Inflame (Explosive)

by Teevan, Tessa

  It’s not long before I’m panting my release as I cry out his name. I can feel his dick emptying into the condom inside me.

  “God dammit, Lucy,” he says, the same words he whispers every single night. This time, though, his voice is strained, and tears prick my eyes, knowing I won’t get to be with him for at least nine months—and possibly never again.

  Sliding out of me, he presses a kiss on my lips then disappears into the bathroom. I turn over, wrapping myself up in the sheets. My mind’s running a thousand miles a minute, not wanting to think that this is our last time together, but I know I have to get used to it. When Kale comes out of the bathroom, he lies down in the bed and draws me into his body.

  “You’ve become a damn good friend this summer, Lucy. One of my best,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head.

  My breath stops at his admission. If I admit it to myself, I want to be so much more than his friend, but instead of letting him know, I stamp down my feelings, too scared to even think about them.

  “Kale,” I breathe, but he brings a finger to my lips.

  “I’ll miss you, babe,” he informs me, and my heart melts and breaks at the same time. I’ve never really had anyone to miss and I don’t know what to expect. When he says nothing else, I take that as a dismissal for any other feelings, so I bottle up my own and bury them deep, not expecting them to surface any time soon. Or well, at least hoping that they won’t.

  Surprisingly, he folds his arms around me, and I settle into his embrace. Normally, we sleep on opposite sides of the bed, but tonight, apparently, we both want to be close. There’s an intimacy there that’s foreign, and as much as I liked the idea of using toys and restraints, it feels wrong. Instead, it’s just me, Kale, and nothing else. All night, we’re wrapped up in each other, talking and making love—not that I’d usually call it that, but fucking just doesn’t seem like the right term for what this is anymore.

  The next morning, we linger in bed, neither one of us wanting to admit that our summer fling is over. When I drop him off on post, it’s no easier. We get out of the car, meeting at the hood of the car, and things feel awkward, not like us at all. He hesitates for a moment before taking me into his arms.

  Drawing in his scent, I commit it to memory, not knowing when I’ll ever smell it again. I can feel hot tears forming in my eyes even though I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. That’s easy to say until you get to that moment. The final goodbye. I can’t imagine how girlfriends and wives feel. It feel likes the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and we’re just friends.

  I pull away from him, not wanting to stain his uniform if my mascara is running from the stupid tears that are now falling. A small smile spreads over his face, and he cups my chin as he uses his thumbs to wipe them away. A laugh escapes me at knowing that he probably thinks I’m being ridiculous. Hell, I think I’m being ridiculous. I don’t cry. I just don’t, but it’s been one hell of a summer, and I tell myself that I’m crying over all the lost orgasms, not the fact that there’s a small pang in my heart at the thought of saying goodbye.

  “Hey, Lucy, don’t cry. I know you’re going to miss seeing this sexy body every damn day, but we can still Skype. Remember our deal. If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine,” he teases, putting me at ease.

  Shaking my head, I wonder how long it’s going to be before he gets me to take clothes off via webcam. I’m guessing it won’t take too long.

  “And when have I ever had a problem showing you mine?” I ask, and he grins at all the memories.

  “Well, if you’d have let me take naked pictures of you, then we wouldn’t have to Skype and I could just look at them every day.”

  A slow, wicked smile crosses my face. There is one more present I haven’t given him yet, and I was going to let him discover it on his own, but I’d rather tease him about it now.

  “Oh, Montgomery, how little faith you have in me. Do you really think I’d send you off to war with nothing to work with? You must really think I’m mean,” I say, giggling when I see him raise an eyebrow in confusion.

  “Ms. Dawson, you wicked woman. What have you done?” he asks, his voice sounding a little more husky than usual.

  I’m not going to spell it out for him. I want him to enjoy the find. “Now, now. It’s the last part of your gift, and I’d hate to ruin the surprise. Let’s just say I may have hidden a new folder on your laptop, and it’s your job to find it and report back.”

