Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume by Various Authors Read Free Book Online

place. Somewhere safe."
    "A hotel you mean?"
    "Or a motel, something like that. That okay with you?"
    Okay was a pretty tepid way of saying it. Jacob slid the blanket a little further across his lap. "That's fine."
    Slowly Daniel's body beside him slumped, becoming softer and heavier against his arm. "We should find a place to lie down," Jacob said softly.
    "Nah." He had to struggle to hear Daniel's voice. "This is good."
    The deck was hard, there was no room to fully unbend his knees, and his ass was going to sleep. And they couldn't touch in any way that might look odd to the passing Damage Control guys, who prowled the deck for watching for stray lights. But Jacob held still, as Daniel dropped off leaning on his shoulder. His hand was under the corner of the blanket on Daniel's thigh, heat pressed to heat. And sitting there, exhausted, on a slowly sinking ship with Japanese subs out in the darkness and a thin pillow between him and unforgiving steel, Jacob thought he had never felt better.
    ****

CHAPTER 5
    Three days later
    The sun was low, glancing off the red rock faces of the hill behind the town. Jacob stopped for a moment, right there on the dock and let himself look. This was Australia. He was halfway around the world from home.
    Not that he hadn't been just as far from America on the ship. But the Gageway was home. Part of the good ol' US of A that carried them along, insulated from the world. Now there was nothing between his feet and the red dirt of another continent except the soles of his shoes.
    He tugged his uniform a little straighter and tipped his cap back. Around him voices were raised, speaking English but in accents and phrases that almost lost the meaning in the strangeness. The other sailors on liberty streamed past as he stood fixed in place, drinking it in. The late afternoon sun was warm but not hot. The air was scented with familiar odors of sea and fish, but there was a tang that spoke of dry air and strange vegetation.
    At the end of the dock, past the fence, there was a small crowd of locals. Some were apparently selling things, trinkets and fresh fruit and baked goods. A few of his shipmates clustered round, joking good-naturedly as they bartered for everything and anything. An unfamiliar fruit, a necklace of flowers, it was all good to men who had been cooped up on an old rust bucket for weeks where there was nothing new.
    Well, other than Jap torpedoes and airplanes coming in without warning. Jacob shook his head and pushed his thoughts away from the men he'd helped get ready for transport. The battle was over. The slow sad service on the decks under an incongruously blue sky was behind them. The old girl had made it to port without sinking. This was Australia. And Jacob had better things to think about.
    So did some of the other fellows, apparently. Among the vendors were quite a few women, dressed just a little low on top and a little high on the bottom. They chattered among themselves, casting glances at the disembarking sailors. And if the look was returned, they might saunter over to laugh and banter with one of the men. And perhaps wander off, arm in arm. It had been a long four weeks at sea.
    Jacob suddenly spotted Daniel in a group of men further down the quay. One of the men pushed Daniel toward a pair of pretty girls standing by the gate. Jacob saw Daniel laugh, shove back with equal force, and then head toward the girls.
    Jacob thought he should move on, not stare at Daniel. But he stood rooted, watching. The sunlight found the curve of Daniel's cheek and picked red highlights out in his dark hair. Daniel tipped his head back, laughing at something the blonde had said. His hat stayed perched perfectly on his curls, his teeth flashed white between parted lips. He slipped an arm around the girl's waist, bussed her cheek noisily and steered her toward the roadway to town.
    Trust him. You have to trust him. And Jacob did, truly. He just wished Daniel had let him in on the details of