The Purple Heart

by Christie Gucker

“We love you too, honey. You don’t have to thank us. We’re always here for each other. That’s just how the three of us roll. You let Aiden know that we’re really looking forward to meeting him.”

  “I will. Love you. Bye.” I hung up and focused my attention back to Aiden. This was the right time. There would be no more waiting. I needed him in every way. I needed him completely. Down to my very soul.

  Chapter Twenty: Aiden

  “Would you like to open a bottle of wine and talk some more? I’m not really into tea at the moment.”

  He smirked and immediately went to my wine rack. Not actually the rack I wanted him to go for, but the wine was all part of my plan to make this the right time. I wanted him and I needed his inhibitions down.

  He returned with a bottle of vanilla vodka, two glasses, and some guava juice I had in the fridge. Even better. We drank as we shared stories about our childhoods. But eventually I was reminded of work and decided to shift the direction of our conversation.

  “Why did you join the military?”

  “Because I wanted to honor all the men and women before me who gave their lives for my freedom. I wanted to give back and also to carry on what every soldier in the history of this country gave to me. Freedom.”

  “That’s beautiful, Aiden. I know you’ve made every single one of them proud.”

  “Why did you join the military?”

  “Because of my father, grandfather, and uncles. They were all in the military. I’m the last one, you know. After me, there’s no one else to carry on our name. Anyway, I wanted to give something to those soldiers who were wounded. I didn’t want them to feel like they were alone. Whether they survived or not, I wanted to be the one who held their hands when they might be afraid. I guess I could keep that secret for them. Sometimes they told me other things, too. Secrets aside from their fear of dying or messages for their loved ones, if they had one. And I made sure that every single message they gave me made it home even if they didn’t.”

  “I want to give you something. Can you wait right here?” he said, getting up.

  “Of course.”

  Aiden ran up the stairs and moments later, was bounding back to my side. In his hand he held a small black box with a military insignia on the front of it. He held the box out to me. I stared at it for a moment; a strange pit in my stomach, like every girl must feel when she thinks the box contains a ring. I knew from the shape it didn’t, but I hesitated just the same. He could have been made of stone, because he didn’t move a muscle until I reached for the box.

  I held it in my hands and admired it before lifting the lid. I finally mustered the courage to see what was inside. It held his Purple Heart. I had to force myself to look away from it and into his eyes. I wasn’t sure of the gesture he was trying to make. My face must have clued him in to my cluelessness.

  “I want you to have it.”

  “No, Aiden. You earned this. I can’t take this from you.”

  “But don’t you understand? My heart only beats today because of you. It’s my heart and I’m giving it to you. Also, for being there for every soldier you helped move on to a different kind of life. Because you know I believe there is more after this one. You helped them make that transition with your kindness. You deserve this medal as much as I do.”

  The significance of this gift was immeasurable. I held it against my own heart and kissed him. At that point, everything was forgotten except for kissing that man. I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. I needed him to know how much that gesture meant to me. How much he meant to me. I was quickly on my back and he was on top of me.

  His hands moved all over me. Soon, he was slowly removing my shirt. He did it so reverently. He kissed and caressed every inch of skin that he exposed like it was a piece of gold from a lost treasure.

  Our movements became feverish and soon we were heading up the stairs, leaving a trail of my clothing in our wake. There was no way we were going to get as far as his room, so we ended up in mine. He swept me off my feet and gently placed me on the bed. He was soon next to me and we continued to ravage each other.

  “Aiden. Make love to me. I want … I need to make love to you. Please don’t say this is the wrong time. I can’t—”

  “Shhh. You don’t have to beg me. I can’t resist you any longer. You’re the only reason I breathe; the only reason my heart beats.”

