by Lila Munro
Moving her hands behind her, she placed them on his thighs and leaned back opening herself up to him. Flitting along like butterfly wings, his fingers moved easily, eventually settling in a circular pattern, only interrupted by him dipping into her, bringing up moisture. He continued to tease her, drawing her nearer to completion. A trail of sweat beaded and fell between her breasts, flowing down and falling onto his abdomen to roll off with his. It dampened the sheet beneath them and combined with the musky scent of two bodies finding the most primitive of pleasures.
She moaned and arched her back. “That feels so good.”
The hand that had cupped her breast was now clutching her thigh helping pull her over him. No matter how many times he found himself buried inside her, Rafe couldn’t get enough of her. She was like an addiction. He loved how pure and sweet and innocent she was, and he loved the way she eagerly learned what drove him mad and used it to her advantage. She clenched and he moved his fingers faster around her, wanting to see the look on her face when she came, complete unabated pleasure that she was never ashamed of expressing.
“Madi, look at me.”
Their eyes locked as their bodies continued to build toward something that threatened to consume them both. The feel of his fingertips pressed firmly to her built a friction that felt like it would combust was maddening. Heat ran out of her middle and down her legs. Tossing her head back, she cried out and began to shudder over him. She stopped moving for a moment, frozen over him with her insides clutching him, then relenting to uncontrollable spasms. Quickly, he grabbed her by the hips and began to rock her over him, forcing her to keep coming. Then as she began to drift down from that place between earth and someplace surreal, he rolled her over staying inside her. On his knees he pulled her legs up. With her feet on his shoulders, he held her behind the knees, thrust into her, driving himself as far as he could go. His insides coiled and he groaned in desperation. Just as she began to pulse around him again, he let go and quaked inside her, bringing them both to fulfillment.
Easing out of her he slid next to her, pulled her back to his chest, and kissed her shoulder. She melted into him as if they were one person. Never would he grow tired of her.
* * * *
They finally gave in to hunger at noon, showered, and left the honeymoon suite that had sent them down the happily-ever-after path the day before. Madi had tried to convince him that they could live on love alone, but in the end his stomach won the argument that they did indeed require actual food to keep doing what they had been for hours on end.
“Do you want to get Shannon’s roses and go see her today?” he asked as they were driving around the base.
It still felt odd to have Rafe speak so freely about her daughter, but strangely enough in a good way. He’d never tiptoed around the subject ever since she’d told him about her like everyone else always had. She never felt like she was supposed to forget that she existed around him and it had somehow helped her to gain some sort of closure with the situation.
“Yes, I think I would like that. Let’s get something from the deli, then we can go see Shannon and have lunch in the park.” Then something else occurred to her. “Do you think we could go to the stables and see if Cass is still there?”
“I don’t see why not. If he is, I imagine he’d be glad to see you, too.”
An hour later, Rafe pulled into the Memorial Gardens just outside of city limits and parked not far from the row where Madi had directed him. He shut the engine off, ran his arm across the back of the seat, and looked at her.
“Do you want me to go with you?” He ran his fingers along her temple and brushed back her hair.
“I think I need a few minutes by myself, then you can come if you want,” she answered. “You don’t have to come see if you don’t want to, if it will bother you.”
He could tell she was nervous about the whole thing and didn’t want to do anything to further upset her. “I would like to come when you are ready. I’ll wait here, and you let me know when you’re ready.”
After helping her down, he stood back, watching as she approached the miniature headstone at the edge of the tree line, just under a sprawling oak tree. She eased down, sat back on her heels, and pulled the weeds from around the tiny grave then placed the dozen pink roses beside the gray marker. For a while she was still, then he could tell by her movements that she was having a conversation with the little girl. After several minutes she rose, turned, and waved for him to come to her.
Joining her, he took her in his arms from behind and put his head on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am. I think more so than I ever have been with this.” She put her arm along his across her stomach and prayed that if she should conceive, it wouldn’t end this way again.
Rafe looked to the left and right seeing no other markers bearing the Melbourne name. “Madi, where is Gage?”
“Arlington,” she said bitterly. “His parents didn’t think it was important enough for him to be near his daughter.”
No wonder she was so heartbroken about leaving little Shannon here, she was alone.
“Well, when we figure out where we’re going to live when I retire, we’ll have her moved.” He kissed her cheek and squeezed her around the middle. “She needs to be with her family.”
After they’d had their picnic, they made their way to the breeder’s stables a few miles outside of Hopkinsville to see if Casanova was still around, or if someone had adopted him. Rafe noticed Madi’s eyes light up at the sight of all the horses grazing and the closer they got to the barns the more excited she got.
“You really do love horses, don’t you?” he said, parking in front of the barn Madi directed him to.
“Yes, I definitely preferred the horses over the cows on Daddy’s farm. I wanted to start my own breeding business. Cass was supposed to be my start, but that went to hell in a hand basket.”
She wanted to raise horses too? He’d never even told her he wanted to start a cutting horse operation back home. She was out of the truck and hurrying toward the building before he could help her out. A tall man with blond hair and glasses was just emerging. When he saw Madi, he waved, and headed her way.
