PART 20
�We can�t ever forget this place,� Sam said quietly, her voice muffled by his bare chest.
He felt his heart speed up again as he felt her lips move against his body. Could she hear it? Feel it?
�I know I never will,� Jack returned, �Whatever else goes on the rest of my life, I�ll always remember this place and this moment.�
Sam looked up at him then and he took the opportunity.
His lips took hers gently, as if unsure of her reaction. At first, she stood stock still, letting his lips explore hers. Then suddenly, as if the fire was stoked, she leaned into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, still mindful of her sore ribs. His tongue probed her mouth gently and she willingly opened to his exploration. The thrill of her acceptance nearly drove him insane. He tasted all of her in that one kiss; her acceptance, her fear, her trust, her concern, her need, her worry, her love.
He felt it. He suddenly knew that what he felt, total and absolute love for this woman, was reflected back on him. She loved him. She had never admitted it, but hell, neither had he. But he was telling her the best way he knew how and she was doing the same.
�Sam,� he said once again, this time through her kiss, �Sam, we have to talk.�
�No,� she said, trying to deepen the kiss again.
�Yes,� he insisted forcefully, as he grabbed her arms to push her away.
�No, Jack,� she whimpered, �Please? Let�s not ruin this by talking. Tomorrow. Tomorrow we�ll talk. Let�s just let tonight be tonight.�
Suddenly that nagging forgotten �something� popped into his head. Regulations. He had to stop this. Stop kissing her. Stop holding her. Stop before his emotions completely took control and ruined both their lives.
�No, Sam,� he said desperately, �Now.�
This time she heard him. She heard the underlying order in his voice. She hid her disappointment by turning away to watch the waterfall again.
�Sam,� he said gently, �I . . . I need to know . . .�
�Know what, Jack?� she asked, a tinge of sadness touching her voice.
�Oh God, Sam, I . . . I . . .�
�Jack O�Neill,� she said, anger starting to heat her voice, �You say you�re sorry and I swear to God, I will deck you!�
�Striking a senior officer, Sam?� he joked.
She turned around with something akin to fear in her eyes. Strike a senior officer? Oh God! She wasn�t that daft!
�Uh�no�no, sir,� she replied weakly.
�Ah hell!� He growled angrily, �Why do you do that?�
�Do what?� she asked, truly confused.
�Always call me �Sir�?� he said, �Hell, we just kissed each other and you�re still calling me sir!�
Now she grinned, the giggle starting to well up from inside. It did seem rather silly for her to call him �Sir� after such a kiss. And they had kissed each other. Not her kissing him or him kissing her, but each other. Together. The thought was tickling her, making her completely giddy.
�Dammit, Sam,� he growled, �My name is Jack. Hell, if you want to call me Jonathon or even . . .� he gulped before continuing, �Johnny . . . I don�t care! But please, when we�re alone, I really would like it if you called me anything but �sir�!�
The giggle turned into a full blown laugh. She couldn�t help it. He was so desperate for her not to use the pet name and it showed.