Текст книги "Because of The Brave"

Автор книги: ZA Maxfield

Соавторы: Laura Baumbach,Josh lanyon
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 10 страниц)

Confusion clear on his agony contorted face, Steve turned around and slumped against the bare wall. One hand clutching his groin, he cradled the other to his chest.

“You fucking little shit! You're going to regret that.”

“I'm not little and I never have regrets about taking out scum.”

Steve's feet were swept out from under him and hit the ground hard. Seconds later he was on his back looking up. Carson stood beside a man that made Steve look like a Gold Gym wannabe.

“Who are you?”

“Doesn't matter.” China's voice was soft, barely heard about the panting, partially stifled moans and the wind. Even so, it struck Carson as one of the most threatening things he'd ever heard from another human being.

“What does matter is that you just made yourself a designated target. Come near this man again you'll lose more than the temporary use of a hand.”

Steve was an obnoxious jerk. But China…China-man was deadly. Carson could actually feel the fatal intent in his words.

“Got it, ace?” The last was punctuated with a fairly gentle size 14 boot nudge to Steve's ribs.

“I hear you.” Steve sat halfway up to drag himself a safe distance away. He stopped when his back hit the brick wall. “Didn't like the little bastard anyway. Just teaching him a lesson.” Steve slowly pushed to his feet, swaying a little in the wind.

Carson watched as China took in the man's protective crouch, guarding his injured groin and hand. A genuinely pleased smile spread across his face giving rebirth to that single dimple again. “Looks like he taught you a few things, too.”

He gestured Steve toward the road. “Now get out of here.”

Steve didn't even look back.

Carson decided that, when he was the cause of it, he could get used to that look of pride on the big guy's rugged mug. It was rare that a guy so much larger

than he was respected Carson's ability to defend himself. Even so, he couldn't resist adding, “I told you I can take care of myself.”

“And I believed you. You had it under control. For the most part.” The smile widened then quirked with a touch of restrained amusement. “But everyone needs a helping hand now and then.” He swept the dropped knit cap off the snow and pulled it over Carson's hair. “Even a tough as nails, little fighting cock with killer green eyes.”

Okay, the only reason his teeth weren't in the snow was because China had ripped him from Steve's grip at the last second. Carson knew that. And appreciated it. And since Carson hadn't heard China approach on the crusty ice and snow, the guy must have been standing there watching. Watching but not intervening until Carson needed him.

“You following me?” His eye burned from the wind. At least his face was growing numb, saving him immediate joy of fresh raw scrapes over tender bruises.

“You dropped your gloves inside.” He pulled Carson’s brown leather gloves from his jacket pocket and handed them off. He stared into Carson's eyes long and hard. “Thought you might need them.”

Attraction, concern and what Carson thought looked like the need for a friend shone down at him. “You mind walking in this?”

“I've been places that make this look like a sunny day at the beach.” China zippered his jacket closed and pulled on a pair of worn gloves and a dark knit cap from his other pocket. “I can walk for a bit, yeah.”

“I'll going to see my family. Say hi for the holiday.” Carson began to walk but turned around to face China as he stepped out on to the sidewalk.

“Okay. I got some free time on my hands. Can you talk while you walk?”

“I've been known to, yes.” Carson spun to face forward as China joined him, arms brushing as they strode through the gathering snowfall.

“Good. I like to listen to your voice.”

Carson hesitated, unsure how to take that. “I already told you you were crazy once, right?”

“Yeah, but you'll find out with me—once is never enough.”

Carson wasn't ready to touch the double meaning in that one. The warm glint in China's glance said it all anyway. They weren't talking about crazy anymore.

And surprisingly, Carson liked it.

It was unnerving how comfortable he was walking beside China. He'd always been attracted to large, beefy hunks, but most of them had towering egos to match their towering bodies. Steve was a perfect example, even if a slightly more manic one than most guys were.

But China was all quiet confidence and restrained, if hulking, power. And he respected Carson enough to let him handle his own fight; at least to the point where he was about to get pounded into the pavement. Most other guys treated Carson like he was fragile or helpless. He was slight, but he could take on more than most guys gave him credit for. He didn't like to fight, but he knew how. Jim had been insistent about it.

Jim. The ache started up again in his chest. Jim dead. Thanksgiving here. Mauled by a jerk, not once but twice and the best companion he'd had in months was a complete stranger. Well, almost. He knew China was a soldier.

