. He closed his eyes,
savoring the feeling of her fist, and she descended slowly, enjoying
the way he was filling her. They started to move in rythm. Nell's
head was bent back and Harm was watching her pleasure.
He sat up straight, so
they were face to face. She put her arms around him and held on
tight. He took her mouth hungrily and she started to peak. He heard
her moan on his lips. A tear escaped her eye and she trembled. Harm
got afraid for one second he might have hurt her, but she kissed him
passionately and kept moving on his lap. Harm came with a strangled
cry.
They stayed embraced
for a while. Nell slowly removed her arms from around Harm's body and
put her hands on his face, kissing him softly. Harm lifted his own
hand and brushed the trace left by the tear on her cheek.
*****
When he entered the
bathroom later that morning, Harm shook his head with a smile. He
didn't know how they could have showered together in the small tub,
much less have a bit of a snuggle. But the spray was still hot and
plentiful.
In the bedroom, Nell
was examining her dress. It was stained, crumpled, no way she could
wear it to go back to her hotel. She took a look at Harm's uniform
and sighed at the sight. She put on his t-shirt and wondered how to
get some clean clothes. She unhooked the telephone.
« Ricezione ! »
« Hello, this is
room thirty-one. »
« Si, the
americans. What can I do for you ? »
« I have two
questions. First, how can I make a call outside the hotel ? »
« You dial zero,
and then the number that you want to call. »
« All right. Do
you have a phone book I could look into ? »
« What number do
you need ? »
« The Hotel
Joyfull, in Poggioreale. »
« You stay on the
line, I will call them and connect you. Do you want to call the
reception desk or a room ? »
« I need to call
room fourteen. »
« Perfetto. And
what is your second question ? »
« Do you do room
service ? We'd like to have two breakfasts delivered, if it's
possible. »
« Si, I can
arrange that, but there is a... supplemento. »
« All right. »
« What do you
want for breakfast ? »
« Whatever you
have, with a big pot of black coffee and extra cups, please. »
« No problem. Is
that all ? »
« Yes, thank
you. »
« I'll make the
call now, please hold. »
After a minute or so, a
sleepy voice answered.
« What ? »
« Virginie ?
It's Nell, sorry to wake you up. »
« Nell ?
Where are you ? I saw you get in the garden with the American,
and then I lost you ! Everything's all right ? »
« I hope you
didn't look for me too long. »
« No. You know
Ben is in the hospital ? »
Nell's tone froze.
« Yes, I know. He fell down the stairs and broke his nose. »
Virginie stayed silent.
« Tell me, did
you have plans for today ? »
« I wasn't
planning to be awoken at nine freaking thirty. Seriously, Nell ! »
« I'm sorry, I
didn't look at the time. What do you say about spending the day at
the beach ? I'll pay for the taxi and I'll invite you for lunch,
what do you say ? »
« Yeah.
What's the catch ? »
« Ah... »
« And
where the hell are you ? »
« I
found a little hotel to spend the night. Long story... anyway, I need
my pack. »
« What
do you mean, you need your pack ? »
« Well...
I don't have anything to wear beside my party dress which is in no
condition to be worn. »
Virginie
sneered. « You had a crazy night, didn't you ? »
« I
had an... opportunity, and I seized it. »
« I
see... six three, brown hair and a thousand watts smile. »
Nell
had a wide grin. « And Dress Whites and Gold wings. »
« Do I bring
you just a change of clothes, or your whole pack ? »
« The
whole pack, you're gonna be alone tonight as well. »
« No
kidding... give me the address. »
« Hotel
Mare Blu, in Bagnoli. It's on the waterfront. Take your bathing
suit. »
« Your
hotel has a private beach ? »
« No,
but there's a strip of sand a few hundred meters from there. And the
water is delicious ! »
« All
right. Give me time to get up and come. You better have some fresh
coffee when I arrive ! »
« I
will. And it's good coffee. »
« How
do you know ? You don't drink coffee. »
« My
six three brown hair opportunity seems to like it fine. »
Virginie
hangs up with a shake of her head. During their conversation, Harm
had finished showering and opened the door for the waiter carrying
the breakfast tray. Nell sat down and helped herself with some tea.
« I
got in touch with my roommate, and she's bringing my pack over. I'll
be able to give you back your shirt. »
« I
like the way you wear it. »
Nell
has a flirtacious smile. And told him how the desk manager had helped
her. She tasted the tea, jerked when she burnt her tongue and started
on her cornetto. Harm took the receiver and called the clerk.
Once
they had finished their meal, Harm and Nell sprawled on the bed and
spent a quiet time talking, cuddling, and just enjoying the moment.
Nell
jumped at the knock on the door and let Virginie in.
« Thank
you so much for coming ! »
Virginie
dropped Nell's bag on the floor. « You owe me one
hundred and twenty seven francs. Is that coffee I smell ? »
Harm
was wearing only a towel around his hips, and he made sure it was
secure before getting out of the bed.
« Virginie,
this is Harm, Harm, this is Virginie. »
Harm
handed her a freshly poured cup of coffee.
« Hi ! »
« No
talking before coffee. » Virginie sat down and sipped her brown
dose of revival with her eyes closed.
Nell
grabbed some clothes from her bag and left for the bathroom. « Be
right back ! »
Harm
didn't move, or talk. He thought he was stuck with the brunette who
looked like she was having a coffee-induced orgasm. She opened her
eyes and looked at him.
« So,
you're Harm. You don't hold a grudge, do you ? »
« Why
should I ? »
« Because
she shot you down. »
Harm
had a smile. « It was a game. »
Virginie's
smile was even wider. « Still. »
« I
don't see the point in holding grudges. It holds you back. »
« I
suppose you're right. » She took another sip of coffee,
watching Harm suspiciously.
Nell
stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a sundress over a bathing suit.
« You're alive again ? »
« Barely. »
« Let's
go for a swim. Harm, you'll join us a the beach when your pack
arrives ? »
« Sure ! »
Nell
pecked Harm on the lips, took a towel and left with Virginie.
*****
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