  Leaning down, he presses his lips against mine, slipping his tongue in my mouth. We stand there, savoring each and every moment, knowing they’re our last. All too soon, he’s pulling away from me. He plants one last kiss on my nose before he picks up his gear.

  “I meant what I said last night, Lucy. I’m going to miss you,” he confesses, and I can hear the sincerity in his voice. My heart tightens from knowing that this is it. Everything about our relationship is about to change, and I couldn’t have prepared for the pain that flows straight to my heart.

  I stand up on my tiptoes and give him one last kiss on the lips. “I’ll miss you, too, Kale. More than you know.”

  He nods, and our eyes lock as we both mentally prepare for this shift in our friendship. He looks like he’s about to say something else, but before he can, someone calls out his name, effectively ruining the moment.

  “It’s that time, I guess,” he says, breathing out.

  My nose starts burning, and I can feel the tears starting to form again. Not wanting to let him see me cry, I throw my arms around him, giving him a tight squeeze.

  “You stay safe over there, Kale Montgomery. You promise me?” I haven’t let myself think about the dangers he’ll be facing, but now that we’re down to the wire, I need to hear him say it. To promise me that he’ll take care of himself.

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head off. I know what I’m doing, and I won’t let anything happen to me. See you on the other side, babe,” he murmurs before he leans down, gives me one last kiss, and walks away.

  I lean back against the hood of my car and watch until he’s almost out of sight. He’s about to enter a building when he turns back to look at me. His hand moves to his mouth and he blows me a huge kiss. Shaking my head, I grin as I make a show of catching it. Instead of placing it on my lips, I touch my hand to my ass, and I can see him laugh. He gives me one last wave, and in a split second, he’s gone.

  Knowing I shouldn’t loiter on post, I suck it up and get in my car even though I want to follow Kale into the building, throw my arms around him, and get one more kiss. I sigh, but then I stand up straight and set my shoulders. As I start my car and make the drive home, I chastise myself for feeling down. I just spent an amazing summer with a sexy-as-sin soldier and had more orgasms in those four months than I have in my entire life.

  With new focus, I decide that maybe this was my last hurrah. Maybe I am ready to settle down, to move on with my life. Perhaps this was life’s way of saying, “Hey, Lucy, here’s one last good time. Now it’s time to get serious.” Truth be told, no random hookup will ever match up to Kale, and I know that.

  Pulling into my apartment complex, I finally know what I’m going to do. It’s time to hang up Loosie Lou. The next guy who graces my bed, fingers crossed, will be the last one.

  9/4/12

  Lucy,

  So I know I said we’d be pen pals, but snail mail takes way too long and I can’t wait to tell you about this place. How about keyboard pals? Yeah, doesn’t have as much of a nice ring to it, but I figure daily interactions are better than reading letters every other week, right?

  I hope everything’s going well back in Clarksville and that you’re not breaking any more hearts. You’ve done enough damage to mine, Freckles. ;) <-- Just imagine me doing that. It’s much sexier than some damn emoticon. But seriously, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. I know what you’re thinking. That it gives you free rein to do anything, but guess again. I don’t do men—so you shouldn’t either. Wait for me, Lucy Dawson. My poor li
ttle heart can’t take the thought of you finding another man while I’m gone. Okay, I know you’re rolling your eyes by now, so I’ll stop fucking around.

  The flight over was pretty uneventful, and I’ve mostly settled in. I have a good team and I think we’ll work well together over the next nine months. Hopefully your nine months will be more exciting than mine. All I see in my future is work-gym-sleep-eat, wash, rinse, repeat. Good thing I have a pretty kickass keyboard pal to give me something to look forward to at the end of the day. You know that means I expect daily correspondence. I know you can get busy (I like when you get busy, Lucy) but I also know you have at least twenty minutes of free time when your kids are at recess. Didn’t anyone ever tell you you’re not supposed to sleep during school hours, Ms. Dawson? Take your time to write me instead. I’d hate for you to end up in detention.

  On second thought, go for it, babe. The thought of you needing a punishment is a hot one, as long as I’m the one delivering.