“What branch of the service were you in?” He glanced sideways and caught China's surprised expression. “Come on, man. You scream military. The way you walk, the way you hold yourself so straight.”

“Army. Specialty unit. Active status. Is it that obvious?”

Carson reached high to ruffle his gloved fingertips through the short fine dark hair barely seen around the edges of China's knit cap. “The hair, the boots, the confidence. I recognize the…attitude.”

“Attitude? I'm giving you attitude, son?”

The line was delivered in barking, mock-General-Patton bellows that made Carson chuckle. “Just a little.”

It felt good to laugh, good to let go and enjoy the moment. It even soothed the flash of loss that came with it. “My brother is…was a Sergeant. Army Rangers. Career soldier. I know what to look for. You remind me of him in some ways. He'd have probably liked you.”

For once China was silent. Carson studied the man as best he could in the gray afternoon light. China's lips were drawn into a hard, tight line as if they were holding back words trying to escape. His dark eyes scanned the surroundings as if he was scouting a mission, looking for enemies behind trees and alleyways. Could be, but Carson had the impression they were just trying not to look his way.

The fine lines at the corners of his eyes were more pronounced as he squinted into the growing shadows. His stride was easy, loose, but Carson felt the power his body housed when their arms and thighs brushed as they walked. China was solid muscle.

The man was handsome in a dark, brooding kind of way, rugged and brawny, but with a keen intelligence and sense of humor that appealed to Carson. Besides, the Army didn't take just anyone for a special unit, whichever one it was. China-man was top shelf.

“Do you like being in the Army?”

“Second tour. What you think?”

“I know the Army doesn't let you off for holidays. Are you on leave? Do you have family around here?”

“Looking in on a family member for a friend. He can't be here himself so I promised I would.” He shrugged his shoulder but Carson thought it looked more like he was trying to knock something heavy off his back instead of make light of the generous offer. “I'm on medical hold. I'll be going back on active duty in a couple of days.”

“You get shot?”

“Something like that.”

“Can't talk about it, can you? You haven't even mentioned what division you belong to. Must be dangerous work.”

“Talk about it? No. Dangerous? Sometimes. But it's pretty simple. We have a job to do. We do it.”

“You sound so much like my brother. He loved the Army. Everything about it.”

“How do you feel about it?”

“Hate everything about it. The rules, the discipline, the orders.” He tugged at the olive drab Army issue field jacket China wore. “The dress code.”

He caught China's narrowed glance and smiled to take the offense out of the words. His grin widened when the man gave him a dimple punctuated half-smile in return.

“Anti-establishment, huh?”

“No, just anti-'tell me what to do all the time'. I don't even like the regulations at my job and they are pretty lax for most big corporations.”

A car horn blared, the noise muffled by the heavy snowfall. The wind carried it away like shreds of old newspaper.

“Yeah?” China gave him a questioning glance but didn't ask for more. His lips got that purse string tightness again.

Carson decided to make it easy for him. Besides, he wanted China to know more about him. It was a two way street, he hoped. “I'm a software

programmer. Developer, really. I work for Advantage. They do a lot of government work there. I have a security clearance that impresses even me.”

“Hot shot programmer? Nice skills. Useful for a lot of things.”

“I have flexibility.” Carson laughed, self-conscious about the way that sounded out loud.

“Good to know.” There was that warm look again. The one with the double meaning behind it. It didn't hurt any that China had dropped his voice to a raspy bass. And that damn, sexy dimple was still in place.

Panic, a good panic for a change, twisted his gut and Carson rushed to change the subject. “When's your enlistment up?”

“A few months. I was going to go for indefinite status but after this—”

“Getting hurt?” Silence again. “Was it serious?”

“One of the worse times of my life. But I'm healing. Every soldier knows the risks. It's not the first time for me to take a hit.” He sighed.

Carson tracked the rise and heavy fall of China's shoulders by stepping in closer. The sound of his breathing was ragged, his voice sad, almost like he was in pain.

“This time was…different. So much was lost.”

He shook his head once and glanced at Carson, an unspoken question in his eyes, one Carson couldn't even begin to guess at.

“I've been thinking it's time for a change.”

