Page 44 of Boxed In

He knew that the warrior was struggling to get control of his emotions. He was using some kind of yoga breathing or something, and Luke focused on the technique, which was quite effective.

When the warrior spoke again, his inner voice was calmer. Few women have . . . the capacity to let themselves fully enjoy the pleasures of the body.

Maybe where you come from. Here, women are as free as men to enjoy sex.

Women can never be as free. They must worry about getting pregnant.

We have ways to prevent it. She can take a pill tomorrow that will keep her safe from that.

But you have . . . diseases that people can catch by having sexual relations. Those diseases have always been with us.

I don’t have one, Luke snapped. And neither does she.

You love her, the warrior said suddenly.

Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know her that well.

You know her well enoughto fall in love.

That’s . . . crazy.

Is it?

Luke considered the statement. Was that why it had been so hard for him to keep up the sham that he was just a computer repair guy? Was that why he was so . . . miserable about lying to her?

I won her for you, the warrior said smugly.

Yeah. I guess your caveman tactics worked.

Inside his head, the other man chuckled. Call it the direct approach.

Luke contained his annoyance, then asked. So where do the two of us go from here?

We return the box to its rightful owners.

Easier said than done.

We must do it.

Or die trying? Luke asked.

Yes.

And I get to die along with you?

We will not fail.

Luke sighed inwardly. He’d taken a covert assignment and gotten a lot more than he bargained for.

You would defend her with your life, would you not? The warrior asked.

Yes.

The boxis more important than the woman.

That depends on your point of view.

The box is more important than any one person or any relationship. Zabastian said that with a finality that sent a shiver over Luke’s skin.

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