Autumn sobered him when she turned down his impromptu marriage proposal, a serious one this time. He shut off the shower and stripped out of his wet clothes and shoes. Autumn took off his T-shirt and dumped it in a plastic laundry basket. Then she picked up the still vibrating toy from the floor and ceased its intended duty.
Without a word, she summoned him to deposit his wet items into the basket as well. Sean dried off his body, keeping his bandage side from her view. Then mopped the puddles off of the floor. He added the wet towel to the basket.
"Don't worry about the clothes right now.” He held her upper arm.
"Let me do this, and I'll be back.” She moved away from him and walked downstairs naked with a hamper on her hip.
Sean removed the CD from the player and inserted a mellow jazz CD, something to help them wind down. He wanted a beer right now, but he'd done so well to wean himself for the last month, he didn't want to ruin it now.
With his head on the pillow, he glanced to the side at the picture of the two of them. He remembered the day that picture was taken, not because of the kick-ass food Autumn's father had made, or the way her plump mother had shimmied and shook when she danced. It was the day he'd told Autumn he loved her for the first time. Too bad it was also the day he had been told about his future assignment. The year had flown by fast. He needed more time with Autumn.
He'd never told Autumn that he had been given his oversees assignment on that day. She didn't need to know. It was bad enough she cried in her sleep, calling his name out on most nights. Holding her helped, but it tore him up to think that she would be home alone to deal with the nightmares. All he could do was to assure her.
Autumn waltzed into the bedroom, sashaying her hips with every step.
"Stop.” Sean held up his hand.
Autumn halted in her spot.
"Slow.” He lowered his hand and watched her swaying even slower as she moved toward him.
Snakes would have been envious of her moves. At the foot of the bed, she climbed on and crawled to him. She slithered over his body and rested her head on his chest.
With his arm around her waist, he said, “I wish I could capture that look before I go."
Autumn wrapped her arms around him and brushed against his bandaged skin, making him wince.
She sat up and peered over to his side. “What's that?"
Sean stared at her, gauging if she had the strength to hear the truth right now. Regardless, he had to tell her.
He sat up higher, leaning against the headboard. “It's my name, rank and serial number tattooed on my side.” With slow and careful precision, Sean removed the bandage from his skin, showing off the greenish tattoo.
Autumn trailed her fingertips around the spot without touching it. “Why do you have this on your body?"
Sean affixed the bandage back into its spot. “In case while I'm there, if anything happens to me, if my dog tags get separated from me or out of my boot, they'll know who I am and what to do with my body.
He heard Autumn swallowing hard. She gazed up at him, connecting her gaze to his. In her gape, they shared a silent conversation. In his mind, he heard her asking him if he was afraid, if he was scared that he wouldn't come home from this mission.
Sean smiled to assuage her fears. He ran his hand up and down her arm. “Mom missed you. She thought you were coming with me."
Autumn shook her head. “Right now, I can't be in the same room with her. One look...” She trailed off and turned her head away from him like she wanted to hide her emotions. But now was the time to get all of her emotions out. Everything. Love, hate, confusion, anger, regret, all of it.
"Afterward, when you're ... I'll see her then.” Autumn wiped her face. “So what did you do today?"
"Family movies and pictures. Dad thought it was all silly. He did ‘Nam with less fanfare. Didn't understand what all the fuss was about.” Sean kissed Autumn's forehead.
"A year. You'll be gone for a year.” She curled her body closer to his.
"Or less. You never know. Peace may break out in the Middle East as soon as I get there.” He laughed and, thankfully, it elicited a laugh from her.
"Hoo Rah.” Autumn pumped a weak fist in the air.
"Oh no, honey. If you're going to do it, do it right.” He covered her fist in his hand. “Hoo rah! Say it, babe. Hoo rah!"
"Hoo.” She choked on the word. “Hoo.” The second time she said it, the word broke.
Sean had to get her to talk. Aside from her plans for his final week home, Autumn hadn't opened up about how she felt about his deployment.
"My checks will be direct deposited into our joint account. If something happens to me, clean out the account before the government or anyone else tries to seize the money, understand?"
Autumn sat up and glared at him.
"My mother has power-of-attorney. Anything happens with the house, she'll help you work it out so that you keep it."
"What are you doing?” Autumn's voice came out soft.
"Briefing you. I mean, preparing you. Whatever clothes my brother doesn't want, give to Disabled Vets."
"Stop it.” She backed from him, but Sean held her hand and pulled her close.
"If you don't want the truck, Mom knows to sign it over and give it to my brother or donate it charity."
Autumn pounded on his chest. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop talking like you're going to fucking die!"
"That's it, honey. I want to hear it. Tell me what you're feeling. Are you mad at me?"
"What?” Autumn furrowed her eyebrows.
"For being a Marine."
"No. I'm—I'm—"
"Say it.” He let her hand go to allow her movement.
Autumn could be very physical and passionate when she argued.