  An extremely sexy smirk covered his face as I felt his hand run down to my panties. His finger ran along the waistband, teasing me, and he began to slowly tug them down. When he reached my sex, his fingers grazed over my lips and he slid his fingers up and down them. I was so wet that even his fingers alone felt like heaven. I wanted him inside me so badly. A small moan escaped me, which made him groan along. The sound of his desire for me brought me into a frenzy, and a new level of hotness to our foreplay ensued.

  He quickly pulled my panties off and threw them to the side of the bed. I was completely unclothed now. He was still fully dressed. I felt like I belonged completely to him, his personal concubine, here for his every whim and desire. It made me hotter than I already was. I spread my legs slightly apart, to let him know anything was a possibility and I wanted it all.

  His mouth began exploring my body. He started at my neck and slowly worked his way down to my breasts. He held onto them as his lips gently caressed them, suckling them. My skin prickled under his touch. Continuing, he ran his tongue down to my stomach, moving ever so slowly, licking every inch of my skin. When he finally reached his destination, I was dying for him to take a bite.

  He had one hand on my breast and another between my legs. Soon his mouth was on my sex. He made lazy circles over it with his tongue, stopping only to suck on it gently, while he worked me with his other hand. Every part of my body he wasn’t concentrating on ached for his attention. My exposed skin screamed to be touched, kissed, and tasted. I could hold back no longer.

  I begged him, “Aiden, I want to feel you, all of you, against me, your skin against mine. I want you inside me. Take off all of your clothes, every last stitch. Please, you have to make love to me right now.”

  He smiled at my pleading tone, and complied quickly. I helped unbutton his pants while he pulled his shirt over his head. His body was amazingly muscular. My wondering mind had done justice to it. He was everything I had imagined him to be. This man was one sexy piece of ass and he was in my bed about to make love to me. My heart exploded in my chest.

  He lay down next to me and played with a strand of my hair. I believe he was trying to calm himself before we moved any further. I was having a hard time controlling myself. Next to me lay the man of my dreams, both of us naked. I had to feel skin to skin. I looked at him from under my lashes, my lids heavy with desire for him, and silently mouthed the word please.

  He pulled me on top of him. I need to touch every inch of him. I began to run my fingers lightly down his chest and something stopped me. I felt a deep divot. My fingers hovered over it. It had to be one of the scars from the four bullets he had taken in the chest. His body immediately tensed.

  “Is this one of the places you were shot?” His eyes left mine as he looked down.

  “Yes. I’m so sorry. It’s not …”

  “It’s not what? Sexy? It’s beautiful, Aiden. It’s a medal of honor. You took that bullet and saved so many others’ lives. You gave all those men a chance to be with their families. You have that scar for everyone’s freedom. It’s extremely sexy.” I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on it.

  I ran my hand over his chest again; probing for his remaining medals, and found two others. I kissed each one in turn. I continued with my search over his skin and finally found the last scar. It was right over his heart. I stopped; my fingers shook as they hovered over it. I looked into his eyes. There were tears there. There were in mine as well.

  “Sydney.” His voice was soft and breathy. It gave me chills to hear him, to feel that scar, so deep. Goosebumps broke out all over my body.

  “Aiden. You
took a hit directly to your heart? How the hell are you still alive?”

  “Right now, it’s you that makes me feel alive, like I never have before. Sydney, I … I think …” he hesitated.

  “Aiden. Say it. Say it out loud. I want to hear it, I’m ready to hear it now.”

  “I’m falling in love with you, Sydney. What I mean is, I’m already there.” He looked shyly at me, like I would push him away again. But my heart exploded in my chest again and tears formed in my eyes.

  “Aiden. Do you honestly love me, not just the idea of me?”

  “Yes, Sydney. I think I fell in love with you the second I saw you. I’ve said that before. I hope you believe me now.”

  “Aiden, I feel the same. I’m in love with you. I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone in my entire life. I don’t think I ever will again. You’re my click.”

  “Your click?”

  “The one. You’re the person I’m supposed to be with. There’s no other explanation. You’re my soul mate. I love you, Aiden.”