“Really? What would you do?” The sidewalk was framed by large old tress ands the sounds of the traffic disappeared as they turned a corner. An old iron fence marked the park-like area to their left. The houses were left behind on the main street, but China never questioned their direction or asked about their destination.

“Couple of things. Got a degree in business management. A little nest egg put away. I should put it to good use. Maybe do private security. Something with rules and order. I like order. Combine the two things I'm trained for.”

“You can take the guy out of the military but you can't take the military out of the guy!” Carson chuckled and clapped his hands to chase away the growing numbness in his fingers. The temperature must dropped ten degrees since they had left the church.

“I hate rules and routines, but I'd love to have my own software business. I want to expand my development skills past the walls they make me work with now. I use my free time to create security firewalls and then spend hours breeching them for the fun of it.”

“That's what you call fun? You need to get out more.”

“Hey, your idea of fun is getting shot at. Guess we're complete opposites.”

“Not really. We're like the first great Chinese inventions.”

“What?” China lost him there. Who knew what the Chinese invented if they weren't Chinese?

“Seriously. The Chinese had four great inventions. Gunpowder, the compass, paper and printing. I think maybe the last two fit me just like the last two fit you. Action and power paired with knowledge and innovation. They fit together. Like us.”

Okay. So maybe you knew about this stuff if your nickname was China. Or you needed an original pick up line. Sweet talk and muscle. Who would have guessed?

Carson liked it.

“We're there.”

Carson strode through the open gates of the cemetery without looking back, his back ramrod straight and his head held high. China could read determination and pain in the too-rapid pace the younger man suddenly adopted.

The gates were ten foot high spiked wrought-iron blotted into massive cement pillars topped with grotesque stone gargoyles. The falling snow blanketed the ground, turning the tallest headstones China could see into white shrouded ghosts in the fading light.

He stopped to assess the area closer, his years of training taking over, honed instincts telling him this was just another jungle filled with land mines, but this time of the emotional variety. He'd rather have bombs and bullets coming at him, but he'd come this far, he had to see it through. If not for his own sake then for others.

Beside, Carson was growing on him something fierce. The young man was funny, smart and feisty as hell. Toss in those marbled green eyes, almost platinum blond hair and that firm little body and China couldn't resist flirting with him. He knew he shouldn't…but, hell, dangerous little treasures like Carson didn't cross a man's path everyday.

“Christ Almighty!” China ran a hand over his eyes to wipe away the image of Carson laughing, hair in his eyes, smile on his lips and nothing hiding his pale smooth skin as he lay on crisp sheets beckoning for China to join him.

“China! Are you coming?”

China snapped around at the sound of Carson's voice. He located a shadowy figure a hundred yards away, one arm gesturing toward him, beckoning him like in his dream. He swore softly and muttered, “Not yet, but there's always hope.”

Striding up the pathway, his boots crunching down through layers of thin ice and slushy snow, China waved back. “Hold up. I'll lose you in the dark.”

“I doubt that.” But Carson stayed where he was, waiting patiently until China was at his side. “Guys like you don't get lost.”

“Maybe I just think you could use a friend. A guy shouldn't be alone for this. Not today.” The wind bit through his multiple layers of clothing. China suppressed a shiver, noticing that Carson's teeth had begun to chatter slightly.

“How do you know I'm alone?” Carson turned to his right to march down a row of low headstones. He walked with a sure step that told China he'd done this a hundred times before, barely glancing at the stones, secure in his destination. China kept pace at his side.

“Carson, come on. You're spending Thanksgiving at a church shelter feeding the homeless, avoiding a stalker ex, we're going to visit your family so you take me to a cemetery. I'm not a rocket scientist, but I can figure this out.”

“Okay, maybe that was a dumb question. You're right anyway. Jim was my only relative and now he's gone, too.”

He stopped in from a small grouping of markers protected from the wind by a thick hedge row. Three of the graves were long established, all three showing the same final resting date. Carson stood in front of a grave that still hadn't settle completely, its surface slightly rounded and the grass sparse under a thin layer of snow. China knew it belonged to Carson's brother but he avoided reading this headstone. There was time for that. Carson was his concern at the moment.

“These are my parents. They were killed by a drunk driver when I was fifteen. My sister Amy was in the car, too. She was seventeen.” Now China understood the 'I don't drink' comment Carson had made earlier. A drunk wiping out most of his family must have made a big impact on a fifteen-year-old's ideas about life.

