Unlikely Lovers

by Anna Kristell

  Missy cautioned her again about keeping her secret then told her sadly, “I’ve received my orders. I’ll be going to Ft. Riley, Kansas in a few months, probably in the late spring or early summer. You’d better be ready, Jess.”

  “What about Andy?” Jessica asked.

  “What about him? We’re only friends. He’s a great guy, but I told him up front I wanted nothing serious and that I didn’t intend to stay here forever. Which is what you should have done, my friend.”

  “How was I to know Cody would turn out to be more than a fling? I figured a month or so of good sex and that’d be it. The sex is better than good and I love being with him, in and out of bed. He is wonderful, funny, charming. And he can cook. He makes this marvelous pasta sauce and Christmas dinner was out of this world.”

  “Oh my God, Jess, listen to yourself. How much more is it? Are you actually falling in love with him?”

  “I really don’t know, Missy. I’ve never felt this way before, so I don’t know if it’s love or not.”

  “Well, you’d better figure it out fast, my friend. You’ve kept a secret that could really complicate things when your orders come through.”

  “I know. I just don’t want to ruin things. I’m not sure how kindly he’ll take to the fact I’ve been lying to him all this time.”

  “More like withholding the truth. Does he love you, do you think?”

  “He’s never really said the words, but I know he’s not seeing anyone else. I think it started as fun and games for him too, but I don’t think either one of us thought it would last this long. It’s been months and we’re still going strong. He’s perfect, Missy, in every way. He’s the man I’ve always dreamt of meeting.”

  “Which is exactly why you need to tell him soon,” Missy insisted. “I hate to tell you this but you are way beyond a brief fling, my friend.”

  “But how can I tell him?” she asked sadly.

  “You’ll find a way.”

  “What’ll I do when I have to break it off with him and leave?”

  “That’s why you were supposed to end it way before it got out of hand.”

  “I can’t.”

  “You’re in way over your head, girlfriend. You play it out however you see fit. If it’s meant to be…who knows?”

  “I have to go TDY for a few weeks. We’ll see what happens then.”

  Leaving work early, she rushed home to change into jeans and a tee-shirt then drove to Cody’s apartment taking the shortest route possible. She had gotten around the issue of always meeting at his place by telling him she had a roommate. She just hadn’t mentioned that her roommate was the U.S. Army. Oh what a tangled web we weave...

  She let herself into the townhouse with the key he’d given her a few weeks ago. He wasn’t there yet, so she decided to surprise him and cook. Finding the ingredients in the kitchen, she whipped up a simple meal and was taking the tuna casserole out of the oven when he walked in from work, looking tired but pleased to see her.

  “So, she cooks for me when I work late. This could be serious.” He laughed as he quickly kissed her then backed off. “Let me get a shower before I get next to you, baby.”

  Is this getting serious? she pondered as he was taking his shower. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m going to be away. It’ll give both of us some time to think. But will it be out of sight out of mind, or absence makes the heart grow fonder as the saying goes?

  He walked back into the kitchen, looking and smelling as sexy as ever, wearing a pair of black satin pajama pants and no shirt. His wavy hair was curly when wet and she couldn’t wait to run her fingers through it. Just the sight of him standing next to her looking so hot made her want to forget about dinner and have him take her right there in the kitchen.

  “Umm…smells good,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

  “I’ll have it on the table in a jiffy.”

  “I meant you, but okay, the food smells good too.” He laughed as he helped her carry the salad to the table.

  They ate and discussed the day’s events. He told her funny stories about people he worked with and she told him about her lunch with Missy and that Missy would be moving soon, without giving him specifics.

  “Yes, Andy told me she didn’t plan on sticking around here. I would have thought something would have developed between them, but he says they are just pals, not even friends with bennies.”

  “She told me the same thing. They’re very close friends, but that’s as far as it goes,” Jessica replied as she took a sip of water. She still found it hard to believe their friends hadn’t slept together at least once.

  “Not like us. I couldn’t keep my hands off you from the start.” He smiled that sexy smile again, melting her insides.

  “Cody, there’s something I need to tell you,” she said, looking at him seriously.

  “Jessie?” He looked at her, brown eyes filled with concern. “Are you thinking of moving with Missy?”

  “No. I have to go out of town for two weeks for work. I can’t get out of it. But I’ll be back.” For a while, she added to herself.

  “Can I live without you for two weeks?” he asked as he looked into her emerald green eyes.

  “You mean can you live without sex for two weeks?” she asked curiously, fishing.

  “Jessie, that’s not what I meant. If it was the sex, I’d have no problem filling my nights while you are gone, believe me,” He answered abruptly, obviously hurt that she’d even ask him such a thing.

  “Cody, we need to have a serious talk when I get back. There are things you need to know about me.”

  “Jessie, you know that you mean a great deal to me, don’t you? This may have started out as fun and games, but…you’re right, we need to talk.”

  She got up to do the dishes and said, “No talking tonight. I want to enjoy being with you before I leave.” She was going to prolong the talk as long as she could. Once he knows the truth, I’m not sure he’ll still be inviting me into his bed and that I just couldn’t bear.