  “It’s you and only you for me, it’s always been you. I feel so lucky to have this chance to be together.”

  “I’m the lucky one. This really does have to be fate.”

  “It’s our destiny.”

  He rolled me onto my back and he crushed his lips to mine. I crushed right back. I slid my tongue into his mouth and pressed my body as hard as I could into his. I wanted to pull our bodies into each other and make them one. I couldn’t get him close enough to satisfy my thirst for him.

  Our kisses became frantic and our hands began to touch anything we could reach. He reached down to my breasts and began to massage them with his hands. He kissed my nipples and sucked on them. His tongue made small circles and he would then bite them gently. I arched into him to give him more access. I moaned in pure ecstasy.

  “Make love to me now,” I whispered into his ear before I began to nibble on it. He groaned and I felt him nestle himself between my legs. He was right at my entrance and he was hot and very hard. I began to ache even more for him. He slid himself up and down my folds. I ground my hips into him, needing to feel more friction.

  He removed himself from my body and pulled me to my feet. He pushed me up against the wall, picked me up, his hand supporting my bottom, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. I had to have him now.

  “Please, Aiden, I want to feel you inside me. I need to feel you inside me.” He plunged hard and deep at my request. My entire body began to tingle. It felt like he was making love to every single cell in my body.

  His mouth covered mine in a passionate kiss, and he held my face in place. His entire body and soul seemed to encompass mine. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t give for this man. I wanted to give him everything, every part of me. He owned me.

  He was strong, yet gentle and was completely focused on what was happening between us on every level.

  “Oh God, Sydney, you feel so amazing. I can’t … Oh, I—” He was lost in our lovemaking as well, unable to say what he was feeling. I was in the same boat. This was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

  He thrust slowly in and out of me, kissing me with each move. I was grinding back into him, trying to move faster. The feel of him was so intense I couldn’t help myself.

  “Slow down, Sydney. I want this to last all night if at all possible. If you keep moving like that, it’s only going to be seconds.”

  “I can’t help it. You feel so good. Oh, Aiden. I just can’t stop myself. I can’t get enough of you.”

  We fit together like puzzle pieces. Whether we were making love, holding hands, or just holding each other, it was as if our bodies were made for each other. He fit me perfectly in every way. Each time he pumped into me, he hit the right spot, and my body would shudder with what I could only explain as the beginning of an orgasm. But then, it would slow right before I went over the edge. I grabbed his ass; oh it was so muscular and perfect. I felt it flex each time he pushed into me. He was intoxicating. I felt high. I could only respond by pulling him deeper into me.

  He moved us onto the bed so he could get better access. Once there, his groans became increasingly louder. I ran my tongue down his neck, wrapped my fingers into his hair and pulled him to me. I began to bite his neck gently, sucking and licking. I wanted more of him. I couldn’t figure out how I could get more of him. My lips searched for his and I sucked his lower lip into my mouth. I tugged at it with my teeth and swirled my tongue over every inch of his. I felt out of control. I just wanted more, more, and even more. I felt the familiar tightening deep down and soon I was having wave after wave of the most intense orgasm I had ever had. Aiden watched my face the entire time.

  “Sydney, I’m going to come. I can’t hold back anymore. Just watching you like that. You’re so sexy. Knowing that it’s me who’s pleasuring you.”

  “Aiden. I want to feel you come.”

  The thought of him coming inside of me drove me insane and I began to slam myself against him harder and faster. He grabbed onto the top of my headboard and began to drive into me. Within moments he let out a loud moan, buried himself as deep within me as he could possibly get, and began to shudder with me.

  We lay there together panting, kissing, and still touching each other everywhere. I was ready to go another round.

  “Aiden. I don’t know how to express how I’m feeling right now. That was just—”

  “I know. I can’t explain it, either. Maybe we should do it over and over again until we can find the right words.”

