Reunion in Death

«I think your rep will stand it, particularly after tonight. Besides.» He lifted her, as gently as he could manage. «You can just blame it on the overreaction of the worried civilian.»

«Yeah, okay.» Pain was stampeding through her now like a herd of buffalo. «I'll pin it on my husband.»

«Now that my husband is a rare term coming out of your mouth.»

«It doesn't stick on my tongue so much anymore. You know, this is a pretty interesting way for us to start year two of this marriage deal.»

«It certainly seems to work for us.»

He carried his wounded soldier off the battlefield. And considered how annoyed his wife would be when he saw to it she was given a strong enough blocker to knock her out until the morning.