“John, how are you?” She ran up and gave him a hug.
“Good, good, how are you?” He pulled her back and looked her over, then noticed Rafe behind them. “And who is this?”
“This is Rafe McCarthy, my new husband.”
“New husband?” John let go and grabbed Rafe’s hand pumping enthusiastically. “Good to meet you.” He ran his free hand over the top of Rafe’s head. “I see you switched branches, Madi, a Marine. Good choice.”
“Is Cass…” she started, not sure she wanted to know the answer.
“He’s still back there,” John assured her.
Madi took off in a dead run with the two men ambling along behind. She was already in Cass’ stall when they reached her. The horse was nickering and nosing her hair, obviously happy to see his former master.
“Wow,” Rafe exclaimed. “That’s some good-looking horse flesh there.”
“Yeah,” John answered. “He would have thrown some good racers too.”
“What about cutters? You think he has that in him?”
“I don’t see why not, you raise cutters?”
“Not yet.” Rafe wandered closer and heard Madi apologizing to her horse for having to leave him.
“Why don’t you take him out for a while?” John told her. “He doesn’t get enough exercise as it is.”
She soon had Cass saddled and was gone into the pastures, spurring the horse on, her hair flying behind her.
“So, how much does she owe on him, anyway?” Rafe inquired.
“A little over four thousand, for Madi, I’d go four even.” John walked down the stall row and into a tack room with Rafe right behind. “Look at this.”
Hanging on the wall was one of the finest western saddles Rafe had ever seen. It was adorned exquisitely with silver med
allions and beadwork everywhere, was expertly stitched, and was polished to a fine hue.
“Is that hers?” He walked over and fingered some of the fringe hanging from the edges of it.
“Yes, when she left him here she left all her tack, said she wouldn’t have any use for it where she was going. Damn shame she had to give up so much.”
“Well, that won’t be happening anymore, I can assure you.”
Chapter 9
“You what?” Meredith held Madi’s hand in hers and stared at the huge rock adorning her finger.
“I married Rafe over the weekend.” She took her hand back and picked up the menu wondering if she wanted tacos or nachos.
“I’m speechless.”
“Well, get unspeechless, and tell me you’re happy for me.” She was still basking in the fact that she was in love and married.
“I’m more than happy, I’m ecstatic. Shocked, but ecstatic. Does Mama know about this?” Meredith took a chip and loaded it up with salsa before popping it into her mouth.
“Yes, I called her yesterday, on our way home and told her. She wants to have a reception this weekend.”
“Well, I’m glad you told her your news first, it will lessen the shock of mine.”
Madi held a chip just inches from her mouth and stopped before she could eat it. “What news?”
Meredith smiled nervously and rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m pregnant.”
“I…you what?” Madi put the chip down and looked at her sister’s face, seeing she was completely serious.
“I said, I’m pregnant.”
“Does Aiden know?”
“Yes, he does.” Meredith took a deep breath. “He wants to get married.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t know. I never expected this to happen.”
They stopped talking long enough to tell the waitress what they wanted, then picked back up.
“I’m scared. It all seems too perfect. See, he not only wants to get married and have this baby, he wants to adopt Nev.”
“Meredith, that’s wonderful.” She reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I was afraid too, but I tried and I think you should too. I think you’d be hard pressed to find another one as good to you as Aiden has been.”
* * * *
By the end of June, Madi had managed to pick up three new students. One, the daughter of Rafe’s captain, was learning piano, and the other two boys were violin students. She would soon have enough to start preparing for a real recital. Things were picking up, and without the threat of the creditors hauling her away to debtors’ prison due to Rafe’s help, she could axe the plan to moonlight as a stripper. If things would just work out for Meredith so well, life would be as near to perfect as it could get.
Jared and Liz had arrived and were getting settled into Rafe’s old house. Madi liked Liz, although she was a bit young and naïve, but then again, Madi had been that way once herself. She’d decided to take her under her wing and help her along with the role she’d assumed for herself as Army girlfriend, to include how to throw a tremendous party for the man in your life. That was how she found herself shopping with Liz on a Saturday morning, in preparation for their welcome-to-the-neighborhood party at her house that evening.
“So, what do you think we should get—the red or the white?” Liz stood in the middle of the wine aisle at the Blue Coconut holding up a bottle of each.
“Both, and a few bottles.” Madi pushed the cart and filled it with the imported beer that most of the guys in Rafe’s unit drank, and made a mental note to get enough limes at the commissary.
“I don’t think we can afford to.” Liz crinkled up her nose and looked at the other choices.
“Liz, don’t worry about it. This party is on Rafe and me, and I know what it is to be poor, believe me, but you don’t need to think about what it’s costing today.”
“Is this what it’s like?” She put the bottles in the cart with the beer.
“What what is like?”
“Being married to the Army. Everyone seems to have already accepted me, and they are treating me like we’re married instead of just living together.”
Madi had to take a breath before she answered. What she said could make or break Liz and Jared’s budding romance.
