Against the Tide Imperial: The Struggle for Ceylon (The Usurper's War: An Alternative World War II B by James Young (story reading txt) 📕

"Here, I'll say it for you: 'Given I, Sam Cobb, believed you were basically performing acts of sodomy on half the Pacific Fleet,'" Jo said.

Sam felt the heat rise in his cheeks even as his smile became a broader one.

Jesus Christ I missed how blunt she is. But I was mainly thinking about the fact that I enjoy you being in my arms.

"So, with that being said, I think we need to agree maybe you shouldn't be treating your sister like she's eight and giving you back talk," Jo chided. "It's not right to her as a woman, and I am fairly certain I can fight my own battles, thank you."

"I wasn't intending to fight your battles–" Sam began, only to have Jo interrupt him with a gentle finger to his lips.

"Whatever you want to call it, Sam," Jo said. "It's not okay. If I wanted to have some Sir Galahad sweep in and save the day, I'd be long married by now."

Jo stepped fully out of his embrace and backed up to the kitchen sink. Sam fought the urge to step forward and close the space again.

She's moving like some townswoman facing Frankenstein's monster.

"Which leads to the crux of this discussion," Jo said. "What are we?"

Wait, what?

Jo looked at him expectantly for five long seconds.

"The fact that you're not immediately answering friends is why I'm asking, Sam," Jo said. "I mean, I haven't seen you and Sadie much together, but somehow I doubt you just pat her leg and leave your arm there in mixed company.”

Sam widened his eyes at that very thought, then realized what he’d done. Jo pressed her advantage with a slight smirk.

“Or hold her like she's a life preserver and you've been dog paddling in the Pacific for two hours when either of you are hardly dressed for being around the opposite sex. Tell me, Sam, would you have just held Sadie like that in the middle of her kitchen?"

I feel like that one time the Anders kid jumped me in 8th grade. No idea why he was mad at me or where he came from, it was just suddenly all fists and screaming.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think that would bother you," Sam said. Jo's bemused look told him that his response, while honest, was not the right one.

"See, that's the problem—it didn't bother me," Jo said. "Indeed, the only reason I moved your hand when it was on my knee is Agnes looked over at us with a faint approval."

Jo’s smirk became a full smile.

“And the only reason I just stopped you from holding me is I think we were both starting to enjoy it a little too much.”

"Oh," Sam said.

"Yeah, 'oh' indeed," Jo noted, then took a deep breath and turned around to grab her coffee. The delaying tactic was so obvious, Sam nearly commented, but stopped as Jo made a face after her first sip.

"Stone cold?" he asked with a smile. Jo gave him a frustrated look, then motioned as if she was going to throw the mug at him. Only as he flinched did he see the amusement in her expression.

"Look, we can't keep doing this," Jo said suddenly, shaking her head.

"I'll go get a room at the bachelor officer quarters tomorrow," Sam replied.

"Oh, okay, and then what's your excuse going to be for why you're not coming to dinner before you leave?" Jo asked. "Sorry Toots, Jo basically called me out for acting like we're a courting couple which made me feel all awkward. Off to harm's way!"

"Are you asking me if we're going steady?" Sam asked.

"No, I'm saying if you want to go steady, then I'm enough of a traditionalist you can ask me," Jo replied. "But, given Lord knows putting a Cobb man in a corner is a bad idea, you need to ask or stop making people wonder."

Sam started to speak, then stopped. It was his turn to reach for the coffee.

"Yep, stone cold," he said, putting it back after making a scrunched up face.

"If you have to stall, Sam, that's my poi–“

Oh God, I'm going to regret this.

Jo, seeing something in his face, had stopped mid-sentence. Sam took two big steps forward and wrapped Jo in his arms before he could reconsider. As she looked up in surprise, her mouth still open from being caught mid-sentence, Sam kissed her. After a moment's stiffness, Jo kissed him back, molding herself to him.

This is going to be messy.

He pushed his hand into the front of Jo’s robe, surprised to find her naked breast. She whimpered as he cupped it, kissing him back even more fiercely.

So incredibly, inextricably messy.

"Sam…" Jo said breathlessly as his thumb found her nipple. He started to pull his hand back at her saying his name…until her own hand worked inside the flap of his pajama pants. He gasped as her cool fingers found him.

"Dammit…Sam…I just wanted…to…" Jo continued.

“Yea…” he started, this gasped as she made a frustrated sound and it his neck.

Samuel Cobb, what in the hell are you doing?

He lifted Jo on the counter, bringing his other and up afterwards once again to her chest. Then he had no more time for consideration, her hands firm but gentle on him.

"Are…" he gasped, then was silenced as she kissed him, one hand on the back of his head.

"Yes," she gasped. "Oh my God, stop talking and hurry up before someone comes home!"

Oh shit. His hand moved up the outside of her thigh, quickly grabbing her underwear. Jo pushed her legs together and pulled her right leg up. The underwear caught on the counter edge, trapping her foot.

"Goddammit," she muttered, then giggled when their hands collided reaching to help her foot through them. That task done, Jo quickly brought her leg back around to pull Sam towards her, kissing him urgently again. He nearly jumped as her hand gripped him firmly, then with a desire-filled mewl aligned him.

We are really doing this!

There