"I don't understand this fucking war! Why do you need to go? I just got you in my life, and now I'm losing you. It's not fair. It's not goddamn fair! I could care less about oil or weapons of mass destruction or whatever else may be going on over there. I want you here. I want to be able to yell at you when you leave the toilet seat up. I want you home when thunderstorms roll through and I'm afraid. I want to remind you every Thursday to take the trashcan to the curb.” She straddled his body. “And I want to be able to make love to you morning, noon, and night. I want to be able to pick up a phone and call you to talk dirty like I do now when you're at work."
Sean smiled thinking about her previous calls where she got him so horny that he couldn't stand up for over an hour.
"I can't do this alone.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Fuck! I promised not to cry in front of you before you left.” She attempted to get up but he held her down on top of him.
Sean wrapped his arms around her body and stroked her hair. “I'll be fine. My guys are trained to watch my back, and I'll cover theirs."
"But you watch the news and—"
"Don't watch the news, not while I'm gone, okay?"
She nodded. “Sean?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I'm not giving your brother that blue T-shirt.” She looked up at him and smiled.
"You're such a sentimental softie. I thought I hooked up with a tough girl.” He kissed her forehead. “So what do you have planned for me this week?"
Autumn stared at him, her eyes full of suspicion. “Did you look in the refrigerator?"
Sean waited a beat before answering. He'd never lied to Autumn. He wouldn't start now. “Yes."
Her shoulders slumped down. “So you saw it?"
"Maybe.” Sean wouldn't say outright that he saw the birthday cake in the refrigerator, although the blue-and-white monstrosity couldn't be missed.
"Damn it. I wanted it to be a surprise.” She pounded her hand into the mattress.
"Honey, you've already told me that we're packing a year into this one week. I knew what was in store."
"Fine. You wait here.” She leapt from the bed and scampered downstairs again.
About five minutes later, he heard her climbing the stair
s. At the middle landing, she stopped and asked him to turn off the lights in the bedroom. Without question, Sean doused the lights and climbed back into bed.
"Happy birthday to you.” Autumn sauntered into the room with a circular cake in one hand and two bottles of water in the other. “Happy birthday to you.” She sat the cake with the numbers three and six lit on the top on the bed next to Sean. “Happy birthday, dear Sean.” She sat down on the other side of the cake. “Happy birthday to you!” After placing the two waters on the nightstand, Autumn applauded. “Make a wish."
Sean peered up and thought for a moment before blowing out the two candles.
"Should I even ask what you wished for?” She tickled her fingertips over his outstretched legs.
"I've already got half of it. You're here naked, and I have cake."
"So what's the other half of the wish?"
"I eat the cake out of your sweet pussy, then fuck you senseless."
In the darkened room, he heard Autumn's breathing turn into a pant. “You might get your wish. But before anything happens, you have to open your presents.” She jumped from the bed and ran into their spare bedroom.
When she returned, Sean asked, “Are all of my presents in there?” He started to sit up.
"Don't you dare! I'll make sure you don't make it to your assignment."
Sean laughed.
Autumn handed him three big boxes. “Open them."
In one, she had gotten him the complete DVD collection of the “Shaft” movies. Sean laughed so hard, his side hurt.
"I remembered you said you liked the movies.” Autumn took the balled gift wrap from his hands.
"I also said I had a crush on Pam Grier."
As she chewed on her lower lip, Autumn glanced at another gift on the bed.
Sean opened it and found all of Pam Grier's old 70's blaxploitation movies. “Your dad is going to be so jealous."
"I know. White or black, he always saw you as another son.” She looked away and coughed a little before returning her attention to him and plastering a smile on her face. “Last one."
The last gift contained items for things he'd always wanted to do—like scuba and skydiving.
"We can do them now.” She peeked at him under heavy eyelids. “Or when you get back."
"We? What happened to, ‘You can't get a sista under water'?” Sean punctuated the question with Autumn's trademark head roll, which made her laugh.
"I decided that life is short. If I'm going to do things with you, I have to start now. Plus, this will give you hope to come home in one piece."
He nodded. “I do my damndest.” Then Sean set the items on the floor. “Is that all?"
"Those are all of the presents. Why?"
Sean crawled over the bed to Autumn. “I hope you didn't think I was kidding about the cake."
As he hovered his body over hers, he swiped his finger on the cake, scooping up some icing on his fingertip. Like lipstick, he smeared the white, sugary coating over her lips—not that he needed something to entice him to lick and kiss her, Sean enjoyed nibbling her full lips, removing the fluffy topping.
Autumn let her tongue touch his until he moved down her body to her breasts. There he covered each nipple with frosting. Just like with her lips, he licked her breasts, dragging his wide, flat tongue over her hard peaks. Each time he touched her, Autumn arched her back in response. Sean wanted to tease her until he had her levitating.
With a scooping motion using three of his fingers, Sean picked up a hunk of cake as he made his way down her body and positioned himself in between her legs. Staring at her protruding clit, he couldn't wait to lick it, devour it, make her come so hard that she would forget about his impending departure.
With the ease of a sculptor, Sean placed the dessert on top of her pussy, right over the hardened nub.
Autumn jerked her body. “So cold."
"I'll get you hot."
True to his words, each swipe of Sean's tongue over her wet, shaved pussy coupled with eating the cake he had sitting on top of her, drove Autumn's body temperature higher. Had he not finished off the pastry, he was sure it would have melted. The thought of licking off the melted sweet cream from her already tasty center propelled him to delve his tongue inside of her even more.
