Nothing seemed to shake him and even during extreme stress, he remained cool as a cucumber. He tried to emulate his friend, but it wasn’t easy when bullets were flying and friends blew up the middle of the street stepping on an IAD. They had both seen things that scarred them and made them jaded to the ways of normal life.
They found a taxi and carrying their duffel bag, they were showing that they were coming back from protecting the world’s freedoms. They got a lot of people shaking their heads, but many stopped to admire and even congratulate them on their service. It was the bleeding heart liberals that didn’t know anything about war that decided to snub their nose. It wasn’t like Edgar and Raymond wanted to go to war. It was necessary and maybe if some of these people had walked a few miles in their shoes they would understand the sacrifice that they made.
“I know that you guys are servicemen and with that comes a free taxi ride. It’s is the least that I can do for everything you’ve done for this country. I only wish that I could to join, but I wrecked my knee is high school during football training. The most that I can do is to be your personal chauffeur wherever you want to go on the house. I know that it’s small in comparison to everything that you’ve gone through, but I feel that it’s my duty to welcome you home with style and grace.” Taylor Lane was a proud American with a work ethic that had him on the road 18 hours a day to put food and a roof over his family’s head.
“I can’t speak for Edgar, but I appreciate the honest effort that goes into showing us the respect that we deserve. We don’t do it for fame or fortune. We’re never going to get rich with a gun in our hand, unless we go into the private sector after we’re finished serving our country.” Raymond had been thinking for some time that maybe it was time to hang up his combat troops. He hadn’t brought up the subject with Edgar. He knew that Edgar wanted to continue being all that he could be in the marine division of the military branch.
Edgar looked over at his friend and knew that he was holding a secret. He had come across a couple of letters from security firms that were looking for those that had served and had the talents to become government contractors. They were independent of the military, but still doing what they knew better than anything and for a lot more money. He thought that his friend was crazy to even consider something like this, but then it dawned on him that retiring with a few extra dollars in his pocket would be nice to have.
“I am sorry that I have to put you out like this, Raymond. I would stay at the family farm, but it is being sprayed for infestation. It was the only reason why I offered to fit the bill for a cruise in the Caribbean for the next month. I do feel a little homesick not being able to see my parents. I’ve always been an only child and it was my father and my grandfather that made me into a career in the Marines.” Edgar watched all of these people talking and laughing and it was him and others like him that was responsible for keeping them from running for their lives.
“My sister will be home from college. You guys haven’t seen each other for eight years. She was 8 years old when we both left home to see the world. I wouldn’t have had the courage to go through with it without you giving me an encouraging word. My parents were never very happy about my decision to join and they thought that I was a damn fool to get involved. I admit that there were times over there that I thought that what we were doing was not making a damn bit of difference. It’s only when things happen like a child that stands and gives you a salute when I realize that they need us.” Raymond saw his neighborhood and not much had changed from the moment that he left.
There were a few new houses, but that was to be expected with the population increasing. He was looking forward to seeing his baby sister Rebecca. It wasn’t going to be easy and they had a strained relationship from the moment that she was born. It had more to do with his father’s otherwise extracurricular activities. It was a known fact that his father didn’t believe in monogamy. He learned to live with his transgressions, but his sister had become caustic and distant because of this particular subject matter.
“She was always following us around and I think that she had a bit of a crush on me.” Edgar had no idea what he was going to do if this girl couldn’t leave him alone. He had lost his innocence in the first tour of his duty. Sex had become an outlet and his technique for seduction was almost foolproof. A little bit of honesty and embellishing a couple of war stories had made it easier to make them drop their panties.
“I don’t want there to be any misinterpretation of what I’m going to say. My sister is off limits. I know that you don’t have a reason to go after her, but I’ve seen the way that you act when you’re around some pretty thing. I don’t want my sister hurt and the best way to avoid that is to prevent the two of you from being together. I want your word as a man that you’ll do nothing to encourage her. You will stay friendly, but not too friendly.” Raymond had a feeling that Edgar would happily swear on a stack of bibles, but he had seen a few men fall victim to his sister’s newly sculpted curves.
“I don’t know where this is coming from, but you can trust that I have no designs on your sister. She’s not even my type. Besides the age difference would make it impossible for us to have anything in common.” Edgar was 28 and Raymond’s sister was 18. What he didn’t know was that little girl had grown up to be something of a stunner.
“You say that now, but I’m wondering what’s going to happen when you finally meet after all this time. I’ll be watching closely to make sure that things are not going too far. I’m her older brother and I will protect her from any man including you. Keep things civil, but if I see anything resembling attraction or even furtive glances, I will have to insist that you stay in a hotel.” Raymond didn’t get a chance to hear the answer, as he looked out the window and saw the yellow house looking a little outdated coming into focus.
The siding was 20 years old, but his father was under the belief that if it wasn’t broke why was it necessary to fix it.
Chapter Two
Edgar and Raymond had just finished taking out there duffel bags when they turned to come face to face with Raymond’s sister Rebecca.