  And now I’m off to the showers with thoughts of that damn pastry cutter rolling over your skin. I’m still pissed as hell we didn’t get to try the new one out. Such a damn tease. You better have it shined, polished, and ready for me when I get home. Oh, by the way, Luce? Those fucking pictures? Best fucking gift ever. My dick thanks you.

  Miss you, babe. If you see Lily, give her a hug from me.

  Your sexy keyboard pal,

  Kale

  I click send and immediately pull up the photos Lucy sent me. That fucking girl. Saying goodbye to her was harder than I’d expected it to be, and when I saw her tears, my heart fell. I don’t know what the hell happened between Lucy and me this past summer, but I can tell you this. I was definitely beginning to feel like Justin Timberlake, not quite satisfied with being just friends, yet there was no way I was putting my heart out there. We had both laid it on the line when we first started hooking up, and in the meantime, I gained a best friend. I wasn’t going to fuck that up my expressing my feelings, and well, here I am. Thousands of miles away, pining ridiculously for my best friend, my favorite hook-up, probably the one girl I could settle down with who’d accept all my shit.

  A moment later, my computer pings, and I grin when I see that I have a Skype chat invitation. The subject line states Ms. Lucy Dawson Requests Your Presence: Clothing Optional, and I’m all too eager to hit the accept button. Immediately, her image fills the screen, and my heart and dick both swell at the sight of her.

  She waves, and I don’t miss the way her breasts are hanging out of the tank top she’s wearing as she bends over to look at the screen. Her green eyes are bright as she look as me too, and I’m glad I changed out of my uniform once I got back in the door and dressed in nothing but a pair of black basketball shorts.

  “Hey, babe,” she says, her voice sounding through my computer, and I smile at the term of endearment we somehow adopted over the summer. The sound of her voice does something to me, and as ridiculous as it is, I think I miss her even more than I imagined possible.

  “Hi, Ms. Dawson. I hope I’m pleasing you by responding to your request,” I tell her, winking in the process.

  She giggles, and I love it. God, what the hell has this girl done to me?

  “I’m very pleased, Sergeant Montgomery, especially since you decided to show up shirtless. I saw your email but wanted to see if I could catch you, and I’m glad I did.”

  Settling in my desk chair, I turn the volume up, more than happy to see her. “I’m glad you caught me, too. I miss you, Luce. Things going okay there?” I ask.

  She nods and gives me a thousand-watt smile. “Things are fine. A little quiet and lonely, but I’ll make do. What about you? How are things there? Making all the women on post fall in love with you?”

  I shake my head, knowing that I haven’t seen a single female who could compare to her. “None at all, Lucy. Hey, I don’t have much time. Do a soldier a favor and get naked for me. I need something to think of when I’m jacking off in the shower later. My poor dick got way too used to your pussy, and he’s missing the fuck out of you.”

  I watch as she throws her head back and laughs. “You certainly don’t hold back, but okay, Kale. I can make haste just for you,” she tells me as she takes her top off, filling the screen with her naked breasts, making me salivate at the sight. She brings her hands up and rubs both of her breasts. “Is this what you want to see, Kale? I wish these were your hands touching me, teasing my nipples,” she breathes, and my dick instantly goes hard as I slip a hand into my shorts.

  “God dammit, Lucy, that is so fucking hot. My dick misses the shit out of you,” I repeat, needing to say it again for emphasis. “I wish I were on top of you, sliding in between your gorgeous breasts, feeling the friction of my skin on yours.”

  A slight blush creeps over her face, but it doesn’t stop her. “Mmm, Kale, what I wouldn’t give to have you between my legs right now.”

  I watch as she fondles herself, and I start to jack off, wishing my hand were hers. My eyes are locked in on her, captivated by her every movement. She scoots her chair back so I can see all of her, and I go crazy the moment I see that she’s in nothing but a lacy thong. Her hand dips down into her panties, and my mind runs wild, wishing those were my fingers playing with her clit.

  “Kale, I miss you so fucking much. I need you. Now,” she breathes, and I watch as she continues to rub herself.

