Chains of Command

by Lily Harlem

  His silence was loud after feeling so close to him. He’d told her not to worry, but of course she did.

  Now, sitting on a personnel flight, thirty thousand feet over Turkey, she plugged in her music and closed her eyes. It was another four hours until they’d be landing in Brize Norton, and much as she was looking forward to seeing her parents, she had hoped to be seeing Seb, too. The lack of contact meant no arrangements had been made.

  She’d written him a letter which she’d leave at his section office, letting him know her parent’s address. She’d emailed it, too, hoping he’d see it eventually.

  A knot of worry wound through her as Ed Sheeran strummed through his lyrics. What if Seb’s mental health had deteriorated? Sure, he’d sounded upbeat in the last few emails, but she knew going to see Walker’s family had been hard on him. As she’d read his short account of the afternoon, she’d ached to hold him, soothe his pain. He’d have been professional, sympathetic, concerned while there, but once alone, he’d have beaten himself up all over again about the way the patrol had gone.

  She drifted off to sleep, the rocking of the plane helping her give in to weariness. It would be good to sleep in her own bed, enjoy her mother’s home cooking, and have a break from the constant noise of the camp.

  But she didn’t want to be at home for the entire break, she’d had expectations of spending time with Seb. Perhaps even booking a holiday somewhere with nice beaches, cocktails, a four-poster bed. They’d enjoy no news, and no shoes, just be themselves and not think about war and death.

  Eventually the plane began to descend. The way it slowly sunk reminded her of how her hopes for seeing Seb when she landed had gradually slipped away to nothing.

  She swallowed to pop her ears and glanced out of the window. The green patchwork of the English countryside tugged at her heartstrings. Home. It was beautiful. She had to be grateful she was returning, alive and well. She’d work it out with Seb … she had to.

  The plane landed, taxied for a short while, and then the doors were opened.

  Fresh air, not dust-laced or oven-hot, filled the fuselage.

  Within minutes she was shuffling along the aisle, then out onto the steps.

  A small crowd of family and friends had gathered beyond a fence. They clapped and cheered, many had children with them who held balloons and banners. Welcome home Dad. Daddy we missed you.

  Jenna wandered toward the crowd with her rucksack on her back. She scanned the faces until finally she spotted her parents.

  “Jenna.” Her mother rushed forward and flung her arms around her.

  “Mum.” Jenna hugged her back, her eyes filling with tears.

  “Thank goodness, you’re home.” She held Jenna at arms’ length and studied her. “And in one piece.”

  “All in one piece.” She swiped at a tear.

  “Princess.” Her father moved in and squeezed her against his chest. “We’re so proud of you.”

  Another tear sprang free as she cuddled close to him, enjoying his familiar old-fashioned aftershave and his tight embrace.

  “I’m planning all your favorite meals for the next few days.” He mother gave her another hug. “Starting with a roast tonight, all the trimmings, is that okay?”

  “Perfect.” She smiled as her father took her rucksack and slung it over his shoulder.

  “Are you free to go?” He asked, nodding at the office block.

  “Yes, we did the paperwork already.”

  “Good, let’s get going. I bet you’re dying for a glass of wine?” he said.

  “Oh no, Gerald, we have champagne, remember.”

  “Even better, Mum.” Jenna fell into stride with her mother, linking their arms together.

  Her mother smiled and pressed close.

  She could feel the love and relief coming from her parents, and a shard of guilt tweaked her emotions. She put them through a lot by going out to Iraq to work, but she had no choice. It was more than a job, it was a calling. Not going wasn’t an option.

  They left the crowd and headed toward the car park.

  It was then she saw him.

  Seb.

  Waiting by the exit, he was dressed in formal uniform. A smart navy suit with red stripes on the arms and legs, polished black boots, and a navy cap, again with a scarlet stripe around the rim. He had three decorations on his left lapel and held an enormous bunch of red roses.

