You Promised Me Forever (The Dirty Ankle Series Book 1)

by Lizabeth Scott

  “Well, that’s real sweet of you, honey.” The goodies quickly disappeared under the counter. Nicole was sure Mrs. Whisnant would never see the first crumb. “That young man getting home anytime soon?” He took her forms and began to register the package.

  “No, sir. He’s still on deployment.” Nicole tried not to think about the eight months left to go until she saw him again. In the two years Will had been gone, she had seen him a total of thirty-two days. Thirty-two times she had lain with him. Thirty-two times she had kissed him. Thirty-two times she had held his hand. Seven hundred and eighteen days of missing him.

  He handed over the receipt. “How are the wedding plans coming along?”

  Nicole cringed. Her grandmother had taken over the small ceremony Nicole and Will wanted and had nixed or rearranged everything to meet her own grandiose standards. Nicole hoped she would be able to tone her down before the actual wedding. There were even several senators and fortune five hundred executives on the current guest list. Nicole wasn’t sure they even knew her or Will.

  “Oh, just fine.” Nicole checked the time after thanking Mr. Whisnant. If she hurried she could catch the last bus to class. Her grandparents refused to allow her to drive and Nicole refused to have a chauffeur. So she walked, took the bus, or rode with Will’s brothers. Nicole had to pick her battles with her grandmother and had given in to her no-driving rule.

  Her grandmother was so caught up in planning the wedding, she either forgot or chose to overlook her low esteem of the groom, and for that Nicole was delighted, and would concede to her wishes. The fact that the wedding was still two years away only gave her grandmother more time to create the lavish affair she said was necessary for people of their station in life. Nicole thought whatever kept her grandmother pleased and occupied was a good thing, and she didn’t really care about anything other than those two magical words, “I do.” The words that would make her Will’s and would make Will belong only to her.

  “Nicole!” Mrs. Hawkins called out from the florist next door to the post office.

  There went any chance of getting to class on time. She’d never make the bus on time. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Hawkins. How are you today? Are your hands still giving you trouble?”

  “Yes, dear. Thank you for asking. The doctor’s trying me on a new medicine…”

  At this point Nicole knew she only needed to nod at appropriate intervals and say an occasional “Oh” and “Really.” Mrs. Hawkins lived by herself and sometimes needed someone to just listen to her. By the clock on the wall inside the store, Nicole knew the bus was pulling away from the curb right about…now.

  After a few more ailments, Mrs. Hawkins finally got to the point. “Oh, listen to me go on and on. A young thing like you doesn’t want to hear an old woman talk about her complaints. The reason I stopped you, dear, please tell your grandmother the purple Vanda Orchids and Clematis she wanted will be in stock. If she wants me to go ahead and place the order, she must let me know. We need to get our name on the list now if she wants them in time.”

  “The wedding is still two years away, Mrs. Hawkins,” Nicole blurted out, and then felt bad when she saw some of the excitement leave Mrs. Hawkins’ face. The whole town was behind the “wedding of the century” as everyone was calling it. Nicole felt it was more like a runaway train.

  “I know, dear, but these are very exotic flora all the way from Holland. The growers have waiting-lists a mile long. I was lucky to get a spot when I did. I have twenty-four hours to cancel, so if she could just let me know.”

  Nicole would have preferred daisies instead of imported flowers that she couldn’t even pronounce, let alone knew what they looked like.

  Nicole wished Mrs. Hawkins a good day and assured her she would have her grandmother call her as soon as she got home. Before she left Main Street, she was stopped by Mrs. Fortenberry who called out to her from the dress shop. She wanted to show Nicole the fabric that arrived from Paris France for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Since Nicole had no idea who the bridesmaids were, she agreed with Mrs. Fortenberry that the fabric was indeed “to die for.” Nicole thought it a very garish purple but would never hurt her feelings by admitting it. Mrs. Fortenberry assured her it was “the” color of the year.

  Nicole had several good friends from college she had wanted to ask to be her bridesmaids, but her grandmother said they weren’t from the right type of families, so they were quickly replaced by Buffy, Tiffy, and several other equally silly names. But she stood her ground when it came to choosing her maid of honor. Linda was going to be her maid of honor, and her grandmother finally relented.

  A few more blocks, and Nicole was stopped by Mr. Lutz who needed her to taste a lemon sorbet-and-cream filling he was experimenting with for the wedding cake. She agreed it was delicious, but she would have preferred a simple vanilla buttercream.

  Nicole checked the time and excused herself from Mr. Lutz and the delicious smells of the bakery and made a mad dash for class, completely ignoring Mr. Weathers’ calling to her from the print shop.

  By running full-out through town she squeaked into her chair with barely a minute to spare before the teacher began his lecture on Early American Literature.

  Linda gave her the class handout, and for the next hour and a half, Nicole was totally immersed in the lives of Edgar Allen Poe, Walden and Harriet Beecher Stowe and glad for the escape.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Nicole tried to hide her disappointment as her phone remained silent. It was late. Her grandparents had gone to bed, and Nicole worked on homework and watched her cellphone. Will called as often as he could, usually around this time. Sometimes they would video chat if he could get a connection; other times it was only a phone call. Nicole didn’t mind which one it was as long as he called, which it looked like tonight, he wasn’t going to.

