War And Peace
Chapter 3
Making Plans
Noin smiled as she sat on the bed. She wondered absently if they would use his room or hers this time around. She fixed the buttons of her uniform that he had managed to undue. Noin stepped from her room and reported to the head instructor; he was training her as his protégée so that she could take over his job before the year's end. She busily undertook the task of clearing his cluttered desk free of its never-ending paper work. This was the part of the job that Noin both hated and didn't understand the need for. She thought being the head instructor had to do with teaching students and training them, which it did but nothing had prepared her for the huge amount of paperwork that came with it. She sighed and began with the first stack, hoping vainly that the difficulty of the task would take her mind of tonight.
Zechs sat in his room contemplating what all he was going to do to her. As he let erotic images play through his mind a disturbing thought entered his heated mind. They hadn't used any protection last night. He knew he was clean and she had been a virgin, but it wasn't diseases that bothered him, what if by some stroke of fate they had created a life last night. Zechs smiled slightly, he couldn't imagine being a father but Noin would make a great mother especially if it was to his child. He shook his head and groaned at the insanity of his thoughts. He was crazy for wanting that but, he mused silently, if God were truly merciful to him they would survive this pathetic war, peace would be achieved, and then he vowed she would be his. Zechs stood up and stretched, he wanted to make tonight special; something they both would remember and cherish forever. He racked his brain as he tried to think of ways to make the upcoming night memorable. He wanted candles everywhere and roses, the white kind. Zechs smiled as he imagined the setting. They would need wine, expensive, only the best for her. Zechs frowned as he looked around his quarters; first and foremost he needed a place other than the academy to consummate his fantasies. He smiled as he remembered that there was a hotel not to far from the academy, it would cost but he wanted it to be perfect. Zechs sat back down and took out a pen and a piece of paper from his desk drawer; he needed to go get a few things before tonight. Zechs stuffed the piece of paper into his uniform pocket and grabbed his coat; at least this would serve as a diversion to his impatience for tonight.
Noin yawned as she looked at the clock, ten more minuets till she could leave. Her stomach growled and she looked uneasily at her uneaten food. The meal was stone cold and hadn't been very appetizing when it was warm. She hoped Zechs could wait long enough for her to grab a bite, after all a night with him required a certain amount of strength and energy; the man was insatiable. That was fine with her though, she had been starved for him for so long that her body craved him as much as he craved her. Noin was so lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the door open. The head instructor had left early so the sound of footsteps startled her but not as much as the warm lips on the back of her neck. Noin whirled around and was met by a pair of ice blue eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him warmly, “I was wondering when you would come by.” She laughed as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, “I've been wanting to come by all day but I've been busy.” Noin looked up at him and was surprised to find him in civilian clothes. He looked very sexy dressed casually, without his mask and Noin ached to touch him. She resisted however and stood up. “Can I grab a bite to eat before we…” she stopped as Zechs leaned forward and kissed her again. “Go get dressed, I'm taking you out to eat tonight,” he whispered, smiling cryptically. Noin smiled back and walked toward her room.
Zechs waited on the bench outside the women's quarters as Noin dressed. He shivered from the cold night air but nothing could extinguish the fire that burned slowly through him. It was six thirty now and already he was eager for the “night” to begin. Zechs knew he would enjoy dining with her; they had never eaten together formally. He was nervous and smiled in the darkness. “So this is how it feels to date,” he heard a soft voice say and he turned in the direction of the sound. Noin stood there in a dark blue dress with a slit up the thigh. Zechs almost wanted to call off dinner and take her to the hotel right then. He met her halfway and, not caring if anyone saw them, kissed her on the lips. He pulled away reluctantly, surprised when Noin leaned back in to kiss him again. Zechs finally managed to pull away and guide her towards the jeep he had borrowed.
Noin stepped into the jeep, smiling as Zechs closed her door and walked quickly to the other side to get in. In minutes they were off and Noin felt better than she had in years; she could almost forget that she was a soldier or even a part of the army. She looked over to see Zechs smiling at her, his eyes burning with repressed desire. Noin smiled back and over the wind said, “Where are we going by the way?” She waited for an answer and was about to ask again when Zechs chuckled softly, “It's a surprise.” Noin smiled despite her annoyance and relaxed back against the seat. Within moments she was sound asleep.
Zechs watched her out of the corner of his eye. Damn she's beautiful, he thought to himself as he made his way towards the restaurant, why in the hell does she want me? He was so busy watching her sleep that he nearly missed the turn in to the restaurant. He parked and leaning over, shook Noin awake. “We're here,” he said as she wiped the sleep from her eyes. Zechs saw them widen as she read the name of the restaurant and laughed as she turned towards him, her mouth open in amazement. He didn't waste his opportunity as he leaned in and kissed her. When he pulled away, both of them were breathless and Zechs was almost ready to end the charade and take her to the room he had rented. He helped her out of the jeep, groaning as she rested against his body and they walked hand in hand into the restaurant.
Noin was surprised by the elegance of the small Italian restaurant and almost embarrassed by how she was dressed. She ignored urge to gripe him out about not telling her they were going somewhere formal when she felt his warm breath on her ear, “You're the sexiest woman in here… some woman need neither gowns or jewels to make them beautiful, you are one of them.” Noin blushed and smiled up at Zechs. She had never thought him to be the romantic type but tonight she was learning in a most pleasant way. She noticed the stares from various men in the restaurant and felt a small amount of pleasure when Zechs possessively placed his hand on the small of her back. Noin sat down and was surprised when Zechs ordered wine. “Zechs we can't drink, we aren't even eighteen much less twenty-one and besides you have to drive,” she whispered to him as the waiter left. “Relax Lucrezia, I'm not drinking a lot and besides nobody will card us; we don't look our age,” he replied smoothly as the waiter returned with the wine. Noin looked suspiciously at the sparkling liquid in the glass. She felt a hand on hers and looked up to see Zechs take a sip from his glass. She arched an eyebrow at him when he offered her the glass, “Its some of the best I've ever had, please try a sip.” Noin leaned forward and allowed Zechs to tip the glass against her lips. She tasted the aged fruit curiously, surprised by the sweetness of it.
Zechs watched as Noin took another small sip. It was then that he noticed the stares from around the room. He pulled away gently and smiled at Noin as she picked up the menu. Zechs watched as her smile faded and he immediately knew why. “Noin don't worry I've got it covered, order whatever you like,” he said irritated that he couldn't keep the huskiness out of his voice. He watched as she glanced over the menu once more and closed it. He reached across the table and grasped her hand. Zechs rubbed his thumb back and forth across the smaller hand, wishing he could do more. He withdrew his hand as the waiter came back and took their orders. Zechs wished he had picked a place with music or a ballroom just so he would have an excuse to take her in his arms again. They made small talk as they waited for the food and when it came they ate as fast as they could; both eager to be in the other's arms. Zechs finished first and waited patiently for Noin to finish her glass of wine. When she was finished he stood up and offered her his hand.