“You should’ve called and I would have met you at the Airport. Fathers on one of his many business trips and we both know what that means. Mother is inside with a glass of wine. I think that she might have a problem, but there’s no way that she’s going to admit such a thing to me. She told me everything is fine, but she mumbles under her breath about wasting her life away. She passed out last night after having a few too many cocktails.” Rebecca was talking to her brother, but her eyes were drawn to the man that was rakish and thin the last time that he had been in her presence.
“I don’t know what you expect me to do about it. My relationship with our mother has not exactly been all beer and skittles.” Raymond was keeping a watchful eye on both of them, but so far he didn’t see anything that would warrant any kind of intervention. “I can’t take this anymore. I’ll go and talk to her and see what I can’t do about prying that glass out of her hands.” Raymond didn’t even look back and sighed with resignation at what was most likely going to be a very painful reunion.
“It looks like there’s a lot more drama here than the last time I was here.” Edgar was trying to make idle chitchat, but his eyes were constantly looking at the girl that had turned into a woman. The pigtails had been replaced with a flowing yellow mane and the innocent eyes showed more than enough experience to go around. She was standing at 5’2, 120 pounds with a white halter top that barely contained her obvious assets and a pair of cutoff shorts that would reveal a little bit too much if she were to bend a certain way. “If your brother is busy, then maybe you can show me where I’m staying. I would like to have a nap before dinner. I have a bit of jet lag.” Edgar was close biting his fist when she turned and bent over to tie her shoe. The cheeks of her ass were like two half moons. It was obvious from looking at her that there wasn’t an ounce of fat on her body.
Rebecca could see between her legs
that he was looking and she gave a not so innocent shake of her hips to make his eyes follow her like she was some kind of sexual pied piper. “I think I can handle showing you around. It’s not like you haven’t been here before. To be honest, you don’t look like the same and you’ve obviously been through a few things that have changed you dramatically. I’m not exactly the same pigtail wearing little girl that you remember.” She was making it very clear from the very beginning that she was interested, but was not coming out and saying anything that would be considered untoward.
“I can see that things have changed, but I also see that some things have changed for the better.” He licked his lips and stared at her toned ass all the way into the house. He had to be extra careful and not appear too anxious or that would raise suspicions. “I’m sure that you have all the boys lining around the block to date you. It must be hell on your father trying to keep them from touching you inappropriately.” He could think of a few things that he wanted to do, but he felt that his friendship with Raymond meant more to him than a fleet of fancy.
“You would be surprised at how very little I get…I mean date. I think that they are intimidated and maybe they think that I’m unattainable. I wish someone would act like a real man and not some shy little boy. I’m tired of running my batteries dry. I haven’t had a man touch me in almost six months and trust me that has made me a little bit more bold and brazen than I would be under normal circumstances.” Rebecca touched his arm and she could feel his muscles rippling underneath his black shirt. She was a little disappointed to see that he wasn’t in uniform.
“I hope that you’re not suggesting something, because your brother would have kittens. I’ve given him my word that I won’t do anything with you, but you’re making it very difficult to keep my word. Try to be a good girl and maybe I won’t have to spank you. He didn’t mean to say that, but it was his obvious flirtatious nature coming to the surface. The flicker of her tongue in his direction made his anatomy well aware of the potential sexual conquest waiting in front of him. “I hope that you don’t tease me mercilessly and you never know what will be the final straw.”
Rebecca did something that would cause most men to stand up and take notice. She purposely pulled down her halter top for one brief glance and then she pulled it right back up. She saw this look on his face and the way that his mouth parted in obvious shock. She went over and placed her fingers on his lips “I would suggest that you close your mouth before you catch flies or worse yet that my brother figures out what is going on between you and me.” Rebecca was horny, completely out of her sexual mind and in came this military boy with the equipment to get the job done the right way the first time. “I’m sure that there have been a lot of notches on your belt. I’m betting that my brother has not exactly been a saint while he was over there with you.”
Edgar followed her up the stairs while watching the material of those jean shorts ride up between her ass cheeks. He tried to think of anything other than her, but it was very difficult with Rebecca shaking what her mama gave her.
“The window sticks. Let me show you how to open it.” She went over and was going to make a spectacle, but it became an effort in futility. She couldn’t move it and then her hand lost contact and she stumbled backward into his capable arms. “I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.” She put in that extra southern drawl to mimic one of her favorite old movies on nickelodeon.
“Um…I don’t think that I should be doing this.” He had come to her rescue, but it had caused an adverse affect below his belt. He shuffled her out the door and closed it. He was leaning back to feel his heart beating very quickly. This was not just a matter of infatuation. This was a full blown attraction that could only be satisfied one way. He was determined to keep her an arm’s length, but he had no idea how long he was going to be able to continue that charade.
There was no lock on the door, but he expected that they would give him a little room to breathe. He sat down on the bed thinking about the last few years and not quite believing that all of that had transpired in such a short period of time. The first time that he killed had made him sick to his stomach, but his commanding officer told him that he would get used to it. He didn’t want to, but after the fifth one and that blood soaking into his hands, he knew that he was never going to be the same again. Edgar was good at blending into his surroundings and catching the enemy unaware. He had learned not to hesitate and to do what was needed to be done and then walk away with his soul now stained with the blood of others.