“Jim was twenty-two. He finished college and joined the army so he could take care of me. He was always there for me, even when he was away. He'd make sure I had one of the other families to stay with when he out on a mission. And he'd check on me every chance he got. I earned enough scholarships to pay my own way through college, but Jim help me out if I needed something extra. Taught me to drive, helped me buy my first car. Taught me to defend myself and stand up for what's right. He was my big brother but he was my best friend, too.”

“I'm sure he loved you very much.”

“I know he did. He didn't even blink an eye when I told him I was gay. I thought he’d be disappointed but he just nodded and said, 'Okay. I guess I'd better teach you how to fight like a soldier now.' So he did. It didn't matter to him.”

“He made a great leader with that attitude. Not everyone in the Army is that accepting. Some but not most.” His voice was raspy, filled with an emotion he couldn't afford to let run loose. This wasn't the time for his own pain. Not now. “His men must have loved him.”

“They did. Will and Brad were like brothers. And Vinny, he practically worshiped Jim.”

“They were a four man team?”

“No five. A fire team. Jim was their sergeant. One guy left after a few months. I didn't know his name. Didn't know the replacement either. That was back a couple of months before Jim died. It all kind of runs together sometimes.”

“Grief plays hell with your time sense. Regret, grief, pain, it all tears you up if you don't have someone or something to hold on to. The Army used to be my strength. But…things change.”

And lord, things had changed.

“The Army was Jim's life. He would have been a Ranger his whole career if he hadn't gotten killed. We're not even at war! Some stupid secret mission nobody cared about except some idiot general behind a desk! I don't even know how he died. They wouldn't tell me. I didn't even get all his personal effects, just a pack of official papers and his dog tags. I know Jim loved it, but I hate anything to do with the Army.”

China did that tight lipped thing again, his eyes so narrowed Carson doubted he could see anything. Not that Carson could look at much of the guy's face when China hung his head like that.

“How'd you end up with that thug, Steve?”

The sudden shift in conversation rattled Carson for a moment. “Trust me, I was never with him. I knew by the end of the first date I knew he wasn't my type but he wouldn't take the hint.”

“Wouldn't take a hint,” China tilted Carson's face into the fading light from the pathway street lamp, “or take a 'no'?”

“He's not a fan of rejection. I'm not a fan of being forced.” Carson turned his face out of the light, easing away from Chain's touch and his unhappy stare. “To do anything I don't want to, least of all that.”

“He got 'rejected' then?”

“I might take a couple of lumps, but I can handle things pretty well. Most guys won't take things as far as Steve did. I'm small but I know what brings a man to his knees.”

“I'll bet you do.” The heated look was bad enough, but that raw, husky catch in China's voice almost undid Carson. It didn't help any when China added. “I knew I should have stuck to calling you 'Dangerous'.”

“Walk me home. And that's not a question.”

Now it was his turn to sound ragged with need.

The walk back was done mostly in silence. The wind and freezing temperatures stifled any lengthy conversation. But it had the benefit of making both men seek shelter in the other's personal space. Carson had to admit, 'The Great Wall of China' did a terrific job of blocking the wind.

Carson ducked his head and shoulders down, leaning a bit into China's side. It only took an instant before a comforting arm pulled him in closer, shielding him from the worst of the wind and faltering snow. It was only another block to his apartment and Carson irrationally found himself wishing it would take longer.

The big man radiated heat like a furnace. He smelled great close up, clean and crisp, like spearmint. The odor of tobacco clung to his jacket but Carson couldn't detect any on his breath, just cool spearmint and fluid warmth. If China had any vices it didn't appear to include smoking. God knew the man ate right. He couldn't keep that body without it. Clean living, killer looks and raw macho attitude in a caring, understanding guy who picked a career protecting the entire, freaking nation. And who wanted to keep protecting people once he was in the private sector. Now there was a man Carson should be dating.

Except the guy didn't live here, would be gone for months at a time risking his life, and be unemployed if he survived to his discharge date.

The downside of China-man was steep.

Carson glanced up at the strong, clean-shaved profile, taking in the long angles and square jaw, deep-set dark eyes, noticing for the first time that China's upper lip was thinner than his bottom lip, marred by a white scar that ran the length of one side. Instead of detracting from China's looks it gave him a rakish, take-no-prisoners– look that appealed to Carson's outside-the-box taste in life.