  She stopped, tugging her mother to a standstill.

  Then, as if in slow motion, he walked toward her. His expression was serious, and his gaze set directly on her.

  “Jenna,” her mother said quietly. “Do you know this man?”

  She swallowed. “Yes.”

  Seb stopped in front of them.

  Jenna’s heart was pounding. She wasn’t sure if he was real. He was so damn handsome, and he was fit and well, she could see it in the way he moved, the tilt of his chin, the sparkle in his eyes.

  “Major,” she managed.

  “Officer.”

  Unable to be apart from him another second, she hurled herself into his arms.

  He scooped her up, kissing her, and spinning a full three-sixty.

  “I didn’t think you’d be here.” She held his face and looked him in the eyes.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” he said, then kissed her again.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” she said against his lips.

  He grinned and set her feet on the ground. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.” He released her with one hand and drew the flowers between them. “Here, a few more than my last offering.”

  “I loved my lone flower, it had been through a lot to get to the table.”

  “And we’ve been through a lot to get here.”

  “You … you look so well.”

  “I am, I needed some time away, for my head, you know. That’s what works for me.”

  “I’m glad you know what works.”

  Her father coughed.

  “Oh, sorry,” Jenna said, turning to her parents. “Mum, Dad, this is Major Sebastian Crawley.” She paused. “My boyfriend.”

  “Major.” Her father held out his hand.

  Seb took it. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.” He looked at Jenna’s mum. “Ma’am.”

  “Please call me Heather.” She grinned broadly then wagged her finger at Jenna. “You didn’t tell us you had a boyfriend.”

  Jenna slipped her hand into Seb’s. “Didn’t I?”

  “No, you naughty girl.” Heather laughed. “Major, you must join us for dinner, I’ve made enough to feed the five thousand. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding…”

  “If you’re sure.” Seb glanced at Jenna.

  “Yes, join us, please.”

  “It would be nice to get to know you, son,” Gerald said. “Hear about some of those medals you’ve got pinned on your chest.”

  “In that case, thank you, I’d love to join you for dinner.”

  “And stay the night,” Heather said, then flapped her hand. “We have a guest room, is what I mean, then you can have a few beers, or wine, or champagne, whatever you like. Do you like whiskey? I’m sure Gerald has a nice single malt in the cupboard, don’t you, Gerald, or port, or—”

  “He likes wine, red wine,” Jenna said.

  “Oh, good,” Heather said and her shoulders relaxed a little, “we have plenty of that.”

  Jenna sat with Seb in the rear of her father’s car. Seb filled the space, his knees touching the back of the seat in front and his cap skimming the roof. The flowers sat between them.

  It was strange to have him here, in her life, her childhood almost. Yet it also felt right.

  Within an hour they’d arrived at the house Jenna had grown up in. It was a modest semi-detached on a quiet cul-de-sac. A large cherry tree stood in the front garden obscuring some of the windows which all had net curtains.

  ‘Mmm, it smells great.” Jenna stepped into the hallway and breathed deep. The rich beefy scent of dinner filled her nose.


  ‘I should check the meal,” Heather said, hanging up her coat. “Gerald will you get the flutes from the drinks cabinet then pop the cork?”

  “Yes, dear.” Her father switched his brown leather shoes for a pair of tartan slippers. “Please, come through, Major,” he said stepping into the living room.

  Seb slipped off his boots.

  “You want me to take that?” Jenna pointed at his cap.

  “Thanks.” He handed it to her then nodded at the stairway. “I don’t know if I should stay the night,” he whispered. “That’s imposing too much.”

  “Nonsense, my mother wouldn’t have offered if she felt that way. And besides, where else do you have to stay?”

  “I could go back to camp.”

  “No.” She kissed his cheek. “I want you here.”

  “The only problem is…” He glanced left and right. “How the hell am I supposed to resist sneaking into your room?”

