Ace of Diamonds, The

by Nona Mae King

9: Two Different Sides of the Same Coin

  Setzer parked the Falcon with an absent smile as he checked his pockets for surprises and treats. Then he made his way to the exit, passing through to the sunshine beyond and to the expected shrieks and cries of “Sezzer! Sezzer!”

  Children arrived, treats were discovered, and then the joyous chorus of child speech was laughed and squealed as Setzer made his way to the main building of Mobliz.

  “Hiya, Setzer,” Relm greeted with a bright smile. “Get bored?”

  Setzer tousled her blonde curls. “No. Not with watching Sabin and Edgar make fools of themselves.”

  “What? What’d they do? Tell me.” And the promise of a good story twinkled in her eyes.

  Setzer chuckled. “Later, Relm. Later.”

  “Phooey.”

  Relm was temporarily accosted by questions and quandaries of some of the younger children. Setzer watched her with a smirk. Then the children were urged to play and scampered off after procuring a firm promise that Setzer would stay for dinner and a story.

  “How are you doing with the children, Relm? Terra’s been gone for a long time.”

  Relm waved it away with a wrinkle of her nose. “Pshaw,” she said. “Piece of cake.”

  “Piece of cake my ass.”

  Setzer halted as his eyes met the twinkling ones of Marée.

  “Fine, so we’ve had a problem or two,” Relm admitted as Marée approached from the main house. She seemed totally oblivious to the looks on both adult faces. “But they weren’t anything major.”

  Marée came to a stop a couple paces in front of Setzer and focused her eyes on Relm. “You’re right. They weren’t. Now why don’t you go inside and help Katarin with dinner.”

  “Oh! That’s right. She doesn’t know Setzer’s staying.” Relm hurried away.

  Marée lifted her eyes to meet Setzer’s. She crossed her arms, and her eyes crackled. “Captain. You’ve had yourself quite the adventure. Rescuing damsels and destroying villains. I’m jealous.”

  A breeze teased her hair, bringing her aroma of sea and command into his lungs. Setzer couldn’t move forward. “If I had known where you were, I would have brought you with us. We could have used you.”

  She arched an eyebrow as a smile danced on her lips. “That’s right nice to hear, although Relm tells me you handled the bastard just fine on your own. Damned shame I wasn’t there to see it.”

  Setzer’s brain numbed. No words. No thoughts. No feelings--

  Marée stepped forward to press her hands against his chest as her breath teased his face. “Let’s take a walk in the garden, away from kiddie eyes.”

  She moved away. Setzer found himself following.

  “You’re quiet,” she commented with a sidelong glance toward him. “It’s putting a burr in my britches.”

  Setzer scrambled for his thoughts that seemed scattered to the corners of reality, and he sent her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Marée. I . . . I didn’t expect to find you here.”

  Marée gauged his profile. “It’s almost like you didn’t think you’d ever see me anywhere.”

  Setzer shook his head. “No. I hadn’t given up the possibility of seeing you again.”

  She examined him closely. “Something’s changed about you. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

  Setzer took in a deep breath of her, absorbing the warmth of her standing so close to him that their arms touched . . . his skin tingled, but there was something different.

  Marée halted near the garden, turning toward Setzer with a probing look. “Expectation’s worn off,” she said simply.

  Setzer didn’t understand how it could be possible. “I’m just tired, Marée,” he told her as he drew her close.

  Marée linked her hands behind his neck, eagerly accepting the caress of his mouth against hers. But it was different. Setzer slightly frowned as he brought her closer against him. Her hands deep in his hair; her body tight against his; her mouth inviting and sweet. But it was different.

  No! This is Marée! The woman I’ve dreamed of having! And his mouth and hands did their best to persuade that unresponsive part of him back into action. Finally, Setzer’s arms dropped to his sides and he lifted his head. He closed his eyes as he felt her hands retreat from his body.

  “Damn,” he said hoarsely. Marée’s body tensed.

  “Setzer, what’s wrong?”

  Setzer shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t do this.”

  Marée stepped back. “What? Why the hell not? You want it as much as I do!”

  Setzer shook his head again, and the action twisted his face in torment. “No. I don’t.” The admission nearly ripped out his soul. Setzer met her furious gaze. “I tried. I reminded myself of the dreams and the agony of waiting. Of the fire and wanting.” He shook his head again. “It’s different. It’s gone. I don’t know why.”

  Marée punched him hard in the face, glaring up at him while he wiped the blood from his split lip. “Damn you and your sweet tongue that kept me going.”

  “Marée, it wasn’t the lie you suppose,” Setzer told her. “The desire was real. Your effect on me was not imagined!”

  “Oh? It just disappeared like that?” she asked with a snap for effect.

  Setzer stood silent, helpless to explain.

  Marée stepped up, grabbing his shirt front and pushing him roughly against the wall of the building. Her glare was a dangerous shade of pale blue. “You’ve pushed my buttons, captain. You pulled me along with a promise of a better taste. You can’t just say you don’t feel anything anymore, especially when you were all over me like that.” Her eyes narrowed as her hands tightened their hold on his shirt. “I deserve something, captain. And I’m going to get that something even if I have to take it!”

  Setzer placed his hands firmly on her arms, holding her back. He shook his head. “Don’t do this, Marée. You deserve what I thought I could give you. You deserve true passion, and not dulled embers.”

  Marée’s glare was murder, and then she punched him with as much force as she could before striding away. Setzer watched her go, ignoring the throb of his face and the blood that trickled from his lip. Instead, he pressed himself against the building before sliding to the ground, elbows on bent knees as his hands covered his face and buried themselves in his hair.