I looked at the clock and realized the hour was up. Then I wanted to ask her one more thing. I had a very important thing to do the next day and I wanted her to do it with me. I needed her support now more than ever.
After I was done talking I asked her one last question and said, "I have something to do tomorrow and I would like for you to come? Do you think you can make it? "
"Absolutely,” she said. I was surprised that she so willingly said yes without asking what it was. I knew the answer to why she did that, it was because she cared for me. She was ready to do anything with me if I asked her too. That was a new feeling for me. I was not used to having a woman in my life that cared about me in that way. It was always just sex. I fucked so many women in one month that I could never remember their names. Now, this one, the curvy doctor was there for me. I walked out of the room feeling great. The next day would be the step that let me know I could truly get over this.
When I woke up the next morning I had an email waiting for me from my captain saying that he was updated that I was doing great in therapy and saw me getting back to active duty with two weeks. He also cut back on my therapy sessions. I responded with a polite thank you and knew that Melanie had a lot to do with it. She was something else. I had to admit that.
Then there was a knock at the door. I opened it. She was here right on schedule.
“Commander Casey? I’m with Tidy Maids. Here for your eleven a.m. cleaning,” the maid said on the other side of the door.
“Yes, please come in,” I said moving the door open. I helped her carry in cleaning supplies and then together we got to work. It had been a while since I gave my house a good cleaning so I hired a maid. I wanted a brand new start to all of this. Plus I would be having guests over later. I wanted to make it a good environment for everyone. I cleaned off the bottles of alcohol and threw them in the trash. As I took them out to the curb I realized that I had drank all those bottles on my own since the incident had occurred. I had become an alcoholic without realizing it. That was not a good thing. Then I helped the maid where I could. I rearranged the furniture in the living for the gathering later on.
A couple of hours later, there was another knock on my door. I opened it and there she was, the new woman in my life and in my heart. “Melanie, so glad you could come. Please come in,” I said as I pulled her inside.
“Thank you for inviting me,” she walked in the room and took a look around.
“Wow I’ve never been in here before. It is very clean and tidy. I like it.”
“Well the maid came today, so that is why it is so clean. I’m not good and keeping too tidy. Please have a seat,” I said as I led her into the living room.
“So what is this all about? You said that you had something important you wanted me to do with you?” she asked looking at me with a bit of concern. It was a bit of the therapist in her peaking out.
“Yes, it is important and I think it is good if you are here. You see I invited all the guys from my unit over to say anything they need to say. I think its good we clear the air, and I thought perhaps you could moderate it or whatever it is that therapist do.”
“Really?” she said with a smile and surprise.
“Yes, really I know that is shocking but it’s not just more me. I think that some of the guys could use it too. If you mind then I’m sure we could get on without you but I thought you could help.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. I would love too. This is really amazing,” she said about to start gushing but I stopped her.
“Okay, don’t do that. Don’t gush about it. It will make me embarrassed, just be here… okay?” I said looking at her.
“Okay I think I can do that easy enough. So what time will they all be here?” she asked but before I could answer there was a knock at the door. I looked at her and smiled. I think she knew that this meant they were here. I got up from the couch and fixed my clothes before heading to the door. I saw Melanie take a seat in an individual chair getting into therapist mode.
I answered the door and Private Martinez was standing there with a couple of boxes of pizza.
“Commander!” he said cheerfully.
“Martinez! Come in. Thanks for bringing the pizzas!” I said as I took them from his hands and walked him inside.
“Private Martinez, this is Doctor Melanie Roberts. She is a therapist at the outpatient clinic and she is here to guide us a bit in our discussion.”
“Very nice to meet you ma’am,” he said with a formal greeting.
Then there was another knock at the door and soon there was a frenzy of eight military men inside my living room. They were all cheerful and did a bit of catching up eating pizza and chatting. Finally after everyone was settled Melanie looked at me. I nodded to her. Then she said, “Let’s began.”
DOCTOR MELANIE ROBERTS
I was so excited to know what Connor had in store for today. I had agreed to do something with him without even asking what it was. It seemed to mean a lot to him. I drove my convertible with the top down feeling the ocean breeze in my hair and on my face. Today was going to be a good day. I could feel it. I knocked on the door to Connor’s house.
“Melanie, so glad you could come. Please come in,” he said as he opened the door.
“Thank you for inviting me,” I walked in the room and took a look around at the very clean and tidy space.
“Wow I’ve never been in here before. It is very clean and tidy. I like it.”
“Well the maid came today, so that is why it is so clean. I’m not good and keeping too tidy. Please have a seat,” he said as he walked me in.
“So what is this all about? You said that you had something important you wanted me to do with you?” she asked looking at me with a bit of concern. It was a bit of the therapist in her peaking out.