  I smiled while tousling his hair with my fingers. We stayed in bed together just kissing and holding each other for a while longer until my stomach began to growl.

  “Hunger. Food.”

  “That sounds like a fantastic idea, but just something quick. I plan on this being the rest of our week’s activity.”

  We got dressed, sort of, if you count wrapping sheets around us as being dressed, and pranced downstairs to grab sustenance in the form of leftovers, snacks, and drinks. We brought it back upstairs.

  That was pretty much how we spent the entire night. Making love, talking, noshing on snacks, and then making love again. We spent a lot of time just staring at each other. No words exchanged between us. I never met a man who could turn me on using eye contact alone, but Aiden had it covered. It was the cause of at least three love making sessions. I couldn’t keep my hands off him.

  At some point, being extremely content and exhausted from making love into the wee hours of the morning, we drifted off to sleep. He kept his arms wrapped around me, as if he was afraid that if he let go, I would vanish. I had no intentions of going anywhere. All I wanted was to be right here, in his arms, forever.

  * * *

  When the day’s light began to creep into the room, we began making love all over again. We stopped at some point to take a nice hot bath. I was almost sore from the sexual calisthenics we’d performed most of the night. I thought it would be a good time to do a quick call in.

  “I’ll be right back. I have to check in with work.”

  “Well, I’m certainly not going anywhere. I’ll be right here waiting for you. I’ll get the bath all set up,” he said sweetly.

  I gave him a huge grin and ran to grab my cell to call Cheryl and Gina. Work shmirk. After showing up at their door as a sad excuse for a living creature, and making them listen to me cry incessantly, they deserved to know what had been happening at my house since Aiden’s return. I wanted to share my high spirits with them. I needed to squeal in delight with my girls.

  Chapter Twenty-One: Cheryl

  “Well, hello there, Sydney. So how’s life with your soldier boy going?”

  “Cheryl ...”

  “You had sex with him. I can hear it in your voice.”

  “How did you ... never mind. All night and all morning. I only took a break to call you. I had to squeal like a little girl with someone.”

  “Okay, I’ll squeal this one time, but Gina is the one you
should call. She’ll want every single detail. Squeal,” she said without any enthusiasm at all.

  “Nice, Cher. It was so amazing. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

  “You don’t get around much, do you?” Cheryl’s sarcasm never left her side.

  “No, I don’t. But from what I do remember about sex, it was nothing like this at all. This was just ... indescribable.”

  “Well, don’t get all dick-whipped on me now. I still want you to take things slow, not jump into bed with him the second he came back to you. Although, let me give you some claps of approvals there, too. Didn’t think you had it in you. You slut.” She laughed this crazy laugh to make it sound evil. I giggled back.

  “Okay, well, I better get back upstairs before all the bubbles disappear.”

  “Bubbles?”

  “We’re taking a bubble bath.”

  “Oh man, you’re so gone. I can’t wait to meet this guy.”

  “Well, tonight’s finally the night. Promise me you’ll behave!”

  “I’ll do no such thing. That would be out of character for me.” She was quite serious, even though there was an edge of sarcasm to her statement.

  “Really? Do I need to call Gina about that, too?”

  “No, I’ll behave, to a degree. I won’t interrogate your soldier, if that’s what you mean. I might make idle chitchat with him and ask him where he’s from. Is that going to be an issue?”

  “As long as there are no bright lights or water torture, I’m fine with it. We’ve talked about a lot of things. He’s not holding back anymore,” I told her.

  “Look, I know this guy means everything to you. I’m pretty sure you’re living my past. This is just like I was with Gina. Don’t think I didn’t see how miserable you were when he left. I’ve never seen you like that in all the years I’ve know you, and to tell you the truth, I don’t ever want to again. Being without Aiden doesn’t become you,” she admitted.

  “And this means?”

  “This means I’m going to restrain the best I can and try not to butt in. I can’t make any promises, though.”