  “Let me help.”

  “No, you relax. I’ll be in as soon as I finish.”

  When she walked into the bedroom, he was asleep on the bed, sprawled across it with the television blaring. She flipped it off and climbed onto the bed with him, putting her arm around him, content to watch him sleep.

  He stirred, rolled over and crushed her to him. He began to kiss her with a passion that was different this time, she thought, almost loving.

  She returned his kiss, eagerly matching his passion and they lay like that for some time, just holding each other, kissing and nuzzling. The raw, hungry passion that they usually experienced was replaced tonight by a tender, gentler lovemaking, even more so than what they’d shared on Christmas morning. She followed his lead and the loving continued into the early morning hours.

  He trailed sweet butterfly kisses all over her body and she returned the favor, each of them taking the time to savor each and every kiss. This was a new and different side of Cody in bed. There was nothing lacking in his bedside manner, be it slow and gentle or the aggressiveness of before. Jessica was moved to tears and near dawn, she was totally gone when he whispered the words, “I love you,” in her ear.

  What have I done? She’d fallen in love, only to ruin it by keeping a secret that would surely be their undoing. Mr. Right had turned out to be the sexy factory worker she’d met in a bowling alley. I don’t care who he is or how suitable he is. I want him. But will he still want me when he knows the truth? Can I convince him that I kept my true identity a secret for reasons that no longer matter?

  She spent the entire next day with Cody, first at the mall, where she shopped for necessities for her trip. Then, packing a picnic lunch of fried chicken, potato salad, and pie that they’d gotten at the local Wal-Mart deli, they drove to their favorite spot at the lake, where they’d gone on their first date. They walked hand in hand around the beautiful lake again, talking about the way they’d met.

  Cody told her of dreams he’
d had of traveling. “I always thought I’d like to have a job where I could travel but just never pursued it. After trade school, I went to the factory and worked my way up to foreman.”

  He leaned down to kiss her several times during the walk. Sweet, loving pecks, the kind a couple in love gives each other for no particular reason.

  When the day was over, she reluctantly went home to her quarters to pack. She was to fly out on Sunday afternoon to Maryland. She had said a tearful goodbye to Cody, promising to call him as soon as she got a break. They had kissed again, neither wanting to let go. They’d even made plans for a special reunion when she returned.

  Chapter 10

  Jessica was in line for a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and part of the reason for the trip to Maryland was in preparation for that commission, which was all the more reason she should tell Cody the truth about what she really did for a living. Her days were filled with work and classes, so it was easy not to think about Cody and their dilemma, but the nights were a completely different story.

  As she lay awake, he was all she could think about. She thought about how it felt to have him beside her all night, touching, kissing, and exploring. Knowing she was in way over her head, she knew she had to come clean.

  The weekend arrived and a group of her colleagues invited her to go out to a local dance club with them. She accepted the invitation thinking it would do her good to get out a while and get Cody off her mind. The problem with that was that even being surrounded by a fun loving group of her peers, with whom she had much in common, Cody was never far from her thoughts. She excused herself early, leaving the noisy club and taking a cab back to her room to call Cody. He answered on the first ring, as if he’d been waiting for her call.

  “Hello, pretty lady. Miss me yet?” His voice was low and sexy.

  “Oh yes, baby, I do, more than you know,” she replied softly.

  “Well, that’s good. At least I know you’re not whooping it up every night with some stud out there.” He laughed.

  “I’ve been much too busy with work to whoop it up with anybody, I’ll have you know,” she teased him.

  “Well, just hurry back. My bed misses you, it’s very cold.”

  “Well, if the bed’s cold, then you must be behaving yourself.” She giggled.

  “Why would I misbehave with someone else when I know what it’s going to be like with you when you get back?”

  “Care to tell me what it’s going to be like?”

  “Oh, baby…if you can’t use your imagination on that one…”

  “I miss you so much, Cody, tell me.”

  “Okay, what are you wearing right now, baby?”

  “Nothing…wish you were here?”

  “Jessie…baby, do you know what you’re doing to me?”

  “Tell me what you’d be doing to me if I was there, Cody.”

  “Oh, baby, you know what I’d be doing…” He proceeded to tell her what it would be like if she were there with him.

  “God, Cody, I want you so much.”

  “When you get back, baby…whatever you want, it’s all for you.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Yes, you can…think about what’s waiting for you here when you get back…sweet dreams, pretty lady.”

  “Goodnight, Cody, you have sweet dreams, too.”

  “You know I’ll be dreaming of you.”

  She hung up and crawled under covers, thinking of the conversation she’d just had with Cody. It just wasn’t the same as the real thing…but it would have to do for now. She had never had phone sex in her life…never even considered it. Prim and proper Major Jessica Walsh is either a real slut or she is completely, madly, insanely, head over heels in love. God, how I want that man! How can I wait another week?

  The following week was again spent working and studying. Jessica was at the top of her class and felt confident she’d get her commission. Cody had sent her several suggestive text messages throughout the week, telling her exactly what he was going to do to her when she got home. While she was packing to go home, she realized for certain the time apart had given her the answer to one question. Absence had made her heart grow fonder.