“Yes, it is important and I think it is good if you are here. You see I invited all the guys from my unit over to say anything they need to say. I think its good we clear the air, and I thought perhaps you could moderate it or whatever it is that therapist do.”
“Really?” I said with a smile and surprise. This was absolutely huge! This was real progress. This was more than I had ever expected from this man. Now he was the one leading his own therapy and that was a very good thing.
“Yes, really I know that is shocking but it’s not just more me. I think that some of the guys could use it too. If you mind then I’m sure we could get on without you but I thought you could help.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. I would love too. This is really amazing,” I said with extreme excitement.
“Okay, don’t do that. Don’t gush about it. It will make me embarrassed, just be here… okay?”
“Okay I think I can do that easy enough. So what time will they all be here?” I asked but before he could answer there was a knock at the door. He answered the door and a Private was standing there with a couple of boxes of pizza.
“Commander!” he said cheerfully.
“Martinez! Come in. Thanks for bringing the pizzas!” he said as I took them from his hands and walked him inside.
“Private Martinez, this is Doctor Melanie Roberts. She is a therapist at the outpatient clinic and she is here to guide us a bit in our discussion.”
“Very nice to meet you ma’am,” he said with a formal greeting.
Then there was another knock at the door and soon there was a frenzy of eight military men inside the living room. They were all cheerful and did a bit of catching up eating pizza and chatting. Finally after everyone was settled I looked at Connor. He nodded to me. Then I said, “Let’s began.”
Everyone became quiet and I started with, “Commander Casey has asked me to be here as guidance only. To steer the conversation, so do not worry this is not a formal thing. I am not evaluating you. This is just an informal conversation so that everyone can get the event off of their chest and go on with their lives. That is all it is. This is a safe space and no one will be judged for anything they say. Be honest an
d genuine and I think it will be a good talk. Now I think that the Commander would like to start with telling you all what he remembers and his point of view,” then I was silent. Then Connor began to speak much like he did in my office. He replayed the whole thing and the men filled in here and there. It was a very productive talk, some of the men cried re-living the trauma. It was very healing. I was in awe of their strength and courage. Two hours later it was over and we said goodbye to the men together.
“So I guess I should be going,” I said to him. It won’t look good if I stay around any longer than anyone else,” I said to him.
“Yes, I see your point. But not so fast,” he said as he pulled me in his arms. He stared at me with his beautiful brown eyes and said, “Thank you. You have saved me. Thank you for everything.”
“You have saved me too,” I said as I gave him a quick kiss.
“What do you say when I am done with therapy and back to duty that we make this official. I mean if you want too? Do you want to be my girl Doctor Melanie Roberts?”
“Why yes I do Commander Connor Casey,” I laughed and gave him a squeeze and a hug.
A month later he stayed true to his word as most soldiers do. He completed his therapy session successfully and went back to active duty. Then we started to see each other officially. I now had a hot Marine obeying my every command as his girlfriend. I could not believe that this was happening considering that I had singled him out as a one-night stand when I first met him. Now I was happy with a strong partner.
COMMANDER CONNOR CASEY
The group therapy session was about to begin. I had to admit that I was a bit nervous. I did not know how this would play out. For all I knew the men could grow hot headed and bark at each other like children. Some punches could be thrown. I knew all of this was a possible problem but I was not sure if it was enough to stop us from doing this. We all needed this. After the incident we had all gone our separate ways and did not get a chance to talk about it. Now we needed to talk about it and make some sort of process with it. After everyone ate and did some catching up I took the lead and sat down in a chair next to Melanie. The soldiers, used to following my lead, one by one became quiet and sat down on the chairs and couch. They knew that we were about to begin. As everyone became quiet I looked at Melanie and nodded to her to begin. I admired this woman. She was able to lead and that is exactly what she did with this conversation.
“Commander Casey has asked me to be here as guidance only. To steer the conversation, so do not worry this is not a formal thing. I am not evaluating you. This is just an informal conversation so that everyone can get the event off of their chest and go on with their lives. That is all it is. This is a safe space and no one will be judged for anything they say. Be honest and genuine and I think it will be a good talk. Now I think that the Commander would like to start with telling you all what he remembers and his point of view,” she finished. I loved hearing her talk. She was so articulate and intelligent yet she was delicate and gentle with the men. And then it began. I recounted the incident and a few of the soldiers filled in their words. Soon it was almost as if Melanie wasn’t there at all. She was good at letting us talk and connect. It was a great group session and afterward I felt so good. I had not felt that good since this whole thing had happened. After it was over I escorted the men out and then turned my attention to Melanie.