  Once her assignment was complete and she still hadn’t heard from Will, she went into the bathroom to shower and took her cellphone with her, just in case he called. It had been three weeks since she heard his voice.

  She stood under the warm water as it rained down on her and jumped when her phone began to play the Marine Hymn. She threw open the shower door and shot out naked and dripping wet.

  “Will…Will…Will!” Her heart beat so fast her hands were shaking. It took three tries to answer the phone. Then the sound of Will’s voice calmed her as nothing else could.

  ***

  “Hey, baby.” Will closed the privacy curtain of the phone kiosk. It afforded them little privacy but gave the illusion they were alone, even in a room filled with Marines.

  “Oh, Will, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. We’ve been on training missions. I know it’s late. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Will leaned back in the metal folding chair and ran his hand through his oily hair. Calling Nic topped cleaning up, even after a twelve-day mission. He already felt better, just from hearing her voice.

  “No, I was in the shower.”

  There was a long pause before Will asked, “You mean you’re in the bathroom right now?” Will closed his eyes and could see Nic, her creamy soft skin wet and slick. Her hyper-sensitive nipples would be hardened into little nubs from the cold air. He knew because he only had to blow on them to get the little nubs to appear. Will felt his body’s natural response to anything Nicole.

  “Yes,” she answered in a low voice. Waiting. Anticipating.

  “Nic.” He paused and cleared his throat before asking what he knew would be torture to his already frustrated body. “What…what do you have on?”

  “Nothing.” Her voice trembled.

  Will closed his eyes tight and tried to regulate his breathing. “Do you have the waterproof cellphone case I sent to you on your phone?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, waiting in anticipation for her answer.

  “Yes.” She sounded disappointed at his line of questioning.

  “Okay, good.” Will unzipped his camos and looked to make sure t
he curtain behind him was still closed. “Now go lock the bathroom door.”

  He heard the click of the lock sealing their fate. He checked his watch; there was still thirteen minutes of his allotted time left. He wasn’t worried. She was so responsive he could get her off in half that time if he put his mind to it. “Now step back into the shower, Nic, and take your phone with you.”

  “Will?”

  Will grinned. “Go on, Nic. Put me on speaker phone and put the phone on the ledge by your head.” He heard the shower door close and a spike of adrenalin shot through his veins.

  “Okay. I’m back in the shower.”

  When she turned the water on, his hand slowly moved to his fly as he gave her the next direction. “Turn the dial on the showerhead to pulse and adjust it so it hits your breasts.”

  Nicole moaned as she adjusted the spray and the pulses touched her overexcited skin.

  “Do you feel that, Nic, the water pounding over your breasts?” Will concentrated on each breath Nic took, matching his to hers.

  “Yes.”

  She groaned and Will’s hands began to shake; just thinking about the rosy glow of her skin and her nipples darkening. “That’s me, Nic, those are my hands touching you. I’m holding your breasts in my hands and squeezing them. Now I’m rubbing my thumbs over the nipples. Look at them, Nic. Can you see your nipples hardening?” Will saw them, felt them, he even tasted them. His hand continued to work slowly and rhythmically on himself.

  She murmured incoherent words he couldn’t understand.

  “Touch them, Nic.” Will’s voice was filled with hunger. “Pinch them just like I would, if I were there with you. Pretend your hands are my hands and do what I wish I was there to do myself.”

  “Will,” she whimpered. “Oh, Will.”

  Will closed his eyes and listened to the soft gasps of pleasure. He could clearly see her fingers working her nipples that would send sparks of fire straight to her core. He wished he were there in front of her, with his hands on her breasts, his mouth licking, sucking.

  “Now take your left hand, the one wearing my ring, and move it down to your stomach. Find your sweet little belly button. You love it when I explore every little fold with my tongue. Can you feel it, Nic? Can you feel my tongue on you, in you?”

  “Yes, Will.” Her voice filled with frustration.

  “Is your stomach quivering, Nic? Are sparks starting to ignite down deep?” Will heard her panting through the phone and wished with all his heart that he was there with her.

  “Ye…yes. Will. Oh yes!”

  “Go lower, you know what I want. I taught you how to do it. Tell me what you feel.” His hand slid slowly up and down, imagining the pink blush stealing up her neck and turning her face to a rosy glow.

  He waited. All he could hear was heavy panting. “Nic, tell me,” he demanded.

  “Heat, wet. Will!” she screamed in frustration.

  “You’re doing good, baby. Now run your finger through your curls and find your slit. Is it wet, Nic? Are you ready for me?” His hand kept up a continual stroking.

  “Yes, Will, I’m so ready.”

  He heard the raw need in her voice and knew she was near. Her eyes would begin to darken and her muscles would tense around him.

  “That’s good baby, that’s good. Put a finger inside.” He waited until he heard her gasp. “Add another one and hold them there. Go as deep as you can. Are you in deep, Nic?” Her eyes would darken even more and her entire body would glow the most translucent blush pink.