  She returned to Oklahoma on Saturday evening, driving home from the airport as fast as she could. She couldn’t wait to get there. Once she’d arrived, she began to unpack then decided to indulge in a warm peach scented bubble bath before calling Cody. When she stepped out of the bath and dried herself, she wrapped a large blue bath sheet around her and picked up her cell. When he answered, she shuddered in anticipation of the delights that awaited her.

  “Hello,” he answered on the first ring, as if he’d been willing it to ring.

  “I’m home, baby.”

  “Finally, I thought you’d never call. I have a surprise for you tonight. I was afraid you wouldn’t get back early enough to enjoy it,” he told her in a mysterious tone.

  “Tell me what it is,” she begged.

  “Now it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it? You’ll just have to wait and find out.”

  “Well, when do I find out?”

  “Come on over. I’d pick you up, but I don’t want to embarrass your roommate when I ravish you at first sight.”

  “I’ll be there soon and you can ravish me to your heart’s content.” She hung up the phone and rushed to her bedroom to dress.

  Picking out first her laciest and sexiest black undergarments, she decided to go with a full, pink and black floral skirt of silky fabric and a pink peasant blouse, which she wore off the shoulder. Donning her black sandals, she grabbed her purse and her overnight bag, which she had packed earlier with a special red lace teddy she’d bought just for him, and ran out the door to meet her lover for what she hoped would be a night of intense lovemaking. He had promised her a night of whatever she wanted, hadn’t he? She fully intended to hold him to it.

  Driving to his apartment, her excitement was building. When he greeted her at the door, smelling as sexy as ever in the by now familiar musk cologne, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her full on the mouth.

  “God, I’ve missed your kisses,” she said when they finally came up for air.

  “And I’ve missed everything about you, baby…everything,” he replied and leaned down for another kiss.

  “Then why are we still standing in your living room?” she asked anxiously.

  “I have a special night planned…oh, God, Jessie…” He put his hand under her silky skirt and moved it up until he reached her lace panties. He quickly moved his hand away and said, “We have to go now or the surprise will be ruined.”

  “I really missed you and you know you promised me a night of passion when I returned.” Jessica pouted.

  “Indeed I did, pretty lady, but first, the surprise. God, you look good enough to eat, Jessie.”

  “That could be arranged.”

  “You really are naughty tonight. Whatever am I going to do with you?” he teased as he kissed the tip of her nose.

  “Ravish me all night long?”

  “Definitely...let’s go or you’ll never get your surprise.”

  He drove her to one of the nicer hotels in Lawton, where he had booked a suite for the evening. As he parked the truck and led her inside to the beautiful lobby, she looked around and asked, “What are we doing here, Cody?”

  “Your surprise, pretty lady, is a night of passion in a luxurious suite and anything else your heart desires. There’s nothing too good for my pretty lady’s homecoming.”

  “Can you afford this, Cody?”

  “Don’t you worry about that, all that overtime I’ve been working down at the plant made for some pretty good paychecks.”

  “Okay, lead the way.” She allowed him to guide the tour for the rest of the night.

  He checked in at the front desk, took the room key and led her to the elevator. Once inside, he pulled her into his arms. They were still kissing, locked in an embrace, when the elevator door opened. An older couple stood
outside the elevator and they smiled at the lovers as they stepped out into the corridor. Giggling like school kids who’d been caught kissing in the hallway, they walked down the hall until they found their room. He used the card key to open the door and led her inside. Entering the suite, she glanced around at the tastefully decorated white and gray room, taking in the couch in front of the fireplace and the television that was hidden inside a beautiful oaken armoire which matched the headboard of the inviting king-sized bed. She saw that there was a bottle of champagne chilling on the bar and a bowl of fresh strawberries, along with a large bowl of whipped cream.

  She laughed as she said, “Now I can think of many things to do with this whipped cream, Cody.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” he teased. “Would you like to go down for dinner?”

  “Later.”

  “Jessie, you are insatiable.”

  “And you love it,” she said as she began to walk toward the bed.

  “Jessie…” He looked at her with love in his eyes, as he reached for the strawberries and whipped cream before joining her.

  Later, after showering, Cody ordered room service and they relaxed on the couch in front of a roaring fire with flutes of champagne. It was the most romantic thing Jessica had ever experienced. Dan would never have planned anything like this, she thought. Cody’s just different from any man I’ve ever known, in so many ways.

  “Girl, I’d say you should go away more often if you’re going to act like this when you return, but I don’t want to be without you for two weeks again,” he teased as he gently touched her face.

  “We have two whole weeks to make up for…so eat your steak and get your strength up, because the night is young, big guy.”

  “Don’t worry about my stamina, pretty lady, I’ll be just fine.”

  Their meal arrived and as they sat down at the table to enjoy the perfectly grilled filet mignon, baked potatoes and steamed vegetables he had ordered for them, they talked about the past two weeks and how each of them had spent it.