“So I guess I should be going. It won’t look good if I stay around any longer than anyone else,” she said in a seductive tone that drove me nuts.
“Yes, I see your point. But not so fast,” I said as I pulled her into my arms. I stared at her and said, “Thank you. You have saved me. Thank you for everything.”
“You have saved me too,” she said as she gave me a quick kiss.
“What do you say when I am done with therapy and back to duty that we make this official. I mean if you want too? Do you want to be my girl Doctor Melanie Roberts?”
“Why yes I do Commander Connor Casey,” she laughed and gave him a squeeze and a hug.
A month later I stayed true to my words. I wanted a real relationship with this woman that have saved my career and saved me as a man. I made sure the we were together as an item and from then on, I was no longer a lone motorcycle Marine, but a loving partner.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Alexandra Stone and I love writing fiction so much I became a full time author this year. When I don't read or write fiction, I mostly think of men and I fantasize about them. My work is my life as many of these adventure I lived or pictured so clearly in my mind, I could call them real. Enjoy!
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Office Temptation
CHAPTER ONE
I was on the treadmill at Planet Exercise, hating it. What do you do after a break-up? You hit the gym, because you have to get back down to competition weight. Ugh.
Competition was in the air. I looked over at the climbing wall, at Mr. Buzzcut, he of the piercing blue eyes. No one could miss him. He was the loudest guy in the gym.
“Hey,” Buzzcut said. “Twenty bucks says no one can beat me to the top.” What a bore. Buzzcut had the type of thick, corded forearms, and round melon shoulders, that made it seem he could ascend the wall without even using his legs. That kind of upper body strength was hard to compete against.
Donna reached over and yanked my earbuds out. Oww!
“Earth to Nancy,” Donna said. “Why don’t you go over and talk to him?”
“Who?”
“The guy you’ve been staring at the whole time we’ve been here.”
I swatted Donna’s arm. “I haven’t been staring.”
“Yeah, right. So, since you’re eye-raping him, why don’t you go talk to him? It’ll help you get over Kevin.”
“Kevin who?” I said.
Donna smiled. “Such a liar.”
Buzzcut sailed down from the wall on the safety rope, having handily beaten his challenger. Now Buzzcut was trying to go double or nothing on the squat rack—most weight wins.
“A little too testosterone-y in here,” I said. “I’m going home.”
“What about your boss’s going away party?” Donna asked.
“Not feeling it,” I replied. Donna stuck around to watch the squat contest. I hit the locker room, pulled off my sweat pants and tee, and then donned my Denver Nuggets uniform. I don’t follow basketball at all, but those big shorts and roomy tank tops were comfortable as heck, plus the pale blue made my skin look more vibrant. Just because I was in mourning over breaking up with Kevin it didn’t mean I had to look like crap.
Two swipes of deodorant later, I was out the door, gym bag over my shoulder. I might have looked cute, but I smelled like an old sneaker that had deodorant rubbed on it. That was fine by me. I didn’t want anyone to get close anyway.
It was a warm evening, but the breeze was coming in off the river, and it soothed my damp skin. I tried not to let the couples that strolled along the Riverwalk—arm in arm, happy together—remind me too much of Kevin. Alcohol would help.
There was no liquor left in my near-empty apartment, so I popped into the local pub, Carmody’s. I’d never been there before. It wasn’t a couples place.
The bartender made a face when I ordered a Mint Julep. “How ‘bout a brewski?”
“Mint Julep,” I replied.
He might have been cranky about making Mint Juleps, but he made them well. I never should have ordered the fourth one, because while I w
aited, in walked Mr. Buzzcut. He’d showered and changed, but unfortunately he’d only changed his clothes and not his personality.
There was a trivia game on the big screen, and two teams had formed up. Buzzcut joined one team, and soon he was leading it, high-fiving teammates who answered correctly, and reaming the error-prone.
Buzzcut’s unbuttoned shirt, tight, with short, rolled-up sleeves, put his fearsome muscles on intimidating display. It was disgusting. To make matters worse, Buzzcut was really good at trivia. I hated him. He had to be put in his place.
I put my Mint Julep down on a table near the anti-Buzzcut team and asked, “Hey, you mind if I play too?”
“Yeah, sure, we could use the help.” I logged onto the TriviApp, and typed in a player name. In honor of my Denver uniform, I called myself Golden Nugget. The game hit a series of world capital questions, and I was on a roll. Collecting stamps as a kid was paying off big time now. I became lead scorer.
“Who’s Golden Nugget?” Buzzcut yelled. I didn’t speak up. Unfortunately, when the game asked for the capital of Lesotho, I was the only one sitting there and typing. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over my Mint Julep and I.
The Commanding Officer Page 7