Love or Lust

As evening approached, Callie said goodbye to Wendy, then made her way to Elias’s dormitory. She unlocked the door with the key Elias gave her. She’d barely managed to slip off her shoes before Elias’s grasp found her wrist, tugging her into a fervent embrace that pressed her body against his firm chest. Slightly dizzy, Callie succumbed to a kiss that Elias had longed for all day. Urgently, he trapped Callie between him and the door, fingers intertwining as he savoured the sweetness of her mouth, a balm to his yearning. The kiss left Elias breathless and wanting more. He drew back, his eyes—long and narrow and darkened with desire —fixing on her. ‘Has your Aunt Flo left?’ ‘No,’ Callie panted. ‘We’ll still need to wait... another day or two.’ Elias rested his head on her shoulder and let out a frustrated grunt. Callie giggled. ‘Elias, how did you manage before me?’ ‘I didn’t have this problem before you,’ he replied, his fingers threading through her hair. A flicker of restraint shimmered in his gaze. ‘Now, it’s a challenge I must confront daily. And it’s proving much harder than I imagined.’ ‘You could use your hand,’ she suggested. He bit her earlobe. ‘That’s a lousy idea.’ ‘Take a cold shower? Run a few laps? Sorry, I don’t know what else to tell you.’ Elias’s heart melted as he glimpsed Callie’s apologetic face. ‘It’s not your fault. It’s my problem.’ She had a way of looking at him, a mixture of earnestness and affection that could soften even the hardest edges. ‘Did the heavens send you just to torment me?’ He sighed. Callie’s eyes twinkled with mischief. ‘Maybe you racked up quite a tab in your past life, and now I’m the divine messenger sent to teach you a lesson in this one.’ Elias arched an eyebrow. ‘Oh, is that so?’ ‘But now it feels like I’m the one being punished. Could you ease up a bit? The doorknob is digging into my back.’ With a chuckle, Elias released Callie from his embrace. After dinner, which Elias cooked, he dealt with the dishes and waved away her offer to help. ‘There’s cinnamon tea in the flask on the coffee table.’ Callie settled onto the sofa, sipping tea and stealing sidelong glances at his profile in the open kitchen. Something Harriet said echoed in her mind. Elias was like an iceberg when he didn’t smile—a cold and reserved presence. But when he kissed her, he transformed into a volcano, ready to erupt with fiery passion. Callie wondered if Harriet’s ‘friend’ possessed the same duality. Elias wiped his hands on a towel and turned towards her. ‘What are you thinking so hard about?’ ‘I was just wondering about something my new friend said.’ ‘Yeah?’ Callie drew up her knees and rested her chin on them. ‘Do men find it hard to fall for strong women?’ Elias gave it some thought. ‘I don’t think that’s a universal rule, at least not for me.’ ‘So, do you like strong women?’ Callie pressed on. Elias’s lips curved into a contemplative smile. He came over to the sofa and drew Callie into his lap. ‘Do you consider yourself a strong woman?’ Callie nodded. ‘I believe I am, in a way. At least, my hands are strong enough to hold a scalpel. And bone saws.’ Elias couldn’t help but be amused by her confident response. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. ‘Why this sudden question?’ Elias whispered softly into her ear. ‘I was just curious. What would it take for a man to fall in love with a woman?’ Elias’s lips brushed against her ear, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. ‘Sometimes, a lot. But sometimes, all it takes is a single look.’ He nibbled her earlobe gently, his warm breath sending tingles through her. ‘A man can fall for a woman in a split second.’ It was in a split second that everything between them had changed too. ‘Just one second?’ Elias nodded. ‘Uh-huh, one second is all it takes.’ ‘But if you are drawn to someone before you truly know them, is that love or lust?’ ‘Why can’t it be both? I can’t speak for others, but if you’re wondering what kind of woman I prefer, it’s quite simple. I’m partial to women like you.’ Heat crept up Callie’s cheeks, a bashful smile forming. ‘General Westwood, your way with words is improving.’ He turned her to face him. ‘This isn’t mere flattery, Callie. Every word comes straight from my heart.’ ‘And your loins, apparently.’ Callie got up from his lap. ‘Seriously, how did you survive in the years before we met?’ Elias chuckled. ‘See? I told you, love and lust are inseparable.’ Callie hesitated, glanced towards the bedroom, then cleared her throat. ‘Maybe I can give you a…hand. To help with, you know, your situation.’ Elias didn’t need to be invited twice. He sprang to his feet and swept her up in his arms. ‘I guess it’s time for bed.’ They did go to bed, but neither got any sleep for the first half of the night. *** Harriet sat cross-legged on her cot, flipping through an outdated copy of a military magazine. The room echoed with a soft ring as her phone chimed. ‘Harriet, it’s me.’ Hershel’s voice resounded through the line. ‘Uncle Hershel!’ Harriet’s posture straightened as soon as she recognised the voice. ‘I’ve been meaning to call you, but was afraid I’d disturb you at work.’ ‘Work’s fine. How’s it going at Valour Ridge?’ Hershel’s voice, gravelly yet resolute, filled the air. ‘I’m managing well. Elias is taking good care of me.’ ‘Well...’ Hershel paused, organising his thoughts before continuing, ‘Harriet, did Elias talk to you about… Did the two of you get to spend any time together?’ ‘We see each other every day.’ ‘I meant alone time. Just you and him.’ ‘Um, sure, we talked for a bit on my first day here. Afterwards, we both got busy.’ ‘Harriet, sometimes you need to take the initiative.’ Hershel’s voice dropped to a hushed level. ‘Elias is a remarkable man. Don’t let someone like him slip away.’ Harriet grimaced at the implication of her uncle’s words. ‘I’ll try.’