  “I’m sure—”

  “Whoops! Jenna, quick help,” her father called.

  Heather rushed from the kitchen tying an apron at her waist. “What is he doing?”

  Jenna followed into the living room. Her father was filling flutes which were about to overspill with fizz. She laughed and reached for one. “Here.” She passed it to Seb. “Take a sip.”

  She took one for herself, the bubbles bursting on her top lip.

  “Cheers,” Gerald said, holding his glass aloft. “And thanks to the Lord for bringing our daughter home safe and sound.”

  Seb slipped his hand around Jenna’s waist and touched his glass to hers. “Hear, hear.”

  Heather beamed and sipped her drink. “I’m going to take this into the kitchen, the batter needs to go in. Jenna, can you help me?”

  “Of course, Mum.”

  She left Seb with her father, knowing he’d get a full interrogation about his military career, his childhood, and his plans for the future. But Seb could handle that, so she had no worries.

  “He’s so handsome,” he mother said, passing Jenna a pinny.

  “I think so.” She slipped it on and fastened the ties behind her back.

  “And a Major, too.”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you meet out there?” She began to whisk a gloopy flour and egg mixture.

  “In Brize Norton, before I went.”

  “Oh…” She stopped beating the batter, “I’m sorry Jenna, I just presumed you’d want to be here with us this weekend. If you want to be alone with your boyfriend, that’s fine with us, too. We’re just so pleased you’re back safely and—”

  “Mum.” She placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “Of course I want to be here with you and Dad, and having Seb here as well is perfect. Thank you for inviting him.”

  “No thanks necessary.” She placed her hand on Jenna’s cheek. “If he’s special to you, he’s special to us.”

  “He is special.”

  Her mother was quiet.

  “Very special,” Jenna added. She glanced at the kitchen door which was ajar. “I can’t imagine not having him in my life.”

  Heather smiled. “I’m so happy for you, I did wonder if you’d ever meet the one. You’re so career driven, so focused.”

  “The one … yes, maybe he is.”

  Heather continued to work the batter. “Perhaps you should go and save him from your father’s inquisition. We don’t want to scare him away.”

  Jenna laughed. “Okay, I’ll set the table as well.”

  “It’s done, but you should put your flowers in water. They’re beautiful.”

  “They really are.”

  ****

  The roast dinner hit all the flavor spots Jenna had been missing and she cleared her plate. Seb did the same and delighted her mother by accepting second helpings of everything.

  Red wine was poured, the conversation flowed, and Gerald was more animated than Jenna had seen him for a long time. He was used to being the lone man at the table and having to put up with girly conversations. Having Seb’s company was clearly something he was enjoying.

  Pudding consisted of a trifle topped with tiny strips of candy. Jenna had to stop herself from licking the bowl, it was so delicious and took her back to every Christmas and birthday she’d ever had.

  “I’m afraid we’ve double booked,” Heather said, setting down her spoon and placing her napkin on the table.

  “We have?” Gerald said.

  She frowned at him. “Yes, it’s Mildred’s sixty-fifth birthday, over the road, I promised we’d go and have a sherry with her.”

  “Is it?” Gerald said. “You did?”

  “Yes, I told you earlier.” There was a soft thud as though she’d knocked him beneath the table with her foot. “Remember?”

  “Oh, yes… I do.” He pressed his lips together and glanced between Seb and Jenna. “We should go then … and have a sherry with her.”

  “She lives alone, you see,” Heather directed at Seb. “She’ll have had a quiet birthday, and I don’t want to let her down.”

  “Of course, ma’am,” Seb said, finishing the last of his wine.

  “I’m so sorry.” Heather stood. “Had I known you were going to be here, too, I never would have agreed to it.”

  “We don’t mind,” Jenna said. “And I’d hate you to let Mildred down.”

