The Better Angels: Hearts Touched by Fire, Book 4

He reached out, gently playing with her curly hair that was now a mess from their afternoon play.
“You know, my darlin’, I must go.” He kissed her nose tip.
“I know.” She simmered, furious he had this much control over her because despite his situation, she still prayed he wouldn’t answer the call to arms Lincoln had put out. “Isn’t there some way you can stay?”
His fingertips traced down her neckline, his gaze following their path, making her shiver. His smile broadened as he cupped her breast and bent to suckle on the pearled tip, setting off a storm of tingles that spread throughout her body, reigniting the fire below. The fact that the man could so easily distract her with his touch was unnerving but at this moment, she relished every second, committing to memory each flash of excitement.
“You know I can’t. It is my duty to go and serve.” He flipped her underneath him, spreading her thighs to nestle his hardened member.
Again, he had brought her to craving him, her body responding to his need. The cool breeze that hit her exposed core reminded her how wet she was, so ready to receive him.
“I want to remember every touch, commit to memory the feel of you as I enter, and how wet you are for me.”
She lowered her hips against the feathered mattress and he slid into her slick core. Her body was full, he filled her completely and she hugged him, tipping her body up as he pushed. Back and forth they moved, dancing in the oldest rhythm of time. The rush overwhelmed her and the pressure continued to build until he thrust one more time, and the world shattered inside, stars bursting across her vision as her core hugged him tighter, sending triggers of excitement racing through her veins.
In the midst of her sudden death, she knew he came too. His member vibrated inside her sheath and she burned that feeling to her soul for the days to come, when he was gone…
He collapsed on top of her then rolled to the side, tugging her into his arms.
“I love you, Ada.” He kissed her shoulder.
She grinned but it was a lazy moment as she drank him in…
“Ada! Ada!”
The male voice broke her thoughts and she blinked repeatedly, the sun blinding her. She was confused, distorted thinking about where she was and who was calling, and realized her bodice was soaking, as was the top of her skirt from the wet rag. The tingles that branched out from her nipples down to her core came from that man and it irked her at the same time she was annoyed how an outsider interrupted her memory of that day. She’d groan, but feared it’d come out more like a bedroom moan so she stifled it and scurried to make herself presentable.
“Yes, Will! I’m over here!” With a heavy sigh, she stood, shaking out her skirts and prayed there wasn’t a tellin’ sign what she’d been dreaming of. Unfortunately, she was too late.
Will stared at her and she thought she saw his hands tighten along with his shoulders. Rage or anger consumed him.
“What are you doing?” he hissed. “Remembering that bastard?”
She gathered her skirts and aimed to go around him. “Will, don’t start.”
As she pushed passed him, she heard his boots grind as he spun and followed. “That man is a scoundrel of top core! He left you, high and dry, for his own self but you? You work like a slave and still fall apart if given leave to think!”
“Will,” she warned. “This is not the time or place for this.”
“Ada, Ada, please.” He was at her side but she refused to slow down and face him. “He’s not worthy of you. He’s frankly not even as good a doctor as you.” He touched her shoulder gently. “I wish you’d forget him.”
Inside, her heart heaved, the hole left in it still bleeding but she’d had a year to practice schooling her features, stopping the pending tears in their tracks. She stopped, bit her tongue so the sharp pain would override her breaking heart and painted a smile on to cover her emotions.
“As to who is the better physician, that is hardly the issue but that is why I’m here. To offer my skills to help our soldiers, even if regulated to a nurse, and bury the dead.”
Will’s frown deepened, but instead of launching another attack on the scamp who stole Ada’s love, he cocked his head and gave her a tense smile.
“Then you may want to return to the hospital tent. That sergeant you were convinced was ill due to nothing more than eating molding food, has now progressed to dysentery.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Bloody stools?” At his nod, she hissed and stormed back to the tent. The war was the one thing she could count on to distract her and bring her back to what was needed. Despite being a medical doctor, the Union Army only let her aid the Medical Department as a nurse. She steeled her shoulders, knowing the next battle was only a few hundred feet in front of her—a skirmish with the ranking medical officer who would deny her practicing, even if it meant death.

Chapter 2
Tis no easy task, but I am endeavoring to bear everything as well and cheerfully as possible. Sometimes I fail entirely, but in a short time find myself persevering again in the struggle and may yet come out victorious.
—Elodie Todd, sister to First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, in a letter to her husband, Confederate Officer Nathaniel Dawson, August 4, 1861, Selma, Alabama
Virginia
“So, you tore yourself away from your plantation now to join the fight?” The sergeant glared at Francois from behind the makeshift ply boards that had been nailed to wooden legs. His face was leathered and dirt outlined the ridge of the creases in the sun burnt skin around his eyes and along his forehead and cheeks only to disappear in his mustache