A modern apartment building towered between two clapboard homes to their right. Carson nudged China toward the fresh shoveled pathway that lead to the apartment house, leading him through the entrance, lobby and into the elevator before he felt warm enough to waste energy on speech.

The elevator was a steady seventy degrees, toasty warm and welcoming. It trapped the scent of their bodies in the small space, mingling spearmint with a musky masculine smell Carson suspected was hormones wafting off the both of them. He hadn't felt this attracted to a man in ages. He briefly entertained the

idea that he liked China so much because he reminded him a bit of his brother but he dismissed it almost as quickly. China made him feel attractive and flat out horny. That was not brotherly. No sir, sergeant! They may have both been Army but that was where it ended.

A deeper, more intoxicating heat spread out from the pit of his stomach. It wandered down to his groin so that by the time the elevator doors opened his entire body buzzed with barely restrained interest. The silence had been companionable and comforting but Carson had to say something eventually. And it couldn't be the one word he had in mind—stay.

“Thought you might like a chance to warm up before you took off to wherever it is you need to be.” He was startled to hear his own voice, the seductive tone to it, the unspoken questions implied.

China must have heard them, too. He didn't answer right away, just turned and stared down at Carson, dark gaze flickering from Carson's eyes to his mouth, down to his waist, and back to his mouth before linking back up with his own now self-conscious stare. Carson bet he looked like a deer caught in China's headlights waiting for the hit and run.

Opening the apartment door, Carson turned usher China in, but found the big man still standing outside the threshold, his expression unreadable, his body language stiff, unyielding.

“I think maybe its best if I go. I….You need some time.” The only sign of lingering attraction China couldn't hide was the hungry look in his eyes.

But it was more than enough for Carson.

Grabbing China by the lapels, he yanked the man over the doorstep and down so their lips almost touch.

“What I need is you. Stay.”

“Warmer?” China traced the curved of Carson's ribs with the line of his jaw. His five o'clock shadows rasped over the smooth flesh with a light scraping sound. Carson shivered and tried to move, but China held him to the mattress, his bare chest pressed to Carson's naked abdomen anchoring the slighter man down.

“ Ah! Ummm.”

Carson sucked in his chest to remove it as a target but China felt Caron's hips grind against his own belly, the hard cock trapped between them leaking slick pre-cum. He licked at the swollen, dusky nipple nearest him, liking the way Carson gasped and pushed into the touch.

“Ugh!”

“I do like an articulate man.” China took the swollen nub between his lips and teeth, enjoying the heat radiating off the tiny bit of wrinkled flesh. Carson moaned and ran his hands down China's back, fingers unconsciously tracing the raised scars and slight dips where a dozen suture lines had yet to fade.

“No talking. I thought you were a man of action.”

He sucked the nub deeper into his mouth, pulling it tight then teasing it with nibbled bites.

“Shit!”

Fists pounded on his shoulders, knuckles sharp, bony. Then the hands relaxed, as if Carson suddenly noticed the scars. China felt Carson hesitate then inch his hands back to the wounds, the touch gentle, a caress that both soothed and examined the healing flesh. He released the thoroughly tortured teat, licking it once to sooth it and to hear Carson made that funny little high pitched gasping sound he found so arousing.

“These scars….” Carson pushed at his chest to get him to raise his head and look him in the eye.

Talking about his wounds was the last thing China wanted to do. Now or ever. At least with Carson. Definitely not while they were making love. Fleeting as it was, he wanted at least this much.

“Are ticklish.” Grabbing both Carson's wrists, he pinned them to the bed, shifting his weight so he was kneeling over Carson. He nudged Carson's thighs apart with a knee and settled between them.

Carson panted, a light sheen of sweat popping out on his upper lip as he tried to wiggle free. China inched slowly down until he could lick the beads of sweat off Carson's lip, moving the tip of his tongue in little teasing swipes. Carson held still, seemingly hypnotized, his gaze locked on China's, their stares unbroken as China moved to explore Carson's parted lips.

The kiss tasted of cranberries and coffee, warm, silky and so very inviting. He closed his eyes, deepening the embrace, need and desire bursting to the surface like a round of gunfire. Carson groaned into the kiss making it all the sweeter, his tongue battling with China's, each taking as much as they could.