  “Yes, Will. Yes,” she frantically answered.

  “Open your fingers inside.” Just the thought of Nic pleasuring herself almost sent his body careening out of control.

  “Will! I’m…”

  Will knew the end was near.

  “No, Nic. I don’t give you permission to come. You’re not allowed to come until I tell you to.” He closed his eyes. Was he strong enough to finish it?

  “Your other hand, you know where I want it. Play with that little nub while your fingers are working you from the inside.” He brushed away sweat beads forming on his forehead. For once they weren’t the product of the sweltering heat.

  “Will. Will…” she pleaded, nearly incoherent.

  “Pull on your nipple, pinch it hard for me, baby.” Will felt his own muscles tense and knew he needed to end it before he couldn’t.

  “Will, Will,” she whimpered.

  Her eyes would have turned a dark jade green. The gold flecks around her irises would almost sparkle when she came.

  She screamed out his name. “Will!”

  “Now come for me, baby. Come all over your hand. Do you feel how your body pulls your fingers deeper? That’s what it feels like for me, Nic. That feeling is what I crave.” Will stopped the movements of his hand, denying his body completion. He would never be able to escape and clean up without being caught. “I love you so much, Nic.” His voice sounded raspy to his ears.

  “Nic?” All he could hear were whimpers and moans as she came spiraling down. If he were there, he would still be working her till the last tremor and her inner muscles calmed. He gave her time to recover. He rested his head against the wood partition between phone kiosks. She may have found her release, but he was still frustrated with need, the need to be buried deep inside his girl. Nic would be okay in a few minutes, while he would be in pain for a long, long time. If he was lucky the warm water would have run out in their showers because he needed the bitter cold water to recover from the torment he’d just put himself through.

  “One hundred and sixty-seven days, Nic, and you’ll be mine.” She didn’t answer, he didn’t expect her to, but he knew she was smiling too.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Nicole couldn’t believe it. She was practically trembling with anticipation. In seven days she would be married to Will. The thought made her beam as she walked through the sitting room of her grandparents’ house, touching, and inspecting all the beautifully wrapped wedding presents. She refused to open any until Will was there to share in the moment, which upset her grandmother greatly. According to her grandmother, thank you notes were to be written no later than one week after receiving the gift. Some of the many presents around the room had been sitting and waiting for over a month. “Disgraceful” her grandmother had said.

  Nicole anxiously checked the time; it wouldn’t be much longer. Will was coming home today. Her heart reeled at the thought. She couldn’t wait to hold him in her arms and breathe him in.

  Nicole picked up a large box wrapped in blue and silver wedding-bell paper and read the name on the card. She wondered what Will’s parents had given them. They had already done so much. Will’s mom and dad had helped her to find an apartment, furnish it, and had even paid the security deposit. Will’s brothers helped paint the apartment in what they called silly chick colors. Nicole had never had the opportunity to select paint colors or furniture or even the comforter for her bed. It was so liberating to choose anything she wanted. She may have gone overboard on the paint colors and there wasn’t a cabbage rose or doily anywhere in sight. She giggled. She only hoped Will liked their new home.

  Her grandparents were still upset she had moved out. Will wanted her to move out years ago, but it had been important to her not to take money from Will to do it. She needed to prove to herself that she could stand on her own two feet. Her grandparents were wealthy, but she wasn’t. She had a small inheritance from her parents’ insurance policy, but her grandparents had tucked it away in a savings account. Will sent her money but she had refused to use all of his money to set them up in an apartment. She needed to be able to contribute half of the rent, and with her librarian job she was now able to do so.

  Will had been on another deployment for the past three months, and communication had been very sporadic. He had called her just last week and made her promise not to meet the boat when it came in. He had been so emotional during the call, almost in a panic until she had
agreed. She was to wait for him at her grandparents.

  Nicole checked the time again. He should be off the boat now and on his way to her. One more hour, and she could feel his arms around her once again. She giggled, thinking of his reaction to her salacious plans. Their secret treehouse had never looked better, thanks to the help of Will’s brothers, who had replaced missing boards and broken steps. She had decorated the inside of their secret getaway for a special reunion celebration. Complete with freshly laundered blankets, a chilled bottle of wine, and all of Will’s favorite snacks. Even chocolate chip cookies made by her own hands in their own apartment. It had only taken her three tries to produce edible cookies. Well, mostly edible if you nibbled around the burnt parts.

  Nicole wandered to the formal dining room, surveying the presents stacked on every surface, two- and three-layers high. How would their apartment hold all of the gifts? Will said they wouldn’t be in the apartment long. He planned to open his own business flipping houses. Will had been so excited when he told her about his plans several years ago. He and his best buddy Juan were going into business together. Juan had the construction know-how, and Will had a head for figures. Together, they planned to rehab houses, and then Will would sell them once he got his realtor license.

  “When is that young man going to be here?” her grandmother asked, from the doorway. “Nicole, you simply can’t wait any longer to take care of these gifts.”

  “He will be here soon, Grandmother. I promise we will open them as soon as we can.”