Chapter1 by Ribbon of Rain

uttered an expletive she had yet to hear him use.   The generator was off so the water was probably cold.
    “I’ll go turn it on,” she called out.   Before she sat up, he strode back into the bedroom buck naked, a horrified look on his face.
    “Where are you in your cycle?” he demanded.
    What happened to her tender lover?   “What?”    
    “Your menstrual cycle.”  
    Oh yes, her lover was definitely agitated.   She didn’t care for the tone of his voice.   “None of your damn business.”
    “Look Kat, this is serious.   It broke.”   At her blank look, he spoke slow, enunciating each word as if talking to someone who didn’t speak English.   “The condom ripped.”
    “Oh.”   Kat’s fingers drew circles on the sheet while she mentally calculated her last period.   Her periods had never been regular.   “The week before I came home from
Iraq
.”
    Jude rolled his eyes.   “Great.   Just freaking great.”
    “Look here, Callahan.”   Her eyes narrowed, and she knelt on the bed.   “Don’t get all hot and bothered about it.   It’s not your problem.”  
    “What do you mean it’s not my problem?”   He reached over and cupped her chin.   “This was a joint venture if I remember correctly.”
    She softened her voice.   “I’ve never been regular, so don’t panic because the timing seems bad.”
    “God,” Jude turned away, running his hands through his hair.   “I knew this was a mistake.   It changes everything.”
    “What do you mean?   How does it change anything?”
    “Kat, there’s something between us.   We both know it.   Now we’ve made love, and there’s no turning back.   I’m not just looking for a roll in the hay with you.   I want to explore a future together.   A baby will complicate things.”
    “Why you egotistical, bone-headed idiot.”   Kat came at him naked.   “What do you mean, we have enough problems?   We had sex, we didn’t get married, you know.”  
    Jude backed up, holding out his arms to ward her off.   “I didn’t mean to imply…”
    “What are you doing then?”   Kat challenged.   “Because we made love, you think you have a responsibility to have a relationship with me?”  
    Tears threatened to fall, making her even madder.   How had something so beautiful turned so ugly?   “For God sakes, go put some clothes on.”   Kat turned away, searching for her own.   She bent over to pick up her cut-offs.   The air was knocked out of her when Jude picked her up and tossed her back on the bed, coming down on top of her.  
    “Oh no, you don’t, Jane.   You’re not shutting me out.”   Kat glared at him, ignoring the anger in his eyes.   “We’re beyond that point.   Look me straight in the eye and tell me that what happened between us meant nothing more to you than a simple romp in bed.”  
    Kat turned to mush.   Desire stirred between her legs.   “I’m not saying that, but…”
    “But nothing,” he interrupted her.   “I’m not a ‘slam bam thank you ma’am’ type of guy.”
     
    Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way,
Count off the cadence loud and strong:
For where’er we go, you will always know
that the Army goes rolling along.
     
    They both stiffened at someone singing an old Army song from out on the lake.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
     
     
    “What the —.?”   Jude swung his long legs off the bed and looked out the window.  
    “It’s Cody Starks.   I’d recognize his singing anywhere.”   Kat jumped out of bed and scrambled around the room, looking for her clothes.  
    Jude watched her mouth curve into a huge smile.   She pulled on cut-off jeans, not bothering with underwear.   “Who’s Cody Starks?”   He was irritated and didn’t know why.
    Kat grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it over head.   “A friend of mine.   Army Special Ops.   We were in
Iraq
together.   Get dressed and come down and meet him.”   She ran over to him, stood on tiptoe and