At last Carson surrendered and allowed China to take control, his legs wrapped around China waist, his cock stiff and slick against the hard flat planes of China's belly, his body exposed and submissive except for a continuous effort to free his hands.

China refused to relent. He had seen the pain and loss on Carson's face at the graveyard. He understood the basic human need to be held, cradled, cared for, even if it took the form of being physically restrained. It was a guise even the toughest of men could live with. No one could call you weak if you had no choice but to be held, caressed, cherished.

And if truth be told, China needed to be the one to give that to Carson for reasons that had nothing to do with his unexpectedly intense attraction to the younger man. He finally pulled away, panting. “I told you we could find a way to generate some heat.”

“Use your mouth for better things than words, soldier.”

The raw, bare need in the command inflamed him more than China thought possible. Carson was smaller, pinned down, restrained and still calling the shots.

“I should remind you that China, the country, is ruled by a powerful military figure.” He pressed Carson's wrists into the mattress to remind him to leave them there then rapidly moved his hands to Carson's thighs, pulling Carson's slim hips into his lap. He slipped his powerful arms under Carson's knees and yanked the man so close Carson's straight, jutting cock touched his chest. He leaned down and raked his jawline's stumble up the shaft then stared into green marbled eyes that were wide with heated surprise. He smiled, heaved Carson's hips higher and leered, “And right now… so are you.”

He felt the shudder that ran through Carson all the way to his own aching dick, but it was the strangled scream when he deep-throated Carson's slim, hard cock that made his balls tightened and his passion rage hot enough to forge steel.

“Shit! China!”

It had been a long time since he'd heard his name screamed like that. A long time since he'd allowed himself to indulge in the pleasure of a lover, a real lover, not a quick blowjob in a nameless bathroom where he wouldn't risk outing himself. Military and gay meant silence and loneliness. But not now, not here.

He bent forward and thrust his hips, grinding his cock against the swell of Carson's pale ass. His cock slid along the hot valley of flesh, lubricating the path with beads of slick cum. He found the tight puckered opening and worked his dick over it, teasing it with the lip of his cock head, loving the way Carson tried to capture his cock and shove it inside the dusky, tight hole.

Palms massaging the firm globes of Carson's ass, China used his tongue to caress the length of the dick in his mouth. It was slick with saliva, firm, and long enough to slid past his gag reflex but not so thick to cause him to choke. It fit him like it was made for him, a treat to savor and taste at will.

He had to give Carson credit. The young man managed to keep his hands on the bed by grabbing onto the pillow, but when China slipped a spit-

moistened fingertip past tiny rosebud entrance to Carson's body, Carson's couldn't stop from reaching up to press his hands into China's short, dark hair.

Letting the cock slid from his lips with a slurping, dirty, arousing pop, China leaned in to look Carson in the eye, expecting to see passionate lust but getting a bright, hesitant, pleading stare. The need for a more personal, more emotional connection shone in Carson's face.

Fuck, this man was more dangerous than any enemy China had faced in the field.

But the fact was this needed to mean more to both of them just a one time roll in the sheets. China knew he was a goner before the fingers of one hand laced with Carson's lean, twitching digits. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the wide, mesmerizing swirls of green and white, even if that meant losing more than he had a right to offer.

This minute, none of that mattered. He had to take what Carson so desperately wanted to give. Right and wrong be damned.

Just like he would be when it came time for explanations.

Nothing could stop him now short of a barrage of heavy artillery fire. He used his other hand to guide his pre-cum and spit slicked dick to Carson's asshole. The moment the broad head eased past the spasming muscles, a consuming mandate to own Carson raged through him.

He eased in slowly, timing his short thrusts to the sound of Carson's ragged breathing and the growing return thrust of sooth, firm asscheeks down his cock. His fingers held tight to Carson's, as the other hand raked over every inch of smooth, firm skin he could reach, raking nails over swollen teats, tracing rib cage and collar bones, tugging hair, turning chins.

He thumbed over Carson's parted mouth, stealing moisture from satin slick lips and rubbing it over a willing tongue as that same tongue curled to suck and taste the offered appendage. He retreated to explore more skin, encouraged by soft grunts and sporadic thrashing of limbs as Carson tried to take more of China