Ice and Fire

Jackson did not respond in haste. Instead, he lifted Sally's chin with his fingers and caressed her. He carefully measured her delicate face with his gaze.

"You tell me", Jackson finally retorted.

Sally knew already that Jackson had no intension of answering her question. She came forward in a jiffy, kissed his lips and did not let it go until several minutes had passed.

Staring deep into his eyes, she spoke intently, "Jackson, I love you."

Slowly moving forward, she pressed her breasts against his chest. Her face only inches away from his, she whispered into his ears tantalisingly, "And I want you."

Jackson didn't push her away. He reached for her waist. Although Sally was perfectly beautiful and she had been loved by him before, Jackson had never felt his heartbeats accelerate in her presence. On the contrary, the only woman whose beauty could take his breath away, had now become his pain spot.

Feeling his hands on her waist, Sally smiled and thought Jackson was still attracted by her charm and he still loved her, thus wanting her body. Tonight, she would do anything to bring him to his knees.

She started to unbutton her blouse. She continued to undress slowly, making sure to get Jackson restless.

Just when she was about to take off her G-string, Jackson suddenly grabbed her hands and stopped her midway.

Taken aback by this suddenness, she looked at Jackson puzzled and muttered, "What's wrong?"

He collected her clothes, that she had taken off only moments ago, and put them back on Sally's naked body. Then, he pushed her away.

Jackson set off, taking several hesitant steps forward, until he finally stopped and turned back to look at her one last time, "I'm leaving. Goodbye."

But even before he could leave the room, Sally ran forward and embraced him from behind. She cried, "Jackson, please, don't leave me alone! I'm so scared. I need your presence."

And yet, her pleading tears couldn't touch Jackson's heart. For him, her coquetry meant nothing.

Deliberately moving her hands away from his chest, Jackson turned round and looked into her eyes with an intense gaze. He stroked her cheek tenderly and said, "Be good. Now, go to bed. I have to go."

Jackson went

still for a long time. Tears streaming down her face, she stared at the fading silhouette of Jackson

through Jackson's heart like a sharp knife.

into his car in a fury, started

Cherry had deepened. That dammed woman had dared to leave him! If she ever met him in the

to the military's residential compound, he drove

slowly. His heart ached

room, then went upstairs, as though dragging his heavy heart. The

bedroom door open, he was overwhelmed by a gust of coldness. The absence of her

the still intact wedding pictures, reminded of the happy face of Cherry.

down his face. Cherry's perfect being brought back to his memories,

didn't you come back? Without you, I might

sadness. He hardly felt sleepy. The bed before him seemed too large for his lone

of the balcony, and sat down unthinking, holding his legs with hands. He stared at the sky, studded with twinkling stars. The thoughts of Cherry engulfed him again, like an unending darkness.

idea how much I miss you? Do

the morning, Jackson woke up with a start, only to find the phone ringing. He slowly opened his eyes and

still ringing phone, he pulled it out to

Jackson finally

where have you been?

not at the military's

residential compound early in the morning

in no mood to answer such a trivial question. "What's up?" he said instead.

from Jackson's evasive tone that he

said, "We should go to the airport and pick up Selina. She is scheduled to

about Selina's arrival that morning. Not wanting to make much of it, he nodded and answered, "I know. Meet me at the

he hung up

later, he arrived at the airport and