Autumn screamed. She held his head in its spot, right between her legs and at her pussy. Her back arched with each long, loving swipe. When Sean felt her body trembling, he knew she was close. As much as he wanted to have her come with his cock inside of her, he wasn't about to break her moment, her flow.
Sean massaged her thighs and continued his oral assault while Autumn began bucking he hips. He wouldn't tell her, but it was moments like these, going down on her, tasting her salty juices, making her come, hearing her come, that would drive him insane while he was thousands and thousands of miles away from her.
This was a path he'd chosen before he met her. He wanted to be just like his father, a fearless Marine. Although bold in his job, one thing did scare him. He didn't want to go away for a year without having Autumn as his wife. It had nothing to do with trust. The reason had deeper roots, one he didn't think he had to explain to Autumn. Sean believed certain things didn't have to be said.
He must have slowed down his tonguing technique. Autumn lowered her hips and peered down at him.
"Babe?"
Without a word, Sean covered her clit with his mouth and sucked on it, making Autumn jerk off the bed. His finger circled her pussy opening before delving deep inside, finding a hearty welcome within her moist, thick walls. His other hand continued massaging her thigh.
Sean's heart pounded as hard as Autumn pounded the mattress with her fists. Her body convulsed. At once, she froze just as she released a howl that turned him on rather than make him question the sound.
Sean eased his finger out of her as he backed away. After sitting up on his haunches, he scanned her body. Sweat made her glow. Her black hair, now in a short hairstyle, was spiked all over head. She was absolutely breathtaking.
"Now that I don't have a dick inside of you, I'll ask you again."
Autumn removed her hand from her face and peered down. “Don't."
"Autumn, will you marry—"
She wriggled away from him and had to fall on the floor and pull herself up on the bed in order to get her feet under her. “I'll start dinner."
"Why don't you want to answer me?"
She didn't respond, which was unlike Autumn. In every argument and every conversation, she had to have the last word. Why change now? He needed that fire back inside of her. And he needed an explanation.
[Three]
For their Veteran's Day, a holiday that Autumn had never truly celebrated in the past, she surprised Sean by dressing as a candy striper, complete with a short uniform that barely covered the tops of her stockings, and a traditional nurse's cap.
"Hiya, soldier.” She gave him a salute from their bedroom doorway, then sauntered inside in her five-inch white patent leather stilettos. “I hear you're on the mend."
Sean snickered as he remained in bed, covered by a thin sheet that did a poor job of covering his growing erection.
"Is this what I have to do to get you to wear more costumes in the bedroom? I have to get deployed?” He laughed.
After a tense night, when he'd asked her to marry him again and, again, she refused, it was great to see him smiling. Hopefully, she could get him to forget about asking her to marry him. Her answer would be the same—and it wasn't because she didn't love him. Her heart ached each time she thought about him leaving. For that reason, she knew she couldn't be his wife.
"Costume? Why, I'm not wearing a costume, honey.” She touched the white curved hat on her head, which made the hem of her dress rise, evident from the way Sean's gaze dropped down. “This is a regulation hat.” Then she smoothed her hands down her body. “And this is a regulation uniform. I found it a bit confining, so I made some alterations.” She pulled down the zipper in front. “I can pu
ll this down to give myself some breathing room. And I raised this up so that I can move better.” She pulled up on her dress, showing off her thong panties that had a big Red Cross emblem on the front.
The sight forced a hearty laugh from Sean.
"What? You don't like my panties?” She hooked her fingers on the sides and pulled them down. Then she twirled the undergarment around her index finger. “Better?"
Sean shook his head. He motioned for her to come closer to him. Autumn dropped the panties to the floor as she strolled to him.
He kicked off the sheet, peered down at his erect cock, then brought his attention back to her.
In mock surprise, Autumn covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my! Major Littleton, why, you're not sick at all."
"You're damn right.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her on top of him so that she straddled him.
"If my nursing supervisor catches me, I could get into a lot of trouble,” she said as she held the base of his shaft and positioned her pussy over him.
"Tell her this is a part of my treatment.” Sean raised his hips, stabbing his dick inside of her.
Damn, he felt so good there. The length and girth of it fit inside of her like he had been made just for her. Autumn held onto his shoulders as she rode him, slowly at first.
"You're awfully wet, Nurse Autumn.” He held her hips. “Did you know you were going to come in here and fuck me?"
Unable to speak, Autumn nodded her head. She leaned forward and connected her mouth to his. Her tongue explored familiar territory. Like a good ally, his tongue touched and teased hers.
Autumn picked up speed, undulating her hips. Although she wanted this session to last forever, she already felt her stomach tighten. Sean must have felt her body's responses.
"Come if you want to. I'm not done with you yet.” A sly smile curved up.
Autumn gripped Sean's shoulders as wave upon wave or orgasmic intensity hit her. As promised, as soon as her body settled down, Sean pulled her off of his lap and rolled her next to him so that she was positioned on her stomach. Then he got on top of her.
Coming Together: At Last, Volume Two Page 26