  I’m about to respond when I hear my door open, and Xavier walks in. Jerking my hand out of my shorts, I sit and turn towards him. His eyes are wide, and he’s staring at my screen. At Lucy. I’m about to see fucking red, so I slam the screen shut.

  “Dude, my bad. I’ll…I’ll be back in a few,” he tells me, leaving the room, and I want to punch something. After having been held up, he’s finally on his way back to the States and we were supposed to meet up for dinner, but obviously I was preoccupied.

  Catching my breath, I make sure I’m alone before reopening my screen. When I do, I see that Lucy’s dressed, and clearly, the moment’s been ruined.

  She raises an eyebrow at me. “So much for privacy. I hope he didn’t get too much of a show,” she says, laughing it off.

  “He saw nothing, I promise. I guess I’ll have to be more careful with these Skype dates. I’m going to go shower, babe. Thanks for the visuals. Miss you,” I tell her, meaning it more than ever.

  She sighs. “Miss you, too, Kale. I miss you, too.

  9/15/12

  Kale,

  Freckles? Who are you? James ‘Sawyer’ Ford? I should’ve known he’s who you’d latch on to when we binge watched Lost before you left. Lucky for you I was always Team Sawyer over Team Jack. Must’ve been those sexy dimples and playboy personality that drew me to him—and to you.

  So let me get this straight? You expect me to be celibate the whole time you’re gone? Damn, that’s asking a lot. Oh, Kale Montgomery, I’ll wait for you every single day until I’m in your arms again at the airport. I won’t even so much as look at another man. I’ll keep your picture next to my heart every single day. It’ll be the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see when I go to bed. Your picture will be the only thing to get me through these long, lonely nine months.

  Have I successfully helped reciprocate the eye roll? Because you definitely knew what reaction to expect. The day, you, Kale Montgomery, ask a woman to wait for you is the day I settle down for good. We both know how far off that is.

  Anyways, I’m glad to hear the flight was fine and that you’re settling in. I’ve gotta say, I’m bored as hell without you around. It’s good that school’s started again because the way you monopolized my summer. My empty house is feeling way too empty. My days are like yours. Work, exercise, T.V. It’s really thrilling stuff.

  Daily correspondence? Jesus, Montgomery, I didn’t realize your demanding attitude extended beyond the bedroom, and lucky for you, I think I like it. So, okay, Kale, you want daily correspondence? You’ve got it. Just be prepared to give in to my own demands in the
future.

  Alright keyboard pal (aka KP) I’ve gotta run. Lily and Anna both say their helloes and their I miss yous. Charlie mentioned you being gone, and I think she was fishing but I kept my mouth shut. I never realized how nosy she was until she found out I was with you. And since I shrugged it off, she’s now forcing me on a double date this weekend. Gag. I need my better half back to save me from these things. I miss your face! Muah!

  Lucy

  P.S. Please tell me that wasn’t Lily’s father who walked in on our naughty Skype session. Also, please pass on that he’s an asshole and I had to use my own personal Kale to finish off. Best. Present. Ever.

  Kale’s been gone for over a month, but it feels like forever. Fortunately, school has started, and getting acquainted with my new kids has left me exhausted at the end of the day. I barely make it through my Zumba videos and lesson plans before I’m falling asleep on the couch with the television playing in the background. When Charlie informed me that I was going on a double date with her and Drew, I tried to use my exhaustion as an excuse, but she wasn’t buying it. I think she’s noticed that I’ve been moping around, and she is just trying to be helpful. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s put two and two together, my mood change and Kale’s departure, but she hasn’t said a word about it. Instead, she’s making me go out with yet another one of Drew’s colleagues who will probably bore the life out of me.

  The doorbell rings, and I sigh, wishing I’d insisted on driving myself. Checking my reflection in the hallway mirror, I make sure that I’m presentable. With it being a Friday night, I didn’t bother going all crazy with my appearance. My hair’s still in a claw clip, loose tendrils hanging down the sides of my face. It’s my go-to teacher hairstyle because it’s so damn easy to do in the mornings.