“Well, most of the time. Usually wives stick together, and typically everyone is like one big extended family. There is usually someone around to help you with whatever needs done that you can’t handle on your own. It has its ups and downs.”
That was the part that Madi had found comfort in and had missed, the friendships and camaraderie. Her new friend didn’t need to know that the downs sometimes included a husband who was sometimes less than attentive and deceptive. At least she had Rafe now and didn’t have to worry about either of those things.
* * * *
With the smell of burgers and bratwurst cooking, the sound of the local radio station belting out the latest pop hits, and the pleasant echoes of laughter, Madi looked across her yard and marveled at how well her little party was going. Almost all of Rafe’s co-workers had shown up, to include the master gunnery sergeant her mother had taken a liking to during the roofing party. It seemed her constant hunt was temporarily suspended, and the people in Jared’s unit who weren’t on rotation had also come. Liz was mingling with the other wives and girlfriends and looking very happy. Meredith and Aiden were quietly enjoying each other on one corner of the porch, away from the watchful eyes of Nev, who was Madi’s little shadow. For the time being, all was right in her world.
“Aunt Madi?” Nev said, sitting beside her on the bench under the big oak tree in the backyard.
“Yes, my precious girl.” Madi reached down and tucked one of the little girl’s golden curls behind her ear.
“Is Mommy going to marry Aiden?”
Madi was taken aback. What was she supposed to tell her?
“Well, I’m not sure, honey. Do you like Aiden?”
“Yes, I do. He’s nicer to me than my real Daddy. He plays Monopoly with me, and sometimes he reads to me at night. And he always makes me practice my piano. He says it’s important to you and Mommy for me to do good at it.” Nev’s eyes shone.
“Well, baby girl, I think Aiden is a very nice man, too. And, it is important to practice piano, but I want you to do it because it is what you want, not because I and Mommy think you should. And as far as your real daddy, well, things just didn’t work out between him and your mommy, and he has a lot of problems, but we must keep hoping that someday he’ll work through them and be a better daddy.” No matter how horrible Chad was, Madi felt it was important not to put him down in front of Nev.
“Oh, I do want to play piano, and the harp, I really love it. But I have to tell you, Aunt Madi, I would still rather have Aiden for a daddy.”
“Well, we just have to let Mommy and Aiden figure that one out, but keep hoping. Without hope, we don’t have much.” Madi leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Now, why don’t you go tell Uncle Rafe that I asked him to make you a plate because you’re going to have to go inside and go to bed in a while.”
“Aunt Madi, I’m glad you married Uncle Rafe. I think he’s nicer than Uncle Gage was.”
From the mouths of babes. If adults could only be so observant before it was too late. She watched Nev trot across the yard and take Rafe’s enormous hand with her tiny one and lead him to the makeshift tables they’d created with sawhorses and plywood. The weight of so much food had caused them to bow in the middle. Even though they’d spread the word for people not to bring anything, Marine wives didn’t listen any better than Army wives, apparently, and there was enough food to feed an entire company. Then she saw Rafe turn. He smiled at Madi and nodded his head positively at whatever Nev was saying to him. She wondered what questions she was posing to her new uncle that were beyond humanly possible answers.
After pouring herself a glass of tea, she joined Liz who’d quit mingling for the time being and was sitti
ng on the porch, watching everything and drinking a beer.
“So, when are you and Rafe going to get pregnant?” Liz asked, adjusting her position so she could see Madi better.
Madi raised her eyebrows and looked at the girl closely. “What would make you ask me that?”
“I don’t know. You two just seem like you should have a dozen or so running under foot.” She paused and took a drink. “Jared wants to get married, but I’m not so sure. He said you were married to the Army for ten years, and now you’re married to a Marine. I was hoping you could give me some advice. Like, how do you stand them being away all the time? I’m not sure I can deal with it, so I haven’t told him yes yet.” She was searching for the answers she needed to commit to her soldier.
The only thing Liz knew about Gage was that he wasn’t around. She figured Jared had kept his death to himself to avoid scaring the poor girl into saying no.
What was she supposed to tell her? Oh, it’s no big deal. It gets easier with time. The reunion sex is what keeps you hanging on for months on end. Find a hobby, make friends, get a job, go to school, and don’t mope. All the golden rules she’d been schooled in and adhered to for ten years. All of it ending one cold November day when two men in dress uniforms presented themselves on her doorstep with the message that started, “We regret to inform you…” Here this young woman was looking to her, the older, more mature woman, who’d been through it all and lived to tell the tale. Wanting one answer, you can do it; love is enough to carry you through. But was it? Would it ever be? For a few moments, she thought about all the questions and scary parts of being a military spouse that she had failed to address a few weeks ago when she rushed off to the courthouse with Rafe. She was at a loss for words for several seconds.
“I can’t tell you what to do, Liz. Gage, my first husband, died in combat…”
“Oh—my—God. Jared didn’t tell me. I’m so sorry I brought this up. It must have taken a lot of courage to try again and marry Rafe.” Liz turned several shades of red and twisted her hands in a ball in her lap.