  Jenna was pretty sure Mildred was well into her seventies, not sixty-five. She also remembered a birthday party near Christmas one year. But if her mother had decided they needed to go out for a while, Jenna wasn’t going to object. The lure of being alone with Seb was too strong. Just thinking about his body, beneath his uniform, had lust heating her core.

  God, I want him.

  Gerald stood and picked up his plate.

  “We’ll do that, Dad,” Jenna said, “leave it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “I haven’t had to wash dishes for months, kind of enjoy it.”

  “You always were a strange child.” He laughed.

  Heather was already shrugging into a blue knitted cardigan. “Don’t wait up, we’ll be a few hours at least, likely be near to midnight when we get home.”

  “Midnight?” Gerald said, his eyes widening.

  “Yes, Mildred needs some company.” She linked her hand through the crook of his elbow. “Now come on, you can keep your slippers on if you want, she doesn’t stand on ceremony.”

  “I’m not going out in slippers.”

  “Well, hurry and change then.” She tugged him from the room. “See you later, or in the morning,” she called.

  Ten seconds later the front door slammed.

  Silence rang around the room.

  Jenna’s heart rate picked up. She was alone, finally, with the man she loved.

  And they had too many clothes on.

  Seb stood. His eyebrows were pulled low, and his lips in a tight straight line. He stared at her.

  She went to stand, but found herself tugged into his arms. His mouth hit down and he fed her a deep, delicious kiss. He then ran his hands to her butt and picked her up.

  She giggled and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.

  “Where’s the nearest fucking bedroom?” he said, pacing to the door.

  “Up the stairs.”

  “On it.” He was taking them two at a time, as though she weighed nothing.

  “Second door on the left,” she said. “My room.”

  “I’m gonna show you how much I’ve missed you.”

  “Yes, I want you to do that.”

  He shoved open the door, then kicked it shut behind them. “They’ll be out for a while, right?”

  “My parents … yes…”

  “Good, because this isn’t going to be quiet.” He dropped her onto the bed.

  She laughed as she bounced on the mattress. But the giggle soon faded, the passion, the deadly serious I’m-going-to-fuck-you-now look on his face stole her breath.

  He dragged off his white shirt, then
shoved at his trousers and boxers.

  His erection sprang up from his dark pubic hair, thick and long.

  “Strip,” he said, grabbing her sweats and tugging. They came off along with her knickers. “And that.”

  She hurriedly pulled off her t-shirt, then discarded her bra.

  Stilling, she stared at him.

  He was looking right at her, his body motionless, as if in a trance.

  His left arm held a new scar, still red and a little raised, and his abs were taut and defined, his strength and fitness evident.

  A tremble of lust spread over her skin as she lay back on the bed, parting her legs and holding out her arms. “Seb.”

  He settled over her, taking his weight on his elbows. “Later I’m going to taste you all over, explore every inch of your body real slowly, but right now … I just have to get inside you.”

  “Yes.” She curled her legs around his and took hold of his cock. She fed it toward her pussy, tilting her hips to guide him closer.

  “There’s only you,” he said, staring at her face. “You’re all I want.”

  “Seb…”

  He pushed in.

  She released his cock and gripped his shoulders. “More.”

  “It’s here.” He drove in, slow and steady, parting her tight internal muscles. “Ah, fuck, you feel even better than I remember.”

  “And you’re bigger … than I remember.” She forced herself to relax.

  He kept on burying deep.

  She held her breath as he hit full depth, his balls pressing against her and his body grinding over her clit.

  “Ah, fuck … yeah.” He dipped his head and kissed her.

  She moaned out a long low breath as he withdrew almost out, then forged back in.

  He repeated the action, harder, faster, shunting the air from her lungs. She clung to him, curling her toes, and digging her nails into his flesh.

  Their kiss was frantic, soon sex sweat slicked between their chests as he pounded into her. Her pussy was gripping him, the need for release growing.

  “Are you near?” he asked onto her lips, his voice tense. “Because I’m … fuck … I can’t…”