by L. A. Witt
Today, there would be no turning back. Today, my terminal leave was over, and it was time to surrender my ID card. When I left the base, I’d be a civilian. For the first time in my life, I wouldn’t have a military ID—dependent or active duty. Not even inactive reserve.
Commander Wilson met me at the gate. After I gave him my ID, he shook my hand. “It’s tough to see you go, but I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He smiled. “You’re a civilian now, kid. Call me Travis.”
“You’re a civilian now.”
Good God, it was like an incantation that made the invisible anchor I’d been dragging around just disappear.
“Thank you, Travis,” I corrected.
We talked for a few minutes. He’d been curious about my future plans—or lack thereof—and had a few suggestions, but he wasn’t pushy about it.
As we stood there, I glanced around the gate. There were a few MAs hanging around. Sentries, mostly, plus a dog handler with a German Shepherd at his side, and a chief who was probably checking on everyone. They watched our exchange, but no one said anything.
I didn’t have to look to know Will was not with them. He probably wasn’t anywhere near this corner of the base, and thank God for that. If we were seen together once I’d left the base, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but he didn’t need someone catching wind that our relationship had started before I separated from the Navy. As long as no one had proof we’d been dating already, we were free and clear.
Even my parents didn’t know I had a boyfriend, never mind that he was enlisted or that he’d had anything to do with my decision to resign. Not that I’d been able to get a word in edgewise, but I wasn’t planning to tell them until long after Dad cooled down. Still, I doubted I’d tip my hand about how our relationship had influenced my decision. Dad would probably be too busy sneering at Will’s rank to hear me anyway.
His loss. This was my life, my career, and my boyfriend. Dad’s opinion was no longer needed.
Travis and I shook hands one more time, and then I walked off NAS Adams.
On the way to my car, I took in a deep breath of the salty air. I’d done it. I was free. I was a civilian.
For the first time in my life, the future was mine to decide.
It was torture, but I waited until well after dark to go over to Will’s place. To be on the safe side, I parked my car in a guest spot on the other side of the building.
As he shut his front door behind me, he said, “So, that’s it? You’re done with the Navy?”
I nodded. “Yep. I am officially a civilian.”
“How do you feel?”
“Like there’s no more pressure. I can be with you.”
Will smiled. “More like now you can be you.”
I exhaled. Someone had said it. My parents wouldn’t understand anytime soon, and there would be plenty of people out there who thought I’d thrown away a perfectly good career, but Will got it. I couldn’t think of much else that mattered. “Yeah. Kind of feels like it’s my life now.”
“That’s because it is. And it’s about damn time.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “You going to grow this out now?”
I thought about it, then shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe? What do you think?”
“I think it’ll look good either way.”
“What if I shaved it bald?”
The upward flick of his eyebrows suggested there were limitations on either way.
I snickered. “I’m kidding. I like having hair, thank you.”
“Good. Because I like having something to hold on to.”
“Oh fuck . . .”
He chuckled. “I think we understand each other. Don’t we . . . sir?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know, I’m really glad the rest of the world is going to stop calling me that, but if you want to keep using it when we’re naked? You go right ahead.”
“Oh, I was planning on it.”
“Dirty bastard.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Just one more reason why I love you.”
He grinned, then kissed my forehead. “I love you too.”
I lifted my chin and indulged in another long kiss because . . . fuck, because I could. After tonight, there was no reason not to. There would be no more looking over our shoulders. No more worrying that someone might find out about us. Maybe not flaunting things at the Navy Ball or the Christmas parties because that meant going to those damned things, but we could eat dinner or go to a movie or walk through the grocery store together.
“By the way,” he said after a moment. “I’ll be negotiating orders in the next year and a half or so.” He smoothed my hair. “Probably going back overseas for three years.”
I swallowed. The Navy hadn’t taken long to throw a shiny new monkey wrench into this, had it? “We’ll find a way to make it work.”
“I know. I was, uh . . .” He hesitated. “I was thinking that might be enough time to decide if we want to . . . if we should make you my dependent. So you can come with me.”