He had seen his fair share of tragedy and he had seen good friends die in the blink of an eye. The only thing that gave him any solace was finding a warm body to nestle up against at the end of the day. He learned through trial by error what techniques would work and would use them in a conscious effort to sleep with as many beautiful women as he could get his hands on. He knew just looking at Rebecca that she was not pure as the driven snow.
Thoughts of the war were now replaced with her body slowly stripping for his amusement to unseen music that made her move like that of a ballerina. He could see her in his mind’s eye and that fantasy was something that he could easily make reality. The only stumbling block was his word to his friend. He saw the way that she was looking at him and didn’t think that it would take too much to get her out of those clothes. To do something with her underneath the same roof, as his friend would be sacrilege. He wasn’t sure that an hour of pleasure was worth it. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take of her flaunting and prancing to get his attention.
He finally fell asleep and he saw the war like it was happening at this very moment. He wanted to get away and finally find some peace, but the war followed him like an old friend. He screamed and bolted straight up with half of his body now exposed and dripping with sweat. It was the same all the time. It was as if he couldn’t get rid of the memories that had been imprinted on his soul. He stared straight ahead and didn’t even realize that Rebecca was standing there in nothing, but a towel.
Chapter Three
They looked at each other for a few minutes without saying anything at all. Rebecca decided to break the silence that felt awkward. “I came in when I heard you screaming. I’m guessing that the war affected you in ways that you never imagined. I’m sure that my brother is going to have the same problem. I’m going to have to be there to hold his hand.” She walked over and sat beside him holding his hand and showing compassion. She didn’t mean to be sexual, but the towel did very little to hide what god gave her.
“I see all the faces when I have my eyes open and then the memories remind me of what I’ve done in my dreams. I wanted a moment of reprieve, but I can’t even seem to find that. I’m grateful that you came to make sure that I was OK, but I don’t think it was the right thing for you to do.” The swell of her breasts and the hard nipples poking through the towel had given him unseemly thoughts. “I appreciate your concern, but I think it would be better that you leave. I’m not a man that can be trusted.” Edgar turned his back and looking at her one more time would be the catalyst to him taking her into his arms and doing what they did on the discovery channel.
She reached out and touched his chin and pulled him back, so that they could look at each other in the eye. “I know that your friendship with my brother means everything to you, but we are two consenting adults. We can make up our own minds, but maybe you are right and that we are tempting fate just a little bit too much. I’ll see you down for dinner and we’re having spaghetti with meatballs. Our mother is not going to join us and apparently she passed out in the living room.” She walked out the door and closed it. She touched her chest and knew without looking that she had become flushed with excitement.
He sat there for a few moments and then went into the bathroom across the hall. He stood there and splashed cold water on his face. It did chase away the demons, but he knew that they would be back even stronger than they were before. He noticed a pair of discarded pink underwear and knew
from the size that it was Rebecca’s. He looked toward the door with nervousness, before grabbing that delicate material and feeling it with his own hands.
The towel wrapped around her indicated that she had just had a shower and maybe leaving these behind was an honest mistake. He didn’t know and he really didn’t care. He could feel the warmth of her body and could smell the fragrance of her sex hitting him like a hammer between the eyes.
He was tempted to sniff the crotch, but he decided that would be going a little bit too far. He dropped them and left the bathroom breathless and unable to stand being near her any longer than necessary. He suddenly slapped his head and he knew that tomorrow night was a gala in their honor. He didn’t even have a date, but maybe he could convince a friend to join him for an evening of dancing and eating fine finger foods. Rebecca was curious about their war stories and maybe he could make that part of the incentive to join him innocently for a few drinks and to put their moves to the test on the dance floor.
He walked downstairs and outside there was the necessary street lamps to let people know that night had finally consumed the day.
He went into the kitchen and found Rebecca stirring the pot of sauce with her back towards him. He sat down with a heavy out take of breath. He put his hand on his chin and looked at the curve of her back and the sensuous part of her neck. It was just begging to be kissed. “I’m guessing that you know about the gala in our honor tomorrow night. I’m sure that your brother is taking Melanie. I don’t suppose that you would want to join me.” He wasn’t one to beat around the bush and seeing an opening, he decided to take it before that window closed.
“I think that it would be fun to be in your company for the evening. Are you sure that you wanna take the risk? Like you’ve already said, you’re not a man that can be trusted, but what makes you think that I can be trusted? I’m just kidding…or maybe I’m not. There’s only one way that you’re going to find out for sure. Be careful, because tomorrow night might be the very night that you get burned. I’m a little too hot to handle and I have moves that are going to make your little soldier stand up and salute.” Rebecca was giving him fair warning and hoping that things would progress in a more physical way. She just needed to find the right dress to blow his mind.
ROMANCE: NAVY SEAL ROMANCE: Morning After (Military Bad Boy Pregnancy Romance Collection) (New Adult Alpha Male Paranormal Short Stories Collection) Page 6