My heart skipped, and I lifted my eyebrows. “Is that a roundabout way of asking me to marry you?”
He chuckled, blushing as he broke eye contact. “Well, kind of a roundabout way of saying it’s something we should consider.” He met my gaze through his lashes. “So we can stay together when I transfer.”
I smiled, trying not to look quite as excited as I suddenly was. “I like the idea of considering it.”
Will grinned. “Is that a roundabout way of saying yes?”
“What do you think?” I cupped his face and kissed him. “Any idea where they might send you?”
He shrugged. “The detailer owes me a favor or two. I was thinking I might see if there’s a billet available on Okinawa.”
“If you get stationed on Okinawa, we’re driving to Vegas, like, yesterday.”
“So you’re marrying me for my orders.”
“And your insurance.”
We locked eyes, both trying to keep a straight face, but we finally burst out laughing.
He wrapped his arms around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. God, this felt good. It was going to be weird, moving forward together without the Sword of Damocles hanging over us. I suspected we’d both get used to the idea pretty quickly.
“You know,” he said, “a transfer like that might be a good thing for you in terms of career too. There’s a university on base, so if you do decide to work on a master’s or something, you’d be all set.”
“I hadn’t thought about that. But . . . yeah, you’re right. I guess it’s something to look into. I mean, once I know what I’d actually study.”
“You’ll figure it out.” He traced his thumb along my cheekbone. “There’s plenty of time. Right now, you just get to enjoy being a civilian.”
“A civilian who can actually go out in public with his boyfriend.”
Will’s smile made my pulse soar. “I’m definitely looking forward to that part too.”
I pulled him in and kissed him, and we let it linger.
It was tempting to suggest going out to dinner tonight, but I knew it wasn’t a good idea. We’d already agreed to wait a little while before we let anyone see us out in town. A couple of weeks, at least. And I was okay with that. Knowing the secrecy only had to hold out for a short time—and that it was only a precaution—was a hell of a lot easier than keeping this under wraps indefinitely.
“Well, since we can’t go out in public quite yet,” I said with a grin, “I guess we’ll just have to stay in for the night.”
“I guess we will.” He returned my grin, and it was that amazingly sexy look he’d given me a hundred times before, usually right before he fucked me into some unsuspecting piece of furniture. Sliding his hands into my back pockets, he added, “Any ideas about how we should spend it?”
“I’m sure we can think of something.”
“Hmm. I might be able to think better if you weren’t so . . .” He
looked me up and down. “Dressed.”
“Seems like when I’m naked, you can only think of one thing.”
“Huh.” He nudged me back a step, inching toward the bedroom. “Guess I know how we’re spending the evening, then.”
I laughed, and we kissed and touched all the way down the hall until we tumbled into his bed. And we kept laughing, kissing, and touching. Just like I had a feeling we’d be doing every night for the foreseeable future.
I still couldn’t believe we’d made it here. I couldn’t believe how any of this had played out, or that for the first time, I didn’t feel the weight of too many people’s expectations on my shoulders while I secretly lived the life I really wanted behind the scenes.
I was a civilian now. I had the most amazing boyfriend on the planet.
And my future—my life—was finally mine.
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Anchor Point series
Just Drive
Afraid to Fly
Chief’s Mess
Going Overboard (coming soon)
Bad Behavior series, with Cari Z
Risky Behavior
Suspicious Behavior
Reckless Behavior (coming soon)
Kinky Sprinkles
Rain Shadow (a Bluewater Bay story)
Starstruck (a Bluewater Bay story)
Running With Scissors
Roped In, with Marie Sexton
Finding Master Right
Static
Covet Thy Neighbor
Where Nerves End
Writing as Lauren Gallagher
Stuck Landing (a Bluewater Bay story)
Razor Wire
Writing as Ann Gallagher
Lead Me Not
All the Wrong Places (a Bluewater Bay story)
Writing as Lori A. Witt
The Tide of War
See L.A. Witt’s full booklist at: gallagherwitt.com
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn't lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don't tell Lauren. And definitely don't tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut...
Website: gallagherwitt.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @GallagherWitt
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